The Nine Habits of Highly Effective Stoics

The Seven Habits and The Eighth Habit are the intellectual property of Franklin Covey.

Illustration credit: https://www.eatingonadime.com/easy-chocolate-peanut-butter-cups/

The two philosophies that I admire most are Covey’s Habits and Stoicism.

The late, great Stephen R. Covey first published “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" in 1989, and “The Eighth Habit” in 2004.

Each habit has a pithy label, like “Put first things first“ and “Think Win/Win”.

Taken together, they form a set of inner habits, a set of outer habits, and habits of self renewal.

I like the habits because they feel like a system and not just a grab bag of sayings.

Meanwhile, over the last decade or so, there has been a growing interest in Stoicism, an ancient philosophy that emphasizes self-control, virtue, and rationality.

Several prominent individuals are associated with Stoicism, such as quarterback Tom Brady, entrepreneur Tim Ferriss, and vice admiral James Stockade.

Ancient Stoic writers include Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus.

Like the venerable Marcus Aurelius, Steven R. Covey, author of "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People", never described himself as a Stoic in his writings. However, many of Covey's ideas parallel key Stoic principles.

For example, Covery's concept of focusing on what you can control, found in "Habit 1: Be Proactive", aligns closely with the Stoic notion of controlling your responses to external events and focusing on internal attitudes and actions.

Both Covey and Stoicism emphasize personal responsibility, the importance of aligning actions with values, and maintaining a calm, rational mindset in the face of challenges.

While Covey doesn't cite Stoicism directly, there is a? clear overlap in the philosophies. Let's break it down.

1. Be Proactive

Covey’s Idea: Focus on what you can control (Circle of Influence) and take responsibility for your actions.

Stoic Parallel: Dichotomy of Control (Epictetus) – The Stoics stress that we cannot control external events, but we can control our thoughts, actions, and responses.

-> Proactivity aligns with taking responsibility for how we react to circumstances.

2. Begin with the End in Mind

Covey’s Idea: Define a clear purpose and long-term vision for your life, and align your actions with that vision.

Stoic Parallel: Living in Accord with Nature and Virtue (Marcus Aurelius) – Stoics believe in living a life aligned with reason and virtue, with the ultimate goal of eudaimonia (human flourishing).

-> Defining your purpose and aiming for moral excellence mirrors Covey's idea of having a clear vision of who you want to be.

3. Put First Things First

Covey’s Idea: Prioritize important tasks over urgent but less meaningful distractions.

Stoic Parallel: Focus on Essential Virtue and Purpose (Seneca) – Stoics encourage focusing on what is truly important in life: virtues like wisdom, courage, and justice, rather than getting caught up in distractions.

-> This habit reflects the Stoic discipline of prioritizing actions that align with one’s higher purpose.

4. Think Win-Win

Covey’s Idea: Seek mutual benefit in interactions and relationships; adopt an abundance mentality.

Stoic Parallel: Sympathy and Justice (Marcus Aurelius) – Stoics emphasize the importance of community and social harmony, advocating for fair and just treatment of others.

-> The idea of mutual benefit and cooperation aligns with Stoic ethics, where relationships are guided by virtue and fairness rather than competition.

5. Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood

Covey’s Idea: Practice empathetic listening to understand others before expressing your own point of view.

Stoic Parallel: Empathy, Patience, and Rational Discourse (Epictetus) – Stoicism teaches that we should listen and understand others before reacting, maintaining emotional control and patience.

-> This habit mirrors the Stoic focus on clear, rational communication and considering the perspectives of others with empathy and understanding.

6. Synergize

Covey’s Idea: Combine strengths with others to achieve more than you could alone.

Stoic Parallel: Interconnectedness and Cooperation (Marcus Aurelius) – Stoics see humans as interconnected and emphasize collaboration and harmony within the community.

-> Marcus Aurelius, in particular, reflected on the importance of working together, like the parts of a body, to achieve the greater good, which parallels the idea of synergy in Covey’s framework.

7. Sharpen the Saw

Covey’s Idea: Regularly renew yourself physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually to maintain balance.

Stoic Parallel: Stoics value continual self-improvement and mastery of the mind and body. Seneca emphasized the importance of reflecting on one’s actions daily and working on becoming better each day.

-> Maintaining balance in all areas of life reflects the Stoic goal of living in accordance with nature, including the care of one’s mind, body, and spirit.

8. Teach the Habits

Covey's Idea: Find your voice and inspire others to find theirs. Discover personal meaning and align your actions with your own true self, while also empowering others to do the same.

Stoic Parallel: Marcus Aurelius often spoke of fulfilling one's duty to others as a central part of living a virtuous life. Stoics value oikeiosis (social duty) by contributing to the common good.

-> Both approaches emphasize that personal development is incomplete without service to others, and that by helping others realize their potential, we enhance the community and society as a whole.

For completeness, I like to add a ninth habit:

9. Retrospect to Stay on Track

Covey's Idea: Covey advocates for regular reviews, particularly at the end of each week. This practice involves reflecting on how well you followed through on your goals and commitments, as well as analyzing what can be improved. Covey calls this "staying on track" and views it as an essential component of personal effectiveness.

Stoic Parallel: Amor fati, or the Stoic acceptance and "love" of fate, suggests that we should reflect on the outcomes of recent events, not with regret or frustration, but with acceptance.

-> By practicing retrospection, we improve our understanding and application of core principles, ensuring that our actions are increasingly aligned with chosen outcomes.

Put together, the habits make a nice litany that I like to recite to myself.

• Be proactive, put first things first, and begin with the end in mind.
• Think win-win, seek first to understand then to be understood, and synergize!
• Sharpen the saw, teach the habits, and retrospect to stay on track.

I feel like the Habits and Stoicism are the Reese’s cup of philosophies. Peanut butter and chocolate are each great on their own, and even better together.

Thoughts?