Introduction
In his book "Primary Greatness," renowned self-help author Stephen R. Covey explores the concept of true success and how to achieve it. Covey argues that real success comes from within and is based on developing strong character traits and inner qualities, rather than chasing external symbols of achievement. He introduces the idea of "primary greatness" - success that leads to fulfillment and inner peace - as opposed to "secondary greatness" which focuses on outward appearances of success like wealth and status.
The core of the book outlines 12 key principles or "levers" that Covey believes are essential for developing primary greatness:
- Integrity
- Contribution
- Priority
- Personal Sacrifice
- Service
- Reciprocity
- Diversity
- Responsibility
- Loyalty
- Learning
- Teaching
- Renewal
By focusing on cultivating these inner qualities and principles, Covey argues that anyone can build true success and live a more meaningful, purposeful life. The book provides practical advice and exercises for developing each of these levers.
The Difference Between Primary and Secondary Greatness
Covey begins by drawing an important distinction between two types of success or "greatness":
Secondary Greatness is focused on outward appearances and symbols of success - things like wealth, fame, power, and status symbols. It's about impressing others and gaining recognition. While it may provide temporary pleasure or financial security, it often leaves people feeling unfulfilled.
Primary Greatness comes from within and is based on developing admirable character traits like integrity, honor, selflessness, and commitment to a higher purpose. It leads to genuine fulfillment, inner peace, and lasting positive impact.
The key message is that we should focus on cultivating primary greatness rather than chasing the fleeting rewards of secondary greatness. True success is about who you are as a person, not what you have.
Covey argues that the qualities that lead to primary greatness can be developed over time through conscious effort. He cites research like the Perry Preschool Project which showed that children who learned to delay gratification at an early age had much better life outcomes decades later. This demonstrates that character traits like persistence and integrity can be built up over time.
Setting the Stage for Primary Greatness
Before diving into the 12 levers, Covey outlines some foundational techniques to prepare your mind for developing primary greatness:
Use Self-Affirmations: Positive statements about yourself in the present tense can help manifest the qualities you want to develop. For example: "I am proactive in planning my time and following through on my commitments." Recite affirmations daily when relaxed to increase their impact.
Adopt an Abundance Mindset: Rather than viewing the world as a zero-sum game with limited resources, adopt a "win-win" mentality where there is enough for everyone. This opens you up to cooperation and shared benefits rather than competition.
Visualize Your Ideal Self: Imagine the person you want to become and the qualities you want to embody. This creates a clear target to work towards.
Practice Mindfulness: Being present and aware in the moment helps you stay aligned with your values and make conscious choices.
With this mental foundation in place, you can begin working on the 12 levers of success that lead to primary greatness.
The 12 Levers of Success
1. Integrity
Integrity is the foundation of primary greatness and aligns your values, beliefs, and actions. Covey defines integrity as a combination of humility and courage:
- Humility to recognize where you need to improve
- Courage to actually do the work of improving
Integrity creates congruence between your inner and outer self. When you act with integrity, you naturally gain the trust of others because you are authentic and "walk your talk."
To develop integrity:
- Regularly examine your values and ensure your actions align with them
- Have the courage to admit mistakes and apologize sincerely
- Follow through on commitments, even when it's difficult
- Be willing to stand up for your principles, even if it's unpopular
2. Contribution
Finding ways to contribute to the world gives your life meaning and purpose. To identify how you can best contribute:
- Ask yourself: What does the world need? What am I good at? What do I enjoy doing?
- Look for ways you can make a difference right where you are now
- Be open to finding purpose in unexpected places
Remember that your purpose doesn't have to be grandiose - small acts of service and kindness can be deeply meaningful contributions.
3. Priority
Learning to prioritize effectively is crucial for achieving primary greatness. The key is differentiating between what's urgent and what's truly important:
- Important tasks align with your values and long-term goals
- Urgent tasks demand immediate attention but may not be meaningful
Always prioritize important tasks over urgent ones. Having a clear sense of purpose naturally helps you focus on what's most important.
Some tips for better prioritization:
- Use a prioritization matrix to categorize tasks
- Schedule your most important work for when you have the most energy
- Learn to say no to low-priority commitments
- Regularly review and adjust your priorities
4. Personal Sacrifice
Willingness to sacrifice your own ego and desires for a greater good is essential for forming meaningful relationships and achieving primary greatness. This requires humility and putting aside selfish tendencies.
Ways to practice personal sacrifice:
- Give credit to others for collaborative achievements
- Be willing to do unglamorous work to help the team
- Put the needs of others before your own when appropriate
- Let go of the need to always be right
5. Service
Actively looking for ways to serve others strengthens relationships and contributes to your own growth and fulfillment. Service is about doing things for other people without expectation of reward.
Ideas for incorporating more service:
- Really listen and be present when interacting with others
- Look for small ways to help people in your daily life
- Volunteer for causes you care about
- Use your skills and talents to benefit others
6. Reciprocity
Building mutually beneficial relationships based on give-and-take is key to success and primary greatness. Reciprocity requires empathy, openness, and self-assurance.
To foster reciprocity:
- Focus on creating strong social bonds
- Keep communication channels open
- Be willing to both give and receive help
- Look for win-win solutions in conflicts
7. Diversity
Embracing diversity of opinions, skills, and perspectives drives innovation and growth. This requires being open-minded and secure enough in yourself to welcome different viewpoints.
Ways to leverage diversity:
- Actively seek out people with different backgrounds and experiences
- Create an environment where people feel safe expressing diverse opinions
- Challenge your own assumptions and biases
- Combine different skillsets and ideas to spark creativity
8. Loyalty
Loyalty means being respectful and supportive of others, whether they are present or not. It involves avoiding gossip and negative labeling of people.
