Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People

Rating:
Summary: Character First, Followed by Process for Long-term Growth
Review: With all of the self-help books out there, why is this one business schools, seminaries and high school students read? Why "Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People"? What does Stephen Covey have to say that differs from Spencer Johnson, Phil McGraw and John Gray?

In some cases, what Covey says they all say. The biggest difference is the process, not the method. Covey's "Seven Habits" are like eating right during the gestation of your baby. The short-term results are hard to realize, but the foundation for good health are laid. Follow what Covey says, and in the long-term, you will be highly effective.

Covey starts with explaining that the first step isn't external, but internal. It isn't just that Covey is trying to get you to feel good about your abilities. Instead, he wants you prepared for the hard work the seven habits will require. In fact, Covey deplores the cheap 'character ethic' method, noting it evolved away from character, and more into quick-fix influence techniques.

He separates influence and character, and wants the reader to know influence without character is not good. "Only basic goodness gives life to technique." The book is not a lesson in technique.

The Seven Habits are divided into chapters:
1- Be Proactive
2- Begin with the End in Mind
3- Put First Things First
4- Think Win/Win
5- Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
6- Synergize
7- Sharpen the Saw

Covey, despite how it is a management and professional growth book, has also written a personal growth book. It is not a relationship book, as in the sense John Gray writes, or a weight loss book, like Dr. Phil writes. Fans of "Who Moved My Cheese" by Johnson will connect. Though Covey won't charge at the reader by asking him to repeat a mantra of "I think I can. I think I can," he does show the reader the ways of realigning their perspective, their goals and their strengths for the greater good of both the reader, and those he interacts with.

I fully recommend "Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People" by Stephen R. Covey.

Anthony Trendl

Rating:
Summary: Powerful Stuff
Review: I initially read this book reluctantly under the advice of friend, but thankfully I wasn't stubborn enough. Covey's ideas are articulated densely at times, being a former professor, but his main point involves our capacity to change and the ingredients involved in change. The first three habits deal with what he calls the private victory, or mastery over self. Like many self help authors he puts a big emphasis on personal responsibility, just as many twelve step group do, goal setting, and time management, which he calls personal leadership. The next three habits are focused on the public victory, effectiveness in relationships, and as we all know this arena can be intensely difficult. The final habit is on personal renewal, or continuous balanced growth in mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual areas.

Although many of these topics have been discussed to death, Covey's approach is refreshing because he focuses on character, hence the subtitle restoring the character ethic. He calls for a "paradigm shift" or a change in perspective to understand and implement the habits with greatest effectiveness. Many writers extols the importance of taking personal responsibility for our lives, Covey, however, doesn't merely preach, he clarifies, discusses, theorize, and relates with the reader. His many anecdotes and humble declaration at the end of the book show that he isn't some guru that knows everything or has it all together. Many of his anecdotes show his struggles and weaknesses with dealing with his own growth. He also warns the readers not to expect a quick changes; his whole approach is very long term as habits themselves take time and struggle to develop. Great read but, to get the most of the book, reread and reread again, you will find yourself finding new insights again and again. Remember keep a pen handy as well.

Rating:
Summary: Great foundation for anyone to build off of
Review: I would consider myself young at 20, and discovering this book has changed my life. It provides a great foundation for communication with the people you work with and love. I've given this book as gifts numerous times, and i've read it numerous times myself, always coming out with something new.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to change their direction in life, to get to where they want to be, and become the person they've dreamt of.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding!
Review: 7 Habits by Stephen Covey is arguably the best personal development book available today. I have read many personal development books and listened to many tape programs since the mid 1970's and felt that I was very knowledgeable about personal development. After reading 7 Habits, I still learned a thing or two.

Over the last couple of years, I have reread 7 Habits several times and always come out with something new; a new idea that I didn't pick up the first time. I also have the audio program which I play in my car while driving around. It reinforces the material.

Another outstanding book that I recommend which is much in the spirit of 7 Habits is Super Self by Charles Givens, perhaps one of the most under-rated books out there right now.

Both books are very popular at the company that I work at and people who follow the advice are among the most successful in the company.

Great books.

Good luck.

Rating:
Summary: Win-Win
Review: This book is all about Win-Win. You help others win and you win. As the great Zig Ziglar says; "You can have everything you want in life by helping other people get what they want."

