Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

Covey, Stephen R.  The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2013. Print.

Covey's book argues that the most effective people live by correct principles as they navigate their lives on their personal missions. The seven habits Covey describes are 1) "Be Proactive," 2) "Begin with the End in Mind," 3) Put First Things First," 4) "Think Win/Win," 5) "Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood," 6) "Synergize" and 7) "Sharpen the Saw" (xxix). To me, this translates to: take initiative, plan, prioritize, be considerate, listen, collaborate, and keep learning.  

Covey organizes these principles into three categories: "Private Victory," which includes taking initiative, planning, and prioritizing; "Public Victory," which includes being considerate, listening, and collaborating; and "Renewal," which includes only "sharpen the saw" (xxix).  This organization emphasizes developing personal responsibility and self-management before working with others.