The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen Covey

A book that went from great to good. If you're looking for a book that encompasses all that you need to be effective, this is it. Covey broke down 7 habits that are easy to follow, from the private to the public, the independent to the dependent to the interdependent.

Content: The book is split into 7 segments - one for each habit. The first few habits on private victories are really insightful and relatable. However, from the fourth habit onwards, it felt repetitive and full of anecdotal experiences rather than actual persuasive arguments. One thing to note, is that at the end of each chapter, Covey provides several key action items for readers to reflect and act upon what we can do better, and this implementation is helpful in absorbing the info.

Estimated reading time needed: ~15h

Key takeaways: 

1) The first step to influence is to first be willing to be influenced. To be able to understand others deeply, we should be willing to be vulnerable (to a certain extent of course, depending on the situation) and open up to others.

2) If we want to change the situation, we have to first change ourselves. This reminds me of "the 3 choices we can make in any situation" my friend told me about - accept and stay, change what you're doing, or leave. This links to the first habit which I hold close, being proactive. Start to think what you can do in any situation, instead of "if only this happened..".

3) Character, ethics and values are core to our lives. By living through these, we stay true to who we want to be. As Covey said, primary greatness is character, and secondary greatness is recognised talent. "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us" - Oliver Holmes

4) Borrowing strength builds weaknesses in the borrower. When we encounter a problem, asking others for help could cause us to over-rely on others in the future, and stunt our growth of reasoning and discipline. But of course, ask for help when necessary!

5) Remember the concept of the production/production capability balance - output is good, but take care of the production capability to ensure sustained output.

6) Between stimulus and response, we have the power to choose. We have to be emotionally intelligent, separate our emotions from our actions, and refrain from reacting rashly.

Recommendation: Really, just read the first half of the book if you're introspective or would like to be introspective. The first half is inside-out, and second half is outside-in. However, I wouldn't recommend reading the second half because of reasons mentioned above. In general, reflecting on what our core values are is extremely crucial in maintaining our integrity to who we want to be, and the action steps provided help greatly. Would not recommend reading it in too much detail.