Stephen Covey introduced us to ideas that were profoundly impactful and have left lasting impressions even in this day and era.
The book introduces us concepts such as paradigm shift, core principles, character ethics, being proactive, thinking win-win, etc that were well explored, and with this ‘self development’ was taken to a whole new level.
Here are a few of the lessons that have been tested in all seasons for over many decades and are still being taught in many schools.
1. Personality is outside (competence) and Character is inside (The roots). A maturity continuum is a natural progression from dependence to independence to interdependence. We live in a digital world where everything is completed at lightning speed, so changing or developing roots is something that doesn’t come naturally to us. It is the character that survives, when everything else fails, and ‘developing deep character’ is a clever way to summarise most of this book’s points
2. Staying proactive is a key lesson that I put into practice in my life on a daily basis. It’s one of my favorite principles to live by. We often let external factors dictate our behaviour and are influenced by how we react to them. Our decisions, not our conditions, dictate how we act. We can subordinate our emotions to our set values. The book offers a powerful lesson: We can take ownership of our decisions and concentrate on the areas where we can have an impact. The concept of ‘circle of influence’ is invaluable and will be relevant for years to come.
3. What really matters most to you? How would you like to be remembered? – these questions are so effectively dealt with when Covey discusses about keeping an end result in mind. The concept of starting things with an end in mind outcomes might appear skewed to those who believe in spontaneity. However, if you think about it practically, it’s just another easily useful approach to building character. Each day of our life should contribute to our final vision. Re-scripting ineffective narratives and building our lives on principles are some of the notable concepts quite deftly weaved in this book.
4. For quite some time, Win- Win has been on the top of the list of corporate jargon. The attitude of win-win is an insightful discovery through this book. We grew up hearing that there was always one winner and one loser. This abundance mindset philosophy of win-win for everyone – is built on the concept that ‘there is enough for everyone’. One of the theories in social change is ‘conflict theory’ which states that society by nature is unequal and competitive. Although it has evolved over time, some basic characteristics have not changed. An abundance mindset challenges the unequal opportunities and competitive nature of societies.
5. Finally the principle I attempt to practice each day is ‘sharpening the saw’. It gets its name from a popular story about a woodcutter who could have saved precious time by sharpening the blade before sawing. Deliberate actions to renew and recharge our energy leads to a holistic and effective individual. The four dimensions of renewal – physical, social/emotional, spiritual, mental is indeed a beautiful investment one could make for their self.
It is imperative we develop strong character ethics as we advance in technology and see many social changes in society.
The principles of this book are universally applicable, and they are vital to our future.