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Stephen Covey, "7 Habits" author, dies at 79
- dholowiski 14y agoPSA: Wear a bike helmet when biking. It doesn't say if he was wearing one, but it doesn't sound like it. I'd probably be dead or in a coma today if I hadn't been wearing one when I crashed.
- chimeracoder 14y ago> "He was wearing a helmet, which is good news." Though the importance of your PSA still stands.
- kintamanimatt 14y agoConsidering the bicycle culture of Amsterdam, it's amazing that I've yet to see a single person wear a helmet.
- deleted 14y ago[deleted]
- Doches 14y agoMaybe they were all wearing invisible helmets? http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1828134 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1828134
- kintamanimatt 14y agoNot to my knowledge! The only helmet they have is their cranium!
- alexfarran 14y agoSurely its because they have a strong cycling culture that cycling is not seen as something extraordinary that requires special safety equipment. It makes about as much sense as a walking helmet.
- ndcrandall 14y agoHe was wearing a helmet and even with his assistants. This article explains more about the accident http://www.ksl.com/?nid=960&sid=20070216 http://www.ksl.com/?nid=960&sid=20070216
- mindcrime 14y agoPSA: Wear a bike helmet when biking. It doesn't say if he was wearing one, but it doesn't sound like it. I'd probably be dead or in a coma today if I hadn't been wearing one when I crashed. Same here. My crash was hard enough it cracked the helmet I was wearing and knocked me unconscious as it was. If I'd been going sans helmet, I doubt I'd be here writing this message now. :-(
- konstruktor 14y agoAs somebody else aready noticed, he was wearing a helmet. Maybe your knee-jerk posting can be a good motivation to start reading up on the empirical data about the presumed safety of bicycle helmets: http://www.cyclehelmets.org/1139.html http://www.cyclehelmets.org/1139.html edit: safety -> presumed safety
- jonhendry 14y agoAt his age, any part of the body can easily be the site of a life-threatening injury. Doctors are wary of operating on the elderly under the best conditions.
- powerslave12r 14y agoWow! I just started reading his book (http://www.amazon.com/Seven-Habits-Highly-Effective-People/dp/1416502491/ http://www.amazon.com/Seven-Habits-Highly-Effective-People/d...) this weekend and was reading it at lunch less than an hour ago! Sorry to hear, it's a great book.
- malkia 14y agoFrom his 2003 photo, when he was 70 years old - he looks very young for his age back then - more like 55 or 60.
- dredmorbius 14y agoBeing old doesn't have to mean looking it. Taking a different guy as an example: http://cbass.com/PICTORAL.HTM http://cbass.com/PICTORAL.HTM
- jrs235 14y agoProbably because he kept his saw sharpened in all 4 core areas.
- brianlash 14y agoBeginning as far back as high school his "7 Habits" book had a profound impact on the way I think and feel about relationships and work/life balance. I return to it every few years to look at it with fresh eyes. I am saddened by this news and will surely take some time today to reflect on the lessons I have taken from his work.
- masukomi 14y agoCopyright note: if this counts as a work of corporate authorship (surely the publisher owns the copyright not the author...but maybe I'm misunderstanding this definition) this book will enter the public domain in 2107. If it counts as a work of the author then public domain will hit in 2082. This assumes they don't extend it any more. In either case, it's likely that "highly effective people" will have acquired a number of different habits...but maybe our grandchildren will find interest in the comparison.
- bloblaw 14y agoOr you could spend $21 at Amazon and save yourself 71-95 years. I've bought the book, and the advice is actually worth more than $21. The best tools and information don't always cost money, but sometimes they do.
- hkmurakami 14y agoor $2.69 + shipping, used :)[1] OR, for free, at your local public library [2] [1] http://www.amazon.com/The-Habits-Highly-Effective-People/dp/0743269519/ref=tmm_pap_title_0 http://www.amazon.com/The-Habits-Highly-Effective-People/dp/... [2] http://sccl.bibliocommons.com/item/show_circulation/1177148016?search_scope=CAL-SCCL http://sccl.bibliocommons.com/item/show_circulation/11771480...
- stephengillie 14y agoOR, for free, at your local public library It's not free. It's a copy that you and others in your area had purchased for you, by your local library, with money collected through the tax mechanism.
- quadhome 14y agoMany public libraries are private in ownership and sponsorship. No taxes involved.
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- qrybam 14y agoI read this book a while ago and it has definitely influenced me in positive ways. I know I'm not the only one who has benefited. I'm sad to hear this news. Good reading for just about anyone.
- ArcticCelt 14y agoA couple of years ago I've read and listened to lots of motivational and self improvement books and audio-books. 7 habit was one of the most insightful I've read. This book has nothing to do with the "get rich quick" category we usually find it in when we go to the library or bookstore.
- chaostheory 14y agoIt's all about the 2nd quadrant.
