Stephen Covey, author of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, passed away on Monday, July 16th. Here are a few of his famous “words of wisdom.”

• Be proactive.
• Think win-win.
• Begin with the end in mind.

While his writings were geared to adults, this is excellent advice for parents.

Another direct application to parenting is his concept about not using “gimmicks” and “social bandaids.” Instead of trying to control children from the outside, it is better to help them develop self-esteem on the inside.