Recently I started reading the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. The purpose of the book is to help people lead lives of personal effectiveness, influence and collaboration, by focusing on habits that foster true character development rather than surface-level success. That’s a mouthful, so let me dissect!

Covey starts his book by differentiating between what he calls the Character Ethic and the Personality Ethic. These terms represent two different approaches to personal growth and effectiveness, and they are the terms I want to discuss with you here.

Two Approaches to Personal Effectiveness.

The Character Ethic is based on timeless principles such as integrity, humility, courage and patience. Covey argues that true, lasting success comes from developing these traits and living in harmony with fundamental truths. Living in accordance with these fundamental principles allows you to cultivate who you are on the inside—working on deep roots of your character to support a thriving life. He furthermore argues that growth in these principles consists of important, sequential stages—none can be skipped and there are no shortcuts.

• Example: This ethic reminds me of Aristotle’s virtue ethics, where living a virtuous life means finding the “sweet spot” of virtue between two extremes, or vices. For instance, Aristotle describes courage as the balance between cowardice (a deficiency) and rashness (an excess). Virtue ethics emphasizes continuous character development, aiming for human flourishing through consistent practice and self-improvement.

The Personality Ethics emphasizes traits like charm, image, and effective techniques for influencing others. It’s easy to see why it appeals to many of us—these strategies can provide valuable short-term benefits like boosting confidence in social situations or increased productivity. Quick wins, such as a new networking tip or a productivity hack, can be motivating and even make a noticeable difference in the moment. But, while these approaches can be helpful, Covey suggests they should be built on a foundation of strong character to ensure lasting, meaningful impact on our relationships, work, and overall well-being.

• Example: After figuring out some financial matters recently and searching for tips on investing in stocks, I noticed a flood of quick YouTube ads targeting me. They generally feature a young man showcasing flashy cars or luxurious vacations, all supposedly achieved through day-trading or other financial shortcuts. These ads promise fast success and financial freedom with minimal effort, perfectly illustrating the Personality Ethic in action. While the allure of instant results is understandable, Covey would argue that true and lasting financial stability comes from principles like patience, diligence, and wise decision-making—not from chasing shortcuts that only address surface-level desires.

Moving To Character Ethics.

While the Personality Ethic offers tempting shortcuts and can be beneficial for the short-term, Covey makes a compelling case for prioritizing the Character Ethic. By focusing on developing core values and living in harmony with universal principles, we lay the groundwork for sustainable and meaningful success.

Here are a few practical tips if you want to start living in accordance with the Character Ethic:

1. Cultivate Patience: you cannot expect from yourself that you will be perfectly aligned with values from one day to the next. Each situation in which you can affirm your new values is a new chance for growth. Remind yourself that lasting change happens in stages, and be willing to invest the time and effort required.
2. Practice Integrity Daily: Commit to keeping your promises, even the small ones. Honoring your word builds trust with yourself and others.
3. Focus on Humility: Recognize that there’s always more to learn. Embrace feedback and see challenges as opportunities to grow, rather than obstacles to your ego.

By incorporating these principles you can begin to shift from a quick-fix mindset to one grounded in genuine character development. Thank you for taking the time to read and reflect on these ideas. If you enjoyed this post and want more insights from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, please like, share or subscribe this article. 🫴🏽🌱

Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash