If you’re one of the enlightened people on the planet who’ve read, studied and lived “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,”, then you are intimately familiar with Stephen Covey and his brilliant work. His best-selling book “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” sold more than 25 million copies in 38 languages. There are thousands of authors, motivational speakers and life coaches in the world; but there was only ONE Stephen Covey. Each time I had the opportunity to see him live, I always came away with a renewed feeling of my own self-worth and a belief that I could change anything I set my mind to! The 7 Habits have changed lives and inspired generations.
Habit 1: Be Proactive
Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind
Habit 3: Put First Things First
Habit 4: Think Win-Win
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood
Habit 6: Synergize
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw
Covey later released his 8th Habit: Find your voice and inspire others to find theirs (very much in the same way that I encourage you to Get Loud and Get Involved).
Since his untimely death at the age of 79, much has been written on Covey. There was one quote in particular that stuck out to me from his son Sean Covey. “He always treated everybody the same, exactly,” said Sean, “It didn’t matter if you were the CEO of a Fortune 100 company or the local barber. You wouldn’t have ever known the difference”.
Covey had it right, it doesn’t matter if it was the local barber or the CEO, both people deserved his time and respect. In a world of fast moving communications, people have less time to meet face to face. Email, voice mail and texting are tools of convenience and if used improperly can cause great harm to any relationship. Device-driven communications will never replace the personal interactions that drive and secure great relationships. Treating everyone the same requires one to avoid surface judgements and to treat people with respect and a dose of humility. It’s a lesson that some people learn early on, some people later in life, and, sadly, there are those who never learn the power of what could be called Covey’s 9th Habit.
Time to Get Involved, Get Loud & Think on the Brink
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