If I had to come up with a list of books that changed (or will potentially change) my life, this will definitely be one book that’ll appear on the list.

It’s really been a while since I’ve finished a book and actually felt inspired by what was said.

Like another reviewer commented, this book is so NOT trite. If you are expecting superficial pointers on how you should expand your network/improve your social skills etc to become highly effective (I was actually kinda expecting something like that before I read this), this book is not it. Neither is it a book about management per se. The so-called habits are really principles, which are applicable to all facets of life. Actually there is nothing new about these principles that we do not already know, but Covey helps to articulate, or if you like, put your finger on them.

I particularly like the idea about the Maturity Continuum, and how sometimes, in our quest to assert our independence, we actually become counter-dependent. That’s reactive behaviour, and the result is that you actually regress to the less mature end of the continuum, i.e. dependence. Now I know why certain things that we do look so right but feel so wrong.

This is a truly enlightening read.

I’ve read a lot of self-help books over the years, and have a social work degree with a minor in psych and lots of experiential training to boot . . .

And I hadn’t read this book before partly because the universe just hadn’t put it in my hands but also because I expected it to be trite . . .

And it is SO NOT TRITE! Truly effective insights, although I think there are limits to, particularly, first seek to understand since, sorry, sometimes people are just crazy and what I understand is that they are crazy.

Perhaps what I appreciated most was his acknowledgment that first we must be independent before we can be interdependent. I get so sick of people saying they are going to do something just as soon as they can do it “in community”. Just do it already!

actually… I read Dr.Covey son’s books on teenagers… wow.. that one & this one is the masterpiece on personal effectiveness… Grab one & kick-start your success journey….

7 Habits is going quite well. I am learning a lot about myself. I just finished the second chapter. I know it’s taking forever, I just had to put it down for some time — until I settled again.

Anyway, I am taking it a step further. Tomorrow I am going to get the workbook and possibly the journal so I can keep my thoughts and ideas all together.