20 inspiring quotes By Stephen R

20 inspiring quotes By Stephen R. Covey

Stephen R Covey,, author of the best-selling book, 'The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People', died on July 16, 2012, due to complications from a bicycle accident he suffered the previous April. His self-help book has sold more than 25 million

copies worldwide since its first publication in 1989. He was 79. The cause was complications of a bicycle accident three months back, his family said.

Covey's book sold more than 25 million copies worldwide, and also became the first audiobook to sell more than a million copies. After conferring with Covey over Thanksgiving in 1994, President Bill Clinton said American productivity would greatly increase if people followed Covey's advice.

More than two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies flocked to use a consulting company he had founded.

Covey was a bit baffled by his success. He said he was simply telling people what he thought they already knew: the efficacy of good behaviour. All that people had to do was form habits out of their best instincts.

"We believe that organisational behaviour is individual behaviour collectivized," Covey said. He expanded the lesson in 2004 in The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness,in which he urges people to find their own distinctive voices and to encourage others to find theirs.

Among his other books, Seven Habits for Highly Effective Families , published in 1997, advocates that families come up with mission statements. The Leader in Me, published in 2008, embodies his ideas for educational reform. His goal was to change society, he said, calling his catechism first and foremost an action plan.

Covey was a Mormon, and some saw large elements of Mormon theology in his work, though his language was ecumenical. He denied any Mormon bias in his books, saying he drew inspiration from the scriptures and from history's great thinkers.

In 1996, Time magazine named Stephen Covey one of the 25 most influential people, and Forbes called "Seven Habits" one of the top 10 business management books ever.

US politicians drew on Covey's advice, and one of them, Newt Gingrich asked him to help write a chapter on personal strength in American culture for a student reading in a college course Gingrich taught.

"Seven Habits" became part of the American vocabulary. Campaigning in the Iowa Republican primary last year, Mitt Romney referred to the book in offering his "seven habits for highly successful economies." Parodies have cropped up. One, published in 1996, was titled The 7 Habits of Highly Defective People: And Other Bestsellers That Won't Go Away .

Here’s a compilation of his words of wisdom that inspired millions across the world.

Habit 1: Be Proactive

Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind

Habit 3: Put First Things First

Habit 4: Think Win/Win

Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood

Habit 6: Synergize

Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw

An inspiring writer, Covey has left behind a treasure of quotes that many management students, budding entrepreneurs, or even professionals could seek inspiration

“We are not human beings on a spiritual journey. We are spiritual beings on a human journey.”

“Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important.

“I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.”

“We see the world, not as it is, but as we are──or, as we are conditioned to see it.”

“Motivation is a fire from within. If someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly.”

“To know and not to do is really not to know.”

The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.

“Without involvement, there is no commitment. Mark it down, asterisk it, circle it, underline it. No involvement, no commitment.”

“Effective leadership is putting first things first. Effective management is discipline, carrying it out.

“As long as you think the problem is out there, that very thought is the problem”

“Words are like eggs dropped from great heights. You could no more call them back then ignore the mess they left when they fell.”

“It's not what happens to us, but our response to what happens to us that hurts us.”

“If I really want to improve my situation, I can work on the one thing over which I have control - myself.”

“To change ourselves effectively, we first had to change our perceptions.

“Every human has four endowments- self awareness, conscience, independent will and creative imagination. These give us the ultimate human freedom... The power to choose, to respond, to change.”

“It is one thing to make a mistake, and quite another thing not to admit it. People will forgive mistakes, because mistakes are usually of the mind, mistakes of judgment. But people will not easily forgive the mistakes of the heart, the ill intention, the bad motives, the prideful justifying cover-up of the first mistake.”

“There are three constants in life... Change, Choice and Principles.”

“The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.”

“Habit is the intersection of knowledge (what to do), skill (how to do), and desire (want to do).”

“Wisdom is the child of integrity—being integrated around principles. And integrity is the child of humility and courage. In fact, you could say that humility is the mother of all virtues because humility acknowledges that there are natural laws or principles that govern the universe. They are in charge. Pride teaches us that we are in charge. Humility teaches us to understand and live by principles, because they ultimately govern the consequences of our actions. If humility is the mother, courage is the father of wisdom. Because to truly live by these principles when they are contrary to social mores, norms and values takes enormous courage.”

Note: The quotes are by Stephen Covey, published across various media sources. For more on Dr Stephen R Covey, click here to visit his website

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