The Seven Habits Steven Covey Taught Me

Thanks in advance for reading this article. I appreciate your interest and hope you get a few good ideas. I'd love to hear what you liked. Please write me a little COMMENT below. Start a conversation. Tell me what you think, and I'll reply. Promise.
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You probably heard that Steven Covey died recently.

His 1990 book, The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People, influenced many people, myself included.

In The Seven Habits, Steven Covey systematically describes how to we can successfully conduct a worthwhile, purposeful life.

In the last 20 years, he helped people apply that wisdom everywhere — in their business life as well as personal life. From this list,  you’ll gather the scope of his vision and appreciate how people can use the seven habits.

• First, be proactive.  “Act with initiative”
• Second, begin with the end in mind.  “Personal leadership”
• Third, put first things first.  “Personal management”
• Fourth, think win-win.  “Interpersonal leadership”
• Fifth, seek first to understand and then to be understood “Diagnose before you prescribe”
• Sixth, synergize.  “Creative cooperation”
• Seventh, sharpen the saw.  “Self-renewal”

Steven Covey’s book has been widely popular, and he wrote several books afterward to expand on his original points.  In fact, I’ve written here about another of Covey’s books, First Things First.

I recommend you read one of his books, take a course of his training, or watch some of his videos on YouTube.  Chances are you’ve already benefitted from at least one of the seven habits, whether you learned directly from reading any of Covey’s books, or indirectly, from someone who demonstrated any of these habits.

I’ve taken all the seven habits to heart, and I re-read his books periodically.  I consider each habit to be important, and my personal favorite is the seventh, “Sharpen the Saw”.  I regularly pause to assess how I’m doing, where I’ve been, and where I’m heading.

It’s how I stay in the game.  I look at the skills I rely on and improve them with some kind of training.  I look at the skills I need to develop further and arrange how to get them.

Who couldn’t benefit from this habit?

I also use each habit as a guide as I help people plan the music for their weddings and parties.  All of them count, of course, but the one I find most helpful most often is the second: “Begin with the end in mind”.

In other words, begin planning the music for your celebration with a clear vision of the mood you want — what it will look like, sound like, and feel like to be a guest there.

How about YOU?  Do YOU practice any of The Seven Habits?  Which is YOUR favorite?

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Thanks for reading this article. I appreciate your interest and hope you get a few good ideas here. Got one or two? I'd love to hear what you liked. Please write me a little COMMENT below. Start a conversation -- I'll reply. Promise.

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Meanwhile, the Magnolia Jazz Band entertains at weddings and parties throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. If you are ever nearby, you’ll love catching us in action, seeing and hearing us create a great mood.

How can I help you? Call 408-245-9120 or use [email protected]. Planning a celebration? Ask about our availability.

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