Summary Of Covey's Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People

The importance of this first step cannot be overstated. What it demands is that you articulate as specifically as possible the target you are aiming form, your final destination. By not setting a goal that is clear and specific, a student coming into the university or registering for a class or joining any social, religious or political network has put the cart before the horse and God knows where that will lead. Steve Covey (1999) uses the analogy of how one follows a blueprint when building a house. In Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Covey further relates that a good way to achieve success in any endeavor is “to begin with the end in mind.”A pilot who takes off from Enugu Airport has the flight’s end in mind; the taxi driver who
Let’s take a small example for now. Imagine traveling through Port Harcourt on the Enugu Expressway and you stop at Four Corners to ask somebody which road you should follow. To be able to help you the person would have to know where you are going, would he not? Just imagine if you did not know the destination to ask about. In that case, the person queried would be correct in saying that it doesn’t matter which way he points you. And even if you somehow made your way to the place you were supposed to go to, how would you even know you had arrived at the right location? Does having your destination in mind assure you will get there? Not for certain, but it increases not only your chances but provides other benefits we should mention, such as the fact that goal setting functions sometimes as a driving force and inspiration, a way to maintain resilience in the face of obstacles and challenges. Knowing where you want to go also makes it easier to draw a blueprint on which to formulate specific action plans and strategies which are necessary, helping make sure you do not climb the ladder only to find out that the “ladder is against the wrong wall.” (Covey, 1994, p. 138)