Bernard Ndhlovu – Assessments – International Institute for Global Leadership

As a Man Thinketh
Assessment by Bernard Ndhlovu (Zimbabwe)

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

The main idea of the author is that, man/humans can attract the material equivalent to his thoughts. In a nutshell the author explains that man is a direct product of his thoughts, man is a total sum of his thoughts. The one who takes charge of his thought life has taken charge of his life. He who has control of his thought patterns has gained control of the pattern of his life.

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. Human thoughts can either be destructive or constructive depending with the way one chooses to use his/her thoughts.

Our hidden thoughts if they are bad thoughts they produce bad fruit, if they are good they produce good fruit. Every tree is known by its fruit, so every man is known by his fruit, and every fruit is the manifestation of the nature of the tree. The fruit or the behavior of a man is the manifestation of his nature/character. Every time I don’t develop disciplined thinking I have always witnessed wrong behavior manifesting in my life, because our actions manifest our hidden thoughts.

ii. Man is responsible for crafting his/her life if he can fully utilize the power of the mind.

Our destinies are shaped by our thoughts, if only we can learn to maximize the power of our minds. We can take charge of our lives if we take charge of our thinking. Every time I don’t commit myself to focused thinking, after a while wrong and unexpected habits start to emerge, because our consistent seed of action produces a habit, and that habit forms our character.

iii. It takes continued effort in right thinking to attain a Godlike character.

We can mold our character by consistently seeking to attain a Godlike character. As a man who is seeking for hidden treasure, is the manner in which we must seek divine knowledge. We must continually seek to please our creator it is then that our Godlike character is molded. In my personal life I have realized that the more I spend time studying and meditating on the holy book I see my character gravitating towards a Godlike character.

iv. Thought application determines one’s destiny.

It’s what you know that really matters, but what you do with what you know that’s what really matters. Real transformation takes place when we learn to apply the knowledge we have gained. Knowledge is power, but applying it is the key to it. In my personal life I have realized that when I read a book I discover life transforming principles and endeavor to apply them, by so doing it has transformed my life.

v. Man has the will power to be the master over circumstances; and he holds the key to every situation.

Every person when they look deep into themselves they will unlock incredible abilities which will help them to dominate their circumstances. You have the will power to pull through and over any circumstance which comes your way. Your decisions not chance determine your destiny. You can decide what to do with your life and anything revolving around it, because you hold the key to every situation. They are decisions I have made in the midst of the combination of circumstances, and after making the tough call later to discover that the situation wasn’t bad as I thought.

vi. Humankind is the creator of his own circumstance.

Humans are able to create their own circumstance in this life because they have been created with creative ability. They arise above their background and create their own circumstances. They break the limitations and barriers of the present and create their circumstance.

vii. With an iron will determination it is possible to reach your intended goal in life.

When a person is resolute about what they want they are unstoppable. Will power can open closed doors for those who are fully persuaded in their hearts. Some years back I went to enroll in a leadership program without enough money for registration fee, when it was compulsory for me to have the whole amount, but I was accepted, because I was determined to do it, and I did it.

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?

Will maintain positive thinking. And develop time to think about what to think about (strategic thinking) and reflect. Would commit myself to deliberately and consistently feed my mind with knowledge which changes my mind and share my goals with others so that they would help me to alter my thoughts to bring forth the results I so desire, and help me to evaluate my progress.

This will help me to develop healthy thinking habits. Would develop a program to strategically think, reflect, and develop new ideas. Would work on being focused and be consistent in maintaining positive thoughts.

Would make daily decisions which will cause me to be fruitful and reach my intended goal. It’s not chance, but decision which determine one’s destiny. These ideas will help me develop practical steps which can help me to maintain positive thoughts.

Would make decisions which will cause me to gain mastery over every situation which seems to be contrary with what I desire to achieve. Would use these ideas to learn to use the key of positive thinking, no matter the situations I face.

Would develop measurable creative thought patterns to break out of every circumstance, and set as time to contemplate on the situation at hand, so to look for a solution.

Would continue to stay optimistic and stay focused on the bigger picture. Train my mind to be resolute and not drift from the “bottom line” thinking. What I intend to achieve in my 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.

“Man do not attract that which they want, but that which they are.”

Our thoughts are like a magnetic force, they attract the material/substance of their kind. We should mind what we feed our hearts and minds with; because our environment takes the color of our thoughts. What you want might be wishful thinking, but what you consistently think about is what you directly or indirectly attract in your life. Your attitude, beliefs are what attract what comes into your life. It shows me that I must change my attitude of mind before I can change my environment.

“A man should conceive of a legitimate purpose in his heart and set out to accomplish it.”

If you have legitimate seed of purpose in your heart, and give your all to it nothing in the world can stop you. If one conceives a legitimate purpose in his heart and is determined to accomplish it, it makes him to live intentional living. There is no greater tragedy than life without a purpose. When you live with intention you persist in your dream, and pursue your purpose against all odds until you accomplish it. It makes me to realize that when a vision is cherished in one’s heart it will definitely come to pass.
It shows me that if I have a sense of purpose in my heart and determination to accomplish it; attainment of my dreams is possible.

“All that a person achieves and all that a person fails to achieve is the direct result of thinking.”

Failure or success is a product of our thought patterns. People always want to change their environment, but they don’t want to change. Our circumstances are simply a reflection of our thought and heart content. In life we consciously or unconsciously cause ourselves to succeed or fail in life. It shows me that the seeds that I plant in my heart will determine my harvest in my environment.
“Victories attained by right thought can only be maintained by watchfulness.”

Victory can be easily attained; but not easily maintained. Attaining victory by right thought requires watchfulness to maintain it. If it takes discipline to attain victory it will certainly take discipline to maintain the victory. Anyone can attain victory, but to maintain victory attained it demands continuous effort and discipline to stay victorious. It’s not enough to attain victory, but we must stay victorious. It teaches me that I must learn to stay victorious not just attain victory.

“The greatest achievement was at first and for a time a dream.”

A dream is the substance of every great achievement. Great things are born out of dreams. A dream is like a seed which has the potential to be great, but it must be planted on good ground if it can bring forth fruit. Every dream starts small, insignificant, but it is always the pathway to greatness. It teaches me that if I have a dream, which is small like a mustard seed, if I stick to it, it will grow into a gigantic tree, which will spread its branches and bring shelter to many.

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

It is a book which is clear enough to understand, I am in agreement with the concepts contained 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 indeed contains exercises for the reader to complete. I have done my best to glean much as I could from this book for my personal usage and application.

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.

In general the questions were good and good enough for the reader to analyze and evaluate the book, but would like to comment on the following question:
What are the timeless principles we learn from the book? The book teaches us that man/humans will always reap the harvest of type of seed which he decides to plant, regardless of his gender, color or age nor his geographical location.

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? 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 Bernard Ndhlovu (Zimbabwe)

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

The main idea that the author is trying to convey in this book is that, we need to set our minds to try new things. What we set our minds to do no matter how many times we may fail; we need to be daring to start afresh again. It also shows us that we must dare to be different, if we can reach the level of high excellence in life. Our mindsets set the pace in our lives.

i. Concentration and determination brings success.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull, though he faced many obstacles he was determined to pursue his dream. When one finds a dream to live for must have the audacity to deal with all manner of destructors and concentrate on finding happiness in life. In life we will be overwhelmed by situations, but we must remain focused on the bigger picture. Stand for what you believe in, and though you might fail many times, have the determination to start afresh. I have tried new things many times, which looked like surmountable challenge, but with determination and concentration I sailed through.

ii. Don’t allow people to talk you out of your dreams and success.

People can be one’s greatest hindrance. People will always try to stand on your way, and try to stop you from reaching your goal, but stand for what you believe and reach your destiny. One needs to go an extra mile to attain success. Going an extra mile will make you unpopular, but don’t be defined by other people’s opinions. People will not always understand a person who dares to be different. There is a decision I took to leave a certain organization some years ago, and people started to speak their opinions about why I was not suppose to leave, but I needed to move ahead and pursue my dream.

iii. Discovering the meaning of life and what you love brings joy and fulfillment in one’s life.

Taking an adventure in something we love makes us happy. We need to be inquisitive in life, just like the seagull bird which kept on experimenting; we must keep on trying new things, new ideas, and new path. When you discover the meaning of life, you begin things with ease. There is more to life than what we see with our optical eyes. Every time I tried a new path in my life, it made me to discover a new self hidden in the inside.

iv. We must know setbacks, challenges, and failure are part of our success story.
Though the seagull bird stalled and fell, time after time it happened that he used to work at the very peak of his ability. Countless times he fell and failed, and countless times he was pushed into the edge to give up on everything, but his tenacity gave him a breakthrough. Being in isolation doesn’t mean that there’s no way out, every challenge is a learning curve for our betterment. When you fall you find every reason why you are not good enough, but every failure is a part of our success story. For those who are optimistic things will eventually work for their advantage.

v. Success is not for the chosen few but for the few who choose.

Failure comes to those who accept it. Success is possible for those who dream about it, and start to work towards the attainment of those dreams. His decision to pursue excellence and to pursue his dream pushed him to keep on bouncing back though he stalled, fell, and failed countless times. When you fail you find every reason why you are good enough, but keep your goal in front of you. Decide not to be satisfied with mediocrity. I have made some decisions which made me be unpopular with some people but which have me popular with my dreams and success.

vi. Traditions can be a greatest hindrance in us finding a higher purpose for our lives.

Some traditions keep us boxed in our illusions, limit us, and prevent us from reaching our goals. We ought to break all the walls of traditions which cause us to uphold and promote ignorance. Tradition can blind people not to see the higher purpose of life. I have made decisions to disassociate myself from people who were traditional in their dealings, because am not satisfied with activities without result.

vii. We can limit ourselves by limiting our minds.

Our lives are a reflection of our thoughts. If our minds can comprehend it we can apprehend it. The limitations we see in our minds they eventually turn into reality. If we can’t see it in our minds we can’t see it in our lives, with a positive mind we can achieve far more than we can imagine. Every time I face my day with hope and expectancy that particular day becomes a fruitful day.

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?

Concentration and determination brings success: The ideas were helpful in my life, I will use the principle of concentration to be my daily practice, and I will also help others to live with intention and determination in all that they do in their lives, will also help others to understand that determination and persistence are overwhelmingly powerful.

Don’t allow people to talk you out of your dreams and success: I will develop focused thinking and pursue my dreams no matter what people say. I will refuse to be defined by other people’s opinions. I will keep good company which will challenge, motivate, and inspire me to pursue my dreams and excellence. Will help others to reach their goals, and motivate them to make the world a better place.

Discovering the meaning of life and what you love brings joy and fulfillment in one’s life: Will continue to pursue my God-given purpose daily by helping others to find fulfillment and joy in their lives. Will strive to continue doing what I love, and loving what am doing. Will invest in other people’s lives by helping them to discover their purpose and touch lives in their sphere of contact.

We must know setbacks, challenges, and failure are part of our success story: No matter the situation or the challenge I face will always stay strong and optimistic, knowing that setback is a setup for a step up. I will read books which will motivate me to help others to stay strong and focused. I will also encourage those who are facing troubles and challenges in their lives, to help them understand that it’s the event which fails not a person.

Success is not for the chosen few but for the few who choose: Will set goals and make decisions to achieve them on daily basis. I will chose to make things happen rather than just sitting and waiting for things to just happen. Will teach others about the importance of making the right decisions in their lives even if it makes them unpopular.

Traditions can be a greatest hindrance in us finding a higher purpose for our lives: Will note and eliminate all traditions which limit me to reach my dreams and pursue a higher purpose for my life, I will also help others by teaching them to live above manmade ideas and traditions which limit people and keep them in bondage.

We can limit ourselves by limiting our minds: Will dream big and set goals to achieve those dreams, and inspire others to dream big. It costs nothing to dream but it costs everything not to dream.

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 can lift ourselves out of ignorance, we can find ourselves as creatures of excellence and intelligence and skill. We can be free!”

Ignorance is not an asset. When we lift ourselves out of ignorance we enter into the realm of possibilities. Self knowledge is important if we can break out of ignorance and live above mediocrity. Ignorance is the enemy of excellence and human intelligence. We can reach endless possibilities if we lift ourselves out of ignorance. We can discover our greatest potential if we free ourselves from ignorance. Ignorance is the greatest enemy of success.

“Who is more responsible than a gull [person] who finds and follows a meaning, a higher purpose for life?”
A responsible person is a person who finds a meaning, a higher purpose for life. A more responsible person is the one who finds and follows a higher purpose for life. Life ought to be lived with purpose and intention. The one who finds and follows a life of purpose begins to influence others into a worthwhile cause. Responsibility taken is influence began.

“Learn nothing, and the next world is the same as this one, all the same limitations and lead weights to overcome.”

Knowledge is the key which unlocks the door which can take us to the next level of success. Lack of knowledge is dangerous because it makes us victims of circumstances. When we seek knowledge we get ready for the next level of success. Knowledge can either break or build limitations in our lives. Knowledge can determine your breakthrough.

“The only true law is that which leads to freedom,” Jonathan said. “There is no other.”

Any law that hinders people to realize their dreams and put people into bondage is not a law, but a limitation. The law is only true when it sets people free. Achievers cannot be contained inside the box of laws which hinder people from becoming what they were created to be. Any law that leads to bondage is not a law but a limitation. We must be daring to break the laws of limitation and pursue our dreams.

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?

There’s none. It was an interesting journey with 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 contains exercises for the reader to complete, they were helpful and I managed to glean applicable lessons from the contents. I learnt that no matter how many times we may fail we must have the audacity to rise again.

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? 8
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 7
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10

Keys to Success
Assessment by Bernard Ndhlovu (Zimbabwe)

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 that the definiteness of purpose is the foundation for success. When a person has clearly discovered a purpose to live for, and endeavors to pursue that purpose, and believes that the earth was created for them to succeed, they will attain success. A person who has developed a definiteness of purpose, and developed a clear picture of what he wants, aligns himself with the principles of success; and takes the necessary course of action which is applying the principles of success, they will definitely achieve success.

i. The definiteness of purpose is the foundation of a life of success.

This idea shows that when one develops a definite of purpose success is inevitable. It is practically impossible to achieve success without the effect aimed at, the definite of purpose work as a measuring stick in the journey of success. Success is measurable. It all starts with the clarity of purpose. Intentional living is necessary in achieving success. This idea is important in my life because it inspires me to develop definite of purpose and align myself with it in order for me to attain success. Success is impossible without a definiteness of purpose.

ii. A positive mental attitude is a magnetic force which attracts success in one’s life.

A positive mental attitude will help us to fully benefit from all the other principles of success. If we control our thoughts; and become success conscious we can attain success. It is our mental attitude which determine our success. A positive mental attitude works as a magnetic force. This idea is important to me because it makes me realize that my attitude not my circumstance determine my success in life.

iii. Self discipline is a necessary ingredient in the recipe of success.

Self-discipline is the ability to lead self. Self-discipline helps us to effectively put our lives in order so that we can attain success. Without discipline achieving success only remains our wishful thinking nothing more. Self-discipline helps us to channel our energy wisely so that we gain maximum results for our efforts. Self-discipline is a necessary ingredient in the recipe of success, because it takes discipline to be consistent with principles of success until we attain success. This idea is important in my life because it teaches me to take charge of my actions, take full responsibility for my actions.

iv. Success will require us to go the extra mile.

There’s a common statement which goes like, “a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step”. One step is just a beginning not the attainment of success. Success will require us to go an extra mile. That means in order for one to attain success they must be ready and willing to pay the prize for success. Those who take a step further will surely find the path to success and they will achieve it. Success is measured by your willingness to put more effort in pursuing your dreams. This idea is important in my life because it makes me realize that my willingness to go an extra mile is my willingness to succeed.

v. Teamwork makes success attainable.

“Team work makes the dream work.” It is to team up with others in order to attain success, because one is a small number to achieve success. Teams comprises of diverse and multiple ideas which contributes in achieving success. A team is built by an individual who understands that success can be too big a dream to be achieved by one person. This idea is important to me because it helps me understand that success involves more and various contributions from different individuals.

vi. Opposition and defeat can be a stepping stones to a life of success.

We can turn our defeat into blessings if we focus on our goals and align ourselves with our purpose. No defeat can derail a person who has developed a definiteness of purpose in his life. If we maintain the definiteness of purpose it is possible to unleash our greatest potential in our point of weakness and in the moment of adversity. This idea is important in my life because it makes me to understand that my setbacks can be a set up for my come back if I develop the definiteness of purpose.

vii. Vision is the substance of every great achievement.

Vision is the ability to see the unseen realities and strive to make them a reality. We need to have a creative vision to pioneer great works and achieve success in our lives. Creative vision unlocks creative ideas in the area of our major purpose in life, making us to attain success. This idea is important in my life because it helps me to use my imagination to pursue my major purpose in life and birth new and implement new ideas to make the world a better place.

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 definiteness of purpose is the foundation of a life of success: The idea of developing a definite purpose will help me to live my life with intention. Will help me to continue to pursue my major purpose in life. I will write the statement of my major purpose and stick it on the wall and read it daily as I begin my day. Will help others by teaching them to discover and develop a definiteness of purpose in their lives, and make the world a better place by fulfilling their purpose.

A positive mental attitude is a magnetic force which attracts success in one’s life:
Will consistently read books and materials which will help me to maintain a positive attitude. Will also share the PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) principle. Will also help others to master and develop a positive mental attitude and turn their limitations into stepping stones in the journey of success.

Self-discipline is a necessary ingredient in the recipe of success: Will design a strategy to hold myself accountable in my day to day activities. I will write things that I intend to achieve [to do list] as I begin my day and evaluate what was accomplished on that day, and make corrections and adjustments were necessary.

Success will require us to go the extra mile: Will practice to always take a step further in all that I intend to do. I will develop the habit of excellence which pushes me always go the extra mile. I will put more effort to go an extra mile to reach the level of success, e.g. will sleep late and woke up early to read and study. Will share with others the principle of going the extra mile.

Teamwork makes success attainable: The world is full of people who have unique abilities and talents which contribute immensely in the attainment of success. I will build a cohesive team that will help me to attain success, as I pursue the dream of success. True success is when more people together achieve more.

Opposition and defeat can be a stepping stones to a life of success: Defeat can be a curse instead of it being a blessing if we don’t take it as part and parcel of our success story. I will always maintain the definiteness of purpose and turn my defeat into opportunities to start afresh. No matter how many times I face defeat I will always dare to try again.

Vision is the substance of every great achievement: Will execute my vision by writing my vision down and consistently evaluating my life against it. Will set goals [steps] which are measurable and attainable and begin to follow them through step by step. Will have thinking walks, moments to walk, think and develop creative ideas and strategies to implement those ideas.

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 is no scarcity of opportunities. There is only a shortage of imagination.”

This quote took my attention because it shows me that opportunities are not scarce, but the ability to see opportunity and utilize them. Very few people can see opportunities, but they are everywhere. It means there is still room for success for those who can use the power of their imagination to spot opportunities and pave their way to success. It is not the lack of opportunities which is the problem but the lack of ideas. Will look for opportunities on the area of my major purpose and maximize them and make the world a better place.

“The harmony of your alliance is built upon the mutual agreement on your definite purpose.”

It’s about just building an alliance, but it’s about partnering with those who share the similar dream with you. The harmony of an alliance is a product of a shared vision. When people have mutual understanding they are in the hall of success. When a man has a clear, definite purpose and finds people who buy into his dream success will become a reality. This shows me there many people who are willing to help me to succeed I just have to find them.

“You should not simply have faith, you must use it.”

It’s not enough to have faith and we have nothing to show for it. Faith requires us to take action because faith is an action word. Faith is not faith until you show it. The power of faith is released through action. Unused faith is useless faith. In order for me to attain success I will take a step of faith to unleash the power to get extraordinary results. I will go out there and make things happen by acting on my beliefs.

“Concentration upon a single idea has been the hallmark of success for countless people and organizations.”

Concentration is important in maintaining the definite purpose. Focused people get the best in life because they channel their energy on one thing until it goes through. Countless people and organizations who have harnessed the principle of concentration have turned ideas into success. If one has a definite, clear purpose and develops self-discipline, apply the principle of concentration, they can turn ideas into great success.

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, this book has been one of the easy to read and understand, yet deep in its contents.

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 does contain exercises for the reader to complete, they are helpful because they are applicable 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, there is 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

Awaken the Giant Within
Assessment by Bernard Ndhlovu (Zimbabwe)

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

The main idea which the author is trying to convey in this book is that whether or not we realize it there is a giant lying dormant within, which needs to be awakened. He helps us understand that every person has a right to dream and pursue their dreams. He teaches us that real change begins with me. If only I can manage to conquer myself I can conquer the world. Awakening the giant within starts by realizing that we have all we need to be all we can ever be in this life. He highlights that we need to be flexible in order for us to achieve our goals, he also tells to raise a standard which match our level of expectancy, and learn from other people by reinventing the wheel, fine tune it, and even make it better. It will take decisive action to awaken the giant within. The best day to start to awaken the giant within is today because “man was born to live and not to prepare to live”. Every day we are gradually walking towards our destiny. We have all the power and the right to awaken the giant within.

i. Raising a Standard

This idea shows me that we can awaken the giant within through raising a higher standard. That means I need to be dissatisfied with where I am and raise a standard to match what I want to be. This idea teaches that change will only come if we anticipate that it will come. This helps me to understand that nothing will change until I decide to change it. If I can make myself right everything can be right. Higher goals will demand higher level of sacrifice. Nothing will move until one decides to move. This idea teaches me that in order for my life to step up; I must be willing to step up first. The standard of life is determined by the standard we set up for ourselves. In order for the giant within to be awakened we need to up our game by determining how we are going to change ourselves in order to meet the demands of the success we desire to attain. This idea is important to me because it teaches me that am successful to an extent I am willing to raise a standard.

ii. Decisive Action

This idea shows us that whether we realize it or not our daily routine or activities they are building blocks towards our destiny. It also reveals that at the end of the day it is our action which backs up our decision. True decision making should lead us into action. Any decision which is not accompanied with action is not a decision. It is important to be consistent in decision making, because our actions determine our course of action. We fine tune our decisions by repetition, because “repetition is a mother of all skill.” We become better in decision making by making decisions consistently. It is decision not chance which determine our destiny. When we decide what we intend to achieve, take specific course of action, evaluate our progress through the decisions we have made, and adjust where necessary, we can awaken the giant within. When we have clarity of goals it’s easy to make a decision. If we are not making our own decisions someone else is making them on our behalf. When we are not making decisions we are not making progress, and we have lost control of our lives. Every destiny decision should lead to specific course of action. This idea is important to me because I have realized some decisions which I should take.

iii. Beliefs Replacement

Our breakthrough is certain when we replace our old beliefs with new ones. The change of one’s belief is the change of one’s life. It all starts when we develop excruciating pain towards the old belief. Because we cannot change what we tolerate, it takes complete animosity for the old belief. This is important because if our beliefs are not changed we will be going around in circles, our lives will remain the same old story. Our perspective comprises of our opinions, beliefs, and convictions. Our beliefs gives us a perspective, our perspective determines our view point, and our view point determine our point of view in life. We need to get rid of our old opinions, which always limit our breakthrough. We need to spot the beliefs which are not consistent with our goals and develop new, stronger emotions of new beliefs which can lift our lives to the next level of success. It’s not enough to just have conviction, but we must have conviction with, intense, relevant, measureable ideas. We see that we must always analyze and evaluate our beliefs because opinions they do change with time. In my own experience I have realized that in ministry they are things which I once taught something some time back, but when I look back and reflect today I feel ashamed that I am the one who taught that, because some beliefs and opinions are ignorant based.

iv. Leadership And Belief

Leadership and belief goes together, because leaders are those people who help other people to achieve big goals. Leaders are conviction, belief driven people, they influence other people to believe that something could not only be done, but that it should be done. It is the belief that the leader has that determines his influence as a leader. At times it takes a leader who is passionate about changing people’s lives even if the very people think otherwise. I remember some years back I joined a church were there were people who had a ghetto mentality, after preaching some people will become violent and would want to physically attack me, and it seemed they believed that my presence was not needed there, it was clear that I was just not welcomed there, because they thought that I had come to replace their relative who was the leader there at that time. Because I was determined to make a difference in their lives I stayed there and continued leading, demonstrating unconditional love to them, it happened that after some time when the time came for me to be relocated to another place the very people were now turning hostile because I was leaving, they were now protesting against my departure, that’s the power of belief.

v. The Power of Focus

Our lives are shaped by were we chose put our focus on. Many at times our greatest hindrance in achieving success is that we put our focus on what we don’t want. Our beliefs must be backed up by our ability to focus. Our focus is our beliefs in expression. Many of us we spend most of our time paying attention to what we don’t want and neglect what we truly belief in. What will make our dreams to come true is our focus. When we decide what we want in life and understand what is preventing us from achieving what we want it’s easy for us to succeed. Deciding what we want will help us to have something to passionately pursue, our passion will make us to be focused. Disempowering beliefs will make us to focus on the wrong things which will affect our empowering beliefs. Focus is an empowerment to empowering beliefs. The area of our focus or concentration in the long run it will become a reality. We control and put our focus into motion by asking questions, being inquisitive, because what we search for we will eventually get the answers. This idea teaches me that if a focus on what I want I will succeed.

vi. Asking Questions

This idea shows us that when we know how to ask questions we will get to the next level of our lives. We must be able to ask ourselves questions which will bring us to the place of fulfillment, excitement, and achievement in our lives. Asking questions helps us to tape into the realm of answers and solutions. Asking empowering questions gives legs to our belief. Doors can be opened when we learn to ask right questions. Life will require us to ask questions in order for us to achieve the goals we so much desire. Questions also unlock our destinies. When we ask right questions we can reach our destiny. I usually take some time to think and ask some questions and look for solutions or answers it always bring a refreshing and strengthening moments. Asking questions brings stability and focus in one’s life.

vii. Living by Conduct

We must live our lives by conduct, our conduct means everything. The life of conduct is formulated on the laws which already exist. We look around and see the rules or laws which work as our moral standards for mankind and make our conducts from there. Conduct speaks of how we look at ourselves and how we see and treat people in our world. We must have a place of reference which forms our conduct. This idea shows that we must live by principles which guides us and which we are ultimately willing to die for. We must live our lives with highest principles. We can live up to our values when we create moments on daily basis. What we value or the principles that we live by molds our character. Living by principles will make us to know which decision to make before pressure comes. This idea teaches me to have values to live by.

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 will help me to awaken the giant within through the application of these ideas and principles. These ideas will help me to raise a standard every time I need to change my life for the better. This will challenge me to always raise the standard in order for me to have significant results. These ideas also teach me to always associate decision with action. Real decisions must lead into action; a decision without action is just wishful thinking. This idea has brought a dramatic change in my life, because it has made me to realize that its decisive action, not conditions which determine my destiny. In the now there are many areas of my life that need decisive action. I also since realized that human opinions change with time, so that will require me to evaluate my beliefs and replace old beliefs with new ones. I will strengthen my beliefs as a leader despite the challenges I might face as I serve people. I will devote myself in reading and studying to improve my leadership capacity. I will make it a point to evaluate my progress on daily basis by working on my focus, by focusing on things I want not on things which prevent me from achieving what I want. I will teach myself to ask questions on issues on daily basis. I will work on stages of focus for maximum results. I will work on developing personal values and principles to live by and strive to live up to them. In creating a better world I will share these ideas with others in every way possible, and implement them in my personal and organizational life. I will commit myself to make decisive action to put all these principles into practice.

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 secret of success is learning how to use pain and pleasure instead of having pain and pleasure use you. If you do that, you’re in control of your life. If you don’t, life controls you.”

One of the most important things about life is that we must be in control; we must take charge of our lives. Our pain ought to help us to get the pleasure we want, not for the pleasure to give us the pain we don’t want. We need to learn to channel our pain as a force to forge forward, and harness the power to breakthrough.

“All personal breakthroughs begin with a change in beliefs.”

Our lives can truly change if we change our beliefs. Some of our opinions must change if our lives can change. They are old beliefs that we need to divorce ourselves from in order for us to harness the power to awaken the giant within.

“Determination is the wake-up call to the human will.”

With determination we can achieve anything. Determination is overwhelmingly powerful. A man of determination is unstoppable.

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, it is a very clear, and easy to understand, yet having profound insights.

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 has multiple exercises for one to complete, I gleaned a lot of exercises to complete, especially on the topic of decision making. These were very helpful its well explained topic. I also did an exercise on empowering and disempowering beliefs, these 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.

Nothing.

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

How to Win Friends and Influence People
Assessment by Bernard Ndhlovu (Zimbabwe)

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

The main idea that the author is trying to convey in this book is that those that are friendly have great influence as compared to those who are not. The Ability to relate well with other people is the greatest key in connecting with people in leadership. Friendship is crucial in business, leadership because leadership thrives on healthy relationships. He shows that the quickest way to build influence is to be friendly. He also shows us how we can obtain influence through friendship. He also shows us how it becomes difficult to build relationships with people when we are harsh and inconsiderate. Communication is the key to effective leadership and in building healthy relations. Healthy relations makes everything healthy.

i. In Order To Have Friends You Must Be Friendly

If we don’t change how we treat people their attitude towards us will never change. If we are unfriendly with people they are likely to be unfriendly with us. If we are rude and uncaring to those we are working with they will sabotage the work, limit growth and productivity. People learn easier and listen to instructions better in a friendly environment. If only we can become friendlier with people, it is only then that we become more influential. Those we lead they will always respond to the way we treat them not to the way we want them to treat us. In my personal life I have had people say to me “I never thought that you can joke nor laugh at jokes because you are always serious”. People they connect with the person that they can access and relate with. This has taught me to work on my attitude and approach to be friendlier.

ii. We Must Invest in Relations

Dealing with people is one of the biggest problems you will ever face as you interact with people. Whether one is in business, in leadership or in any profession or being simply a house wife you will always have a challenge to connect and blend with people. That will require us to invest in human relations. We need to master to connect and deal with people in any level as we interact with people. Because a successful business can be ruined when our relations are poor. How we relate with people determine our success in business or in dealing with people. Human relations are one of the greatest investment we can invest in order to up our game to achieve success. Personal or organizational success depends on our ability to relate well with people. The success of any organization is in our ability to develop people’s skills and the ability to connect and influence people. In order for us to have winning organizations we need to invest in developing our relationships. When we learn how to handle people we have learnt to handle everything. One time in this youth meeting where I was teaching young people and I was very blunt and the meeting was disrupted as people began to challenge my statement because someone took as an attack. Because of that incident I couldn’t help nor influence anyone in that particular meeting.

iii. Criticism Leads to Resentment

Criticism is a greatest hindrance in human relations. Every time a person is criticized they are put in a world of confusion, resentment, and far away from reasoning. Open criticism will even cause people to live strive to defend themselves even if they are wrong, which will make it difficult to aid them in any way, or get the best performance from them. Criticism can only turn people to be bitter and correction proof. Criticism can only show people how wrong they were; but it never addresses the problem at hand. Criticism demotivates employees and causes them to eventually sabotage the organization. Criticism hurts someone’s ergo and demoralizes those whose self-respect has been wounded. We cannot get the best out of people through criticism. We must change our approach if we can be more considerate, more accommodative, and friendlier with those around us we can get the best from our relations. As I teach leadership seminars I have realized that every -time I become more critical in my approach people become resistant to knowledge, even if the information is very beneficial.

iv. Know What People Want

Knowing what people want, and striving to see things from their view point and trying to meet their needs from that point of view will give us amazing results. The world is not waiting for you to come and give you what you want, but you get what you want by knowing what people want, and appreciating what they want. We can connect with people through what they want. When we appreciate people for who they are; and what they represent, connect with them through what they want we can succeed. Knowing what people want will help us to give honest appreciation. People are like a fish you can only win them over through what they want not what you want. We like different kinds of food; but when we go for fishing we carry worms not the food we want, because that’s what the fish want. Worms might look disgusting, but we take them for fishing because the fish we want wants them. Every person wants to be appreciated lets learn to appreciate people and say things which will make them to be eager to participate. In my personal experience sometimes appreciation from one person can work as great inspiration.

v. Names Give Us a Place in People’s Hearts

When we call people by their names we find a special place in their hearts. When we call people by their first names they feel special, recognized and well appreciated. Calling someone by his first name it shows that you are genuinely interested in them, because you demonstrate that you know them on personal level. One of the challenges we will ever face is to learn and study people’s names in our quest to make friends. Sometimes we might find it difficult to pronounce some names, but we need to put more effort to learn, study and pronounce people’s names properly. In some instances we find it difficult to remember some names, but we need to commit ourselves to connect with people by remembering their names. Names are very dear to name bearers no matter the language it’s the sweetest thing for anyone to hear someone calling them by their own names. When I meet with someone they greet me by my name, if I don’t remember their name it makes me very uncomfortable because it exposes my inability to handle relations.
vi. Listen to People and Their Concerns

We must give an ear to people’s issues and be accommodative to hear their side of the story. We must approach people with their best interests in mind. When we give people the opportunity and the flow to talk while we are listening they will do a great job in speaking in our favor. We must be genuinely interested in other people, ideas and value their desires. We need to recognize and appreciate their opinions because every person is entitled to their own ideas. As we relate with people we should take note we do not crush other people’s ideas. We must criticize them with their success in mind. If people see that we are supportive in their ideas they easily open up and they be easily assisted. We must help people in their conflicts with care. I have taught myself to always listen to people’s opinions and views as we discuss their issues, or through counseling sessions, most of the solutions always come from listening to their concerns. We earn the right to speak through listening.

vii. Friendship Makes Marriages Stronger

It is possible to make marriage life stronger and happier. In a marriage set up we need a friendlier approach if we can find happiness in our marriages. Like any other relationship in a marriage set up we need to be tolerant, accommodative with one another. Therefore in marriage we must give honest and genuine appreciation to our spouse. If we are more courteous with each other we can get the most out of our marriage relation. It means that we must be patient and not criticize each other nor speak ill of each other in public. We should pay little attention to each other’s faults. I have realized that if we pay more attention to little matters in marriage, it’s easy to turn a molehill into a mountain and happiness will become an alien in our marriages.

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 will help me change my approach in dealing will people. I will strive to become friendly and friendlier to other people. I will make practical gestures to win and maintain relations. I will find new ways to maintain the relations I currently have and develop new relations. I will apply the principles of handling people, I will demonstrate love and tolerance to other people. I will invest in relations. I will change my critical approach towards those I closely relate with and those I come in contact with. I will admit when am wrong, and those that are wrong I will learn to constructively criticize them if necessary. Will look for ways to correct people without making them feel hurt or demoralized. I will study what people like and connect with them through what they like. I will learn and study to call people by their first names and pronounce them correctly. I will also give an ear to those who speak sharing their dreams and desires. I will allow others to talk first in order to fully understand their personal interests and what they really want. I will apply the principles I have gleaned from this book to gain happiness in my marriage life. I will read and study books with relevant information to help in making my marriage life to be a healthy and a happy environment. I will be more tolerant, accommodative, and friendlier to my wife, and learn to pay little attention to her weaknesses and her shortcomings.

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 can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.”

When you make other people’s interests your own they will eventually make your interests their own. Rather than putting more effort in trying to persuade people to be interested in what we want, we must seek to understand other people’s interests, what they want, and strive to put their interests above our own.

“There is nothing either good or bad,” said Shakespeare, “but thinking makes it so.”

Things are bad or good as our attitude. Our attitude determines our action.

“That the royal road to a person’s heart is to talk about things he or she treasures most.”

When we know what is in the man’s heart we have won his heart.

“One way under high heaven to get the best of an argument – and that is to avoid it.”

All arguments end the same way, no one wins it. Avoiding it is the best way to win it

“A man convinced against his will Is of the same opinion still.”

It is possible to win an argument and lose friendship. You can prove a man to be wrong and show that you are right and still fail to convince him that he is wrong. Arguments then tend to fruitless most of the times they are just not necessary.

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 disagreeable with the book is readable and I agree with the ideas explained 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 the book has life time exercises which are applicable in my life on daily basis.

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. The book is really informative and transformational.

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

PsychoCybernetics
Assessment by Bernard Ndhlovu (Zimbabwe)

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

The main idea that the author is trying to convey in this book is that the key to real change of one’s personality is the change of his inner self. The author shows that the reconstruction of the inner person is the key to real change of personality, ultimately the change of his entire life. He brings the idea that humans have an inner face, which is more powerful than the physical face. Unless the inner look of a person is properly shaped his outlook will contribute little to his confidence, esteem and in his success in life. When you change the outlook of a man you change the way he sees himself, but when you change his inner self you give him a better life.

i. “Self-image” is the key to a successful life

Cybernetics began as a study of physical machines, but over the years it has demonstrated that man is not a machine, but has an inbuilt machine in the inside of him and he can use that machine for his advantage and for his success. “Self-image” is important in order for one to attain success in this life, because you have an inbuilt success mechanism in the inside. The machine we have can either achieve success or failure for us depending with how we are going to use it. “Self-image” speaks of how we see ourselves, and the world around us, and our capabilities. Success is possible if we see ourselves as the success container, and take an adventure to explore; experiment and use our God given creative abilities. Man is the C.E.O of his/her life he/she can decide how to deal with life issues by employing the power of positive thinking and being success oriented. This is important for me because it shows me that my self-image is important in the arena of success.

ii. A personality has a face which we must work on.

We see that the personality of a person must be worked on if we can be successful in life. We see that man can make his life beautiful from the inside out, when they learn to deal with personal failures, inner wounds; and all manner of emotional issues. When we fully understand and utilize the power from within we can make our lives better. We must work on our personality by developing the mental and spiritual state or make up because the personality of a man is what gives him confidence and self-esteem in life. This important to me because it helps me to consistently work on my “self-image.”

iii. Our minds are the laboratory for experimental purposes in order to gain experiential knowledge.

Our minds are more than an intellect box, we are able to use our minds to create new experiences and change our lives for the better. It is not enough to just know that we have a machine that we can use to change our lives, we must be able to create new situations and create possibilities in the path of success. Our minds can be used as a laboratory to create new experience by doing practical tasks and gaining experiential knowledge. It helps me to engage in activities and exercises which gives experiential knowledge.

iv. True success has to do with creative accomplishment.

Everyone can and will succeed provided they see success as creative accomplishment not as a symbol of prestige. Success has little or nothing to do with prestige. True success cannot be measured or symbolized by prestigious living but by creative accomplishment. Everyone should attempt to be a success, because success can be simply defined as, “achieving your goals.” Success is marked by satisfaction, personal fulfillment; and finding joy in what you are doing. True success can be truly defined by the inbuilt success mechanism in the inside of you. If you gain personal fulfillment in what you do you have found true success. This is important because it provokes me to be creative.

v. It’s important to un-educate yourself from false and distorted beliefs.

Sometimes we are fully convinced of the false information until they become a part and parcel of our lives. Wrong beliefs are the greatest enemy of success. We need to dehypnotize ourselves from distorted and unrealistic beliefs, because our belief system determines our behavior. What we belief about ourselves determines how we react to our environment. To dehypnotize ourselves from false beliefs t is one of the difficult things to do, because it is easier to convince someone who knows nothing, than someone who knows too much of wrong information. This is important to me because it helps me to always detect and deal with wrong beliefs.

vi. You can turn the failure mechanism into success mechanism.

It is possible to turn failed events into a beautiful success story, because failure is not a person, it’s just a failed event. It is possible to attempt to be success because failure is just a past event; not a permanent position. We must decide not to be failure driven but to be success driven. We might have failed in the past but we should never die while we are still breathing, by allowing the web of failure to hang over our heads for the rest of our lives. We all at some point face frustration, disappointment, etc. when our strong desire goes unrewarded and it appears as if our expectations are thwarted. We might feel some emptiness in our lives because of things which didn’t go well in the past; but we must attempt new things and achieve success. This is important to me because it helps me to understand that failure is part of success if we can learn from it.

vii. It is possible to deal with your emotional scars and give yourself a new emotional make up.

