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About
Published in 1989, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is a self-help book written by Stephen Covey that has helped shape leaders all around the globe with 25 million copies sold and translated to 38 different languages. This book provides step-by-step actions we can take to achieve holistic effectiveness.

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Chapter One: Inside-Out

The surfacing lesson in this chapter is that the key to achieving goals that are out of reach is to win from within. We must first focus on the things that we can control. Painful problems are usually fruits of our actions, and actions are a fruit of our character.

Greatness

Covey explains the lesson further using primary and second greatness. Primary greatness is described as the goodness of character while secondary greatness refers to having great social skills, knowledgeable in human interactions, influential. We all know having secondary greatness does not entail having primary greatness, but without primary greatness, one uses secondary greatness for the wrong motives, hence, being manipulative instead of being effective. Developing primary greatness first might take more resources, but it pays off in the long run.

Paradigm

In developing primary greatness, it begins with the mindset - or a paradigm. This is the way we see the world around us. To further understand paradigms, these are similar to maps. Paradigms are only models of the real thing, but it is critical that you have the right model! Imagine using the map of Chicago to navigate the city of Detroit! No matter how much we change our behavior or attitude, without the correct paradigms we would be lost.

Categories of paradigms

Reality: The way things are
Values: The way things should be

Paradigm shift towards a principle-centered paradigm

Consider this story narrated by Frank Koch that was featured in a Naval Institute's magazine, Proceedings:

Two battleships assigned to the training squadron had been at sea on maneuvers in heavy weather for several days. I was serving on the lead battleship and was on watch on the bridge as night fell. The visibility was poor with patchy fog, so the captain remained on the bridge keeping an eye on all activities.

Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing of the bridge reported, “Light, bearing on the starboard bow.”

“Is it steady or moving astern?” the captain called out.

Lookout replied, “Steady, captain,” which meant we were on a dangerous collision course with that ship.

The captain then called to the signalman, “Signal that ship: we are on a collision course, advise you change course 20 degrees.”

Back came a signal, “Advisable for you to change course 20 degrees.”

The captain said, “Send, I’m a captain, change course 20 degrees.”

“I’m a seaman second class,” came the reply. “You had better change course 20 degrees.”

By that time, the captain was furious. He spat out, “Send, I’m a battleship. Change course 20 degrees.”

Back came the flashing light, “I’m a lighthouse.”

We changed course.

This is a classic example of a paradigm shift, where we challenge old beliefs to discover a better perception in life. Like the lighthouse, we center our paradigms on natural laws that can never be broken, or principles. These are part of the human conscience. These are not practices. According to Covey, "while practices are [situation-specific], principles are deep, fundamental truths that have universal application." These are not values either. A criminal organization has a set of values too but violates the principles that we value.

"Principles are guidelines for human conduct that are proven to have enduring, permanent value."

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Thank you!

Next chapter, we will have an overview of the seven habits. Covey describes the seven habits as principle-centered, character-based, inside-out approach. If you have found value in this blog, please give an upvote as to help create quality posts in the future. If not, please do give a feedback on how my future posts can be improved :) Either way, thank you for reaching the end of this post, and please follow my account as I'll be continuing this series. 'Til next time :D