The Big Idea

Do you change the world, or do you change yourself, and the way you view the world? In this book, Stephen Covey talks about powerful lessons in personal change and argues that the personal premise towards the path to effectiveness starts from within. Perception is key to personal change. Change is a catalyst for continuous improvement, and without change, improvement cannot take place.

To effect change one must assess personal principles and paradigms that run deeply entrenched within a person. Principles and paradigms govern a person so an honest and careful assessment is called for.

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People presents an “inside-out” approach to effectiveness that is centered on principles and character. “Inside-out” means that the change must start from within, moving through a paradigm shift towards a new level of thinking, feeling, and empowered interdependence reflected through actions.

Dr. Stephen R. Covey is co-founder/vicechairman of FranklinCovey Company, a leading global professional services firm. Dr. Covey is perhaps best known as the author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, which is ranked as a No. 1 bestseller by the , having sold more than 13 million copies in 36 languages throughout the world. He has made teaching principle-centered living and principle-centered leadership his lifes work.