In the physical when one is injured they develop a hard tissue as they heal which protects the skin from future injuries this tend to make the skin to change the flesh composition because of the healing process. It is the same emotionally, when one is hurt they develop a hard tissue which puts them into a self-protective state. When people are hurting they feel unwanted, unacceptable, and un-liked individuals. Emotional scars give people a wrong opinion about themselves, this will affect their success mechanism negatively. This is important to me because it shows me that emotionally weak and hurting people will struggle to achieve success.

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?

In a practical way it will help me to work on my self-image and to use my success mechanism daily to create possibilities and opportunities to attain success. I will deliberately experiment and explore new opportunities.

I will develop my mental attitude to maintain a positive attitude in life. I will work on improving my mental and spiritual make up to change my personality for the better. I will decide on how to deal with and eliminate negative thoughts from my life.

I will stretch my mind to create new challenges. Will task myself with events, challenges which will give me experiential knowledge. I will engage in interactive programs that will help me to gain experiential experience as I interact with people from all walks of life.

I will work on doing creative accomplishment tasks; assignments which brings personal fulfillment. I will attempt to do new tasks and serve others in every way possible and find satisfaction. I will help others in the area of my gifting and help others to succeed in the area of their gifting.

I will detect and deal with distorted and false information about myself. I will work on developing the inbuilt success mechanism to supersede false information about my appearance and my God-given ability. I will un-educate myself by educating myself with new and positive information. I will have time to relax and allow success mechanism to work for me. I will reflect and replace current bad thoughts by thinking about good times by reflecting on the good memories of the past.

Since it is a fact that we all at one point or another we come across hopeless situations; but life must continue anyway. I will teach myself to always try new ways of dealing with challenges and daily issues of life despite having gone through unmet expectations in the past. Will treat failure as a failed process not that I am a failed person, and I will face the world with optimism and expectation.

I will use the principle of relaxation, I will relax my way out of emotional scars and release any emotional tension. I will use spiritual principles to give myself an emotional or spiritual face lift. I will practice forgiveness and teach others to make forgiveness to be part and parcel of their lives. I will let go of grudges and help others who are struggling to forgive, to let go and let God, take care of the rest.

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.

“Hold a picture of yourself long and steadily enough in your mind’s eye and you will be drawn toward it,” said Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick.

The power of imagination can bring about amazing results in our lives. When the eye of the mind holds onto a picture and maintain being consistent with that picture before long that picture will become a reality. If our personality is consistent with the attitude of our minds our dominant thoughts will eventually materialize. This quote is important to me because it teaches me that I must be consistent with my dreams and goals if I can attain success.

“Ideas Are Changed, Not by Will, But by Other Ideas.”

We cannot change ideas by simply wishing that if only ideas would change but, we change ideas by being intentional about replacing them with new and better ideas. We need new ideas to be relevant and achieve success therefore it is important to replace ideas with relevant, realistic and attainable ideas. This is important because it shows me that the more I develop new ideas the more I can achieve measureable, and attainable success, because ideas rule the world.

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?

In the context in which it was written from it is an incredible book I found it interesting to read, and it was interesting to read something based on contents which are entirely outside my field.

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 is indeed a book with applicable lessons. I will continue to put the lessons into practice.

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.

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

Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude
Assessment by Bernard Ndhlovu (Zimbabwe)

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

The main idea that the authors are trying to convey is that; where you start the journey of success is immaterial, what counts is your desired destination. They bring up the idea that with specific applied course of action it is possible to achieve and maintain success. They show us that even if one has many disadvantages in his life, if they can make a choice to be successful and maintain a clear goal towards that particular path of success, their success will become a reality. The authors reveal that our Personal Mental Attitude is the foundation for the life of success. They unveil the secret of success as a process which will require us to follow principles which promote harmonious living with our fellow humankind and being consistent will the laws of God.

i. Success Is Our Responsibility

The idea that success is our own responsibility is the most important idea, because it shows me that the only person I must hold accountable for success or failure is myself. This idea shows me that God is more interested in my success more than I can ever be. This idea shows us that we are not poor because of God, but because no one from our family wanted to be a success. Success can come about when we want it, when we dream about it, when we pursue it, we are responsible for our own success. Putting our Positive Mental Attitude into faithful practice will bring success into our table of achievement. Take responsibility for your own success and keep your mind on things you want and off from those you don’t want. This teaches me not to leave my success to chance, but to take full responsibility for my success.

ii. It Takes a Burning Desire to Achieve Big Goals

Those who have a burning desire for success it is them who will be outstanding and they will achieve big goals. Their start off point might be a position of disadvantage, but with a Positive Mental Attitude, and a burning desire success will come to fruition. It doesn’t matter the definition of one’s success, but whatever the definition of success can be, it will take our burning desire to turn our misery into a mystery in our journey of success. A burning desire will make small people to become big people who achieve big goals. It might take a longer time than expected for one to attain their big goals; but with a burning desire success will become a dream come true one day. We can unlock tremendous powers availed to us through our burning desire to achieve big goals. It helps me to understand that my burning desire is my fuel for success.

iii. Practice Makes Perfect

It takes continuous practice to make one to become an expect achiever. When we relentlessly put positive Mental Attitude into practice we will reach the highest level of achievement. It will require a courageous, robust and resolute attitude in order for us to become an expect achiever. Sometimes our efforts might appear as if we are going round in circles as we consistently meet seemingly impossible situations but we will be required to continue to maintain our drive for success through PMA. In the midst of the combination of negativity when we practice to remain optimistic about our drive for success. We might face circumstances which cause us to encounter defeat at some point in our lives, but we need to maintain our balance by applying the Positive Mental Attitude. We must keep working on it, keep practicing until success become achievable. I will keep practicing and trying until my PMA yields results.

iv. Identifying with a Successful Image

In the journey of success we must have a picture of a successful person that we will always look up to. This idea shows us that we must have a picture of a successful person which will be our source of inspiration in the pursuit of success. In whatever field of endeavor we need to have our role model which shows us what it means to be a success. This helps us to measure our success and also give us a standard to follow and a person to emulate. The image of a successful will always show us that our success is attainable. I do it all the times there are particular gospel ministers that whenever I see them preaching I always picture myself, this helps me to realize that my dreams can come to fruition and that my goals can be attained.

v. We Must Exercise the Power of our Minds

We can attain success when we use the power of our minds. Sometimes life presents itself as a puzzle we must solve through the Positive Mental Attitude. Our minds are one of the greatest gifts which God gave us in order for us to achieve our goals. With consistent application of positive mental attitude with a definite purpose we can release the tremendous powers stored up in our minds. Our minds are a reservoir of ideas we just need to tape into it through positive mental attitude. We can discover great ideas and strategies if we learn to exercise or use the power of our minds. I usually take some time to walk and think deeply about issues.

vi. The Greatest Person you Will Ever Meet is Yourself

The greatest hindrance to success is you. We discover that whenever there is a problem which involves misunderstanding with other people the first place to look to is to look at ourselves. Change starts with an individual then the world is changed. If we want to succeed we need to change our attitude towards ourselves, others, and the world at large. People, the world will never lower the standard to accommodate you, but it is a person who must change his standard if he can match the standard of success. If one doesn’t have the right mental attitude, he will not attract the success that he so desires. The man with a definite purpose and a clear goal for success and they apply positive mental attitude, they can achieve success. There is a giant lying dormant in the inside of every person we need to let the giant lose. This idea helps me to see myself as the most valuable person.

vii. We interpret what we see through our Minds

The knowledge we have in our minds makes us to interpret what we see. Our attitude towards a situation determines our victory or our defeat. The picture we build in the inside through gaining new knowledge and stretching our minds to gain new insights will determine how we will interpret what we see. We can choose the state of our minds as we approach life’s situations. What we have trained our minds to accept and embrace over the years will determine our failure or our success. Our attitude can be our best friend or our worst enemy in our pursuit of success. Positive mental attitude will help us to interpret what we see correctly. This helps me to understand that my attitude will give me the ability to interpret situations correctly.

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?

In a practical way these ideas and lessons will help me to take full responsibility for my own success by maintaining a positive mental attitude. I will help others to understand that success is a personal responsibility, therefore it requires personal effort. I will focus my passion and desire to attain my goals. I will do my best to teach others about the importance of having a burning desire in achieving success. I will create my own laboratory experiences to keep on practicing and executing my goals through PMA. I will practice loving, caring and serving people more, and I will also teach others to learn to love, care and serve others in their different spheres of life. I will be more tolerant to people, and exemplify optimism, courage and hope for others, because leaders they do not only show the way but they also go the way. I will continue to keep pictures of successful people and consistently keep them in front of me, and my inspiration and motivation from them, I will also help others to identify their own role models who are their source of inspiration and keep their pictures before them and measure success against theirs. I will carefully chose and decide the type of materials to read in order to improve my positive mental attitude, like the Bible and other books which deals with human mind or attitude. I will work on my magnificent obsession, and develop controlled thinking through positive mental attitude. I will concentrate on one principle until it works then I move on to the next principle. I will come up with virtues to live by as I pursue success.

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 canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”

It means that every human being is capable of believing, “if you canst believe”. We are all capable of believing, we can all dream. If you can believe that your success, dreams are possible then there will be possible. If you can believe that you can be a success, yes you can. If you can believe that you can fly, yes you can. Possibilities come to those who believe. This is important because it shows me that if I can believe in my success my success can be possibility. Whatever the mind of a man can conceive, believe it can achieve it with positive mental attitude.

“If a man is right his world would be right.”

This statement came from a minister who wanted to keep his son busy while he prepared a sermon for his congregation. It is said that the minister gave his son a map which he had deliberately teared into smaller pieces and he gave it to the son so that he would be busy while he would be preparing a sermon. Within 10 minutes his son was knocking at the door of his study room, when he opened the door he saw the picture of the map its original form; and he asked his son, “how come you finished so early? His response was; there was a picture of a man behind; so “I figured that if I got the man right, the world would be right”. This got my attention and it is most important to me because it teaches us that in order for the world to be right we need Man to be right first. When we do all we can to improve man we have improved the world.

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. It is a great and very helpful book, and the ideas are comprehendible.

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?

There are many unending exercises to complete including the Success Quotient Analysis exercise.

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. Except maybe to say, what can be one word you can use to describe this book?
Superb!

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

Maximum Achievement
Assessment by Bernard Ndhlovu (Zimbabwe)

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

The main idea that the author is trying to convey in this book is that when we apply the laws of success outlined in this book it is possible to reach a level of maximum achievement in our lives. He outlines and explains the mental laws and how everything that happens to us begins with our thoughts. Our reality is the expression of our thought patterns. He explains how your master program, your self-concept, determines how you think, especially the origination of your fears. He tells us that our fears originate from our thought patterns which were developed by the experiences we encountered when we were growing up. He also explains how our master program, self concept is developed when we are young and when we grow we simply express whatever we have believed to be true. Our upbringing brings up our belief system or our self-concept in our lives. We learn that we attract what we continuously think about. In a nutshell the author shows us that success is predictable and attainable, if you follow and apply the laws of success you can have maximum achievement.

i. The Conscious Mind Works like a Programmer

In this book we find out that our conscious mind works like a computer programmer. He says that in computer language we discover that the conscious mind works like the programmer, inputting data very much like a computer operator, by deciding and allowing what enters into your thinking, and sending messages to the subconscious mind which is the hardware of your (human) computer, the framework within which data operates. We also learn that your self-concept is the software program that determines what you produce in your life. The subconscious mind contains the hard disc where the instructions for these laws are stored. We also see and learn how we can effectively use the laws of success to live the life that we so desire. Maximum achievement is possible for anyone is willing to apply the laws of success. This idea is important to me because I learn that whatever data I accept and believe to be true in my life my mind will automatically program it into my operating system.

ii. Self Concept is the key to Maximum Achievement

In this book we discover that the self-concept is the power behind extraordinary results. The self-concept theory teaches us that any idea or thought that you accept to be true your conscious mind will be accepted without question by your subconscious mind. Our dominant thoughts determine the quality of our lives. We need to verify the kind of information we feed our minds. Our self-concept, our dominant thoughts will eventually dominate us. Our self-concept is simply our belief system. Whatever we see as impossible today we have consciously or unconsciously learned it, so we can surely unlearn the old, limiting thoughts and replace them with new ones. When you begin to believe that something is possible for you, your subconscious mind begins to transfer mental powers and you will begin to attract people and circumstances in harmony with your new dominant thoughts that will cause you to reach the level of maximum achievement. This idea comes as one of the outstanding idea because it helps me to work on my belief system as I seek to achieve maximum results.

iii. Concentration is the Gateway to a life of success

Concentration teaches us that our area of focus determines our achievement. Concentration is the mother of success. Whatever we dwell our minds on grows. The more you think about something, the more it becomes part of your reality. Our success or failure is the product of our focused thinking. What we spend most of our mental energy thinking about will create our success story. Concentration works as a seed for success, maximum achievement comes through the law of sowing and reaping. It says that you cannot think one thought and get a different result. Our lives express our dominant thoughts. You cannot plant a lemon tree and harvest maize from a lemon tree. Successful, happy people are those who have developed the ability to concentrate on one thing, and to stay with it until it’s complete. We need to be like a stamp, we must stick to our goals until we reach our destination/desired success. This idea is important because it teaches me to develop disciplined thinking by focusing my thoughts on things I want and talk about the things I want.

