Stephen R. Covey

Our character is basically a composite of our habits. Because they are consistent, often unconcious patterns, they constantly, daily, express our character.

Our ultimate freedom is the right and power to decide how anybody or anything outside ourselves will affect us.

It’s easy to say no! when there’s a deeper yes! burning inside.

In addition to self-awareness, imagination and conscience, it is the fourth human endowment-independent will-that really makes effective self-management possible. It is the ability to make decisions and choices and to act in accordance with them. It is the ability to act rather than to be acted upon, to proactively carry out the program we have developed through the other three endowments. Empowerment comes from learning how to use this great endowment in the decisions we make every day.

Don’t argue for other people’s weaknesses. Don’t argue for your own. When you make a mistake, admit it, correct it, and learn from it – immediately.

You can’t live principals you can’t understand.

I’ve seen more people fail because of liquor and leverage – leverage being borrowed money. You really don’t need leverage in this world much. If you’re smart, you’re going to make a lot of money without borrowing.

Things work out best for those who make the best of how things work out.

If you stop at general math, you’re only going to make general math money.

Research indicates that employees have three prime needs: Interesting work, recognition for doing a good job, and being let in on things that are going on in the company.

I will work day after day like I did my whole life … I’m not going to change anything.

If it’s flipping burgers at Mcdonald’s, be the best burger flipper in the world. Whatever it is you do, you have to master your craft.

Thinking should become your capital asset, no matter whatever ups and downs you come across in your life.

Success is a state of mind. If you want success, start thinking of yourself as a success.

Yes, we can

You are what you are and you are where you are because of what has gone into your mind. You change what you are and you change where you are by changing what goes into your mind.

Have some fire. Be unstoppable. Be a force of nature. Be better than anyone here. And don’t give a damn what anyone thinks.

It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all-in which case, you fail by default.

It was a feeling I had. People were taught how to think, we’re taught how to feel. We don’t know how to think for ourselves, [and] we don’t know how to feel for ourselves. People say ‘Feel free,’ but they don’t really want us to feel free. I felt a freedom, first of all, doing something that everybody tells you not to do.

Every sale has five basic obstacles: no need, no money, no hurry, no desire, no trust.

If you have a dream, don’t let anybody take it away.