The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is a book by Stephen Covey.

The book is about ethics and philosophy and has sold more than 25 million copies in 40 languages worldwide since its first publication in 1989 and remains one of the best selling nonfiction business books in history.

Principles are external natural laws, values are internal and subjective. Covey proclaims that values govern people’s behavior, but principles ultimately determine the consequences.

Covey presents his teachings in a series of habits, manifesting as a progression from dependence via independence to interdependence.

Covey coined the term abundance mentality, or abundance mindset, a concept in which a person believes there are enough resources and successes to share with others.

In contrast the scarcity mindset (destructive and unnecessary competition) which is found on the idea that if someone else wins or is successful, it means you lose, because you are not considering the possibility of all parties winning in some way or another.

Individuals having an abundance mentality reject the notion of zero-sum games and are able to celebrate the success of others, rather than feel threatened by them.

The author contends that the abundance mentality arises from having a high self-worth and security (see Habits 1, 2, and 3), and leads to the sharing of profits, recognition and responsibility.

Private Victory

Habit 1: Be Proactive

Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind

Habit 3: Put First Things First

Public Victory

Habit 4: Think Win-Win

Habit 5: Seek First to Understand

Habit 6: Synergize

Renewal

Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw