Anita Kiddu Muhanguzi – Assessments – International Institute for Global Leadership

As a Man Thinketh

Assessment by Anita Kiddu Muhanguzi (Uganda)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

In this book the author is telling us that we are in full control of what happens to us. If we have good thoughts we shall always have good results and if we have bad thought then our results will be bad. The author endeavors to explain to us that everything begins and ends up with us what we feed our minds on is what we shall get. In other words man is a result of his own being, his acts are a result of what he feeds his mind.

2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.

i. Man can make himself or destroy himself through his thoughts.

Man is basically what he thinks. Our mind is like a garden that needs to be nurtured and looked after and whatever happens to us is a result of what we thought. If we search deeply in our souls and minds we find that we are the molders of our life. I always try to have positive thoughts in my life. In always try to have positive thoughts most especially when am depressed because I know that negativity can bring you down very fast. I know the mind is very powerful and once we set our minds on certain things we are able to accomplish a lot in life.

ii. A man does not come to the alms house or jail by the tyranny of fate or circumstance.

The author explains that we choose to be criminals and it is not by fate or our circumstances and that it is all in our minds. The fact that we have the power to control our thoughts we cannot blame our outcomes on fate or circumstances. A pure minded man cannot suddenly become a criminal because his thoughts are pure and so his actions will be pure and good hearted as well.

iii. Men are anxious to improve their circumstances but not themselves.

The author explains that we as people we want to improve our circumstance instead of working on ourselves. We love comfort and don’t want to be bothered by the discomfort surrounding us. We don’t want to work hard to improve our surroundings instead we think that we can be comfortable by taking short cuts in life. Many people want to get rich fast simply because they want the comfort of life.

iv. Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results and bad actions can never produce good results.

The author explains that nothing good can come from a bad thought however much you try. In other words we should understand that if we have good thoughts we shall only have good results. A criminal mind cannot be a result of good thoughts.

v. The body is the servant of the mind.

Our minds are the masters of the body and so we are in total control of our thoughts and most importantly our actions. If we have only good thoughts and positive thoughts then we are able to control what we do in life and things like diseases that attack our bodies will have no authority over us.

vi. That we shall continue to have impure and poisoned blood so long as we propagate unclean thoughts.

When we have negative thoughts it affects us and we end up falling sick in the long run. So what we think should always be positive no matter how hard life might seem to be we should always try and look at the brighter side of things and encourage ourselves to have positive thoughts so that we can lead a positive life. That until thought is linked with purpose there is no intelligent accomplishment. This is a very profound statement. The author explains that even if we have good and pure thoughts there are useless if we don’t link them to purpose. For us to have accomplishments in life we have to have a purpose driven life with goals and targets and so we need to have thoughts that are linked with purpose.

vii. That there is no progress no achievement without sacrifice.

That in life you cannot have success without sacrifice. Sacrifice is very important if you want to have your goals and targets attained. Nothing really comes easy in life and we should be able to appreciate the sacrifices that we make in life.

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily persona; life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?

These ideas are so profound and they will help me become a better person. I know from experience that if you have negative thoughts these can affect your body which eventually brings diseases in the body. I have had people in my family who have been stressed for many years of their lives and have eventually got cancer of the blood. So these ideas have given me a better understanding of life because I know now that if I have good thoughts my actions will be positive and this positive energy will spill over to the people around me. In addition for me to be successful in life I have to have goals and targets so that these can be linked to the good thoughts and as a result I will have a purpose driven life. More so I know that for every good result in my life I have to make various sacrifices. Hard work and success come about with sacrifices in life. With the understanding of these wonderful ideas I am able to communicate better and work with people with different backgrounds because I now know that we are not born the way we are, we are the way we are because of the thoughts that we have.

4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they are important to you?

“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.”

This shows that what we think is really what we are. If you are a criminal it is because of what you thought and what was in your heart that your actions resulted in to your current situation that is in jail.

“Many men are slaves because one is an oppressor; let us hate the oppressor.”

This is what we tend to think many times that we are slaves because someone is oppressing us. The author throws more light on this and tells us that we are slaves because we choose to be slaves. If we despise the situation that we are in then we can break through the slavery.

“The Universe does not favor the greedy, the dishonest, and the vicious, although on the mere surface it sometimes may appear to do so.”

This is what we tend to think because we see many of the corrupt people and thugs so successful and so we are made to think that the only way to be successful in life is to be corrupt and to be a thief. Whereas in the long run that universe actually favor the honest and virtuous. It is just a matter of believing in yourself and working hard as well as taking sacrifices that eventually makes us very successful in life. It might not show in your life time but in your children and grand children’s lifetime.

“The dreamers are the saviors of the world.”

It is very important to dream. Dreams keep us moving in life, they keep us working and thriving in this world. When you have a dream nothing can stop from conquering. When you have a dream you can be anything, you are able to have positive energy to make that dream a reality.

5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and if so, why?

I enjoyed reading this book and I liked the ideas that were put forward by the author. He dissects life so well and I was able to understand that life is the way it is because we choose it to be that way. He clearly explains that we are the authors of our destiny. Many of us especially in the African setting believe a lot in family curses and we get comfortable in that situation instead of trying to change or situations and making life more bearable because we have the control in our minds. Everything was clear for me in this book.

6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?

Yes at the end of the book we were asked to develop a deeper understanding of the principles in the book and am still working on these principles.

7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so please comment.

Well the author basically captured every aspect of life and how we should approach it. This has been an eye opener for me so I have nothing to add.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.

A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10

Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Assessment by Anita Kiddu Muhanguzi (Uganda)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The main idea in this book is to follow your heart and do what you feel will make you happy. There is a Jonathan Livingston Seagull in all of us but many times we are afraid to let him out simply because we don’t want to be judged or to be shamed by the community we live in. Many times we sacrifice our dreams just so we can make others happy and we kill Jonathan inside us. This book opens our eyes to the world of possibilities, a world of opportunities and all we have to do is to follow that dream deep down inside our hearts.

i. Always set your priorities straight.

Jonathan Livingston knew he wanted to fly more than anything and he practices at the expense of feeding, something which his family and the other seagulls failed to understand.

ii. Don’t let what other people think stop you from perusing your dreams.

Jonathan knew he wanted to fly and despite the pleas from his parents and warnings that he got he never gave up his dream of flying.

iii. Never give up on your yourself.

Jonathan practices so many times and at one point he almost gave up thinking that it was not in nature to fly. But just as he was about to give up realized his mistake and from then on he mastered the art of flying. In life we face many hurdles and many times we think that something’s are not meant for us and yet in actual sense it is only a matter of time before we reap from our hard work. He teaches us to always have a positive attitude towards everything that we do and never give up on ourselves and on our dreams.

iv. Always be willing to share what you have learnt even if people don’t want to learn.

Jonathan tried to tell the flock about what he had discovered and instead they banned him from the community but this didn’t lower his spirits instead it bee him stronger.

v. There will always be conservative people in life.

The author shows us in this book that there will always be conservative people in life and that this should not stop us from perusing our dreams. It is not a crime in life to want to be different. Always follow your heart and your dreams even if it is at the cost of being abandoned by those who don’t believe in your vision.

vi. Boredom, fear and anger are the reasons that one’s life becomes short.

In this book it is depicted that if we don’t follow our dreams, life becomes the daily routine and in the long run becomes boring for us so we need to learn challenging things which can keep us on our toes and thus make life worth living.

vii. Heaven is not a place and it is not a time, but it is being perfect.

According to the author being perfect has no limits and we should always strive to be perfect in all that we do in life. Perfection has no standards and we shall always know when we reach perfection.

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal Life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?

Well as a person these ideas are so profound for me. I know I have always had a Jonathan living inside me because I always try to explore opportunities and try new adventures in life. I have failed a couple of times but I know one day I will learn the art of perfection and then I will be in heaven. It is not easy trying out the unknown because we always look for what makes us comfortable in our skins. I left employment because however much I worked I was not recognized and appreciated and I was sacrificing the time I would have spent with my children. It was not an easy step to take because I had no plan but I found my passion in agriculture and that is what I love doing now. I have not learnt the art of perfection but I know just like Jonathan will soon be in heaven. These ideas will help me better the community of vulnerable women and children that am currently working with and little by little we shall make this world a much better place for us to work and live in. It all starts with us and our dreams, just like Jonathan Livingston Seagull.

4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they are important to you.

“Heaven is not a place, and it is not a time. Heaven is being perfect.”

We should always strive to be perfect and this takes sacrifice and hard work.

“Because any number is a limit and perfection doesn’t have limits.”

Many times we try to limit ourselves and yet there is no limit to our abilities.

“I could be spending all this time learning to fly. There is so much to learn.”

Always have a positive attitude towards learning because there is always something new that we learn to better ourselves and enrich our lives.

“When they hear of it, he thought, of the breakthrough, they will be wild with joy. How much more there is now to living. Instead of our drab slogging forth and back to the fishing boats, there is a reason to life. We can lift ourselves out of ignorance, we can find ourselves as creatures of excellence and intelligence and skill. We can be free. We can learn to fly.”

It is very important to always better the community we live in and even if they don’t believe in our ideas it is good to always try and teach them and move with those who are willing to learn.

“If our friendship depends on things like space and time, then we finally overcome space and time, we have destroyed our own brotherhood. But overcome space and all we have left is here. Overcome time, and all we have left is now.”

“In casting you out, the other gulls have only hurt themselves, and one day they will know this, and one day they will see what you see. Forgive them, and help them to understand.”

Many times we hold anger for the wrong people have done to us and we forget that they do these things to us because they believe that they are hurting us and yet they are the ones hurting. So we should always forgive them and move on.

“Don’t believe what your eyes are telling you. All they show is limitation. Look with your understanding, find out what you already know, and you will see the way to fly.”

“You have got to understand that a seagull is an unlimited idea of freedom, an image of the Great Gull, and your whole body, from wingtip to wingtip, is nothing more than your thought itself.”

5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and if so, why?

The ideas in the book are so interesting. Every one of us has a Jonathan Livingston living within and we should learn to follow our dreams so as to be free. Never let your surroundings or the community you live in stop you from achieving your dreams.

6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?

The book had no exercises.

7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so please comment.

No further comments.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.

A. How interesting was it to read? 10
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10

Keys to Success

Assessment by Anita Kiddu Muhanguzi (Uganda)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The main idea of the author is to help us find our way in life by coming up with a definiteness of purpose. In other words we need to have a plan to be able to achieve our goals in life and he describes and explains to us the keys to success. He elaborates on the principles which we need to follow in life in order to be successful and all this begins with us finding ourselves and redefining what we want in life by setting out our goals and ways in which we will achieve them.

i. Putting Definiteness of purpose to work.

This helps us put we want to do in life in writing and then we are able to come up with a plan to make sure that it becomes a reality.

ii. Forming a mastermind alliance.

In life we always have to look for people who share our same passion. I have experience this first hand with the people who I have employed to work at the farm. No one of them saw far ahead and so our staff turnover was very high. The farm manager stuck with us and he is one of those in my alliance, he is my consultant and my friend and he is very innovative.

iii. Positive Mental Attitude.

I always try to have a positive attitude towards many things in life because my belief is that you cannot change the past but can only learn from your mistakes so I don’t like bickering on the past instead I create positive energy to make improvements in my life. This is very important and I try to encourage the people around to always take negative events in life and turn them into positive energy by learning from that experience and making yourself a better person. PMA is important because it builds on your character and also keeps you healthy because you will always be a happy and likeable person to be around.

iv. Understanding Infinite intelligence.

This was a very important principle because it showed me how powerful my mind is. It has taught me that if I put my mind to believe that I will succeed then I will have applied the principle of infinite intelligence. It has emphasized the fact that we need to always be grateful for the good things in our lives instead of always requesting for what we don’t have in life. Also most importantly we should be able to overcome fears like poverty, ill health, criticism, death, loss of liberty, loss of love, old age, because these fears end up limiting our abilities in life. This is a very important lesson because it teaches us to always be positive and so faith and having a positive mental attitude work together. We should always be hopeful with the future than lamenting on what we don’t know and what we cannot change.

v. Going the extra mile.

This is a very important lesson because it teaches that us that we need to be humble. You can never tell you will meet in life who will influence your life and turn it around. Many of us are employed and we work for the salary at the end of the month and we are not interested in our jobs at the end of the day. This ends up influencing th way we think and does not grow us as people. Going the extra mile is one of those principles that comes from within you, you need to be able to do it from your heart because that is when it will have an impact in life.

vi. Controlling your enthusiasm.

Enthusiasm and positive mental attitude work together and it is very important to be very enthusiastic about your work because it will keep that fire in you burning and you will come up with new ideas and solutions to problems that you want to intervene in. It is also important to have enthusiasm because when your mastermind alliance see how excited you are about the work you do they will have the same enthusiasm towards achieving the goals that you set and in doing so they will support your enthusiasm.

vii. Enforcing Self discipline.

This is a very important lesson because if we are to achieve our goals in life we have to be disciplined. With self discipline we must always think about our actions and the consequences before we decide in the next steps. With this lesson we should also learn to control our emotions with reasoning because too much of anything is bad. I also learnt that we should be to protect our ego like a diamond rings because it is our prize possession and no one should have a chance to destroy it for us.

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?

The lessons in this book are priceless and I have appreciated them so well because they have taught me a lot and opened a new way of thinking. These lessons will help me come up with a definiteness of purpose and I am coming up with a plan to ensure that I achieve my set goals in life. The lessons have also taught me a lot about myself, for example that I have control of my mind and my thoughts and I should have a positive mental attitude towards what I do and everything in life. The lesson of self discipline is also very vital because I know that in order to achieve my goals I have to have set goals and use my time accordingly because without proper discipline I will not achieve my success in life.

The principles in this book are very vital in helping me create a better world because if I am able to change my life I will help others achieve their success in life as well. By following the principles in this book we are leading exemplary lives that other people will admire and will want to be better than us. This will boost their confidence and their lives will be changed tremendously.

4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.

“There was a time when every morning as I rose, I saw Father time sneaking up alongside me. At first I was terrified. But one day I looked him in the eye and shouted, Get out of here, old man, and stay out. I don’t need you. Get out.”

This statement got me laughing so hard and I will always remember to chase away father time if he dares sneak up on me in the future.

“The law of compensation ensures that everything you do will bring you some sort of result of the same kind.”

This shows us that when we are good to others the same will revert to us.

“When you have an attractive personality, you can get almost anyone to behave toward you exactly as you wish.”

This shows us that its only natural for people to want to be around people with a great personality because this makes them feel good about themselves as well.

“Sometimes the hardest person to get along with is the person who uses your toothbrush, the same one you see in the mirror every morning. Talk to that person, explain your plans and purposes, seek cooperation.”

This is so true and the journey begins with us. If we can control the way we think we shall become better people.

“If you need advice, seek out skilled experts, and pay them for their counsel. The free advice you will get on every hand from colleagues and friends will worth exactly what it costs you: nothing.”

Good things in life are never really free and we should always be professional in the way we lead our lives.

“ Success attracts success while failure attracts more failure. Nothing could be more true. Striving for success makes you better able to attain it. Doing nothing and accepting failure only bring more failure your way.”

“Wasting time is sinful.”

“Closing the door on fear and worry allows you to open the doors of hope and faith.”

5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?

I enjoyed reading the book so much that I will continue reading and referring to it a lot because of the principles led out in the book.

6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?

Yes the book contained exercises at the end and they were very helpful because they guided me in coming up with a concrete definiteness of purpose.

7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.

None.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.

A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful was the content? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10

Success through a Positive Mental Attitude

Assessment by Anita Kiddu Muhanguzi (Uganda)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The main idea of the author is to emphasize that in everything that we do we need to have a positive mental attitude. The authors in this book are teaching us that we have a talisman with two sides: a positive mental attitude and negative mental attitude. It is up to us to choose the side we wish to follow. There are examples of people who have used both negative mental attitude and positive mental attitude and it shows us how their lives were affected in both positive and negative ways. In general the authors encourage us to always look at life using a positive mental attitude and even if something bad happens in your life you can always turn it into something good. It all starts with the mind and with your attitude.

2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and
why? List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as
to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.

i. Meeting the most important person living inside of us.

Many times we seem to blame our misfortunes on God or on Luck but in this book we are told that we need to have the desire within us to be rich and successful, just like S.B Fuller who was one of seven children of a negro tenant farmer who had the desire to be rich. “Success is achieved and maintained by those who keep a positive mental attitude.”

ii. You were born a champion.

Many times we think that it was by luck that we were brought into this world. We never know of the struggles that took place before we were born. So I now know how special I am and how unique I am and I know that there was never anyone like me and there will never be another like me in all infinity to come.

iii. A Positive Mental Attitude attracts Wealth.

We should always understand, commit to memory, and repeat frequently throughout the day, “What the mind of man can conceive and believe, the mind of man can achieve with a positive mental attitude.” It all begins with a positive mental attitude and this formula is what I use for my daily work.

iv. Clear the cobwebs from your thinking.

One thing that we, as humans. have is inherent control of our minds. And because of this we are able to avoid mental cobwebs, we can sweep them out of our minds as soon as they start to develop.

v. Restoring happiness in your home.

This is something that many of us fail to understand. If someone annoys us we always try to justify our actions instead of looking at ourselves first. Once we solve our own problems we are able to solve the problems we have with other people. We always have to remember to look at problems with a positive mental attitude.

vi. Principle of Auto Suggestion.

This was new to me and it taught me that we can feed our subconscious mind with thoughts of a creative nature or with thoughts of a destructive nature. The power is with us and what we want to do with it. By feeding our subconscious mind with thoughts of how to achieve our desires in life it then becomes a burning desire and you end up achieving it.

vii. People are as happy as they make their minds to be.

This is true because how much life may throw blessings your way, when you have a negative attitude you will always miss those blessings. What we choose in life is really up to us, but most importantly we must always look at life using the positive mental attitude eye glasses.

viii. Awaken the sleeping giant within you.

This book teaches us that we are the product of our heredity, environment, physical body, conscious and subconscious mind, experience and particular position and direction in time and space and something more, including powers known and unknown. At times we lose hope and never know that we have unlocked potential within us. I now know that there is a giant within me that is dying to be awoken. Here I Come.

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in
your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?

These ideas are an eye opener for me because they have taught me a lot about life and how a great impact there is in having a positive mental attitude. Many times we get discouraged along the way and we are disappointed by so many things in life. We forget that we have to attract happiness and wealth as well as success and it all begins with our attitude. It begins with what we feed our sub-conscious mind.

These ideas are very helpful in my daily life because they have taught me how to solve problems that happen in my life. I know now that I always have to look at myself first before I can shift the blame to anyone else. These ideas have also taught me that I should always be thankful for what I have first because they are many people who are not as lucky as I am. Because I am able to look at myself and know clearly what I want in life and have that burning desire to be successful in life I will be able to change the world because people will learn from my positive mental attitude and also I will impact their lives through the works that I will be doing. My burning desire is to work with children women and the communities in general. I want to see a world where girls and women are respected and given equal opportunities and I now know that it begins in the minds of the people. So if I have a positive mental attitude I know through my works the people I engage with will also have a positive mental attitude.

4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly
got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.

“You have everything to gain and nothing to lose by trying. Success is achieved and maintained by those who keep trying with a positive mental attitude.”

“The burden of learning is on the person who wants to learn, not on the person who wants to teach.”

“Copy from success! Everything I have done I have borrowed from another person or business.”

“Think. Think with a positive mental attitude.”

“As a man thinketh in his heart, so he is.”

“You are the most important living person.”

These quotes are important to me because they emphasize looking at life with a positive mental attitude. Many times we need quotes like this to remind us about ourselves and push us to achieve our burning desires.

5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear
about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?

Nothing was unclear.

6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did
you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?

Yes the book had a success quotient analysis which I did and it was quite helpful. I keep reviewing my answers and they serve as a good reminder of what I have learned.

7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment
on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.

The book was so amazing that I could write a whole book about it. I am amazed at how fast I finished reading it.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.

A. How interesting was it to read? 10
B. How helpful was the content? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10

PsychoCybernetics

Assessment by Anita Kiddu Muhanguzi (Uganda)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The main idea the author is trying to convey in this book is the discovery of self-image which represents a breakthrough in psychology and the field of creative personality. In this book the author dwells a lot on the fact that we are affected by our appearances. He gives various examples of self-image and how this has affected the confidence of many people. He also insists that if one is happy with the way they look then their confidence and self-esteem is boosted beyond and they are able to achieve a lot more than they can imagine. The author also emphasizes in this book that we are created with mechanisms to help us life our lives to the fullest and also be more creative in life. We live in a world which is very stressful and we always try to find solutions to the problems in the world and yet more of these are beyond our control. The author tells us that we have to surrender our problems to the unknown powers whom many of believe is the Almighty God.

2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and

why? List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.

i. The Self-Image

Your key to a better life. The author states that understanding the psychology of the self can mean the difference between success and failure, love and hate, bitterness and happiness. That the discovery of the real self can rescue a crumbling marriage, recreate a faltering career, transform victims of personality failure. And that on another plane discovering your real self means the difference between freedom and the compulsions of conformity. This is very critical in our lives because we don’t discover ourselves we can never be happy with life and can never be satisfied.

ii. Your program for a better living.

He states that that there is within each one of us a “Life instinct” which is forever working towards health, happiness and all that makes for more life for the individual. This “life instinct” works through what he calls the creative mechanism or the success mechanism built into each human being. This was quite fascinating for me because I had never known about this and it is something that I am learning more and more about.

iii. The creative mechanism is impersonal.

That the creative mechanism will work automatically and impersonally to achieve goals of success and happiness or unhappiness and failure depending upon the goals which you yourself set for it. This is very true and many times I try and push myself to be goal oriented even when I have failed at something I always try and find a solution so that my mind does not dwell on something negative.

iv. Our built in guidance system.

The author states that every living thing has a built in guidance system or goal striving device put there by the creator to help it achieve its goal in other words help it live. However the in human being the goal to live means more than mere survival whereas in animals it means that certain physical needs have to be met. This is very important because it shows us that we are indeed in control of our lives and we have to take advantage of the ability that is within us in order to live our lives to the fullest.

v. Creative Imagination

I actually always thought that this applied to a few people like artists, poets and the like. I really never thought that I have a creative imagination until I read this book.

vi. A human being always acts and feels and performs in accordance with

what he imagines to be true about himself and his environment.

This is a basic and fundamental law of mind and it is the way we are built. This is quite true because when we are sad we are normally very low and everyone around us can tell that we are not in our best moods. It is quite interesting that our nervous systems cannot tell the difference between an imagined experience and a real experience, that in either case it reacts automatically to information which we give it from the forebrain.

vii. Successful men and woman have since the beginning of time used

“mental picture” and rehearsal practice” to achieve success.

That cybernetics regards the human brain, nervous system and muscular system as a highly complex “servo mechanism.” (An automatic goal seeking machine which steers way to a target or goals by use of feedback data and stored information, automatically correcting course when necessary) in other words that our physical brain and body functions as a machine which we operate.

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?

I have learned so much from this book that I didn’t existed. I now know that we have a creative imagination that is inbuilt within us and that we need to make use of my creative imagination to come up with projects and ideas that are sustainable for my community and that can also promote me as a person in life. Another lesson that I will use in my life is to let go of my worries and problems to a higher power. There is a power that is unknown to us and many times we think that we are in control of all the problems in the world and this keeps stressing us and yet we cannot do much. So I am going to live life, enjoy moments in life because we can never relive moments. I have also learned that when we regard ourselves as unworthy we are making the creator angry and so we should enjoy life to the maximum. We should always appreciate the way we are because we are made in Gods image and so any insult to our own beings is an insult to the almighty. So I love myself the way I am.

4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.

“The new science of Cybernetics has furnished us with convincing proof that the so called “subconscious mind is not a “mind” at all, but a mechanism a goal striving “servo- mechanism” consisting of the brain and nervous system, which is used by, and directed by mind.”

“Imagination rules the world.”

“Imagination of all man’s faculties is the most God- Like.”

“The more that is learned about the human brain, the more closely it resembles in so far as function is concerned- a servo mechanism.”

“Your nervous system reacts appropriately to what you think or imagine to be true.”

“Get more living out of life.”

“Life is adaptive. It is not just an end in itself but a means to an end.”

“Develop nostalgia for the future instead of the past in order to remain productive and vital. Develop an enthusiasm for life, create a need for more life and you will receive more life.”

All these quotes show us the power that exists within us to be the best that we can be and always aim high in life because that is what God wanted for us and he made that possible for us by creating us with inbuilt mechanisms that can help us achieve our goals.

5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?

No.

6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?

Yes the book had some exercises which I did and they were very helpful.

7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.

No.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.

A. How interesting was it to read? 10
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D.Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10

How to Win Friends and Influence People
Assessment by Anita Kiddu (Uganda)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The author empathizes to the readers that we need established healthy relationships at home and professionally at work. He guides us how to start and maintain long term serving friendships in our lives. He further illustrates how many successful people have managed to maintain business empires by simply being kind and polite to their employees by encouraging them to continuously improve on their strengths. This book taught us to avoid dwelling on negative attributes of people, it teaches one to avoid criticizing people but to appreciate their positive attributes and offer them opportunities for growth whenever possible.

2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why
List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.

i. How to gather honey

If you want to gather honey, don’t kick over the beehive. From the examples in the book about two gunmen; Crowely, Al Caponne and Dutch Schultz, the author teaches that once you criticize someone, they will almost immediately defend themselves against the accusations.

ii. Criticism

The author also shared that criticism is dangerous because it wounds a person’s precious pride, hurts their sense of importance and arouses resentment. This book teaches that when we are dealing with people we are actually dealing with creatures of emotion, creatures bristling with prejudices and motivated by pride and vanity. The author further emphasizes that bitter criticism is dangerous to the point of driving some people to suicide, words are so hurtful and can destroy someone for good. We should all follow in Benjamin Franklin’s footsteps and speak ill of no man ad instead speak all the good we know of everybody.

iii. Give Honest and sincere appreciation.

We learn from the author that everybody craves a deep sincere appreciation and for you to get anyone to do anything for you, is by giving them what they want and that is an honest and sincere appreciation.

iv. Feeling valued.

The desire of feeling valued and acknowledged is one of the chief distinguishing differences between any kind of animals. We learnt from the author that once you feel important, it motivates one to commit and work even harder at achieving their goals. A typical example is portrayed through Dickens strong desire to write immortal novels. (Please give a personal example).

v. The feeling of importance

An additional important fact is that once you know your feeling of importance, it can reveal your character; for instance we learn that John d. Rockefeller got his feeling of importance by giving money to erect a modern hospital in Peking, china to care for people he had never seen or would never see and yet Dillinger on the other hand got his feeling of importance by being a bandit. ( Also give a personal example to this point?)

vi. Getting things done.

Another interesting principle is being able to arouse in the other person an ability to awaken the desire to get things done. The author teaches us that he who can complete a task gains the whole world in his favor rather than he who cannot shall walk a lonely way. This always reminds of my children; When I want to get them to do anything, I play with their psychology and the task is done in no time.

vii. Make people like you.

Furthermore, an additional point is to make people like you. This is a very important principle in life because someone cannot like you if you don’t reciprocate the action willingly. Life has taught me that to have meaningful relations either with family of friends which directly and indirectly have intentional meanings or impacts in everything that you. People will only like you if you take interests in their needs and you invest your time in them and are always there for them.

The simplest way to make a good first impression. The easiest way to always make first good impression is your facial expression. Your smile can warm someone’s heart and appear welcoming especially if the other person has had a rough day or is in a very difficult place. These are the simple gestures that don’t cost a penny but a worth a million bucks and live a lasting impression in people’s hearts.

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?

These ideas are a game changer in my life; They are the simplest things that we take for granted and yet leave a lasting impression on people we care about which evidently affects the relations we have at work or on a personal level. Many times we forget that the people who work for us or those we work for are human just like us and have the same blood flowing in their veins. I have always tried to keep the people around me feel comfortable. I invest time in my relations so they recognize that I am always welcoming and encourage having many more friends even within communities where I am invested through implementing projects with the community.
My passion and burning desire is reaching out and working with rural communities through adopting principles that will leave a lasting impression in the communities from the numerous friendships established. My desire is to have as many communities impacted and making communities more self-reliant and once you have so many or all the members in these communities as friends, it becomes easier to sit and organize plans for activities that should be implemented in their areas and also through such friendly discussions you can discuss ways that can help them improve as people and as a community.

4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.

“The ability to speak is a shortcut to distinction. It puts a person in the limelight, raises one’s head and shoulders above the crowd. And the person who can speak acceptably is usually given credit for the ability out of the whole capacity to what he or she really possesses.”

“Criticisms are like homing pigeons. They always return home.”

“Judge not, that ye be not judged.”

“Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do.”

A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little men.

“The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.”

“It is the individual who is not interested in his fellow men who has the greatest difficulties in life and provides the greatest injury to others. It is from such individuals that all human failures spring.”

These quotes are important to me because they portray the reality of life. I don’t like being criticized and so I don’t like criticizing others because I know how it makes a person feel hopeless. It is vital to always focus on the positive attributes of other people than dwell on their negative attributes.

5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?

Nothing I can think of.

6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?

The entire book possesses exercises on a daily basis which encourage interaction with each other so we practice the principles through work. Additionally, I find the principles in the book very helpful and adaptable practical in our daily lives.

