Stephen Covey

Author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, legendary author & teacher

Stephen Richards Covey (October 24, 1932 – July 16, 2012) was an American educator, author, businessman, and keynote speaker. His most popular book was The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. His other books include First Things First, Principle-Centered Leadership, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Families, The 8th Habit, and The Leader In Me — How Schools and Parents Around the World Are Inspiring Greatness, One Child at a Time. He was a professor at the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University at the time of his death.

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Primary Greatness

The 12 Levers of Success

by Stephen R. Covey

Stephen Covey passed away in 2012. This book was published posthumously and features a collection of wisdom focusing on the fact that private victory precedes public victory. Primary greatness. It’s all about what’s on the INSIDE. Covey tells us there are 12 levers of success—each with its own chapter in this great book. Big Ideas we explore include: Esse Quam Videri (“to BE rather than to seem”), Virtues: meet your parents, say “YES!,” your high-tech power saw and living in crescendo.

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Leadership & Optimal Living

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Powerful Lessons in Personal Change

by Stephen R. Covey

This classic has sold 15 million copies and was the first self-development book I read back in the day (1995 to be precise). In this Note, we'll take a quick look at all 7 Habits—from being proactive (huge!) to beginning with the end in mind, putting first things first, thinking win/win, seeking first to understand, synergizing and sharpening the saw. Lots of goodness here to help us develop our character to create our ideal lives as we most fully give ourselves to the world.

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Habits & Leadership

action Best of Optimize Character Energy Modern Classic Top 101

+1s Inspired by Stephen Covey All +1s

Sharpening the Saw
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/Building a Chainsaw

Stephen Covey‘s seventh habit of Highly Effective People is “Sharpen the Saw.” He tells us about the importance of renewal if we want to stay at our best and shares this parable to bring the point home: Imagine walking into a forest. You see a guy sawing a tree. He’s working and w...

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Now, What Doesn’t Need to Get Done?
#153

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Tip: Don’t Do Useless Stuff

Peter Drucker is known as the “Father of Modern Management.” Basically, he was the greatest business thinker of the 20th century. He once said: “There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.” Think about that for a moment: “There is nothing so us...

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Goes Nicely with Your To-Do List

In our last +1, we talked about living your eulogy virtues TODAY. We don’t want to think of our eulogy virtues as some abstract notion of the ideal you, but as a moment to moment compass that points you in the direction of the most exemplary, noble version of yourself. Here’s one way to keep your eul...

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Be Proactive (aka Response-Ability)
#218

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Habit #1 of Highly Effective People

The very first self-help book I ever read was by Stephen Covey, titled 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. The very first habit of the most effective people? Be Proactive. The easiest way to understand how to be proactive? Break down the word “responsibility.” Notice we have “response-ability.”...

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Begin with the End in Mind
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Habit #2 of Highly Effective People

In our last +1, we talked about Stephen Covey’s Habit #1: Be Proactive. How? Be response-able. Step into the gap between stimulus and response and choose the optimal response. Let’s continue the theme and have fun with a quick tour through all 7 of Covey’s Habits, shall we? Habit #2 of Highly Effec...

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Put First Things First
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Habit #3 of Highly Effective People

We’re officially on a roll with the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. We’ve covered Habit #1: Be Proactive and Habit #2: Begin with the End in Mind. Today? Habit #3: Put First Things First. Here’s the short story: Stephen Covey tells us that some things matter and other things don’t. Highly Ef...

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Think Win/Win +
#221

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Habits #4 + #5 of Highly Effective People

Continuing our series on Stephen Covey and his awesome book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, today we’ll look at Habits #4 + #5: Think Win/Win + Seek First to Understand. But, first, a little pop quiz: Can you recall the first three habits? 😃 The science of learning says: One of the best ways t...

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Sharpen Your Saw Again (Please)
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Habit #7 of Highly Effective People

Today we wrap up our tour of the 7 Habits. One more pop quiz. Can you recall each of the prior 6? … Insert Jeopardy music here while you work out your brain… #1. Be Proactive. #2. Begin with the End in Mind. #3. Put First Things First. #4. Think Win/Win. #5. Seek First to Understand. #6. Synergy. And...

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First Things First
#275

Second Things? Not at All

One of Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is “First Things First.” He also wrote a whole book by the same name. But you know where he got that phrase? Peter Drucker. It was Drucker who said “Put first things first.” And you know what he said we should do with “second things.�...

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A Quick Trip to Hell
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How to Avoid That As Frequent/Ultimate Destination

In Greatest Year Ever 2019, we kicked the party off by reminding ourselves of the ultimate game we’re playing—leaning into Aristotle’s wisdom (yet again!) that the summum bonum of life (the highest good!) is to experience the joy of flourishing by having a great relationship with our inner soul. Th...

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Purpose

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A Quick Trip to Michelangelo’s Studio
#679

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Sculpting the Epic Version of You

In our last +1, we took a quick trip to hell in which (in the last moment of your life!) we met the version of you that you COULD have been. D’oh. Gulp. Yikes. Now that you’re (hopefully) appropriately disgusted with the prospect of meeting the version of you that you could have become, let’s fly (...

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Purpose

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Meet My Bionic Arm (20 Screws Anyone?)
#728

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Antifragile Response-Ability: THIS Is What We Train For!

Not too long ago I introduced you to my Suunto watch. Then I introduced you to my little Spartan Leonidas. Today I’d like to introduce you to my new bionic arm. 😲 But first, I’d like to tell you a little story. It starts out like most days—Deep Work, Deep Love, hit the Trail, come back and do th...

