"The 7 Habits" 11 years later: Applying the habits in a technological world.

• Author: Covey, Stephen

I my book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, I laid out what I believe are the seven basic principles of effective living, based on such immutable qualities as responsibility, integrity, respect, mutual understanding, patience and purpose. These principles are as true today as they were in 1989, when 7 Habits was published.

But technology has changed our world profoundly. Today we are under even more pressure in our professional and personal lives than we were a decade ago. I attribute this in part to technology, because it often has served to quicken the pace, and to separate us rather than bring us closer together.

Technology can be a great tool to help us become more effective -- in our work and our relationships. Remember this and you are already a step ahead: Technology is a good servant but a bad master.

Now for the seven habits, revisited here to reflect the new challenges of life in a technological world:

1. Be Proactive. Ask yourself, "Are my actions based on self-chosen values or on my moods, feelings and circumstances?"

   We often feel we are victims of all the technology -- e-mail, voice mail, pagers, faxes, cellular phones -- that bombards us each day. We become slaves to technology and feel we must respond immediately without regard to the importance of the message.

   Instead, the next time someone sends you e-mail or beeps you, consider how you can manage the technology in your life. Not many of us have the power to decree that we will no longer read e-mail messages at work and that everyone has to contact us by telephone or fax. But we can decide, for instance, that we will get our most important and creative work accomplished in the first two hours of each workday, then review and reply to e-mail messages later in the day. You also can let colleagues know you will not return their messages until a certain time each day. At home, discourage calls from the office and focus on your loved ones.

2. Begin With the End in Mind. Ask yourself, "What would I want written on my tombstone? Have I written a personal mission statement that provides meaning, purpose and direction to my life? Do my actions flow from my mission?"

   Many people decide they want to have not only a personal mission statement, but a family mission statement as well. Technology can help in formulating the statement by making it easier to communicate with relatives across the country by using e-mail or faxes. Soliciting feedback through e-mail is a great way to...