7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.

None.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.

A. How interesting was it to read? 10
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10

Giant Steps
Assessment by Anita Kiddu (Uganda)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The author in this book is encouraging us to look deep within us and find that one reason for us to live our lives to the fullest and make our dreams come true. By living our dreams our lives become inspirational to others. The author is very keen in letting us know that even if we cannot always control the events in our lives we can always control our response to them and the actions we take as a result.

2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.

i. Commit to Learning

We must commit to learning from our mistakes instead of agonizing over them. In life we are prone to many challenges and it is really how we handle them that make us who we are today. I always look at my mistakes with a positive attitude and try to use them as a learning platform.
If your first attempt at achieving your goals seems futile never give up. I have learned in life that when your persistent in achieving your goals and never giving up, you become stronger and life opens up opportunities beyond your control.

ii. Enjoy Life’s puddles.

This is a very good lesson for us to remember all the time. We take life so seriously sometimes and yet this is not the case. However tough life is what matters is how we deal with it, I took a conscious decision to enjoy life’s puddles because you only live once and I don’t want to have regrets later on in life.

iii. Emotion is created by motion.

I learned something new and I always try it out when I can. And for sure instead of running which I hate I enjoy skipping and I am able to skip with my daughters and it ends up being such a fun exercise.

iv. Beliefs

What we believe in is very important. Many times we have dreams but we never believe in ourselves to achieve these dreams. Always try to actualize your dream because the more you actualize it and believe it then it becomes a reality.

v. Shaping our Lives

What shapes our lives is the meaning we attach to events. We should not let events determine our lives instead we should learn from the events and find meaning in them so we can grow and be better and also let people learn from those events that have shaped us.

vi. Imagination and Experience

It has been proved over time that our brain cannot tell the difference between something we imagine and something that we actually experience. We should always be able to imagine that we have succeeded in achieving our goals and this will become the reality.

vii. Positive Attitude

Having a consistent positive attitude will help me actualize my goals and dreams into my everyday reality!

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?

The ideas in this book are very important because they have taught me that life is not really what we experience but what our experiences teach and how those experiences affect us in the long run. Throughout my life I have always tried to have a positive attitude and leave the negativity behind me. And with the lessons now from Anthony Robbins emphasis has been on what I believe it and how to actualize my goals in life and imagining my success. With such a positive attitude I know I will inspire many young people and women and together we can change the world by creating positive change. Change always begins with us, if we are comfortable in our skin and believe in ourselves and always have a positive attitude towards life we end up having a positive a great impact in our families, work, communities and country at large.

4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly
got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.

“You and I can make our lives one of these legendary inspirations, as well, simply by having courage and the awareness that we can control whatever happens in our lives.”

“The more decisions you make, the better you will become at making them.”

“Great leaders are rarely realistic, by other people’s standards. They are, however, accurate and intelligent.”

“All personal breakthroughs begin with a change in beliefs, Remember that small efforts can add up to giant results. The only limit to our impact is our imagination and commitment.”

These quotes show how the decisions to create change are in our hands and also how we have the tools to create change within. Theses quotes are a reminder that we can take steps however small to create a multiplier effect of positive change. Change begins with us.

5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?

Nothing that I can think of that I didn’t understand.

6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?

The entire book put me on a test and I am still doing these exercises on a weekly basis. They are helping me understand more about how to deal with the experiences in my life and how to inspire always belief in myself and my success.

7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.

Real Magic
Assessment by Anita Kiddu (Uganda)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

In this book Dr. Wayne teaches us about the real magic in life. The word ‘magic’ automatically makes us imagine and believe it is the superficial acts done by the magicians. However the author encourages us to reach out within ourselves and create our own magic depending on what makes us happy in life. Many miracles happen in our lives but we never consider them to be miracles. He tells us that we need to believe in what we want in life and aim for a higher level of consciousness by setting up strategies to achieve our goals in life.

i. There are no limits

The author emphasizes that the minute you start thinking there are limits in life you will have created your own boundaries which will prevent you from reaching your ultimate potential. He further states that in this universe there is unlimited power and we have to believe that we can achieve whatever we desire in this life. We must therefore not limit ourselves.

ii. The non-spiritual being is motivated by achievement, performance and acquisitions verse the spiritual being which is motivated by ethics, serenity and quality of life.

In life we have to choose what makes us happy rather than chasing worldly possessions that we end up leaving behind. From the idea I got the feeling that the author insists that life should be based on happiness and we must always have faith that there is a force out there that is ready to protect us in whatever we do. A force that I believe is God. I believe that with God you can achieve everything.

iii. Our thoughts and beliefs are miracles unto themselves and they are our only tools for processing this physical world.

They defy cause or effect logic since our thoughts come from seemingly nowhere therefore our miracle making ability also stems from that divine place of nothing. We have the power within us to determine our future only if we believe we can. From this idea we learn that magic is within us and it is us to let it work for us or against us.

iv. The spiritual being knows that there is a higher power working in the universe beyond mere cause and effect.

It is therefore with the power of our minds that miracles originate and therefore cause and effect are replaced by a belief in the effects that come out of what we call nothingness or emptiness. The author emphasizes that there is power in the mind that creates magic. We have to believe that there is a stronger force out there that helps us live our dreams.

v. Real Magic and personal identity.

Many times we are made to believe that we are the way are because of our genes or because our families have a curse that is passed on from generation to generation. I remember when I graduated from Law School and I job hunting, one pastor told my mother that he there was a generational curse on our family and that is why I was not being hired. I refused to believe this and when I persisted walking the streets with my papers I was eventually employed. This notion breaks people’s spirit and demoralizes them from looking within themselves and reliving the dreams that they have. Always believe in yourself and not what others believe should or claim to see in your life.

vi. Creating your own magical personality.

This is where most of us go wrong. We admire others for what they have achieved and pity ourselves because of the state we are in at the time. The author reminds us that our talent like everything else about us is a function of the invisible force that flows through our body, it is not in our hands, our genes or any part of our physical apparatus, it is the force that flows through all of our being. I know that everyone has their own time in this life and we should never ever lose hope, hold on to that dream no matter what because there is no one else as unique as you.

vii. Your habits and customs.

I have learned from the author that being unhappy, depressed, lazy and limited are all habits. I had no idea that these were habits. I have also learnt that being happy despite having possessions are also a habit. Many times we despair over what others have and forget about our own happiness. We should choose to be happy despite what we have and work hard to achieving our goals and dreams in life.

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?

The ideas in this book are very practical and they have opened up my mind. I now know that in life anything and everything is possible if you set your mind to it. Many times we limit ourselves, believing that we cannot or that we are not talented and yet the power lies in our minds. The author has shown me that I am capable of achieving my dreams if I set my mind to it and that I should limit myself because the universe is limitless. Working with communities is quite challenging because of their mindset. Many of them have resigned to fate claiming that they are bewitched or have a generational curse within their families. Many of them believe that they cannot reach for the stars. I have learned that all these are habits which need to change and I will reach out to the members of the community to ensure that they choose happiness, hard work over despair and possessions.

4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made, that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.

“Where there is great love there are always miracles. Miracles rest not so much upon faces or voices or healing power coming to us from afar off, but on our perceptions being made finer, so that for a moment our eyes can see and our ears can hear what is there about us always.“

“The great and glorious masterpiece of man is how to live with purpose.”

“The message of your life is in what you give. You show up with nothing you leave with nothing. All you truly can do with this life in form is to give it away. Purpose is always about giving.”

“Truly no man is an island. We are all connected and we all learn and grow in this journey together. You will have all the help as you prepare yourself for miracle making and real magic.”

“We are born in to the world of native. Our second birth is into the world of spirit.”

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

“Everywhere you look in science, the harder it becomes to understand the universe without God.”

These quotes illustrate that we are capable of creating our own miracles in life and that we should not rely on others for miracles. They also emphasize that miracles are made in our minds and we should not limit our subconscious in creating these miracles.

5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?

Nothing was unclear.

6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?

The book did not have exercises for me to complete though it has given me real life exercises to complete in terms of creating my real magic on a daily basis. The author has taught me how to create a world where only I can live and teach others to create their own heaven too.

7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.

None.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.

The New Dynamics of Winning
Assessment by Anita Kiddu Muhanguzi (Uganda)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The author states the formula for winning and becoming a champion in life. He gives examples of people who never gave up on their dreams and on how to set strategies to ensure that they achieve their goals in life. In this book Denis Waitley talks about the stair step method which means taking a big goal and breaking it down into smaller components. This helps one achieve their bigger goal by ensuring the smaller goals have been achieved first.

2. What were the seven ideas which were personally important to you and why. List the seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.

The seven ideas I thought were important were:

i. Stair Step Method.

Many times in life we have dreams and goals and we never break them down to make them more realistic and achievable. This method helps us define our goals and makes them more achievable instead of looking at the bigger picture.

ii. No one is going to take you fishing.

Throughout my life I saw my relatives and friends asking for favors from people in good positions and when I finished school I did the same. I eventually realized that no one is obligated to take care of you, so you need to persevere in life to ensure that you achieve your goals and dreams. Only you can achieve what you set out to do and what is in your heart.

iii. When you have paid the price, you expect the gold.

Just like Mary Lou Retton we have to learn to pay the price and this means sacrificing to make sure we achieve our dreams. It takes hard work but most of all commitment from the heart to make sure that our dreams are achieved.

iv. View life as a continuous learning experience.

I have learned through my life experience that it is indeed a continuous learning curve and learning never ends. We all have different paths in life so we should not compare our lives and procrastinate about why we are not moving at the same pace. Never give up on your dreams even if you are on your dying bed.

v. Champions are born.

Denis Waitley clear states that champions are not made but they are born. He states that we are all given an abundance of value more than we could use in several lifetimes. This means that we all have the ability within to be whatever we want to be in life but are only stopped by the negative attributes of the people around us. We should always believe in ourselves and never give up.

vi. Its show, not tell.

This is something that many of us have failed to comply with. As a good leader we should be able to live by example and do what we want others to copy and learn and not just tell them.

vii. Seeing is believing.

According to the author by rehearsing fears and problems you can make yourself depressed so we need to keep replaying in our mind’s eye the best game ever played, we repeat that best game again, when the stakes are even higher and the pressure is on. And that by mentally replaying the best game you have ever imagined, you can set the stage for a world class performance. This can apply to us in everyday life, we just have to keep replaying successful moments in our mind’s eye and this will become our reality.
Make a conscious decision to turn negative self-talk into positive self-talk. It is hard to stop negative thoughts but I will try to be more intentional about blocking them and always look for positive thoughts. Don’t allow others to contaminate your self-talk with their negativity. However much we try to have positive self-talk, we shall always have people around us who want to bring us down. So we need to shut them out of our lives or just ignore what they are saying and move on with life.

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your dally personal life and in helping you create a better world, if so, how?

These lessons are practical and give a better and more positive insight on how to deal with the various challenges in life. Life is full of hurdles and people who will want us to be depressed like them, but we need to be able to move past all the negativity and build ourselves upwards. These lessons have changed the way I think and now however negative the situation is, I force my mind to have only positive thoughts. When I am filled with positive energy it will over flow to those around me.

4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.

“Seeing is believing.”

According to the author images are stored and retained, unconsciously at incredible speeds and when they are recalled they can enhance performance.

“Losers let it happen, winners make it happen.”

“It’s not who you are that holds you back, it’s what you think you are not.”

“Even when they fail, winners fail in an active way. If you have to fail, fail big. That’s the way successful people approach everything they do.”

5. Is there anything in the book that you did not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so why?

No.

6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all the exercises and did you find them helpful?

Yes and the exercises are very helpful.

7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment

No.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.

A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

Unlimited Power
Assessment by Anita Kiddu (Uganda)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

In this book the author empathizes to the readers that we all have the power to achieve our goals in life. He further states that our minds are very strong and we have the power to do all that we want in life but many times we limit ourselves. We should be able to do what we and not let others tell us what to do. We have the power within us to decide how we feel and act based upon the way we choose to perceive in life.

i. Communication is power.

This is true because we all interpret what happens in our lives differently. I always believe and trust that everything that happens to us happens to us for a reason. We are being taught a lesson which we should share with others. It is not good to always interpret bad misgivings to mean that we are unfortunate or that we are being bewitched.

ii. The quality of our lives is determined not by what happens to us but rather what we do about what happens.

I believe this is so true and it makes us stronger and more knowledge about life.

iii. Unlimited power is the ability to produce the results you desire most and create value for others in the process.

When you have unlimited power you can do anything you so desire with your life. In other words you have the ability to make things work for you and move on the direction that you want.

iv. People who succeed on a major scale differ greatly in their beliefs from those who fail.

Our beliefs about what we are and what we will be. We have to have strong beliefs about what we want in life and which direction our life is taking in order for us to succeed.

v. The meaning of luck

The meeting of preparation with opportunity generate the offspring we call luck. I never understand the real meaning of luck until I read this book. We always think that people are born lucky no I know you have to be prepares with opportunity to be lucky.

vi. Changing Behaviors

To change our behaviors we have to state with our own beliefs. This is so true because our beliefs are the core of our beings and so we need to be able to firmly state what we believe in to be able to change our behavior.

vii. Where there is no vision, people perish.

According to Proverbs 29:18. If we don’t have dreams, goals or visions of where we want to be we are basically moving dead people on earth. In order for us to live a fulfilling life we have to be able to dream about where we want to be who we want to be in the near future or what we hope to achieve and set targets that we strive so hard to achieve to reach our goals in life.

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?

These lessons are so practical because they help us mold our thoughts to what we want and not what others tell us. According to the author we all have the ability to be who we want to be in life and what limits us are our own thoughts. If we set our target and achieve them then we can live a fulfilling life without any regrets. Many times we wait for luck to come our way but it never does and then we think that we are being jinxed. I now know that we have to be prepared for the opportunity to hit and that is what we call luck. I know that to be successful I have to change my behavior towards what I belief in in order to achieve my goals in life. It takes a lot of sacrifice to get to where we want in life but we have to always believe in what we want to get there.

4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly
got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.

“It is the mind that maketh good or ill, that maketh wretch or happy, rich or poor.”

“If you can change a state, you can change a behavior.”

Understanding state is the key to understanding change and achieving excellence. Our behavior is the result of the state we are in.”

“Action is eloquence.”

“There is no expedient to which a man will not go to avoid the real labor of thinking.”

“All human behavior revolves around the urge to gain pleasure or avoid pain.”

“Everything that enlarges the sphere of human powers, that shows man he can what he thought he could not do, is valuable.”

“Key ingredient of success: the ability to eliminate from your own environment triggers that tend to put you in negative or unreasourceful states, while installing positive ones in yourself and in others.”

“Always give more than you expect to receive.”

