I first began reading the 7 habits of highly effective people something like 5 years ago , But I didn't finish it ...not even close ..It was dense and difficult to make it to the next page ,not even worrying about the finishing the whole thing .
However , after people I highly respected recommended the book repeatedly , I decided to dive back in and each concept , each habit is mind blowing ... much of this book is now hitting me with the force of 9000 truthbombs
The author , Steven Covey , in the early chapters explains what he terms the 'Maturity continuum ' of human dependency . Explain that , as children we are obviously dependent on our parents for our needs and as a person develops they move up these levels of dependency .
Covey Explains that while may people strive to be their own sovereign and independent person that being in a state of independence is not actually Ideal . He explains that when we find others who are on the same wavelength as us , others who are essentially playing the same ballgame , we can move the ball forward farther working as a team and achieve much greater things . I remember reading this chapter as a rebellious and angry teen and thinking ' F that shit , I'm playing my own game here ' little did I know that that sort of attitude repelled others who I would have had a lot in common with .
This concept of the dependency is extremely powerful . The author explains that we must move through each stage on the development continuum , moving fro dependency to independence and finally to interdependence.
With a little explenation Covey demonstrated just how prevalent a dependency mindset has become in our modern lives . As children we expect our needs to be met by our partents and by others . But how many people do you know who expect their needs to be met by somebody else ? That the government must provide them with subsidies rather than they take control of their own financial health , that having a relationship with a women will make them happy , That god will provide what they need , That X is the source of their problems , rather than taking responsibility for that which they can exercise control over .
For example during any given day or week in a western city and their will likely be a protest . No matter what the cause , be it globalization , it global warming and climate change , Be it climate change ...All of these people focus soley on problems , thousands of people all focusing on problems which they demand that somebody else fix
Whereas you have an entrepreneur like Elon Musk who identifies a problem but focuses on SOLUTIONS ...HE MAKES IT HIS RESPONSIBILITY . who do you think Incites greater change ?
The 7 habits is a phenomenal book and I'd definitely recommend it . I will be doing a breakdown of some of the key concepts in the coming weeks