8 February 2024

Let’s Talk About the 7 Habits of Really Successful People

By Ronald Smith

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The 7 Habits of Really Successful People

This book called The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People was written by Stephen R. Covey and was published back in 1989. If you run a small business, you’ve probably read this book. I even know some people who read it over and over again.

This year marks the 30th Anniversary of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and a new edition of the book has been released, which is even more amazing.

I have personally read this book multiple times and I have also taken the Franklin Planner course many times before it merged with the 7 Habits principles and became the Franklin-Covey organization. This book changed my life, the way I think, and helped me reduce a lot of stress.

Somehow, I completely forgot about my practice of the 7 Habits. And let me tell you, I paid the price for it.

In 1998, I was given a huge opportunity to become the worldwide director of marketing for a major corporation. I was excited to put my leadership skills to good use, but things didn’t quite turn out the way I expected. I quickly found myself constantly reacting to everything around me, with no sense of direction. This led to extreme insomnia and anxiety, and I became disillusioned and depressed. I hated my job, my team, and even the customers. Eventually, I had no choice but to resign.

Lost in self-pity, I turned to my old, worn-out copy of the 7 Habits. I decided to read it from cover to cover, hoping to find some inspiration. Then, I gave myself a challenge: focus on one habit at a time. And that’s when my journey towards reclaiming a life I truly loved began.

It’s the Perfect Moment to Revisit the 7 Habits Just for You

Did you know that the Franklin-Covey organization couldn’t foresee the pandemic? But I believe they knew it was time to bring us a new version of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People tailored for today’s overwhelmed and distracted crowd.

Whenever life gets chaotic, it’s always a great idea to pause and focus on the basics. It’s time to get rid of the things that cloud your thinking and priorities. It’s time to remind yourself of what truly matters.

Right now, it’s the perfect time to get a FRESH copy of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

This updated edition of the 7 Habits includes insightful new content by Sean Covey that I believe will resonate with you.

Sean Covey’s Sections are Wonderfully Candid, Powerful, and Inspiring

What I found so inspiring about these updated sections of the book wasn’t just the 7 Habits principles themselves, but rather the reminder that we are all human. We forget things. We make mistakes. And what truly matters in our leadership journey is not how perfectly we apply these principles, but how well we bounce back when we do forget them.

Are You Ready to Reflect on Yourself?

One thing we can always count on in life is disruption and change. Especially during times of uncertainty, it’s easy to lose our sense of direction and react instinctively with fight or flight responses.

It has been quite some time since I last revisited the 7 Habits, and as I dive into this new edition, I can’t help but feel the sense of urgency that resonates throughout the pages.

It’s like each page, every chart, is grabbing me by the shoulders, looking me straight in the eye, and saying, Hey, check this out! Is this where you’re at? And if it is, look over there. See how much better it is? Imagine how much more creative and powerful you could be if you viewed things a little differently.

Take habit 2, for example, which is called Begin with the end in mind. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? But before you can reach your destination, you need to know exactly where you are right now. You need to find your center.

Whatever is at your center will provide you with security, guidance, and wisdom, Covey explains.

Ahh, that’s nice.

Then Covey delves into the most common things we usually place at the center of our lives: money, pleasure, ourselves, our spouse, a church, work, enemies… and the list goes on.

Wow, this chart really caught my attention — and honestly, it made me feel a bit uneasy because I could see myself in many of these situations. I think you’ll feel the same way too.

Let's Talk About the 7 Habits of Really Successful People

BUT, when you focus on principles, it becomes a part of who you are. It’s something within your power to shape and guide.

Let's Talk About the 7 Habits of Really Successful People

When I think about principles, I see them as a way of living my life. Who am I becoming in each aspect of my life? My principles define who I truly am. They shape how I show up in different areas.

For instance, I can choose to be Loving or I can choose to be Fun. Just imagine how powerful this choice can be.

Unlike other things that can change, principles remain constant.

Packed with Activities to Guide You

While the previous editions included activities for you to complete, this new edition has taken it to the next level.

Now that we’re spending most of our time at home, with limited external activities, it’s the perfect opportunity to dive into this book and actually do these activities.

Imagine how much your thinking, your outlook, and your connections could change.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed and scared by all that’s going on, you absolutely need to read the latest version of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People right away.

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