“Changes lead to more changes, growth leads to more growth.”

These quotes are important to me because they illustrate to me that the power to do what I want in life solely lies with me and not anyone else. I should not put fault on any one for something I have full control of. They also show me that in order to get where I want to be in life I have to be able to make sacrifices and these might be painful but will be all worth it in the end.

5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there any ideas which you disagree with, if so why?

No, everything was clear.

6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?

Not really.

7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.

None.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.

The Law of Attraction
Assessment by Anita Kiddu (Uganda)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

This book is a very interesting one and the author is very specific about what he teaches us. According to the author we are what we are thinking and how we should be able to respond and not react to the things and circumstances around us. He specifically states we are magnets because we attract what we send out. This is quite interesting because we are always complaining about the bad things that happen in our lives, but according to him, everything that happens to us, happens for a reason. The events that happen in our lives whether good or bad are meant to happen to teach us and mold us so we should not let life be but we should happen to life. Understanding the law of attraction is the key to creating the life of our dreams. According to the author we are what we think. The law of attraction is the most powerful law in the Universe just like gravity. You will attract in your life what you focus on. So always endeavor to attract good and positive things in your life.

i. To let life happen to you is irresponsible.

This is actually very funny. Many times we don’t know that we are being irresponsible if we let life be. The Law of attraction is always creating and so we should not be left behind, we should therefore create what we want and not let life happen to us. We should happen to life.

ii. Learn to respond

We should consciously respond to everything versus consciously reacting to circumstance to us. This is very important because we always rush to react and end being so worked up which in the end affects us in a negative way.

iii. Your Future

Your future is determined by what you do today and not tomorrow. If we work on something today it will definitely shape our future. The universe is change, our life is what our thoughts make it. This is so deep. Our thoughts are that strong and we should not take them for granted. We should always be positive in the way we do things and most importantly in the way we treat those close to us.

iv. We are energy we are walking talking bundle of energy.

Everything is energy and it cannot be created or destroyed and it is a constant motion and it follows thoughts. We are connected to everything and everyone. We are all pieces of a jigsaw puzzle so we are not here by mistake.

v. We are living magnets.

We attract people, things and materials. WE are always in the process of attracting something in our lives. Our life is a product of what we have ever thought or done.
You are the author if your own life, you have unlimited potential and once you make a decision the universe conspires to make it happen.

vi. Thought is action in rehearsal.

You are a product of all your thoughts. The actions you take today will determine your experiences for tomorrow. Thoughts affect your body. Positive thoughts make you feel healthy and negative thoughts can cause you serious illnesses

vii. Your Mind

You must learn to reprogram you subconscious mind to create the future that you desire. Your subconscious mind is way more powerful than the conscious mind. Tap into the vast power of the subconscious mind by daily affirmations, prayer, gratitude, visualizations, contemplation, mediation, positive techniques

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?

These ideas are very practical and realistic because for so many years I have always reacted to circumstances and sometimes I end up hurting myself or the people around me. So I now understand that I need to respond to things around me and this will help listen more to the other person or give me time to think through my response before I make it. I have also learnt that I need to send out positive energy to be able to receive more positive energy in my life. I also need to be able to attract positive people things and materials my way and should let go of the negativism in my life. These lessons and ideas will help me build stronger friends and lasting relationship with the people in my life, they will help me be more successful and live a healthier life.

4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.

“Like always attracts like.”

“Your future is created by what you do today not tomorrow.”

“The Law of Attraction is the key to creating the life of your dreams.”

“Learn to listen to your emotions.”

“Without the dark we cannot appreciate the light.”

“Do the things that make you feel good.”

“ What you are feeling is way more important than what you are thinking or saying.”

“Your true purpose should be like breathing.”

“Joy is your internal guidance system.”

“Your mind works with pictures.”

“When you are against something you are actually recreating it”

5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?

Nothing I can think of.

6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?

Yes I am still doing the exercises in the book.

7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.

Nothing I can think of.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
Assessment by Anita Kiddu (Uganda)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The author teaches us that through these seven habits we can be effective in achieving our goals in life. Many times we limit ourselves by the way we think and by the way we react to the things around us. In his book the author teaches us about paradigms and paradigm shifts. We also learn through his book that we don’t have to have to be reactive but rather proactive.

2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.

i. Pygmalion Effect

How deeply imbedded our perceptions are. We must look at the lens through which we see the world, as well as at the world we see, and that the lens itself shapes how we interpret the world.

ii. Paradigm

This is used to mean a model, theory, perception, assumption or frame of references. It is the way we “see” the world not in terms of our visual sense of sight, but in terms of perceiving, understanding and interpreting. Each of us has many maps in our heads which can be divided on two main categories: maps of the way things are, or realities and maps of the way things should be or values. We interpret everything we experience through these mental maps. We seldom question their accuracy; we are usually even unaware that we have them. We simply assume that the way we see things is the way they really are of the way they should be.

iii. The power of a paradigm shift

This is what is known as the “Aha” experience when someone finally sees things differently. The more bound a person is by the initial perception, the more powerful the
“Aha” experience is. A light bulb moment.

iv. Paradigms are inseparable from character.

Being is seeing in the human dimension. And what we see are highly interrelated to what we are. We cannot go very far to change our seeing without simultaneously changing our beings and vice versa. Paradigms are powerful because they create the lens through which we see the world. The power of a paradigm shift is the essential power of quantum change, whether that shift is an instantaneous or a slow and deliberate process.
Principles are like light houses. They are natural laws that cannot be broken like the principle of fairness out of which equity and justice is developed. Integrity and honesty and human dignity. Principles are not practices. While practices are situationally specific, principles are deep, fundamental truths that have universal application.

v. We need to be proactive instead of being reactive.

By being proactive we find solutions that better our current situation instead of complaining about situations that we can prevent or control. We are by nature proactive, if our lives are a function of conditioning and conditions, it is because we have, by conscious decision or by default chosen to empower those things to control us.
As human beings we have the ability to think about our very thought process, something known as “Self-awareness” and for this reason man has dominion over all things in the world. Self-awareness enables us to stand apart and examines even the way we “see” ourselves – our paradigm, the most fundamental paradigm of effectiveness. It affects not only our attitudes and behaviors but also how we see other people and it becomes our map of the basic nature of mankind.

vi. Imagination

In addition to self-awareness we have imagination which is the ability to create in our minds beyond our present reality. We have a conscience: a deep inner awareness of right and wrong of the principles that govern our behaviors and a sense of the degree to which our thoughts and actions are in harmony with them. Its not what happens to us, but our response to what happens to us that hurts us. Nothing can hurt us without our consent. We have the ability to control what hurts us and not be prisoners.

vii. “Begin with the end in Mind.”

This is a very crucial principle in life because we need to be able to plan and organize our lives with the end result at the back of our heads. For example you cannot want to have self-disciplined kids when you don’t interact with them on a daily basis. I know of a family where the father treated his children like soldiers in an army base. He only touched them when they were sick to confirm how high their temperatures were. Now in his old age he wants his children to be more compassionate towards him and look after him. He forgets that he never invested in these relationships while his children were growing. By being proactive, we are accepting that we are the programmer and we should be responsible enough to write our own programs. Independence is an achievement. Interdependence is a choice only independent people can make. Unless we are willing to achieve real independence, it is foolish to try to develop human relations skills.

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?

These ideas are very helpful because they remind us that we have the power to control the things that happen us rather than just be reactive people. By being proactive we are able to achieve our goals in life and much more.

4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.

“No one can make you feel inferior without your permission.”

“Into the hands of every individual is given a marvelous power for good or evil, the silent unconscious, unseen influence of his life. This is simply the constant radiation of what man really is, not what he pretends to be.”

“It is impossible for is to break the law. We can only break ourselves against the law.”
“ For every thousand hacking at the leaves of evil, there is one striking at the root.”

“ We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not and act, but a habit.”

“ Sow a thought, reap an action: sow an action, reap a habit, reap a character, reap a destiny.”

“No one can persuade another to change. Each of us guards a gate of change that can only be opened from the inside. We cannot open the gate of another, either by argument or by emotional appeal.”

“I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor.”

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”

“Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life. Therein he cannot be replaced, nor can his life be repeated. Thus, everyone’s task is as unique as his specific opportunity to implement it.”

“Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather must recognize that it is he who is asked.”

“ He that is good with a hammer tends to think everything is a nail.”

“Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.”

“The successful person has the habit of doing the things failures don’t like to do. They don’t like doing them wither necessarily. But their disliking is subordinated to the strength of their purpose.”

“Them all the same by treating them differently.”

Think win–win. For you to win another person too has to win not to lose.

5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?

Nothing I can think of.

6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?

Yes I am still doing the exercises in the book.

7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.

Nothing I can think of.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.

Goals
Assessment by Anita Kiddu Muhanguzi (Uganda)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

In this book, the author is making us understand our purpose on earth. We are created in God’s image, created for greatness and for us to reach our peak in life we have to know what we want. We are all capable of living the lives of our dreams and to get that life we should be to list our goals, set deadlines and constantly write down our goals so that they are impressed on our subconscious mind. The author in this book teaches us that we are capable of anything and we should never limit ourselves and should always have positive thoughts and always strive to achieve our goals.

2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why. List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life

i. To unlock and unleash your full potential, you should make a habit of daily goal setting and achieving for the rest of your life.

This is very crucial if we want to be successful in life. Many of us live day by day without planning for the next day and before you know it you have lost a lot of time and lose hope in the process. I believe in setting goals, though many times I forget to follow up on them but now I am more determined to ensure that I follow up on my goals on a daily basis and also set deadlines to achieve these goals.

ii. Achieving Excellence

We are all capable of achieving excellence in some way because it is said that “God don’t make junk” and since we are created in his image we are excellent in every way that he intended for us to be. So we have within us the ability to function at genius of exceptional level and perhaps different intelligences.

iii. When we set our goals, they have to be clear.

According to the author the only limits on what our super conscious mind can do for us are the limits that we place on our own minds and imagination.

iv. Time management is a skill and it is learnable.

This is very important for us to appreciate because once you lose time you can never regain it. For us to achieve our goals we need to be able to manage our time more productively. I am learning to use my time more productively and productively.
Quite interesting is that once the goals have been written down and deadlines, set then the goals need to be set according to priority.

v. Intelligence

It has been defined as a way of acting and this is anything that you do that is consistent with achieving the goals that you set for yourself. In other words each time that you do something that moves you closer towards something you really want you are then acting intelligently. An intelligent way of acting is doing things that are not moving you toward your goals or even worse moving you away from your goals.

vi. Everything in life and business is relationships.

Everything you accomplish or fail to accomplish will be bound with other people in some way. Your ability to form the right relationships with the right people at every stage of your life and career, will be the crucial determinant of your success and achievement, and will have an inordinate impact on how quickly you achieve your goals.

vii. The greatest need of the human being is for a sense of meaning and purpose in life.

We only truly feel happy when we are making progress towards something that is really important to us. Goals give us a sense of meaning, purpose and a sense of direction.
Our inborn potential is extraordinary and we have the ability to achieve almost any goal that we set for ourselves. Our greatest responsibility is to invest whatever time is required to become absolutely clear about exactly what it is that we want and how we can best achieve it. The greater clarity we have regarding our true goals, the more of our potential we will unleash for good in our life.

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?

The lessons in this book are very practical and learnable. These lessons will help me achieve my goals in life. From the book I have learnt that we need to have our goals written down every day and also write ways in which we hope to achieve them, set deadlines. We write our goals everyday so that they are impressed on our super conscious mind and through this the right people and right opportunities will be brought closer to us. I have learnt how to achieve my goals of improving the lives of rural women farmers and thus contributing to a better world.

4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.

“Write Down your goals, make plans to achieve them and work on your plans every single day.”

“Success is goals, and all else is commentary.”

“A journey of a thousand leagues begins with a single step.”

“The potential of the average person is like a huge ocean unsailed, a new continent unexplored, a world of possibilities waiting to be released and channeled toward some great good.”

“Whatever you can hold in your mind on a continuing basis, you can have.”

“The subjective mind is entirely under the control of the objective mind. With the utmost fidelity, it works to its final consequence whatever the subjective mind impresses upon it.”

“ Time slips through our hands like grains of sand, never to return again. Those who use time wisely are rewarded with rich, productive and satisfying lives.”

“A great life, like a great ship, should never be held by a single hope, or a single rope.”

“Your outlook upon life, your estimate of yourself, your estimate of your value are largely colored by your environment. Your whole career will be modified, shaped molded by your surroundings, by the character of the people with whom you come in contact every day.”

“ Happiness is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal, or goal.”

5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?

None.

6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?

Yes am still doing the exercises in the book

7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.

Nothing else.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10 ten is good and one is poor.

Maximum Achievement
Assessment by Anita Kiddu Muhanguzi (Uganda)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The author teaches us that to be successful and reach our goals in life, we need to believe in ourselves and set out our goals which we must review on a daily basis so that they are imprinted in our subconscious minds. He also teaches us the various laws that we can use and practice to achieve our goals like the law of compensation, substitution and attraction. He emphasizes that we are all capable of achieving our goals in life if we believe in ourselves and do not limit our imaginations. However he also states that we need to state realistic goals that we are able to achieve and also learn to forgive and let go of the negative energy that is holding us back from achieving our dreams.

i. To be truly happy, you need a clear sense of direction.

You need a commitment to something bigger and more important than yourself. You need to feel that your life stands for something that you are somehow making a valuable contribution to your world. This should be a life motto for everyone because if we don’t have a clear sense of direction then we heading for disaster.

ii. To perform at your best, you need to know who you are and why you think and feel the way you do.

You need to understand the forces and influences that have shaped your character from earliest childhood. You need to know why you react and respond the way you do to the people and situations around you. It is only when you understand and accept yourself that you can begin moving forward in the on the other areas of your life. It took me a while to learn and appreciate this principle and I feel I have rediscovered myself and am all set now in the right direction and my children are blessed because I will able to help them access themselves early enough.

iii. Your subconscious mind is your central processing unit.

Your main job in achieving any goal is to reprogram this unit so that you think, feel and believe becomes the mental equivalent of exactly what you want to experience and enjoy. I never knew that this was possible so I am now reprogramming my subconscious mind to achieve my goals.

iv. The law of cause and effect says that for every effect in your life there is a specific cause and this has been called the “Iron Law of the Universe.”

It says that everything happens for a reason whether or not you know what it is. There are no accidents. We live in an orderly universe governed strictly by law and this understanding is central to every other law or principle. I have always known that everything happens for a reason and we should always learn from the negative and positive effects of what happens to us.

v. The Law of Belief says that whatever you believe, with feeling becomes your reality.

