The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens

Nonfiction | Book | YA | Published in 1998

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Introduction-Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Key Figures

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

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Discussion Questions

Symbols & Motifs

Trees

Trees are a powerful symbol of Covey’s habits. Just like a tree, the seven habits have deep roots and have the potential for soaring growth. The habits can support us, allowing us to stand tall, no matter how difficult life may be, just as a tree keeps standing tall, no matter the weather. The steady cumulative impact of habits can be symbolized by the accumulation of tree rings as the tree grows each year.

In Chapter 1, Covey provides a drawing of a tree, with roots spreading deep into the soil and leaves reaching high toward the sun, and on this tree, he has written the seven habits (6). The first three habits are written over the tree’s root system, symbolizing how these habits serve as the foundation for the rest of the habits. The massive trunk has “Think Win-Win” on it, showing how the abundant growth that the tree is capable of can symbolize the abundance of the “Win-Win” paradigm. The branches carry the words, “Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood,” symbolizing how the power of listening before speaking can be instrumental in reaching out to people just as a tree’s branches reach toward the sun. “Synergize” is written high in the leaves, symbolizing the heights that creative teamwork can take us to, and “sharpen the saw” seems to float almost above the tree and towards the sun, the source of life, symbolizing the inspiration that nourishes all of us.

Covey also uses trees to symbolize the great strength and foundation that personal mission statements can have:

A personal mission statement is like a tree with deep roots. It’s stable and it’s not going anywhere, but it’s also alive and continually growing. Standing like a tree with deep roots helps you survive all of the storms of life that beat you up (83).

The tree that is firmly rooted in the ground can flourish, steadily growing and gradually achieving new heights. Similarly, creating a personal mission statement forces us to dig deep and figure out what we want out of life, but once that is discovered, the mission statement can be a stabilizing force for our entire life, no matter where life takes us.

Driving

Covey uses the act of driving, which may have particular appeal for teens who may be driving for the first time, to symbolize the first three habits and their emphasis on independence. As people learn to drive for the first time, they are learning the difference between sitting in the passenger seat and sitting in the driver’s seat. Becoming the driver symbolizes the first habit, “Being Proactive,” because it shows that, to achieve independence, we must learn to take responsibility for our life and not to seek to blame others when things don’t go our way. We must recognize what is in our circle of control, just as drivers must recognize everything that is their control when they sit behind the wheel.

Driving, however, is more than turning the ignition key and pressing the gas pedal, as Covey discusses in presenting the second habit: “Habit 1 says you are the driver of your life, not the passenger. Habit 2 says, since you’re the driver, decide where to go and draw a map of how to get there” (74). Habit 2 is about setting goals, and Covey urges us to create a personal mission statement to help us create those goals. Habit 3 is about making sure that obstacles don’t stop you from reaching your destination. Just as drivers sometimes have to deal with traffic or detours but still arrive at their destination, we, too, must make sure we don’t allow the challenges of life to stop us from achieving our goals.

Crossroads

Covey is well aware of his audience, teenaged readers. He refers to the symbol of a crossroads, which connects to his driving symbolism since crossroads are the intersection of two or more roads. The driver must decide whether to continue straight, turn left, or turn right. Teenagers also have to make pivotal decisions, and these decisions—about college, jobs, moving, friends, dating, sex, alcohol, drugs, values, attitudes toward life, or how they contribute to the community—potentially have a major impact on their future. While these choices can be intimidating, Covey wants to convey hope and excitement as he encourages his readers to be brave and have confidence in their abilities. He wants them to embrace these big moments in life.

Bank Accounts

The bank account is another fitting symbol for teens who may be getting a job for the first time and perhaps learning how to save their money. As they learn financial literacy, they see the value of saving their money and seeing how interest accrues over time. Financial bank accounts symbolize the two types of bank accounts that Covey discusses—the personal bank account (PBA) and the relationship bank account (RBA). The PBA symbolizes the way we invest in ourselves by acts such as keeping our promises to ourselves and being honest with ourselves. The RBA symbolizes the way we invest in others. We have an RBA with every person we meet, and we must recognize the big impacts that daily deposits and withdrawals have on our relationships.