For years I studiously avoided reading it. Even though my friends raved about it, I stayed away. Even though it became wildly popular, and spawned a franchise of economic proportions that rival many South American countries, I vowed I never would crack open the cover on that book or its many spin-offs.
But now comes next year's public management course reading list. And look what's right smack in the middle.
It's a cult! A cult, I tell you! A cult of work/life balance and spheres of time-managed people! And now they've even claimed the soul of my esteemed budgets (and soon to be public management) professor!
They suck you in, and next thing you know, man, you're into it all ... the Covey dayplanners, the calculators, the posters, the subliminal tapes, the hairdo minders, the kitty organizers ... they'll have you, and there's nothing you can do, because you'll want to belong. That's right! And from there it's just a short step to buying some Dr. Phil underoos, and licking O/prah Book Club novels! I am very worried now.
stay strong Pam. And whatever you do, don't look directly into their eyes!
Posted by: ann | May 25, 2005 at 03:49 AM
Ewww! Fight! Rebel! Refuse! (Or just read it and then tell me about it....)
Posted by: Karen | May 25, 2005 at 04:27 AM
The Seven Habits of Effective People are generally vodka, speed, coke, crack, prozac, smack and methadone....
Posted by: Anthony | May 25, 2005 at 05:21 AM
What? You don't have a hairdo minder?
Posted by: Jo | May 25, 2005 at 07:02 AM
Will you allow us to shoot you like a horse in pain if you start quoting Covey?
Posted by: GraceD | May 25, 2005 at 10:59 AM
I wrote about the Edgeworth Box today, Pam. Lord help us all.
Posted by: maya | May 25, 2005 at 11:20 AM
Um, can we substitute "sex" for "smack"? Thanks.
Posted by: Wende | May 25, 2005 at 09:30 PM
Wende:
After all that smack, sex isn't a habit, it's an impossibility! (Junkie impotence is a common complaint!)
Posted by: Anthony | May 26, 2005 at 07:21 AM
Oh god. That's really sad. Where my honey works they all read that book and Strongly Encourage new hires to read that book and they have meetings about the different habits and encorporate them into their action plants and gack it's so creepy and "ONE OF US!!" Tread carefully, dear Pam.
Posted by: Kimberly | May 26, 2005 at 09:51 AM
I took Covey training as a free offering from work. It's highly over rated- you have to developed your own style that works for you! It took me almost a year to get the programming out of my mind. These guys have it over the Moonies because they seem so innocuous. Mr. Covey is Mormon, if memory serves, and this program reflects a very western view of spirituality.
Posted by: BB | May 26, 2005 at 10:31 AM
Anthony,
This is why I wanted to SUBSTITUTE. Heh. Less drugs, more sex. See? Oh, but then I realize that your reference to "coke" probably doesn't have the word, "diet" in front of it. *snark* I *personally* have NO idea what you are talking about-- junkie impotence indeed. I see Viagra commercials in a few rock stars futures. :)
Posted by: Wende | May 26, 2005 at 11:05 AM
BB:
If memory serves, Claire Bloom is in Woody's A Midsummer Night Sex Comedy.
I took the Jack Chalker "Seven Effective Mutant Body/Gender Transformation Habits of Effective Sadists" Course and let me tell you, ruling the galaxy and owning radically altered adoring harem slave women has never been easier or more effective. Thanks, Jack Chalker!
PS--Mavra and Obie send their love!
Posted by: Anthony | May 27, 2005 at 05:49 AM