The more intensely that you believe something to be true the more likely it is that it will be true for you, If you really believe something, you cannot imagine it to be otherwise. Your belief gives you a form of tunnel vision. They edit out or cause you to ignore incoming information that is inconsistent with what you have decided to believe.

vi. Destructive Criticism is one of the most harmful of all human behavior.

It lowers self- esteem, creates poor self-image and undermines the individuals’ performance in everything he or she attempts. It shakes the individual’s self-confidence so that he or she feels inferior, tenses up and makes mistakes whenever he or she attempts anything for which he or she has been criticized in the past. This is something that I have to unlearn however much I try to give positive criticism I always find myself slipping back into the same behavior and I am so to learn that this can be unlearnt.

vii. The Law of Compensation

The law states that other people will help you achieve your goals only if they feel that they will be compensated for their efforts in some way. No one works for nothing, everyone has his or her own personal motivation. This should be your starting point in gaining the cooperation of others. I just learnt in this book that this is actually a law. It is quite interesting because it is very true we need each other to achieve our goals and it does not hurt to help someone achieve their goals in life.

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?

The lessons in this book are all important because they teach us to be better people in life. We learn not to criticize people in a destructive way, that we can achieve and master our goals if we review them on a daily basis. Once we do this we put the commands in our subconscious minds and attract the things that we want towards us. Once we have achieved our goals we become we can contribute to the way people around think and respond to the issues that affect them and also help achieve their goals.

4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.

“Make no useless acquaintances.”
“Whatever you can hold in your mind on a continuing basis, you can have.”

“A man becomes what he thinks about most of the time.”

“Nature understands no jesting she is always true, always serious, always severe; she is always right, and the errors and faults are always those of man. The man incapable of appreciating her, she despises and only to the apt, the pure, and the true, does she resign herself and reveal her secrets.”

“Make a man who can in no way be true to his own ends.”

“Do what you can, with what you have, right where you are.”

“Thoughts are causes and conditions are effects.”

“Circumstances do not make the man; they merely reveal him to himself.”

“If you believe that you can do a thing, or if you believe you cannot, in either case you are right.”

“Whenever God wants to send you a gift, he wraps it in a problem. The bigger the problem, the bigger the gift.”

“Any thought, plan, goal or ideas held continuously in your conscious mind must be brought into reality by your super conscious mind, whether positive or negative.”

“Nothing succeeds like Success. You must develop the success habit by doing something every single day to move you toward your goals, review them every morning and think about them every day always be looking for something you can do to contribute to their achievement.”

“Failure is a prerequisite for success. The greatest successes in human history have also been the greatest failures. “

“Success is a numbers game. There is a direct relationship between the number of things you attempt and your probability of ultimately succeeding.”

5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?

Nothing I can think of.

6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?

Yes I am still doing the exercises in the book

7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.

Nothing else.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10 ten is good and one is poor.

Nonverbal Communication
Assessment by Anita Kiddu Muhanguzi (Uganda)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The author teaches us that even though we know how to speak we don’t know how to communicate. He further educates us on the different ways we can relate with our family, children, friends and workmates. Through his book we appreciate that we are all different and what we say impacts on how others hear it and so we should be able to communicate with more empathy.

i. Giving from the heart

We should always remember that nonviolent communication is founded on language and communication skills that strengthen our ability to remain human, even under trying conditions. In other words we perceive relationships in a new light when we use nonviolent communication to hear our own deeper needs and those of others. Let’s shine the light of consciousness on places where we can hope to find what we are seeking. In other words the quality of compassion the author is referring to needs to come from the heart.

ii. When we combine observations and evaluations people are bound to hear criticism.

Nonviolent communication requires us to separate between our observation and evaluation and it discourages static generalizations. This is a very important aspect in our lives and something that we tend to overlook because we combine both observation and evaluation and end up breaking strong relationships.

iii. What others do may be the stimulus of our feelings, but not the cause.

NVC heightens our awareness that what others say and do may be the stimulus but never the cause of our feelings .Our feelings result from how we choose to receive what others say and do as well as our particular needs and expectations in that moment. In other words we are led to accept responsibility for what we do to generate our own feelings. This is quite powerful, many of us are used to blaming others on how we feel and yet we are responsible for the way we react towards others.

iv. Judgment of others are alienated expressions of our own unmet needs.

We always tend to express our needs through the use of evaluations, interpretations and images forcing others to invest their energy in self-defense or counter attack. So we should always learn to express our needs however difficult it might be. If we don’t value our needs, others may not either. It is so hard to express our needs and this has been my challenge over the years because as the first born I was taught to always look out for others and so my needs always came last and many times I forgot about them. This had taught me that there is power in valuing our own needs.

v. From emotional slavery to emotional liberation.

This is something that I for one have never thought about. I always thought that we are responsible for other people’s feelings and ignoring mine. I have learnt that we need to accept emotional liberation where we take full responsibility for our own feelings and not the feelings of others while being aware that we can never meet our own needs at the expense of others.

vi. Requests versus Demands.

NVC has totally cleared my doubts on this one. According to NVC requests are received as demands when others believe they will be blamed or punished if they don’t comply. Many times we are forced to look at requests as demands because of the way the messages are portrayed. It is very important for us to make others trust that we are requesting and not demanding by indicating our desire for them to comply only if they can do so willingly.

vii. Empathy

I never really understood empathy until NVC. Many times we assume that we are helping the situation by trying to console someone or uplifting their spirits by trying to say something positive and yet in most cases all they need is someone to be present in the being. We need empathy to give empathy. This is new to me and quite interesting. Apparently I need to listen to the voice within me to understand what is happening on the outside. We always run to help others forgetting to first re-energize ourselves and be present for others. It is very important for us to always scream out nonviolently and express our pain so that we are able to heal and help others heal when we reach out to them. We need empathy to give out empathy. When we sense ourselves being defensive or unable to empathize, we need to stop, breathe, give ourselves empathy, scream nonviolently or take time out. Empathy heals. This is when someone really hears you without passing judgment on you, without trying to take responsibility for you and without trying to mold you. Many times all we need is for someone to listen to us without doing anything.

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?

For a very long time I had failed to express my needs and always made the needs of those around me a priority. So the ideas and lessons in this book have helped understand to value my needs because if I don’t know no one else will. I have also learnt that I need to separate observation from evaluation because when we mix the two people hear criticism. And most importantly I have learnt that we are responsible for the way we generate our feelings and should not blame other people for the way we feel. It is important for us to scream nonviolently and express our needs so that we are heard, this helps us heal and once we have healed we are able to help others heal as well.

4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. For as you judge others, so you will yourselves be judged.”

“Observe. There are few things as important, as religious, as that.”

“Observing without evaluation is the highest form of human intelligence.”

“People are disturbed not by things but by the view they take of them.”

“Depression is the reward for being good.”

“Requests unaccompanied by the speaker’s feelings and needs may sound like a demand.”

“The hearing that is only in the ears is one thing. The hearing of the understanding is another. But the hearing of the spirit is not limited to any one faculty, to the ear, or to the mind. Hence it demands the emptiness of all the faculties. And when the faculties are empty, then the whole being listens. There is then a direct grasp of what is rights there before you that can never be heard with the ear or understood with the mind.”

“In spite of similarities, every living situation has like a newborn child, a new face that has never been before and will never come again. It demands of you a reaction that cannot be prepared beforehand. It demands nothing of what is past. It demands presence, responsibility: it demands you.”

“Intellectual understanding blocks empathy.”

“Don’t just do something, Stand there.”

“Listen to what people are needing rather than what they are thinking about us.”

“Behind intimidating messages are simply people appealing to us to meet their needs.”

“A Difficult message becomes an opportunity to enrich someone’s life.”

“The more faithfully you listen to the voice within you, the better you will hear what is happening outside.”

5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?

None.

6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?

Yes I am still doing the exercises in the book.

7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.

Nothing else to comment on.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10 ten is good and one is poor.

Goal Setting 101
Assessment by Anita Kiddu Muhanguzi (Uganda)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The author in this book emphasizes that we need to set our goals clearly and have actions to follow through our goals. He encourages us to be consistent with a goals and have clearly led out goals that we revise on a daily basis and analyze them to see how far we have moved.

i. Achievements and accomplishments do not happen accidentally.

They are the result of clearly defined goals acted upon until completion. Goals determine what you will or will not become or accomplish. This shows us that nothing in life happens by accident and we ought to celebrate our achievements and accomplishments as a sign to show how grateful we are to the Universe.

ii. Establishing a goal.

Primary interest in establishing a goal is to move yourself from where you are to where you want to be and to accomplish more than you thought possible. When we set our goals we are clearly giving a direction to our lives so we must always make sure we go through our goals every day to see how far we have gone.

iii. The three key elements of a goal.

The three key elements of a goal are an accomplishment to be achieved, a measurable outcome and a specific date and time to accomplish the goal.

iv. Vision translated

For your vision to be translated to action, it must be shared with the people who will be impacted by it. People cannot help you achieve your vision unless they know and understand why your vision is important.

v. It is our birth right to choose.

Every moment offers us a choice to exercise this power by setting and holding a direction or to veer off course. Success is the intentional, pre-meditated use of choice and decision. Unless you choose with certainty- what is it you want, you accept scraps by default.

vi. Capabilities

We are all born with great capabilities, but we will not achieve our potential until we call upon ourselves to fulfill it.

vii. Truth

The truth will prevail, one way or another and usually sooner rather than later. It is better to face facts at the planning phase, and to convince others to do the same, this is not for the sake of building character or maintaining mortality. It is a matter of survival, whether or not you face it, truth will create consequences.

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?

These ideas and lessons teach us to be more organized in our personal and work life by having well thought out goals and having planned out actions to ensure that our goals become a reality. When we are more organized with goals in hand and actions to achieve we are able to contribute tremendously towards our world.

4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.

“A goal is an end toward which you direct specific effort.”

“You must walk the talk.”

“A mission statement is a declaration of who you are, why you exist, and what you intend to accomplish.”

“Success if the intentional, Premeditated use of choice and decision.”

“No decision is difficult to make if you get all the facts.”

“Everything counts.”

“You shape your philosophies and yourself by observing and striving to understand the events of each moment. A focus on virtues to attain and vices to forego is crucial.”

“One does not plan and then try to make circumstances fit those plans. One tries to make plans fit the circumstances. The difference between success and failure depends on the ability, or lack of it, to do just that.”

“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can keep your goals in your head. For goal setting to have any value, goals must be written down. Only by writing each step can you see where you are going. Similarly, writing down your goals also enable you to look back to determine if you have done what you planned to do.”

5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?

Nothing I can think of!

6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?

Yes am still doing the exercises in the book

7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.

Nothing else I can think of!

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.

Crucial Conversations
Assessment by Anita Kiddu Muhanguzi (Uganda)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

In this book the authors emphasis the need to have crucial conversations to improve different relationships. Many times as human beings we try to avoid very crucial conversations simply because we don’t want to get hurt or because we don’t want to be embarrassed. However the authors endeavor to state the various methods and steps we can take to have these crucial conversations whether with family or employees. And one of the most important principles in this book to make sure that we create a safe environment to have these crucial conversations. If you notice that the environment is no longer safe then the conversation should stop until safety has been restored.

i. Turn the helpless into the able.

What should you be doing instead? Openly, honestly and effectively discussing the problem – not taking potshots and then justifying yourself. When you refuse to make yourself helpless, you are forced to hold yourself accountable for using your dialogue skills rather than bemoaning your weakness.

ii. Maintain safety.

For us to speak the unspeakable and maintain respect we should have the confidence, humility and skill. People who are skilled at dialogue have the confidence to say what needs to be said to the person who needs to hear it. Skilled people are confident that they have something to say but also realize that others have valuable input. They are humble enough to realize that they don’t have a monopoly on the truth. People who are willing to share delicate information are good at doing it and that is why they are confident in the first place. They don’t make a sucker’s choice because they have found a path that allows for both candor and safety. They speak the unspeakable and people are grateful for their honesty.

Look for safety problems. As you share your story watch for signs that safety is deteriorating. If people start becoming defensive or appear to be insulted, step out of the conversation and rebuild safety by contrasting. The goal of contrasting is not to water down your message, but to be sure that people don’t hear more than you intend. Be confident enough to share what you really want to express. Be careful not to apologize for your views.

iii. Ask for others’ path.

If your goal is to learn rather than to be right, to make the best decision rather than to get your way, then you will be willing to hear other views. By being open to learning we are demonstrating humility at its best. To find out others’ view on the matter, encourage them to express their facts, stories and feelings. Then carefully listen to what they have to say. Equally important be willing to abandon or reshape your story as more information pours into the pool of shared meaning.

iv. Be Curious

When you do want to hear from others, the best way to get at the truth is by making it safe for the, to express the stories that are moving them to either silence or violence. This means that at the very moment when most people become furious, we need to become curious. Rather than respond in kind, we need to wonder what’s behind the ruckus.

Stay Curious. When people begin to share their volatile stories and feelings, we now face the risk of pulling out our own victim, villain, and helpless stories to help us explain why they are saying what they are saying. Unfortunately, since its rarely fun to hear other people’s unflattering stories, we begin to assign negative motives to them for telling the stories.

v. Be patient.

When others are acting out their feelings and opinions through silence or violence it is a good bet they are starting to feel the effects of adrenaline. Even if we do our best to safely and effectively respond to the other person’s possible onslaught, we still have to face up to the fact that its going to take a little while for him or her to settle down. SO be patient when exploring how others think and feel. Encourage them to share their path and then wait their emotions to catch up with the safety that you have created.

When we help others retrace their path to its origins, not only do we help curb our reaction, but we also return to the place where the feelings can be resolves – at the source or the facts and the story behind the emotion. To encourage other to share their paths we use four power listening tools that can help make it safe for other people to speak frankly. That is Ask, Mirror, Paraphrase and Prime. Ask to get things rolling. When we show genuine interest, people feel less compelled to use silence or violence. Mirror to confirm feelings. With this method we hold a mirror up to the other person describing how they look or act.

vi. Paraphrase to acknowledge the story.

Put the message that has been brought forward in your own words. The key to paraphrasing and mirroring is to remain calm and collected. The goal is to make it safe, not to act horrified and suggest that the conversation is about to turn ugly. Stay focused in figuring out how a reasonable, rational, and decent person could have created this path to action. This will help you keep from becoming angry or defensive. Simply rephrase what the person has said and do it in a way that suggests that it’s okay, you are trying to understand and it’s safe for him or her to talk candidly.

vii. Prime when you are getting nowhere.

There are time when you conclude that others would like to open up but still don’t feel safe or maybe they are still in violence haven’t come down from the adrenaline. Priming is an act of good faith, taking risks, becoming vulnerable and building safety in hopes that others will share their meaning. Always agree when you agree. Build when others leave out key pieces. Compare when you differ. Never turn differences into debates that lead to unhealthy relationships and bad results.

