Stephen R. Covey, the author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, began life intending to become an athlete, but injuries prevented him from pursuing that interest. He eventually became an educator and life coach instead. After earning an MBA and a doctorate in religious education, Covey taught at the Marriott School of Management at Brigham Young University for several years but is best known for his writing. Prior to his success with The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, he wrote several works about spirituality in human relationships. Afterward, he wrote books that amplified the 7-Habits material as well as works on similar topics of success and leadership.

Covey later founded the Covey Leadership Center, which eventually merged into FranklinCovey. The organization provided success-oriented consulting services and training materials for businesses and individuals. Covey was a practicing Mormon, a husband, and the father of nine children. He died from complications of a bicycle accident in 2012.

The central themes of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People derive from Covey’s Latter-Day Saints (LDS) beliefs and his experiences as the father of a large family. Although he takes great pains to minimize any reference to his own religious doctrine, his insistence on eternal principles and his emphasis on strength of character both derive from his faith and his active church membership.