Covey presents a framework for personal effectiveness that involves aligning oneself with what he identifies as "true north" principles of a character ethic that he presents as universal and timeless. The seven habits are as follows:

1. Be Proactive: Take responsibility for your reaction to your experiences, take the initiative to respond positively and improve the situation.
2. Begin with the End in Mind: Envision what you want in the future so you can work towards it with actions today.
3. Put First Things First: Prioritize your day-to-day actions based on what is most important, not what is most urgent.
4. Think Win-Win: Strive for mutually beneficial solutions or agreements in your relationships. Value and respect people by understanding a "win" for all is ultimately a better long-term resolution than if only one person in the situation had gotten their way.
5. Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood: Use empathetic listening to genuinely understand a person, which compels them to reciprocate the listening, creating an atmosphere of caring and positive problem solving.
6. Synergize: Combine the strengths of people through positive teamwork, so as to achieve goals that no one could have done alone.
7. Sharpen the Saw: Balance and renew your resources, energy, and health to create a sustainable, long-term, effective lifestyle. This habit primarily focuses on self-renewal and self-care.

The book also includes a section about "The 8th Habit", which Covey added later. The 8th habit is "Find your voice and inspire others to find theirs." It emphasizes the importance of contribution and service, and it suggests that the success of the previous seven habits hinges on the ability to apply this habit.

Covey's book has been a top-seller for the simple reason that it ignores trends and pop psychology, and focuses on timeless principles of fairness, integrity, honesty, and human dignity for personal and professional effectiveness.