Decide how to decide. Don’t allow people to assume that dialogue is decision making. Dialogue is a process for getting all relevant meaning into a shared pool. To avoid violated expectations separate dialogue from decision making. Make it clear how decisions will be made, who will be involved and why.

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?

The lessons in this book are very crucial for our daily lives and we should have this book as a manual. The ideas or lessons in this book have given me a new perspective on how to handle crucial situations both at home with family and at work with workmates. Many times I have told myself stories to portray the other person as a villain which is wrong. These lessons and ideas have showed me that you always need to be as transparent as possible to have a conflict free environment at home and at work.

4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.

“Nothing in this world is good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”

“Even if you don’t realize it, you are telling yourself stories.”

“It’s not how you play the game, it’s how the game plays you.”

“They had lived together for so many years that they mistook their arguments for conversation.”

“I have known a thousand scamps; but I never met one who considered himself so. Self-knowledge isn’t so common.”

“More than any time in history mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness the other to total extinction. Let us pray that we have the wisdom to choose correctly.”

“The pool of shared meaning is the birth place of synergy.”

“Give me a lever long enough and I shall move the world.”

“Clever stories keep us from acknowledging our own sell outs.”

“The more you care about an issue, the less likely you are to be on your best behavior.”

“One of the best ways to persuade others is with your ears- by listening to them.”

“When you ask people to open up, be prepared to listen.”

“Every sentence has a history.”

“To do nothing is in every man’s power.”

5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?

Not Applicable

6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?

Yes it did and I am still working on them. The exercises are helping understand in depth on how to handle crucial conversations.

7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.

Not Applicable

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.

A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

The Monk who Sold his Ferrari
Assessment by Anita Kiddu Muhanguzi (Uganda)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The author has brought out a very strong idea that we should always live in the moment as if it were our last. He emphasizes that we should always be grateful for what we have and stop complaining about what we don’t have. He further states that it is very possible for us to control what enters our minds and what doesn’t. In summary the ideas in his book all point towards how to live a stress free and happy life.

i. To live to the fullest, you must stand guard at the gate of your garden and let only the very best information enter.

You truly cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought-not even one. The most joyful, dynamic and contented people of this world are no different from you or me in terms of their makeup. We are all flesh and bones. We come from the same universal source. However the ones who do more than just exist, the ones who fan the flames of their human potential and truly savor the magical dance of life do different things than those whose lives are ordinary. Foremost amongst the things that they do is adopt a positive paradigm about the world and all that is in it.

ii. Thoughts

That on an average day the average person runs about sixty thousand thoughts through his mind. Ninety five percent of those thoughts are the same as the ones you thought the day before.

iii. The tyranny of impoverished thinking.

Those people who think the same thoughts every day, most of them negative, have fallen into bad mental habits. Rather than focusing on all the good in their lives and thinking of ways to make things even better, they are captives of their pasts.

iv. An event that appears to be a tragedy to one might reveal the seeds of unlimited opportunity to another.

What really separates people who are habitually upbeat and optimistic from those who are consistently miserable is how the circumstances of life are interpreted and processed.

v. All success in life, whether material or spiritual, starts with that twelve pound mass sitting between your shoulders.

Or more specifically, with the thoughts that you out into your mind every second of every minute of every day. Your outer world reflects the state of your inner world. By controlling the thoughts that you think and the way you respond to the events of your life, you begin to control your destiny.

vi. There are no mistakes in life, only lessons.

There is no such thing as a negative experience, only opportunities to grown, learn and advance long the road of self-mastery. From struggle comes strength. Every pain can be a wonderful teacher.

vii. Stop judging events as either positive or negative. Rather simply experience them.

Celebrate them and learn from them. Every event offers you lessons. These little lessons fuel your inner and outer growth. Without them, you would be stuck on a plateau. Just think about it in your own life. Most people have grown the most from their most challenging experiences. And if your meet with an outcome you didn’t expect and feel little disappointed, remember that the laws of nature always ensure that when one door closes another opens.

The ideas in this book apply to us as human beings and they are a secret to a happy and stress free life. These ideas show us the different way we can control what happens to us and even if we have no control, we should take those mistakes as lessons and not be stressed over them.

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?

The lessons and ideas in this book are very crucial for my everyday life because I have learnt that you have to write your goals in life and your objectives and always make sure that you are on track with what you set out to do. More so the fact that we are always stressing over our mistakes, we should take those as lessons and let life take its course because many times we cannot control everything. We can only let the laws of nature give us what belongs to us. These lessons have changed the way I think and how I look at life and relationships with family and friends. I cannot stand being around negative people and I should learn to always be kind and respectful of others but most of all I should laugh as many times in a day.

4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.

“Sure I am that this day we are masters of our fate that the task which has been set before us is not above our strength: that its pangs and toils are not beyond my endurance. As long as we have faith in our own cause and an unconquerable will to win, victory will be denied us.”

“Real generosity toward the future consists in giving all to what is present.”

“Every event has a purpose and every setback its lesson. I have realized that failure whether of the personal, professional or even spiritual kind, is essential to personal expansion. It brings inner growth and a whole host of psychic rewards. Never regret your past. Rather embrace it as the teacher that it is.”

“Great dreamers’ dreams are never fulfilled, they are always transcended.”

“When the student is ready, the teacher appears.”

“I am an artist at living my work of art is my life.”
“Investing in yourself is the best investment you will ever make. It will not only improve your life, it will improve the lives of those around you.”

“It is only when you have mastered the art of loving yourself that you can truly love others. It is only when you have opened your own heart that you touch the hearts of others. When your feel centered and alive, you are in a much better position to be a better person.”

“Your vision will become clear only when you can back into your heart. Who looks outside. Dreams’ who looks inside awakens.”

“Worry drains the mind of much of its power and, sooner or later, it injures the soul.”

“Most people live whether physically, intellectually or morally – in a very restricted circle of their potential being. We all have reservoirs of life to draw upon of which we don’t dream.”

“First of all, begin to live out of the glory of your imagination. Not your memory.”

“When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all of your thoughts break their bonds’ your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive and you discover yourself to be a greater person than you ever dreamed yourself to be.

“The price of greatness is, responsibility over each of your thoughts.”

These statements are very powerful because show you how much power and control you have over your mind and what happens to you.

5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?

Not Applicable

6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?

Not Applicable.

7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.

Not Applicable

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good
and one is poor.

A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

This Child will be Great: Memoir of a Remarkable Life by Africa’s First Woman President by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Assessment by Anita Kiddu Muhanguzi (Uganda)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

Her Excellency in this book teaches us the determination to achieve your dreams against all odds. This is an inspirational story of a young lady who married at an early age, didn’t go through school like her colleagues but eventually worked hard and made to it to the highest office in her country. This book shows us that if you consistently follow your hearts desires and are never derailed then you can actually achieve your dreams. Her family and most especially her mother were a great support to her success in life and this contributed to the strength she needed many times when she was in danger. She kept her faith and the love of her mother and her kids close to her heart and this is what kept going further in life. This is a story of courage and determination.

i. My feet in two worlds

The world of poor rural women with no respite from hardship and the world of accomplished Liberian professionals, for whom the United States is a second and beloved home. I draw strength from both. In the end I have been, throughout my life, first and foremost, ahead of everything, a Liberian. Everything else came afterward.

ii. Domestic violence knows no geographical boundaries.

It exists in every nation, every society, every corner of the world and neither Africa in general m nor Liberia in particular, is immune to this particular disease.

iii. A government is not legitimate merely because it exists.

It must belong to the people, respond to the people, acquiesce to the wishes of the people. Any government which refuse to be and to do these things must be removed by the people.

iv. “Sometimes I think about how frightening the events of my life must have been to my mother.

But she never broke down, never crumbled, never told me to stop doing what I had to do. She was a very strong woman and she believed with all her heart in the power of prayer. She prayed for me unceasingly. I believe I got my strength from her.

v. Public opinion matters, if it is pointed, focused, and intense, it can turn things around.

The public can make a difference if it is willing to take a position and stand up for a cause in which it believes.”

vi. Criticism

The inability to tolerate criticism is a troublesome trait in any human being, but in a leader it is especially so. If you are a leader you are going to get hit. You are going to get hit verbally sometimes with some very harsh words; you must be prepared to take criticism, to stand still and let it just pass over you without resorting to retribution or revenge. Being able to “take it” is part of the price of leadership. Particularly in a country that is still not fully institutionalized, a country that, having only recently emerged from militarism and conflict, is still proceeding toward a democratic path. But the truth is that if you want to lead and be hailed, you must be prepared to be ostracized, because surely it will happen at some point in your career. If you want to lead, you have to accept that there will be conscious attempts to push you into oblivion. You have to be prepared to be very lonely sometimes.

vii. Leadership is crucial, of course.

Kagame was a strong leader- decisive, focused, disciplined and honest- and he remains so today. I believe that sometimes people’s characters are molded by their environment. Angola, like Liberia, like Sierra Leone, is resource- rich, a natural blessing that sometimes has the sad effect of diminishing the human drive for self – sufficiency, the ability and determination to maximize that which one has. Kagame had nothing. He grew up in a refugees camp, equipped with only his own strength of will and determination to create a better life for himself an his countrymen.

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?

From these lessons i appreciate that we are first country men and women before we start being tribal. This will keep us always united. From the author she emphasizes that as a leader you need to be ready to be very lonely at times and that it is okay because it is the sacrifice that we choose as leaders. Above all i have appreciated the fact that in everything that we decide to do in life we need to acknowledge the existence of God and always ask him for guidance and wisdom.

4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.

“The love for Liberty brought us here.”

“So in the end it is the small decisions in life that end up shaping our future the most.”

“When push comes to shove and at the end of the day, depend on yourself. No one else is guaranteed to be there- no one.”

“Involving other parties in a troubled marriage just makes things worse for all involved.”

“Divorce is difficult even when it is necessary.”

“What begins with the failure to uphold the dignity of one life, all too often ends with a calamity for entire nations.”

“I wasn’t defiant on my statement, but I wasn’t apologetic either.”

“Be still and know that I am God.”

These statements are very powerful because show you how much power and control you have over your mind and what happens to you.

5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?

Not Applicable.

6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?

Not Applicable.

7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.

Not Applicable.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.

A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

The Leader who had No Title
Assessment by Anita Kiddu Muhanguzi (Uganda)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The main idea brought in this book is how to become a better leader by replenishing your inner leader so that you can lead without a title and without holding back. In this book the author emphasizes the fact that we need to put our egos aside and respect everyone in the organizations and companies that we work in. By understanding your goals and how to achieve them, respecting others and working towards a common goal we are promoting our businesses and helping those we work with grow.

i. “Getting lost along your path is a part of finding the path you’re meant to be on. Sometimes we need to get off track before we can develop the clarity to be on track.”

I have appreciated that the things that have happened to me are lessons that will determine where I am heading in life.

ii. “Growing and developing the leadership talent of every single person throughout the organization faster than their competition. The only way to avoid getting eaten alive is for companies to strengthen the capacities of employees at every level to lead in everything they do.”

I believe we were all born to be great and that does not determine where you are at the moment. As a child I always enjoyed the stories of the maids and they became my friends and I learnt a lot from the different house helps so everyone in life is important and we all have to share and learn from one another.

iii. “It’s no longer an excuse to say you don’t have a high rank so you don’t need to take ownership for the results of the organization. To succeed, everyone now must see themselves as part of the leadership team. You just don’t need formal authority to lead anymore only a desire to be involved and the commitment to making a positive difference.”

This is so important because in order for us to succeed we need to work as a team and that means everyone in the hierarchy is very important to the success of the company or organization.

iv. “The only way any organization and any human being, for that matter will win in these times of revolutionary change will be to start operating under a revolutionary new model of leadership. And this model is all about creating an environment and cultures where everyone needs to show leadership. Everyone needs to drive innovation.”

We need to give everyone in the hierarchy of the organization a chance to be innovative and contributed towards the success of the company. As a leader we should be able to inspire our team members and allow them to contribute towards the success of the company.

v. “That for any organization to thrive amid all the turbulence in the business world today, each one of us needs to assume personal responsibility be becoming CEO of our roles and leaders within our current positions. We all need to lead where we are planted and shine where we now find ourselves.”

If we treat those we work with, with the uttermost respect and create a platform where they are free to express their views then they will work to ensure that the business is a success and they contributed towards that success.

vi. “Leadership has nothing to do with what you get or where you sit. Leadership is a lot more about how brilliantly you work and how masterfully you behave. It’s about doing great work- right where you now stand. And about lifting up every single one of the people you work with and get to serve…you don’t have to have a title to be a leader.”

I have a friend who is always advising me to work smart. This has taught me that leadership is about how you behave at work with your clients and teammates. Your teammates are family because you spend more hours with them than your actual family.

vii. “You don’t have to have a title to be a leader. You just need to be a living human being…because every single one of us alive in the world today has unrecognized powers and disowned potential that are far superior to the power conferred by a title.”

We should always remember that we are first human beings before the titles we find in our work places. We should always remember that the same blood that runs in our veins in the same in the janitor’s veins and so the titles should not set us a class apart.

vii. “You can’t be creative and innovative and all that juicy stuff if you’re too scared to think, feel and be different. There’s only one you in the whole world now and forever more. And no one else can ever be as good as you.”

We have to always remember that we were born genius and so we have to always think outside the box and aim to always be a class apart and different.

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?

The lessons and ideas in this book will help me in my daily personal life because I will live by them first by always replenishing my inner leader and being the best leader that I can be. Ensuring that I have goals set out, exercising, listening to music and never forgetting about the relationships I have with family and friends. Not forgetting to always appreciate my team mates so that we work towards the success of the company. By impacting those that I work with and live with and teaching them the lessons in this book, they will become better leaders and their lives will forever be impacted.

4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.

“Nobody succeeds beyond his or her wildest expectations unless he or she begins with some wild expectations.”

“Each of us is born into genius.”

“The days come and go like muffled and veiled figures sent from a distant friendly party but they say nothing. And if we do not use the gifts they bring, they carry them silently away.”

“Life’s had to break you down so you could be rebuilt better.”

“Age is just a state of mind anyway- a label the tribe uses to pigeonhole people and to place limits on all they can be. I chose not to govern my life according to labels.”

“If everyone would sweep their own doorstep, the whole world would be clean.”

“Only the mediocre die always at their best. Real leaders are always improving – and raising their bar on how superbly they can perform and how quickly they can move.”

“Leadership is for everyone. And in this period of dazzling change in business and society, it really is the most important discipline required to win.”

“But I’ve since come to learn that embracing uncertainty is a precious gift. Most of us get sacred the moment we face the unknown. We shouldn’t though. It’s really nothing more than the beginning of an adventure. And our growth coming to get us.”

“Leaders are those individuals who do the things that failures aren’t willing to do- even though they might not like doing them either.”

