“The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People” Report

The book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” is one of the best works of Stephen R. Covey. The book was published in year 1989 and became a top-seller. The book discusses approaches that are essential to be effective and to attain goals. Covey disregards contemporary trends and modern psychology and emphasizes human dignity, fairness, and integrity. Each chapter of book talks about one habit that is essential for a successful Person. The book discusses seven habits: be proactive, begin with the end in mind, put first thing first, think win-win, seek first to understand and then to be understood, synergize, and sharpen the saw. The first three habits talk about independence and self-mastery, next three habits inform about effective working with others, and last habit emphasizes on continuous improvement and sustainable development. This paper presents a summary of second habit i.e. “begin with the end in mind”.
The second habit informs that a person should start any task, any project with clear understanding about the destination or what needs to be achieved. The habit focuses on establishing a mission or vision first, then deploying all proactive efforts to achieve that vision. The author says that people often measure success in terms of money or popularity. However, achieving money or popularity does not guarantee accomplishment. It is important for people to ask themselves about what they really want to become. Sometimes people do not achieve success even after achieving victories. Therefore, it is important to place your ladder against the right wall, so that every move takes you closer to the success. Covey asks reader to imagine their funeral and listen to what friends and family member are talking about you, is it the same that person want them say. This is effective example that shows the importance of visualizing what a person wants to become in his or her life.
All individual should develop a blueprint of how their principles and values will help them in achieving the established or visualized goal. All things are created twice first is mental creation and then physical creation. Covey says that people should adopt carpenter rule that is measure twice and cut once. If people do not visualize what they want to be, then they empower external factors such as friends, family and circumstances to shape their life. Covey says that mission statement makes people a leader of their own life. People create their own destiny and safeguard the future of their success.
Each and every day we face certain situations where covey is absolutely right. For example if students do not decide what they want to become in future, their parents will take decision about possible career options. In person I faced such situations when working on projects and assignments. If I do not visualize how I want to do my assignment and what I want to achieve, then I have to work according to other team member’s instruction. Even at home my decisions and actions sometimes get influenced by the friends or family members because I do not visualize my end goal.
The second habit plays a major role in success of person because it allows them to visualize what they want to achieve in future and how they will achieve. The second habit ensures that person does not get mislead in falls success or activities and deploy all efforts in the right direction. The book overall helps in dealing with various aspects of individuals’ lives and make them capable to effectively deal with others and one oneself. The lesson would help me in understanding what I really want to achieve in my life, and what the real success is. After reading the book I am in better position to visualize my goal of life and to handle different day-to-day situations effectively.