The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is a bestselling self-help book by Stephen R. Covey that discusses seven habits to help people become more effective. The book was published in 1989 and has sold over 25 million copies worldwide. It outlines seven habits that Covey argues can help people improve their personal and professional lives, including being proactive, beginning with the end in mind, putting first things first, thinking win-win, seeking first to understand then to be understood, synergizing, and sharpening the saw.