'Seven Habits' Author Visits Combs Elementary


Mary Margaret Brooks and more than 50 other students with flags welcomed Covey to Combs.

October 3, 2001 - "Stand like a great leader, with a lot of pride and confidence! He'll be here in just a minute!" Muriel Summers, principal of A. B. Combs Leadership Magnet Elementary, urged the children lining the red carpet to be patient. Their patience was rewarded when Dr. Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and world-renowned entrepreneur and leadership consultant, arrived to visit a school that models itself on the principles he champions.

Covey, cochairman of Franklin Covey Co. and a former professor of organizational behavior and business management at Brigham Young University, made teaching Principle-Centered Living and Principle-Centered Leadership his life's work. He was recognized as one of Time magazine's 25 most-influential Americans. Combs Elementary's leadership program is unique in the country for applying Covey's ideas, along with those of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Program, to its curriculum.

Waving flags, 56 students wearing traditional clothing of the countries of their heritage greeted Covey. The children applauded excitedly as he was led to Combs' auditorium for the unveiling of a mural titled, "To Live, to Love, to Learn, to Leave a Legacy." Made of 500 individual tiles designed by students and staff, the mural captures Combs Elementary's emphasis on leadership development and personal responsibility at a young age.

"Who would have ever thought that we would have, sitting on our stage, one of the most influential leaders in the world?" asked Summers proudly. She noted that when she announced to the school that Covey was coming, the children were so excited they could hardly believe it. One exclaimed, "He's really coming? The King of the Seven Habits?"

"Combs is a place that empowers students like me to be leaders," explained student Priscilla Martin in welcoming Covey and the audience to the celebration. Students read brief essays to Covey explaining how they applied his habits in their daily lives. "I use the 'Think win/win' habit a lot because I try to solve problems in a reasonable way," said third-grader Reed Winter. Describing the 'Begin with the end in mind' habit, fifth-grader Gari Bangi said, "Here at school, I set my academic goals every nine weeks." The Gator Singers Chorus sang "A World of Difference," and students Andrew Piper and Hannah Dickinson presented Covey with a framed photograph of the mural.

"I cannot express how deeply inspired and touched I am," said Covey. "You children are absolutely wonderful. I just thought of the expression, '…and a little child shall lead them.' I hope all of us can see this mural and be inspired."

"I really believe that this school is indeed a model school, a magnet school that could be a mentor school across the country," he added. "I've seen your mission statement, 'to develop leaders, one child at a time.' This could be an example to the entire world."

Covey refused to take credit for creating the "seven habits." He said that he had visited many of the countries represented by the flags that greeted him at Combs Elementary, and that he had taught the habits from different faith traditions, but that the underlying principles were the same. "You can teach that out of any religious tradition or any philosophical tradition that has endured," said Covey.

He told students that leadership meant working together to accomplish great things. "Did you know, most people aren't trained to think about synergy? They're trained to think about 'me.' That's like trying to play tennis with a golf club."

Covey and Summers praised the teachers who integrated lessons on leadership into the standard curriculum and parents, community leaders, and administrators who had supported the magnet school's efforts. Summers expressed particular gratitude to Superintendent Bill McNeal, area assistant superintendent Jonibel Willis, senior director of magnet programs Caroline Massengill, and local Wake County Board of Education representative Susan Parry. Summers also thanked Combs' parents, many of whom had trained in Covey's ideas with Safe Schools/Healthy Children senior director Ron Anderson and guidance counselor John Panepinto.

"I hope that you carry these things home, and have family mission statements," Covey said. "To work on the foundation of all the problems of society is to work with families."

Summers urged her students to keep following those principles. "Continue to use Dr. Covey's habits as the foundation for the choices you will make. You, my darlings, are our future."


 Covey makes his way to the auditorium to the warm applause of Combs Elementary students and staff

Stephen Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

  1. Be proactive
  2. Begin with the end in mind
  3. Put first things first
  4. Think win/win
  5. Seek first to understand, then to be understood
  6. Synergize
  7. Sharpen the saw