The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Restoring the Character Ethic

by Stephen R. Covey

Number of pages: 358

Publisher: Free Press

BBB Library: Business Classics

ISBN: 978-0671663988



About the Author

Covey is an internationally respected leadership authority, family expert, teacher, organizational consultant and author.

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Editorial Review

Almost all the literature in the first 150 years or so focused on what could be called the “Character Ethic” as the foundation of success—things like integrity, humility, fidelity, temperance, courage, justice, patience, industry, simplicity, modesty and the Golden Rule. Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography is representative of that literature. It is, basically, the story of one man’s effort to integrate certain principles and habits deep within his nature.

Book Reviews

"Because of the philosophical nature of the book and the very wide focus, 7 Habits is going to appeal in vastly different ways to different people. There isn’t a universal take-home message here; it really depends on the reality of your own life and where you’re at."— The Simple Dollar

"Stephen Covey's Seven Habits are a simple set of rules for life - inter-related and synergistic, and yet each one powerful and worthy of adopting and following in its own right. For many people, reading Covey's work, or listening to him speak (now in recordings, videos, etc), literally changes their lives."— Business Balls

"Stephen Covey’s book is one of the phenomena of modern personal development writing. It has sold a million copies a year since its release in 1989, has been translated into 32 languages, and forms the intellectual basis of a large corporation."— City Wire

"The majority of Covey’s 7 habits are timeless principles not just for getting stuff done blindly, but for looking at work and yourself from a higher perspective. His habits go to the root of the problem, namely: we can’t improve our efficiency until we know why we’re seeking to optimize, what our goals are, and why we’re all working so damn hard."— Wrike

"Over 25 years later, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People remains one of the most referenced books in its genre. It set the tone not only for Covey’s second book but for an entirely new genre of literature."— Cleverism

"There is really nothing bad to say about this roadmap to a better life. The writing is very accessible and still does a thorough job of fully presenting the information. He even uses diagrams and pictures to help illuminate certain points he is making. Each habit is well discussed, and there are numerous stories and examples throughout each chapter to solidify his message."— Scott Drotar

Books on Related Topics

Wisdom to Share

The Character Ethic taught that there are basic principles of effective living, and that people can only experience true success and enduring happiness as they learn and integrate these principles into their basic character.

Many people with secondary greatness—that is, social recognition for their talents—lack primary greatness or goodness in their character.

The Personality Ethic is illusory and deceptive. And trying to get high-quality results with its techniques and quick fixes is just about as effective as trying to get some place in Chicago using a map of Detroit.

Principles are like lighthouses. They are natural laws that cannot be broken.

Principles are guidelines for the human conduct that are proven to have enduring, permanent value. They’re fundamental. They’re essentially unarguable because they’re self-evident.

As long as we are working in the Circle of Concern, we empower the things within it to control us. We aren’t taking the initiative necessary to effect positive change.

Effectiveness, often even survival, does not depend solely on how much effort we expend, but on whether or not the effort we expend is in the right jungle.

By centering our lives on correct principles and creating a balanced focus between doing and increasing our ability to do, we become empowered in the task of creating effective, useful, and peaceful lives… for ourselves and for our posterity.

Most of our mental development and study discipline comes through formal education.

When you communicate synergistically, you are simply opening your mind and heart and expressions to new possibilities, new alternatives, and new options.

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