The author of the book basically discussed the difference between

character ethics and personality ethics on the first part. As defined by the
Mirriam-Webster, character is the way someone thinks, feels, and behaves
while personality is what makes an individual distinct from one another. With
this we can say that character ethics depends on deep internal changes
while personality ethics depends on the methods and the techniques used by
and individual.
Next, paradigm and paradigm shift are explained. As the author
defined, paradigm is a typical example or pattern or a model while paradigm
shift is the change on how a person perceive things by looking at a different
angle. Some principles are introduced such as the principle of growth,
principle of change, principle of fairness, principle of integrity and honesty,
principle of human dignity, principle of service, principle of quantity or
excellence, principle of potential, and principle of process. These principles
are considered by the author as the catalyst for paradigm shifting.
Paradigm shifting is very applicable to any situation. Having a positive
outlook in life means a positive outcome. Now people usually doesnt admit
their mistakes, as much as possible they would blame someone, try to find a
quick fix or a temporary escape from the situation.
Most people use personality ethics approach to solve a problem but as
the book quoted Einsteins words, the significant problems we face cannot
be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.
The author suggested that a principle-centered, character-based, inside-out
approach is what kind of solutions our problems need.
Habits are the things that are done on a regular basis that is usually
hard to give up but the author defined habits as the intersection of the
questions what to do and why (knowledge), how to do (skills), and want to do
(desire). According to the author, there are seven habits that highly effective
people do which uses fundamental principles of human effectiveness. These
habits represent internalization that is like the maturity continuum which is a
progressive change from being dependent (the paradigm of you) to
independent (the paradigm of I) to interdependent (the paradigm of we).
The seven habits are grouped into three. Habits 1,2. And 3 are
considered as the private victory which deals with self-mastery which is the
transition from being dependent to independent. If one is really independent
enough, he should practice habits 4, 5, and 6 which is considered as the
public victory which is from being part of something big. Perfoming these
habits will eventually come into habit 7 which is renewal. With this, continuos
improvement that creates a new level of understanding on how things should
be perceived.
Every change happens from the inside-out. Habits of private victories
increase self-confidence because people learned how to be independent.

He/she will think less of how people think of him/her and it is easier for
him/her to change he/she realized that something inside him/her cannot be
changed.
Habits of public victories help build good relationship. There is the
desire to fix broken relationships, especially the important ones. Built
relationships are more likely to be better than the last. Lastly, deeply
internatlizing the seventh habit, will make him/her be truly independent and
capable of being interdependent effectively.
Habits of private victories include being proactive. Beginning with the
end in mind, and lastly, putting first things first. Being proactive means that
he is preparing for possible futer problems. Now, these future problems are
usually sensed by people unlike animals because people can observe and
learn from others. Now people have instinct which is a natural desire that
makes him act in a particular way or a conditioned response. Instincts help
people to respond, so are animals.
Under this point, the author talked about the circle of influence.
Imagine a circle, one big circle and the second inside that. The inner circle is
your circle of influence and the outer circle is your circle of concern. This
means that many things which you are concerned about you cannot
influence. Yet there are many things which you are concerned about which
you can influence.
On an experiment conducted by Pavlov, dogs were used. At first, when
the dogs smell the food they will salivate. When the bell rang they dont but
after a few tries that the sound of the bell was accompanied by the food, the
dog would salivate. With this uncondition stimulus, when the bell rang the
dog would salivate expecting some food with it. This is how instincts of
animals work, it is trained but unlike people, it is innate in them.
Being reactive is the opposite of being proactive. A person being
reactive is responding to a problem or situation insteading od doing
something to prevent it.these people are completelt dependent on the
external factors in their life constantly pointing fingers to anything that is not
himself. The power of change lies among us. Being reactive will not make the
other habits possible. Being proactive and doing something is the beginning.
Being proactive increases your circle of influence. Basically this is the ability to control
your environment, rather than have it control you, as is so often the case. Self-determination,
choice, and the power to decide response to stimulus, conditions and circumstances

Being proactive most of the time makes you want to create a life that
follows your values and desires naturally because it makes you think of what
your future would become and in your mind you are creating what your life
would be and since you are now a proactive, the second habit comes in
which is begignnig with the end of mind.

People always say that in every beginning comes from an ending. With
our instincts, we should have a idea on the final outcome of the beginning
thus proving that you have planned the beginning very well.
The question now is how to have an ending mind at the beginning and how to plan well. As
suggested by the author, first thing to do is to identify your center. Your center is that what
determines your mood. If it is determined by your work, then you are centered on work. If it is
determined by your spouse, then you are centered on your spouse. If it is determined by your
religious believes, then you are centered on your religion or your belief. Covey suggests that you
instead center yourself on your principles.
And then using Visualization and Affirmation you can plan the end of your work, which to
be begin. This can be called as the habit of leading oneself that is, towards what you consider
your aims. By developing the habit of concentrating on relevant activities you will build a platform
to avoid distractions and become more productive and successful.

Most peoples life is full of never ending demand and destractions. As

more of this is happening, the more they feel like they are managing time
very well but as the author suggested this is one of the most uneffective way
of managing tiem though they are dealing with crisis very well. Constantly
attecnding small problems is a trap that is causing unneeded stress and
eventual burnout because you dont know to put things first.
Learning to prioritize things correctly is what putting firsts things firsts
really mean. This is the key to effective management and living. When you
put things first, you will be abel to do the important things first. Most
successful people know how to which things should be done first among
things such as building relationship, prevention, planning, preparation
reading, improving professional knowledge, and exercise.
Its these activities thatll keep the crises
minimum because yourre living a proactive life.
things should be done and hos things are ending
whatever life throws at you at the moment
prioirities.

and problems down to a

You have the idea of how
and not simply reacting to
because you know your