{"id":3310,"date":"2010-09-15T21:47:49","date_gmt":"2010-09-16T05:47:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/?p=3310"},"modified":"2013-08-23T09:48:33","modified_gmt":"2013-08-23T17:48:33","slug":"7-must-read-success-lessons-from-stephen-covey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/7-must-read-success-lessons-from-stephen-covey\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Must Read Success Lessons from Stephen Covey"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

<\/a><\/p>\n

Stephen R. Covey is the author of the best-selling book \u201cThe Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.\u201d His book has sold more than 15 million copies around the world since it was first published in 1989.<\/p>\n

Covey believes that success occurs when you align your values with the universal and timeless principles that exist in our world. Covey teaches that values govern people\u2019s behavior, but principles ultimately determine the consequences.<\/p>\n

Covey has also written several other books including: \u201cFirst Things First,\u201d \u201cPrinciple-Centered Leadership,\u201d \u201cThe Seven Habits of Highly Effective Families,\u201d and \u201cThe 8th Habit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Covey is currently a professor at the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a lot we can learn from Stephen Covey, so without further a due\u2026.<\/p>\n

7 Must Read Success Lessons from Stephen Covey:
\n<\/strong>
\n1. Know That Your Character is Critical<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cOur character is basically a composite of our habits. Because they are consistent, often unconscious patterns, they constantly, daily, express our character.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Watch your habits; your habits will determine your character and your character will determine your life. You cannot rise any higher than the fortitude of your character. Your character is the foundation for your life, so if you want to change your life, you must first change your character.<\/p>\n

2. Schedule Your Priorities<\/strong>
\n\u201cThe key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.\u201d
\n<\/em>
\nSchedule your priorities. If it\u2019s important, it must be scheduled. What you don\u2019t schedule won\u2019t get done. Know your priorities, and center your day on those activities.<\/p>\n

Which brings me to my next point\u2026<\/p>\n

3. Never Forget the Main Thing<\/strong>
\n\u201cThe main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Never lose sight of the \u201cbig picture,\u201d keep the main thing the main thing. Broken focus is the number one reason people fail. It\u2019s not enough to start off on the right track; you must successfully avoid the unnecessary distractions and attractions of life which aim to sidetrack you.<\/p>\n

Keep the main thing, the main thing!<\/p>\n

4. Use Your Imagination<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cLive out of your imagination, not your history.\u201d
\n<\/em>
\nYour imagination pre-plays your future! Use your imagination to create the future that you desire.<\/p>\n

You can\u2019t progress very far looking out of the rear view mirror of life; use your imagination to look ahead.<\/p>\n

See your future as bright; if you can see it and believe it, you can have it. Henry Ford said, \u201cWhether you think you can, or whether you think you can\u2019t \u2013 you\u2019re right.\u201d<\/p>\n

5. First Things First<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cEffective leadership is putting first things first.\u201d
\n<\/em>
\nTo be a great leader you must put “first things first;” you must be able to distinguish the critical from the insignificant, and you must always place the critical first: First in order, first in priority, and first in rank.<\/p>\n

If you place the critical first, and if you give the critical your focus and your attention, the \u201ceffectiveness\u201d of your leadership will soar.<\/p>\n

6. Change, Choice and Principles<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThere are three constants in life… change, choice and principles.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Change, choice and principles give you the power to achieve your dreams.<\/p>\n

You can change<\/em> your life, if you align your choices<\/em> with the timeless principles<\/em> that produce success.<\/p>\n

With the weapons of change, choice and principles, impossibilities become possibilities.<\/p>\n

7. Remember That Decisions Decide Destinies<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are not animals. We are not a product of what has happened to us in our past. We have the power of choice.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Covey said, \u201cWe are the creative force of our life, and through our own decisions rather than our conditions, if we carefully learn to do certain things, we can accomplish those goals.\u201d<\/p>\n

Your decisions will ultimately decide where you go in this life; you\u2019re not limited by the accomplishments of your parents, and you\u2019re not confined to the achievements of your peers. You can achieve whatever you believe you can achieve, and you can do whatever you believe you can do.<\/p>\n

The sky is your limit; the world is your oyster.<\/p>\n

Thank you for reading, please pass along!<\/p>\n

Mr. Self Development is an author who teaches a motivational and practical guide to success. Please visit him at Mr. Self Development.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Don’t Forget To Follow PickTheBrain On Twitter!<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Related Articles:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

How To Increase Self Discipline<\/a><\/p>\n

How To Motivate Yourself<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Covey believes that success occurs when you align your values with the universal and timeless principles that exist in our world. Covey teaches that values govern people\u2019s behavior, but principles ultimately determine the consequences. 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