iv. Humans have two brains

According to the psychologist called Georgi Lozanov we have two brains which have two different functions. Understanding this will help us to unlock amazing mental powers and achieve more, and be more. We have the left and the right side of the brain. We discover that the left brain majors on the logical and practical faculty of our thought functions. This side of the brain is responsible for reasoning, analyzing, and calculating. It is more of the mathematical and skeptical faculty of the brain. It is stimulated by intense presentation of logical information. It processes facts, and stores up language data. On the other hand the right hemisphere of the brain is very different, it is an imaginative brain, and it processes information in a state of relaxation. It is developed and functions in picture form and through the narration of stories. It is intuitive, musical and creative in its operation. It is an imaginative force of the brain. This idea is important to me because it helps me to understand how I can properly develop my mental capacity, explore mental potentials, and use my mental energies to have maximum achievement in my life.

v. Goals must be written down

Living without goals can be disastrous because if you aim at nothing you will definitely hit it. It is important to have goals, and if we have them we must believe in them, if we believe in them we must pursue them it is only then that we can attain them. If we believe in them we must write them down. Goals put the law of cause and effect to work for us, the law of cause and effect states that to every effort in our lives there’s a specific cause. Goals are the cause. It is our goals that give us the results in our lives. We must believe in our dreams because they give us the results we long for in this life. When we take the necessary cause of action towards the attainment of our dream we will have amazing results. Goals will help us to have a desire to make our lives be worth something bigger, better and exciting. Our written goals must lead us to action because talk is just talk only action is action. Action is the mark of seriousness. This idea is important to me because it teaches me that I must be serious if I want meaningful results in my life.

vi. Setbacks are a set up for a come back

We learn the principle that failure is an opportunity to start afresh with new experience and with new energy. Failure in itself is not our problem but our attitude is. Our success is only possible when we change our attitude towards our past failures. When we see failure with the right attitude of mind everything will work together for our advantage. We need to approach every difficult situation as a mile stone which will lead us to our ultimate destiny. Failure helps us to identify ways which will not work in achieving our desired end, fine-tuning us to discern the ones which will work. It makes us to draw closer to the way which will work. Failure should not paralyze us but rather it should be the source of inspiration and motivation for us to forge forward. This idea is important to me because it teaches me that if I see failure with the right attitude of mind my setbacks can be a set up for my comeback.

vii. Choice is the key to Maximum Achievement

Success begins with one exercising the power of choice. It starts with the intelligent choice to develop focused and disciplined thinking. One would need to work on systematic and intentional thinking in order to be great in their field of endeavor. It takes purposeful thoughts to lead one to the street of success. When you learn to focus on the things you desire to achieve and refuse to dwell upon the things that you don t want, you begin your journey towards the endless possibilities. This quote is important because it shows me that I can define and predict my own success, because one’s choice to execute his/her goals determines the level of achievement. When we learn to make decisions we learn to take full responsibility for our success. We cannot have control for our lives if we are afraid to make decisions.

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 will help me to carefully select the information that I allow into my thinking. I will decide not to allow any thought or idea which is not consistent with my ideal goals to enter into my mind no for them to develop into my habitual thought patterns. I will develop a self- concept, by accepting and believing the things that I only want to achieve. I will use the power of concentration to get the most out of my goals. I will continually dwell on the thoughts of courage and confidence, hope and on the wonderful future life has in store for me. I will take time to sit daily and soak my mind on positive and uplifting thoughts, and how to attain the goals I have set. I will give my all to see to it that my dreams come true. I will work on harmonizing my left brain and my right brain to achieve more results in my life. I will carry a note book and learn to dot down ideas as they come in order to fine-tune my existing goals, and birth new goals. I will also learn to list down every idea in my moment of meditation and continue to revisit my goals note-book. I will also make my goals visible in order for me to read them, introspect as I evaluate my progress toward the attainment of my goals. I will see where I failed and learn from my failures and glean lessons from such experiences. I will use my choices to attain the level of maximum achievement. To create a better world I will also teach other people that besides sports like football e.g. goals they are goals that must to be set, and they should be set. Will teach them that setting goals is not a corporate thing but a individual choice. I will also share with them that setting goals means taking full responsibility for your own life. I will breakdown the principles I have gleaned from this book and make them simpler for people of different levels to understand them in their own lives so that they can easily relate with these principles.

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.

“By thinking of nothing else.”

Sir Isaac Newton when he was asked what made him the greatest scientist of his time, he said “by thinking of nothing else” Thinking about nothing else except your definite of purpose, and putting your mental energies on it you have began the journey of maximum achievement. If our dominant thoughts help us to develop a burning desire then we will become outstanding in our quest for success. We must be intentional and we must put necessary effort in order for us to achieve our goals. This statement is to me because it shows me that if I concentrate on my major purpose and on my ideal goals nothing else can stop 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?

Nothing, all principles contained in this book are 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?

The book indeed contain exercises for the reader to complete, in fact the book itself is a school which requires one to practically put principles into practice. All the laws of success contained in this book are practical and 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

There is nothing I would like to comment on, very transformative book.

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

Creating your Path through Leadership
Assessment by Bernard Ndhlovu (Zimbabwe)

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

This book has been written with the message to inspire leaders to create their own path through leadership. We see that leadership potential can be discovered in various ways, through different circumstances. It is the book with the message of encouragement, motivation, and inspiration for aspiring leaders. We see that everyone has a leader lying dormant in the inside which needs to be awakened. We are challenged to tap the potential which is latent in the inside. The book also explains how decisive action can create a path for any leader. More than once we are told that leadership has more to do with action than position. We also see how mentoring relationships can help us to unlock our leadership potential. The main message of the book cannot be complete without saying that we are told that knowledge empowers us to create our path through leadership. The main idea of the book can be best put this way, the book shows us how we can create our path through leadership. It also shows us what it means to create our paths through leadership. The book is a picture of the path we can take in order for us to create our path through leadership. In a nutshell we learn that even seemingly impossible dreams to come through.

i. Leadership is responsibility

Going through the chapters and flipping through the pages of this book I realized that leadership means taking responsibility. I realized that if am going to be an effective leader it won’t help to curse the darkness rather lighting the candle would bring change into the world. Looking at the pressing issues in our world today I realized that it will only take a decisive leader to decide to take the responsibility of leadership and be the solution to the world today. Things will not change for the better if I don’t take the first step towards change. I have being inspired not to be a leader who just watch things as they happen, but to be one that cause things to happen while others watch. This has taught me that I would need to take full responsibility for my success as I desire to climb the ladder of leadership. I learnt that responsibility taken is influence taken.

ii. Self-Concept Is Key In Leadership

I learned that above all it takes the decision of the individual to create their path through leadership. All the success stories chronicled in this book shows me that things will only be what we believe them to be. Because leaders are faith dealing people therefore it is of utter most importance that we have a proper self-concept. What we believe about ourselves, our circumstances, other people and everything we do has a tremendous impact on our lives. We need to understand that the Universe operates in accord with collective beliefs and attitudes we choose to accept and believe them to be true. We can only change the world from inside out not the other way around. During my journey of studying with IIGL I have taken this practice seriously and it has and is working wonders in my life. It has impacted my life in an amazing way.

iii. Leaders Must Be Intentional

Reading this book I realized that being intentional in leadership will create a leadership path for anyone who has an intense desire to make the world a better and habitable place. It has helped me to develop the commitment to see people’s needs and develop a strategy to provide a solution in their vast conditions. Because we cannot issue out a prescription before a diagnosis, we cannot provide solutions for problems we haven’t seen, and we cannot have solutions without being intentional in our leadership endeavor. This shows us that we will need to see the existing and pressing issues in our sphere of contact and be intentional about serving our communities and providing solutions to those around us. Any need of any kind cannot be met without us becoming intentional in our approach. First and foremost we must decide what kind of impact we would want to make. We must see the problems people go through and commit ourselves to go all the way and discover solutions for their problems. Those who will resolve to bring transformation in the world and continue to be the change they want to see, there will bring lasting solutions. This has helped me to be more intentional in my approach as I interact with people.

iv. Mentorship

Leadership is a progressive journey, which will require us to rub our shoulders with other leaders who can inspire, challenge and motivate us to become effective leaders. Our association can either make us better or make us bitter. Associating with people who share the same passion with us will become better leaders. We can learn a lot from people we closely associate with. Having that said it is important to know that they are people who have spent years to gain knowledge, experience, wisdom, who can help us to avoid unnecessary mistakes in our journey of leadership. Through the guidance of mentors we can avoid unnecessary pain and struggles in our quest to become impactful leaders. There are leaders who have gone the way we want to go who are willing to go the way with us, through a mentoring relationship. Mentors will help us to climb the ladder of leadership with ease and with confidence because they connect us to our destiny. We need a mentor in all the areas of our lives who can give us the leverage to achieve our dreams.

v. Creative Leadership

The world is slowly narrowing down into a global village, so the entire world is evolving, only leaders who are evolving will make it in this world which is changing in a rapid speed. Leaders who will fail to embrace change won’t survive in this season. If you don’t change in these changing times as a leader change will force you to change, when change forces you to change you will die. We cannot be creative if we don’t keep ourselves abreast with the current state of affairs. Creative leaders are those who foresee change before it comes and they prepare themselves for it in advance. They prepare before the crisis strikes because they envision when others are not. Creative leaders they offer solutions through insightful ideas because they use their imagination to provide future solutions beforehand. A creative leader is expected to be a driver of creative productivity in this fast changing world. Creative leaders are innovators. Innovation is the mother of all creativity. We need creative leaders with innovative ideas in solving organizational problems facing many organizations today and the world at large. Creative leaders are those who also create leaders inside others, and inspire them to generate and develop original and creative ideas on their own. This idea has given provoke a lot of innovative ideas in my life.

vi. Service: A Key to Effective Leadership.

Leadership happens when we give ourselves selflessly to a cause greater than ourselves. Service is the ultimate purpose of leadership. Leaders are those who are willing to help others even if it means that it will cost them something. Those who provide service have provided leadership. Service is like sowing the seeds that conform to our time and our resources. There is the law of sowing and reaping in operation, whatever we sow in our lives or in others whether small or big it will multiply according to the law of nature. Even if we chose to ignore this law that will not make it ineffective. We clearly understand this principle of a planted seed by the fact that we are able to count the number of seeds inside of a fruit but we cannot count the number of fruits inside a seed. We cannot enjoy the fruit of the seed we did not plant. Many leaders want to reap where they did not sow, that is where most of our leadership problems emanate from. The seed we plant today will determine the kind of tree we will have tomorrow. This has challenged me to think about the interests of others where ever possible.

vii. Dreams Do Come True

Every great achievement starts as a mere dream. All dreams start as mission impossible, but if we approach our dreams with purpose, focus and fortitude even a seemingly impossible dream can come true. We all do well to have a dream, but dreams must become a reality, and we need the tenacity to stand for what we believe in and follow our dream until they become a reality. We need to capacitate ourselves for the dreams we hope to achieve. We can achieve and accomplish our goals beyond our wildest imagination if we are passionate and resilient enough to fight for the survival of our dreams. The bigger, wider the dream the more obstacles we would have to meet. In our pursuit of the reality of our dream we need to be prepared to meet obstacles, overcome them and move on. A dream develops in stages like the growth of a child, it has to be well taken care of. They demand a lot of time and effort on our part until they become a reality. This idea inspires me to continue to pursue my dreams.

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?

In a practical way to improve myself on a daily basis and in helping me to create a better world I will do the following. I will be a responsible leader by taking full responsibility for my life and acting responsibly as a leader, and teach others to be responsible citizens. I will read books which will develop positive attitude, and I will also teach others to become optimistic and develop a self-concept of a positive mental attitude. I will become more intentional about providing solutions for people who need help, and teach them to understand the importance of intentional living in their own lives. I will seek to be the ideal mentor for others and also look for mentors in areas I need to develop as a leader. I will develop innovative ways and ideas to provide solutions to those I lead and also help others to tap into their latent creative abilities and skills. I will continue to serve those I can reach and use my gifts and talents to empower them and teach them the impotence of serving others. I will dare to dream and inspire others to dream, and teach them that it their right to dream and pursue their dreams.

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?

“One book can change a mind; one mind can change the world.”

This quote is important in my life because after going through the books I have read so far my mind has been transformed and it’s like I have discovered another world which I never knew it existed. Now I not only know that I change the world, but I now believe I change the world.

“A mentor can teach you in a single moment what would have taken a lifetime to learn. Mentoring happens when a more experienced individual empowers another for greater achievement.”

This quote shows me that all that needs to be achieved we can easily achieve it when we learn from those who have spent years developing themselves for the leadership role we aspire. When we carefully follow our mentors there’s no telling to how far we can go. One moment with a mentor cannot be compared to any form of education, it is an experience of a lifetime. Those who have gone before us have wealth of experience which they can transfer to us.

“Shoot for the moon, even if you miss, you will land among the stars.”

This quote shows me that it’s better to aim higher and fail to reach the intended goal, but the process of pursuing that dream will change a lot of things for the better. It costs nothing to dream big because you have nothing to lose.

“Leadership is all about planting a tree under whose shade we may never sit.”

This quote makes me to understand that leadership all about leaving a legacy behind. Leaders must plant a tree which will give a shade and shelter for many after they are long gone.

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 there is nothing.

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 got a lot of challenging and inspiring exercises which I will forever cherish.

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 nothing except saying that the book was well detailed.

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 Bernard Ndhlovu (Zimbabwe)

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

The main idea that the author is intending to convey through this book is that through the consistent application of the principles contained in this book we can develop healthy and effective habits which can help us to be maximum achievers. He shares with us the importance of valuing relationships more than what we get out of them. The author gives us timeless principles of forming habits which will make us highly effective people, through practical wisdom, easy to understand leadership principles. He explains how we can have self mastery in our lives, by developing our character. We learn how we can achieve “private victory” in our lives, by working on our character behind the scenes. He also shows us how we can achieve public victories of teamwork, cooperation and communication. He helps us to develop the art of consistent renewal. We see that these habits they overlap in their operation, therefore we need to progressively renew our lives in order to be effective by applying these principles in our lives. Everyone is capable of forming a habit consciously or unconsciously, being a highly effective person is achievable. The author does not only show us how it’s done, but he goes with us through the journey. We learn that we need to know the goose which gives the golden eggs and take care of it, and be patient enough to wait for the eggs to come naturally.

i. The Ingredients Which Form a Habit

This principle shows that according to the author there are basically three ingredients which form a habit. A habit is as the interception of knowledge, skill, and desire. Knowledge has to do with what to do and why do it. In order to form a habit we need to know what exactly we intend to do; and why doing it. Skill speaks of how to do what we intend to do. We need to know how we are going to do what we intend to do, if we are going to be effective. When we know what we intend to do and have the skill to do it, and we have a burning desire to do it, we will form any habit we so desire. Knowing what needs to be done gives us the definiteness of our goal, and the skill helps us to know what it demands for us to achieve that goal, that will inspire us to desire to achieve that goal. This idea shows me that forming a habit can be predictable when we consciously or unconsciously and continuously apply specific knowledge, skill, and a certain level of desire.

ii. “Begin with the end in mind.”

This idea shows us that everything is created twice. It means that we need to start with the clear understanding of your destination. Before there is the manifestation of the actual item intended to be made/fabricated there has to be a blueprint first. I work in a fabrication company, so what happens in major projects is that the engineer explains to the draftsmen what needs to be done, then the draftsmen comes up with the drawing/blueprint which will determine the design, dimensions, bill of quantity etc. When that is done the drawing or the blueprint is then is handed over to the boilermaker who will then translate the blueprint into a product through fabrication. The blueprint works as the beginning of the end in fabrication; this is how our lives work. If we are to be effective people we need to always have the end in mind in the beginning of every goal. This idea teaches me that, I must use the power of imagination to begin with the end in mind in order to have the results I so desire.

iii. Creation by Default

From this book we learn that all things are created twice, but not all first creations are by conscious design. If we don’t take full responsibility for our first creation by developing our own self awareness, we empower other people and circumstances outside our influence to shape our lives by default. We must intentionally write our own script in our lives and stop living the scripts written by our circumstances and other people. If we don’t write our own script we live our lives by reacting to scripts handed over to us by other people that is a terrible way to live the life we are suppose to only live once. When we live by scripts written by other people we stop living our lives by values and principles. Proactive leaders deliberately and consciously create the future they want today. Recently I told someone that life is too short to live it for someone else and get time to live it for you. This idea is important to me because it challenges me to take full responsibility for my life by consistent will my goals.

iv. Leadership is the First Creation

The law of first and second creation also applies in business and organizational dynamics. We see that there is a difference between leadership and management. Leadership comes first, it is the first creation and then management is the second creation. Management deals with the efficient side of things and leadership deals with the effective side of things. We can do wrong things right, and right things wrong, but when we do right things the right way equals success. Leadership deals with the planning, strategizing, and giving direction in the life of a business or organization. This has taught me that sometimes we can find ourselves busy without the business. Activity does not always equal productivity. We need to master the art of leadership because it is the art of doing right things. Doing right things will make us effective and will give us the expected results, because that is where our first creation takes place in our leadership skills. This idea shows me that I must develop my leadership skills if I can be an effective leader.

v. The Art of Delegation

Highly effective people they use the art of delegation. We learn that there are basically two kinds of delegation, namely, the “gofer” delegation and “steward” delegation. Gofer delegation means a specific command, accompanied with close or even unnecessary supervision. People who can produce results on the stuff they are willing to delegate there are the ones who tend to use the gofer delegation paradigm; that is why they want to formulate the methods for the task, and they also want to be part of the process, though they would have delegated the task to somebody else. On the other hand the steward delegation is focused on the effect aimed at, the results rather than the methods. It gives people options and a choice of method; and empowers them and makes them to be responsible for results. However steward delegation requires us to have an upfront mutual and a clear understanding of five areas of expectations. These five areas are desired results, guidelines, resources, accountability, consequences. In steward delegation we delegate because we believe in human capabilities. As leaders we must believe that other people are capable of giving us the expected results, and we provide necessary guidelines pertaining the task at hand, we also avail the necessary resources for them, we hold them accountable for results whether its failure or success, they should also know the consequences if things will go either way. This idea is important because it has taught how to delegate in an effective way.

vi. Empathic Listening

This idea shows us that we don’t only need to listen to people in order to reply, control, and manipulate them. This paradigm entails that we seek to understand the other person and understand their situation from their position. This is one of the tremendous ways to deposit in Emotional Bank Account. Empathic listening will not only cause us to hear what is being said, but we can also discern the deeper needs of the soul, by hearing their sounds, their body language. People say different things in different ways. Besides the physical survival of a man his other need is the need to be understood, to be affirmed, to be validated, to be appreciated. People seek to be understood, let’s seek to understand them. Good judgment is a result of good understanding. This idea is important to me because it has transformed my thinking in an amazing way.

vii. “Trust Is The Highest Form of Human Motivation.”

Highly effective people must develop the art to trust people through steward delegation. Trust brings out the very best in people. There is no telling to what people can do when you show them that you trust them. But it takes time and effort to trust someone with responsibility to get the job done and meet the demands of the expected results. We need to empower people and trust their capability to get the desired results by assigning tasks to them. When we trust people with a specific assignment it motivates them to do more than they are expected. This idea is important to me because is help me to be a better leader by believing in human capabilities and developing other leader to get the expected results.

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 have given me practical steps to develop my leadership capacity and develop healthy habits to build strong and lasting relationships. I will teach others that they can use their acquired knowledge, their skills and desire to form effective habits which can make them achievers in their lives. I will begin every day with a specific goal, and set weekly goals in order for me to be able to always begin with the end in mind. I will live with intention; I will be decisive and develop self awareness, and consciously create the second creation I so desire. As a leader I will spend time developing strategies which provide direction and inspiration for those I lead. I will value the law of second creation and seek for opportunities to display my leadership skills as I work on the first creation. I will learn to believe in human capabilities and use the steward paradigm kind of delegation, instead of the gofer kind of delegation. I will learn to develop empathic listening in all my relationships. I will learn to have faith in people and help them to be effective leaders. In creating a better world I will teach these ideas to others, in fact I have started sharing some of the principles on the platforms I teach.

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.

“But not to acknowledge a mistake, not to correct it and learn from it, is a mistake of a different order.”

This statement shows me that everybody can make mistakes but the greatest mistake of them all is not learning anything from our mistakes. Every mistake will always offer us an opportunity to correct our mistakes it is our choice whether or not we will embrace that opportunity. I have learnt that failing to learn from our mistakes is a mistake of a highest order.

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?

There is nothing.

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?

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, there is nothing, in fact it is a superb book

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

Goals
Assessment by Bernard Ndhlovu (Zimbabwe)

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

The main idea that the author is trying to convey through this classical book is that if we can clarify our goals we can achieve success in a measurable and attainable steps. The author through this book gives us the definition of goals, and shows us how we can achieve them with less effort and ease. This book is a success journal which has contains the content which helps us to achieve success through systematic and measureable goals. The main idea that the author has determined to convey throughout this book is that we can create the future we want through setting realistic, systematic, attainable goals.

i. We Must Be Goal Oriented

When we master the art of setting goals we can be successful. Success is for the goals oriented. We must be intensely goal oriented if we can tread on the path of success. Being goal oriented helps us to develop a burning desire to achieve success through the attainment of our goals. It is impossible to achieve success outside goals. Goals fuels our intensity for success if we are goal oriented. Being goal oriented brings us into alignment with our values and our definite of purpose. We stop being tossed around without a clear sense of purpose if we are goal oriented. This idea is important to me because helps me to live a goal oriented life. It helps me to always evaluate my life to see whether I am going towards the right direction.

ii. We Can Create Our Own Future Through Intense Desire

Our burning desire determines our success. The clearer your dominant aspirations ere the easier it is to achieve your goals. Don’t settle for less, don’t compromise your dreams. We must relentlessly, unapologetic pursue our dreams. Our desire can create e beautiful future which we desire to see. As we have indicated that when we become goal oriented it becomes easy for us to develop intense desire to unapologetically live up to our dreams and attain our goals. Those with intense desire they become outstandingly successful. You cannot create a beautiful future for yourself without developing a burning desire. Having a burning desire will cause us to take steps which will open doors of opportunities which will enable us to create the kind of future we want, and the kind of future which is in line with our set goals. This idea is important to me because it has given me the passion which has developed my leadership potential and increased my leadership capacity.

iii. Achievers Are Action Orientated

The primary difference between high achievers and low achievers is action orientation. We need to be intensely action orientated if we can achieve tremendous things in life. Being driven by intense desire will cause us to be action oriented. The author in this book he gives us the exercise to imagine that there was a solution to every problem which action would we take today which would make a difference in our lives? Our desire to take action will make us to be achievers. The author asks a question that if there was a way to overcome every limitation which goal will move you to action right now. Certain opportunities are waiting for us to take a decisive action and fulfill our dreams. This idea is important to me because it has helped me to overcome the fear of making decisions. There are many decisions which I was afraid to take which I have managed to take since I started this leadership program. Being goal oriented will make you to be action oriented.

iv. Clarity Of Goals Makes Dreams Become A Reality.

When we are absolutely clear about what we want, we can then think about our goals, most of the time, this will cause us achieve our goals faster than we thought possible. And the more we think about them, the faster they will materialize in our lives. Clarity of goals will turn a wanderer into a wonder. We can only achieve what we are clear about. Goals must be clear enough in order for them to lead us to specific action. One of the ways to clarify our goals is to have them clearly written down. When we write our dreams down it becomes easy for us to consistently keep them in front of us. In the bible in the book of Habakkuk it says “write the vision down and make it clear upon the tables of stone so that he that reads must run with it”. When we clarify our goals we will be able to take specific steps towards the attainment our goals. From that portion of scripture I have learned and developed the art of writing.

v. Asking Brutal Questions

Jim Collins in his book “Good to Great” says that you must be willing to ask the “brutal questions” of yourself and your business if you are going to identify and remove the obstacles that are preventing you from moving ahead. If we don’t ask ourselves “brutal questions” we will be trapped into the world of confinement and limitation. In order to see whether we’re gravitating towards the right direction or not, we need to consistently ask ourselves “brutal questions”. We need to ask ourselves the brutal questions that we have to ask ourselves before we launch wholeheartedly towards our goals. In these times were we have things like lockdown, that time helped to evaluate what I was actually doing and this led me to a crucial moment of asking myself these “brutal questions” which has caused me to make a lot of decisions which has brought about a lot of positive and drastic changes in many facets of my life.

vi. Focus On The Most Valuable Task

We don’t need to be more intelligent than we are already are in order for us to achieve success, we just need to know the main thing and keep the main thing the main thing. Highly paid people in any organization are usually no more intelligent or skilled than unsuccessful or lowly paid people; the difference is that the successful they just know the most valuable task in their organizations and they focus their energies on them. People who focus on the most valuable tasks become more successful than others because they are always working on tasks of high value. Being successful or unsuccessful is always our choice; underachievers are those who are always killing time on tasks of low value. We are always free to choose what we do more of and what we do less of, and then our choices ultimately determine everything that happens to us. I can relate with this idea because I climbed the ladder of success in the company I currently work for, by focusing on the most valuable task of the company.

vii. We Need To Exercise Our Creativity

We discover that creativity is like a muscle. If you don’t use it, you lose it. If we use it consistently it grows. We need to consistently use our creative abilities as a way to develop our creativity. Just like a muscle, if we do not exercise our creativity and stretch it regularly, it becomes weak and ineffective. We become successful in achieving our goals when we use our ability to generate new ideas and by constantly rewriting our goals and aspirations. That will require us to be flexible as we pursue our goals; creativity is realized when we act on our goals. Creativity gives color to our goals. This idea is important because it helps us to achieve our goals with creative ideas.

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?

As a pastor, a leader I have been equipped to explain certain principles with deeper understanding, which will result in making the world a better place. In my personal life I have been enriched to pursue my goals with much clarity and intensity. In my personal life I have been empowered to set goals and break them into smaller steps and develop daily goals. Because ignorance is not an asset, I have been sharing these principles with others on various platforms, the feedback has been amazing. I am committed to continue to impart the knowledge I have gained to others and enrich others with these life changing principles.

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?

“Success is goals and all else is commentary.”

Goals are a foundation of every success story. This idea got my attention because it makes me not to take the importance of goal setting for granted. If we become goal oriented everything will fall into its rightful place. When we learn the importance of goal setting we have mastered the art of achieving success.

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?

This classic book was written as a easy to understand, with clear, helpful and life changing content.

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 contained in this book are countless because this book is a success manual which shows us how to follow our goals in a systematic manner. I have discovered lifetime principles on this book. The exercises are very helpful because the author gives us and timeless principles which help us to attain our goals. Every chapter was designed with the reader in mind, as the chapter ends with an exercise to complete.

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.

There is nothing.

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

Nonviolent Communication
Assessment by Bernard Ndhlovu

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

Through this book Marshall B. Rosenberg gives us tools which empower us to learn how to communicate with others with a heart of compassion. The author gives us keys to effective communication, through giving and receiving empathy. We learn how we can best express our feelings without hurting someone else’s feelings. We learn the nuggets which helps us to develop what the author calls the “language of life,” which helps us to speak what is in our minds and hearts in an empathetic way. Throughout this book we learn how we can avoid potential conflicts through empathy and help us to navigate through complexities of life. It is a book of strategies which gives us the knowhow of receiving and giving empathy. It is a manual for creating a nonviolent planet through empathy.

i. The Four Components Of NVC Model.

Observation, feeling, needs and request are the four components of Nonviolent Communication model. This model of communication helps us to discover healthy ways of articulating our own needs without hurting the next person. This has been one of the powerful principles I have ever learnt which enrich my relationships through communication. Through this model I have learnt that I have to read the situation first before I conclude things based on assumptions. In my marital life in particular I have learnt to first observe what is actually happening in any given situation, and develop the art to articulate observations without being judgmental. Meanwhile being able to express how I feel even if what I would have observed would have something which makes me to develop negative feelings, such as being hurt, irritated, or sad and communicate my needs based on the observation made. The fourth component addresses what we are wanting from the other person. I have learnt to make my requests known in a manner which improves my relationships.

ii. Moralistic Judgments

The use of moralistic judgments implies focusing on the wrongness or badness on the part of people who don’t act in harmony with our values. This language is reflected through statements like, “the problem with you is that you are too stubborn”. In my relationships in marriage in particular am learning not to be judgmental by using the language of blame game, insults, and comparisons while communicating with my spouse. In all my relationships am learning not to use this life alienating language. Even at my work place I have realized that labels bring out the worst from people. When we use this language we focus on WHO IS WHAT. We fail to connect with people and fail to have meaningful relationships with them when we are critical in our communication. This idea is important because it has showed me that I cannot have meaningful relationships with people if I fail to connect with them.

iii. Differentiate requests from demands an important part of NVC.

When we present our needs as demands we hurt the feelings of others. Requests are received as demands when we feel that we will face punishment if we don’t comply. When people hear us making demands they can either rebel or submit. I have realized that when people receive messages in the form of demands they sometimes submit, if they do they submit under compulsion not by choice. If they are subordinates at work they are prone to make more mistakes because of the fear of facing punishment. If they choose to rebel the relationship will turn soar, because to present our needs as demands makes people to feel uncomfortable and unsafe. An unsafe environment in relationship is created by demanding instead of requesting. I have learnt that every person deserves respect and should be given dignity. I have put it upon myself to practice to differentiate requests from demands, by showing empathy towards the other person.

iv. Defining My Objective When Making Requests

It is important to define our objective in relationship because relationship is a game of attitude. People can catch our attitude like they catch a cold. Our attitude as we begin our conversation will determine its end result. Our objective should be a relationship based on honesty and empathy. This means that much as we need to genuinely express our requests we are required to have awareness of our objective. Empathetic attitude as we approach people will compel them to change, and they will also respond instead of reacting. Defining my objective in any conversation has helped me to connect with people in amazing ways. It has helped me to have meaning dialogues and influence people in a great way.

v. Empathy

I have been greatly impacted by the term “empathy”. This emphasized the point that we are social beings we were created for relationships; we need people who can listen to us, who can hear us who can be genuinely interested in us. This has helped me not to just listen when others are speaking, but to genuinely receive empathy and to genuinely express honesty. Empathy has taught me to empty my mind and listen with my whole being, as opposed to listen with preconceived ideas. Empathy has taught me to be the last person to speak. One of the definitions of empathy according to the author is “empathy is respectful understanding of what others are experiencing. This has taught me to be an attentive listener, an empathetic speaker. Empathy has made me to listen to understand instead of listening to answer.

vi. Pain Blocks Our Ability to Empathize

I have clearly understood that I need empathy to give empathy. If our pain caused by our past experienced is not healed or dealt with, that pain will block our ability to empathize with others. One speaker puts it this way, “hurting people hurt people.” We can only give what we have; we cannot give empathy if all we have is pain. The bible says: “from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” The mouth is the exit point of all which fills our hearts. If pain, anger, hatred, bitterness is what fills our hearts it will block our ability to give empathy because all these negative attitudes will find their expression through our mouths. It blocks our ability to express respectful understanding of what others are experiencing because we can effortlessly express our own hurting emotions. This shows us that the “untransformed pain is transferred pain.”

vii. The Power of Empathy

Empathy has impact to its own recipients. There are notable and traceable effects of empathy to its recipients. When someone gives you their attention without judging you, without seeking to control you, it feels super good. It produces this good feeling that I have been listened to and heard. If we starve empathy ourselves we can provide ourselves with “emergency first aid” empathy by listening to our inner self and seek the empathy we offer to others, so that we become the receivers of empathy ourselves. When we intentionally provide ourselves with empathy we will feel good because everyone needs to be recipients of empathy.

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 have helped me to relate and connect with people in a healthy, genuine and empathetic way. I have more than once taught on this subject on various WhatsApp platforms to couples and it has made a tremendous impact. I believe that these principles can build stronger marriages, stronger marriages stronger societies, stronger societies stronger nations, and ultimately turn the world into a better place. I strongly advice people I come in contact with to listen to understand as opposed to listen to answer. This has contributed a lot in changing my perspective about people and what they might be going through. And as I do counseling I have been empowered to listen to understand, and seek to understand the needs of the counselee and give them empathetic ear and advice them with an empathetic tone. At the end of the day we will begin to gradually see one person showing empathy, one person receiving empathy and the world will be 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.

“Let us become the change we seek in the world” this quote is so important to me because it shows me that I can be the person I have been waiting for to make the change. This has taught me that rather than cursing the darkness I should like the candle. If I play my role, take responsibility, play my part the world can be the change I want.”
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us. You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us, it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

This quote shows me that I should not fear nor fail to express myself because of false humility.

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 book contains clear, practical and applicable principles which are easy to understand and practicable at the same time.

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. The book does contain exercises for daily application. The exercises are very helpful in creating, maintaining and keeping healthy relationships. Am finding them very helpful especially in connecting and communicating with people. And meeting people’s needs through communication.

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 the author tried their best to cover every topic in relation to this subject.

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

Goal Mapping
Assessment by Bernard Ndhlovu (Zimbabwe)

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

This is a simple and yet profound book which inspires me to dream and align myself with my goals through goal mapping for the attainment of my goals. Through this book I have been challenged to pursue my dreams by developing a definite goals and taking steps to follow them through with clarity and logic until they are fulfilled. Through words and pictures I learnt how I can explore the power of my imagination fully by painting the future I want through the right and left side of the brain. This book is a ladder which provides steps for any goal oriented individual to achieve their goals. The author further explains the how part of goal mapping. The idea the author is trying to convey through this book is that, if we have definite goals and do proper assessment and goal mapping we can achieve our desired success.

i. Dream It

The mind is the incubator of every great dream, because everything begins in the mind. Great things are achieved through great minds. This has challenged me to use the power of my mind to dream and create the life I want through my thoughts. Those who dare to dream can achieve anything. I have been challenged not to waste time on none essentials in my life. Those who dream have believed in the success they desire to achieve. I have learnt that it costs nothing to dream, but it costs everything for anyone not to dream. A dream is the substance of every great achievement. Dreaming is painting the beautiful picture of the future you desire in the mind. The dream is the function of one’s mindset. I dare to dream, I keep on dreaming.

ii. Believe It

This speaks of seeing my dream as something which is possible and achievable. This idea shows me that a dream must be big but not impossible, it must be big enough to stretch me, but it must also be big enough to be attainable. It must be big enough to challenge me to stretch if need be but achievable. The bigness of the dream shouldn’t take away logic from it. That is why the dream must be specific, believable and attainable. A believable dream is big but achievable, if it is achievable it is believable. I learnt that I need to have a dream that am completely sold out too. In the bible there is a scripture which says, “all things are possible to him who believes”. We see that one’s belief brings possibilities. One has to believe in something if it can be possible. Developing a strong belief becomes the fuel for pursuing the dream. Those who have the ability to believe can achieve great things. This idea has made me to think through the goals I set

iii. Visualize It

I have learned that it is my right to dream, and to set attainable and measurable goals. One of the ways to express that I believe in the dream is to visualize it. I learnt that I need to see the reality in the mind. This idea shows me that I have to see the goal in the mind first, that means I need to think about what to think about. Seeing the goal in my mind will create the intended reality in the mind before it becomes a reality. I do it most of the times, I create an event on my mind and see myself doing a presentation and that eventually brings it into reality. Thoughts are a magnetic force they give us what we consistently see with the eyes of our minds. I learnt that begging for sympathy will not change anything, but I would need to dare to dream and see the goal and how it will look like in my mind.

iv. Tell It

This idea teaches me that something I have dreamt about, something I believe in, something I have clearly seen in my mind I can confidently share with others. Sharing my dreams with others can be a way to show that I believe in that dream. Telling others my dreams can open doors for help and resources for the attainment of those dreams. Telling it might simply mean sharing my dreams with my spouse, friends and family, it might help in building one’s confidence. Those who know what we dream of achieving can consistently remind us of those dreams.

v. Have a Plan

The author speaks of something which he calls the “dream plan”. Goal mapping involves planning. Planning is essential for any goal oriented person. Through this idea I have learnt to develop a workable strategy to achieve my goals. Someone wisely said that, “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail”. Planning is essential in goal attainment, I need a strategy to achieve my goals in systematic and measurable steps. Planning helps in knowing how to gradually move towards the fulfillment of our goals.

vi. Work It

I have learnt that every goal needs us to work on it, and keep on doing so until we attain our goals. Goals are steps we take towards the fulfillment of our dreams. Work is a requirement for any goal to become a reality. I have learnt to invest time each and everyday towards the bigger picture. Am learning to avoid time wasters such as watching too much of tv programs of lesser value, or just sitting idle, I have learnt to maximize every opportunity to draw closer to my dreams. I have learnt to schedule my priorities rather than prioritizing my schedules. I have mastered the art of setting my priorities accordingly and investing my time on things which draw me closer to my dreams. I also learnt that nothing works outside work. I have to work it out if it has to work. I have developed the art of reading something when am traveling or standing on long ques.

vii. Enjoy It

It takes a lot of time, effort, investment and sacrifice to achieve success. The author advices us to have time to create moments of celebration and enjoy what we have achieved. Since am the one who knows what success means to me, when goals are fulfilled and deadlines are met there is a need to enjoy such moments. The attainment of any goal is worth celebrating. Because more often than not the attainment of any goal is hard work. For every hard work there is reward for it, the reward for any hard work is to enjoy the fruits of one’s hard work. I learnt that those who work hard deserve a treat, they must plan to enjoy the fruits of their hard work. We need to learn to enjoy what we have achieved in the journey. This also should ensipire us to keep on dreaming and create more moments to enjoy ourselves.

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?

This book has been helpful in many practical ways. As I have highlighted on one of the seven ideas that I now maximize every opportunity to read the right books and am noticing better results in many ways. Am practicing to effectively use the right side of the brain to define my dreams through drawing pictures. As a teacher I share these lessons with others on various platforms. As I write this assessment I am currently working on a teaching which will include effectively using the right side of the brain. And from time to time I coach some people this is helpful content for coaching others. And I have also enrolled for other courses just to continue to sharpen my leadership skills.

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?

“What does success look like for me?”

This statement got my attention because I understood that if I can be successful I need to know how it looks like. It is my responsibility to define my dreams. I decide to take charge of my success story. I decide not to give anyone the responsibility to define my success. I learnt that I need to paint the success story on mind first if I can achieve success. I have to see how it looks like first.

“For a goal to be specific and definite, it should have an achievable timeline or date. Fixing achievable date for your goal signifies that you believe in yourself and it enables you to prioritize actions.”

This statement shows me the importance of having a specific and definite goal, and set a measurable and achievable timeline. This helps me to check where I would need to adjust and stretch and develop or which new skill I need to acquire for me to fulfill my goals. If I believe in the dream I have to have clear dates and timelines.

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?

There is nothing I disagree with. The book was designed as a do it yourself manual with simple, balanced, and applicable principles. The principles contained in the book are timelines and universally 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?

There are countless exercises and they are really helpful. The book has probing questions which compels one to work on their dreams, it is a book of exercises from start to finish.

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 only thing I would say is that though I highlighted seven ideas which are outstanding for me, given an opportunity to write more ideas I can find more ideas or lessons because the book was designed to be a simple tool to use, yet loaded with profound principles.

