Stephen Covey
Stephen Covey
Stephen Richards Coveywas an American educator, author, businessman, and keynote speaker. His most popular book was The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. His other books include First Things First, Principle-Centered Leadership, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families, The 8th Habit, and The Leader In Me — How Schools and Parents Around the World Are Inspiring Greatness, One Child at a Time. He was a professor at the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University at the...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionSelf-Help Author
Date of Birth24 October 1932
CitySalt Lake City, UT
CountryUnited States of America
Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important.
Strategy is important, but trust is the hidden variable. On paper you can have clarity around your objectives, but in a low-trust environment, your strategy won't be executed.
Creating and integrating an empowering personal mission statement is one of the most important investments we can make.
Keep in mind that you are always saying "no" to something. If it isn't to the apparent and urgent things in your life, it is probably to the most fundamental, highly important things.
The only person over whom you have direct and immediate control is yourself. The most important assets to develop, preserve and enhance, therefore, are your own capabilities. And no one can do it for you. You must cultivate the habit of leadership effectiveness for yourself - and doing so will be the single best investment you will ever make.
Communication is the most important single activity of man.
In the end, life teaches us what is important, and that is family.
Putting first things first means organizing and executing around your most important priorities. It is living and being driven by the principles you value most, not by the agendas and forces surrounding you.
To listen with empathy is the most important human skill.
What is important to another person must be as important to you as the other person is to you
Do what is important, not what is urgent.
The struggle comes when we sense a gap between the clock and the compass - when what we do doesn't contribute to what is most important in our lives.
Where you are headed is more important than how fast you are going. Rather than always focusing on what's urgent, learn to focus on what is really important.
Your most important work is always ahead of you, never behind you.