The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - a Summary

1) Be Proactive
2) Begin With the End in Mind
3) Put First things First
4) Think Win/Win
5) Seek First to Understand and then to Be Understood
6) Synergize
7) Sharpen the Saw


1) Be Proactive

Stop and choose. Never say that you don’t have a choice in the matter. Always stop, get your bearings and say “I’m going to choose how I act, behave and respond to this situation." This is the power of choice.

2) Begin With the End in Mind

What does the end of your life look like? What will your family, friends, colleagues and peers say about you when you are gone? What kind of legacy will you leave? What accomplishments will you have made? What charitable work will you have performed? How will others remember you? What does this picture look like?

3) Put First Things First

Always tend to those things which matter most and never let those things which matter least divide your time. These are the important things that make the sum of your life a reality. Identify the important but not urgent matters in your life that will not come secondary to unimportant matters of daily static. Make the conscious effort to put those things first.

4) Think Win/Win

Never come after someone with the attitude that there is not enough for only one side to win. Always understand that that there is abundance and that we truly get the most when both sides benefit. Do not allow yourself to lose either. Have the courage and confidence to stand up for a win for yourself and the other side as well. This is the principle of balance between consideration and courage.

5) Seek First to Understand and then to Be Understood

Always make it a point to understand the other side before laying out your argument or at worst, attacking someone for their point of view. To truly have influence with others you must first be able to put yourself in their shoes, to restate their side better than they can, to empathize with them and then, once they are satisfied that they have been heard, they will have trust and confidence in you and seek out your side.

6) Synergize

The highest potential of the 6 habits combined is to work freely and confidently with others with high trust levels. Ideas flow freely, productivity is high, one plus one no longer equals two but three, four, five, six …

7) Sharpen the Saw

Do not burn yourself out. At one time or another, everyone works their nose to the grindstone. Take time off to relax, meditate, walk, read, and review something you once learned but have since forgotten. Make sure to “put oil in the car” so to say. This is one of the important but not urgent, highly leveraged activities from habit three.