Executive Summary
Part One: Paradigms And Principles
Inside-Out
Steven Covey studied over 200 years of writing about success. While studying these writings he began to recognize a distinct pattern surfacing. He found these writings attributed success to either Character Ethic or Personality Ethic. The majority of the literature of in the first 150 years focused on the philosophy referred to as Character Ethic. The foundations for success are based upon integrity, humility, fidelity, temperance, courage, justice, patience, industry, simplicity, modesty, and the Golden Rule. This idea insists that true success can only be achieved if these principles are integrated into the basic character. The shift from Character Ethic to Personality Ethic occurred shortly after World War I. Success literature of the past 50 years credits success as more of a function of personality, public image, attitudes and behaviors, skills, and techniques. Covey suggests that personality traits are secondary to Character traits. If the character is flawed, mistrust and manipulation may be perceived, and there is no foundation for permanent success. Both types of traits are needed in long-term relationships, but character traits have more permanent worth in long-term relationships.
We must understand our own paradigm, before we can effectively interpret the Seven Habits. A paradigm is a model, perception, or theory. We use mental maps to interpret experiences, and seldom question their accuracy. If we do not examine the basic paradigms from which our attitudes and behaviors are created, then changing outward attitudes and behaviors is not effective. The paradigm shift is the experi ...