As A Man Thinketh
Assessment by Eric Kebeka Omari (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The Author stimulates men and women to the discovery and perception of the truth that “they themselves are makers of themselves” by virtue of the thoughts which they choose and encourage. Man’s visions can became reality simply through the power of the thoughts. The man’s mind is the master weaver, both of the inner garment of character and the outer garment of circumstances and situations.
The Author elaborates how a man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts. Every act of a man comes out through the thoughts and could not have appeared without them (thoughts) negative and positive thoughts (spontaneous and unpremeditated) as to those which are deliberately executed. Man is the master of thought, the molder of character and the maker and shaper of condition, environment and destiny. That man is always the master, even in his weakest and most abandoned state, though a foolish master in that case.
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.
a). Man is made or unmade by himself.
The reflection of the man’s action speaks the thoughts of the person (Mind) and his thinking which is put in action. If the thoughts are positive with sound mind the outcome is pleasant and admirable and if they are negative (evil mind) they destroy him, (so a man builds himself and also destroy himself).
Through the thoughts man makes weapons by which he destroys himself. He also fashion the tools with which he builds for himself heavenly mansions of joy and strength and peace. This is the contrast of life and reflection of self being, that man can mold or unmold himself through what he thinks and put it on action which is a by product of his thinking. We cannot see the thoughts but we can see the action, which comes through the thoughts.
Personal experience, over here in Kenya getting a job or being employed is harder than pulling a star from the sky, honestly it is like sucking blood from the stone, you may wonder but this is a true fact. For a long due I had been thinking of being accountable to myself and to be the boss of myself, I didn’t believe in employment but I believed in self employment. My thoughts were to employ myself and employ people. I become a source of giving people employment opportunities. In reflection to this I was employed as a casual laborer in a pharmaceutical company which knew how to exploit the poor Kenyans who don’t know how to think and defend there rights, you are used and misused, over there you had to work for several hours without anything to call over time, and there was no question on that, and if you question you are fired instantly, what you are paid is less than a dollar for eight hours. No medical cover (Works man compensation) in case of any injuries while on work.
In the factory you could work when they wish, and terminate your services at any time without notice. This steered me to think on how I can employ myself, and I had to think smarter. Indeed when you have thoughtful ideas and put them in to action nothing can stop you from achieving your goals and dreams, though dreams have deadlines so you have to work quickly before the deadlines. After sharing with a friend, he assisted me with little working capital to set a small retail shop, which I am operating right in the slum, it is more better than the casual job I was doing I am a master of my time and plan myself. I am not accountable to anyone but to my business.
I had also another vision, to enlighten the community, so I started a community based organization, by the name Alfa Network, Alfa stands for A better Life For All. Whose vision, mission, goals and objectives I had explained early before joining Global Institute. So I agree absolutely with the author that a man is made or unmade by himself. There is the inner voice which speaks into your mind and drives you to be what you want to be. “Think while listening to yourself”
b). Man is the master of his thoughts, the molder of character, and the maker and shaper of condition, environment and destiny.
This is quite true and practical, what you think comes out as an action that defines who you are, action is like a mirror that reflects your thoughts, we can not see what you are thinking but we can tell through your action. We classify people through their action which are delivered through their thoughts, as the author writes that our minds is like a garden whereby the gardener design on what he wants to plant and indeed you will harvest what you planted, so is our thoughts if we think positively we produce positive actions which drives us to our destiny, thoughts should be natured and be irrigated to give out absolutely the best results. The gardener takes care of the garden to have maximum production, it should be the same with our thoughts so that we do not reach an intellectual menopause whereby we cannot think and be productive. Act is the blossom of the thoughts and joy and suffering are its fruits, thus does a man garner in the sweet and fruitage of his own husbandry.
I come from the slum of Kibera – Kenya, whereby people tend to ask what has the government done to us to improve our lives in this scourge of poverty, but we forget to ask the same question, what have we done to improve our lives?, to be specific the question should be what have I done to improve the situation in Kibera, not even in Kibera, in myself, thoughts begins from me, I am the one thinking and it molds me or destroy me.
c). Man holds the key to every situation and contains within himself that transforming and regenerative agency by which he may make himself what he wills.
This is frankly true the key of success lays in our hands and the master of our situations. If I think positively plan my activities and try to carry them out in a proper way, I will become the master of my situation and the success will come upon my proper planning and sound thinking. (You cannot plan if you cannot think) This are practical ideas which I have experienced right here in the slum. Youths lack employment over here and turn to alcoholism, Robbery with or without violence, immorality for survival though in a foolish way. Some will tell you they rather die with Aids than lavish with all the difficulties and poverty, The end point is painful death, and miserable life, this are practical things that happen right here in the slum. A lot of capacity building and empowerment is needed to change the thinking capacity of the youth’s right here in the slum.
In one way people become escapist, so that they may not face their responsibilities, if there is no jobs we can create one, we have the key of every situation, some drown themselves with alcohol to escape from family responsibilities, and since they are drunk no one will ask them why they didn’t deliver their duties. Some become very harsh and arrogant, domestic violence increases, it is rampant over here.
d). Man is always the master, even in his weakest and most abandoned state.
In this case he is foolish master. When he begins to reflect upon his condition and search diligently for the law upon which his being established he then becomes the wise master, with intelligence and fashioning his thoughts fruitful issues.
Man can only thus become by discovering within himself the law of thoughts. This discovery is totally a master of application, self – analysis and experience. Indeed here I have seen drunk men and women, not forgetting youths bragging/ showing off how they can drain several illicit liquor and claim to be experts on that, by doing so there families go without basic needs, they drink alcohol at the expenses of paying house rent.
At personal level in this state, being an orphan and a bread winner to my younger brothers and sisters, I see myself as a master of my circumstance. I can afford basic needs for them though not up to standard, because challenges are there, “Life could be too smooth without challenges” but I feel a master on that.
We have different ambitions; thinking differently and our application are not the same that is why some people will be justified with the little findings while others yawn for more and more, socially, spiritually and economically. I have seen failures who justifies there failure, here in the slum some people say that they cannot do anything in their state of poverty, but in that poverty some have made a big improvement on their lives through creativity that comes on their mind.
Some people fear to take a risk to improve their own lives, I do say that failure to take a risk is much worse than taking a risk that leads to failure. Creativity and need made me to come up with Alfa Network and a retail shop, which makes me be a master of my own circumstance. I have become an icon to many in the society, what if I was to be fully empowered? I could be the role model of young youths and the community at large.
e). A man my be honest in certain direction, yet suffer privations, while a man may be dishonest in certain directions, yet acquire wealth.
The conclusion formed that the one man fails because of his particular honesty and that the other prospers because of his particular dishonesty. This is relevant to our current society. I had quoted early that getting a job in Kenya is harder than pulling a star from the sky, over here to get a job you have to pay a price, the procedure goes that who do you know? And who knows you? Is your pocket fat? To create room for Tea? not ordinary tea, bribe. So you get a job, rank through buying your way no matter you are not qualified, then at the end point you don’t deliver and you face your circumstances squarely. This made me to come up with a poem. Sometimes I compose poems, though I am not a poet.
A PLEA TO MY CHILDREN
You can not pray, O God to end starvation
For God has given you resources
With which to feed yourself and the entire world
If you would use it wisely,
You can not merely pray, O God to end
Misery and Despair
For God has given you already power
To clear away poverty and hopelessness
If you would use the power justly
It makes a man stranger in his own town
It makes a man to be described as a bum,
Pauper, a wretched or scum of the earth
It is a source of agony, solitude, and prison
As much as other praise poor people
Pray good Lord not to be one of them
And nowhere has a poor person been a captain of industry,
Though poverty is not planted to self being permanently
Live among people in such manner that if you die
They weep over you and if you are a live they crave
For your company
You should treat those around you with kindness,
Respect and good feeling,
Crave for money but make sure you crave for that
That comes through a front door
Increase your charity as much as your wealth
Remember if you ever lose money you have lost
Nothing, if you lose time you have lost something
But if you lose hope you have lost everything,
For you your children to succeed you must
Keep your family intact, love education, be sober,
Focused and articulated develop strong work
Ethic and above all love what you do
The door to success is always marked
Push and Pull
Search for the knowledge anywhere and
Remember the old saying “success has a
Thousand fathers” failure of course is an
Orphan.
The honest man reaps the good results of his honest thoughts and actions while the dishonest garner his own suffering and happiness. The actions we take affect us positively or negatively, it affects our lives in one way or the other. You may not live to enjoy the fruits of your sufferings but you will become a hero/ heroine in that process and justice will prevail, no matter how long it will take. Those who fought for our independence never lived to enjoy the fruit of there suffering but we remember them, and they are in books of records.
f). Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results; bad thoughts and action can never produce good results.
This is a fact nothing can come from corn but corn. I have been seeing good result from the work I am doing starting right from my small retail shop up to the organization. I do have an experience in that issue. When I started my business not all people wished me well, including my friend. After a given time my friend decided also to put the same business right next to me, not with good motive, but malicious intention. He wanted to take advantage of the surrounding neighbor who happens to be one tribe with him, in Kenya we have 42 tribes. Through that he thought that he could outdo me in business, and he spoke it proudly the reason as to why he was doing that in a broad day light and information from his tribesman.
It was a big challenge whereby he could call people right from my shop to his shop especially those who belonged to his tribe, by using his language. The method he applied failed and tried to use another criteria, this was also another blow, he started sending bogus clients to my shop to request items on credit, and thereafter vanish without paying me at the end. In the first place I didn’t know and some disappeared with my money, but God is good all the time, I managed to survive through such conditions, I did nothing wrong to deserve such treatment and I didn’t retaliate on what he was doing to me, believe it, he didn’t last in business, he closed down. Through such stumbling obstacles I managed to survive, my intentions were good, but for him he had wrong intentions. Good thoughts and action can never produce bad result whatsoever. This is a contrast that good and bad will never go hand in had. There is always a result on your doing.
g). Law not confusion is the dominating principle in the universe, justice not injustice is the soul and substance of life. Righteousness not corruption is the molding and moving force in the spiritual government of the world.
These are the factors that lack in our society, justice denied, corruption and poor governance. The law that are formed / policies seem to favor other cluster of people.
In our country we live the life of the set book called (“Animal farm”) whereby other animals are better than the others. Self – interest, egocentric leads our spirits. It is me and I a lone, my family and relatives finally room for my friends, if goes down like that.
If you are found corrupt in Kenya and it happens you are poor it is bad information, the law will get you and you will be sandwiched to the cell/jail without question. But if it happens to be a rich man, things go in different direction, free bond, formation of commission of inquiries which do not end and give reports. It goes that way and one gets free with his own mistakes without judgment.
The policies are not adhered to, if our policies and constitution could be amended and be adhered to people could be accountable to their own mistakes. And we could be having good leadership and governance.
3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?
These ideas are very practical to me and valid, I have been and I am in a process of being trained in various fields. Our devolved funds, Anticorruption and leadership management. These are just short workshops and seminars being organized locally whereby I am actively involved. I have participated in various workshops such as behavior change course, I have an award in that.
The lessons and ideas will help me to know how to tackle the core problems we encounter in our society, enlighten the thinking capacity of the people to a positive way, apply it on the group. It is a process which will take time but achievable. In developing countries such as ours we have a great challenge in leadership and governance. being that I have been oriented that we have to think or our thoughts reflects our outcome which is the action, then we have to revise our thinking in order to have a positive result.
The idea is to deal with our thoughts which I have to enlighten the society, examine and cross examine ourselves and be sober with sound mind. Empowerment and creating awareness to our community will lead to the better world, let the people be informed on their thinking faculties that will affect our nation both positively or negatively. A step makes a mile I do hope that through empowerment I will get more knowledge which I will not only share in my organization but the entire community to better the world. Practical ideas need to be practically implemented, exposure matters also contribute a lot through exposure people tend to see things in a practical way and then apply to their daily life.
The lesson is a spice to my additional knowledge and kind of eye – opener and deep understanding of myself in terms of mental growth and thinking. this will make me be a TOT ( Trainer of trainees ) to the entire society which will definitely change to a better world we want.
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’s visions can become reality simply through the power of thought. Your visions come from your minds and if you adhere to them you automatically become what you want. I do have a social case whereby one fellow used to speak as a joke, that I will kill somebody, it happened like a joke but for a long period he persisted on saying that was planted to his brain finally he killed his wife, be it, it wasn’t intentionally but it happened that he as killed somebody.
“They themselves are makers of themselves” You obey your conscious though it is bad then you become what you want to be, you think to steal obey your conscious you become addicted finally you are a thief and you are caught with the law, but here in Kibera people will take the law in to their hands through the conscious of mob psychology and you will be lynched and you destroy yourself. We can improve the chances in our lives ourselves or to be particular yourself and your situation.
“Every act of man springs from the hidden seeds of the thoughts and could not appear without them. Whatever we plant is what we harvest, if your thoughts are evil the outcome is evil but if they are wise and good so the actions are good.
Act is a blossom of thoughts and joy and suffering its fruits the sweet and bitter fruitage of a man depends on his thoughts. By much searching and mining are gold and diamonds obtained and man can find every truth connected with his being, if he will dig deep into the mines of his soul. Through our thoughts we can mold ourselves to what we want by only much searching there should be perseverance, patience and commitment to achieve what we want, we have to examine ourselves analyze situation and our experience then apply.
Good thoughts bear good fruits, bad thoughts bear bad fruits, this is a fact but your good thoughts will be bad information to others, where your freedom ends is where another person’s freedom starts and you cannot be free if you were not captive, we cannot talk about Justice if there was no injustice. Good thoughts and action can never produce bad result, and bad thoughts can never produce good result.
It is pleasing to human vanity to believe that one suffer because of one’s virtue this is an encouraging statement, if you suffer with a purpose and strive to achieve the goal. Then the suffering becomes more lightly and with direction.
Men imagine that thoughts can be kept secret but it cannot, it rapidly crystallizes into habit and habit solidifies into circumstance. Habit becomes nature and you cannot hide it. What happens in the darkness comes out in the light, you cannot hold your thoughts for a long period of time, and they will riot and come out like symptoms out of your action. Clean thoughts make clean habits. The so called saint who does not wash his body is not a saint. It is like preaching water and yourself you drink wine.
If you could perfect your body, guard your mind; if you would renew your body beautify your mind. The beauty of the mind perfects, the body our mind is power, sound mind produce perfect result.
There can be no progress or achievement without sacrifice and man’s worldly success will be by the measure that he sacrifices in, nothing comes in silver plate without sacrifice. So sacrifice determination makes one achieve the highest goals in life.
He who could accomplish little need to sacrifice little, he who could achieve much must achieve much, he who would attain highly sacrifice greatly. We sacrifice to achieve what we want, sometimes the sacrifice we make comes with a price which it may be not pleasant to us. Your sacrifice to do something may it be costing someone’s life, take for example justice for oppressor and offender. But remember evil will not mix with good, the more you sacrifice even in material gain the more you receive, nothing comes soft way, you have to sacrifice.
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?
When the author writes about dreams, he needs to clarify. What types of dreams you may think you are dreaming to find out that it wasn’t a dream but a night mare. Personal dreams are for personal goal. What about when your dream is for many you want to achieve a particular goal and need to involve others, should you make them dream with you?, or still go alone on the idea.
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 contains a lot of exercises and tasks both long – term and self analysis of your thoughts and judgment of your actions, and takes charge. Challenges are expressed the author writes that to achieve your goals you need to sacrifice, this is an exercise and a way forward, that whatever you want will not come easily but sacrifice for it. Though you will meet hardship and challenges, but this will keep you on the path, the author elaborate that we should be conscious with our thinking (thoughts) as you read you meet a lot of exercise, others are for self – application, personal experience and the indicators. The author takes us through the process of actual realization of who we are, what we are and what we want to be, though our thinking being the way forward to achieve our goals and objectives.
The exercise for me is helpful, it is an eye opener and creates awareness. Any action starts with our thoughts. The fruit of our thoughts are actions. Our thinking perception matters a lot. In Alfa I have the children who I teach on their rights, be it human rights, the rights are not complete without responsibilities or else they will be abused. The book is a great achievement not only for me but to the entire Alfa centre and the entire community at large.
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 comment I could like to make, when the author writes that our minds are like a garden that a gardener decides what to plant and when to weed, or leave it allow. For the garden you need early preparation probably before the rainy season, depending on what you want to plant, In this case my early preparation means that we should start to sensitize, the young generation on there thinking faculties, to be responsible and be able to deliver, generation comes and goes, so the coming generation should be well equipped with such ideas.
Man is an architech of his own life, so he as to choose the right materials to have a firm foundation, if he doesn’t have the skills he should consult the articheture, to had value on his construction that people will admire.
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? 7
B. How helpful were the contents? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 6
D. Would you recommend it to others? 8
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 7
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Erick Kebeka Omari (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
I like to approach the book (Jonathan Seagull), in a different methodology and strategy, the author has used the stylistic devices called Animation, using the Seagull Birds instead of human beings, we can see this through the naming of Birds and the dialog.
Let’s use the onion layer analysis, the author tries to take us through the process of success, before you reach success there are lots of setbacks, we have limitations, challenges, determination, love and kindness, exploit and new discoveries, perfection.
In Jon’s mind there was new discoveries that he wanted to exploit, about flight, but all this had a lot of challenges and limitation, What was the purpose of flying?, It is to get food, so most of the seagull never bothered to learn more than the simplest fact of flight, how to get from shore to food and back again. For must gull it was not flying that mattered but eating, but for Jon it was not eating that mattered but flying, he had a passion of flying he loved it and was determined to achieve the perfection of flight. It was implanted in his mind none could change that, even after having conflict of the mind that he is never going back to practice speed as he was a normal seagull, felt better for his decision to be just another one for the flock. No more challenges and no more failures he told himself. But there was a burning force inside him that pushed him back to flight business.
Not all people will join your idea happily, even your own family will challenge your idea and discourage you from proceeding, the parents of Jon dismayed him, as Jon spent the whole day a lone making hundreds of low level glides, experimenting. Another challenge was that for the Seagull never falter, never stall, to stall in the air is for them disgraced and it is dishonor.
Low flying was meant for pelicans and albatross, and Jon was just bone and feathers, he gets a challenge from his mother, so he should concentrate on eating, another discouragement comes from his father that if he as to learn let him learn on how to get food and eat. In daily life people make harsh decision to their children, parents, relatives and probably communities. It is don’t do this do this, decision in career choice for the students, that affect their entire life. This as been practical in our communities, the so called taboos and rituals, if you don’t do what the ritual states then you became an outcast and you are punished dearly.
Through determination we can over come the rituals and taboos even when we are sent to be an outcast, Jon didn’t give up, even after being sent away as an outcast. Even after failing severally he didn’t give up but tried again and again with kind and loving, hoping that one day the seagull will be able to understand him and see the inner thought of him. We sometimes have to think in a different way, though others will dislike it. But we should be oneself to proof your potential, though you have to pay a price for it. Jon paid a price for it, he was sent to be an outcast, but that didn’t deter him from practicing and even loving the very same flock that sent him away. How many will do that?
Through the analysis of the book the author elaborates lots of challenges, this proofs evidently that nothing comes on a sliver plate without struggle, no gain without pain, it wasn’t a cup of tea through all the process of Jon’s training, for flight he could lost control at high speed, he burst in mass of feathers out of control crashing down into water but didn’t give up. We human beings we give up at the first blow, we even fear to speak our minds and we fear to take risks, failure to take a risk is much worse than taking a risk that leads to failure.
Jon express love, in different aspects after being an outcast he never blamed or curse the elders, He knew that they didn’t see what he had in store, instead of being called to stand to center for honor but for him it was shame. Our good intentions in one way or the other can be misunderstood, and be judged wrongly, Some people justifies their situation and don’t want to improve it at all, the seagull they where content for scrabbling after fish heads, but here comes Jon wanting to show them purpose of flight. That high – speed dive could bring him to find the rare and tasty fish that schooled ten feet below the surface of the ocean. For the flock they didn’t see that and never bothered and even Jon wasn’t given chance to defend himself.
Jon goes back to the Earth though he knew the law that outcast were not welcome, this was a sign of love that made him to go back to the flock and find out if at all the flock can change their minds to accept to learn flying, or those who will be willing to join him who have been send out as outcast. In conclusion to reach our perfection we have to understand that perfection has no limit, and because any number is a limit, Number is not perfection, this is an encouragement, given to Jon by Chiang, so that he may aspire for more learning.
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.
a) To achieve perfection is a process
For us to achieve perfection it takes time, determination and efforts, putting aside all that destruct us from achieving the goal that we have set, putting excuses aside we see Jon saying that I am a seagull limited by nature, if I was meant to learn so much about flying I’d have a falcon’s short wings, and live on mice instead of fish. These are challenges preparing him to achieve high goals in flight. There is that will power of doing something no matter what people tell you, you try to do away with it but still it comes back, you have no choice but obey your conscious. Practice makes improvement, we can see Jon improving from one level to another “If I dive from five thousand feet instead of two thousand, I wonder how fast… this is determination to perfection. Jon had flown the first aerobatics of any seagull on earth.
Being that perfection is a continuous process we find out Jon being told that “But you can, Jonathan. For you have learned. One school is finished, and the time has come to another to begin. In daily life we have to stick on what we are doing and it should come from our heart, what we really love to do, always focus on the big picture, and you have to clearly know what is it that you want to achieve and be prepared for the challenges in all dimensions. Do not expect a smooth road for your achievement, move from your ordinary way to do extra ordinary things, move from your normal state.
b). Know your ability and limitation, what you can do and what you cannot do.
Deal with your limitations and access your ability and take control of them. What you are pursuing can make you unpopular with your friends /family and can make you go out of the laws, rituals and taboos take all action with appreciation though they won’t be palatable, have a forgiving heart, loving and being kind. It doesn’t matter how much you fail to achieve the goal, try and try again, learn new techniques with different approach you will succeed.
c). Don’t expect anything in return or to be honored.
Whatever you do don’t expect so much from others, do it for your own good. Those whom you think will honor you are the once to rebuke you and send you out as an outcast. Let honor come by it is own but don’t expect it and be prepared for it. Don’t fear to make mistake, we learn through mistake, Mistakes are necessary part of the success process. Instead of being honored they will call you devil or they call you god.
d). Don’t be discouraged
Don’t be discouraged, we have seen Jon being discouraged by his parents, but he didn’t give up. Go to those who encourage you and have full support on what you are doing, the starbright gulls encouraged Jon that he can being another school, for he had already learned, and Jon rose with the two starbright gulls to disappear into perfect dark sky. Increase your efforts every day and again. “I’ll get twice the speed, twice the performance of my best days on earth. Once one door is closed another one opens, we see Jon being welcome with dozen gulls by shoreline came to meet him, I felt being at home. In a practical life most of the people will discourage you that, what you are doing is so hard for you, or you cannot manage, only probably they fear your potential. In my life people used to tell me, business is hard and you cannot make it, it needs a lot of capital, what most of the people will help you is seeing your down fall, they will contribute positively on that, it is few who can give you the right direction and encouragement. Some will give you falls testimonies on how they have tried and failed. Choose the right people with right ideas and who can encourage you to achieve your goal, we assume that failure is not with us in order to achieve our goals, think that you have already made it and you are there.
e) Don’t give up try again and again
The more you try the easier the problem becomes, you will realize where you had gone wrong if you repeat and be able to correct the mistake, we have seen how Jon tries and tries until he make it, be very positive and ready to learn, “I want to learn like that,” Jonathan said and a strange light glowed in his eyes. “Let’s try it again” Sullivan said, over and over: “Let’s try it again.” Then, finally “Good” and they began practicing outside loops.
f). Accept the challenge and pay the price.
