What will I learn about: why true success comes from developing 'primary greatness'—inner qualities like honor and persistence—rather than chasing the fleeting material symbols of 'secondary greatness'?

Discover why true success comes from developing 'primary greatness'—inner qualities like honor and persistence—rather than chasing the fleeting material symbols of 'secondary greatness'.

What will I learn about: actively develop your inner character and build a fulfilling life by mastering Stephen Covey's 12 levers of success?

Learn how to actively develop your inner character and build a fulfilling life by mastering Stephen Covey's 12 levers of success.

What will I learn about: the practice of using daily, present-tense self-affirmations and adopting a cooperative abundance mindset to prime your brain for long-lasting prosperity?

Master the practice of using daily, present-tense self-affirmations and adopting a cooperative abundance mindset to prime your brain for long-lasting prosperity.

What will I learn about: how combining humility and courage creates true integrity, aligning your values and actions so you can authentically earn the trust of others?

Understand how combining humility and courage creates true integrity, aligning your values and actions so you can authentically earn the trust of others.

What will I learn about: why taking the time to explicitly define your life's purpose is essential for making meaningful contributions and giving your life a clear sense of direction?

Find out why taking the time to explicitly define your life's purpose is essential for making meaningful contributions and giving your life a clear sense of direction.

Primary Greatness

The 12 Levers of Success

Stephen Covey

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Categories:

Management & Leadership

If You're Curious About These Questions...

You should listen to this audiobook

💡What's the secret to achieving true success without sacrificing your values?
💡Are you curious about how to prioritize what's truly important in your life and unlock your full potential?
💡Can you really develop inner character and become a more effective leader by leveraging just 12 key principles?

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Key Takeaways from Primary Greatness

✓Discover why true success comes from developing 'primary greatness'—inner qualities like honor and persistence—rather than chasing the fleeting material symbols of 'secondary greatness'.
✓Learn how to actively develop your inner character and build a fulfilling life by mastering Stephen Covey's 12 levers of success.
✓Master the practice of using daily, present-tense self-affirmations and adopting a cooperative abundance mindset to prime your brain for long-lasting prosperity.
✓Understand how combining humility and courage creates true integrity, aligning your values and actions so you can authentically earn the trust of others.
✓Find out why taking the time to explicitly define your life's purpose is essential for making meaningful contributions and giving your life a clear sense of direction.

Learning Tools

Reinforce what you learned from Primary Greatness

Mind Map

Primary Greatness

Core Concepts of Success+

Mental Preparation+

The 12 Levers of Success+

Actionable Advice+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 11

According to Stephen Covey, what is the fundamental difference between primary and secondary greatness?

A. Primary greatness is an inner quality that leads to fulfillment, while secondary greatness relies on visible status symbols and yields fleeting pleasure.
B. Primary greatness is achieved through financial success, whereas secondary greatness is achieved through charitable acts.
C. Primary greatness is innate and cannot be learned, while secondary greatness requires years of dedicated study.
D. Primary greatness focuses on urgent, day-to-day tasks, while secondary greatness focuses on long-term, important tasks.

Question 2 of 11

What did the 1965 Perry Preschool Project demonstrate regarding inner character traits?

A. Innate intelligence is a much stronger predictor of lifelong success than character traits.
B. Children with a scarcity mindset are more likely to succeed in competitive environments.
C. Character traits like delayed gratification and persistence can be taught at an early age and lead to long-term success.
D. Only adult interventions can successfully alter a person's character and lead to primary greatness.

Question 3 of 11

How does shifting from a 'scarcity mindset' to an 'abundance mindset' impact personal success?

A. It encourages individuals to hoard resources to prevent others from taking them.
B. It allows a person to view the world through a win-win lens, recognizing opportunities for cooperation and shared benefit.
C. It focuses a person's energy exclusively on acquiring material wealth and secondary greatness.
D. It eliminates the need for self-affirmations by providing a false sense of security.

Question 4 of 11

Covey defines integrity, the foundation of primary greatness, as a combination of which two traits?

A. Empathy and reciprocity
B. Ambition and sacrifice
C. Humility and courage
D. Loyalty and responsibility

Question 5 of 11

Which of the following is recommended to help identify your purpose and activate the lever of contribution?

A. Focusing strictly on high-paying career paths that guarantee financial security.
B. Asking yourself what the world lacks, what you excel at, and how you can contribute by doing something you like.
C. Eliminating all personal sacrifices to maximize your individual creative output.
D. Adopting a scarcity mindset to outcompete others in your chosen field.

Question 6 of 11

When applying the lever of prioritization, how should one handle tasks?

A. Important but non-urgent tasks should always take precedence over urgent but non-important tasks.
B. Urgent tasks must always be completed first, regardless of their overall importance.
C. Tasks that offer immediate financial reward should be prioritized over long-term goals.
D. Delegating all urgent tasks is the only way to focus on the big picture.

Question 7 of 11

What is the necessary foundation for fostering the levers of reciprocity and diversity?

A. A highly competitive work environment that pushes people to their limits.
B. A deep feeling of inner security and self-assurance.
C. A strict adherence to completing urgent tasks before important ones.
D. A willingness to sacrifice personal health for the betterment of the team.

Question 8 of 11

How does the book suggest practicing the lever of loyalty in everyday life?

A. By agreeing with your manager's decisions regardless of your personal beliefs.
B. By dedicating all your free time to company projects and professional development.
C. By refusing to bad-mouth absent people and speaking up for the voiceless.
D. By prioritizing your family's needs over your own personal health.

Question 9 of 11

According to the lever of responsibility, what is the proper way to handle a mistake?

A. Explain the context thoroughly so others understand the external factors that caused you to fail.
B. Fully acknowledge the mistake and offer an apology without excuses or defensiveness.
C. Defend your good intentions while apologizing for the negative outcome.
D. Shift the focus immediately to how the team can improve collectively to avoid future errors.

Question 10 of 11

Why does the author argue that 'teaching' is the eleventh lever of success?

A. Because teaching is the only profession that guarantees primary greatness.
B. Because knowing you have to explain material to someone else forces you to truly learn and understand it yourself.
C. Because it allows you to demonstrate your superiority and build self-assurance over your peers.
D. Because teaching naturally creates a scarcity mindset that motivates students to work harder.

Question 11 of 11

What psychological technique does Covey suggest to motivate the holistic self-care required for the lever of renewal?

A. Imagining worst-case scenarios, such as a major health crisis or your skills becoming obsolete.
B. Visualizing yourself achieving secondary greatness and enjoying the associated wealth.
C. Comparing your daily habits to those of highly successful billionaires.
D. Reciting self-affirmations strictly in the future tense to manifest good health.