Stephen R. Covey was born on October 24, 1932, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He married Sandra Merrill and had nine children. Covey received a B.A. from University of Utah, an M.B.A. from Harvard, and a D.R.E. from Brigham Young University. He was a teacher and administrator at BYU. Covey founded Covey Leadership Center in 1983 and has published a periodical, Executive Excellence. Covey authors books and articles on leadership, personal and organizational effectiveness, and family and interpersonal relationships. He promotes individual awareness, self-control, discipline, and a sense of purpose in seeking a balanced life. He recommends that companies treat employees more holistically to raise productivity. His works have been widely translated. His best known book is Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, first published in 1989, which has sold several million copies. Other Covey books include: Principle Centered Leadership (1991), First Things First: to Live, to Love, to Learn, and to Leave a Legacy (1994), Daily Reflections for Highly Effective People, First Things First Every Day Because Where You're Headed Is More Important Than How Fast You're Going (1997), The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Families, and Seven Habits of Highly Effective Organizations. Covey received the Thomas More College Medallion and the Utah Symphony Fiftieth Anniversary Award in 1990, and the McFeely Award of the International Management Council for contributions and service in 1991.
