The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens

“Although I’m a retired teenager, I still remember what it was like to be one.” 

While all adults are “retired teenagers,” some adults have forgotten what those years were like. Not Covey. He remembers the awkward humiliations as well as the heartfelt successes. His playful tone, his enthusiasm for his subject, and his use of accessible text and graphics suggest that even though he grew up in the days before social media, he is still able to connect with modern teens and their concerns, desires, and frustrations. 

“And think of the teen who believes she can’t get along with her stepdad. If that is her paradigm, is she likely to ever get along with him? Probably not, because that belief will hold her back from really trying.” 

This statement exemplifies the power of paradigms to define our world, our thoughts, and our actions. If we see someone as the enemy, we will actively look for evidence to support these paradigms, and we will ignore any signs that may contradict those beliefs. Thus, beliefs become self-fulfilling. Covey urges an openness in our thoughts so we do not doom our relationships with others.

“It takes faith to live by principles, especially when you see people close to you get ahead in life by lying, cheating, indulging, manipulating, and serving only themselves. What you don’t see, however, is that breaking principles always catches up to them in the end.” 

Following the seven habits is hard and requires patience. There are no quick fixes to achieve success, so seeing others who rely on lying and cheating to succeed is frustrating. Covey reminds his readers that those who try to shortcut the system can never win in the long run. By centering life around lies instead of principles, they create corrupt centers that will eventually crumble when put to the test.