Whatever you do you have to pay the price and you should be prepared, nothing comes in silver plates without a price. You have to clearly be sure what you have to achieve and accept all the challenges you will face some challenges may be difficult to put up with but you should be well be prepared. Fear should not be let to stop us from achieving the goals and should be put under control, become a master on that. Jon paid the price of flight, he was sent out as an outcast, we choose the next world what we learn in this one, learn nothing , and the next world is the same as the this one. “You do not need faith to fly you need to understand flying” The gulls sees farther who flies highest. Everything that limits us have to be put aside. You have the freedom, to be what you want. when I started my business, I had a lot of challenges on the way, people took advantage of me and they exaggerated the prices of the commodities which I was purchasing, this forced me to look for places where I can get stuffs in affordable price.
Some challenges Jon wonders as to why is it that the hardest thing in the world is to convince a bird that he is free, and that he can prove it for himself if he’d just spend a little time practicing? Why should that be so hard?, it is a big challenge which was implanted with the elders, that the important thing was to learn how you can eat.
g). Be courageous, don’t fear
We see Jon being courageous and going to Chiang, through his courage he gets extra training that make him perfect, through courage we can achieve a lot we are able to exposure our talents and potentials, Jon picks up the courage after being sent away as an outcast, he didn’t give up but still continued training himself until he met starbright gulls who welcome him and appreciates his learning.
Through courage Jon goes back to earth to enlighten other flocks, and to see whether there are some who are willing to learn this business of flying, indeed he recruits new students. It is the courage that made him to break the law that outcast should not go back to the flock.
Through courage in daily life can make us achieve our goals, we are able to address issues, and explain our thinking. The only true law is that which leads to freedom and this can only be addressed when you have courage, remember where you freedom ends somebody’s freed start from there. When you look at your understanding, find out what you already know, and you’ll see the way to fly. You have the freedom to be yourself, your true self, here and now, and nothing can stand in your way if you have the courage to overcome all the challenges.
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?
There are lots of obstacles that we face in daily life, the lesson clearly brings out how we can overcome them, it goes along to elaborate that some obstacles to our success are implanted to us, through believes and rituals, some are meant with ourselves, despair and discouragements from our friends, relatives and family members, can contribute our failure.
I learn that we are able and capable of changing the world, change starts from you, don’t follow the crowd, follow your wish, consciousness and choose your friends who will support you on your progress, birds of the same feather flocks together, and mice of the similar spices dig similar holes, we see Jon getting the right group, Chiang, and others who really empower him and learn a lot, and helps him to teach other new students. Whatever we do lets do it in kindness and loving, the decision others may make for as may be not pleasant, but we should keep the hearth of loving and forgiving them, and help them to learn with us, It may take a process to change the minds of people but you won’t change the whole world in a night fall but you can change an individual one by one, a step makes a mile.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
It was not eating that matters but flight.
We see Jon through the process of learning to fly he was able to even get fresh food, than before, it makes me think deeper and question myself, why do we do something?, for example why do we work?, is it the perfection or to get the daily bread, Do we have passion on what we are doing?.
They refused to open their eyes and see
The gulls never show the glory of flight, it doesn’t mean that they didn’t have eyes to see but for them flight business was purposely for eating, so they didn’t bother with other learning of flying, and discovering, indeed there are some people it will take time for them to see the truth of change, I remember back in Kenya before democracy, you could not criticizes our honorable and high people in the government, that could be the end of you, people didn’t like multiparty it took time for people to absorb it, not that they didn’t know the goodness of multiparty, but because of the way the set up of the policies and the ruling government was set up.
New sights new thoughts, new questions
This is quite through when you are exposed you tend to learn new ideas and even culture you mix with others, it becomes easy for you to accept others, that is why Jon was asking why is it that there are few gulls in heaven than in earth?, Whatever you do will always work when you know what you are doing. The gulls see farther who flies highest.
The trick was to know that is true nature lived
The trick according to Chiang was for Jonathan to stop seeing himself as trapped inside a limited body that had a forty two inch wing span. Do our true nature live?, we sometimes limit ourselves through our thinking, we even fear to do something, fearing for failure or have some excuses which are not valid, We need to acknowledge our nature and do what it takes to achieve our goal, let nothing limit our success. Challenges and circumstances strengthen our success. Life would be too smooth if it had no rubs in it
There is more to life than eating or flight or power.
Sullivan told Jonathan if he knew how many lives they must have undergone through before they even got the first idea that there is more to life than eating, or fighting or power in the flock?, This is an interesting statement, we cannot think of flight, food and even power if at all we are not alive, indeed there is more to live than eating and flight, If you are a live you have chances (as long as you are alive you are a millionaire) but you have to work for it to achieve that. We have people who are a live physically, but they are dead in other aspects either spiritually, socially and materially, we need to ask ourselves whether are we living or existing? Remember even a stone can exist.
In the flocks we see those who don’t see any sense of learning to fly, do we live to eat or eat to live? What was the purpose of their existence? Including the elder of the flock council of the gull. Did they see any sense of learning?, In learning process we find out that there are more opportunities of even getting fresh food, but do other flocks see that.
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 this statement, “Jonathan remember what you said a long time ago, about loving the Flock enough to return to it and it learn” You managed to love a mob of birds that has just tried to kill you” If we take it in the perspective of our lives, something threatening your live will you be courageous enough to face it?, especially in our developing countries, take example of Zimbabwe, you are trying to oppose poor governance, misuse of leadership, and the person on the steering has the power even to hang you, the power to destroy you, and then you face him a lone, without a mediator.
I could like to see when Jonathan going back to earth, at least to go with Sullivan or Chiang, to be like a mediator, people of different place whom you have similar interest and will make them understand deeper and drive your point to home, that learning flying is a good idea and helpful in the entire flock.
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 so many exercises, the first exercise is completing reading the book which was helpful to understand the author’s idea, it also made me think out of the normal way, deeper thinking that what the author is really speaking about is not the ordinary birds, but people, he as just used one of the stylistic devices called Animation, whereby animal have dialog, and have names of people, Jonathan and others.
Perfection is a process, once you learn one thing, you don’t become perfect but it gives you another challenge to meet another one, it is like you solve one issue of climbing a hill, you will face two hills, then a mountain and so one, so perfection is not limited, it is not a number, for the number you can count. When we reach perfection then we cannot aspire to more other issues, we will be at per, and it will make us not to better ourselves.
Whatever we do or when we face live lets always focus on the big picture, that is when we can achieve our goals, be focused, determined and accept the risks, once we do all this lets bear in mind that never let a problem to be solved becomes more important than a person to be loved. As much as you meet challenges from the people you love don’t hate them, love them, the challenges they put into you makes you strong and a hero, without them, nothing will be felt.
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.
When we strive to excellence and perfection we are meant to meet challenges, discouragements and opposition from even our own family or friends. This need not to stop us reaching our goals, objectives, missions and visions. But as we do this we should keep in mind that they are part and parcel of community and we need to love them with kind and understanding.
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? 6
B. How helpful were the contents? 7
C. How easy was it to understand? 6
D. Would you recommend it to others? 6
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 7
Keys To Success
Assessment by Erick Kebeka Omari (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The author tries to enlighten us that change starts in our mind and we are able and capable of being what we want to be. The author reveals seventeen essential principles of personal achievement, with concrete elaboration of their implementation. All the principles described can be achieved through positive mental attitude, though it won’t be a bed of roses to achieve success, lot of sacrifice, self determination, team player, guidance from God through prayers, accept going an extra mile, manage your time and money, finally think smarter and work harder.
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.
Definiteness of purpose
The book as inspired me very much, in various aspect of life, when we analyze definiteness of purpose, it makes me pose a quiz, what is the purpose of being a live? Is there any meaning in our life? And why are we a life? We should define our definite of purpose of being a life. We have to develop definite of purpose with a positive mental attitude, irrespective of where you are, where you live, even if it is a shanty place like mine, appreciate that and think positively, think as if you are living in one of the biggest bungalow that you have never imagined to see, start appreciating yourself, and have focus on your live, somebody somewhere is craving for that position you have, if you cannot congratulate yourself how do you think someone can do that for you. You are so unique and special in your own way and you have a purpose in this world, but you have to define it and stick on it. The starting point of all worthwhile achievement, you should have one high, desirable, outstanding goal and keep it ever before you. You can have many nonconflicting goals which help you to reach your major definite goal. Through this we should have immediate, intermediate and distant objectives. We should avoid conflict of interest, personal experience sometime back, I used to hunt for job, any job, so I got one casual job, at the same time, I had started a small business, it was very difficult for me to serve this two things at ago, I want to be in the job and also be in my business at the same time, I had to quite the job and do business, I found out that the only way of making money very fast is by selling something, and that was business.
Establish a mastermind Alliance with PMA
A mastermind alliance is two or more minds working together in the spirit of perfect harmony towards the attainment of a specific objective. when you work a lone you will never learn new skills, and share experiences with others, my business is not the same way at present compared when I started it, it is a small scale retail, but with lots of improvement, due to mastermind alliance, I started with a small capital, among those people who feared loans and didn’t even know how to get one I was the one, I could not imagine that a bank can give me a loan, until recently I joined alliance with other businessmen who really opened up my mind, I am reservicing my first loan, which as made my business improve, I am supplying commodities to other small scale retailers who give me list of purchase order, I could not access the loan alone, I have joined a business micro finance project, whereby we are loaned as a group, and I can do business without worry of capital, but you should plan yourself manage the money, time and be honest because your allies are your granters.
Also in Alfa Network, being an organization it cannot be operated by a single person, we have our mastermind group, who constitute Alfa with different skills, we have those who support our objectives, missions and goals, who are helpful in daily activities, without them Alfa cannot survive. We cannot live in our vacuum, we need one another for live to be smooth, we have various parts of the body but we are one, the hand cannot say that I do not belong to the body and man is a social animal in nature.
Go extra mile with PMA
Going an extra mile in whatever you do pays a lot and it should come from your inner most heart do it willingly or else it won’t reflect to the positive outcome, Why should we go an extra mile?, we have to set reasons as to why we have to go an extra mile with clean conscious, and what are the benefits of going an extra mile?. practically I have gone an extra mile but I need to go more and more, thanks for the encouragement of the book, ideas and tips, I yawn for me, I need to go a deeper extra mile on what I am doing, as I said I started supplying commodities to other small scale traders, I do go an extra mile to deliver products to their doorstep or where their business are situated, through this my sales have gone high.
There is an experience I had that I could like to share with you, during the time I was taking list of orders from my clients, I met a client who gave me an order which I could not manage, it wanted big amount to purchase the order, I didn’t reject the order, what I did, I took the order and went to one of my friend for advice, my client had given me a period of three days to deliver the order. My first friend advised me to sell the order to one of the distributor to give me a commission, Another one told me to live the order since it was too high for me, the last one told me to borrow money which I will repay back with a small interest, considering the options I have been given if it was you what could you do?, I took a step and it happened I knew one distributor, and he was my friend, so I made the order, and told him that I will pay after he delivers the product, so he did exactly what I told him, it was easy cash on delivery, he gave me some few minutes I delivered the goods to my clients who pay me there and then, I took my share and gave the distributor his part. I felt good that day it was worthy a deal. Going an extra mile also needs you to have a clear, logical thinking.
Budget your time and money
The old saying goes that time is money, but how? In developing countries we have sufficient time to waste, to be specific here we can talk, laugh the whole day without being sensitive on time, in the hospitals, public offices name them, it can take you the whole day to move from one point to another, most of the people in the slum practically where I come from it is time which manages them but not them who manage time, If you loose money you have lost nothing, if you loose time you have lost something but if you loose hope you have lost everything, keeping time as it is advantage, especially when you are in business, your orders, need to be delivered on time, to catch up with the market, you have to plan accurately to succeed, we have 24 hours enough to be used wisely but not wildly, 8 hours sleeping, 8 hours working and 8 hours your free time, time should be used wisely to attain your objective.
Learning from defeat
Defeat may be a stepping stone or a stumbling obstacle according to your mental attitude and how you relate it to yourself, it is never the same as failure unless and until has been accepted as such, If life could be smooth it could be like a road leading to nowhere, the obstacles makes us strong, and measures the value of your achievement, the achievement becomes worthy the pain, no pain no gain, through defeat we learn our mistakes and makes us be persistent in whatever we do, and that measures your outcome, look at the spider how many times and how many jumps it has to make in order to make the web, sometimes it fails the target but it repeats several times to achieve the goal.
We should change our mental attitude, on the approach; we do something prepared to fail, if you go to the battle prepared that you will run away at the first blow you receive, then you will never even wait for the battle, we fail before even starting the project, failure starts in our mind, if we think like failures we become the best failures, in all aspect of life.
Whatever we do there are lots of challenges which makes us strong, in business prices hike time and again, sometimes I wonder when I pass around and do my own analysis, we should learn from defeat and employ new mechanism, or methodology on what we are doing, business is good but not doing it blindly, and create excuses on other issues, I was working around and met a women, selling maize, roasting on the road side, they where about 6 pieces of maize, she had bought charcoal more expensive than the maize she was selling, I tried to interview her she said since the political conflict it is had to get enough maize, so we get very little, and we run at a lose, my advice to her was to check her inputs and outputs, if the input is more than output then her business is under intensive care unity but if her output is more than the input then she is in the right track of success, we share a lot and gave her some tips which I have gained through the books I received. Let defeat not make you stumble but make an opportunity out of it, a wise man can sense success in distance, but a fool will never realize his own potential. If you slide on mud and fall down you are bound to stand up and change your clothes which have been soiled and continue with the journey, defeat makes you change your tactics, and improvise new ideas and strategies of approaching the same issue.
Create personal initiative
Personal initiative is something should be born in your inner heart or from the bottom of your heart, what your mind can conceive it can deliver this is a sure fact. If it is a burning desire from your heart, then go for it, we are unique in our own thinking and make up, we have different taste and choices, Let us stop being copy cats, but develop our own thinking and initiative, we do things because others have down them, but not because we love and being born in our own initiative (mind). Then when we fail we start having lame excuses or blaming others. Personal experience over here when I started my business nobody around had that idea, it was my own thinking, but I got challenges, I had studied very well, the geographical set up of my area, the taste of people and what exactly they like and in which measurement.
Being that this is a slum area, there are so many factors to consider, security is very fundamental, the income of the people, dictates the product they buy, so you have to come up with small quantities which are cheap, stuffs in small unit sells very fast than those in large quantities, So one fellow seeing that I have started business, He came and did study on my shop, He got a room not very far from me, he stocked to the fullest, huge stuffs, 5 kgs cooking fats name them, but least did he know such products are not pocket friendly to slum people, so we categories them to a group of dead stock, he didn’t last in business for one year, he closed down since goods were not moving.
I really like how people over here, especially women the way they have created personal initiative, so many small micro finance projects have mushroomed right here Mary go round being one of the project, whereby they contribute money or small saving to themselves, some women, goes to Kenchic factories, factories where chicken are sold, so they buy chicken intestine, chicken legs, heads, gizzards, liver and what they do they set fire on a road side fry them and sell to those people who cannot afford buying chicken, and out of that they make a living, it may sound strange but that is what happens on the ground right here.
In the side of the men, they have created personal initiative and one way of creating self employment, by selling African sausage and roasted meat on the streets, in Kiswahili known as (African sausage – Mutura) collection of blood, beef, and some other parts of meat, put it inside the animal intestine, boil it and then roast, sell it to people piece by piece by chopping to them, especially drunkard like it very much, and they make money from that and many other more activities which have emerged right here.
Improving your mental attitude
Positive mental attitude allows you to build on hope and overcome the negative attitude of despair and discouragement. It gives you the mental power, the feeling the confidence to do anything you make up your mind to do. This as been a big challenge especially to the young elite or academicians here in Kenya, There is a lot of unemployment in Kenya and the world in general, In African context education is viewed as a form of employment and here employment I mean white collar job, this as made most of the youths suffer with degree upon their names, without employment, we hear our government saying it will provide employment, the question is how, what methodologies are they going to put up? The reason for being educated is living a meaningful life, if there is no employment we should be in a position of creating one, through self – employment, Youths should focus on ways of employing themselves and employing others through improving mental attitude of jua kali sector, (Self employment), if we change our mental attitude towards what we do, then we can improve.
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?
There is a lot of positive ideas that I have gained from the book, positive mental attitude towards what we do is very important, I have learnt that whatever I do to be smart and achieve my goal I should go an extra mile with positive mental attitude, have a definite purposes, the seventeen principle of success are very important. It is also an empowerment to me that whatever I do I should do it with a positive attitude in order for me to be successful, I will never quite since success don’t come on a silver plate, no gain without pain, I have been enlightened that my mind is the only thing over which I have the right of complete control, so whatever my mind can conceive and believe it can achieve. There for I will not allow self imposed limitations and restrictions to block the flow of infinite intelligence. In creating a better world in fact I have already started advising people on a positive thinking I am also a community monitor trained, on devolved funds making our ministers accountable to the common man through community initiative project and governing their own finances, which are in form of taxes, through undergoing all this process of tangible books that I have receive I will be able to mobilize my community and organization in a positive way of delivering our community from bondage of poverty.
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 mind is the only thing over which you have the right of complete control
The author made me to reflect on this idea, it is very through that you can control your mind in all ways you need, since nobody will govern your way of thinking, and it is you as an individual who can control your mind to a positive way, we will see that through your outcome which is actions. We have full control of our mind.
Anything worth having has a definite price tag. Anything worth having is worth working for.
The successful people we have, they have a story behind their success, they have challenges to reach where they are, challenges keeps you on toes and it remind you that whatever you are looking for is worthy so when you achieve it you will be able to keep it and maintain it, it is worthy the price, nothing comes good just easily, if there was no challenges then we couldn’t work for our success, and life could be a smooth road heading to nowhere. These challenges will help you to be conscious of all the different benefits it will bring. Life would be too smooth if it had no rubs in it
Make yourself so useful that it would be extremely difficult if not impossible to replace you
I really liked this statement, this is one way of marketing yourself, and it gives you an insurance and even power to bargain on your destiny, through this you can dictate your salary and allowances since you have what it takes, but it as to be out of good will determination, going extra mile and selling your policies which makes you unique from others, then you will be marketable.
Success attracts success while failure attracts failure
We see successful people being more successful, every day and again and the more miserable remain to be more miserable, this is a fact and practical, when you are rich definitely you will interact with people of your same caliper who will advance your thinking and empower you with new methodologies, you graduate to another standard, and implement new ideas which are successful and positive, but when you are a failure you justify your situation by pointing fingers to others that they are the cause of your calamity. Failure to take a risk is much worse than taking a risk that leads to failure. You will get a lot of excuses of not achieving the highest standard in life.
The world is a great book of which they that never stir from home read only one page, through receiving such wonderful books, I am graduating to another standard whereby my thinking will never be the same again, I am in a way attracting intellectuals whereby we can share ideas, and other important issues, so the more I read the more I improve my thinking and the more I meet various people with different ideas and strategies.
There is an old saying “wasting time is sinful’
Time is your most precious asset. If used correctly, it is like money in a bank. You must spend it under strict self discipline, Time is money, if you loose money, you have lost nothing, if you loose time you have lost something but if you loose hope you have lost everything.
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?
Putting all eggs in one basket, and concentrate on that basket, men that is risky, especially the eggs are fragile, Misfortune may come in spite of watchfulness and if it finds you in that one basket you will see fire, During the post violence election here in Kenya those who had their eggs in one basket got a very big impact, they lost everything, but those who spread their business in various places they were not affected very much at least they had something to be proud of or to start life with.
You are what you are and where you are because of the dominating thoughts in your mind
There are so many factors that contribute to person wellbeing, we have geographical factors, environmental factors, natural factors, social factors name them, like when we analyze poverty, there is poverty caused by natural catastrophes, like flood, thunderstorm, earth quake, your thinking and mind is sober and upright, but due to this calamities you are stricken by poverty, Like here in Kenya we have a lot of dependency syndrome, you get a job and you need to improve your life, the whole community depends on you chains of relatives will be upon you needing your help and if you don’t help them it becomes an issue, if you come from poor family you became a breadwinner for your family, Take practical example of my cause, I am the first born my parents both of them died no fortune left for us, no compensation from the insurance, I have to educate my young brothers and sisters, I need also to better my life, my education and ambitions was cut short, it forced me to look for a job, after that graduated to my own job and being the founder of Alfa Network, where could I be if it was not all this happening, maybe achieving the dream of my life. Well but that one doesn’t give you an okay of not working hard. So in some point I disagree with the author’s statement, probably it depends in which situation and where I meant that to be.
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 contains a lot of exercises some are long term, changing your thoughts through positive mental attitude is a process which takes time, but it has rejuvenated my way of improving my work, through going an extra mile, and appreciating what you have and trying to better it, there are two statements which have really made a lot of change in my life, in whatever we do there is a lot of competition, and there are so many people who are skilled than you, but how do you undo them, I found out that saying THANK YOU, it means a lot, whatever service you do to somebody, or whatever little he/she buys from you say thank you, it will make a difference and makes the person being given the service more at peace and at home
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 benefit of doing more than you are paid for, the author needs to categories this idea, if it is doing more than what you are paid for we need to know where and when, since in our society we have those people who work as volunteers who work absolutely minus payment or allowance, this set of people need to eat, dress, pay there house rent, but they are exploited through working more than they are paid, doing what you are not paid for should have a limit, some people may take advantage over you. It is quite unfortunate that the society where we come from not all people have sympathy; they can exploit you, in the name of volunteering. I remember one time I used to volunteer in an organization, in the project we could feed the people who come in the forum, but we who volunteer are given nothing, just imagine giving people bread which you yourself didn’t take in the morning and at the end of the day you are given nothing. When you are introduced to donors of the same organization, they call you one of their work mates, so it creates a lot of question mark, so the author could have covered this in a detailed way.
8. 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? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 8
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 7
Success Through Positive Mental Attitude
Assessment by Erick Kebeka Omari (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
May i start by saying that the Book as inspired me, in theoretical and practical lifestyle whereby I have done self analysis and i know what it take for me to be what I am and where I want to be, From the word go the author writes about the PMA, positive mental attitude, which is paramount in our daily life, our life is defined through the way we think, think positively and grow positively, you think negatively grow negatively. The author elaborate on how we can clear the cobwebs from our thinking, and remove dust from our eyes to see beyond the dark tunnels of our lives.
The author gives us practical strategies on how to reach where we want to be, anything in life that is worth having is worth working for, Success through positive mental attitude instructs you on exactly what to do and how to do it in order to tap the powers of your subconscious mind and put them to work for you.
PMA has the power to attract wealth, success, happiness and health, while NMA repels the above, it is practical successful people have been more successful and failures have been more failures, We are poor not because of God, we are poor because father (you) has never developed a desire to become rich, this is quite through, sometimes, we see a lot of stumbling obstacles in whatever we do even when we haven’t tried, I have seen people right here on the ground fearing to acquire wealth, they tend to say that they do not belong to that class. They don’t develop a burning desire to be rich. Greatness comes to those who develop a burning desire to achieve high goals. To become an expert achiever in any human activity, it takes practice, practice, and practice, for us the first blow we receive in life puts off our effort and we do not tend to try and even before we receive the blow we are prepared to go to the battle to be defeated or the first blow you receive you are done, this is what as contributed very much to our failure, we need easy going stuffs, somebody to do things for us. And the convectional law states that if you want something done the way you want, do it yourself, but we have left our lives in the hands of others to determine our success, the negative part of our thinking dominate our positive thinking which as made us miserable and finger pointing the successful people that they are the makers of our failure.
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.
a. Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) and Negative Mental Attitude (NMA)
This is one element which is the starting or focal point of oneself, through positive mental attitude and negative mental attitude this defines your destination either to be successful or failure in life, failure or success maybe economically, socially, spiritually, or environmental factors. Remember you have full control of the way you think, without anybody controlling you, it will only reflect on the action that is when we can define you through the outcome of your thinking.
Success should not be reflected as being wealth, people tend to think that success is being wealth, but happiness is the most fundamental success, there are successful men and women in terms of wealth who are unhappy, their families are apart, and the home which is to be a happy place is a sorrowful place of battles. What you think is what you are if you think you are stupid, then you will definitely do stupid things, we have the ability to dictate our lives, whatever you do with positive attitude, you will acquire through following up the principles of success.
Negative attitude makes our life short, and we became escapist, we deviate from responsibility pointing fingers to others, Very interesting book and practical things which happens over here in Kenya, We have belittled our thinking until we cannot acquire what God gave all of us to acquire, freely, we have the potential but our negative attitude, cover the bigger percentage of our thinking.
Practical experience I have seen men and women right here in the slum live a positive life and turn out to be successful people, Over here you will find the richest and the poor of the poorest, living right here. There is this one friend of mine, who started being employed in one of the wholesale, by distributing products to small clients. He used to push the cart, but he was well behaved and he also started a small shop, right away he is rich and doing so well.
Sometimes we tend to concentrate on negative issues and tend to think how people will look at us, when probably we are doing things out of our career.
Five Mental way of attacking success are
1. having a problem is good
2. learn to see
3. the secret of getting things done
4. how to motivate yourself
5. how to motivate others
b). Clear the cobwebs from your thinking.
Our thinking contributes a lot in our well being, most of the people have the biggest percentage of thinking negatively and their lives turn to be negative, it is high time that we need to clear the cobwebs in our brain and think positively, from the research I have done, right here, people fair even trying to do something, or start a small business, they have numerous reasons as to way they will or they cannot do it. Our thinking has been narrowed and we conclude that I am not the best in doing that so and so can do it. Some are given opportunities and deny taking a step, since their minds still have strings of cobweb, clustered on their mind.
In Africa continent, we have been having the issue of girl – child education, a very big challenge, there is still cobweb to other communities who have not accepted to clean their thinking and think positively, still they deny girl – child education. A woman was described that she is merely meant to bear children, source of income marriage (dowry), look upon the welfare of children, husband, and beast of burden. Education was the last thing that was offered to a girl – child. Some ethnicity had to force the girl at early age to get married. And this is still there, even though civilization as come, but people are taking a long time to clear the cobweb.
In fact, in Kenya it is not long time when women started to get their own identity card and allowed to work independently, they used to be employed using their father’s identification card or their husband. This still happens but in a different context, I have seen most of the men right here when they are married they terminate their wives from working / employment and complain that they cannot work while the women work.
Still FGM (Female genital mutilation) is being practiced, it takes time for others to accept change and reality, clearing our brain from cobwebs and clearing it, for others it is a process. We still fair to take risks, I remember when I was starting my business I had a lot of people who discouraged me, that I won’t make it, the little amount I have I should use it in different things other than business. Most of the people they will help you to contribute in your down fall.
c. You can change your world
We need to change our world through positive mental attitude, through this we have to analyze both your success and your failure. Some people blame the world and circumstances outside themselves, for failure. We mostly point what the world as done to us, but we have to ask ourselves what we have done to the world. We live the same universe, but different world. In the world where others rejoice, others mourn, others live a sorrowful life others jubilate, some complain about lack of employment, others are seriously getting out of the job. Others are being born others are dieing, others have a lot to spend, others are sleeping hungry.
You can change your world either to be a failure or successful, through positive mental attitude, and follow strictly the principles of achievement/ success. Before you change your world, change your thinking, in direction you want, don’t loss the moral capital of people, it means a lot to the contribution of our world we want.
Let us use the B – PESTEL analysis, focus on business environment, political environment, Economical environment, social environment, technological environment (advancement through technology). Physical environment (natural & human environment) Legal frame work (the rule of law). This will give you a clear focus on changing your world after changing your thinking capacity. So you have to scan yourself before scanning our world.
d.) Your were born to be a champion.
If you critically analyze your life from the time you were conceived until the time you were born, there was a lot of battle, remember there were many millions of spermatozoa but only golden spermatozoa made you what you are, assuming that is not enough your mother experienced a lot of difficulties to carry you for 9 months, others even tried to commit abortion but still you managed to win that battle.
So if you managed to win that battle, then there is nothing impossible in the world that you cannot achieve, and believe in God for what is impossible in man is very possible if you call upon the Lord, impossible means I’m possible. Life is just an employer it gives you what you ask, but once you have set the wages, why you must bear the task.
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It is just application know where you are and where you want to be and you start from where you are to get where you want to be, indeed you will. Sometimes we assume that there is no failure in order to achieve what we want. There is a reason as to why you were born; we need to tax ourselves in order to be champions. You are unique from others, nobody in the world can be like you, so do your things in a unique way, but a positive way. God has provided everything on earth for us to acquire. Whatever you ask is what the world will give you, if you ask less it will give you less.
Wealth is within where you are, do the right application plan yourself and be the real champion, people have made it from nothing to something, from weak to strong, awaken the giant in you, you can do the greatest things in the world, through creativity and determination.
I know I am a champion, and I am the architecture of my life, it is me who knows what type of materials I need to mould my future, the future lies on our hands, it is up to you to discover. Through making our brain function, we have to make sure that we do not reach intellectual menopause before achieving the highest goals in life, achieve the dream of your life for you are the champion from the time you where born.
e). If you don’t have money use OPM (Other Peoples Money)
This is one of the fundamental idea which is practical right here in Africa, and especially the Kenya we want, If you find somebody claiming that there is no money to start small scale business, then question the person, or there is unemployment, When I was working as a casual laborer, I used to wonder why the Asians ( Indians) come in Kenya for a short duration they own large business and start employing poor Kenyans giving them peanuts, This group of people like one another, and they are not egocentric to their people, they employ them and pay them triple what you are paid.
Africans are used to teach them after mastering the job, they are given promotions and became above the one who actually was teaching them. The Indians have their leader and an organization whereby any Indian every month is money is deducted and saved on behalf of him, whereby in a given period of time he/she be given a loan to start business, and that is how they excel.
Some of our African brothers and sisters are used to handouts, and justify their poverty; Youths have been waiting endless with degrees upon their names for a job, until they became addicts of drugs, immorality robbery and so on. In our country we have approximately 24 devolved funds to eradicate poverty, whereby we have Youths development funds, women funds, CDF, LATF among others, the initiative was well planned but it as been misused to enrich the few, through policies which are complicated when assessing this funds.
There is still hope since variety of societies, NGO’s and Banks have come down to the common man, and this is where OPM is working, I have managed to assess one practically and the procedure is simple and friendly. For one I was one fellow who can confess that never wanted to be associated with the so called Loan, Loan for me meant auctioning my properties, increasing more trouble, in my family and big stress, I never so anything good in having the idea of using other people’s money, that was a grate sin for me, until I started business, I was well advised with my cousin what it takes to have a loan, and the repayment procedures, I greed to join and after a duration of 8 weeks I got the first loan, the procedure was to save first, but the saving was reasonable, I got my first loan and indeed I increased my sales.
Money makes money and I have no money. This is a negative mental attitude if you don’t have money use OPM, people in Kenya are very cheap, there is some organization which have come up trying to dust people’s thinking, How many times have you referred somebody to e.g. restaurant, somewhere to buy something, and if so what did you gain?.
There is this company called GNLD, and Quest net, the more you refer people to use their product you gain some point, and there is an interest you get at a given stage, it is one way of making money without using your money. The best tool you have to make money is your brain and thinking creatively and positively you can make whatever you want without limit. Your banker is your friend ad banks are in business to loan money, so use their money to increase your wealth.
f). Can you attract happiness
Be happy, don’t be sad, even when you are broke, smile don’t worry you are not the first one to be broke, even when you are sacked be happy, some people have been sacked only to find their destiny of happiness and achievement, whatever happens it happens with a purpose, either positively or negatively depending on how you look at it.
There is very little difference in people but that little difference makes a big difference: The little difference is attitude, the big difference is whether it is positive or negative. One of the surest ways to find happiness for yourself is to devote your energies towards making someone else happy, because if you try to bring happiness to someone else, then it comes to you, very true and interesting. The more you share, the more you will have and if you share happiness with others, happiness will grow richer within you. If gossip offends you can assume that you shouldn’t gossip or you will offend others. Sometimes we are bound to forget that there is no misfortune in order to be happy, being happy it adds value to our lives and it is one way of being health, our lifespan increase when we are happy, remember laughter is the best medicine, be happy, live a fullest life for we don’t know what tomorrow holds.
g). Do something more
Go extra mile in whatever you do, those who have been successful have done something more the little difference makes a big difference when analyzed to be positive or negative, you can use healthful positive suggestion to help yourself, and you can also refrain from negative harmful suggestion, failure is experienced by those who when they experience defeat, stop trying to find the something more, use the wheel of life to examine your life, and make it balance, life I like circle it should move, by doing something more plan your self, your finance and don’t avoid your family they comprise what you are.
Practically I have done something more and I can see the compound investment it has done for me, I started distributing shop items to other vendors, my sells as increased, I have also increased friends, and my business capacity as increased, by doing so don’t loss the moral capital, for trustworthy and honesty is one of the key to success. You cannot work in a vacuum, you need people, live with them to know them, accept each individual the way he/she is since God as created us in unique way. Scan the environment where you are working and try to fit on it. As you are doing something extra use SWOT analysis, ( strength, weakness, opportunities, and threats) strength and weakness are internal deal with them and opportunities and threats are external, know how to deal with them and balance your life, aim high for success, Remember successes as thousands fathers but failure is an orphan.
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 must confess from the word go since I started reading the Books I have developed my thinking capacity, my IQ is not the same, I have been inspired a lot and inspired others,
I must confess from the word go that this book was powerful to the point that it inspired me to inspire others. Every detail was worth it and useful and I am looking forward to read Napoleons other book of inspiration. What I have come to realize the books seem to be more similar and inter related in such away. To flow inter relate to. This book provides practical experience and relevant examples.
The book has help me to set my goals on higher scale in order to achieve them, and avoid excuses of doing something where there is will there is hope. No matter what you should keep on trying, trying, and trying until you achieve your goal or your 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
Anything worth having in life is worth working for, indeed struggle make you cheers what you have achieved and it makes you disciplined, you will never misuse what you have worked for and you will never joke around with it.
We are not poor not because father has never developed desire to become rich, lets not blame others for our failure and poverty; we need to make the effort of achieving our goals.
You have everything to gain and nothing to lose by trying success is achieved and maintained by those who keep trying with PMA.
We are masters of our fate because we are masters of our attitude our attitude shapes our future, whether the attitude are destructive or constructive.
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?
Where I disagree with the author or he needs to clear the air is that when he states that if you share misery and unhappiness you will attract misery and unhappiness to yourself. Sometimes we need to console those with miseries ad unhappiness so that we may have a starting point of seeing where we went wrong, through speaking and sharing your problem you like unload your burden and have new experience, when counseling, people are given time to speak out their mind so that they may look life in different angle.
Don’t dwell on your past but it is good to know what happened so that you don’t be a victim again, and this is through sharing with people who have experience, if it wasn’t so we could not need the mentors in our lives and the counselors. Some burdens are too unbearable to yourself.
When I lost my parents at the time I needed them most if it was not sharing with people I could honestly run crazy, look at this situation critically both parents pass away on a road accident, at the same time, they are doing their best to see you through your studies, you are the first born your brothers and sisters are in school lower level, and then you don’t speak your problem to somebody who care to give you hope in life??, please let the author be realistic, I agree absolutely with other issues but this one, I beg to disagree. It is when I shared with one Christian brother a friend of mine who introduced me to more challenging places like hospital, prison as a volunteer that I came to accept what life had offered me, and I had to work adder and smarter to support my little siblings.
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?
From the onset of the book there are lots of exercise, some are mental exercise that you analyze your brain as you read others are long term exercise which is a process, that I practice day by day, the exercise of going extra mile, is a process of determination. Process of changing others and inspiring others, other exercise are just a confirmation on what I had been doing, to do it better like using other peoples money, I have done that and I need to increase o that in a positive way, and I have to work for it, no short cuts.
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.
How to get satisfaction in your job, if it is your job that is fine but what if you are employed, some employer don’t know how to motivate worker and they misuse them long hours without over time, abusive language, and no appreciation, so how do you deal with such cases. Some employers can demoralize workers I write through experience, some do not even care for the employees, no workman compensation, in such issues what can the employee do.
8. 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? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 8
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 7
PsychoCybernetics 2000
Assessment by Erick Kebeka Omari (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The author takes people from the road of darkness to light (twinkling stars), creating heaven on earth, from despair into happiness, from hopelessness to zestfulness. This can be achieve through self – esteem, where by you appreciate your own self, your own worthiness.
The author tries to give inputs on how one can change to a positive life, by programming our minds into positive ideas by using positive mental attitude and being creative to become a better person. It has a way forward and vivid example on how to go about it. Giving the reader real life experiences and challenges from other people who have proven that one can achieve the highest goal from whatever angle or situation and conditions one is.
Psycho–cybernetics is a program for developing a self–image you can live with, one in which you can feel secure, one that you can be proud to express to others, one that leads to self-confidence and success, self – image that adds more living to your life, developing a realistic self–image for a positive 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.
a). Be a person who act but not react
Action sounds than words, indeed we are supposed to act but not react, sometimes when we are provoked or discouraged in our daily life, how do we take the comments, or even compliments, we react instead of acting, In our society we live, it is not a bed of roses, there is lot of conflict, misunderstandings and on, so we need to act on issues that can develop our well being, when somebody provokes you start by analyzing yourself, and ask your self where did I go wrong?, then act to change into a better life.
b). Fake it till you make it, imagining your way to success
This idea has rejuvenated my spirit and it takes me back in time, those who are lucky enough to read the book Government Inspector, you meet a character called Lestackov, He faked to be the government inspector in the town of Saratov and the mayor was caught in surprise since the mayor was so corrupt with his officials, and the city had gone in a mess, Lestakov took the advantage and was treated as a king, he fake smartly to be the government inspector, and he even managed to flirt with both the wife of the mayor and the daughter at the same time also he was bribed from all angles so that he may forgive them from embezzling the government money, The mayor gave him a lot of royal treatment being opportunistic that he may be made governor of the city, but only to find out after Lestakov has left that he was just a wind bag a no worthy person. Then the real Government inspector arrived and all were found in surprise.
Though Lestakov managed to fake it in a wrong way it gives us a motivation that we can fake it and achieve our success through a positive mental attitude and in a just way. Whatever you want to be is what you will be, when I was in High school one of my friend used to act as a Policeman, I was appointed to be the prefect and we used to joke by nicknaming him (Soldier), In life currently he is a soldier, in Kenya army, he really faked it when he was in school, until it was in his blood stream.
c). Creating new images for your success.
Choose the same time each day for your mental picturing, make sure there will be no interruption and accept all positive image as valid and helpful, This book was very interesting and practical, we had this commerce teacher, and used to behave in a very unique way, during tea break he could not join other staff members to take tea together, he preferred in that time to walk alone in our school forest not in hurry but very slow steps and bouncing, it is now that I am understanding exactly what the teacher was doing, for us we misunderstood him and thought maybe it is too much sniffing of marijuana or other stimulus, He was perfect in his subject and student excelled, he was very creative and had valid contribution in any topic.
Sometimes we struggle very much trying to make both ends meet, and ends up not enjoying what we have invested, creating new images for your success needs when your minds are settled and not tired, this allows you to look things in a positive way, it is very true, other than every daily tiresome activities, we need a time to relax and rejuvenate our lives once again. I remember when I was working in a pharmaceutical company, I used to reach in the house extremely exhausted that even talking was a big issue, enjoying the meal was a problem, I was just eating because it is supper time, I could just sleep as if I was dead, only to find out that it is in the morning and I need to go for work. So we need to budget our time and spare ourselves in a given time whereby we will be able to clean our thinking.
d). Turn your mistakes into steps on the road to success.
The important thing is to regard your mistake not as indications of failure but as steps on the road to success. Those who are successful failed in one way or the other but persisted until they reached there goals, the spider makes a web which traps a lot of things, it makes a lot of jumps to make the spider web, and it fails several times but it doesn’t give up until it makes that perfect spider web, failing is part of life, and is one way of learning, but don’t let failure overcome you, it gives you a chance to be creative and have a different way of approach and come up with new methodologies on the problem being solved. First before we turn our mistakes into stepping stone to success we have to accept ourselves and convince ourselves that we are able and capable of achieving our goals, then we forgive ourselves from the mistakes we did, and go an extra mile, automatically we will achieve our goals, though we may meet on our way stumbling obstacles, but this blocks are the ones to prove to ourselves that what we are looking for is not cheap and is worthy working for.
Most of us, we fear making mistakes, and what other people will say about our mistakes, we have to give ourselves room to make mistakes so that it may be a learning process, If it happens that you are a parent, or you have in your life been a babysitter, then you understand the process of growth, it takes years and process for a community to raise a child to be a full grown up man, look at the process of crawling, uttering words, with full of mistakes and finally becomes a professional speaker or leader, a crawling baby becomes a champion in athletics, When you are learning to drive, first learner, how many mistakes do you make?, do you give up?, so lets learn from our mistakes and be professional.
of punishing yourself for your mistakes acknowledge them as guideposts towards growth and change.
e). Life gets better when we know we’ve made it better
Actually we are the people to mould our own life, the only person who knows you it is you yourself, and your maker; you cannot deceive yourself or your maker. Manna will never drop from heaven; we have to make our life better through hard and smart work in order to achieve our lifetime dream,
We have to question ourselves what do you really what to do with your life? What do you really want out of your life? I want lots of things – that is not an answer, it is an ambiguous answer, Sometimes we even don’t know what we want in life?, it is through the grace of God that we achieve what we have, I do remember when I was in high school, most of us never planned on what we want to be in future, career choice was a big issue, we even didn’t know what it means to have a career. Exposure is very important at the early age; it becomes an eye opener, and makes our brain think straight.
It happens I am one of the founder of a community based organization, sometime last year I asked my children to right what they want to be in future, I got very interesting answers. Some gave out very brilliant answers and big careers, but others didn’t know, so we have to make our life better from the early age, it is the responsibility of parents, guardians, to try and advice young people to know how to make life better.
In whatever we do we are supposed to go an extra mile in order to achieve the best out of life, everything is here down on earth, it is us to explore and get more out of our universe, lets us not use scapegoats for our failure but we are supposed to know that when a man slide and fall on mud, he or she doesn’t keep on laying down there, he gets up and continue with his journey, the only thing he can do is probably take a bath and change your cloths and continues, so when we fail still we are the ones to make our life’s better and we should make a move forward.
f). Functionally a man is somewhat like a bicycle, a bicycle maintains its poise and equilibrium only so long as it is going towards something
The trick is to remember that goals are a process, not a place to be, you will encounter slowdowns, obstacles and diversions during the process, but there are steps you can take to anticipate recognize and move past them, in practical life nothing comes in a silver plate and remember no pain no gain, you have to work for your goals, it may take a long time but when you have a specific direction you will reach your goal, obstacles strengthen our spirit and it reminds us that whatever we are looking for it is worthy working for, I do remember when I was to quite the casual job, I consulted one of my friends and told them, I want to join the field of business, I got a lot of discouragement, but one encouraged me, indeed I do agree completely that to achieve our goals it is a process. When I started my business I didn’t have a very crucial machine, weighing machine (scale), which was very important without it you could not sell other products, so what did I do?, remember I didn’t have money to purchase it, I went to one of my friend, and who is know my business friend, I requested him to give me his scale during the time he is closing and I had to weigh all the stuffs, during the night and very early in the morning I could return it to him. I did that for a couple of days until I bought my own scale. So where is your life heading to? Do you have a definite direction in your life? If so persist on it, some people have had focus on there life and indeed they have made it, and did you know no matter what people will try to pull you down still if you have will power you will succeed.
During post–violent election people where affected, when I do my research those who looted stuffs are the most sufferer, one of my business friend his wholesale was brought down to nothing, those who did that didn’t have any focus, the owner at the moment he is doing extremely fine, it is as if they removed suckers from him to develop more and increase is stock effectively.
The road to success is always under construction, we have to keep on trying, trying and trying until we achieve our goals and objectives.
g). See the situation as fundamentally neutral.
It is like being on a bridge when lightning strike. The bridge was going to get struck whether I was on it or not. Sometime we as human blame the situations, why me? becomes part of our questions in our lives, nature has to take its cause, I do remember the old wise saying, “if it wasn’t for death where could the inheritor inherit?, even in the gravely situation there is a purpose for that, either positive or negative, remember freedom to you may not be freedom to other person. There was this kind of situation, whereby five friends had gone for a visit, after reaching there one of the five friends got sick, the other four decide to go and live him to recover, on there way home they got an accident and the four fellows died, my question is can we refer the sick one that his sickness was bad?. Think about it.
In this case we should work and avoid blame games, the situation is neutral for us to achieve whatever we want, it is us first to accept that oh yes we can and then take the tools or steps that are required, to achieve our goals. God created everything and left them right here on the universe, so it is up to us to pray and discover what was the purpose of you being into existence.
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 book helps me to become what I want to be, it as been a handy and helpful book, with a lot of lessons which are practical, what the book is really trying to put across is how to deal with our psychology, our thinking should be positive for us to be positive people, I have learnt that whatever I do, I am not doing it because of how people will say or talk, but it is for my own good so long as it is not against human rights and God’s creation. Each and everyone is unique in one way or the other, so it is wise for you to be who you are and deal with that to better yourself, in your own situation.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
Nothing worthwhile happens overnight; even getting born took nine months
It is a process to achieve your success, lots of sacrifices and hardship keeping the faith, and being optimistic, if it took time for your birth, then we should be encouraged that we have to work and wait patiently to achieve our success, so long as we don’t become patients on the process.
Life gets better when we know we’ve made it better,
We are the constructors of our own life, it will be better if we make it better and miserable if we make it miserable, someone may wonder how can you make life miserable, but indeed you can make life to be miserable to you, if you don’t work hard and smarter, not only hard but smarter what do you expect!, road to success is always and mark my word always under construction, so it is upon to you to see what kind and quantity of ballast do you need to make your road more attractive and long lasting, we have to go for the right material, right people or professional to accomplish our work.
Life is a moving vehicle with no brakes, if you spend too much time looking in the rearview mirror, you’ll hit a tree, that is why your front window is bigger than your rearview mirror, if you set realistic goals and balance self – support with appropriate self – criticism, you’ll stay on the road.
Rome wasn’t build in a day, whatever we do we should be patient no matter how long it takes as long as we are focused and on the right track.
Be aware your mind is like a parachute it only works when it’s open, so be opportunity – focused be prepared to move in new direction as change requires.
There are a few crabs in every barrel, make sure they don’t pull you down.
Try to be with people who encourage your thinking and implementation, some people can help you to fail, this quote reminds me of one member of parliament, if your daughter or son wanted to prosper to the high education or further his studies a broad, the honorable member of parliament will convince the parent, not to bother taking the child for further studies, he could offer some employment to that fellow who want to go for further studies, but not give sponsorship for that fellow to go ahead with his education. It took a long time for people to know the logic behind, the Member of Parliament stated that I cannot sharpen the arrow or sword that will kill me, the more these fellows will be enlightened and my career will be in danger. So people can assist you to dig the grave to burry you will you are alive. Take care with your friends in quotes.
Volunteering even one day a month can be a great way to guard against emotional pain.
I agree absolutely with the author it is as if the author was speaking to me actually if you can remember back my brief history, what guarded me from the pain after the death of my parents was volunteering, I volunteered in missionary of charity brothers to save the sick and less privileged, and prisoners, this gave me the strength to face life squarely, I came to understand that there is people who are more desperate than me, there are people who need more help than me, it gave me the heart to face life positively, and know I am leading it no turning back.
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 was so good and practical.
6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
The book had a lot of exercise of which some are long term and others short term, it as enriched my thinking capacity, and I have learnt that I have to curve my life not to other people expectation but to my own expectation and comfort, first I should create my own happiness, and understand that I am unique from others.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.
The book was well covered.
8. Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9
Giant Steps
Assessment by Erick Kebeka Omari (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
Giant steps, the title of the Book itself is self – explanatory, and the author convey it to us in two fold, first to inspire you, second to funnel that energy into measurable results, by getting you to consistently take simple action. Small changes to make a big difference in all aspects of life. Inspiration should be backed up by action, indeed action sounds than words.
Each of us is endowed with innate resources that enables us to achieve all and more, the author also tries to take us through a process of getting what you really want, by applying the principles of success in a just way. Giant step is a treasure mapping whereby we are the treasure. Giant step is an action book, whatever you want to do, do it now, muscles get stronger with use, and so it is with your decision – making muscles, by making a decision you’re building a muscle that can change your entire life, The author also states that whether you are not or you are making a decision, still there is an effect on that, “ Even making no decision at all is a decision in its own” The flood gate can be opened by one decision bringing us joy, or sorrow, prosperity or poverty companionship or solitude, long life or early death.
The author also defines our destiny and goal setting which is very virtual in human life, how do we achieve our destiny? And how do we go about our dreams? Nothing happens unless first a dream. Our destiny is shaped through the decision we make in our lives.
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.
Dreams of destiny
Nothing happens unless first a dream, the dreams we have shapes our destiny and future, not what we do once in a while that counts but our consistent action. In personal level when we talk about the dream of destiny, Personally in life I wanted to have my own job, employ people, and be independent, in that aspect, God answered my dream, through persistent I never felt comfortable where I was employed since there was a lot of exploitation, and taking advantage of cheap labour, so I started a small shop, employed a shop keeper, while I still was working trying to save as much as possible to achieve my bigger dream.
So our destiny is shaped through the decision we make in our lives. Not the conditions of our lives but decision determine our destiny.
Each of us is endowed with innate resources that enables us to achieve all we’ve ever dreamed of and more.
If you are not able to achieve the earthly materials even the heavenly material can be far for your reach, God created everything and left it over here for us to use, so the resource are in our reach, The road to success is under construction, stumbling obstacles on your way strengthen you so that whatever you achieve you can treasure it, remember no pain no gain, The author of Giant Steps stress on action and persistent on what you are doing, We are the people who build ourselves and at the same time destroy ourselves, what we believe, what we aspire, what we dream and our actions, determines what type of a person we are or we want to be. If you want to be a millionaire behave like one, fake it until it works but you have to pay a price for that, since you have to go an extra mile to be one, How long will it take you to be a street person, it is just going to the street and behave like one. We have unlimited power, only that we limit ourselves, our achievements, our hopes, our relationship, our dreams, and even our lives, we are the barrier of our future. So we have to believe in ourselves, you have to conquer yourself before you conquer others. Making Giant Steps is by action and you can achieve whatever you want in short period of time, think smarter and take charge of your life.
I am in the process of discovering myself, through the help of IIGL, the books am reading as a lot of impact in my life, and the society we live, it is practical that the book Giant Steps is handy to me, actually I feel that I am making those steps. My live will never be the same again since. More and more I am achieving my dreams, I am growing in all length of life. If you tell people bread is good then you have already tasted bread and proved that it is good, so you can convince others to taste.
Our decision brings us joy or sorrow, prosperity or poverty, It makes me think critically, personally I have experience that in any situation, like poverty level here in Kibera, they make out of it and they become millionaires, they drive, drink and also have a lot of investment. So irrespective of where we are we can make a future.
Muscles get stronger with use, and so it is with your decision – making muscle.
By making a decision you’re building a muscle that can change your entire life. The change we are talking about in Giant steps is the positive change, whereby you can achieve your goals and dream of life, you have to keep on practicing until you reach your goal, decision can affect your life in a positive or negatively way, so practice to be positive in life, so that you achieve positive results, even those who win gold medals practice without ceasing, so we are also supposed to practice to achieve our success, nothing valuable comes without struggle. Practice makes improvement, since the more you practice the more you gain new experience and you will achieve it, practically this is something that happened to me some time back, my monitor had a problem, for two to three days, I tried and tried until I was like going to give up, and I wanted to call an expert to rectify it, before I had to do that I tried some few changes, believe it!!!! It worked, the problem was just simple setting a resolution and it was done, and this could have cost me a fortune if I had called for an expert. Practice makes you achieve good result, keep on practicing on how to improve your life, things will change your dream will come true, no man, no law can stop you from achieving your dream if it doesn’t go against anybody and God’s will.
We all have goals, whether we know it or not. No matter what they are, they have a profound effect on our lives.
Nobody doesn’t have a goal in life only that we belittle our goals, or do comparison with other people’s goals, which makes us feel inferior and worthless if those we compare with are more prominent than us. We need to be original in our goals and dreams, let our goals come from our hearts, it will make it easy for us to enjoy them, and feel ownership of the goals. We are unique in our own way so each person should appreciate his/her goal in his/her own aspect of life, there will always be setbacks and disappointment in the pursuit of any worthwhile goal. Most people do not understand this simple truth it is frequently impossible to succeed at anything significant the first time, failing is a vital and necessary part of the learning and achieving process. No one learns to walk, ride a bicycle or drive a car on the first attempt. Most people fail not because they lack knowledge or talent or goal but because they quit. A man is a hero not because he is braver than anyone else, but because he is brave for ten minutes longer.
How to get what you really want, pain, pleasure and mental state.
To get what you really want you must discover what’s preventing you from taking action. Not taking action is much more painful than just doing it, ask yourself if I don’t take action now, what will this ultimately cost me? Pain can be your friend if you use it effectively. One of the miracles of being human is that we can decide what causes us pain and pleasure. What you link pain to and what you link pleasure to shape your destiny.
The power to create, the power to destroy.
We have the power to create and destroy, through our belief, whichever beliefs you construct is the one that will be true for you, beliefs drives all of our behaviors, sometimes in our moments of greatness, fear, pain or emotional intensity we look for relief in the form of a belief, others resort in drinking, smoking, dancing, watching a movie, we should create a positive belief that can build our future and character, first you have to belief in yourself that you are a winner to win, many people are afraid to try something just because they’ve never done it before, the past doesn’t equal the future avoid this belief of the problem being “personal” at all cost . Begin to use problems as valuable feedback to help you steer a straighter course towards your destiny and grateful for these gift, all personal breakthrough begin with a change in belief. Believe that you are improving every single day in your life, and indeed you will improve, through the action which is driven with your belief.
If you want to play the game of life and win you’ve got to be willing to feel stupid and you’ve got to be willing to try things might not work.
This is quite interesting, and practically this is what we call exploring life, we tend to be copy – cat, what other people have done is what we want to repeat and copy what they are doing, in business, in life, in relationship in health, among others, we don’t want to do something unique, when ford was discovering to make a car he was discouraged and met a lot of obstacles in his way to achievement and took him time of one year to come up with what he wanted, he created history and became an hero. We do not want to use our hidden talents to do something unique, since we tend to ask ourselves what will others say about us, remember you do not live to anybody’s expectation, so do what your heart drives you to do and do it persistently without quitting, winners never quit and quitters never win.
3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world?, if so how?
The lessons I am learning not only the Book: Giant Steps, but the entire course, it is putting me back on track, to discover my potential, my life, my IQ, and approach of issues is different since I joined IIGL. I am already feeling that I am achieving my goal, dreams, values mission and objective of being a life. Small changes in your achievement, in your life counts, and they are the ones that makes big difference.
The author of the Book: Giant steps awaken me to make the Giant and huge steps in life, in a shortest time possible, also to awaken other people in the society whose Giants are bound in captivity of poverty, broken relationship, health and cultural believes to make them awake and stir to a better life, I will do this through Alfa Network and create awareness and sensitization through the Radio program I usually have.
4. Quote: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
a). Success is the result of good judgment, good judgment is the result of experience and experience is often the result of bad judgment. What we have learnt from the past mistake can be used to improve our life today, so not only good judgment makes us successful also bad judgment makes us successful, and it is also a learning process through experience.
b) The secret of achieving your goals is mental conditioning. Review them at least twice daily. Post your goals where you’re sure to see them every day. Sometimes our goals are not visible to ourselves, and cause confusion in our life. So our goals should be placed in the windscreen not in the rear mirror, whereby they will be visible to keep us updated on our goals and destiny.
c). There is a huge difference between achieving to be happy and happily achieving, when you achieve to be happy this means that you have a particular aim, once you achieve that you will be happy but if you won’t achieve then you are not happy, happily achieving it is a process of achieving and it is a continues thing, so we have to determine our achievement either achieving to be happy or happily achieving.
d). The only true security in life comes from knowing that every single day you are improving yourself in some way. This gives you hope and gives you determination, nobody needs to work or struggle without seeing a result. The improvement in life encourages you to work harder and strive more to your goals.
f). Life is a balance between giving and receiving, between taking care of yourself and taking care of others. I do take good care of myself and the community which I feed them with the word of encouragement, giving hope to hopelessness, through Alfa Network and Radio talk show on child rights and parental responsibility.
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 author has addressed the issues in the right way with lots of inspirations and eye – opening.
6. Did the book contain exercises for the readers to complete?, if so did you complete all of the exercise and did you find them helpful?
The Book covers a lot of exercise some are short term and other are long – term, there was so many exercise for me to complete especially on our beliefs, that moulds our behavior, remember personal breakthrough begins with a change in belief. So it leaves me with an exercise of believing positively. The book gives me a lot of questioning myself and also listening to answers that I achieve, I have been having friends there is one crucial question the author ask “How much richer will our lives be as a result of our relationship?, How did I get so lucky to have you in my life?, such questions are very good but sometimes we take them for granted, we fall in relationship which are baseless and start complaining after wards, we don’t ask ourselves why are we in relationship in the first place. The book is so helpful in creating and developing characters, before we do anything we have to ask ourselves why are we doing it, and what will be the outcome so that we may know what exactly we are up to.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If, so please comment.
The book is covered well, just to add it is a jump start for big dreams, and big achievement, but it should be put in practice to achieve Giant results there should be an action upon those steps, irrespective of stumbling obstacles, this is what strengthen our achievement. And makes it more valuable. Remember to expect miracles because you are one.
8. Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9
How To Win Friends & Influence People
By Erick Kebeka Omari (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The author Dale Carnegie has done a recommendable job to motivate people and carry them to success in their business and personal lives, the main idea is to develop better interpersonal relations, self – confidence, the ability to get a long with others in one’s family and in social and occupational relations, to increase ability to communicate ideas, to build positive attitude, increase enthusiasm, reduce tension and anxiety and increase one’s enjoyment of life, which is a desire to all mankind.
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.
a). You can go for the job you want – and get it, you can take the job you have and improve it, you can take any situation you’re in and make it work for you. We are the architecture of our lives, and we exactly know what we want for our lives to be better, but we don’t work for it constantly, we quit and winners don’t quit, you have to believe in yourself, before other people believe in you, you cannot convince anybody if you cannot first convince yourself, any situation can be a stepping situation to achieve your goals, Well, there was a shoe dealer, who came to Africa during that time, people never used to wear shoes, they wanted to launch a business for manufacturing shoes, the first dealer assessing the situation he told the company, please do not waste your time and resources to launch business here, there is nobody wearing shoes, his opinion was respected, the second dealer, assessing the situation and seeing people how they were bear footed, he didn’t waste time even cried a loud!!!!, he called the company director and told him, we need to launch the business, even tonight, there is a booming business over here and indeed they did that, at the moment they are the leading shoe factory in Africa, so we can make any situation to fit in our needs, also we have to open our heart and be determined to make the best out of ourselves.
b). It is easier to find fault about what you want than to find praise, it is more natural to talk about what you want than to talk abut what the other person wants
This is true, what you want creates a desire and since you value most what you want, it is accompanied by lots of obstacles, that praise becomes little, there is a lot of stumbling obstacles on the way of your want and achievement, you are having an internal conflict between your spirit one encouraging you and the other one discouraging you, so praise as no room for that, it is a battle, that needs a lot of determination, since what you want is valuable you have to work for it, and you have to pay a price for it. When we were in school, we were told the fruits of success are sweet but the roots are bitter, in order to get those sweet fruits you have to overcome the bitter roots by going to school, doing your home work and accept correction, we were rained on during our way to school, but that didn’t deter us from stopping going to school, and I am proud that one of the fruits I gained from school, I can communicate with people, and live with people peacefully, and also I can make wise decisions.
It is easier to talk about what you want than talk about what someone wants, it had been a comedy for this statement, when I reflect sometime back, I have been having friends sharing vision together, it had been like a talking competition, whereby everyone wants his story to be heard, about their plans, their future, their achievement, the book as helped me to be a good listener, and ask question keenly and listen to answers, give other people time to talk about their problems, their achievement, indeed you become a good friend to them, I have received compliments from friends, not because am wise, it is because I listen, and they think that I am a genius only that I listen about their worries and encouraged them through their way of thinking.
c). Ninety – nine times out of a hundred people don’t criticize themselves for anything, no matter how wrong it may be, Lets realize that the person we are going to correct and condemn will probably justify himself or herself and condemn us in return,
This is a fact that cannot be denied, in your wrong doing, and the fault people will see, you won’t see it, you can try to justify even when you have done wrong that you were right, and condemn others in return, It happened some few days with my friend, we used to share a lot, very big issues, and we even came up with a project to improve our lives, a micro – finance project, we did all it needs and we got started, this is a loan scheme that you have to pay back with an interest, but in a weekly basis for a give period of time either 6 months, or one year depending on your strength, we agreed that each should bring somebody who is accountable and can be honest, I did my part, in fact we mostly brought some family members who were in business, the criteria was somebody you know well and if need be you can take us up to the home area, if he default paying.
I brought my people he brought his people, and we were given the first loan of 20,000/= to boost our business, as a matter of fact he brought his sister – in law, since he had employed her so it was an idea to combine forces in order to get more money and invest, well things backfired, the sister in law took off with the money, and after talking in length as a groups, we wanted to make a follow – up, but he took charge and said he will take responsibility since he didn’t want to be humiliated, it became a burden to him, and even his payment also became an issue, and the group was in arrears, he had been telling us previously how the sister in law including his wife are not trustworthy, they steal from him and so many stories about his internal affairs, we tried to guide him as a group but all in vain when we tell him do this he does exactly opposite of that, He requested to join his wife in the group so that he can reform her, well he told the three official’s the chairman and secretary, he his the treasurer, we requested him to hold on so that we can clear first the debts of the sister in law, and then we can consider his request, he went ahead without our knowledge signed on behalf of us, and started processing for the wife to be in the group, he didn’t tell anybody, we came to realize later from the field officer that we have a new member, which was a sock even to the office who had created that trust to us, when nobody gave him a go – ahead. I felt so much betrayed since this fellow almost everyday we are together he was like a brother to me, and he even didn’t tell me that though you guys rejected I have processed for my wife!!!!, fortunately the wife had not been given the loan, we stopped all the transactions, he felt that we did not do him justice, Nowadays he doesn’t even come to my business premises, since then he as not paid his arrears, after reading the book I called him, and tried to restore our friendship, we managed to talk, I gave him time to explain, without intervening, the guy was in a mess, his wife with his brother in law, gave him some several beating, and he was going for an x-ray, I tried to be closer to him or else I thought he may even commit suicide, calling him was good, though since then he doesn’t come, he only called me once and said, he will keep in touch. It is an ongoing situation at present.
d). Don’t be afraid of enemies who attack you, Be afraid of friends who flatter you,
I am afraid of my above friend who flatters me, very creative but not fulfilling, brilliant ideas, but not straight – forward, my worry is how do I reform him, I haven’t yet given up.
e). People are not interested in you, they are not interested in me, they are interested in themselves,
When you look at statements of people, the I dominates, I am the one, who did this and that, as much as you think about the others, people think about themselves first, praise them, give them compliment, they will feel the sense of importance, including myself, I feel good when somebody compliments me, so if we do directly opposite of praising ourselves and praise others, we will be a likable character and we will win their way of thinking to our way, it doesn’t mean that by doing so you don’t have your own desire, but consider others first, after all you know what you want, let the other person tell you what they wants because you don’t know honestly what they want.
f). Everybody in the world is seeking happiness and there is one sure way to find it. That is by controlling your thoughts, happiness doesn’t depend on outward conditions, and it depends on inner conditions. Most of the people have achieved all material possession but still are not happy, being happy is a success, and what makes you happy that is the paramount of your achievement, some people are not happy with their marriage, not happy with their jobs, and even not happy with their live, Somebody told me that in marriage, when it is a new marriage a women speaks and a man listen, when time goes by a man speaks and the women listen, finally all of them speaks and the neighbors listen, and what do you think they can speak the neighbors to listen?, the answer is quarrel, or misunderstanding. So happiness should start from inward, and then reflect outward.
g). If you want enemies excel your friends, but if you want friends, let your friends excel you, why is that true? Because when our friends excel us they feel important but when we excel them they feel inferior and envious. And if you want to proof that one time when telling people about your achievement and success, look at their face or eye contact, they won’t be honestly listening, they my be cursing you inwardly, and you will here that story somewhere, especially here in Kenya you will be welcoming people to either attack you trying to steal from you, or people coming to borrow from you, and if you refused to lend them, they will believe it tarnish your names, and curse your achievement, or make very harsh statement about 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?
I am trying to reach people through the media, and giving out some tips of life and how to influence people, to your own thinking, I got some good point about no one like to take orders, when I had a program for the children talk show I enlightened the parents on how they can include or convince their children in helping the household stuff, by not ordering around but using intellectual logic, one confessed that it worked, he just told the son, how much work he hard himself to finish and then prepare for them lunch, she told the son lunch will be late since I have to wash clothes and then clean utensils, the son proposed that he can clean the utensils and when she is done with washing, she cook, it worked miracles, this is the same son they have been quarrelling on washing utensils, today he is proposing to do that.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
a). In talking with people, don’t begin by discussing the things on which you differ. Begin by emphasizing and keep on emphasizing the things on which you agree. Keep emphasizing if possible that you are both striving for the same end and that your difference is of one method and not of purpose, agree to disagree peacefully, and keep the friendship fire burning.
b). Nobody likes taking orders, or dictatorship, so convince people to your way of thinking without using orders, so that whatever they will do will be perfect and with free will but not because you said.
c). If you are wrong admit it quickly and emphatically, this is a sure way of being a gentleman and it will do you good.
d). Judge People by their own principle not by your own, this is one way of seeing things in another persons point of view.
e). When you see a group photograph whose photo do you look first?, it will be your photo and what does that tell you in dealing with people?, somebody will purchase a photo and keep it since he is in that photo.
f). A persons name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language, practical experience I was almost boxed with one lady I was interviewing in the Radio, her name was Emma and I made a mistake said Emily, she wrote it down to me and said if I repeat to call her Emily she will box me, so I knew the meaning of a name.
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 was so good and practical with realities on the ground..
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?
Very helpful exercise some I am still applying them, by the way, am about to host a stranger I met on face book, she as done so well, in terms of achievement, so after complimenting her she explained a lot what she is doing and the logic behind her success, she agreed as soon as she comes from India for TV interview she will give me a date to come to our Radio program. And I have started being a good listener encouraging others through their point of view and thinking.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.
The book was well covered, and very interesting.
8. 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? 9
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
Real Magic
Assessment by Erick Kebeka Omari (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
According to the Author real magic means creating miracles in everyday life, The Author teach us how to achieve a higher level of consciousness. He asks us to imagine what could make us happy and then offer a strategies for attaining these goals. In every aspect of our individual lives. Dyer offers concrete suggestions about how to get on purpose, through service to others and unconditional love, how to become spiritual beings and how to create a miracle mindset. The real magic and the author states that we have the power to create whatever kind of person you want to become, in all aspect of your humanity.
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.
a). The way of understanding is through your willingness to reach your own highest state of awareness.
