Conclusion to "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People"

So I've just finished "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen R. Covey.

And what did I think?

Well, before I get into that I first want to talk about a few things that I have learned.

The first thing, and one of the most important I think, is to schedule your priorities, not make your schedule your priority.  I think everyone understands this problem.  Lots of times we find ourselves reacting to our surroundings, feeling like we need to get this done or that done.  But by doing these things do we come any closer to what we desire in life?  For everyone who can say that they do, good for you! I hope to be like you.  The point is that we often find ourselves just following along with what we think is necessary, without thinking about whether this brings us closer to what we feel our purpose is, what our greatest desires are in life.  And I now know I need to figure out what my purpose is, what I desire to be and do, and to make that a priority in my life.

The second thing I've learned is the importance of a Win/Win situation.  Now I never really thought about this too much to be honest.  But when Covey started to talk about how society promotes fighting for what you think is right, and the promotion of self sufficiency without thought of cooperation, it then made sense why we usually think in a more Win/Lose way. But really, the better way to do this, is to use cooperation to create a situation where both sides win.  And it's not only with business ventures as well.  It's also about communication with your peers or family.  It's about the choices you make with others, or even with something you need to decide for yourself.  To suddenly think about a situation, and realize that I can get what I want, and the other person can get what they want with some creative thinking, then it's certainly something that should be done.

The third major thing I learned from this book was the need for communication.  And not just communication, but learning how to truly listen to someone.  And in truly listening but also understanding what the person says so that the trust can grow between you.  Now this also ties into the Win/Win situation I was talking about in the previous paragraph.  But I really like this advice because it's certainly opened my eyes to better communication with my loved ones.  To be able to be open and honest about who I am and what I want in life but also to be able to listen and fully take in the fears and hopes of others around me.  And, in turn, make decisions that create trust between us.  Though I said the first point was the most important, this one certainly is a close second.

Overall, this book did have some good lessons, and I enjoyed some of his stories that he told about his family.  Honestly, without the stories, I probably would have been bored out of my mind with the textbook content and probably wouldn't get half of the points he talks about. 

Would I read it again?  No way. 

Would I recommend it to a friend?  Yes, because I found some of the information quite educational but I would only give it with the warning that the author is redundant at times, and it's like reading a textbook with stories. 

So overall I would give this book a B-.  Good information and I like the layout of the 7 Habits.  But overall, for someone just reading it, the language can be dry at times and the points are made with an overabundance of medical terms and lettered equations.  And pie charts, which just isn't my cup of tea.

So, now, without further delay, and with two weeks to go, I'm now starting my fourth book!

The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne.