Introduction
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is a book authored by Steve Covey and has 178 pages. This is a form of success literature that mainly focuses on the ways through which one can become more effective. The seven habits of highly effective people is a book that centers on the combination of principles and factors for the achievement of effectiveness (Covey, p. 28). Previous forms of success literature have taken priority with the concept of character ethics. Through character ethics, the focus for success lies in the inherent aspects of a character in the person. The other field which had been ignored by the books was the aspect of personality ethics which addresses the importance of one’s personality in pursuit and achievement of success. In this book, Steve covey takes a deeper look at the significance of both character and personality. According to the author of this book, it is important to have a combination of principles and practices to be successful.
Choice of Book
The reason behind my choice of the book is my interest in successful books. I have a lot of interest in the books that talk about success and effectiveness. As a part of this, I am also a big fan of motivational books, books that help me be a better person and to live my life to the fullest. It is against this background that I found the seven habits of highly successful people to be more appropriate for this assignment. The book is a great breakthrough in the analysis of various aspects of personality and character that are necessary for the achievement of effectiveness. The author is a distinguished personality in the area of success and he has a lot of experience and knowledge about the same. The other reason why I chose this book is that the book is unique in its approach concerning the achievement of success and effectiveness. A careful look at the comparison of this book and other success books reveals a more integrated approach towards the whole aspect of philosophy and success. This is due to the fact the Steve covey integrates various aspects in the description of the habits that bring success. His approach is both broad and inclusive and I find the book a great companion to those who desire the fruits of success.
Helpful and Applicable Concepts
The book has a lot of concepts that are both helpful and applicable in day-to-day life. For instance, the aspect of independence has been stressed upon in the book. Through independence, a person can achieve a lot of progress and effectiveness. It is through learning to be independent that one can tackle the challenges of life and emerge victoriously. Being proactive is another concept which I find to be very important in the pursuit of success. (Covey, p. 60) being Proactive is necessary bearing in mind the challenging nature of life. The book offers various remedies for life’s problems which can make it difficult to achieve success. Through the book, the reader is equipped to live life to the fullest and also make progress.
Things I Disagree With
As much as I agree with most of the contents of this book there are certain things that I don’t believe to be right. There are certain concepts and aspects of success written in this book that I don’t agree with. For instance, the aspect of thinking ‘win win’ is neither practical nor realistic. Under normal circumstances, life gives you one thing at the expense of the other. As a result thinking ‘win win’ only sets you for frustration. It is not realistic to expense things to be perfect. Something must be missing or wrong at any given point in time. So the author’s idea of thinking ‘win win’ is not practical and I don’t agree with it at all.
Impact of the Book on My Life
‘The seven habits of highly successful people’ have had a lot of impact on my life. Since I read the book, I have experienced a lot of change and transformation in the way I approach life (Covey, p. 132). First and foremost I have changed the way I interact with people since the book stresses the importance of interdependence. I have learned to value others because they play a crucial role in the achievement of my dreams. At the same time, I have learned to combine my character and personality to make long-term success. The book has taught me the importance of both principles and practices. I am a better person because of this book.
Work cited
Covey, Stephen. The 7 habits of highly effective people. Washington: Simon & Schuster, 2005.