“Finding the center of strength within ourselves is in the long run the best contribution we can make to our fellow men.”

“Successful people all perform the same few leadership disciplines. They consistent practice the same fundamentals. But their seemingly small, insignificant daily acts of excellence stack up over time to a best –in-class career and a world- class personal life. Which brings us to failure? Failure on the other hand, is just as easy to slip into. Failure’s is nothing more than the inevitable outcome of a few small acts of daily neglect performed over time so that they take you past the point of no return.”

“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets as Michelangelo painted or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare poetry. He should seep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.”

“Lucky breaks are nothing more than unexpected rewards for intelligent choices we have chosen to make. Success doesn’t just happen because someone’s stars line up. Success, both in business and personally, is something that’s consciously created. It’s the guaranteed result of a deliberate series of acts that anyone can perform.”

“Choose innovation over stagnation and you will be just fine in this crazy busy business world we are now in. Choose calculated risk taking versus operating the same old way, and you will do great.”

These quotes teach us to use our in born gifts to be the best that we can be as leaders and impact those around us. I have learnt through these quotes that we are all born leaders and we should never let age limit our abilities to shine at everything that we do.

5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?

Not Applicable.

6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?

The exercises are very helpful and I am still doing them.

7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.

Not Applicable.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.

A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

Getting to Resolution: Turning Conflict into Collaboration
Assessment by Anita Kiddu Muhanguzi (Uganda)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The author in this book teaches us other means of conflict resolution without instituting legal proceedings. In many instances people resolve to go to court mainly because of their egos and are willing to destroy relationships and partnerships that they have built for centuries. In this book the author teaches us how to handle conflict and how best to ensure a resolution without wasting so much money and helping the parties reconcile and prosper in their businesses.

2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why. List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.

i. Developing the attitude of resolution.

This attitude is developed by listening, sharing concerns and knowing there is an agreement waiting to be discovered. The attitude of resolution is the opposite of thinking about winning or losing.

ii. You must listen with more than your ears.

You must listen with your eyes and your heart. Always remember that you have one mouth, and two ears.

iii. The way to resolve conflict and build relationships is through effective communication.

Plain talk about real concerns, not piecemeal sharing of information packaged for winning for to satisfy the requirements of a legal proceeding. When lawyers tell their clients to stop talking to the other side, they ensure there will be no resolution until the legal proceedings are over.

iv. Fighting is a waste if precious resources.

For example; energy, time, money, emotions, and property. They understand that after every war, the political settlement has to address the issues. Escalating conflict avoids addressing what really needs attention.

v. Resolutionaries know that there is an inherent conflict of interest in hourly billing- resolving the conflict as efficiently as possible versus the self-interest of the attorney, either to make a partner or to earn more.

vi. Resolutionaries use their creativity to get the job done. They often think outside the box.

vii. A resolutionary is not about being nice.

Resolutionaries must hold a safe space that allows others to be ok, no matter what is on their mind. They must have the patience to allow each side to say what needs to be said from whatever the source.

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?

Having a legal background, this book has given me insights on how conflicts can be resolved without actually resorting to court. Through this book I have learned that we can actually resolve conflicts when we put our egos aside and let the parties talk to each and tell their sides of the story and how the conflict has affected them. Many of us think that the best remedy is sought from court and yet this is not normally the case. With resolution there is no win or lose situation

4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.

“We look forward to the time when the Power of Love will replace the Love of Power. Then will our world know the blessings of peace.”

“Life is too short to be little.”

“By focusing on legal principles and legal issues, effective resolution becomes impossible; the areas that require you to be the most engaged and vulnerable are not addressed.”

“One cool judgment is worth a thousand hasty counsels.”

“Some people grow under responsibility, others merely swell.”

“Only he who can see the invisible can do the impossible.”

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

“If you want to succeed, strike out on new paths rather than travel the worn paths of accepted success.”

I chose the above statements because they have drawn me to understand what resolution is all about. These statements prove to us that there will always be conflict but how we choose to see the conflict is what makes us different and stronger people.

5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?

6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?

Not applicable.

7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.

Not Applicable.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.

A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr.
Assessment by Anita Kiddu Muhanguzi (Uganda)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

In this book the author takes us through the life of Martin Luther King Jr. The main idea in this book is how Martin Luther King Jr. preached about the power of “non- violence”. He was so passionate about racial justice and urged his followers and members of the community to achieve change without being violent. We learn that he was from a very humble background and was determined to end the discrimination against the blacks because he believed that the teachings of the bible needed to be upheld and practiced more since we are all the same. He empathized that the color of our skin should not divide and we should learn to respect and treat each other fairly.

i. “I should have been reminded that disappointment produces despair and despair produces bitterness, and that the one thing certain about bitterness is blindness. Bitterness has not the capacity to make the distinction between some and all. When some members of the dominant group particularly those in power, are racist in attitude and practice bitterness accuses the whole group.”

From my experiences in life, when you are in a place of disappointment you become angry with the World and this totally blinds you from living every day and the available opportunities that can help you grow. So I always think through the next times and avoid being a place that is going to break me.

ii. Freedom is never voluntarily granted by the oppressor.

It must be demanded by the oppressed. This is quite sad especially in African countries. Our beloved Pearl of Africa (Uganda) was not an exception in the recent campaigns and concluded presidential elections. It was clear as day that freedom is not voluntary and that there is no guarantee that it will be granted peacefully.

iii. Riots grow out of intolerable conditions.

Violent revolts are generated by revolting conditions and there is nothing dangerous than to build a society with a large segment of people who feel they have no stake in it, who feel they have nothing to lose. In November 2020 there was a wave of riots across the country and this confirmed that people feel hopeless and have nothing to lose so they are willing to do anything for change.

iv. When all is finally entered into the annals of sociology; when philosophers, politicians, and preachers have all had their say, we must return to the fact that a person participates in this society primarily as an economic entity. At rock bottom, we are neither poets, athletes, nor artists; our existence is centered in the fact that we are consumers, because we first must eat and have shelter to live.

Today politics is the only guaranteed money making venture and that is why many politicians forget the mandate of the people when elected and this confirms that they indeed an “economic entity”.

v. “Seldom do I pause to answer criticism of my work and ideas. If I sought to answer all the criticisms that cross my desk, my secretaries would have little time for anything other than such correspondence in the course of the day, and o would have no time for constructive work.”

We to learn what to respond and make sure that the negative critics don’t wear us down. I have learnt to always lift myself up and fight on even when no one believes in what I am trying to achieve.

vi. “I am convinced now, as I was then, that man is an end because he is a child of God. Man is not made for the state; the state is made for man. To deprive man of freedom is to relegate him to the status of a thing, rather than elevate him to the status of a person. Man must never be treated as a means to the end of the state, but always as an end within himself.”

This is a principle that should be taught to the masses so that they understand how much power God has given in spiritually, politically and economically.

vii. “Capitalism is always in danger of inspiring men to be more concerned about making a living than making a life. We are prone to judge success by index of our salaries or the size of our automobiles, rather than by the quality of our service and relationship to humanity. Thus capitalism can lead to a practical materialism that is as pernicious as the materialism taught by communism.”

It is quite absurd that we live in a capitalist economy and the bars for a successful are set so high. However we should learn to put “living” first because the pressures of life are only increasing. Live every day like tomorrow is not there.

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?

The lessons in this book have taught me to be kind to my neighbors and always have respect for one another. I have also learnt that we always have to make sure we live in a just world. A world where people are treated fairly regardless of their gender or race. When we appreciate the teachings in this book we are able to be kind and spread the love to those around us and this will have a multiplier effect in creating a much better world.

4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.

“I don’t care who you are, I don’t care where you live, there is a civil war going on in your life. And every time you set out to be good, there’s something pulling on you, telling you to be evil. It’s going on in your life. Every time you set out to love, something keeps pulling on you, trying to get you to hate. Everything you set out to be kind and say nice things about people, something is pulling on you to be jealous and envious and to spread evil gossip about them.”

“Power, properly understood, is the ability to achieve purpose. It is the strength required to bring about social, political, or economic changes.”

“We must use every constructive means to amass economic and political power. This is the kind of legitimate power we need. We must work to build racial pride and refute the notion that black is evil and ugly. But this must come through a program, not merely through a slogan.”

“God has the light that can shine through all the darkness. We have experiences when the light of day vanishes, leaving us in some dark and desolate midnight moments when our highest hopes are turned into shambles of despair or when we are victims of some tragic injustice and some terrible exploitation. During such moment our spirits are lost overcome by gloom and despair, and we feel that there is no light anywhere. But ever and again, we look toward the east and discover that there is another light which shines even in the darkness, and “the spear of frustration” is transformed “into a shaft of light.”

These quotes particularly caught my attention because they speak volumes, from the civil war that we always fights as individuals to understanding “Power” to never losing hope and always keeping the faith. When we read these quotes we appreciate the fact that no matter what situation you are in, God is always with you and we should always have faith that tough situations never last but tough people do.

5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?

Not Applicable.

6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?

The exercises are very helpful and I am still doing them.

7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.

Not Applicable.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.

5 Second Rule By Mel Robbins
Assessment by Anita Kiddu Muhanguzi (Uganda)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The author in this book shows us that life is not as complicated as we think. As we grow older we tend to over analysis situations and yet we are supposed to act immediately. The 5 second rule is very significant in our lives because it gives us the opportunity to be daring, courageous and action oriented. This rule teaches us to put our fears and egos aside and pursue our dreams without any limitations.

i. Pushing yourself to take simple actions created a chain reaction in your confidence and your productivity.

By pushing yourself to take the simple steps of moving your life forward, you create momentum and experience a sense of freedom and power that’s hard to accurately describe. I am a very optimistic person and I believe that to get anything done you have to act and so this idea resonates with me at all levels.

ii. Locus of control.

The more that you believe that you are in control of your life, your actions and your future, the happier and more successful you will be. There’s one thing that is guaranteed to increase your feelings of control over your life: a bias toward action. Being self employed has taught me to always have control of my life and I am to measure my tasks and hold myself accountable for the things that I did right or learn from the ones that went terribly wrong.

iii. Hesitation is the kiss of death.

You might hesitate for a just nanosecond, but that’s all it takes. That one small hesitation triggers a mental system that’s designed to stop you. And it happens in less than – you guessed it – five seconds. This has been my death in the past. I hesitated in-front of so many opportunities and now I just do or act whether it works out or not, I will have done my part to the best of my ability.

iv. Metacognition, is a fancy word for any technique that allows you to beat your brain in order to accomplish your greater goals. I can testify that this actually works.

Every time I have beat my brain to something I feel much more stronger and more accomplished, whether it works out or not.

v. Everyday life is full of moments that are scary, uncertain and difficult. Facing these moments and unlocking the opportunity, magic and joy in your life requires tremendous courage.

After the death of my father, life seemed so impossible and uncertain. Through the years I managed to unlock the courage that was hidden within me. It is that courage that has made me who I am today.

vi. Greatness is not a personality trait.

It’s inside all of us and it’s hard for us to see it. Over the years I have learnt that I am great and that God our creator wants each one of us to reach our ultimate potential so I am always reminding myself that I haven’t reached half my potential.

vii. Courage is a birthright. It is inside each and everyone of us.

You were born with it and you can tap into it anytime you want. It’s not a matter of confidence, education, status, personality or profession. It’s simply a matter of knowing how to find it when you need it. And when you need it, you will probably be alone. I had never thought of myself as the courageous one, and I had to learn to be courageous in everything I do so I be that person that I was created for.

viii. Create an anchor thought.

You can use the 5 second rule to snap out of fear and act immediately. By clinging onto the anchor thought you will be able to overcome fear by seeing the future as the present. My anchor thought is being given a standing ovation and this snaps and send fears out of me. Confidence just means that you believe in yourself, your ideas and your capabilities, so anyone can learn how to become more confident, it is a skill and not a personality trait. I have learnt to be comfortable with myself at all times and this has improved my confidence and attitude towards life.

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?

The lessons in this book are very crucial because they are constant reminder that I was created for greatness and God intended for me to reach my full potential. The main idea in this book is making sure you act rather than think about your next actions. I am constantly putting this rule in practice because time is not going to wait for me.

4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.

“If you are searching for that one person who will change your life look in the mirror.”

“Change come down to the courage you need every day to make five second decisions.”

“Courage is found in unlikely places.”

“It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be.”

“I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.”

“The time is always right to do what is right.”

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”

“Whether you think you can or you can’t, you are right.”

“Courage is the commitment to begin without any guarantee of success.”

“To begin, begin.”

“Think of the beauty still left around you and be happy.”

“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

“Courage, dear heart.” C.S. Lewis

“I cant believe how much I was missing by being afraid.”

“The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.”

“There’s a voice that doesn’t use words. Listen.”

“All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.”

“You’ve always had the power my dear, you just had to learn it for yourself.”

These quotes caught my attention because they are quotes that remind me on a daily that I am enough and I have all the power I need. They remind me constantly that I have the power to do anything or be anything I set my mind to and that dreams do come true, I just have to be able to move forward and achieve my dreams at whatever cost.

5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?

Not Applicable.

6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?

The exercises are very helpful and am still doing them.

7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.

Not Applicable.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.

The Power of Intention
Assessment by Anita Kiddu

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The author teaches us that we have the power of intention and we should use it more often to ensure that we enjoy the beauty in life. He also empasizes the fact we have a silent partner who we need to reach out to instead of stressing about life.

i. l yourself that you have a life mission and a silent partner who’s accessible at any moment you choose.

When ego defines you by what you have or do, or compares you to others, use your power of free will to terminate those thoughts. Say to yourself, “I’m here on purpose, I can accomplish anything I desire, and I do it by being in harmony with all pervading creative force in the universe.” This is something that I have embraced in my life today. With everything that has happened in the world I easily forget that there is a silent partner out there watching over me every day. I am now being more intentional about having positive thoughts for the sake of my mental health.

ii. Beautiful thoughts build a beautiful soul.

As you become receptive to seeing and feeling beauty around you, you are becoming attuned to the creative power of intention within everything in the natural world, including yourself. By choosing to see beauty in everything, even a person who was born into poverty and ignorance will be able to experience the power of intention. Seeking beauty in the worst of circumstances with individual intent connects one to the power of intention. It works. It has to work. The face of beauty is always present, even where others see non-beauty. I always choose to see beauty in everyone and every situation because life is beautiful and we won’t be on earth forever.

iii. Extend thoughts of kindness everywhere.

