The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Guided Journal: (Goals Journal, Self Improvement Book)

"Everything is about nuance, " said a friend recently. What is it about a three chord Bob Dylan song that makes it so unique and special, and so different from the millions of other three chord songs that have been written or could be written? What makes one teacher's lesson plan so much more effective when taught by that teacher than the exact same lesson plan when taught by another teacher?And what makes Stephen Covey's The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People - a 320 page masterpiece which really feels like nothing more than intellectualized common sense - so, well, effective? Nuance. Yet it is a series of nuances that makes 7 Habits so unique and so much more appealing than other "self-improvement" books. When I read this book, I could not put it down. Like the three chord Dylan song, I was sometimes saying, "Why this book? What exactly is so different here?" Nevertheless, this book has had a profound impact on my life, in that many times it provides a frame of reference for much of what I already believe, and encourages me to act on my own personal set of principles and beliefs in a way that no other book I've read ever has.Warning - you have to be at a point in your life in which you are ready to make a change in order for this book to be effective. The book can not "act upon you," you must be "willing to act." The powerful thesis present in this book is the firm belief, which other wise individuals have espoused, that you can change your life if you want to. Bad habits can be broken, you are not resigned to live with the "script" that you have lived to date.When I first picked up the book, I couldn't figure out exactly what it was going to be about. I expected to see specifics like, "Clean up your desk, schedule a half hour a day of meditation, eat lots of green vegetables," etc. However, Covey will not tell you what to do, he simply offers a set of principles to follow. I respect that. He will not give you the answers - you have to find them and know them for yourself.Most important, unlike so much of even the best time management advice and investment advice, Covey appeals to principles such as honesty and integrity and compassion. He says that these things come first, and he argues that being a decent human being can be good for the soul and for the bottom line. Hence, "effective." And that is why this book is a business book that can be adapted for many different purposes, rather than just some piece of noveau pop psychology. When I was done reading, it was very clear as to why this book has been so popular for all these years.Some criticisms on these boards suggest that Covey's advise is trite and obvious. Again, I argue that he succeeds with nuance - there's just something about this book that makes it different! I also disagree with those who say he intellectualizes. In fact, he merely refuses to give quick and easy answers. Additionally, I don't believe he writes in a "holier than thou" tone. Many times he acknowledges his own faults, but to successfully write a book such as this, one can not spend the whole time apologizing for being human. One must argue for a clear set of principles and beliefs, and must be confident when doing so.This is one of the greatest books ever written. It is definitely the most important book I have ever read.

Simple, powerful, deep,and enriching prose. A truly brilliant read. I highly recommend. Great rules for understanding self, and others, to become better.

This book has been on my Currently Reading list for quite some time: I received it as part of my onboarding packet when I started working at Epic Systems seven years ago! In those seven years, I quit Epic, spent time as a freelance designer, guided my kids through Covid virtual learning, and ended up back at my alma mater as a research lab manager. At the same time, I started the book over, reread several parts because I lost my place, and now have finally finished it. Honestly, I think this was exactly the way I needed to read this book. It gave me time to absorb the content, apply the habits one at a time, and experience personal growth before continuing to the next stage. This is not a book with a handful of things you can check off your to do list every day and consider yourself "successful", it is at its heart a book of philosophy. As with most philosophy, what you get out of it depends on what you put into it.There is a core message evident throughout the book that I found very moving, and kept me coming back to it over the years: Humans are strongest when we work together. To work together we must love each other. To love each other we must listen. To be able to listen with open hearts, we must first learn to love and trust ourselves.Note that the title is "The 7 Habits of Highly EFFECTIVE People". Not "successful" or even "influential". Because effectiveness depends not on how you appear to other people, but how well you accomplish your personal goals. To be effective, you must have a thorough understanding of what your goals ARE, and what tools you personally have at your disposal to reach them.Long and short of it: it's a great book. I apply things I have learned from it to every aspect of my life, as a mother, wife, professional, and friend.So...what is my reservation? Why four stars instead of five? Covey, possibly inadvertently, strikes a pretty sore spot for me, that I think I may share with a lot of people who grew up in the Evangelical Christian Church. He frequently references "correct principles" and at times displays rigid attitudes toward s*xuality and "vulgarity" (whatever that means). These are what we might now call "dog whistle" terms--they are strongly associated with a movement that has grown more radical and politicized over the last two decades. Covey is a Christian, of course, and openly states that he believes "correct principles" and in fact the whole idea of conscience originate from God. I don't think Covey is a radical--he references other religions in addition to Christianity, and his whole approach would seem to indicate a general disapproval of politics--but these "dog whistles" still made me uncomfortable. The idea of "correct principles", in particular, seems patriarchal, or at the very least implies a rigidity of thought. What he really means by it would seem to be, in much softer terms, "the laws of natural consequences" or perhaps, "Go with what works."

Nice

Its a really good self help book,especially on the context of proacttivity, paradigm thinking,and most of all the habit to always innovate and improve.

Dans la vie il y a l'école et il y a la connaissance.Si vous cherchez la connaissance, alors prenez ce livre et dévorez le.Il est riche en enseignements et vous donne les clés pour organiser votre vie. Qu'elle doit spirituelle, financière ou même sportive, il y a dedans le processus à suivre pour réussir sa vie.

È un libro che veramente ti spinge a fare le cose meglio. È pieno di esempi pratici e basato sulla vita dello scrittore. Veramente bello. La cosa che non mi è piaciuta personalmente è che è troppo basata suo valori cristiani.

I highly recommend this book! So useful for your personal and professional life. One of the best books I have ever read in my life.