Using that awareness to everyone in your life. It is primarily a mental trip so powerful that it can affect the material world with its miraculous magical powers. But you must be willing to go within and discover it for yourself, Anything we do reflects our thinking and it is wish to have a mental trip before implementing anything, for sure this will affect the material world, if we think in a positive way our out come becomes positive, and if it is negative the out come becomes negative. We have the power to create and destroy, it starts with our thinking, as much as we can we should try to have a noble thinking.
b). Knowing that ultimate reality and your own potential are unlimited, Knowing that some people are luckier than others, to knowing you can create your own luck and that all experiences contains valuable lesson. We have to conquer our thinking and understand that there is nobody who is lucky or unlucky we are the ones to create our life, through working hard, working smarter and praying to our Lord, there is nothing impossible until it is proved to be, impossible means I’m possible, so first convince yourself you can and do it to your level best. May at times we have seen those who have attracts opportunities, and achieve more and more in the world of spiritual, material and social life, it is us to take a step and do something to improve our situation. Thinks like a winner and be confidence, even when you know you are not right, this will create a miracle and people will see your way of thinking, all things were created and left here if you can not use wisdom and talent given to you or inborn talent to achieve whatever you want in life then, you will seeing others like being lucky, Where i was back 3 years i am not the same position i used to be, i decided that i will no longer be a servant of anybody and set my small business which i am operating, there is million ideas if you are ready to prosper as there is million obstacles to justify your failure, remember when the student is ready the teacher will appear.
c) Real magic – paradox if something is real, it cannot be a magic and if it is magic cannot be real. This is one way of seeing things in a willingness, openness to seeing things another way round. To be the best out of many you have to think in a different way in a critical way, i remember a story whereby a painter was painting and the paint spat on the floor, he had to think what to do so that is work can be perfect, instead of trying to clean the floor, and dust the paint away, he decided to make a magical pattern which people admired, and remember it was not his plan to paint the floor only that a magical idea come up and made the best out of the mistake. We are living in a paradox world, right from our birth to death, whereby generation comes and goes. All unique happening in our lives leads us to a higher place in our lives.
d). Enlightenment through suffering. You realize that you had to experience the pain in order to experience the pain in order to transcend it. This is the pattern of growth for many people, events occur suffering takes place and then the light appears. Indeed this is a practical example, nothing comes on silver plate without hard work, determination, and prayers, well, right from the birth, suffering started, the first thing a new born does immediately after birth is crying, the pain starts, the real world awaits him or her to meet all the challenges, Once in a while our lives as never been straight and smooth all along, many stumbling obstacles and this are the once that strengthen our lives, If people give you where they have come from, you will think that they are just cooking the story. People have started from gutters to higher length of life, and whatever happens in life it as a purpose, believe it some have to undergo suffering before achieving their goals, in order for them in future to understand when they meet those people who are desperate they can serve them and know that that is part of the lives journey. If you have been bitten with a snake when somebody tells you about the snake you will be attentive since you know you have undergone the same process.
e). Every thing on the universe has a purpose, this leads us to getting on purpose, first think about the concept eternity, you know the universe doesn’t end at any particular place. We have to define our purpose in life, what makes you happy that is the purpose of your life, if getting money will make you happy then go for it, but remember some have a lot of material possession but still they are not happy, so respond to your internal feelings and define properly what is the purpose of your life and go for it, Mother Teresa’s purpose was to serve the poor of the poorest, and she was a saint of gutters, well what about you?, what is your mission in life, for me a feel good and that is why i volunteer to teach children on basic life skills since they are from the needy society, i feel good when i touch the heart of a needy child. And this as been keeping me going and going, not only money that can make you happy but good name is more than money, the reputation is worthy the moral capital f the society towards you matters very much in my life.
f). Whatever age you are think back ten years and imagine yourself at that age, examine what you thought about at that time how you dressed, what you felt whom you admired, how much of what you experienced then led you to where you are today. I tried to ask my friends this question and i got various ideas and answers, some it was a struggle, in schools life, working harder in colleges and university, it wasn’t easy, what they dressed how they felt it had different responses, i also remember ten years what i had undergone, this is a block of event, and experiences and no one person can ever experience all that life has to offer. It is only through sharing – experiences, feelings, insights – that we can hope to grow beyond our own meager lifetime, through the process of growth this is what has made me be were i am sharing with people with different thinking and approach, in business, in relationship, and spiritual growth.
g). You create your thoughts, your thoughts create your intentions, your intentions create your reality, and your reality is transformed to action which is visible to other people, so whatever we think will be known through our outcome, whether positive or negative, we should as much as possible try to think positively since it molds our being, word power if you say you can do something magically you will find yourself doing it, but if you convince yourself you cannot indeed you cannot, since you have already created fear in your though so the outcome will be worse than what you think. Have big dreams, big thoughts, and they will be born in to your intentions, i have been so sad when our youths apply for financial aid, look at their business plan, small thinking creating to small people, a youth who has acquired all it takes from primary level to college level having a myopic thinking. We encourage ordinary people to do extra ordinary thins, this is the growth of our thoughts.
3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?
The ideas are already helping me, giving me a proper way of living to purpose i am on the process of defining my purpose of being, by nurturing my future, aspirations, ambitions and goals, in life, also it is a sure way of sharing with my community and trying to advice them to remove cobwebs of the way of their thinking to live a real magic life, and know they are capable and able to achieve any goal and dreams of their life, but they have first and foremost live a life of purpose.
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.
Everything in the universe has a purpose, this idea got my attention and i tried to ponder if at all everything in the universe has a purpose, the question is what about you?, a bright, intelligent person living aimlessly without a purpose, it is a challenge that the author pose to us, to think and mediate on it and understand we are not just there on the universe but we have a purpose of being and it is our us a lone who can define our purpose, there is many choices to make and we have to make the wise choices but not the wild choices, that can sooth your being in the universe.
When the student is ready the teacher will appear, i do agree with this idea, just be ready and the teacher will appear at time even the teacher they become very many with different areas, so there is wisdom in listening than talking, once the teacher appears listen carefully and digest the answers, be a wise student attentive and ask for verification where you didn’t hear properly. And not all teachers will give you the right answers, so be careful with your teachers.
Meditation, have time for your meditation without any disturbance, this is a sure way of visualizing and trying to be original, i like the way the author puts it just in a silence and quiet place, it energizes you and gives you a new start.
Have your corner of freedom of your mind, we have junked our mind until we cannot think straight, so we need to have a room in our brain a consultation room, which will be a rescue of our lives, were freedom is we can be able to consult it in time of need and when we have issues challenging our lives.
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 no idea i do not agree with , the power is in our being in purpose of life.
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?
Meditation is a day to day process, it is a start to better my purpose of being.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.
The book was fine and covered the real magics in our lives in both areas, right from spiritual to material and to personal lives.
8. 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? 7
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 8
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8
The Winning Attitude
Assessment by Erick Kebeka Omari (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the books?
These are three books in one volume, The winning attitude, Developing the leader around you and becoming a person of influence. In the winning attitude the author shows you how to change your attitude and maintain a mind–set that leads to success. With the right attitude, you can overcome life’s difficulties, gain influence with people, and turn problems into opportunities. Negative attitude can keep us feeling defeated or make us settle for maintain second best, so we have to change our negative attitude to positive one.
Developing the leader around you. A business, church or other organization does not reach the pinnacle of success because of one person. The author outline strategies that help leaders transform their vision into reality by identifying and training potential leaders. He also lists specific “people skills” necessary for achieving that goal.
Becoming a person of influence – The author teaches you how to interact more positively with people, offering insights that are practical and easy to apply to everyday life. Whether you are a poster, business person, parent or coach, these important principles can turn you into a person who impacts others lives.
The author tries to develop a positive winning attitude, which results to be a better leader and an influencing person in the society.
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.
a). Ability is what you’re capable of doing, motivation determines what you do, attitude determines how you do it. From personal experience, motivational and your attitude in what you do is very important, you might be having the ability to do something but lack of motivation and wrong attitude, you will never do it to perfection, I am a presenter in one of our local Radio and through motivation from friends, other presenter, every time I have a program I am motivated and I try to make it better and the outcome are wonderful.
From motivation and the positive attitude it has made my ability to expand and do thing that seemed to be impossible and at the moment it is possible, it is motivation I was given from a Christian monk to spearhead and do what I am doing in Alfa Network, the impossible becomes possible when motivated, and having a correct attitude and the ability to do the job. Pilot is concern about the attitude of the airplane, because that indicates its performance. Being that attitude is an inward feeling expressed by behavior. “ God sees not as man sees for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). When the attitude is positive and conducive expands and the progress begins.
b). The change cannot come from others. It must come from us. Before you educate the community, people or a group, you should be the change they see, so you have to be a positive change that they can admire and be ready to do it. Don’t preach water and drink wine, if it is water you are preaching lead people on that practical example of drinking water. This is what practically happens down here, the parents tries to control their children not to drink alcohol, abuse drugs, but they are the same people who send the children to purchase alcohol for them, children also need to discover, they will try to discover what their parents are drinking, since they know what the parents are doing is the right thing, at the end of the day the children becomes an addict. So we have to be role model in the society, let us lead from front not in the back. Positive behaviors comes out in our daily life, so it is easy for people to know or to see it through your action, You cannot give what you don’t have so you have to be the change other people can admire and it will be easy for you to influence them.
c). The money you make in any endeavor is determined only 12.5% by the knowledge and 87.5% percent by your ability to deal with people. Dealing with human people is complex, but once you have the right skills then you can do all it makes to influence them, especially for business people you need people to excel so it is very important to know how to deal with people, I do remember back when I was in high school and my mother used to sell second–hand clothes, once I am in holidays, I had to assist her to sell, and believe it my sells as higher every time, I think this was God given skills since by then I wasn’t thought on how to deal with people, I used simple skills, being friendly to the clients, and take a lot of concern on what she or he wants, I had even to try and select some clothes for her or his for is consideration, and once we are done with her I usually used to appreciate and wish him or her a good day, this made me to be the best salesman, People feel good when you recognize their presence, and praise them, also being concern about them. If you know how to deal people and win them into your thinking you are the richest person in the world in all ways, if it is money it is through people we get. Health, wealth, social life and all areas of life we cannot do without people, so it is important to know how to deal with them. People are not concern about you; they are concern about themselves so make them important and win them within. I really like this formula 87.5 % people knowledge + 12.5% product knowledge = Success. When the attitude we possess places others first and we see people as important, then our perspective will reflect their viewpoint, not ours.
d). Every opportunity has a difficulty and every difficulty has an opportunity. Adversity is prosperity to those who posses a great attitude. When we look at people who have prospered in life, either, economically, spiritually, and even the socially, we forget to ask them whether it was a easy way or they had challenges to reach where they are, no gain without pain, every opportunity has difficulties, how to deal with that difficult determines our success in that opportunity, if we deal with it in a positive way the outcome becomes positive, and if it is with negative mental attitude, we become failures and start envying others on that success. Let our difficulties be a stepping stone for our success. Some people have know how to deal with difficult situation to be a success in their life, we have people from Eastern Kenya, a very dry place, some individual have come up with the idea of selling sand, which seems not very important in that region since it is everywhere, but now they can make a living out of the sell. So that kind of problem has made them successful in one way or the other. When God wants to educate a man, he does not send him to the school of necessities. Our attitude can give us an uncommonly positive perspective.
e). The people close to me makes me or break me. As a potential leader you are either an asset or a liability to the organizations growth potential is directly related to its personnel potential. It is evidently that people around you will make you what you are, if you are with failures, you will be a total failure, you have to set your mind and try to reach ultimate goals in life, have good mentors who can share with you and encourage you to reach your dream in life, At times our leaders have failed because of the people they choose as their advisers they tend to mislead them and this makes them to fail in their leadership.
Some leaders are liability to their organization, since they have reached intellectual menopause we expect little from them, they are egocentric and cannot develop others, a practical example in my home area we had one member of parliament, who could not empower young people academically since he feared his position that once this young leaders are empowered his position will be a risk, little did he know that one day his service will be over. Unfortunately he didn’t live long to see the changes.
f). Success always come at a price, great leaders share themselves and what they have learned. We have to pay for the price of our success, through hardworking, and also being patient to deal with people, modeling our attitude positively and doing all it takes to share with the community our ideas, experiences.
Leaders should be influencers and know how to lead others through examples, from my knowledge, we have leaders in three categorizes and if you are not in that category I wonder what type of leader you are. 1. Leaders as shepherd, 2. Leaders as servant, 3. Leaders as a stewards. Leaders are servant, shepherd or stewards, so it is up to us to know what drives us to be leaders, it is quite ironical that our leaders are our bosses, we are the people who actually employ them with our votes, we give them task to do but at the end of the day, they are the ones to decide their salaries, and even don’t pay tax. They become part and parcel of liabilities in our country.
g). The man who as no problem to solve is out of the game of life, successful people face more problem than unsuccessful people, money doesn’t solve problems, problem provides an opportunity for growth. Experience comes out of the problems you have faced in life and solved them, if life was smooth without hardship then it could be like un endless road without direction, since challenges makes us strong and defines the meaning of life, and this becomes a motivational thing, it gives reason to why people should live since the hardship at time mould us to be strong at heart and endure pain. From problems encountered people becomes creative in life to see how they can make a better life.
3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily Personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?
Being a leader myself, this are tips of leadership that I have to apply in my daily
Life I do encourage young people to take charge for tomorrow as come, so our
Tomorrow as come and it is today, The book as a lot of practical exercises which
Are helpful especially what I do in the radio program, educating people.
Definitely I will apply the principle and share with people and be an example to
The community.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your Attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
a). The value of life lies not in the length of days, but in the use we make of them.
This is a brilliant statement, the length of days we live here we don’t know them; it is through the grace of God that we live. So the value lies on what we do with them, are we able to do good during our time or days we are a live?, if so it counts a lot in life.
b). Everyone needs to feel valued every man is entitled to be valued by his best moments. So as much as you want to be valued value others too, give back to the community and it will give back to you.
c). Brains are like heats they go where they are appreciated, an appreciation ignites the giant in you, appreciation makes the impossible to be possible, keep in mind that people need to be appreciated the way you want to be appreciated.
d).There is a price to pay to grow. Commitment is the price, nothing comes without commitment and who you are determined, in school commitments define your success, how you are committed to your academics, in relationship how you are committed with your loved ones, in spirituality how you are committed with God’s teaching, spiritual teaching and indeed there is a price to pay for it. We make sacrifices in life to reach where we are.
e). If you want to test a man’s character, give him power, he can either use the powers correctly or misuse them, if you want to see the speed of the turtle put it in water, and that is when you can see how quick it will move.
f). You may not be able to help everybody, but you can certainly help somebody. So do not under estimate you power of helping even one person, and nobody lacks something to give.
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 fine and easy to understand.
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
Some exercise are long term process which I will be applying on my daily life some I completed in the process of evaluating myself.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.
The book is well covered.
8. Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is the good and one is poor
1. How interesting was it to read? 8
2. How helpful were the contents? 8
3. How easy was it to understand? 8
4. Would you recommend it to other? 7
5. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8
Goal Setting 101
Assessment of Erick Kebeka Omari
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the books?
An easy, step – by step guide for setting and achieving a goal, by Gary Ryan Blair. Goal setting 101 addresses the fundamentals of setting and achieving a goal; the book is about achieving your goals. The interest of establishing a goal is moving from where you are to where you want to be. The book offers goal setting methods, insights and suggestions to those seeking their signature path to success.
The book also explains how you must think, plan, execute, manage and eventually celebrate your way to success. This is a logical step by step journey of what it takes to set and achieve the goal.
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.
a). It takes a study and practice to produce good result.
This is very true, anything you do should be given time to grow and achieve the goal, it takes time, resources for the community to bring up a child, just right from conceiving, it takes time for the child to be born, and that is 9 months, after that there is a process of growth, up to the time the child becomes a responsible adult, so for every success there is a process of growth, in education it takes time for one to complete is study and achieve his/her dreams of live.
In my personal life, it as not been easy for me, I have been struggling to achieve what I need in life, After starting a community based organization, it wasn’t easy since 2003, sometimes you reach at stand still, and your expectation are not reached but you don’t give up, until then this seems to start moving and currently having a website, and people have started recognizing what we are doing in the community, and created moral capital.
b). Know why goal setting is important
It is very important to set your goals since this will give you guidelines to whatever you are aiming to, if no goals set then how can you measure your results?, whoever do not plan to succeed plan to fail, and any road can do if you don’t know were you are going, so it is important in life to set your goals and, your goals should be measurable and achievable.
When setting your goals you should bear in mind three key elements of a goal and this are: the goal should have measurable outcomes, specific date and time to accomplish the goal, this is like a remainder that you have something that you should accomplish in a given time frame, and therefore a goal is a specific measurable accomplishment to be achieved within a specific time.
Goal setting establish direction for your life, if you never set a goal how will you know where you are going?, goal identify results, if no goal exist, how do you measure your progress?, goals challenges you to grow. If you never set a goal, how do you move out of your comfort zone? Goals setting improve your self – image, it improves you today and makes you feel better for tomorrow. Goal setting gives you confidence and forces you to be specific.
c). Develop a vision
A vision is a way of seeing or conceiving what you want to create or achieve, how can you plan without knowing what you envision for your life?, Fore your vision to be translated to action, it must be shared with the people who will be impacted, it is very true that people cannot help you achieve your vision unless they know and understand why your vision is important.
A mission statement
d). A mission statement is a declaration of who you are, why you exist, and what you intend to accomplish, this is part of identifying yourself, why do you exist and why do you do what you are doing? These are rhetorical questions which need you to answer to yourself and analyze your self and your life. What do you intend to accomplish? It is quite unfortunate especially to the area I am enlightening people, people don’t understand the purpose of life, also blame game is the order of the day, you are the one to make your mission, vision, goals values and work on them, we are living in the same world but totally different lives depending on the choices we make, we should be accountable to our lives and mould it within were we are, the bigger percentage of Kenyans believe that once you live the country and go abroad for studies, or work that is when you can make a better life, but it is high time that we have to believe in ourselves and in our own country by first having our mission statement, and let it be achievable, if you ask a poor person the reasons as to why he or she cannot achieve his or her dreams in life, you will get numerous reasons justifying the problem or the impossibilities, same for the successful person will give you lots of avenues of success.
We are the cause of our lives, sometimes I wonder when I look life in the slum, there is one fundamental problem of drainage system, dumping waste resources, we are the causers of the situation, we dump without thinking the outcomes, and at the end of the day we are the people affected, what goes round comes round, diseases out break, due to poor sanitation which is man made, we are the people causing the blockage of the drainage system and we are the people to suffer at long last. So if we define properly our mission statement, then life will never be the same and stick on them for the outcome. A mission statement interprets “reason for being” it enables you to clarify your purpose for yourself and others who are interested in you.
e). We all have to give meaning to our lives, we must find or create reasons for living.
We all have the potential of being what we want to be, so we need to ask ourselves why are you a live, so we go to the anatomy of a goal, what, why, how, The what is the goal which provides direction, without a goal you do not have direction and you don’t know what you are up to, The why is the set of personal benefits, which provides fuel to reach the goal, this is a burning desire to achieve your goal, the how is the map that provides the mile market for achievements, if you are equipped with the three questions of what, why, how then you are heading to a positive direction of defining your life and future, everything created in the universe has a purpose so we also have a purpose but we have to define it, by calling upon yourself to fulfill it.
f). The difference between what one person and another achieve depends more on goal choices than on abilities. It is quite evident that even if you have the ability to do something but you do not have a goal on it, then the productivity will not be satisfying so the choices we make affects our performance, and if you make the right goals the ones who can measure and are achievable, then definitely you will be moving in the right direction, and you will achieve the goals happily.
g). No decision is difficult to make if you get all the facts.
Respect, reality and face the fact, once you look at something with facts, then you can give out the best solution either of doing it or not, so be it goal setting, mission statement and vision are you facing the fact of what you are doing?, do you have respect on what you are doing?, or are you being realistic on what you are doing?, at times people don’t respect there business, how do we spend what we get, do we respect what we get, our profit our losses and be realistic on issues, if you got a loss what made it or were did you go wrong?, this are simple elements but counts in life, when making a point do we go for facts, or when doing research do we go for fact finding on the mission we are up to?. These are questions we need to ponder in order to reach our goal, which will be successful.
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 dealing with human people it will help me to know how to make my goals likable to others in order to convince them to join me with the race, also being a T.O.T I am already with the right knowledge of making people know how to make their goals achievable, measurable and live a better 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.
a). Even the smallest gesture has a consequence,
The consequence of this gesture may lead you towards or away from your goal. Anything we do be it good or bad it as a consequence no matter how small it may be, there will be an out come either positive or negative.
b). To be or not to be, is directly related to your ability to set or not to set a goal.
So success only happens when a clear, definable target has been established, before taking action, you need a goal; we don’t say “ready, aim fire! For nothing, we have to plan to succeed, so if you set a goal for success you will have reasons as to way to work to achieve that goal.
c). You must walk the talk, it is essential that your vision be understood, shared accepted and lived by everyone who plays a role in making it a reality. Whatever you talk you should try to live by your words, and make them a reality so that people can follow you knowing that you are also walking the talk.
d). The truth will prevail, true and accurate information is essential to your success, in anything people trust to work with faithfulness, truth and straightforward people.
e). Respect your rights and responsibilities, the right to be successful, is very essential and you have to respect it in order to achieve the ultimate goal of your dream.
f). You cannot swim without being in the water, you cannot skate without being on the ice, the only way to achieve a goal is to lead yourself to victory, once you make a goal you have to live to the goals expectation, get the write goal and have the right attitude and what it takes to achieve the goal, why do people set goals that are not easily implemented?, and they cannot achieve them, cannot measure them, well, we have said that you have to be in water so that you can swim, remember you cannot rescue fish from water and as long as the fish likes water, it doesn’t like bubbling water, so as long as we set goals not all goals will be achieved unless you walk the talk, you live to the goals expectations and make them measurable, and can be accomplished in a given time frame.
g).There is no spend limit on the road to success, go full speed to achieve your goal, no limit no warning as long as you are heading to the right direction, do what you can to achieve the dream of your life, personally I have achieved what I could not achieved in a short period of time, having a cyber by using OPM, actually after reading the leadership books they opened my mind and found out that I can achieve whatever I want in a short spell of time, I was given a loan and I set the cyber, which if not the idea knowledge I gained I could not think about it, or it could take me centuries, so there is no speed limit in success, and I am hoping for me, the sky is the limit.
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 fine and manageable.
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
The books had exercise which were helpful and took me on the process of reading, though other exercises are long term 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.
Everything was well covered.
8. Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10.
A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to other? 8
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9
Goal Achievement Through Treasure Mapping.
Assessment Erick Kebeka Omari (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the books?
The author brings goal achievement through Treasure Mapping as a powerful tool for linking vision to reality. The author states that if you have a particular goal that you wish to accomplish, you need to make room for it, by releasing any mental or emotional blocks you may have about it.
You can make the choice to use treasure mapping to represent what you want to have in your life, also the universe will repeat what you need to hear until you make the choice to pay attention. Also the author states that all things are ready, if our minds be so. Our lives are reflection of our thoughts, with our thoughts we make our world.
Treasure mapping is grounded in a faith – based perspective; this doesn’t mean you must subscribe to a particular religious denomination. All personal breakthrough starts with you.
Treasure mapping is based on the law of mind action – thoughts held in mind produce after their kind. Treasure mapping helps you develop your intuition and as your ability to us our intuition develop and grows, so does your trust that Divine order really is at work.
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.
a). Hold fast to a dreams, for if dreams die life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly.
If you don’t have any dream then you are as good as nothing, for without dream you can not aspire to do anything, a broken winged bird cannot fly and if it cannot fly, it will be difficult for it to find food, and it is easily prune to predators which will feast on it and that will be the end of life, so dreams gives us power to move forward and hopes for tomorrow, dream to have a better life makes us creative to reach that better life we are striving for.
b). It is not our abilities that show us what we truly are it is our choices.
We need to make wise choices in life, wild choice makes disastrous end point, choices in life defines what life we are leading, they also mould our life, permanently either in a better direction or a wrong direction. Your only choice is what experiences you will create.
c). All things are ready if our minds be so
When your minds are set to something and you are prepared nothing will be impossible, it reminds me that once the student is ready the teacher will appear, so whatever we do we should set our minds to be prepared in order for us to achieve our goals, the goals should be born in to our minds before implementation.
d). The simplest way to improve your life is to improve your thoughts, think big and you will grow big, think positive and your life will be positive, think negative and your life will be negative, if you go to the battle prepared that the first blow you receive you will take of, in fact you will take of before even receiving the first blow since you are prepared to loose the battle. We should give our brain the best thinking with the rights thoughts, through our thoughts we see the outcome through action or service delivered, which will reflect our life either positively or negatively. No matter how hard you work for success if your thoughts are saturated with the fear of failure, it will kill your efforts, neutralize your endeavors, and make success impossible.
f). Many who complain of lack of money often are out of balance with the natural flow of giving and receiving and so they have no money but they have lots of possession (holding on) when you free yourself of the holding on or attachment to your things then you often find that you start to receive in abundance from the universe. Money is not the source of everything, so whoever complains that he or she cannot fulfill her or his dream goal because of money becomes escapist.
g). You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water, in life you have to do something, to achieve the goals of your dream, you cannot expect manna to drop from heaven, do something try all it takes to better your life, especially our youths over here likes complaining about lack of employment opportunities, but I do challenge them, what have they done to improve there lives?, not only through employment they can better their lives, they can be self – employed for self sustainability usually a person who doesn’t want to be tired will never gain, no pain no gain, they will also defend their unproductively telling you that they lack capital, not knowing that we can use the OPM, other peoples money, so we need to do something to uplift ourselves, what I have done and achieved doesn’t need to be employed to reach where I have reached, instead of being idle, volunteer somewhere and your talent can be recognized and at the end of the day you can secure a job, or you can be supported in one way or the other instead of sitting and waiting for manna to drop from heaven.
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?
Being the founder of a community based organization and dealing with human people it will help me through sharing with the society on how to discover their meaning in life and keep on track to achieve it, also the books is like a check list in my life, which reminds me to stick on my goals and try to do all it takes to achieve them.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your Attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
a). You cannot cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water
You have to make a move to achieve what you want in your life, not by thinking and wishing it to happen but by doing it practically, go for your goals.
b). The glass half empty type of people
This are people who appears unwilling to take any action to change, they see limitation instead of possibilities, problems instead of opportunities and difficulties instead of ease.
c). To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it.
Once we are wronged we need to forgive and forget, and continue with life, most of us we stick on old issues that we were wronged until we cannot grow so this will keep on driving us back to events which didn’t please us and we will never grow forgive and forget and start a new life.
d). You can’t change the past, but you can ruin the future, by worrying about the future,
You worry about the future whereby you need to do something at present to make that future, by worrying you are not doing anything but ruining the future, so since you cannot change the past, concentrate on the present to achieve the future you need.
e). be careful for what you pray you might get it,
Actually prayers are strong and your wish might be fulfilled through prayer so you need to be careful to pray for something you sincerely need not negatively in your life for you might receive it, we have driving power in ourselves that can lead you to achieve what you ask for.
f). Tune in the message through meditation, silence and listening.
To be silence it makes your brain to think and assess yourself and get the best direction, we need to give time our brain to meditate in a silent place without disturbance, this creates room for a new look.
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 clear and precise to the point.
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
Yes it contained lots of exercise which required to assess yourself immediately after finishing each chapter which I did, and there are long term exercise which I am taking on a daily basis to achieve my goals.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.
The book was well covered.
8. Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10.
A. How interesting was it to read? 8
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to other? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9
The Law of Attraction
Assessment by Erick Kebeka Omari (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the books?
The author brings attention on the science of attracting more of what you want and less of what you don’t, the law of attraction may be defined as I attract to my life whatever I give my attention, energy and focus to whether positive or negative. The author further enlists ideal vacation, your ideal relationship, your ideal health, more money in your life and all that you desire.
There is a physiological foundation for positive thinking and its effective in creating the law of attraction, never expect a thing you do not want and never desire a thing you do not expect.
When you expect something you do not want, you attract the undesirable, and when you desire a thing that is not expected, you simply dissipate valuable mental force. On the other hand, when you constantly expect that which you persistently desire, your ability to attract becomes irresistible. The mind is a magnet and attracts whatever corresponds to its ruling state.
The law of attraction always matches your vibration whether positive or negative. The law of attraction simply responds to your vibration. The author also states that we have to understand the significance of your words.
When your words change, your vibration changes and the best news of all is that you can only send out one vibration at a time.
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.
a). It is your responsibility to make sure that positive emotions constitute the dominating influence of your mind. What you think about is what you will be so it is very important your mind to be dominated in what you want, since if you think positively you will achieve what you want by the law of attraction, and if it is negative you will attract negative events. So you need to ask yourself what do you want and how can you achieve it through the law of attraction.
b). To know whether you are sending out a positive or negative vibration simply take a look at the results you’re getting in that area of your life, they are a perfect reflection of what you are vibrating, if they are positive and up to your expectation. Then you have achieved what you want in life.
c). Observing contrast is essential because it helps you to become clearer about what you do want, The contrast becomes like a learning lesson to you, it make you stick to what you want in life, and know how to avoid what you do not want. This is a sure way of having your checklist in life.
d). How long would you smell something that doesn’t smell good? How long would you listen to music that doesn’t sound good? This will be to many of us like a reflect action, the response will be like a lightening towards bad smell and it will force you to move away immediately but it is quite unfortunate that when choosing what we want we stick to want we don’t want and leads to our failure. If we would respond the way we respond to rotten eggs or something stinking badly then our law of attracting what we want could be effective and very quick to achieve it.
e). Identify what makes you feel good and do more of it. After identifying what makes you feel good it will be easy to attract it since doing it will not stress you and you will do it willingly knowing it is what you want in life, it becomes easy to excel in that area since you like to do it, and you are not pushed to do it.
f). The most source of doubt (negative vibration) is from your own limiting beliefs, we are the people who limit our potentials by self doubt, we feel the sense of loosing even when we haven’t tried the challenges of life, sometimes we lack to encourage ourselves that we can make our life what we want it to be, we limit our ability through fear, despair, discouragement escapist and not allowing ourselves to do what our life attract so we block our success by creating barriers to ourselves. When your thoughts consist of a limiting belief you are offering or sending out a negative vibration.
g). Always say yes to money, it is very true that most of us when offered for lunch we could say no thanks a lot, in fact it is as if the book is pointing me, and this is the law of beliefs which I need to break, when I was young my parents thought me that I should not accept things from the strangers unless and others wise, it is of late that I learn the law of attraction so you keep on repelling instead of attracting, somebody taking for you lunch, accept it in a honest manner, if at all you were hungry eat to your fullest, you didn’t steal, he or she gave it to you with a good intention, why say know after a few seconds you faint because of starvation. Keep on attracting not repelling and your feel will be full of blessings.
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 law of attraction will help me know how to attract what exactly I want and try to remove obstacles blocking me to achieve my dream of life, also being a person of influence and empowering the community it is a sure way of educating them to be ready to attract positive vibration in life and stick on what they want, and learn that when they say I don’t want, they replaces it by asking themselves “so what do I want?
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your Attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
a). When you notice that something made you excited about money do it over and over again, this is part of encouragement something good is worthy to be done twice, thrice and more since that is the center of your heart.
b). Always say yes to money, money is power so say yes and achieve more if you can do so.
c). Understand what you don’t want will help you generate more clarity about what you do want and clarify becomes your new clear desire, and easy to exactly know what you want in life and avoid what you don’t want.
d). Keep your words simple, this will be easy for you to know what exactly you want clear and precise to the point of what you are attracting.
e). Simply ask yourself “so what do I want? This is a sure way of confirming what you want and it will keep you on track by asking what you want you go for it and affirm it, and the law of attraction shall be upon you to achieve it, remember you have to take caution of what you pray since it may come true and it will be unfortunate if it wasn’t want exactly you wanted.
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 well covered and very clear and easy to understand.
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
Yes the book contains a lot of exercises which some of them I have completed and others I am evaluating myself. The exercises are very helpful and practical.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.
The book was well covered
8. Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10.
A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to other? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9
Nonviolent Communication
Assessment by Erick Kebeka Omari (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the books?
The author Marshall B. Rosenberg as done a recommendable job, it is one of the most powerful book that I have ever read, right from birth to our entire life, we have been educated to judge, demand, and diagnose, to think and communicate what in terms of what is right and wrong with people, and this brings misunderstanding and frustration, leading to anger, depression, and even emotional or physical violence, and causing death and calamities in the world.
The author conveys how we can learn to transform the thinking, language and moralistic judgments that keep us from enriching relationships that you dream of. Nonviolent communication helps us to resolve conflict, with ease more easily get what you want without using demands, and begin to hear the needs of others with less struggle, strengthen your personal and professional relationships, and start living your fullest potential.
With nonviolent communication the author brings to our attention to focus on connection through empathic listening rather than bring right or getting what you wanted, it is also a one way of transforming conflict into a mutually satisfying outcomes, defuse anger and frustrations peacefully, it also creates personal and professional relationships grounded in mutual respect, compassion, and emotional safety, it breaks patterns of thinking that leads to arguments or depression and move beyond power struggles to cooperation and trust.
This is one way of changing our lives into positive communication without creating violent, remember one word can cause conflict; it also helps us to speak what is in our minds and heart without hurting others, or creating misunderstanding to one another. Through NVC we can create our life, our relationship and our world in harmony with our values.
After reading and understanding NVC It is one way of breaking the pattern of thinking that leads to arguments or depression. The author gives us a tool of language on how to change our situations, relationships, and how we relate to each other and even ourselves, teachers to students, it is a precise disciplined and enormously compassionate. Nonviolent communication is a master work, nationally we talk peace, but the author goes beyond mere talk, it shows us how to teach peace.
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.
a). Acknowledge that one is violent and that one needs to bring about a qualitative change in one’s attitude. After reading Nonviolent communication it is high time for us to acknowledge that in one way or the other we have been violent without knowing, when we talk about violent most of us will take it literally that violent is fighting, killing but less do we know that our language of expression is more violent than we thought, as I said one word can cause conflict or can make people fight, how many times have we spoke negatively about others? And it really hurts them, is that not more than causing violent?, so after reading and understanding what nonviolent communication entails, it is high time for us to evaluate ourselves, other peoples feeling, our needs, other peoples needs, before you utter any word, digest it and think how the one receiving the word or information will receive it, This is very important since in one way we will create a conducive and peaceful environment.
After reading the book, I found that in the past I have done more harm than good, through speaking and judgments, what we talk to people, how we judge them, and even forget that the Bible say do not judge. Our needs become demands, without taking good consideration to others, at times we are more pressed to our needs that we cannot take no for an answer, and this creates anxiety, and judgmental to others, and calling them abusive names, if we can also give priority to other peoples needs, the way we expect them to do to us, without superiority or inferiority then we can never have conflict and misunderstanding in our society.
Whatever you need others to do to you, do it to them, as much as we have needs we need to use a correct language so that our needs cannot be classified as commands, dictatorship, self – centeredness, we need also to take more consideration to where we are placing our needs, so that whoever receives it, he/she receive it willingly and happily unlike doing it because the boss said, or the it is the order from the authority, once we give authority, yes the work may be done but not into satisfactorily, and it ends up leaving the scars to others peoples heart.
Over here in Kenya we have heard and witnessed people being killed, and they are not robbed, nor anything stolen from them, especially prominent people, we start wondering what might have gone wrong, how we associate with others when we are in power is very important, you can be in power and make others suffocate under your leadership, take caution, given a little chance they will finish you to death.
I have a friend of mine who was blessed to be a director elsewhere, stepping in the new office it was quite challenging for him, nobody wanted to associate to him, it was difficult for him to even get access to crucial information, and also co opt with the staff, I had to advice him to use the law of influence, so that he cannot repel people but try to attract them, and make them understand that, his position in office, is not a threat but away of working close to them, at the moment he as a peaceful relationship with other staff members.
We also have to accept the past mistakes we have done, being too judgmental, gossiping and speaking badly to others, once we reflect that in to our side and try to be on the shoe of those we have been talking negatively about them, then we come to our self – conscious and I believe we can treat others better than before.
b). How can we extinguish a fire if we don’t first cut off the fuel that ignites the inferno. It takes me back in time of post violent election in Kenya, indeed we need to cut off the fuel that ignites the fire, unfortunately we were trying to extinguish fire without cutting the fuel that resulted to fire breakout. And this creates a big problem which affect innocent children and those who are not involved, it reminds me when you want to kill a rat, you put poison with the aim of killing the rat, but too unfortunate you will not only kill the rat but also anything that taste the food with poison. It is quite unfortunate that our egocentric life can cause death without sympathy and empathy, our leaders, spearheaded the violent due to election without caring the effect it had to creates to the society, the utterance caused a lot of harm to one peaceful nation, (the word you stole the votes, I won the election caused death) there was no sense of brotherhood, up to date people are still IDP, (internally displaced people), yes we have peace at the moment, but my question is did we cut off the fuel that ignited the fire?, or we just extinguished the fire?, we haven’t seen those who caused the violent being brought to books, and confess their wrong doing, what happened in Kenya reminds me of the book animals farm, where by other animals are special than others, in fact for those in our society who were being used during the post violent election, majority lost there lives, their family and even the innocent people were affected, for our leaders it is like a passing wind, what they think about is the next election and how they will share the national cake, quite unfortunate, We need to cut off the fuel that causes the fire, if your communication causes discomfort to others, check on your communication to others you might be the problem instead of the solution, you are either part of the problem or part of the solution, your needs can also cause conflict when they became demands, evidently in our government set up, it is few individual needs that fueled the post violent,
c). Unless we become the change we wish to see in the world, no change will ever take place. Change starts with us, whatever we want the change to be in the world, we are the people to change, change start by an individual, goes to the family, to the society up to the nation and entire world, if you change the way you handle people, it will be a positive change whatever you need to be done to you, also do it to others, it will be very effective, and it will come back to you, if you feel so sad when somebody shouts to you or command you to do something also do not command others, or shout at them, since they also feel the way you feel, if you want to be respected respect others too, what goes round comes round. Unfortunately we wait for other person to change first, and he/she also wait for us to change too and the process continues until we get no change at all. It is easy for you to change since you know yourself better than the other person, and once you make a positive change it is quite evident that it will be seen through your actions, your thinking will change to positive and it will be like an eye opener to others, and finally you will be the role model to the society or to your friends. If you cannot conquer yourself it will be totally difficult to conquer others, so if change starts within us, it will be easy for us to change the world. A spark of fire burns the entire forest; our little change can change the entire world.
d). This world is what we have made of it. If it is ruthless today it is because we have made it ruthless by our attitudes, the world is not bad it is the people who are bad, it is we people who make the world to be what it is, and we determine what the world will be by what we do in the world. We can change our world by changing ourselves and changing ourselves begins with changing our language and methods of communication.
The world doesn’t communicate violent, it is the people living in the world, no single day the world will carry the weapon to fight anybody, we have turned ourselves evil in the beautiful world that God created, and we have caused calamities that cost our lives in the world we live.
e). Words are windows (or they’re walls) they sentence us or set us free.
Whatever we speak out, and the words we talk are windows, we can see through the windows, so our words can be in a better place to define who we are through what we talk, and what we believe, the words can set you free or cost you, so we need to watch what we speak, remember even in court of law, you will be judged as per your words, your contradictory statements, in communicating with people you can win a life time friendship or loose your life time partner though what you talk, words are powerful (word power). They can build or destroy. The tongue is a very small part of the body but very poisonous, what it spites is more dangerous than of pythons bite, the words we speak cause suicide, life sentence for others, marriage break ups, conflict in the society, killings and many more, so our words are windows or walls, depending on how we use them, being transparent and straightforward in whatever you speaks will never cost you anything, but will keep your friends dignity and honor, so lets take care of our little tongue that utters words which might be blessings or curses to others, that can build or destroy the relationship.
f). The most dangerous of all behavior may consist of doing things because we’re supposed to. We have been brought up in the society of doing things only when we are told to do them, or because our parents said so, or our boss said so or because if we do not do them we will be fired, punished, and also it will cost our job. We end up doing things we do not like, we become stressed up in doing them, to either safeguard our job or evade punishment from our superior, once we do things unwillingly the end result of the job done is not satisfactory, the best way of doing things is doing them willingly and enjoying what you are doing at will.
After learning NVC, it will be effective for us to know how to influence people to do things willingly and happily, without feeling pressured to do, this creates good relationship and high productivity in whatever we are doing.
g). We are each responsible for our own thoughts, feelings, and actions
We will be judged as per our actions; our thoughts and feelings produce the action and reflect what we are thinking about, whatever we do we should be responsible and it affects our life either positively or negatively, so we should take control of our thoughts, feelings and actions, since they reflect who we are what we are thinking about and affects our future.
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 way I do communicate with people and how I address my needs, I will take consideration to others and try to see that my needs are not turned to be commands to others, I have also to care about other peoples need, right from communication, I need to know that when people talk about their needs I should give them time to express them without, interfering with the talk, also I need to teach myself on how to listen to others peoples needs and feelings.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your Attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
a). Let’s shine the light of consciousness on places where we can hope to find what we are seeking, The better place to put our consciousness, our efforts, and determination is where there is a will of what we are seeking for, lets us concentrate on what we want rather than what we don’t want, positively we can seek on what we want and put more light on it to achieve the best result out of it.
b). When we give from the heart, we do so out of the joy that springs forth whenever we willingly enrich another person’s life, this kind of giving benefits both the giver and the receiver. The receiver enjoys the gift without worrying about consequences that accompany gifts given out of fear, guilt, shame, or desire for gain. To arrive at a mutual desire to give from the heart, we focus the light of consciousness on four areas, observations, needs, feelings and request.
c).Do not judge, and you will not be judged. For as you judge others, so you will yourselves be judged Mathew 7:1. In the world of judgments, our concern centers on “who is what” so let’s not judge in order for us not to be judged, classifying and judging people promotes violence. Comparison is a form of judgment
d). Giving from the heart
What I want in my life is compassion a flow between myself and others based on a mutual giving from the heart. If you give something from your heart it means you give wholly and without any malicious intention, lets give from the heart, without anybody pushing us out of our won good will, and we will be blessed on that.
f) If we express our needs, we have a better chance of getting them met. If we don’t value our needs, others may not either, first we need to value our needs so that others can also understand them and value them, if we don’t then it will be very hard for others to exactly know what we need and value them.
We also need to liberate ourselves from emotional slavery to emotional liberation, In emotional slavery we see ourselves responsible for other’s feelings. In emotional liberation, we take responsibility, for our intentions and actions, and requesting that which would enrich life.
g) We say a lot by listening for others people’s feelings and needs. By listening others express their needs, we do a lot since in other situation people need a listening person, to express his/her feelings to unload what is in the heart through doing that you become a good listener and you increase your relationship with the person without any hatred, or being judgmental. It is good to give others time to express fully and to feel understood, and check whether advice or reassurance is wanted before offering say avoids intellectual understanding since it blocks empathy.
f). Never walk when you can dance and make your home a cozy nest.
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 books is clear and I do not disagree with the ideas given out, in fact it is a perfect book, and creates awareness on our communication, in all dynamics right from the family to our working place.
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
Nonviolent communication is a process, which I have started a journey of assessing myself and the words I speak, the way I communicate and the impact they cause to others, some exercises which are offered to the book, I have managed to complete them while reading but, as a whole nonviolent communication is a cycle that takes time by being sensitive to walk information we give to others.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.
The book is well covered, and it is a powerful took for communication.
8. Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is the good and one is poor
A. How interesting was it to read? 8
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to other? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9
Leadership For Dummies
Assment by Erick Kebeka Omari (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the books?
The author conveys that leaders are made, not born and also gives out step by step for building leadership skills. The author also gives tips on how to lead and succeed in both business and life. Leadership for Dummies gives sure ways of embracing responsibility by dropping the word “no” and learning to volunteer, a leader should also take an interest in people around them and learn to like them, be careful with the promise you make, promise little deliver more or a lot.
Elicit co-operation and let your goal be to have followers trust you, leading starts with a vision, vision are more than ideas, they are doable. Vision links the present to the future, use vision to inspire your followers to achieve more than they thought possible, make your vision positive. Plan for change be happy when it arrives. Lead people, manage events, keep your troops motivated.
Leadership for Dummies is for anyone with the desire to take the lead; leadership is a people – centered skills that’s critical in almost every situation in which two or more people come together in pursuit of a common goal. In leadership you need to put others before yourself. Leaders are trained by experience, by their successes, and most often by their failures. You do not have to wait for a title in order to become a leader.
You can’t be a leader if you’re a afraid of responsibility and accountability.
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.
a). Leaders are not born, they are made.
This statement touched me very much, leaders are not born they are made, trained by experience, and most often by their failure. We do forget that even in our smallest capacity we are leaders in our own way, leadership starts right from our birth, how you were brought up, molded and nurtured, our definition of leadership matters very much, we tend to think that leaders are only politician, forgetting that a parent is a leader by teaching your children well, you are a leader in having a child, you have assumed responsibility for another human being. If a parent is capable of giving positive values to his or her children then the children grows being responsible, co-operate with others, listen and put the needs of others above their own. These are also qualities of good leadership.
Over here in Kenya, we have categorized leadership in poor methodologies, we tend to assume that a certain tribe is best at leadership, or since your father was a leader, or head of state then you can also automatically become the leader without any question, a very wrong perspective of looking at issues.
If also you are not circumstanced, people tend to sideline you that you can not make a good leader, you are not worthy to be a leader, in African traditional way, leaders were recognized by being polygamous, and having numerous children, this was a sure way of being identified to be a leader also the possession you had made you automatic leader.
It had been and its very difficult for a poor person to rise to the top most position in leadership in Kenya, we are in the process of breaking this syndrome of leadership hierarchies in our society.
Every person has the potential to be a leader but you have to choose to be a leader, leaders are made by circumstances, not by birth or genetics, leadership begins with the willingness to embrace responsibilities, the reason that leaders emerge out of circumstance is that leaders embrace the idea of accepting responsibility.
Leadership doesn’t happen naturally and it doesn’t occur overnight.
b). You can’t be a leader if you’re afraid of responsibility and accountability
To be a leader you have to be accountable to the people who gave you mandate to lead them, leadership and politic should be observed, most of our politicians do not make good leaders, there are too much promises but little is delivered. And they prefer the hide and seek game, it wasn’t me!, or if held accountable, we toss the issues that you are fighting a certain tried, ethnicity comes in instead of being accountable for your wrong doing and be brave enough to face people and give them an explanation. This calls for our questioning why or what makes you become a leader? What is your motive behind the power you are seeking for, it is few over here in Kenya truly go for leadership to serve the people, mostly the leaders we have go for status quo, protection from the evil they have done, egocentric for their own gain, protect their interest and many more. So this set of leaders will never want to be accountable and responsible, they will only protect their interests and those of their friends.
c). Few things get done if people don’t pull together and little is accomplished without the motivation that leaders supplies
This is the major problem with our leaders, co-operating with the citizens who gave them power to lead is very little, once they are elected, you will see them after their term is over, this becomes very difficult for project implementation, evaluation and monitoring, people do not know exactly what projects are being implemented and whether they need them, there is no consultation with the community, they do what they feel like, living the community torn apart, and forced by circumstances to take what they as been proposed by the leaders. It is kind of dictatorship.
The citizen are the tax payers but they have no say on what they need to be done with their tax, this leads to ghost projects, uncompleted projects but when you go to records they have been recommended that they are well done.
A good leader works with the people, and motivates the people, listens to the views of people and work together to achieve the suggested goals.
d). Nobody can know everything and nobody can do everything
These calls for co-operation with others, a good leader listen and seek for advice from the leaders, people friends and even enemies, learn to listen and even if it is criticism take them positively, for you may find out that there is a message being passed through such criticism. People have to trust you without you asking for their trust. Leadership is a set of skills and traits that can be learned and worked on, yet the general perception is that good leaders are scarce. These call for flattening the pyramid, a process of distributing leadership roles broadly a cross a company, rather than concentrating responsibility among a few people at the top. Leaders must work with people and their emotions.
e). Remember they’re not electing you Dictator for life.
All leadership is temporary be it situational, transitional or hierarchical leadership, just because you take the lead do not think that you’ll always be in the lead because all leadership is temporary. Leadership often depends on being in the right place at the right time. The situation that requires leadership may come to an end and your dictatorship will be no more. Time changes and circumstances change, today respected leaders may be out of touch with the realities of tomorrow, this is very practical with Kenyan politics our leaders have been more dictatorship rather than democratic and their time came out, no matter what they say at the moment there is no respect for them,
f). You cannot let anything scare you, if you really have confidence that you can always get another job then you will do the right things.
People tend to do unaccepted things for the purpose of safeguarding their jobs and careers, even when they know they are doing wrong things, actually if people are empowered, and know that they are clean nothing scarce them, they can do the right job and even justice can prevail. Since they have nothing to loose and in return they sustain the job due to moral capital from the people.
People lack confidence to stand firm since they fear loosing were they get their only bread, it is practical when I was employed in a company I remember vividly the boss telling one of my workmate to put his hand on the wall so that when the crane offload the goods it will not scratch the wall to remove the paint, due to fear to disobey the boss the workmate did so, but can you imagine the wall and the human body!! What do you value, the boss values is wall than the employee. And the employee could not disobey due to fear of being fired.
g). You become free by acting free, you become a leader by acting like a leader
This is very though if you want to be a free man you have to act freely and if you want to be a leader act like one fake it until it will be, so act like a leader and you will be one acquire the right skills for leadership and you will be one, people will recognize your potential and when the right timing comes you will be there for them to present them, and lead them, I remember when I was in high school one fellow used to act like a cop and after some couple of years it was quite interesting that fellow up to the moment he is a cop, he got a job as a cop, so whatever you want to be have a driving force from your heart, and you will definitely achieve it, believe in yourself and be confidence, people have achieved a lot through their confidence and fake it until it becomes a reality.
3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily
Personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?
Leadership for dummies is the best book for those who are aspiring to be leaders like me, I have achieved a lot by reading this book, the skills have acquired am sharing it through the media were I am volunteering to educate the community, it is evident through the calls I receive when I am in the radio studio, the compliment I receive it is through the leadership books I read, also my organization as gained a lot through the leadership tips I do give them. The seminars I have been attending people have made remarkable appreciation on what I contribute in terms of ideas, and suggestions I give out.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your Attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
a) you do not have to wait for a title to be a leader, this is a motivational statement for those aspiring to be leaders do not wait start right ways as you feel to be a leader, a leader is not a title, so if you feel it is in your blood stream be a leader without wasting time.
b) Leadership doesn’t happen naturally and it doesn’t occur overnight, be determined to train yourself or be trained for leaders are not born they are made.
c) Nobody can know everything and nobody can do everything and that is why our body is one but with different parts working differently but achieving one goal. So being a leader you need people like the body needs the head, hands, legs to be complete.
d) No matter where people live they have the same need, human needs are the same and we all need them irrespective of where you live.
e) Fixing the problem not the blame, we tend to blame people instead of fixing the problem and the problem becomes worse that is the time we start fixing, instead of first fixing the problem.
f) A new idea doesn’t have to be unique it just have to be something that works.
g) Things takes time Rome wasn’t built in a day and even the most charismatic leader can’t improve a bad situation overnight.
h) Failure can be a stepping stone to success. If you handle well the failure and learn from your mistakes.
i) There is no tomorrow like today, so if you wish to do something do it today for there is no tomorrow like today.
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 well covered and easily understood.
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
The exercise in the book are helpful I have been apply them on my daily basis and what I do in the community, some are long term exercise which build my capacity as a leader.
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 the book is well done.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is the good and one is poor
1. How interesting was it to read? 9
2. How helpful were the contents? 8
3. How easy was it to understand? 8
4. Would you recommend it to other? 8
5. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8
The Power Of Intention
Assessment by Erick Kebeka Omari
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the books?
Intention is generally viewed as a pit-bull kind of determination, propelling one to succeed at all costs by never giving up on inner picture, it is a force in the universe and everything and everyone is connected to this invisible force. Dr. Wayne has researched intention as a force in the universe that allows the act of creation to take place.
The book explores intention – not something you do – but as energy you’re a part of. And this brings self – realization which means that we have been consciously connected with our source of being, once we have made this connection, and then nothing can go wrong. Through intention we have a strong purpose or aim, accompanied by determination to produce a desired result.
Intent is a force that exists in the universe, and everything in the universe has intention built into it. Our individual thoughts create a prototype in the universal mind of intention, all things whatsoever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them and you shall receive them. Remove all the doubt so that you create a harmonious thought with universal mind or intention.
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.
a). We can find spiritual solution to problems by living at higher levels and calling upon faster energies.
There is no problem that doesn’t have solution, and the solution may be positive or negative depending in the power of intention in your mind, in every problem there is a solution spiritually, our problem keep in us since we do not believe on spiritual solution, and if we believe we are not keen to listen to the solution, our feelings, emotions, fear, anxiety makes us not to think straight to solve a problem, you cannot solve any problem without being calm, and if you do so you will end up making a wild decision rather than wise decision. We have to connect with our conscious before making any solution to a problem.
The decisions sometimes we make conflict with our desires and fear, I do remember when I was about to leave a job which I was a casual employee, before I had to leave the job I had prophesized that I will leave it one day, though am not a prophet, the desire was burning inside me that I should leave the job and do something different, empower myself, get time to attend trainings, and seminars, and fully work on my project, when I told people some didn’t take me serious, since that was like a joke of the day, quit a job!!!!! “You are not serious”, those are the lamentation I got., but nothing could stop me, as it is said when the student is ready the teacher will appear, I left the job and started to do my own job and also concentrate on my organization, I found enough time to govern myself, and direct myself, actually what I have achieved I think I could not achieve it through employment, I came to know about micro – finances, and how you can get soft loan to start a business and do better, I have been frontline with businessmen who have benefited through the micro – finance in my organization whereby we network with other schemes of micro – finance which is to day a reality, I have also achieved through well – wishers and friends who have established for me a website for a community based organization, dealing on social issues. Since my intention is to make a better life for everybody and the world at large.
It doesn’t matter what people tell you or what they think about you, you are the architecture of your live and it is you who knows what type of materials are needed to construct your life, remember the road of success is under construction and you are the constructor without blaming anybody make it the best way you can.
b). Everything in the universe has intention built into it, everything including those existing and non existing things have the purpose built in it, look at the trees various types of trees, from bushy thorny trees to those beautiful tall trees that we use in our daily life, they have a purpose, stones, have a purpose, we built houses using stones, though they are non- living but they are built with a purpose, it is quite amazing that such wonderful creation cannot inspire other people to have a will power of proving their purpose in life, and this as caused confusion to human people (beings), we are confused on what we want forgetting the purpose of our lives, being egocentric, greed, brutality name them, and God provided everything on a purpose, look at the birds, ants, bees, and see the unity on them, but for us people with high thinking capacity, and thinking logically still we can not prove the course of our lives, no wonder why we leave our friends and neighbors dying from poverty while we have more than enough, it is our purpose to share and educate them to see the unseen in life and aspire before we expire.
Creation of God was perfect we share what we have in the universe, with others, blessed are those who give for they shall receive in abundance, share what you have with those who do not have and you will receive it in a compound interest, if we reason critically probably you have invested a lot and you do not share your investment with others, ask yourself after your investment what will happen when you die?, you came with nothing so shall you leave with nothing, being a live you have been given an opportunity to love others, share with them endlessly without complaining for God who gave you in abundance didn’t complain, make paradise down here by keeping peace in your village and extending generosity to a dying child or patient.
c). All things whatsoever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them and you shall receive them (Mark 11:24) remove all doubt so that you create a harmonious thought with universal mind or intention, act as if anything you desire is already here, believe that all that you seek you’ve already received, fake until it becomes a reality. At times our prayers are so quick until we do not wait for the answers, when communicating we need to listen and digest our communication and what we utter or ask from our friend, there are some people who will pray when they are in problems, but once they are fine, they do not remember abut praying, also our prayers are answered in different forms, either you need to wait for what you are asking for or given different approach on the methodology used, remember King Solomon, when presented the case of two women who had a dispute about their child, what did he do?, some of the answers we are given are good for us, they might seem to be bitter but the best in our solution, so you will find the bitter sweet solution to your problem, remember there is no problem without spiritual solution, you should also be keen to hear the solution otherwise you might be by – passed by the solution due to your anxiety and lack of faith on what you are asking,
We should also take watch on what we ask, or utter, since the word power is so strong that a reality might come out, I remember the story I was given once when I was young that, a certain fellow used to shout in the middle of the night that he was being attacked, and people could ran to rescue him but reaching on his place, there was nothing attacking him, he kept doing it for several days and people in the middle of the night could go and see what is happening, so one day it was a reality that the fellow was attacked but unfortunately that day no one went for his rescue since they thought it is his behavior to do so, So what we utter we should be keen and in whatever we ask we shall be given, make the right choices before you ask, so that when you receive it let it be what you had prayed for.
d). Silent knowledge starts when you invite the power of intention to play an active part in your life, when you know the intention of your life then you start living since you understand yourself, what you want and what you want to be, you can be what you want to be, your inner born intention is powerful, that is why we have the face of creativity which comes from your intention, face of kindness, the face of unlimited love, the face of beauty, beautiful thoughts create beautiful soul, and visa –vise if we focus on what is ugly we attract more ugliness into our thoughts and then into our emotions and ultimately into lives.
e). Our doubts are traitors and makes us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt, do not doubt your creation from a field of energy that’s always available to you, dwell on the ideas of a supreme infinite power producing the results that you desire, float your desires instead of sinking them, live to your dreams and aspiration, let doubt be a bygone for you, since you have all it takes to achieve what you want in life, the artist creates something out of nothing without the thoughts and feelings of the artist, there would be no art, then why doubt on your idea?, make it a reality after all you are not accountable to anyone in your life, you are the maker of your life and you are unique from others, do not think on what they will say about you since that is not your problem but their problem,
f). Be love – God is love “and he that dwell in love dwell in me. And I in him. Love is cooperation rather than competition, love is the force behind the will of God, with love nothing is impossible, once you do things in love you won’t harm others since you love them, you won’t feel jealous since you love them, in life we have been quite competitive and we do not see any more love, people are so much selfish, they do not want to share with others, and that is why the gap between the poor and the rich is so wide, I remember one day I had a chance to be with one rich person, what he was expressing I really felt it, he wanted to build a very fancy house, and among the plans he has was having two living room, one will be meant for those who are not of his class and the other part for those well up people, so you can see that disparity, it starts right from the home, a house help can never sit with the employer to eat together, she either eat in the kitchen or elsewhere, not next to the employer, even the food they should eat is not of the same type like their employer and yet they are staying in the same roof, so the order goes me first, my family, my relative and close friends others none of my business, the way we distribute our love to others is measured and yet God gives us love without an end
g). Every thought you have has an energy that will either strengthen or weakens you. It is obviously a good idea to eliminate the thoughts that weaken you, since these thoughts are obstacles to creating a winning match, think positively and you will lead a positive life, our thoughts reflect who we are and whom we want to be, it gives our action whatever we do we have thought about it and given it weight, so our thoughts should be nurtured to be good once and make a beautiful life and informed 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?
The ideas have been planted in my heart and I have started feeling the power of intention in my life, and the purpose of my being, it is evident that there is nothing impossible if we have the will power, and faith, it is also helping me in my communication in my organization empowering young youths and the community at large.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your Attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
a). May the light and love you emit forever reflect back to you in joyful abundance. A very wonderful and truth quote that the love you give to others is the love you receive back, so if you hate others and you will be hated in return, watch on what you do to others for you will receive it back in abundance.
b). Ego loves to divide us up into winners and losers, so let go of your need to win, since if we are in that spirit of winning and loosing, we create anxiety into our lives and we do all it takes to be the best than others or to outsmart them at the end we use all means irrespective how bad they are and we end up harming others, in favor of becoming victors which doesn’t last after all in life.
c). True nobility isn’t about being better than someone else. It’s about being better than you used to be, show courtesy if you are blessed to drive or extend an hand to assist a blind person to cross the road, give a lift somebody in need, share lunch with a person without food, visit sick people in the hospital, you will be surprised on what returns will come to you, I do have enough experience and if you want to know ask me, you will be uplifted from nothing to something from nobody to somebody.
d). Don’t assess others on the basis of their appearance, achievement, possession and other induce of ego, “a man is more precious for what he is than for what he has”
What you are matters more than what you have, your heart should be pure and loving.
e). You are in the world but not of the world, do things which others do not expect you to do since you are not of this world, in a corrupt society just reject corruption, bribery and you will be doing the right thing in the presence of the wrong world with wrong people, do not be swept with the current. Know the power of your intention and the purpose of your life.
f). A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval, approve what is right in your life and go for it, your conscious will be at peace to do the right thing at the right place with or without supervision.
g). Make yourself available for success, seek for opportunities and be there to get what you want, a wise man can sense success by far and can create opportunity anywhere through his power of intent.
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 well covered and well understood.
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
Long term and short term exercises are available in this book, that ignite my power of intention and also ignite other people to know the purpose of their being, very powerful exercise that are a life long experience.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.
The book is well covered and a blessing to me through reading it.
8. Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is the good and one is poor
1. How interesting was it to read? 8
2. How helpful were the contents? 8
3. How easy was it to understand? 9
4. Would you recommend it to other? 10
5. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9
Unlimited Power
Assessment by Erick Kebeka Omari (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the books?
The author Anthony Robbins shows people how to achieve the extraordinary quality of life that one desire and deserve, and how to master your personal and professional life. By harnessing the power of the mind you can do, have, achieve, and create anything you want for your life. He reveals the science of personal achievement and teaches you:
* How to find out what you really want
* The seven lies of success
* How to reprogram your mind in minutes to eliminate fears and phobias
* The secret of creating instant rapport with anyone you meet
* How to duplicate the success of others
* The five keys to wealth and happiness
The author takes you step by step on how to perform the best results at your peak while gaining emotional and financial freedom, attaining leadership and self – confidence, and winning the cooperation of others. The book gives you the knowledge and the courage to remake yourself and your world. Indeed it is a guide book to high performance in an age of success.
The author also informs us that the end of life is not knowledge but action, since action is what unities every great success.
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.
a). The road to success is always under construction,
It is a progressive, not an end to be reached, in our daily encounter with people we find out that success attracts success, we have seen successful people being more successful, since the road to success is under construction, they find ways and means to multiply there success, they do lots of investments in various ways, they gather more and more and open up various sources to tap success.
Practically here in Kenya, people especially those who are low – income earners tend to have a believe that to be successful you have to inherit the wealth from your ancestors, fore fathers, or your parents, or come from a rich family background, little do they know that working harder and smarter pays the price of success, others will associate your success with devilish achievement, if at all you do not come from a solid background or your success is so first and swift, it is questionable, through reading the books and biographies of prominent people, we understand that, you can create success any where, anytime and at any place. Also we need to understand with what success means from one person to another, and better what we have in our lives. Some people success to them means, having lots of money others having stable family, being in power, in our African tradition success meant having more wives and animals, and also having numerous children in the village.
b). Communication is power; those who have mastered its effective use can change their own experience of the world and the world’s experience of them.
This is very true, the way we communicate to people reflects a lot to use and the world we live, it is through communication we either create peace or disagreement/ conflict, communication is very important tool, to reflect who you are and what you are thinking about, what we utter, what we write, it is like a book through our communication, people will charge you either you are polite, kind, loving, caring, or ruthless, if we need to influence people into our thinking and our world we have to watch our communication, it reflects who we are and what we are doing.
If you look at politicians, they use a technique of communication, whereby they apply a skill of convincing people, going down to earth, especially when requesting for your votes, until people become so much convinced that he or she is the right chosen leader. Communication is very important in any field, to your family, friends, business, and convincing people as to why they need to buy your stuffs, other than from others. And also why they should trust you in a relationship or in a business, you will prove it through communicating and the actions from you.
Every communication we make is an action, a cause set in motion, and all communication have some kind of effect on ourselves and on others.
c). Have a target because you can’t hit one if you don’t have one.
In whatever we do we need to have a target, in our lives, if you need a better life, it won’t come automatically but we need to have a target to hit at, we have to analyze our lives and ask ourselves what do we want exactly, and how we can achieve it by giving ourselves a target, you need to know when you will achieve it, how much it will cost you and then have a target on it and the way to achieve your goal.
In one way or the other, every person needs to have a target, students, need to aim at something, or else you fail to nothing, in schools we have away of measuring our achievements, and goals, we have pass marks in our academic, the student his supposed to aim or target a certain score line in order for him or her to processed in to a given level, and we should be aiming above our targets, in order to achieve more than what we wanted.
d). You can open a door by breaking it down or you can find the key that open it intact.
Through leadership course and what we are leaning it is one way of opening our brains and thinking, developing our careers, opportunities, to achieve our dream of success, whatever you want to do, you need to take the stairs, if you need to open a door in the right way, you need to get the keys and open it, but if you break it, yes the argument, is that you will get inn but you will undergo the cost of rectification, or repair of the door. The best way is to get the key and open the door. Practically in life, most of the people take short cuts, to achieve what they want, so end up stealing, robbing, smuggling, conning in order to achieve what they want, but there is a repercussion in whatever you do, your road map for stealing is marked, if you are caught, you will end up in jail, or sentenced to death, and you will never have piece of mind to enjoy what you have stolen.
Better get the key and open, it is nice to work – out for your success and enjoy the fruits of your labor without fear, or hide – out, since you are proud of what you have gained from your own struggle. Remember there is so many ways of killing a rat, you can either use a trap and get it, or you can put poison and trap it with a piece of meat and it will die or you can burn your house including the rat, and I pray that it won’t run away, so it will be burnt inside. It is you to choose the best solution for the success, which is friendly to you and others without violating any human or environmental rights.
e). In every man and women’s life there comes a time of ultimate challenge a time when every resource we have is tested.
A time when life seems unfair, a time when our faith, our values are all pushed to our limits and beyond, some people use such tests as opportunities to become better people others allow these experience of life to destroy them, what is the difference between the haves, and the have – nots, what is the difference between the cans and the cannot’s what’s the difference between the dos and the do – nots? What is the difference that makes the difference in the quality of life?, if we ask ourselves those questions then we can face challenges without any problem and we will get positive solution, remember there is no problem or challenge without a spiritual solution, what we call failure it is the result we get out of what we are doing, either we missed a point on whatever we are doing or we need to add our effort, change the technique and we can achieve whatever goal we want, when things don’t work out it doesn’t mean our live has to come to a stand still, it is a signal that we have to get the best solution to achieve what we want.
f). People who succeed do not have fewer problems than people who fail, the only people without problems are those in cemeteries
This reminds me my late grandmother, may her soul rest in peace, she used to tell me she needs to go to a good place for rest, and I was just wondering, how can death be a good place for rest, I had to be very inquisitive to her and tell her that what she wished for wasn’t the best, but by then I was young and stupid, and know I am old and wise because I understand what it takes to achieve my daily bread, the struggles I have to undergo to get my bread is uncountable. There is no rest in this world, people work day and night to get daily bread and it is not enough, it is called challenges of life, we need to know them, identify them and analyze and deal with them. Problems are there to strengthen us not to destroy us, but first of all we have to identify our problems, accept them and own them, that is how we can fight them, for we know what exactly we want and what is our obstacles to achieve our goals.
g). If you do not plant the mental and physiological seeds of the results you want, weeds will grow automatically
What you plant is what you reap, a very common song in baby class and nursery school, it rings in my mind, when we used to close schools for holidays, that was the common song sang before we are issued our report form or result, whatever you planted is the time to reap it, if you worked hard in class, your result was appealing and encouraging, it showed that you had revised well, understood what the teachers taught, and indeed you have performed well in return. The ancestor of every action is a thought, those who have excelled they had to think and take action on their thoughts and nature it, if you bear a child you have to take care of the child to the best of your level, same applies to the farmer, you have to weed your crops if you want the best result.
Most of the people dream about having a better life, but no effort is done to achieve that better life, a step makes a mile, and action sounds than words, your thoughts should be converted to action and remember you have to take the stairs, to achieve what you want, it might be challenging but that is the preparation of achieving your goal, take it boldly, and go for the gold.
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?
Since I joined leadership course my life is never the same again, I have acquired experience which I didn’t have, I have know how to go for my objectives, and how to prioritize them, also being in the community, I have enlightened the community through giving them tips of life and how to go about them.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your Attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
a). It is the mind that maketh good or ill, that maketh wretch or happy, rich or poor”
Our minds are the custodian of our life, if you think evil, you become evil, negative thoughts breed negative result and positive result breed positive result, so we are the one to either make our life out of what we think and make it practical.
b). Life is like a river, it’s moving and you can be at the mercy of the river if you don’t take deliberate, conscious action to steer yourself in a direction you have predetermined.
No matter what you do, or you do not want to think, life will go on, it is you to strategize yourself on what you want in this life we are living, and remember once you insist on the best that is exactly what you get. Life will give you what you want, if you follow the rules of life, without violating them, you will definitely get what you want.
c) It is not necessary to understand everything to be able to use everything.
Some people fear to start a project because they do not have the right skills, but remember it is not necessary to understand everything in order to be able to use it, you can start a project and hire people who have the skills to do it for you, so do not fear to start a project because you do not have the skills, since you can never be the master of everything, we are all gifted in different fields, we are given different talents. And we have to combine with others to get the best results ever.
d). It is long been said that eyes are windows to the soul
By looking at people’s eyes, it’s possible to know what sensory system they’re accessing. By reading their eyes you can read their strategies, remember a strategy is the sequence of internal representations that allow a person to accomplish a particular task.
e). Winning starts with beginning
When you have a positive thought, you should put it in action or implement it that is how you win or achieve your goal, by beginning to do a task you commit yourself and tax your effort to the best results.
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 fine and well covered.
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
The book is a tool to life and to success, every chapter was a learning process, whereby it made me think and identify my potential to success, our communication style and response we get, this was the best exercise to me, it never crossed my mind that the response we get comes from how we communicate to others, and how they understand or misunderstand us, it is a very important exercise in life, for relationship, business, and life in general.
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 books is well covered and understood.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is the good and one is poor
1. How interesting was it to read? 8
2. How helpful were the contents? 8
3. How easy was it to understand? 8
4. Would you recommend it to other? 8
5. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8
The Great Game Of Business
Assessment by Erick Omari (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the books?
The author is conveying how we can unlock the power of business and make out of it a better living through making money and generating cash in business, the great game of business is not a destination, it is a continuous learning process not a rigid system or a bunch of technique. The great game of business is all about promoting clear, effective and open communication in our different fields of business. The author also conveys the importance of playing together in business as a team and by doing so you build a dynamic company. The whole idea behind the game is to create an environment in which people are learning all the time on how to improve the business by make money and generate cash.
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.
a). The more successful you are, the bigger the challenges you have to deal with.
The challenges we meet on the way in our business, makes us strong, and determined to what we want to achieve, in every business there is a challenge, and what matters most is not the challenge but what you do with each challenge presented to you, we learn from this challenges and we grow strong. Nothing comes in silver plate without hard work, we have to deal positively with the challenges we meet on our way.
When a business grows, you expect to meet new challenges which you have to overcome in order for you to succeed, you will meet different people, with different way of reasoning and thinking, you have to know how to accommodate them, in your great game of business, in order both of you to win.
In my personal experience, when i was launching my business cyber café, I met lots of challenges, since it was a step higher from having single computer and increasing the number of computers in my business. After setting everything, networking and all it takes, there was another challenge of paying internet rates on a monthly basis besides paying the rent and other bills; I also needed somebody to help in business that I had to pay. It takes time to educate people to understand the difference between making profit and generating cash, they may see you having money but if you do not educate them to understand the difference between profit and loss you will end up at each others neck.
b). Take ignorance out of the workplace and not with threats and intimidation but with education.