Practice kindness toward Earth by picking up a piece of litter that’s on your path, or saying a silent prayer of gratitude for the existence of rain, color of flowers, or even the paper you hold in your hand that was donated by a tree. The universe responds in kind to what you elect to radiate outward. My dad always taught us to be kind to everyone because you don’t know what the other person is going through.

iv. “When you walk across the fields with your mind pure and holy, then from all the stones, and all growing things, and all animals, the sparks of their soul come out and cling to you, and then they are purified and become a holy fire in you.”
I am being more intentional about my mind being pure and holy because i believe that is the only way we can live through life and enjoy every bit of its beauty.

v. When you react to the lower energies you encounter with your own low energies, you are actually setting up a situation that attracts more of that lower energy.

Don’t use weakening energies employed by those around you. Other people cant bring you down if you are operating at the higher energies and this is because higher and faster energies nullify and convert lower/ slower energies, not the reverse. If you feel that the lower energies of those around you are bringing you down, its because you are joining them at their energy levels. I always try to operate at higher energies because you easily be swallowed by the low energies around you. This is one thing I always encourage my friends to do.

vi. Become conscious of your thoughts.

Every thought you have impacts you. By shifting in the middle of a weakening thought to one that strengthens, you raise your energy vibration and strengthen yourself and the immediate energy field. I use the 5 second rule to get back to only positive thoughts, I can’t afford to be caught up in negative thoughts because they are so draining emotionally.

vii. Become conscious of the energy levels of your acquaintances, friends and extended family.

Choose to be in close proximity to people who are empowering, who appeal to your sense of connection to intention, who see greatness in you, who feel connected to God and who live a life that gives evidence that spirit has found celebration through them. Recall that higher energy nullifies and converts lower energy, so be conscious of being in the presence of, and interacting with, higher energy people who are connected to spirit and living the life that were intended to. One of my resolutions this year was to surround myself with people who have my interests at heart and people who will hold me accountable and people who add value in my life and to me as a person.

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?

The lessons in this book are a daily reminder that we have the power in our hands to make sure that we life a full filling life. I will use the lessons in this book as a daily reminder that I have to be more intentional in enjoying the beauty that life offers us.

4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.

“ Self realization means that we have been consciously connected with our source of being. Once we have made this connection, then nothing can go wrong.

“Beside the river stands the holy tree of life. There doth my father dwell, and my home is in him. The heavenly father and I are one.”

“In the universe there is an immeasurable, indescribable force which shamans call intent, and absolutely everything that exists in the entire cosmos is attached to intent by a connecting link.”

“Having lost hope of ever returning to the source of everything, the average man seeks solace in his selfishness.”

“All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye have received them, and ye shall receive them.”

“The ancestor to every action is a thought.”

“Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt.”

“Doubts arise because of an absence of surrender.”

“Self importance is man’s greatest enemy. What weakens him is feeling offended by the deeds and misdeeds of his fellow man. Self importance requires that one spend most of one’s life offended by something or someone.”

Ego is simply an idea of who you are that you carry around with you. As such, it cant be surgically removed by having an “egoectomy!” This idea of who you think you are will persistently erode any possibility you have of connecting to intention.

These quotes and statements caught my attention because they emphasize the fact that we all have the power of intention within us and we should use it to enjoy life instead of stressing ourselves with things that don’t add value.

5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?

Not Applicable

6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?

Not applicable.

7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.

Not Applicable.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.

Goal Mapping
Assessment by Anita Kiddu (Uganda)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The author teaches us how to set up our goals. He takes us through a detailed analysis from picturing our dreams to drawing them on paper and coming up with short, medium and long term goals to achieving them.

i. A dream is an inspiring picture of the future that energizes your mind, will and emotions, empowering you to do everything you can to achieve it.

This is a very interesting way of describing our dreams and it has made me appreciate my dreams. I am going to be more intentional about drawing my dreams always so that it is always a step closer to achieving them.

ii. Everything begins in the mind.

Every great achievement began in the mind of one person. They dared to dream, to believe that it was possible. Take some time to allow yourself to ask “What if?” Think big. Do not let negative thinking discourage you. You want to be a dreamer. Dream of the possibilities for yourself, your family and for others. If you have a dream that you let grow cold, re-ignite the dream. Fan the flames. Life is too short to let it go. I have to learn to never my dreams ever grow cold. I am teaching my kids to always dream and so I have to be a perfect example for them so they always fan the flames of their dreams.

iii. Great Achievers have a habit.

They see things. This is something that we need to teach ourselves to do or be more intentional about seeing things happen. That way you are forced to make sure that they indeed happen.

iv. One reason why dreams never go anywhere is because the dreamer keeps it all to herself/himself.

It is a quiet dream that only lives inside of his mind. One who want to achieve one’s dream should tell that dream to friends and colleagues. From experience many of us keep our dreams to ourselves for fear of being laughed at or ridiculed or for fear of someone else starting your dream. It is good to tell people, but always confide in those who will help you pursue your dream and always hold your accountable.
v. Every dream must take the form of a plan.

This I have learnt from the book. We should always be in position to have a plan to achieve our dreams. Having a plan gives you hope that your dream is one closer to being achieved.

vi. Goals are thoughts that are captured and held on to.

It is the emotion that we attached to it, that makes our thoughts powerful. I never thought of goals as thoughts but thanks to the author this makes perfect sense. We actually attach so much emotion to our goals because we take time and energy to wrote time down and look for people who will hold us accountable for the goals that we set.

vii. Goals without deadlines are just wishes; they lack the power of commitment.

Set short, medium and long term goals. Make sure when mapping your goals, there is balance between courage and thought when choosing a date. It is very true that when you don’t set deadlines of achieving your goals then they are just wishes. I have learnt to always set time lines for my goals and ensure that I beat those timelines and if I don’t I find out why and how I can improve in that area.

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?

These lessons are very unique because they help you make sure that you actually achieve your dreams. Through this step by step guide on achieving your dreams you are able to make sure that you have goals set and time lines attached to these timelines in order to make your dream a reality. By achieving your own dreams you are proving to the world that dreams can actually be achieved and so you will be inspiration to your children, family and the rest who have followed you on your journey.

4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.

“A dream is an inspiring picture of the future that energizes your mind, will and emotions, empowering you to do everything you can to achieve it.”

“The Future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

“The art of progress is to preserve order amid change and to preserve change amid order.”

“When you are at a loss for words. Draw a picture.”

“He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.”

“A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life.”

“A successful man is the one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.”
“ A dream is what you desire if anything and everything is possible.”

These quotes are a constant reminder that you can achieve you dreams if you set you mind to it. They are a reminder that you can actually draw your dreams and set goals and timelines have those dreams come true no matter what.

5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?

Not Applicable.

6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?

The exercises are very helpful and I am still doing them.

7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.

Not Applicable.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.

360 Degree Leader: Developing your influence from Anywhere in the Organization
Assessment by Anita Kiddu Muhanguzi (Uganda)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The author in this book is teaching us how to be all round leaders. He emphasizes the fact that we need to mentor our different teams to be good leaders by helping them understand the vision , mission and goals of the organization. Through his book we are taught about self management, managing our emotions and always being grateful among other many principles.

i. As someone leading from the middle of an organization, your ability to sustain the authority that has been invested in you is entirely dependent upon your faithfulness in serving the people who gave you that authority.

Accordingly, you must guard against the temptation to try to advance at the expense of your leader. And it would be wise not to allow yourself to have an “if I were in charge” conversation with another staff member. If you have difficulties with your leaders, talk to them about it. This is a very important principle to note, because many of us are promoted on our abilities and how we relate with others in the work place and then we get ahead of ourselves forgetting that we have people who placed us in those positions of authority.

ii. “Some of us will do our jobs well, and some will not. But we will all be judged by only one thing; the result.”

Good leaders get results- and they get noticed. This is reminder that you have to love what you do so that you get results that impact the organization.

iii. The key to leading yourself well is to learn self-management.

Nothing will make a better impression on your leader than your ability to manage yourself. If your leader must continually expend energy managing you then you will be perceived as someone who drains time and energy. If you manage yourself well, however, your boss will see you as someone who maximizes opportunities and leverages personal strengths. That will make you someone your leader turns to when the heat is on. I learnt self management when I was made the head of the department in one of my former employment. I learnt through the chaos and my boss always entrusted me with complicates tasks because she knew I would deliver or come up with a solution.

iv. We need to learn to manage our emotions by putting others first in how we handle and process them.

Whether you delay or display your emotions should not be for your own gratification. This I have learnt over time through experience I realized that we are all different and we react differently to situations, so as a leader it is very important for me to be in total control of my emotions.

v. The greatest enemy of good thinking is busyness.

If you find that the pace of life is too demanding for you to stop and think during your workday, then get into the habit of jotting down the three or four things that need good mental processing or planning that you cant stop to think about. Then carve out some time later when you can give these items some good think time. That may be thirty minutes at home the same day, or you may want to keep a running list for a whole week and then take a couple of hours on Saturday. Just don’t let the list get so long that it disheartens or intimidates you. I actually make sure that I am at work really early so that I am able to think through my tasks and goals for the day, before the day gets so busy.

vi. “Those who drink the water must remember those who dug the well.”

Gratitude is one of the most attractive of all personal attributes ; sometimes I think it is one of the least practices. As part of my morning ritual, I make sure to be grateful to the almighty for how far he has brought me.

vii. “There are no traffic jams on the extra mile.”

When you do more than is asked, you will certainly stand out from the crowd. When you have a whatever-it-takes attitude related to helping the organization, then you can emerge as a go-to-player. It is always important to go an extra mile and this is something I always look after for in the people I work with. Its the extra mile that one takes that tells me a lot about their character.

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?

The lessons in this book are a daily reminder of what kind of leader I should be. I should be more intentional about being an all round leader to ensure that we have a winning team and my team members grow as strong leaders as well.

4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.

“Leadership is a choice you make, not a place you sit.”

“You may be able to grant someone a position, but you cannot grant him real leadership. Influence must be earned.”

“Trust is built one block at a time, but when it is violated the entire wall comes crashing down.”

“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever the cost.”

“If each of us were to confess his most secret desire, the one that inspires all his plans, all his actions, he would say, ‘I want to be praised.’”

“The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team.”

“The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg- not smashing it.”

“If you act like an ass, don’t get insulted if people ride you.”

“Consistency is contrary to nature, contrary to life. The only completely consistent people are the dead.”

“Good leaders know when to display emotions and when to delay them.”

“Your mind will give back to you exactly what you put into it.”

“Leaders can give up many things. They can delegate many things. The one thing that the top leader can never let go of is final responsibility.”

“Those who drink the water must remember those who dug the well.”

“Don’t find a fault; find a remedy.”

These quotes got my attention because they encourage and remind me to be a good leader by leading my team in all directions and ensure that at the end of the day, we have achieved what we set out to do as a company and also the team are much stronger leaders.

5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?

Not Applicable

6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?

The exercises are very helpful and am still doing them.

7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.

Not Applicable.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.

Living in the Light
Assessment by Anita Kiddu Muhanguzi (Uganda)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The idea in this book is keep us focused on the positivity that is out in the Universe. This book keeps us aligned to the light both within ourselves and in the Universe. The author illustrated how the Universe is there for us and so we need to be true to ourselves and our inner calling so that we can receive the gifts that the Universe has for us.

i. A strong body or personality structure is not created by following anybody else’s rules or good ideas about what you should eat, how you should exercise, or anything else.

It is created primarily by trusting your intuition and learning to follow its direction. When deciding what to eat, how to exercise, or anything else, gather information from reliable sources, then check in with yourself to see what feels intuitively right for you, and do your best to follow your own inner guidance. I have followed my intuition on a few things and it has never let me down, so this is a reminder that I should rely on it more.
If I am in love with someone and begin to think of him as my source of joy, then I lose myself. I have to remind myself that the source of joy and love is already within me, that I am experiencing love externally only because it is inside me. I try to keep the focus on the universe within and at the same time feel the universe through my lover to me. This is something that I have learned over the years. I always thought that my happiness would be from someone else and I guess I was wrong. I have found my inner happiness and I am comfortable and at peace the way I am.

ii. In reality, both giving and receiving are equally important and valuable.

If we give too much and aren’t able to take or receive equally, we become depleted and resentful. If we take too much and are unable to give, we lose the satisfaction of making a contribution and incur the resentment of others. If we can give and receive more or less in balance, we experience a healthy sense of satisfaction. This is a very important lesson and I have been a victim of giving too much. It drains you emotionally and strains your life and the lives of those you truly love. So I have learned to only give what I can not drain myself because others will only want to take as much as possible.

iii. Believe it or not, you need to consciously accept and “own” your vulnerable side.

Without it, you cannot have real intimacy and closeness with others, and you cant really receive. You are out of touch with a very important part of your human experience. I have learnt to be vulnerable with those close to me and it has helped me grow and appreciate who I am as a person.
iv. If there are problems in your life, the universe is trying to get your attention.

If you pay attention to the small signals, you will learn from them, but if you don’t, the problems will intensify until you get the message and start to pay attention. If you accept that every time a problem occurs the universe is showing you something, you will make rapid progress on your journey of self discovery. Sometimes it is quite hard to see or sense these signals but I believe that the more we have problems we have follow our intuition instead of letting the problems overwhelm us.

v. When other people want more from you, it’s usually an indication that you want more from yourself.

It may in fact be a signal that it’s time to show up and be present with your own needs and feelings. Interestingly, other people in our lives often start feeling better when we become more present with ourselves. I am learning to be more present for myself and appreciating my own needs and feelings. It has been hard letting myself feel the feelings but I have learned that it is the only way to appreciate the feelings and be present for them.

vi. Your intuition is always correct, but it takes time to hear it correctly.

If you are willing to risk acting on what you believe to be true, and risk making mistakes, you will learn very fast by paying attention to what works for you and what doesn’t.

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?

These ideas are very helpful because they are a constant reminder that we should always be true to ourselves by believing in ourselves and following our own intuition about things in life. We should always remember that the Universe is here for us and we should look out for the signs. These ideas have me appreciate my life, taught me to be grateful for everyday that I am alive and by being who I was truly created to be, I am able to give what I have to make the world a better place.

4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.

“Your intuition is always correct, but it takes time to learn to hear it correctly. If you are willing to risk acting on what you believe to be true, and risk making mistakes, you will learn very fast by paying attention to what works and what doesn’t.”

“I am finding that being alive is a love affair with the Universe.”

“It’s the fulfillment of what you are doing at this very moment that counts.”

“The Money in our life is based on our ability to listen to our inner guidance and risk acting on it.”

“When we go against ourselves, we experience only effort and struggle; when we surrender to life, we feel passion, aliveness and flow.”

“The more light you allow within you, the brighter the world you live in will be.”

These statements are important to me because they remind me that I need to always follow my intuition on taking risks in life and learning from the mistakes that I have made over the years. They have also taught me that the Universe is out there for me and I have to learn to be in love with it. All in all I need to learn to listen to inner self and let the light shine through me.

5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?

Not Applicable

6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?

The exercises are very helpful and am still doing them.

7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.

Not Applicable.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.