I first read this book a couple of years ago, and found it valuable though hardly revolutionary. As many other reviewers have pointed out, most of what is covered by this book is common sense and almost self evident. As a non-believer in everything supernatural, I also was slightly disturbed by the authors frequent references to Scripture and spirituality. And finally, back then I was pretty at ease with my current life situation and did not feel much need for change. I read the book mostly because my girlfriend wanted me to. So the book really did not affect my life much.

When I now re-read the book, I judge it from a somewhat different perspective. Relational problems, financial and career troubles have forced me to realize that a change is needed. The "habits" discussed in the book are still pretty obvious, but this time I agree with the author about their importance for a happy life. I have decided to try to implement them in my life, starting by writing a personal Mission Statement. That's the easy part! But living it every day is hard even when you totally agree with the author's analysis. Where do I find the will-power needed to make all this happen? The author has very little to say about this. He is very clear about one thing: You have to do it all yourself. You have to be disciplined. But for many of us, this is exactly the problem! We are sloppy, non-planning individuals that simply don't know how to take control of our lives. The book teaches you that you have to, it even tells you what to do. But it doesn't tell you how to force yourself to do it, it doesn't say were you can find the strength and endurance.

I think I already live according to habit 1 & 2. I don't blame others, I know I must do the job, and I even think I know where I want to go in life. This book have also taught me how to get there through habits 3 to 7. But not how to force myself to give up old, destructive habits in order to replace them with something better.

I have never wished for an easy fix, such as a pill that would make me happy. But if there was a pill I could take that gave me the willpower needed to really live according to this book, then I would take it, and I'm convinced that this really would change my life. However, without such a pill, I doubt I ever will be able to live the principle-based life this book teaches, however much I agree that it would be an enormous improvement.

I wish this book was required for life like air is for breathing. The Seven Habits (which has sold close to one gajillion copies, at last count) have become so immensely popular for one very good reason--they work. The more you think about Covey's words, the more the truth of them sinks in. Covey starts by asking his readers to invest in character rather than personality, then takes the reader on a wholistic journey to find out what's really important to him/her. No, there's no metaphysical sojourn and we never see Shirley MacLaine, but Covey does ask the reader to ask some serious questions. With those answers, he helps you build a life focused on the values you have chosen and guided by the principles that lead us all. Career management, time control, priorities, family, career, leisure, friends--it's all in here. The Seven Habits are all about becoming the best person you can be, starting first with independence, then working toward interdependence. Covey may not be the most interesting writer in the world, but the message he brings is far too important to miss. If you're not afraid to find out about yourself and have the courage to change yourself into the best person you can be, do yourself an incredible favor and read this book.

This is a book that has changed my life irrevocably and forever. It required great energy, patience and time to read, one with much meaning and very deep in content. In fact, after struggling through the first two Principles outlined in this book I found myself putting it away on the shelf. For nearly a year it sat there and I didn't pick it up again until I had another reason to. The second time around I could not put the book down and took prolific amounts of notes. The third time I read it I learned even more.

This book is about self, about becoming the true you and living your life optimally. This is not a pep-rally or a psychological breakdown of "The 100 Top Tips to Boost Your Self-Esteem". The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is all about understanding where you can (should) be taking yourself in your life. The influence, the support, the understanding, the energy that Dr. Stephen Covey discusses comes from within yourself; it is not an external influence that fades as soon as the source is gone. You create it; you live it; it becomes you and you become it. These principles are not subject to the whims of others. You create yourself, you build upon yourself and you become an effective person in your life through learning to help yourself and others. You learn how to graduate from dependence to independence and then even further on to a higher level: interdependence all by looking deeply within yourself and following seven sound principles that are laid out in a very logical, rational and emotionally-sound manner. The principles behind Dr. Covey's ideas are based on faith in self, community and God. He helps you to understand the philosophy, "Love Me for Me."

In The Seven Habits, Covey talks about the Personal Mission Statement. This is a project that you create, write, rewrite over and over until it describes the person you most want to be. Then you simply spend the rest of your life living those beliefs until you become that person. It is probably the easiest, yet most difficult thing you will ever do in your entire life. Why? Because you must devote your entire life, and energy to this task. How easy it is to become side-tracked and slide into old habits of comfort. But these old habits are the ones that you want to rewrite with new, better habits. This is a difficult road to follow. It is also, without a doubt the most rewarding activity you will ever do in your entire life. After all, the most rewarding things in life are often the most difficult.