7 habits of highly effective teens chapter summary

From the prose in the book, it can be deduced that every step one takes a step closer to opportunities. The first habit of being proactive stresses the need to make yourself the captain of your ship. Private victory attributes to independence and efficiency accompanied by personal decisions and in this case, covey analyses three habits associated with the independence phase.

Covey, therefore, urges his readers to align their lives with the principles by compiling the goals of their personal mission which take the directions what one wants to be and accomplish.

He adds that the lack of clarity on the two criteria of creation on one's objectives results in the mayhem and chaos of randomness as well as circumstances. Covey states that habit two is formulated on imagination and the rationality that two creation approaches exist which include mental and physical creation. Covey urges people to commence creating their reality by beginning with the end so that they can be precise on their objectives. Starting with the final part in mind is the second habit indicated by covey. Covey adds that when energy focused on the portion one can control, it will in tandem, increase the circle of influence on success and contentment. The latter is further linked up to the fact that the extent to which we can control things is indirectly proportional to giving up and boredom which manifests in the form of worry as well as complaining. He introduces the fact that people have a minimal influence on the things and people they care about consequently, people should narrow down and focus on the portion that they can control. In this part, Covey brings out the concept of the ‘the circle of control’ in the representation of all that people care to attach emotions too. The haves' are also the kind that dwells on regrets such that they exclaim statements like, ‘if I had a car…’ however, the circle of people who are be's people look forward to changing their inner self by ‘being’ what they desire. Such people attach happiness and success to material things and worry more about what other people are going to say about them as well as pleasing the crowd. The author also describes the difference in success and happiness between the ‘have’s’ and the ‘be’s.’ The ‘have’s are the kind of people that chase success by acquiring things that make them happy for instance when one talks about being happy when they have a car. People unlike animals do not react to stimuli but rather respond appropriately after critical thinking to issues. One also has a conscience which is the deep and innate feeling of making out the right from wrong. People have the vision that aids in the creation of reality in the future beyond what is in the present. He adds the facts that people not only have imagination, but they also have the self-awareness, unlike animals that are programmed to behave in a particular manner. Covey argues that proactivity is the unique characteristic that set us apart from animals.Ĭovey describes the difference between stimulus and response using the analogy of Frankl to show that human beings have the prerogative to choose and that is what distinguishes from animals. The ability to independently decide on the appropriate stimulus to take onto without the influence of the world is Covey's definition of proactivity.

He states that a person has the capability of creating their reality since they are in charge of their lives. In this part, Covey introduces the first habit of highly effective humans as being proactive.

7 habits of highly effective teens chapter summary