In a sense, all the other habits are types of being proactive. The first three habits, which lead to independence, a private victory, lead to the final four steps, which include public victory.īeing proactive is the foundation of the entire seven habits paradigm. The reader is pulled into activities for further application, to decide what type of Quadrant II activities exist, and to find what is at the center of the reader's life in a bid to understand how paradigms work. When viewing the diagram, one is reminded of Benjamin Franklin's engraving of the snake which was divided into thirteen pieces, with the caption "Join or Die." Each of the seven habits is integral to viewing the picture as a whole, as well as seeing the development from dependence to independence to interdependence. The seven habits are woven into a tapestry on a diagram that shows the working of all seven habits in communion. Covey's purpose in detailing the seven habits is to help people improve themselves. Stephen Covey has much to say on the qualities of effective people. "If you don't have confidence in the diagnosis, you won't have confidence in the prescription" (244) Regularly scheduled study or discussion sessions could be short, as each CD is divided into several tracks which basically follow the headings and sub-headings in the book. The encouraging, calm and authentic voice of the author gives an extra dimension to the text - keeps you focused. I would suggest listening to the CDs before or while studying corresponding segments of the book, either alone or with someone else. It would be ideal for people who are ready for a personal plan to study and apply the principles in the book to their own lives, but who need a little extra "push". The product on this page (as I write this review) is an UNABRIDGED AUDIO CD VERSION of the 15th anniversary edition of the book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Unabridged Audio Program). REVIEW #1 - UNABRIDGED AUDIO BOOK (CD or Download) Check the running times of audio products to determine if they're similar to the ones described below: Sometimes the product descriptions don't give you a clear idea which product you're reading about. I am also familiar with some older products. I recently bought three different audio CD versions (plus a few copies of the book) as gifts for people with different personalities and learning styles. This review is for people who already know that the book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, is valuable and who are now trying to choose which audio version would be most useful for themselves or for people they know. Reactive people are affected by their social as well as physical surroundings. Covey also explains that the other type of person is reactive. He also points out that proactive people so not blame various circumstances for their behaviors but they realize behavior comes from one's conscious. Covey states that we are responsible for our own lives therefore, we possess the initiative to make things happen. Habit 1 discusses the importance of being proactive. Habit 7 embodies all of the other habits to help an individual work toward continuous improvement. Interdependence simply means mutual dependence. These habits deal with transforming a person from dependency to independence to interdependence. Habits 4, 5, and 6 deal with teamwork, cooperation, and communication. They move an individual from dependency on others to independence. Habits 1, 2, and 3 deal with self-mastery. He makes the example that making and keeping promises to ourselves comes before making and keeping promises to others. Covey points out that private victories precede public victories. This book's focal point is on an approach to obtain personal and interpersonal effectiveness. He applies different examples via family, business, and society in general. Covey emphasizes that if we want to make a change in our lives, we should probably first focus on our personal attitudes and behaviors. A paradigm is essentially the way an individual perceives something. Covey makes clear that an individual must make a paradigm shift before incorporating these habits into his/her own personal life. As the title of the book implies, Covey describes the seven habits of highly effective people and techniques for adopting the seven habits.