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                     Covey Offers Tips for Lasting Change

SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- According to Stephen R. Covey, author of the New York Times best-selling books, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness, New Year's is a time when many people take personal inventory of all they have achieved or failed to accomplish. Many make long lists of New Year's resolutions, which are set and then cast aside, often only a few days or weeks later.

"The desire to grow and change often comes over us at the crossroads of time, such as New Year's, stirring us to make lofty new resolutions. Deep resolve and good intentions so often give way within days or even hours to old habits and discouragement. Our ability to truly change sometimes seems limited to those times in our lives when outside forces and circumstances compel us to change," said Covey, vice chairman of FranklinCovey.

In answer to this dilemma, Covey encourages people to begin the New Year focusing on making one important change in their lives or setting one important goal rather than making a long list of unattainable goals. To determine what goal would be most significant to work on in one's life, Covey suggests that people ask themselves, "If I could change anything in my life that would significantly increase my happiness, what would it be?"

"Many of us have lost our resolve to change, to become our best. We've broken our promises to ourselves too many times and we have finally given in to the belief that this is how I am," said Covey. "To achieve lasting change, we must first be totally honest with ourselves and examine what our real intent, motives and desires are for making a specific change in our lives. Our goals must align with that which is most important to us or we will not have the passion or discipline to stay committed when the going gets tough."

As for many people who complain that they are not disciplined enough to keep their goals or make changes, Covey believes that their biggest problem is not their discipline, but the fact that they have not yet paid the price to connect with their deepest values and motivations, and with those things that are really most important to them.

    Covey suggests the following tips to help bring about lasting change:

     1.  Spend some time by yourself, contemplating what really matters most
         to you in both your personal and professional life.  Get in touch
         with your vision for your own life, that about which you are most
         passionate and committed.

     2.  Never make a promise or commitment to yourself or others that you do
         not intend to, or know you cannot keep.  You are the most important
         person with whom you must have integrity.

     3.  Instead of writing or thinking about a list of goals or changes you
         wish to make in your life, commit to just one.

     4.  Resolve to start making and keeping promises to yourself.  Start with
         small, doable things that are very meaningful to you.  Then, as your
         ability to act with integrity toward yourself increases, build on
         those victories by taking on deeper challenges or habits.  Remember
         to always connect first to the "why" of those things you want to
         change.

     5.  Consider creating a support base by sharing those commitments.  Ask a
         loved one or friend for their help and encouragement.  Set up a
         regular time where you give an accounting of your progress towards
         the goal or change.

"As you begin to be successful in making and keeping promises to yourself over time, you will find such power and peace of mind in your life. Your abilities will be magnified, and the trust that you will foster from others and yourself will become the foundation for tremendous accomplishments and contributions. You will become the change you seek to make," said Covey.

About FranklinCovey

FranklinCovey (NYSE: FC) is a global leader in effectiveness training, productivity tools, and assessment services for organizations and individuals. FranklinCovey helps companies succeed by unleashing the power of their workforce to focus and execute on top business priorities. Clients include 90 percent of the Fortune 100, more than 75 percent of the Fortune 500, thousands of small and mid-sized businesses, as well as numerous government entities and educational institutions. Organizations and individuals access FranklinCovey products and services through corporate training, licensed client facilitators, one-on-one coaching, public workshops, catalogs, over 100 retail stores and www.franklincovey.com. FranklinCovey has nearly 1,600 associates providing professional services and products in 39 offices and in 95 countries.

SOURCE  FranklinCovey
    -0-                             12/30/2004
    /CONTACT: Debra Lund, +1-801-817-6446, or cell, +1-801-244-4474,
Debra.Lund@franklincovey.com, or Nick Paulenich, +1-801-817-5276, or cell,
+1-801-808-3449, Nick.Paulenich@franklincovey.com, both of FranklinCovey/
    /Web site:  http://www.franklincovey.com /
    (FC)

CO:  FranklinCovey
ST:  Utah
IN:  ENT HOU PUB REA
SU:

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9421 12/30/2004 15:30 EST http://www.prnewswire.com