The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens | Teen Ink

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens MAG

By Anonymous

     Sean Covey has followed in his famous father’s footsteps (Stephen Covey is the author of many self-help books) and written the definitive success guide for teens, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. Today’s teens are busier and more stressed than ever before. With school, hours of homework, athletics, jobs, clubs, helping at home and more, we barely have time to breathe.

When I recently read about a teenager committing suicide because of stress over homework and another who shot his father due to pressure to succeed in athletics, I realized that more books for teenagers are needed.

The 7 Habits not only serves as a guide for teens to improve their self image, build friendships, resist peer pressure and achieve goals, but it offers hope. Reading it, you realize that though you may be struggling now, with hard work and a vision you can overcome any obstacle. This is explored through real-life examples from teens around the world who share their experiences and the habits they have developed to overcome obstacles.

The seven habits are: 1) Be proactive; 2) Begin with the end in mind; 3) Put first things first; 4) Think win-win; 5) Seek first to understand, then be understood; 6) Synergize and 7) Sharpen the saw. Mixed in are cartoons, famous quotes, song lyrics, poems and other classic techniques to keep you interested. I found the baby steps listed at the end of each chapter and the various activities extremely helpful. The Great Discovery Activity in particular really helped me understand myself and what is important in my life. That is the first step in developing a personal mission statement and setting goals.

In summary, I found the book highly engaging and a must-read for any teenager looking for inspiration and motivation to succeed. This book is a compass to guide us through the land mines of adolescence and into a value-driven adulthood. It is not surprising that The 7 Habits was a national best-seller.



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This article has 46 comments.


on Dec. 23 2011 at 8:28 am
HorseLover SILVER, Dallas, Texas
7 articles 0 photos 55 comments

Favorite Quote:
"A boat is safe in the harbor. But this is not the purpose of a boat."~Paulo Coelho, author of The Alchemist

Our school used to make us read this book going into 8th grade (and then they stopped), but it sounds good, so I think I might read it anyway. Thanks!

on Dec. 1 2011 at 6:55 pm
shapeshifter56 GOLD, Cave Creek, Arizona
14 articles 0 photos 136 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Instead of waiting for the storm to pass, learn to dance in the rain."
--Unknown Author

Sounds like a great book! Thanks for the well-written review!

Duhhh said...
on Dec. 1 2011 at 1:40 pm
sounds like you guys are failures.

Duhhh said...
on Dec. 1 2011 at 1:38 pm
If its so obvious, why arent these actions taken more often by teens then?

squirt said...
on Dec. 1 2011 at 1:36 pm
that shows just how lazy you are.

on Nov. 9 2011 at 7:09 pm
cyberunfamous SILVER, Melbourne, Florida
8 articles 1 photo 24 comments

Favorite Quote:
Shutting your eyes and pretending something isn't happening doesn't make it not true.

That's funny I'm in 8th grade and I'm reading this book right now. My mom has Stephen Covey's book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. It is such a good book!

on Nov. 9 2011 at 10:40 am
Celeste_N. SILVER, Balch Springs, Texas
8 articles 0 photos 27 comments

Favorite Quote:
Your just mad that your not a rainbow unicorn with ninja monkeys that can talk to gummy bears(:

I LOVE THAT BOOK...I READ IY LAST YEAR IN THE 8TH GRADE!!!!! IT WAS AMAZING!! REALLY INSPIRING!!!

on Oct. 18 2011 at 4:29 pm
onedirectionlover GOLD, Hampton, Virginia, Virginia
16 articles 3 photos 37 comments
What are you talking about 7 habits? I read them, and it didn't make any sence to me at all.

xZajmi said...
on Oct. 6 2011 at 10:07 pm
Too bad you still never learned to spell D;

Paigerouni97 said...
on Oct. 4 2011 at 7:22 pm
I believe that this book was also very confusing because it just jumpped around to different topics constantly and I agree that the title is very long. It was annoying to be constantly typing it.

goofychick said...
on Aug. 24 2011 at 12:07 pm
I disagree...this book was amazing read it again and you will understand it better :)

on Oct. 31 2010 at 6:34 am
Phantom_Girl GOLD, Ft. Carson, Colorado
14 articles 0 photos 279 comments

Favorite Quote:
"If it comes out of the lion's mouth...it will be on the test."
-Mr. Bala

I agree. State the obvious much, Sean Covey?

on Oct. 31 2010 at 6:32 am
Phantom_Girl GOLD, Ft. Carson, Colorado
14 articles 0 photos 279 comments

Favorite Quote:
"If it comes out of the lion's mouth...it will be on the test."
-Mr. Bala

I loved the review, it was very well organized and had just the right amount of personal experience.

That being said, I hate this book with a burning passion. I even hate the title. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. Highly Effective! Like we're building plans or something! The supposedly miraculous 7 steps do nothing more than state the obvious. I enjoyed some of the cartoons and poems mixed in, but as for the actual writing, I thought I was going to commit suicide if I read one more lousy page! Curse my inability to stop reading a book once I've started. And doubly curse my need to read books that I know I will hate, simply so I can critique them more thoroughly!


on Oct. 14 2010 at 6:41 pm
lightningscar- BRONZE, Stratford, Other
3 articles 0 photos 32 comments

Favorite Quote:
There are many causes for which I would die for, but none for which I would kill.
-Ghandi

I had to read this at school, we didn't get to finish it before the end of the year, and although quite nerdy,  read it over the summer becasue i wanted to finish it ;)

on Sep. 13 2010 at 5:35 pm
this is an awsome book. it made such an inpretion on my life

on Aug. 26 2010 at 4:01 pm
earlybird_8 BRONZE, Roberts Creek, Other
4 articles 0 photos 115 comments

Favorite Quote:
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

I read the book and it didn't really inspire me. It seemed like the type of book for struggling teens who aspire to mediocrity. If someone you know is likely to fall into drug use/alcoholism/juvenile delinquency, then I would recommend it for them. I just found that most of the strategies it proposed were ones that I was already doing, so it wasn't helpful.

on Aug. 21 2010 at 3:08 pm
-alice- PLATINUM, Colorado Springs, Colorado
21 articles 0 photos 81 comments

Favorite Quote:
I care very little if I am judged by you or any other human court; indeed I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. -1 Corinthians 4:3-4

This book has changed my life.  I was not a great person before, and I knew I wasn't but I didn't know how to change it, and when my mom got me this, it was shelved for a couple months.  I finally got around to reading it and it has completely changed my perspective on everything!!! Great review, too, I really liked it.

on Feb. 27 2010 at 8:26 pm
SpiceyRedPepper GOLD, League City, Texas
11 articles 0 photos 34 comments

Favorite Quote:
Im not clumsy im just allergic to gravity!!!!

i don't get this book AT ALL and we read it in class! sorry

on Dec. 19 2009 at 8:10 pm
I liked your review; you're a good writer. As for the book... I can't stand it. Teachers give us assignments from it and we have classes for it that we have to attend sometimes, and I think that the 7 Habits are bogus.

on Nov. 18 2009 at 2:58 pm
This book Sucks.... i had to read this in class and i could barley read it that how much it sucks. Never read this book if u know what is good for you