- stretchwithme 14y agoStephen spent more time there than most.
- kbutler 14y agoAs a laconic geek, Covey's habit #5 "Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood" resonated with me. Actively listening to people to understand them, verifying my understanding, then seeking to help them understand me has served me very well socially and professionally.
- mmatants 14y agoDitto here. Of all the habits, #5 is the one that stood out and intensely/profoundly changed my outlook on relationships. It's funny how it seems obvious when you read it, but sometimes we need someone else to summarize and restate the obvious to look at it clearly and objectively. Covey's anecdotes seal the deal: instead of vague platitudes he gives specific (if idealized) examples. Definitely unscientific, but certainly helps understand.
- brlewis 14y agoMany life-changing principles are obvious. Practicing them is a challenge, just not an intellectual challenge.
- joelhaus 14y ago> It's funny how it seems obvious when you read it, but sometimes we need someone else to summarize and restate the obvious to look at it clearly and objectively. This brings to mind one of my favorite Covey quotes: "What is common sense is not always common practice."
- igorgue 14y agoI remember first reading about "7 Habits" from Linus's management style: First off, I'd suggest buying "Seven Habits of Highly Successful People", and NOT read it. Burn it, it's a great symbolic gesture. [1] After that I read the book and it's actually not that bad. It helps. [1] http://lwn.net/Articles/105375/ http://lwn.net/Articles/105375/
- petdance 14y agoThat says more about Linus that anything else I've read.
- akent 14y agoI suspect it's more of a tongue-in-cheek self-reference to the Linux C coding style (http://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation/CodingStyle http://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation/CodingStyle) where he suggests burning the GNU coding standards, using exactly the same phrasing. Incidentally if you read the GNU coding standards I think you'll find they really ARE that bad (http://www.gnu.org/prep/standards/html_node/Formatting.html#Formatting http://www.gnu.org/prep/standards/html_node/Formatting.html#...)
- kalid 14y agoI was curious about how bad the GNU standards could be [they make so much great software!]. Holy crap. Function calls with a space? foo (x,y); Braces indented halfway into the "else" keyword? Ugh. I'm no C guru but even has a freshman cs major I'd recognize that as ugly.
- glaze 14y agoThis is a book that I read at least once per year. It's a valuable resource and highly relevant to entrepreneurs and generally to everyone.
- jasonshen 14y agoStephen Covey wrote a profoundly influential book which made a big impact on my life. At a time when most self-help authors were focused on improving your personality, Covey was concerned about your character. A quick summary of the habits: 1) Be Proactive - accept that while you can't control what happens to you, you can always control how you respond 2) Begin with the End in Mind - imagine what you'd like people to say about you at your funeral, live each day with that vision of your best self in mind 3) First things First - don't let the urgent take precedence over the important - make sure you devot time/energy to your highest priorities 4) Understand before Seeking to Be Understood - make sure you really listen to others, reflect what you hear, before trying to tell them anything 5) Think Win-Win - life works better when you don't see things as a battle, but as an opportunity to allow both/all parties to succeed 6) Synergy - ok, this was a little vague, but basically by working together you can achieve more 7) Sharpen the Saw - make sure to take time to renew yourself - exercise, sleep, recharge, learn new things, and keep yourself operating at the highest levels. RIP Stephen. Tremendous respect for what you've embodied.
- nostromo 14y agoThanks for writing this. I must admit that I always dismissed 7 Habits as yet another business self-help book full of platitudes. (Without reading it, of course.) Based on the reaction to his death here on HN however I'll give it a shot.
- joshuahedlund 14y agoI had similarly dismissed it until a computer science professor allowed us to read and write about it to test out of a (boring) final. I had already been taught the 7 principles from a high school class, but the book itself far exceeded my expectations with its specific advice, anecdotes, and perspectives. I now own a copy for future reference.
- cpeterso 14y agoDavid Allen's "Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity" is a good companion to The Seven Habits. GTD focuses a little more on the geeky mechanics of self-organization/prioritization.
- kennethologist 14y agoSorry to hear this news. My sympathy to his love ones. Unfortunately, I've never read "7 Habits" but after reading all of the positive comments I will definitely get a copy this week and give it a read.
- jstalin 14y agoAlthough "7 habits" is good, Carnegie's "How to win friends and influence people" is still #1 for practical, real-world business and relationship advice, in my mind.
- petdance 14y agoThe problem with that is that far too few geeks are interested in winning friends or influencing people. Still, the Carnegie book is great.