To practice loyalty:
- Never say anything about someone you wouldn't say to their face
- Speak up to defend people who aren't present to defend themselves
- Focus on people's positive qualities rather than flaws
- Be consistent in your support of others
9. Responsibility
Taking full responsibility for your actions and mistakes is crucial for growth and maintaining relationships. This means owning up to errors without excuses or defensiveness.
Keys to taking responsibility:
- Acknowledge mistakes fully and sincerely apologize
- Focus on solutions rather than blame
- Learn from failures and use them as growth opportunities
- Follow through on commitments you've made
10. Learning
Continuous learning is essential to stay relevant and keep growing as a person. Make learning a lifelong habit to develop primary greatness.
Ways to foster ongoing learning:
- Design a personal curriculum based on your interests and goals
- Take advantage of online learning resources like MOOCs
- Read widely, including classic literature
- Seek out mentors and learn from their experiences
- Be curious and always look for new things to learn
11. Teaching
Teaching others is one of the most effective ways to reinforce your own learning and understanding. Look for opportunities to share your knowledge.
Ideas for incorporating teaching:
- Explain concepts you're learning to others
- Mentor someone in your field
- Create content to share your expertise (blog, videos, etc.)
- Volunteer to teach or tutor
- Share insights from your experiences with colleagues
12. Renewal
Taking care of yourself holistically - physically, mentally, and socially - is crucial for sustaining primary greatness long-term. Renewal prevents burnout and keeps you energized.
Strategies for renewal:
- Prioritize physical health through exercise, nutrition, and sleep
- Engage in activities that stimulate your mind
- Nurture important relationships
- Take time for reflection and spirituality
- Find ways to relax and manage stress
Putting the Levers into Practice
Covey emphasizes that developing primary greatness is an ongoing journey, not a destination. It requires consistent effort to build these qualities into habits. Here are some strategies for implementing the 12 levers in your life:
Start with self-awareness: Regularly reflect on your values, behaviors, and areas for improvement. Keep a journal to track your progress and insights.
Set clear goals: Define what primary greatness means to you personally and set specific goals for developing each lever.
Create systems and habits: Design routines and practices that reinforce the levers, like a daily learning habit or weekly service activity.
Seek feedback: Ask trusted friends or mentors to give you honest feedback on how you're progressing with the different levers.
Find accountability: Share your goals with others or find an accountability partner to help you stay on track.
Celebrate progress: Acknowledge your growth and small wins along the way to stay motivated.
Be patient: Remember that developing these qualities takes time. Be kind to yourself and view setbacks as learning opportunities.
Overcoming Challenges
Covey acknowledges that the path to primary greatness isn't always easy. Here are some common challenges you may face and how to overcome them:
Short-term thinking: It's easy to get caught up in immediate gratification or urgent tasks. Regularly remind yourself of your long-term goals and higher purpose to stay focused.
Ego and pride: Developing humility can be difficult, especially if you're used to seeking recognition. Practice giving credit to others and focusing on collective achievements.
Fear of failure: Taking responsibility and being willing to sacrifice can feel risky. Reframe failures as learning experiences and remember that vulnerability often leads to stronger connections.
Negative influences: You may encounter people who don't understand or support your focus on primary greatness. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who encourage your growth.
Burnout: Trying to improve in all areas at once can be overwhelming. Focus on one or two levers at a time and remember the importance of renewal.
Old habits: Breaking ingrained patterns takes time and effort. Be patient with yourself and celebrate small improvements.
The Ripple Effect of Primary Greatness
As you develop these qualities of primary greatness, you'll likely notice positive changes not just in yourself, but in your relationships and broader sphere of influence:
Improved relationships: Qualities like integrity, service, and loyalty naturally strengthen personal and professional connections.
Increased trust: People will come to see you as reliable, authentic, and trustworthy.
Greater influence: Your example can inspire others to also focus on character development and higher purposes.
Enhanced leadership: The levers of success align closely with effective leadership traits, improving your ability to guide and motivate others.
Meaningful impact: By focusing on contribution and service, you'll likely find more opportunities to make a real difference in the world.
Inner peace: Aligning your actions with your values leads to a sense of congruence and contentment.
Lasting legacy: Primary greatness creates a positive impact that extends far beyond material accomplishments.
Conclusion
In "Primary Greatness," Stephen Covey presents a compelling case for shifting our focus from outward success to inner character development. By cultivating the 12 levers of success - integrity, contribution, priority, personal sacrifice, service, reciprocity, diversity, responsibility, loyalty, learning, teaching, and renewal - we can achieve a more meaningful and fulfilling form of greatness.
This approach to success isn't about accumulating wealth or status symbols, but about becoming the best version of ourselves and positively impacting the world around us. It requires consistent effort and a willingness to look inward, but the rewards of primary greatness - inner peace, strong relationships, and a sense of purpose - far outweigh any external trappings of success.
Covey's framework provides a practical roadmap for personal growth and character development. By working on these 12 levers, we can gradually build the qualities that lead to true success and a life of significance. The journey to primary greatness is ongoing, but it's one that leads to a richer, more meaningful existence.
As you move forward, consider how you can incorporate these principles into your daily life. Which levers resonate most strongly with you? Where do you see the greatest opportunities for growth? Remember that small, consistent actions can lead to profound changes over time.
By pursuing primary greatness, you not only enhance your own life but also contribute to creating a better world. As Covey suggests, imagine the positive impact if more people focused on developing these inner qualities rather than chasing external markers of success. Your journey towards primary greatness has the potential to inspire and influence others, creating a ripple effect of positive change.
Ultimately, "Primary Greatness" challenges us to redefine what success means and to align our actions with our deepest values. It's an invitation to live a life of purpose, integrity, and lasting impact - to achieve a form of greatness that truly matters.