You can't change the fruit without changing the root. Stephen Covey More Quotes by Stephen Covey More Quotes From Stephen Covey To judge someone before understanding that person is a form of human rejection and feeds upon itself. It intensifies personal insecurities, necessitating more judgment (prejudice) and less understanding. The processes continue in this vicious cycle. Stephen Covey rejection understanding judging Petty things become unimportant when people are impassioned about a purpose higher than self. Stephen Covey purpose self people Perhaps the most important vision of all is develop a sense of self, a sense of your own destiny, a sense of unique mission and role in life. Stephen Covey destiny unique self Basing our happiness on our ability to control everything is futile. Stephen Covey pursuit-of-happiness planning happiness Strength lies in differences, not in similarities Stephen Covey inspiration teamwork lying I try to exercise regularly every day, if I can. It renews you and it gives you more balance in your life. This is a key leverage point. Stephen Covey keys exercise giving We are product of neither nature nor nurture; we are a product of choice, because there is always a space between stimulus and response. As we wisely exercise our power to choose based on principles, the space will become larger. Stephen Covey space choices exercise Trust is the highest form of human motivation. Stephen Covey trust motivation inspirational Give no answer to contentious arguments or irresponsible accusations. Let such things "fly out open windows" until they spend themselves. Stephen Covey argument answers giving How you treat the one reveals how you regard the many, because everyone is ultimately a one. Stephen Covey interpersonal-skills 7-habits treats Don't prioritize your schedule, schedule those priorities. Stephen Covey prioritize priorities schedules Compliance does not foster innovation, trust does. You can't sustain long-term innovation, for example, in a climate of distrust. Stephen Covey innovation climate long What you see often depends on what you are looking for. Stephen Covey depends Affirm people. Affirm your children. Believe in them, not in what you see but in what you don't see - their potential. Stephen Covey motivational believe children When life does not go our way or we inadvertently make a mistake, it is so easy to make excuses, place blame on others, or argue that circumstances were against us. But we only progress in life to the extent that we take responsibility for our actions and attitudes, and put forth the initiative necessary to create our own circumstances. Stephen Covey freedom mistake attitude Look at the weaknesses of others with compassion, not accusation. It's not what they're not doing or should be doing that's the issue. The issue is your own chosen response to the situation and what you should be doing. If you start to think the problem is "out there," stop yourself. That thought is the problem. Stephen Covey issues compassion thinking The bottom line is, when people are crystal clear about the most important priorities of the organization and team they work with and prioritized their work around those top priorities, not only are they many times more productive, they discover they have the time they need to have a whole life. Stephen Covey team change life Anything less than a conscious commitment to the important is an unconscious commitment to the unimportant. Stephen Covey important military commitment Happen to things, don't let things happen to you Stephen Covey things-happen happens Empathic listening takes time, but it doesn't take anywhere near as much time as it takes to back up and correct misunderstandings when you're already miles down the road; to redo; to live with unexpressed and unsolved problems; to deal with the results of not giving people psychological air. Stephen Covey air giving people