- bceagle 14y agoMan, I am totally bummed. Stephen Covey has had such a big influence on my life. Last year I wrote an article about effective developers (http://jeffwhelpley.com/2011/07/27/highly-effective-developers/ http://jeffwhelpley.com/2011/07/27/highly-effective-develope...) that obviously was derived from his 7 habits book. While the ideas he talks about are found in many different books, blogs, etc. today, I consider 7 Habits the "bible" of personal development. If I had to pick one thing from Covey that stands above all else it is his thoughts about win-win. I am not only talking about the stuff in the 7 Habits but also all the additional books and presentations that he has done. I have found it extremely difficult to maintain that win-win perspective myself and it has been even more difficult helping my team members do the same. I think it is because our natural instincts tend to push us towards competitiveness even when we know things work out better when everyone is on the same side. Even outside of work, in my personal life I often think about this principal and push myself and my wife to figure out ways to create win-win situations. RIP, Stephen Covey. You are the man.
- BadassFractal 14y ago$0.75 used from half.com if you still down own a copy. Books are such amazing value. It's like an everyday Steam Summer Sale in the book world.
- dredmorbius 14y agoColor me underwhelmed by Covey's writing. I always found it a bit too obvious, and found it disingenuous that while he spoke at length about the importance of religion and his large family, he never came out and stated that he was Mormon (not that there's anything intrinsically good or bad about that, but ... it's like appearing multiple times on the news as a small businessman without revealing that you're also an officer for a decidedly partisan political organization (http://www.onthemedia.org/2012/jul/13/introducing-joe-olivo/?utm_source=local&utm_media=treatment&utm_campaign=daMost&utm_content=damostviewed http://www.onthemedia.org/2012/jul/13/introducing-joe-olivo/... -- no, not Covey). His association with Darl McBride (of SCO vs. IBM lawsuit fame) doesn't particularly impress me either, in the "judge 'em by the company they keep" sense. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darl_McBride https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darl_McBride Covey took an obscure term from psychology and rather utterly changed its meaning. "Responsive" or "anticipatory" work fine. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proactive http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proactive Covey's book is decent. It's by no means the best. The truths it speaks are pretty obvious. And I suppose this is my own take to his principle #2.
- jonmb 14y agoThe truths it speaks are pretty obvious. I think most great truths are like that. The Golden Rule is a good example.
- dredmorbius 14y agoCovey self-aggrandizes. He doesn't pose this as some well-accepted ancient wisdom occasionally misplaced. Or at least that was my impression of the book. Read it some 20 years ago, reviewed bits of it since. I find it difficult to stomach, believe I finally just tossed it.
- dools 14y agoJust because something can be summarised in a simple way, doesn't necessarily make it simple to begin with. Think of all the simple and obvious things we read, write and discuss every day: "find customers before building a product", "don't solve problems you don't have yet", "write tests first before writing code". These are all "simple and obvious" but you couldn't possibly derive any value from reading only those statements without any discussion or analysis of what they really mean. Likewise, if we take the stuff Covey says about being "principle centred". Reduced to it's simplest summary this says "base your character on unchanging principles to avoid fluctuations". So simple it's basically axiomatic: of course if you base something on an unchanging foundation, it will be less subject to change than if you didn't. But without his discussion about what the other options are, what it means to be centred in money, self, family, work etc. you don't have a good enough reference point to judge what action you would need to take in order to change your attitude, behaviour or character.
- zwieback 14y agoIn addition to his books and organizers he also had 52 grand-children! That's one birthday per week, on average.
- theorique 14y agoSad news about a distinguished man. His "7 Habits" book was one of the very first books that I read on personal development. One of the best things about his work is that it focused on deep change and fundamental principles and values, not quick-fixes. He never promised that self-improvement or improving your relationships with others was easy, but he did show many people a way that worked well.
- fosk 14y agoRIP Stephen. I was 17 when I read "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People", a book that has absolutely enlarged my vision about values and guiding principles of various areas of my life. That has changed my life. Thanks.
- aymeric 14y agoI am sad as if someone from my own family had died. Since I first read it 10 years ago, I kept calling the 7 habits my "bible" (I am not religious). Every sentence of the book teaches you something new. Each time you read the book, you learn something you. This book had such a big impact on my personality that I can't recommend it enough. I even developed a Time Management tool based on his habit 3 First Things First: http://weekplan.net http://weekplan.net Stephen, I wish I had attended one of your seminars. I regret I haven't.
- kayman 14y agoI read his book in college. Had a profound impact on me. The "Sharpen the Saw" habit convinced me to exercise regularly.
- xiaoma 14y agoMy mentor who was instrumental in nearly all the best things I achieved as an adolescent highly recommended I read 7 Habits, but I never did. It was one of those things I just put off. One thing I'll say though is that this is how I want to die-- Biking steep roads in the foothills, living to the fullest regardless of age, and then be comforted in the end by my children and their families. This man died well.
- mzuvella 14y agoFirst time I have seen a Yahoo article linked on HN in a while.
- toblender 14y agoBeen trying to convince my girlfriend to read this for a while. She finally started to read it under advice from a mentor, and it is really having an impact on her effectiveness. It was just yesterday we were discussing some of the points of 7 habits over wine. RIP Stephen. I will remember to "Sharpen the saw".