The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens

As a bestselling novel, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey challenges students to become better versions of themselves through a methodology of intra- and interpersonal exercises taught by many religions and self-help programs around the globe. In this book, readers are taught that prioritizing, proactivity, good communication and intrapersonal strength are all equally important, and that one must achieve inner determination and self esteem before their relationships can be healthy. I agree with Covey, and believe that all of these habits are necessary to being an effective and successful teen. In an age where technology is so accessible and most things from 1998 seem out of place, I not only related to the text, but also realized areas of my life that were lacking. Of all the seven habits, Begin with the End in Mind (habit two), Put First Things First (habit three), and Think Win-Win (habit four) are the building blocks to a sound, effective lifestyle.

The second of the three “private victory” habits, Begin with the End in Mind is the first and most essential step to reaching personal goals. I remember glossing over this section of the book when I first read it in early February, only to go to church the next Sunday and hear the exact same message repeated. The weekend’s sermon was about developing and maintaining new habits and goals people often forget about a few weeks into the year. It had an uncanny resemblance to the second and third habits I had read about the day before, and the pastor even asked something similar to, “How can you tell if your ladder is leaning against the right wall” (93)? How would anyone achieve if they did not have a projected finish line? While I have always been a planner, my ide...

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..., the teens of our society are faced with more challenges than the ones before them. Because of this, many parenting books quickly become dated and people find that you can’t predict raising adolescents from a book. However, when teens take the initiative and read for their benefit in books such as 7 Habits, there is always something to learn, in any generation. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens will eventually fall short of the evolution of generations, but there is always something to learn from basic steps like Covey’s. There is nothing new under the sun, and without mention of recent events and technology...with mention of recent events and technology...and even mention of events and technology we haven’t yet seen, when a book is based around skills and habits teens will need at any age and circumstance, the advice given in this book will never fall short.