Compared to Inner Strength, External Things Are Trivial
I spent twelve hours rereading Dr. Stephen R. Covey’s classic The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. The book endures not only because it’s concise and practical, but because it resonates: somewhere in those pages, you find your own strengths or weaknesses reflected. Like horoscopes or fortune‑telling, there’s always a line that seems to speak to you. Covey joked that his bald head came from “spending other people’s haircut time serving society,” reminiscent of Lu Xun’s quip about spending “others’ coffee time” on writing.
On translation, I wonder if some terms could be rendered in a more China‑friendly way: “Begin with the End in Mind” as 不忘初心; “Think Win/Win” as 共赢思维; “Empathic Listening” as 换位思考; and “Synergize” as 共鸣.
I first read the book six years ago; rereading it now, I see new things. I’ve been practicing “Put First Things First” reasonably well, but I realize my weak spot is “Begin with the End in Mind.” Covey also notes the seven habits are a lifelong pursuit; perfection is unrealistic — which is actually reassuring. I also noticed that as work intensified, I somehow started prioritizing “important and urgent” tasks (Quadrant I), which is exhausting.
These seven habits are truly a way of life worth practicing, especially the first three (Be Proactive, Begin with the End in Mind, Put First Things First). As social beings, we must first stand on our own before we can cooperate and accomplish things in the public sphere. To me, the first three are more like Dao (principles), while the latter three are Shu (techniques). Covey keeps emphasizing: know yourself — strengths, weaknesses, and shadow. Only then can you restrain desire, amplify strengths, and shore up weaknesses.
Jack Ma once said, “All the bad things men do, I wanted to do.” I don’t think he meant indulging in vice, but that he examined himself deeply, understood his inner world, and knew his flaws. Only then can “overcoming my flaws” live in Quadrant II for continuous self‑cultivation — unlike another e‑commerce magnate who, despite going to business school with his family in tow, still did what he did. One wonders whether that school ever taught “Begin with the End in Mind.”
Covey doesn’t harp on “cherishing time,” and if you truly practice Begin with the End in Mind plus Put First Things First, you don’t need to worship time as such. In his Last Interview, Covey twice suggested a small time‑saving trick: for example, walking for exercise while talking with family — one shot, two birds. Modern success literature urges “balance family and career,” but I’d say: put self first. Only with a mature mindset can you handle family and career well. The best investment is in yourself, especially time. Set aside real time to look inward, sense your own presence, and love yourself — then you can love family and work. Without inner substance or aspiration, one is like a salted fish; for family or organization, just an ATM or a nanny. Only by regularly asking “How should I live this life well?” can we coordinate relationships with spouse, children, friends, and colleagues.
Compared with classics like 7 Habits, most New Year “big talks” and low‑tier corporate trainings are shallow in form and content — often just retelling the classics. Paying for bite‑sized knowledge rarely beats buying a time‑tested classic and quietly reading a few pages. As the saying goes: “Bread already chewed by others has no taste.”
Published at: Sep 15, 2025 · Modified at: Oct 26, 2025