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Covey’s Big YES!!
#812

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Makes It Easier to Say “No”

In our last +1, we had fun hanging out inside Peter Drucker’s (and I quote) “VERY BIG waste paper basket.” As the great Drucker taught us, we need to be able to say “No!” to distractions if we’re going to have a shot at doing “the work the Good Lord has fitted one to do, and to do well.” ...

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Covey Discipline Quiz!
#813

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1? 2? or 3? (You Might Be Surprised!)

In our last +1, we jumped inside Stephen Covey’s big “No” waste paper basket. Right along with Peter Drucker and his. Today I want to talk about another time management wisdom gem from Covey. In 7 Habits he poses this question: “If you were to fault yourself in one of three areas, which would it ...

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Efficient vs. Effective
#1084

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One’s Good for Time the Other’s Good for People

In our last +1, we talked about David Brooks‘ wisdom that the word “altruism” is an invention of the 18th century. Before that? Being kind and generous and selfless WAS JUST HOW PEOPLE LIVED. Today I want to focus on the relationship theme for a moment longer and talk about a concept I&...

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Leadership & Love

Family leadership Love presence relationships Spirit

How to Make Easy Hard
#1101

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Hint: Have No Idea Where You’re Headed

The other day we celebrated Eleanor’s third birthday. Her name literally means “bright, shining one” so it was sweet to celebrate her wonderful brightness! Now… She loves doing everything her big brother does so we got her a few age-appropriate puzzles. While Emerson and I are ham...

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The S → R Game
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Old Stimulus → New Response

As we’ve discussed many times, Habit #1 of Stephen Covey’s Highly Effective People is… Wait. Can you guess it? * Cue Jeopardy Music * “What is, ‘Be Proactive,’ Alex?” YES! Covey and all the great teachers tell us that THE most essential skill is to be able to res...

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Agency algorithms productivity self-awareness willpower Work

Building Chainsaws
#1193

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vs. Sharpening Saws

Way back in the day, we discussed the fact that Stephen Covey’s 7th Habit of Highly Effective People is “Sharpen the Saw.” Covey tells us that we need to make sure we take time to renew ourselves—not just physically but also spiritually, socially and mentally. To bring the point home, he ...

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Energy & Sleep

Energy oscillate Power Recovery sleep

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Stephen Covey

Author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, legendary author & teacher

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Sharpening the Saw #30 Get instant access to all +1's! Join nearly 10,000 members in the 1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge and start optimizing your life today. Join Now

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Now, What Doesn’t Need to Get Done? #153 Get instant access to all +1's! Join nearly 10,000 members in the 1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge and start optimizing your life today. Join Now

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Today's To-Be List #213 Get instant access to all +1's! Join nearly 10,000 members in the 1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge and start optimizing your life today. Join Now

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Be Proactive (aka Response-Ability) #218 Get instant access to all +1's! Join nearly 10,000 members in the 1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge and start optimizing your life today. Join Now

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Begin with the End in Mind #219 Get instant access to all +1's! Join nearly 10,000 members in the 1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge and start optimizing your life today. Join Now

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Put First Things First #220 Get instant access to all +1's! Join nearly 10,000 members in the 1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge and start optimizing your life today. Join Now

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Think Win/Win + #221 Get instant access to all +1's! Join nearly 10,000 members in the 1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge and start optimizing your life today. Join Now

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Sharpen Your Saw Again (Please) #223 Get instant access to all +1's! Join nearly 10,000 members in the 1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge and start optimizing your life today. Join Now

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First Things First #275

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A Quick Trip to Hell #678 Get instant access to all +1's! Join nearly 10,000 members in the 1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge and start optimizing your life today. Join Now

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A Quick Trip to Michelangelo’s Studio #679 Get instant access to all +1's! Join nearly 10,000 members in the 1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge and start optimizing your life today. Join Now

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Meet My Bionic Arm (20 Screws Anyone?) #728 Get instant access to all +1's! Join nearly 10,000 members in the 1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge and start optimizing your life today. Join Now

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Covey’s Big YES!! #812 Get instant access to all +1's! Join nearly 10,000 members in the 1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge and start optimizing your life today. Join Now

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Covey Discipline Quiz! #813 Get instant access to all +1's! Join nearly 10,000 members in the 1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge and start optimizing your life today. Join Now

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Efficient vs. Effective #1084 Get instant access to all +1's! Join nearly 10,000 members in the 1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge and start optimizing your life today. Join Now

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How to Make Easy Hard #1101 Get instant access to all +1's! Join nearly 10,000 members in the 1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge and start optimizing your life today. Join Now

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The S → R Game #1151 Get instant access to all +1's! Join nearly 10,000 members in the 1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge and start optimizing your life today. Join Now

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Building Chainsaws #1193 Get instant access to all +1's! Join nearly 10,000 members in the 1,000-Day Epic Optimizing Challenge and start optimizing your life today. Join Now

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Sharpening the Saw
#30

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Now, What Doesn’t Need to Get Done?
#153

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Today's To-Be List
#213

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Be Proactive (aka Response-Ability)
#218

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Begin with the End in Mind
#219

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Put First Things First
#220

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Think Win/Win +
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Sharpen Your Saw Again (Please)
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First Things First
#275

A Quick Trip to Hell
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A Quick Trip to Michelangelo’s Studio
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Meet My Bionic Arm (20 Screws Anyone?)
#728

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Covey’s Big YES!!
#812

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Covey Discipline Quiz!
#813

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Efficient vs. Effective
#1084

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How to Make Easy Hard
#1101

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The S → R Game
#1151

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Building Chainsaws
#1193

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