The 7 Habits Of Highly Successful People by Stephen Covey: A Review

The book talks about how one can ensure victory in both personal and professional life by following 7 simple rules as stated by the author in the title. Firstly, he gives an overview of the rules which are meant to be employed and followed in real life and the individual should ingrain them in their routine. These habits would them allow the person to live their lives to the fullest and realise their actual potential and unlock unprecedented levels of happiness.

The book is divided into four parts- Paradigms and Principles; Private Victory; Public Victory; Renewal. The first and the last parts talk about how principles may affect the lives of individuals and how to keep practicing them. It also gives a synopsis of sorts before actually coming to the habits. It explains how changes in perception might lead to drastic paradigm shifts. Parts two and three are the actual principles in action and how they help an individual evolve into a better version of themselves.

The seven principles/habits are:- Be proactive; begin with the end in mind; put first things first; think win/win; seek to understand, then to be understood; synergize; sharpen the saw. Habit one, two and three deal with winning over our own nature. They are about how to understand ourselves and then effectively put ourselves into action. They are about harmony with oneself. They talk about how we should be somebody who takes initiative. They explain that in order to get something done, somebody has to do it. They explain how to plan effectively and prioritize our tasks in a fashion which is most lucrative.

Then the habits four, five and six are about utilising the developed personality and a better sense of planning in order to achieve personal and professional goals. They talk about the ideal social behaviour and leadership qualities. Starting with thinking about the needs of others at the same level as our own needs and employing a successful win/win strategy. They the author asks the readers to empathise with the public a lot. He asserts that one can only expect to be understood if he/she is willing to put themselves in others’ shoes as well. After being empathetic he states it is also quite important to come together in order to complete tasks. Cooperation is the key to collective growth as the author insists. The final habit- Sharpen the saw is about living a balanced life and appreciating the good things in it and being grateful for them. It suggests how to keep enacting the rest six habits for the rest of our lives for a healthy brain/body.

The book was a remarkable read in terms of engagement and writing style. Although some chapters in between are rather slow but it soon picks the pace. The author successfully provides some very useful and relatable anecdotes from his own life to help the reader form a better connection with the content. Lastly, it was quite intuitive and praise worthy. Not to mention the practical applications of the book which would undoubtedly benefit the reader in multiple ways.