Why do some people go far in life and achieve their dreams why others do not? Is there some secret or set of secrets successful people have that others can learn from to be successful too? Stephen R. Covy’s book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People works to answer this question by laying down seven habits that help people to become effective in life, family and work.
The seven habits are as follows. The first is to be proactive. That life does not just happen to you. You make your own luck by placing yourself in situations where opportunities arise.
The next habit is to begin with the end in mind. This one is about goal setting. Unless you know where you are going, you will not get there.
The third habit is to put first things first. This one is about learning to prioritize things in life.
The next habit is to think win-win. This one deals with creating situations of mutually beneficial outcomes.
The fifth habit is to seek first to understand, then to be understood. This one could be akin to listening and endeavoring to walk in someone elses shoes before judging them.
Synergize, the next habit, could also be called collaborate and work together. It means mixing the talents of others in order to accentuate potential. Being apart of a team, one can accomplish more than they can alone.
The final habit is sharpen the saw. The modern world is filled with a need to be a jack of all trades, but it is important to specialize at something and become the best at that. This habit is about honing in on your most valuable asset and increasing it’s potential.
Reference
Covey, S. R. (2004). The 7 habits of highly effective people: restoring the character ethic ([Rev. ed.). New York: Free Press.
