“Live, Love, Laugh, Leave a Legacy.” –Stephen R. Covey

The business world lost one of its brightest and most influential minds this week. Stephen R. Covey, world-renowned author, businessman, and motivational speaker built a legendary career based on the principles of truly great leadership. Throughout the course of his life, Covey not only wrote about the essential core values outstanding leaders must develop – he also lived them. If you’ve been in the business world for any length of time, it’s highly unlikely you haven’t come across a few of his books – most notably The Seven Habits of Effective People, which is easily one of his most well-known books and has sold more than 25 milllion copies worldwide.

Stephen Covey’s words reached millions, so what better way to remember the man who defined the word leadership than by looking back at some of his most inspiring quotes.

“Effective leadership is putting first things first. Effective management is discipline, carrying it out.”

“Live out of your imagination, not your history.”

“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”

“Seek first to understand, then to be understood.”

“Trust is the glue of life. It’s the most essential ingredient in effective communication. It’s the foundational principle that holds all relationships.”

“In the last analysis, what we are communicates far more eloquently than anything we say or do.”

“Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important.”

“Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success; leadership determines whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall.”

“You can’t talk your way out of a problem you behaved your way into!”

“Words are like eggs dropped from great heights. You could no more call them back then ignore the mess they left when they fell.”

Do you have a favorite Stephen Covey quote? Or maybe a story about how his lessons have shaped the way you lead? Share it with us in the comments section below.

 

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