The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People Essay

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People When facing a problem, human nature looks for a “quick fix.” Whether it is the latest diet fad or a get rich scheme, almost all “quick fixes” produce the same short-lived results and often no results at all. As a society, we are drawn to the appeal of a quick and easy route which leads to immediate results. We have grown accustomed to an easy lifestyle that uses superficial tactics when interacting with others. The problem with these quick fixes is that they deceive us into believing it is possible to avoid going through the natural process of work and growth, an essential process in order to change. These quick solutions not only try to cheat the system, but also cause us to lose touch with our inner values. In The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Steven Covey addresses this issue by using universal principles to demonstrate how important work and growth are to achieving success.
The title of this book is somewhat deceiving as it may seem a step-by-step guide about how a person can be successful in business. However, it is not and there is no such manual. This book is about changing one’s life not by adopting superficial tactics, but about adopting real, meaningful values and principles and applying them to all aspects in one’s life.
Covey begins the book by discussing his rational for writing the book. He talks about the importance of applying our fundamental principles as opposed to trying to get by with superficial tactics. Reading this chapter I remembered my dad telling me something similar to Covey’s ideas. After blowing up what should have been a small argument with my sister, my father came up to me and tried to explain that if I continued to act in such a way that I would never be successful, especially if I wanted to pursue business. I then told him that I doubted I would ever talk to my future boss or co-workers the same way I talk to my ten year old sister. He then said, “The way you act