Stephen Covey's Seven (7) Habits of Highly Effective People: How to "Internalize" Them

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Stephen Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People seem to make a lot of sense. One question I would have is, While there is a lot of sense in the seven habits, what do we do with our natural propensity to gravitate towards the path of least resistance? That is, What do we do about the great forces of avoiding pain and approaching pleasure as we try to "internalize" what, for me, are principles which make sound sense?

Covey has some answers, though I'm not sure how specific he is. Certainly he points out that a "quick-fix" approach is liable to scuttle the whole endeavour. Adopting new habits and breaking old ones, as everyone knows, can be an exacting affair. Like quitting smoking, however, the pay-off can be colossal. (This is what Albert Ellis, founder of REBT, the forerunner of cognitive behavior therapy, calls "long-range hedonism," the understanding that pain now is fine if it will lead to greater and more lasting pleasure in the future -- His question to phobics undergoing exposure therapy: "Do you want to feel better (now, in this moment, get relief by escaping), or get better?")

Covey's ideas may come up against just such a conceptual dichotomy common in our culture: If I adopt a disciplined, thought-out lifestyle, I am a drag or a nerd, whereas if I am the life of the party, I am cool. This kind of thinking needs to be examined more closely, however. Is it true? Can I not be cool or the life of the party and still live Covey's principles?

Seven Habits philosophy often comes across as being all about business management and highly-organized lifestyles. But this is a misconception. Surely any endeavour needs sound organizational principles which bow to unchanging principles like those that the seven habits hghlight. If I am the organizer of a rock band tour, won't foresight help me in bringing my music to the people, for example? Doesn't the principle of treating people with respect apply to roadies and bar-managers? If I don't pay attention to my health on the road, aren't I risking my career in the rck business?

The Seven Habits and Covey's general thrust should not be seen as hokey, nerdy or "straight", then, because everyone, even anti-capitalistic activists, say, or teens playing a local basketball tournament, can apply the principles and reap benefit. Covey is not simply a business or management guru... The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People applies to construction workers, cops, classical musicians, anyone who plans to do more than "go with the flow" and hope for the best.
Stephen Covey's Seven (7) Habits of Highly Effective People system requires organizing and planning in detail, and in an ongoing way. Maybe something found by clicking on this line of text might help you with this...
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