Speaking of which, I recommend Zig Ziglars excellent book See You At The Top and Super Self by Charles J. Givens.

These three books will help you achieve whatever dreams that you realistically set for yourself.

Rating:
Summary: Let us know what is in store
Review: The book is a personal need with the simplicity of being the full guide and shield in man's journey to the real success in life and that is to be happy as an individual and as a member of a family whoever this individual is and whatever he does.

Rating:
Summary: A great roadmap for extraordinary achievement
Review: Stephen Covey has earned the respect of readers in the personal and professional arena because this book offers a realistic success strategy which surpasses blind optimism and manipulation. The Seven Habits helped me to develop my own style of personal leadership, and create relationships winning relationships with others. I highly recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Motivational and Inspirational Deck
Review: Motivational and inspirational cards based on books can be a great (not to mention quick!) way to glean the essential points of an author's work. Besides brevity, it's an added bonus to be able to pick a card or two every day and ponder what it says. This information can be used for increased awareness or as a way incoporate the truths found on the card.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People card deck is filled with sage advice and practical wisdom, especially for those who want to maximize their potential and live a more balanced life.

Covey devotes 7 cards to each of the 7 habits. If you do the math, that equals 49 cards, but there is also a card with a message from Covey. A brief concept is printed on front, and several sentences that expound on the concept is found on back. Each of the 7 habits has it's own color scheme and design, although the overall appearance is uniform. At the top of each card is the particular habit with its number.

Here is a sampling of the fronts of my favorite cards from the deck:

Habit 1: Be Proactive - Be a model, not a critic.
Habit 2: Begin With The End In Mind - Expand your perspectives.
Habit 3: Put First Things First - Learn to say no.
Habit 4: Think Win-Win - Adopt an abundance mentality.
Habit 5: Seek First To Understand, Then To Be Understood - Influence others by example.
Habit 6: Synergize - Value differences.
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw - Expand your mind.

For example, the back of the "Learn To Say No" card says:

Decide what your highest priorities are, and have the courage and independent willpower to say no--pleasantly, smilingly, and unapologetically--to the things that are less important to you.

I highly recommend this inspirational deck for personal growth of any kind. As it says on the back of the box:" ...living with integrity and honesty gives you the power to overcome the deeply imbedded habitual tendencies that can work against you. Remember: you are not your habits--and you can replace old patterns with new ones!"

Rating:
Summary: eh.
Review: This book concludes with thinly veiled Mormon theology that makes it inappropriate for use in Christian study groups. However, viewed as a secular work, this may be useful for some people. Avoid the many knick-knacks, doodads, and complementary products that are also sold under the Covey name.

Rating:
Summary: 50-Card Deck Edition - 7 Keys to Success
Review: "You are not your habits-and you can replace old patterns with new ones!" ~Stephen R. Covey

Stephen R. Covey has created a 50-Card deck to explore the ideas of fairness, integrity, honesty and human dignity. By replacing old self-defeating patterns with new successful habits, you can attain a new level of effectiveness in many areas of your life.

This 50-Card Deck is based on the best-selling book: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. This book has been translated into 32 languages and is one of the most influential business books of the 20th century.

The first card is quite powerful.

Front: "Take responsibility for your life."
Back: "Highly proactive people don't blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice.

Don't we wish that was not true!

These cards are divided up into 7 section:

Be Proactive
Begin with the End in Mind
Put First Things First
Think Win-Win
Seek First to Understand Then to Be Understood
Synergize
Sharpen the Saw

I've met a lot of people who say I should not keep my promises and I'd like to show them the "Make and Keep Commitments" card. Ok, so none of us are perfect and you might have to break promises to keep your sanity. Still, I think I'm less enthusiastic about making casual promises because I know I'll want to keep them. Keeping promises you make to yourself can help you build your self-esteem and therefore you will see more success in your life.

You may actually find that you are already practicing many of these principles. It might seem obvious that we should have goals, but when was the last time we actually wrote them down and figured out which ones we have already achieved? I recently wrote out some goals and one of my goals is to learn to say "no." Yes, I have a problem with saying no.

Some of the cards you might enjoy reading:

"Practice Empathic Listening."
"See the perspective of others."
"Help people in meaningful ways."

These cards will remind you to overcome habitual tendencies that work against your success.

~TheRebeccaReview.com