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The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
EVOC 518 – John Emerson
Book Review by: Leonard A. Moreno

Habit - 1

	We are free to use the space between stimulus and response to make choices that best reflect our values.
	Despite past choices and the impact of others' choices and negative behaviors, we are free to continue making choices based on our values.
	Reactive people do not acknowledge the space between stimulus and response. They make choices based on moods, feelings, and circumstances.
	Reactive people blame their attitude and behavior on things they cannot control. They respond to stimulus, often attributing behavior to genetic, psychic, and environmental determinants.
	The elements of determinism influence us, but do not determine us.
	The unique human endowments allow us to determine our own lives.
	Reactive language focuses on our Circle of Concern. Proactive language focuses on our Circle of Influence.
	By working productively within our Circle of Influence, its widens to take in more our Circle of Concern.
	By working reactively within our Circle of Concern, our Circle of Influence diminishes.
	Relationships are built by action before emotion.
	We can choose to replace negative behaviors with positive ones instead of transmitting the negative behaviors to others.
	We can choose to positively influence others through our actions and example.

Habit - 2

	Begin with the End in Mind is the first creation
	Begin with the End in Mind is the habit of personal leadership.
	We can rescript ineffective thoughts and behavior with effective ones.
	Each of us has a "center" that guides our decisions and motivates us to act.
	Of all the possible centers, only a principle center secures, guides, and empowers.
	A Personal Mission Statement can be a powerful tool in providing direction and meaning to life.
	Writing a personal mission statement is as much an act of discovery as an act of creation.
	Roles and goals give meaning and order to life.

Habit - 3

	The Private Victory helps us spend more time in Quadrant II.
	First things help us achieve what we personally consider a worthwhile purpose.
	All activities can be classified by importance and urgency, and can fit into one of the four quadrants on the Time Management Matrix.
	The best of our time focuses on the quadrants that emphasize importance. Of these two quadrants, our primary focus should be in Quadrant II.
	Habit 3 involves a Six-Step Process that helps us act on the basis of importance to organize and execute around priorities.

Habit - 4

	Win-lose thinking promotes unhealthy comparisons and competition.
	Win-Win is a commitment that allows everyone to win.
	Scripts that are not win-win are ineffective.
	Scarcity Mentality is the opposite of Abundance Mentality.
	Win-Win is a balance between courage and consideration.
	Win-Win relationships come from believing in the Third Alternative.
	Win-Win is a paradigm of human interaction.
	People with a win-win character possess integrity, maturity, and an Abundance Mentality.

Habit - 5

	To properly diagnose a person's condition, situation, or problem, we must fir practice Empathic Listening.
	People listen at different levels.
	Listening empathically is vital under certain conditions.
	Autobiographical responses can keep us from understanding.
	Listening with the yes, ears, and heart will help us understand feeling, meaning, and content.
	Empathy is deep understanding of another person.
	Empathic Listening gives others psychological air.
	The skill of Empathic Listening takes practice.
	Empathic Listening is not good for everything.
	The second half of the skill of creating understanding is seeking to be understood.

Habit - 6

	Synergy means that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
	Synergize is the process that reveals the Third Alternative.
	The way to create synergy is to create and environment that supports it.
	Relationships that join people of different abilities and styles of thinking are opportunities of synergy.
	The first step in taking advantage of differences is to respect them and appreciate them.
	Prejudging can keep us from appreciating differences.
	Synergistic communications is open.

Habit - 7

	Sharpen the Saw means maintaining and improving the things that help us accomplish our work and other desires.
	To Sharpen the Saw, make gradual changes from day to day.
	Regular exercise, study, and practice will improve the mind, body and spirit.
	The spiritual dimension is our source of meaning and purpose.
	The social dimension gives us the opportunity for Public Victory.
	The social dimensions is a challenge to our proactivity.

There are several books and programs out which offer the solution on how to change almost anything about yourself you want. I know, because I have read so many of them. In my opinion, they are good mostly as a catalyst to start a person thinking. Do not expect to find a miracle cure for your bad habits. First, I would ask what aspects of your personality are you trying to change, because these aspects are usually only symptoms. Second, ask what it is that causes these aspects in your life to be so prevalent. If you can begin to solve the cause instead of the symptom, then your change in personality can be long lasting. When it comes down to it, you are the only person who can change yourself. Books, motivational programs, and infomercials can help point you in the right direction, but only you have the ability to decide to go that direction. Changing oneself takes time, perseverance, dedication, and sheer will power...and did I mention time? I write this because so often these motivational programs are only motivational for a day or two. In order for any of it to work, you have to be willing to stick with it long after the infomercial, video, tape, or book is over. I am neutral with Covey's seven habits, and like all "good" things that comes along like this, it's only as beneficial as far as I can throw it. Too much info that too late.