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

Goal Setting 101
Assessment by Bernard Ndhlovu (Zimbabwe)

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

Goal Setting 101 addresses the fundamentals of goal setting and how to achieve them. The main message of the author in writing this book was to bring a clearer understanding on the subject of goal setting and how we can become maximum achievers through goal setting. The principles contained on this book can be used by anyone regardless of their age etc. This book is about setting and achieving goals. He shows us that the primary reason for 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, and this book he provides the tools which helps us to do just that. And the primary goal of the author in writing this book is to offer goal setting methods, insights and suggestions to those who seek to to be maximum achievers in life. The author gives us lessons and fundamentals of goal setting and he helps us to understand that our goals should include becoming masters of these fundamental principles.

i. TheArt Of Defining The “Goal”

Any and every goal should be defined in order for it to be achievable. This idea has taught me to define every goal for me to be able to break it into small steps which can lead me to the ultimate goal. This idea has challenged me to live my life with intentionality. I have since devised a worksheet which allows me to evaluate my goals on every facet of my life. I have learnt to direct my efforts with intention and purpose because of the art of defining goals. I have realized that it is important to know the “what” I intend to achieve before I can try to achieve it. I have seen that the intensity of effort towards anything is a byproduct of any goal is knowing the tangible results of the goal of achieved. I have learnt that if the goal is important to me I need to define it so that I can expend effort towards it’s attainment. Defining the goal guarantees destination, based in this idea I have learnt that goals need to be defined for them to be measurable and attainable. Defining a goal has helped me to understand the accomplishment to be achieved, a measurable outcome of that goal, and a specific date and time to accomplish the goal.

ii. Careful planning, thoughtful strategy, and faithful execution are the factors that lead to success.

I have learned that there is what we call “careful planning” as the old saying goes, “if you fail to plan you plan to fail.” This has taught me to practice careful planning by setting measurable and attainable goals. Measurable and attainable goals need thoughtful strategy for them to be realized. I have added thoughtful strategy in goal setting by having time to contemplate about my goals. And consistent and faithful execution will lead to success. This idea has helped me in my work of ministry in being a relevant leader. Careful planning taught me to be intentional about my goals and employ relevant strategies in attaining them. For a long time I have been hesitant about executing strategies to achieve my set goals, but I have realized that nothing will work unless and until I make it work.

iii. Work On It

The author says the following about working on it. These principles, “They do not promise or provide a quick fix, but with diligent effort toward the achievement of your goals, your results can be substantial” I realized that nothing works until I resolve to work on it. I realized that I need to work on my goals if they are going to work. I have learnt that working on my goals is my responsibility, I need to take responsibility to make my goals to work, am responsible for making my goals work. This idea has given me the mindset of a hard worker, the author also provides the keys which helps me to work on my dreams. There are no quick fix solutions, but it will take a diligent effort of the individual toward the achievement of his/her goals. I have learnt that success is for those who are willing to put in the necessary effort to achieve it. I have since learnt to be a hard worker far as pursuing my goals and my dreams is concerned. A learnt that one step towards my goals on daily basis gradually grows into something big.

iv. You must walk the talk.

It’s easy for anyone to talk the talk, but only those who walk their talk will walk right into their success. I had to adjust a lot in aligning myself with my goals and purpose. This has made me to be a person of action rather than just being a talker. As the old saying goes “actions speaks louder than words,” I am learning to allow my actions to speak for me. I have realized that if I have to talk the talk I should be willing to walk the talk, if am not willing to walk the talk then the talk isn’t necessary. In the bible Habakkuk was told to write down the vision if it can lead someone into action. A compelling vision must lead us to action. Believing in a dream should lead us to going out there and work things out. In sharing a corporate vision I have also realized that the sole purpose of a vision is to lead people into action. It is essential that your vision be understood, shared, accepted, and lived by everyone who plays a role in making it a reality. This challenged me to passionately pursue my dreams.

v. Be Authentic

This idea has taught me to take charge and become the owner of my vision and dreams. If the goal is authentic my actions become authentic and it brings the sense of ownership to the vision holder. This alo means that I should take pride in my goals. I have learnt to take pride in things I accomplish and every milestone I make towards the attainment of my goals, that starts from taking pride in the goal itself. This idea also taught me that a goal or a dream shouldn’t be a borrowed idea it should be something which burns from within. I have learnt not to waste time on things which are not contributing to my dream.

vi. Make Everything Count

This idea has taught me that it’s not just about counting the days and years but it’s about making the days and years count. So I learned that everyday I need to cautiously and consciously make decisions which draw me closer to my goals. I have learnt that everything counts if my life can amount to something meaningful. This has taught me to align my thoughts with my goals and aspirations, because man is the product of his thoughts. I learnt that my thoughts are seeds which I sow on daily basis which will eventually grow and become something visible. I also learnt that my daily decisions determine my destiny. My daily decisions and actions can move me closer or further from my goals hence what counts is making everything count.

vii. Pursuing a Goal

Every goal must be compelling. I have learnt that if I can define my goal it must be compelling enough that I can give my all to it. If the goal is important to me it should compel me to be committed to it. I have seen that each step becomes an opportunity for growth, pursuing my goals stretches us, in the journey of pursuing my goals I have been stretched beyond my imagination. Pursuing my goals has transformed me in many ways. As a preacher I have realized the mistakes I usually make and see others make by not defining and setting goals which brings confusion and disorder in the organizations we lead, because “everything falls and rises on leadership”. It has been a time to learn increase my capacity and develop new skills and realize new opportunities.

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 resolved in my heart to apply these principles and ideas in my life by translating this information into action for my transformation. I know that the first person I can change to make the world a better place in myself, if I can make myself a better person it is the first step towards creating a better world. Just like I have been transformed by these lessons I am training those I can reach and I have developed my skills as a result my preaching skills and message delivery have changed for the better that on it’s own is helping me to make the world a better place. I have also extended the invitation to others to join this powerful and life transforming leadership program.

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?

“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 statement has impacted my life and got my attention because I have learnt that nothing will work until I work, working on it is what will make it work. This has taught me that success and failure are predictable, so this has made me to make everything count. I have seen that my life is shaped by my daily decisions.

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 there’s is nothing. It is a masterpiece of a book, much appreciated.

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 were indeed helpful and life transforming.

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 there’s nothing

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

Leadership for Dummies
Assessment by Bernard Ndhlovu (Zimbabwe)

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

Through this book the author has defined and simplified leadership even for beginners; Dr. John Marrin one of the points he emphasizes is that leadership happens when we take responsibility. The author clearly lays out the timeless and the universal principles of leadership, and provides a clear roadmap for leadership development. In a nutshell what I would say is the main idea which the author is conveying through this book is; to help aspiring leaders to align with their leadership values by developing qualities which enables them to become effective leaders.

i. Work of leaders isn’t easy.

The author tells us that leaders are needed, because leaders are needed leadership is work and the work of leaders isn’t easy; leadership is work. Leadership is work, because it’s work, it is not easy work. We need to appreciate that leadership is work. We see that leadership is common sense; but it is not common practice. One of the reasons why leadership isn’t common practice it’s because it isn’t easy, very few people can engage themselves into work which is not easy. I have learnt that as a leader I need to put in the work if things are going to work. I have learnt a lesson that I need to invest into my development and the development of others. I have resolved to work on the art of spotting leadership opportunities which will enable me to grow. I have learnt not to conclude things based on assumptions as a leader. I have the choice to be the right and needful leadership in the midst of little or too much of wrong leadership. I have learnt that I need to develop competencies which will enable me to navigate through the different complexities of people’s needs and expectations.

ii. Seeing yourself as a leader.

As I took time to flip the pages of this book and take some notes made me to realize that I started leading without even knowing it. For that reason, I realized it is important for anyone to see themselves as a leader. I have more than once seen my enthusiasm affecting others in a great way. At work and in other spheres of life I always stand for those who are criticized by others, this has made me to see myself as a leader. I have also managed to do something though I doubted my ability, but in the process it revealed amazing hidden potential I possess. And I have countless times been there to help people to make life changing decisions in their lives. And as a mentor I have influenced someone to raise their standards and I watched them grow in their potential. And I have been consistently challenging others to change their unacceptable behavior, this has made me to see myself as a leader that I am. Taking notes on this exercise have made me to realize that it is important for me to myself as a leader which I am.

iii. Leadership is a process.

The author gives the insight to the purpose of leadership which is to positively influence the way people think, feel, and act. This shows me that leadership is people involvement for maximum achievement. It is practically impossible to be a leader without influencing the way people think, feel, and act. A leader then is an individual who can make people to work together smoothly. Being a team player as a leader is the beginning of the process of people engagement. Leadership is a process that affects those who are involved. When people are positively influenced to think, feel, and act so that they are committed to making valuable contribution in achieving the goals and objectives of the organization. I have always thought leadership is a process, as a process of the development of the leader as an individual; but I have seen the other side of the meaning of that statement, that leadership is a process of people engagement and involvement for the achievement of organizational goals.

iv. Earning the right to lead.

Because leadership is not easy work sometimes many people mishandle it and would want to lead by manipulation, but leaders should earn the right to lead. Leaders can get extraordinary performance from ordinary people when then earn the right to lead. When people are belittled they do little, leaders can earn the right to lead when they value people. Earning the right to lead means that you see people valuable and see value in them, and see them as people who are capable of making a positive difference. When you believe in people, they will believe in you. When you value people, they will value you. When you value their time they will give you value. When a leader sees people as capable people and the people feel safe with the leader the people will voluntarily give their all behind the goals and the objectives of the organization. In order for any leader to earn the right to lead they must meet people’s needs and people must feel they belong to something bigger than themselves.

v. Learning from adversity.

The author says at one time the psychologist called him an “maximizer” because of the way he would find a solution to every challenge which would affect people. We see that people shouldn’t go around creating problems, but when they met them they should see problems as opportunities to find out how to handle these problems effectively. I have learnt that it is important to adopt a positive attitude towards difficult situations so that I can find lessons from adversity. I learnt that it will take a positive attitude to see life from a different perspective and learn from adversity. I have adopted a positive attitude to learn from adversity and I have managed to learn a lot of life transformation lessons. I have conditioned my mind to see solutions in every situation, as a result I am very calm in the midst of difficulties.

vi. Composing your own leadership tune.

According to the author composing your own leadership tune helps in clarifying one’s values and communicating them to others. I learned that composing a leadership tune means investing time in clarifying my values, because being clear about my values and aligning myself with them enables me to be in tune with myself. A leader who has a better understanding of themselves they can easily understand the outside world. I have learnt what it means to be an authentic leader, it means showing genuine interest in other people, and being true to one’s self by aligning with one’s values. When a leader is in tune with himself and aligns himself with his values and shows genuine concern and interest in those we lead, has managed to compose their own leadership tune. People will not come in tune with your leadership if you don’t compose your own leadership tune. I have invested time in composing my own leadership tune.

vii. Avoiding being a busy fool.

Going through the pages of this book I also found that I need to furiously avoid being a busy fool. I learned that there is a difference between activity and producing the expected results. Every activity doesn’t equal to productivity. I have been thinking deeply about avoiding being a busy fool, by evaluating my work against productivity, so that am not trapped in activity without productivity. With mistaken priorities it’s easy to be a busy fool. I have now become result or achievement oriented rather than being activity oriented. Being a busy fool is equated with running around like a headless chicken. Reading an amazing book like this one and other books I have read so far I have realized how wrong we are in our leadership in this part of the world. We reward people for occupying positions not for being productive in their positions. We celebrate leaders who are busy doing a lot of nothing because they occupy seemingly important positions. In religious circles I have also seen that sometimes we value being lesson oriented instead of being change oriented. We sometimes measure impart by numbers instead of measuring it by impact which result in people transformation.

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?

After appreciating that leadership is work, and that sometimes leadership is best understood by its absence, I have decided to practice effective leadership in my sphere of influence; because leadership is not common practice, it can become common practice when it is commonly practiced. Realizing that seeing myself as a leader can influence someone greatly, I have decided to intentionally work on developing leadership skills and put them into practice. Because leadership is a process which should allow people to get involved in the attainment of the goals and the objectives of the organization, in my organization I will formulate systems which will allow people to voluntarily and comfortable help in the attainment of organizational goals and objectives. I will practice to earn the right to lead by leading by persuasion rather than by manipulation and by command. I have started developing an attitude to see opportunities in adversities, I will focus on the opportunities hidden inside challenges, as a preacher I have decided not to run like a headless chicken, and stop being content oriented and be change oriented. At my work place I am known for the following statement, “we don’t reward activity, but productivity”. In my work place I value excellence in performance and I encourage excellence and furiously confront mediocrity. Looking at all these practical lessons I will use my different platforms to share and practice these lessons.

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 success in influencing people and situations is as much down to your mindset as to you having a particular skill! I use the term mindset in this context to mean a way of looking at or viewing something: in this case, the potential to influence a person or a situation.”

Looking at this statement I realized that I am responsible for my success nor my failure, I should take full responsibility for my life because my mindset can influence any situation or any person. Because my point of view is a product of my view point, I have challenged myself to invest in books which develops a winner’s mindset in me. I learnt that my mindset is the greatest asset in influencing any situation and other people.

“Engaging your team to establish common and shared understandings about important objectives, tasks and activities, demonstrates that you respect and value your team members: you seek their views and take notice of what they say.”

There is a difference between having a team, and building an effective team and we can only build effective teams by engaging the team. I learnt the importance of intentionally engaging the team in the establishment and understanding of objectives, tasks and activities as a team leader. That communicates that you respect and value team’s diverse views and take notice of their unique contributions and talents.

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 book is easy to understand; I don’t disagree with any idea inside the pages of this book.

6. 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.

My only comment is that this book is a leadership manual I will be glad to use it as my leadership reference book.

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