“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey is an inspirational read that has sold 10 million copies worldwide. The advice within this book can help anyone improve their lives, both professionally and personally. This book is applicable to many different perspectives on life; it provides insight for men, women, employees, employers, and even leaders of society like elected officials.

People of any age might benefit from this wisdom, but many young adults can find a great deal from the words of Stephen Covey. Business Insider listed some of the best quotes from “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” In addition, here are 16 powerful life lessons that the book provides:

1) Be Proactive

People who are proactive approach their lives with a sense of responsibility and ownership. This life lesson teaches that it is up to us to make our own decisions and create the future we want for ourselves.

2) Begin with the End in Mind

People who begin with the end in mind focus on where they are going. Rather than merely how they will get there. A clear vision of a destination guides all of the steps that will need to be taken. It is one of the most important lessons from “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.”

3) Put First Things First

“There are many ways to approach the concept of prioritizing, but perhaps no strategy is more effective than putting first things first,” explains Covey in this book. “There are four activities that, if done in the proper order, help us to be consistently effective. The first is ‘to be proactive.’ Proactivity means more than merely taking the initiative. It means that as human beings, we are responsible for our own lives. Our behavior is a function of our decisions — both conscious and unconscious.”

4) Think Win-Win

People with a win-win perspective see negotiation as an opportunity to create value for both sides of an agreement. This book provides that the focus should always be on mutual gain rather than selfish gain. 

Covey also recommends applying this mindset to one’s relationships, from those at work to those outside it. He writes, “When two highly motivated people each know that the other genuinely wants to reach an agreement which will benefit both, they can lay aside their anxiety about the final outcome and concentrate on shaping a creative solution. Their creativity is unlimited.”

5) Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood

People who seek first to understand quickly grasp the perspective of the person speaking. Successful negotiators do their best to see a situation from all angles, which can help them avoid conflict and understand how to move forward.

6) Synergize

“Synergy is everywhere in nature,” Covey writes in “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” “It is the process by which individual elements are integrated into a collective whole that is greater than the mere sum of its parts.” He believes this synergy also applies to people and their goals.

7) Sharpen the Saw

People who sharpen the saw invest time and energy in self-renewal, which is important for success at work and in life. Covey writes: “In the great book of Proverbs, King Solomon gave some practical advice about sharpening the saw: ‘A [person] has joy in making an apt answer, and a word spoken at the right moment — how good it is!” He recommends keeping our minds active by learning new skills, being around friends and family, getting adequate sleep at night, and finding time for relaxation.

8) Renewal

People who improve through ongoing practice are likely to maintain high levels of achievement, according to the principles of “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” Covey recommends striving for continual renewal at work and in life.

9) Think Independently

“Independence is up-down thinking — the ability to say that something either is or it isn’t, that it meets a criterion or does not,” Covey writes. “It’s classification thinking.” In contrast, he explains, “Interdependence is a mutuality of facilitating and simultaneously learning from each other as opposed to taking sides.”

10) Integrity

Integrity is the foundation of all healthy relationships, according to Covey. “Integrity has to do with that inner sense of congruence or lack thereof between our words and our actions,” he writes. “It is the result of aligning what we say and believe with what we do.”

11) Communication

People who seek first to understand can better use communication to help them better understand each other’s needs. Covey writes, “Remember that people don’t just want to be understood; they need to be understood. And the most effective way to do that is to seek first to understand genuinely.”

12) Become a Better You

“If it isn’t one thing, it’s another,” Covey writes. “It’s as though some mysterious force is at work, throwing one obstacle after another in your path.” But those who constantly look for ways to become a better version of themselves can continue to lead productive lives despite these obstacles.

Conclusion

Covey’s principles can be helpful in a variety of situations, from the workplace to one’s personal life. Although his book focuses on improving relationships, these points apply to many aspects of life. In addition to the advice given by Covey, several other self-help books offer solutions for achieving happiness and success in life.