3 Books By Stephen Richards Covey

Stephen Richards Covey was the author of these three best-selling books, "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People", "First Things First" and Principle-Centered Leadership.  The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, first published in 1989, is a business and self-help book written by Stephen Covey. Covey presents an approach to being effective in attaining goals by aligning oneself to what he calls "true north" principles based on a character ethic that he presents as universal and timeless. Covey defines effectiveness as the balance of obtaining desirable results with caring for that which produces those results. He illustrates this by referring to the fable of the goose that laid the golden eggs. He further claims that effectiveness can be expressed in terms of the P/PC ratio, where P refers to getting desired results and PC is caring for that which produces the results. This book has sold more than 25 million copies worldwide since its first publication. In this book, Covey argues against what he calls "the personality ethic", that he sees as prevalent in many modern self-help books. He promotes what he labels "the character ethic": aligning one's values with so-called universal and timeless principles. In doing this, Covey is deliberately and mindfully separating principles and values. He sees principles as external natural laws, while values remain internal and subjective. Our values govern our behavior, while principles ultimately determine the consequences. Covey presents his teachings in a series of habits, manifesting as a progression from dependence through independence on to interdependence.   First Things First,  in this book the businessman and author Covey offers a new approach to time management and allows readers to maximize their effectiveness by setting priorities so that they can always have time for the things that truly matter. This clear and detailed analysis is ideal for anyone looking for an alternative to traditional advice on time management: it features a thorough exploration of earlier approaches to time management and organization, an explanation of their advantages and drawbacks, and a balanced discussion of Covey’s approach. It also provides an introduction to the tools Covey uses, including the  Eiesnhower matrix, the main criticisms of his work and related approaches, namely the ABC, giving you everytihing you need to understand this revolutionary guide to personal development. Principle-Centered Leadership. This book asks the fundamental question, how do we as individuals (and organizations), not only survive but thrive amid tremendous change? More, why are our efforts to improve continuing to fail despite the millions of dollars we spend in time, capital, and human effort every year? How do we combat all of this by unleashing the full measure of our creativity, talent, and energy in the midst of this pressure? Is it realistic to believe that we can find balance in our personal life, family life, and professional life?
Author Stephen R. Covey shows that the answer to these concerns is Principle-Centered Leadership; a long-term, inside-out approach to developing people and organizations. Covey tells that the key to dealing with the challenges that we face today is the recognition of a principle-centered core within not only each of us, but within our organizations. Covey offers insights and guidelines that demonstrate how we can apply these principles both at work and at home which will lead not only to an increase in our productivity and the quality of our work, but also to a new appreciation of the importance of establishing more personal and professional relationships as we strive to enjoy a more balance, more rewarding and ultimately more effective life.