The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People: Powerf... May 2026

Imagine a quiet Sunday morning on a New York City subway. People are sitting calmly, reading newspapers or lost in thought.

The man explains that they just left the hospital where his children's mother died, noting he and his children are overwhelmed and struggling to process the tragic event.

Suddenly, a man enters with his young children. The kids are out of control—screaming, throwing things, and even grabbing people’s papers. The man just sits there, eyes closed, seemingly oblivious to the chaos his children are causing.

Stephen Covey’s "The 7 Habits" isn't just a business book; it's a framework for character. One of the most powerful stories from the book is the which perfectly illustrates Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood. The Subway Shift

The tension in the car rises. Finally, a passenger (Covey) can't take it anymore. He turns to the man and says, "Sir, your children are really disturbing a lot of people. I wonder if you couldn't control them a little more?"

The man lifts his gaze, as if seeing the situation for the first time, and says softly: