7 Habits of Highly Effective People Summary
This book is written by famous author Stephen R. Convey.
Table of Contents
In this article, I will cover some reasons why you should read this book and some amazing life-learning lessons by which you can make your life and personality worthwhile.
Some of the reasons why you should follow this book
7 Habits Of Highly Effective People highlights the common habits of successful people. And by following these habits we can make personal growth.
Firstly, before writing this book Stephen observed 3000 super successful and rich people and observed seven common habits in them.
The author has also studied all the books related to this section and has extracted these 7 habits from those books.
He found that these habits are the same as the habits of rich and successful people.
This is the only book being taught in top business schools. I also recommend you to read this book.
The first habit that the author found to be common amongst all successful people is Proactive.
Being Proactive – Habit of highly effective people
It means to stay aware of your reaction.
Convert your reactions to actions.
Like if it is raining outside then the perception is that it’s raining outside.
Most will think I can’t work but for the one who thinks I will work let’s take out the solution to this.
This is called proactiveness.
Simply, you can understand this as working even if you do not want to.
Everyone gets distracted but the point is that successful people understand what will be the result of their actions.
This is being proactive.
Do not react or respond instantly let your actions answer the question in a good way.
Even if you do not want to work still think about the result and start working instantly.
Proactiveness is working, taking out the solutions, and not blaming the situation or anyone for this.
Begin with the end in mind
Highly effective people have this habit of imagining the entire goal, its picture in their mind.
The author says that if you participated seriously in this visualization experience you touched by your deep fundamental values.
If you visualize the result of what you want then it develops an inner guidance system internally.
The author says that before making the design of a building architect designed the building in his mind before creating it.
The author says that always visualize the worst-case scenario in your mind.
It will make you aware of the situation and you will try to avoid reaching that worst-case scenario by opting and thinking about options or actions taken for avoiding the situation.
Put first things first
This habit of highly effective people let them confident about their decisions as they are not confused.
The author says to decide your priorities.
We have decided on the goal and kept the result in mind but we get distracted easily.
So, learn to say no and give first preference to your work.
There are two types of work- urgent and important. In reality, there is no urgent work. When we do not pay attention to important work then it comes in front of us as urgent work.
Our priority is our health but we do not pay attention to it so it becomes urgent one day.
We earn but do not save which is important one day it becomes urgent.
Define your priorities and do first things first.
Habit to think win-win
People have different mentalities, some have a win-lose mentality.
But, the author says successful people have the habit of thinking win-win.
When we think I win you also win then we progress towards a fruitful result.
This creates an abundance of reality.
Offer before taking, it will come back to you anyhow.
Think win-win this gives abundance, bliss, and happiness.
Seek first to understand, then to be understood
Most people try to make others understand first rather than understanding them.
They do not listen to understand they listen to answer.
If you listen to an answer then that answer is in your mind and you didn’t hear what they said.
You didn’t develop that empathy.
If you listen to understand then the person will talk more, and share more.
This is the most important part to build a strong personality that listens with empathy, consciousness, and awareness.
Synergy
When energy combines synergy is formed.
The author makes us understand by giving an example of sticks.
A single stick is broken easily but the bundle of sticks is impossible to break because they have combined strength.
In the same way, you can create this synergy with your relationships, at the workplace also.
When two different people of different thinking combine and do work mutually then it creates synergy and this habit of highly effective people results in a better way.
Sharpen your saw- the most important habit of highly effective people
The most important habit amongst the 7 habits of highly effective people is this one.
Upgrade yourself.
Develop yourself by self-discovering.
The author tells the story of a woodcutter, you must have heard one woodcutter who gets tired due to continuous efforts and does not cut the wood further due to tiredness on the other hand the other woodcutter after cutting some wood sharpens his saw for easy wood cutting and he rejuvenates for further wood cutting.
Like this, if we do not sharpen ourselves for work then how will we rejuvenate for further work?
Breaks are necessary otherwise we will feel tired. And, this break should be for self-development to know your inner self.
Improve yourself socially, mentally, spiritually, and health-wise also. So sharpen your saw on regular basis.
