(Available in our Library :  Acquisition No: 6364, code :155.51 COV)

 The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens

Author :Sean Covey

Sow a thought, and you reap an act;

Sow an act, and you reap a habit;

Sow a habit, and you reap a character;

Sow a character, and you reap a destiny.

                                                                       Samuel Smiles

         As an introduction, the author of this book conveys positive, inspirational, and motivational strategies to help teenagers live up to their potential. The author presents his discussion with the aid of real-life situations and quotes to enable readers to comprehend better. This book underlines the recipe of a successful and effective teenager, presented in four sections that will invariably engage readers in a positive self-transformation.

         The first part, Paradigms and Principles, invites teenagers to enter a realm of positive thinking. In other words, teenagers are encouraged to have a paradigm shift and create perceptions that will not limit their abilities to accomplish great things. Teenagers should be principle-centered because principles never fail. For example, principles such as honesty, gratitude, hard work, and integrity form the elements of our moral compass. On the other hand, if our lives revolve around materialistic items, we will find our lives to be unstable and devoid of satisfaction. As an old saying goes, if who I am is what I have and what I have is lost, then who am I?

         The Private Victory, the second section, underlines the fact that we must first win private battles within ourselves before we can win in the public arenas of life. Ergo, we must first change from within. The author demonstrates this by relating our inner qualities to a Personal Bank Account (PBA). We can build our PBA by depositing substances such as being honest and keeping promises to ourselves. In this section, the author exposes three habits that enable us to build a secure PBA, namely be proactive, begin with an end in mind and put first things first. Habit 1, be proactive, is the key to unlocking all the other habits. Being proactive really means two things. First, take responsibility for one’s life. Second, develop a “can-do” attitude in tackling obstacles. Habit 2, begin with an end in mind, encourages teenagers to have a mission statement and to gear up towards their goals. Habit 3, put first things first, motivates teenagers to prioritize. This habit underlines the importance of time management and overcoming fear and peer pressure to achieve our missions in life.

         The third part, The Public Victory, reveals the subsequent three habits that uncover the key to mastering relationships. The author relates human relationships to a Relationship Bank Account (RBA). Similar to PBA, we can build our RBA by depositing substances such as listening and being loyal. Habit 4, think Win-Win, is an attitude towards life, a mental frame of mind that benefits both parties. This habit is the foundation for getting along well with other people. It begins with the belief that we are all equal and no one really needs to be inferior or superior to others. Habit 5, seek first to understand, then to be understood, sums up the key to communication. This is because, if we learn to see things from another person’s perspective of view before sharing our own, a whole new realm of understanding will be opened up to us. Habit 5, synergize, highlights the need to celebrate differences and practice open-mindedness in order to develop great teamwork.

         The final section, Renewal, complements the other parts in this book. In this section, the author exposes the seventh and final habit - sharpen the saw. Habit 7 is all about keeping our personal selves sharp so that we can deal with life better. It means regularly renewing and strengthening the four key dimensions of our lives - body, brain, heart and soul. The author signs off with an inspirational message that we should keep hope alive. In other words, we should never give up hope to accomplish our fullest potential.

         In a nutshell, the author displays the essential seven habits that are inexplicably intertwined and interconnected in an engaging and interesting manner. Teenagers are encouraged to take baby steps that will become powerful tools to achieve larger goals. This book certainly is the ultimate teenage success guide, highlighting the need for us to become change agents and to transform ourselves first before we can change the world. As the great philosopher, Mahatma Gandhi, once said, ‘ You must be the change you wish to see in the world.’

      Review by

           Esther Ho Shan Lin

           Form 4, June 2009