Stephen Covey, the author of this bestseller, outlines the habits that he believes will help individuals achieve success in all areas of their lives. 

Stephen Covey published a book that has captivated readers and transformed the lives of millions of people. That book is The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and it is still highly relevant today. In this book, Covey outlines the habits that he believes will help individuals achieve success in all areas of their lives. These habits are: being proactive, beginning with the end in mind, putting first things first, thinking win-win, seeking to understand and then to be understood, synergising, and sharpening the saw.

Why these habits are still relevant today

In the 25 years since Covey’s book was published, the world has changed a lot. But the principles in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People are still just as relevant. In fact, they might be even more relevant now than they were when the book was first published.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is a self-help book that teaches individuals the habits that Covey believed would help them achieve success in all areas of their lives. These habits include being proactive, beginning with the end in mind, putting first things first, thinking win-win, seeking to understand and then be understood, synergizing, and sharpening the saw. The book has sold millions of copies and although the author passed away in 2012 it continues to be highly relevant today.

A book can make you feel a variety of emotions whether you like it or not. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is a powerful book that teaches individuals the habits that Covey believed would help them achieve success in all areas of their lives. 

The book has sold millions of copies and although the author passed away in 2012 it continues to be highly relevant today. I read this book for the first time a couple of decades ago, and it made me feel hopeful. I had just graduated from college and was full of hope and probably false confidence but luckily realized that I had not learned a whole lot about building a life, or a business for that matter – a common complaint about college education even now! 

This book showed me that it was possible to achieve success, whatever that means, and that success by many definitions is dependent, not on what I had learned at college, but on what I had learned about myself if I was willing to put in the effort and follow the habits that Covey outlines. 

This book is an excellent resource for anyone looking to improve their life or career. 

Key takeaways from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People:

  • The first habit, being proactive, is still relevant because it’s more important than ever to take control of our lives. With the constantly changing landscape of the world, it’s more important than ever to be proactive and take charge of our own lives. 
  • The second habit, beginning with the end in mind, is relevant because it helps us focus on what’s important. In a world where there are so many distractions, it’s important to be able to focus on what’s really important and work towards our goals. 
  • The third habit, putting first things first, is still relevant because it’s important to prioritize our time. With so many demands on our time, it’s more important than ever to make sure we’re spending our time on the things that are most important to us. 
  • The fourth habit, thinking win-win, is still relevant because it’s essential to have good relationships. In order to build successful relationships, both personal and professional, it’s important to think win-win.  
  • The fifth habit, seeking first to understand and then to be understood, is still relevant because it’s essential to communication. To effectively communicate with others, we need to first seek to understand them and then be open to being understood ourselves. 
  • The sixth habit, synergising – the principles of cooperation, is still relevant because it’s important to work together. To achieve our goals, we need to be able to work together with others. 
  • And finally, the seventh habit, sharpening the saw, is still relevant because it’s important to continuously improve. In order to be successful, we need to continuously strive to improve ourselves. Some would say that success is not what we get from the journey, it’s what we become during the journey.

High Points of the 7 Habits

I liked the section near the end of the book where Covey talked about how we need to continuously improve ourselves in all areas of our lives, where he spoke about sharpening the saw – this really held resonance for me, both when I first read the book and again when I re-read it several weeks ago. This is something that I’ve taken to heart and strive to do every day. Whether it’s learning a new skill, reading a book, or simply trying to become a better person.

The book is full of quotable points and gems of which the following might be of use today:

“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” 

“A person who is genuinely interested in you will want to hear about your dreams and aspirations.” 

“The highest level of effectiveness comes from living by principle rather than personal opinion.”

And Finally

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

by Stephen R Covey (1989)

So there you have it, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is still as relevant and powerful a book today as it was when published over thirty years ago. I am convinced that it will stand the test of time alongside some of the greats like Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill and How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. 

If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it. And if you have read it, I encourage you to re-read it and see how the principles can apply to your life in 2022. 

Of Course, If You’re On The Go – You can Always Get This On Your Audible Membership Offer This is my review, I have an Audible Membership and, full disclosure, I may get an affiliate commission if you make a purchase and will be very grateful. Thank you and enjoy.

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