This is not just another ’’self-help’’ book...but a manual to live life. Centuries of wisdom have been compiled into this.
Over the years, psychoanalysts, philosophers and writers have tried to coin philosophies to succeed in personal and professional relationships. Most of these philosophies deal with bringing about changes in the outward attitude...very few, if any attempted to focus on the inner character of human beings. This difference is summed up beautifully in Covey’s classification of ’’personality ethic’’ and ’’character ethic’’. Both are important, but personality ethic is secondary. The book is therefore, rightly sub-titled ’’Restoring the character ethic’’.
Stephen Covey’s approach at success in relationships is ’’fix yourself first’’. He says only ’’independent’’ people can succeed in ’’interdependent’’ relationships. The first 3 habits therefore deal with building a true independent personality. While at it, his analysis of ’’circle of influence’’ and ’’circle of concern’’ is wonderful.
The next 3 habits deal with building relationships....the long-term ones. The last habit is again about building yourself.
The title of the book needs some explanation. The most important part of the title is ’’effective’’. Effective is different from efficient. A person travelling from Bombay to Delhi in a plane moving at 500 miles per hour can be said to do so very efficiently, but if his real goal is to reach Hyderabad, then what he is doing is ineffective. Stephen Covey’s book helps you in knowing your real ’’goal’’ or ’’mission’’ in life. Documenting your mission statement is very important and this will serve as the constitution for your life. The seven habits can then help you achieve your goals in the most ’’effective’’ manner.
Covey’s emphasis is on principles - something that don’t change over time. People can be money-centred, status-centred, etc...but these kind of attitudes cannot give happiness. Happiness can be achieved only through principle-centredness.
Covey’s book has been credited with changing people’s personal and professional lives. Covey makes his points in a simple, touching and highly effective language with some great examples. The style in which the ’’index’’ of the book has been compiled is enough to tell us how genuinely Covey wants to help people.