By taking ignorance out of the workplace we avoid the gap between workers and mangers; we knock down the barriers that separate people from coming together as a team. Being that the biggest barrier is ignorance, if you do not knock it out, they can’t conceive how a company might be earning a profit and yet have no cash to pay its bills or how it might be generating cash and operating at a loss. That is the ignorance you have to eliminate if you want to get people working together as a team, playing the business game needs a willingness to learn the rules, master the fundamentals and plan together as a team, the more people understand the more they want to know, stop developing a narrow focus this will make people to realize that they’re on the same team and they win or lose together. People do love to win together, it’s the best success. It’s much more fun than winning a lone.
This reminds me when I was working in a certain company as a casual laborer, I didn’t understand how the company operated since workers were not involved in any decision or suggestions, when any problem occurred there was no time to explain about it or given chance to say what went wrong, you were to be fired instantly, so people used to work with lots of fear, and not assured of tomorrow because you could loss your job anytime any hour, if you make slight mistake. Most of the workers could not express their feelings, exploit their talents by fearing to make mistakes which can cost their job.
If people don’t know, they won’t understand and they won’t do right things, and they will blame you when the company fails.
c). Take people beyond the job.
This is one way to motivate people and give them opportunity to use their intelligence and achieve something, by playing the game we get rid of the employee mentality. This is the problem with our business mentality, the boss thing (Boss), always the boss is right, even if he drains all the money from business he is right, a very bad mentality, whereby it is believed that the worker are there to work and get salary or wages besides that nothing more. This is what as made people go to jobs they do not like, they go there because they have to make a living otherwise they have no big attachment with the job itself. They work but they cannot rely on the job.
I remember when we used to work over time in certain company, sometimes people will reject not because they have something important to go and do elsewhere, but they felt more that they were exploited, used and misused. So they could not do it, giving out excuses to avoid doing over time. In this case people used to do just a job but not a purpose in what they are doing, and it was very dangerous when you are doing a job involving medical field, and you have faceless people. people could go to the job, working while looking at the time, and asking when the time will be over for them to go home, because the job was not enjoyable but more like being in prison.
d). There must be a mutual respect and trust
In business there must be a mutual respect for one another, no matter how junior he or she is, people have to feel that whatever your faults, might be in business you have some sensitivity to them and their problems, and respect you to give you a chance to air your views, and value people’s contributions, you’ll offer them a fair shake, and feel more part and parcel of the business. No company can play the great game of business with people who feel like losers. For people to feel like winners, they must have pride in themselves and what they do. There is no winning without pride, just as there is no ownership without pride, but in this case the pride am talking about is all about caring but not that pride of intimidating others.
e). Be positive, build confidence
When we are positive in whatever we are doing no matter how difficult the situation may look like, we will conquer it and become victors, do not react quickly to anything that goes wrong and overlook everything that goes right. Celebrate every win even the small ones, it is very important to build confidence to people in order to do any task positively knowing that there will be no blame game, where I used to work, you may be doing lots of good stuffs, high productivity, keep the records, perfectly but a single small mistake is enough to see you out of your job, if you are in a position of building confidence to your employees you are assured of high productivity even when you are not present, they will be able to do the job since they know you trust them and you have confidence to them and to their work.
f). The better the standards you develop, the more creative you will be in getting people to care.
Use the numbers as a tool to get people to contribute more, not less, but first and foremost educate people to understand how the numbers work, so that they may know what exactly it means when you ask for numbers. When we use the numbers we tell stories, you can educate people without threatening or intimidating them, it will be easy for you to look for profit in problems, and it will be easy for you to turn a loser into a winner, you get a double bang for your back. Actually when you stop the bleeding and turn it into healing, you’re twice as well off as before. We need to educate people to see how they can use problems into a stepping stone to opportunities in business. Show people the financial statement, through this, you can make money just by telling you where you’re losing it, and it will be easy to come up with solutions themselves.
Businesses always have problems. Numbers tell you where the problems are and how worried you should be. Or how quickly you need to rectify the problem before it becomes unbearable.
g). Skip the praise give us the raise.
Give people a challenge and a very good reason for working as hard and as smart as they can to meet it, let them look beyond the payment or salaries. Let people get the raise not the praise, give the people chance to win early and often, let them gain what they want by working for it, don’t pay bonus unless it is earned. (But do everything you can to help people win). The bonus program should be a tool for putting people in touch with the realities of the market 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 ideas, I have gained from the author will help me first and foremost to start sharing my financial statements with my workers and also educate people why we should make money and generate cash, and work as a team. Since anything important to a business is worth measuring and nothing is more important than creating an environment in which people feel they make a difference. I have learnt to give people opportunity to make good out of them which will increase productivity in my business.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your Attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
a). It is easy to stop one guy, but it’s pretty hard to stop 100 people.
If you do not treat your workers with respect and mutual understanding it will be easy to bring your business down, remember you are only one person against the multitude if you cannot beat them join them, show them the importance of working as a team to win together. Do not isolate yourself to be too special, these are the people who will either make you or destroy you.
b). Ownership is not a set of legal rights; it’s a state of mind.
Make your workers/employees feel part of owners in your business let them see the big picture, paint it to them, to see how important the business is for them and their families, this will give them a chance to be more pro-active in business and even stand with it in times of calamities and happiness.
c). Pay the piper
Appreciate when something good is done, be thankful and show appreciation, it is one way of motivating the workers, and making them be focused on what they are doing, celebrate together when you win, even if it is smallest win, it deserves to be celebrated to encourage more winning. We only build credibility by telling the truth, you simply can’t operate unless people believe you and believe one another.
d). What goes round comes round
Sometimes people have no ideas that they are doing something important unless being informed, when we tell people about big picture, don’t just tell them but show it to them, it is a big inducement to practice what we preach, it all comes back to us, when we do good things, treating each other right and having the courage to say you’re wrong when you are wrong, that’s all part of business and it’s all part of the big picture, and it will also come back to you, the win will be for all, and if you lose you lose all of you.
e). You can run, but you can’t hide.
All of us have to take responsibility for ourselves, it is high time for us to know how to treat our employees with respect and be transparent for the growth of business, you might not like to share your financial statement, but the fact and truth will come out when you are out of business, the problems you were hiding will explode instead of sharing them and find out how to get the solutions.
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
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
This book is a tool for better business, by educating employees and employers on how to play the great game of business, it is a learning process not a destination, the exercise it contains are for daily growth in business.
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 the good and one is poor
1. How interesting was it to read? 8
2. How helpful were the contents? 8
3. How easy was it to understand? 8
4. Would you recommend it to other? 7
5. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8
The Power Of Failure
Assessment by Erick Kebeka Omari (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the books?
The author is trying to express that the fear of failure is enough to stop many people in their tracks and lead them to give up without trying whatever they want to do, because of fear that they are going to fail. The author goes ahead and explain that failure is an essential component of personal and professional success. He also states that challenges are disguised opportunity, and failure can spur positive change, setback catalyze creative coping skills and collaboration with failure can be an ongoing part of being successful.
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.
a). Redefined failure
Failure is a natural part of life that can impact us positively or negatively depending on how we define it. Unlike old definition whereby failure was seen to be a negative, fatal and final result indicating an inability to perform and lack of success, a failing short because of ineptness, deficiency, or negligence, a bad, bad thing that should be avoided, mourned, and punished.
Through this new redefinition of failure, it encourage us to face failure boldly and also see the beauty opportunities that are barely hidden by the difficulties we face and we learn to look at things from a new more optimistic slant, rather than seeing failure as a deadlock to our success, but see it as opportunities presented to us, to be more successful in what we are doing.
b). Redefine success
When we redefine success in a new way, then it gives us a deeper understanding what success is all about in our lives, new redefinition states that it is a way of living founded on benefiting from all life has to offer, a long term sequence of life improving results, an outcome of short – term setbacks and failures, a process of continual development learning and fulfillment in life, once we understand success in this new way then we will be set to strive for it, success is the 1 % of that results from 99% we call failure, the more we encounter failures in our daily life the more we prepare ourselves to success, failure gives us new opportunities to learn new ideas, or to do what we are doing better. If something is worth doing do it better even when you fail, knowing that it is a learning process to have a better outcome.
Our current president, failed three times before he was elected to be president, he didn’t give up but through the failures he was got new insight that, he needs alliances in order to make it to the top, he had to bury the difference and joined together with other leaders from different region and different parties, after making one strong party representing all faces of Kenya, finally he made history to be the third president of Kenya after 24 years of one party ruling system. He didn’t give up, after failing, only he gained more experience through the failure and made me achieve the success he was yearning for, our success lies on our failure, let failure not pin us down but be an awakening giant in our desires.
c). Learn from Failure
We need to learn from failure and take the right measures, by leaning through failure we understand that failure may knock us down, but not knock us out and that is why we have to learn from it, and see the opportunities beneath it. By learning from our failure the challenges becomes opportunities that can be turn to our advantage, the only real failure occur when we back away from worthwhile challenges without even trying or when we refuse to learn from our setbacks. So we need to learn to discover opportunities out of our failure, we see where we went wrong and rectify to better what we want, it is a learning process that will lead us to our destiny and desire.
In my own experience I took a loan and purchased a vehicle, just for taxi purpose, I did all the proper research and inquiries and all was perfect, little did I know that when the deal is good think, twice, or thrice in my case. I did all the necessary requirements and gave my car to a driver whom we agreed that on a weekly basis he could be bringing, a certain amount from the work done. He promised a lot and confidently I was sure he was going to deliver. One, week, two weeks, three months no money was brought to me, there was a lot of excuses why I did not honor his pledge, today I could tell me the car had a problem here and there, same thing tomorrow, I terminated the first driver, same story and then the third, instead of the car bringing money to me actually it was fetching money out of the pocket. I had to take a lesson from the experience, for one the vehicle was not productive as per my wishes, I had to start from square zero to see how I will repay the loan minus concentrating on the vehicle, what I did, I stopped giving it out and started using it myself when need be, I found out that it was more convenient when it was in my hands, I could pay the loan comfortably, and I could only give out the car after negotiating with the client, I am given money then I pay the driver there and then for labor after dropping the client. This was perfect for me and enabled me to clear my loan arrears.
d). To succeed more fail more
Failure should not be viewed as the end of the story but instead as a stepping stone to a larger success, if you want to succeed you have to fail more, let us view failure in a positive way, anything good to do we have to go through challenges and the way we take the challenges determine the end point of what we are taking, nothing worthwhile comes on a silver plate without determination, challenges and struggle. So we have to face our small setback boldly, knowing that failure is not something to be feared, it contains a positive challenge for successful living, this are simply challenges in progress that can provide a foundation for success.
If our parents had feared not to get birth we could not have been born, they had to face all the challenges by taking every discomfort positively until the end of our birth, all the labor pains until our being.
You can be in the storm, but don’t let the storm get in you, if you need to get rid of your pest, you need to rise higher, and higher means risking more and facing more challenges for higher success. We need to ask ourselves how higher do we want to rise?, the higher you go the more disciplined you are since the challenges will discipline us to know how to turn them into our success.
e). Be a successful learner by learning from failure
Once you embrace unpleasant news not as negative but as evidence of a need for change, you aren’t defeated by it, you are learning from it. One of the most powerful pillars of long – term success is learning from mistakes, a challenge well – lived and successful life will be filled with both ups and downs. Move forward as you fail, setbacks are simply evidence of a need for change and chance to learn, in every successful story there is a challenge behind it, if we give up then we do not really need to achieve what we want, if you do not try to do what you want to do you will never learn and you will never know where your success lies, keep on pushing forward and you will at the end achieve what you want in a more better way.
When I purchased computers, for my organization, I thought it wise to put internet. At least people could come and pay some little amount for browsing and accessing their e-mail, out of my calculation, I thought it will be smooth all everything will be as per the way I had planned, only to find out that, it wasn’t as per my way of thinking, the people who could visit for browsing were not enough to raise the amount of paying internet services, I didn’t give up, I tried for about four months without success, then I had to think straight, through the ideas of internet it made me have computers, a new light came in my mind, I started training computer literacy for just very minimum amount and for those really in need I did it freely, and from that, I have gained a lot not in terms of money but through my charity and sincere service I offer to the community, it is indeed a successful thing I did and a learning process. We learn from mistakes we make and get new ways to get solutions, you cannot solve a problem with the same way you have been trying with that formular that failed try new ways of going through the problem and be successful. If we win we think we know it all and have nothing more to learn, failure is a primary vehicle for success, we all fail and not just a little but a lot, especially if we are taking the risks and pursuing the learning of new skills that enable us to meet exciting and worthwhile challenge.
f). Learn the challenging secret to successful failure….. Patience.
Patience is a virtue, which we need to embrace in whatever we do, importance of patience for succeeding in business, is the key to achieve to the highest level, our vision and execution stage can be very satisfying and comfortable it’s the middle “patience stage” that can be very difficult. If we want to ultimately succeed in a significant way we need to accept and be patient with the learning and development that go along with facing challenges, and this is the critical bridge between vision and execution is patience.
We need to start understanding how things work, in anything we are doing to get it better we have to follow all the necessary step, by being patient, nobody even one was born walking, it is a stage of development, whereby one crawls and then start little by little to make steps, from sucking mother’s breast up to breaking meat bones, it doesn’t happen once, but with a couple of time, likewise to what we are doing, we need to take time and be patient for our business to grow, our relationship until it is mature enough to appreciate the outcome, and as it grows we learn on the way by encountering challenges which we solve and become expertise until we reach where we wanted to reach in our lives.
g). Winning through losing
Sometimes when you win, you lose, a wise lesson is in learning that the shortest route to victory may be a trap that can cause us to lose more than we gain. What is the importance of winning an argument with your spouse and at the end of the day you part completely because of an argument, what it will make you good, better lose that argument and gain to be your family. Sometimes your losing can be a gift to a child or a friend that allows them to experience joy and confidence because of victory, when you play with a kid sometimes you give her a chance to win, and yourself lose, for the happiness of the kid, we gain by seeing the kid happy or our loved one being happy. Everyday life is filled with potential win/lose situations such as disagreement, misunderstanding, or when more than one person needs the same thing, when in conflict, work to satisfy the others involved as well as yourself for a better and more lasting result.
In other occasion, we carry the burden of others just to spare them the face, since if we want to win on that condition we might make them suffer, and it won’t pay anything in return. We agree to lose a disagreement to build a relationship, sometimes however it’s even better to enjoy the victories of others, especially those we care about, the real winners in life are persons who have not only succeeded in their own efforts but were able to look beyond themselves and help others win as well. There is a time to win and a time to lose. And sometimes you can actually win by losing. When you have a disagreement with others, there is a good chance that they are right, even if you happen to be right too.
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 will never fear to fail, and I am ready to risk more in order to increase my chances of success, at times I fear to invest after getting a setback, and this books encourage me that, the problem is not failure but how we take it, how we learn through failure we lack to see new opportunities emerging from the failure, I will never leave my brain to be a virgin, I have to use it to the best, and the other best knowledge I have gained it is that sometimes it is good to win through losing, I will never be putting my interest first, but other peoples interest first, I have truly seen how small argument leads to big issues, especially in relationship, the point is I have to access myself and see what do I want is it to be right or to be a winner in the argument or to safe the relationship, in that case I am ready to lose and win in saving the relationship.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your Attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
a). Only he who does nothing makes no mistakes
This is very true, if you do nothing then you won’t make mistakes and you won’t learn, through mistakes we learn, so we are not supposed to fear making mistakes, but learn from them and make a better life out of them. If you expect to learn without making a mistake you are in for unpleasant surprise.
b). By wrestling with failure we grow strong wings for soaring to success.
We become experts out of the blows we receive from the struggle we encounter, nothing comes easy, it is through determination, which will never be a smooth road but with lots of challenges and setbacks which makes us strong to fly like an eagle.
c). There is a time to win and a time to lose
We need to access the situation whether is it the right time to win or lose and what will be the outcome of our winning or losing, sometimes we may win and find out that we are the greatest loser in life and our winning becomes very useless other than we could have chosen to lose and gain more. What is the importance of winning and at the end of the day you get a divorce or lose your loved one. Choose to be happy over being right.
d) It is always darkest before the dawn
When you face a challenge and you are almost giving up, that is the time you need to press on since you are almost to the point or to gain what you wanted badly, never give up, dawn is coming very first, there is always light at the end of the tunnel.
e). Both beauty and ugliness are in the eye of the beholder.
It is in our mind and command either to use failure as a stepping stone to our success or dead – end to our struggles, we can turn bad situations to be the best and memorable or to be embarrassing and tormenting in our entire life, the choice is ours we are the beholders.
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
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
The book contains lots of exercise, whereby I have started seeing my failure as an opportunity to my success and I am ready to risk more to gain more.
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 the good and one is poor
1. How interesting was it to read? 8
2. How helpful were the contents? 9
3. How easy was it to understand? 9
4. Would you recommend it to other? 8
5. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9
Raising Children Compassionately
Assessment by Erick Kabeka Omari (Uganda)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the books?
The author offers unique skills and perspective of Nonviolent communication, he stresses the importance of putting compassionate connection which can help create a mutually respectful, enriching family dynamic filled with the clear, heartfelt communication. The author helps parents motivate children to act without the threat of punishment or the promise of reward. And also it helps children resolve conflicts and express themselves clearly.
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.
a) Motivate without the threat of punishment or the promise of reward.
Motivation without threat creates an avenue of understanding one another and one will do something or a task willingly, without any promise of reward or punishment, when we threaten people to do something, they will do them not out of willingness but out of the fear of being punished, or by motivation of being rewarded. When people do task in that condition, they do not focus on what they are doing but, the outcome, either to be reward or punished.
By wanting people to do what we want them to do people feel that they are not free to choose what they want to do and they are likely to resist even when they see the purpose of what we are asking them to do, once we put conditions it becomes a demand and definitely they will resist or do it, just to satisfy you but not perfectly or willingly.
I created a problem with my niece, by rewarding her every time I send her to purchase something for me, she was about 5 years, I could give her rewards, as soon as she brings something for me, I could give her sweets, chocolate, one day I didn’t have the sweets or chocolate to offer her, and I had sent her to purchase some stuffs for me, I told her thank you very much for bringing what I had send you, she didn’t move a inch, she stood where I was not moving, looking at me, I was like, okay! Thank you, you can go and play. Since then it was difficult for me to send her, she could demand first a sweet or she will not go.
b) Listen so others are really heard
Sometimes we express our feelings to others very much, without giving them a chance for them also to be heard, especially when dealing with children, we act as if we are dealing with robots, we give out orders, do’s and don’ts but we do not have time to listen to their request or how they feel, by doing so children grow rebellious and that is why the current society there is conflict between parents with children or siblings fighting one another, it is about the orders and demands we give them without caring to listen to them.
We tend to control the life of our children, especially when it comes to career, we even decide what they are supposed to do, not from their perspective but ours, and we forget that we are gifted differently, because of not giving the children time to talk with us and share with us, we need to be good listeners, by not doing so we end up pushing them to do things they didn’t intend to do. I remember interviewing one parent on the radio program, this particular parent was forced to do a career he didn’t like it at all, since his father was a doctor, he also wanted him to be a doctor, so he was forced to take a career on medicine, he did it and when he was graduating, he told his father, I have done this for you, so kindly you can have your medical degree career, I have graduated because of you but I never want to take this career, It was a total waste of resources and time, he said that he wasn’t comfortable with the career and he could create more harm than good that is why he handed over the career to his father in order for him to pursue what he wanted. It is advisable to listen to others as much as we could like to be listened.
c). Strengthen your emotional connection to your partner and children.
It is important for us to control our emotions and connect to our partner and children by understanding them, by doing so we will never want a person to do what we want but try to create a quality of mutual concern since we are not driven by our emotions but by mutual respect, a quality where both parties think that their needs matters and they are conscious that their needs and other person’s well – being are interdependent. By doing so it will be easy to solve conflict with deep understanding of one another.
d). Hear the needs behind whatever anyone does or says.
As much as we have personal needs we need to put them aside in order to hear the needs of others, so that we can harmonize both our needs and for others. Without forgetting that also children have their needs which we have to give them a chance to express them. That is why we need to be able to tell children whether what they’ re doing is in harmony with our needs or in conflict with our needs, but to do it in away that doesn’t stimulate guilt or shame on the children part. By doing so we will stop being judgmental and we will be able to use words like I’m scared when I see you hitting your brother because I have a need for people in the family to be safe. Instead of it’s wrong to hit your brother. We need to use our words in a way that the person receiving the information is more enlightened and can see sense out of it other than being judgmental to them, which will create rebellion.
When we brand the child that he/she is Lazy already we have instilled that concept in his or her mind that the child is lazy, and for sure he/she will be lazy, because already you have said so, (word power). So we have to swift the way we communicate to our partner or children from you are lazy for not cleaning up your room to saying I feel frustrated when I see that the bed isn’t made because I have a real need for support in keeping order in the house. Through the statement you have expressed your need to the child and his need without creating any judgments and demands. The child will be more willingly to support your needs without any threats and rewards.
e). Stay connected to your values during any interaction.
During any interaction we need to stay connected to our values, so that we may not be out of our focus, all human beings including children when they are in pain needs presence and empathy, we may also need advise when things go wrong but after we have received empathic connection, in order we do not go out of our values. In any case when we need our needs to be addressed we have to stay focused so that in any case we try to influence others not by how we can reward them if they do what we want. It should be based on mutual trust and respect, which also will make people open to hearing one another and learning from one another and giving to one another willingly out of desire to contribute to one another’s well – being rather than out of fear of punishment or hope for reward. By doing so we are able to openly communicate our feelings and needs without in any way criticizing the other person.
We require hearing what other people are trying to communicate, showing an accurate understanding rather than quickly jumping in and giving advice or trying to fix things.
f). Reduce family conflicts and sibling rivalry
Reducing family conflict starts by trusting one another by getting more in touch with your needs and get more in touch with our family needs, it is a direction that comes from two parties, you and the other party of your family, trusting each other rather than one party forcing his or her authority on another, which may result to conflict or rivalry.
When our family receive request as demands, or they think that they will be punished or blamed if they do not do that task, when people have that idea it takes all the joy out of doing anything and the result is conflict or rivalry.
We can also reduce family conflict by showing unconditional love, whereby we show people the same quality of respect when they don’t do what we ask as when they do. After we have shown that quality of respect through empathy, through taking the time to understand why they didn’t do what we would like we can then pursue how we might do what we ask.
Let your family know that no matter what they do, how they behave, they will receive trust and a certain quality of understanding from you.
We need to be present to our children in a way that will be good for them and good for us, in order to reduce sibling rivalry. By listening the needs of our children, the feelings, we will understand them and also they will be able to understand one another.
g). We can never really take care of ourselves without showing equal concern for the needs of others.
The way we want to be treated we need to treat others the same, at times for us we will never want anybody to command us to do something, we need to be respected but we do forget that respect is either way, respect and you will be respected in abundance, what we see wrong to us to do we need not to do to others, if we do not like to be given orders and demands we need to also do the same to others. We have to treat others with respect and love irrespective of the age, since that is exactly how we could like us to be treated.
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?
Being that I deal with children in my organization, the ideas will help me first and foremost, understand that children have needs and they are supposed to be respected, and what I have learnt is about not to use rewards as a way of making children accomplish task, I will let them do willingly without any threat and promises of rewards. I will also use this enlightenment to share with other parents and the community, in order to see how we can be a better example to our children and the society.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your Attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
Do not mix up that which is habitual with that which is natural.
Very often we have been trained to communicate and act in ways that are quite unnatural, but they are habitual in the sense that we have been trained for various reasons to do it that way in our culture. It is much more natural for people to connect in loving, respectful way, and to do things out of joy for one another, rather than using punishment and rewards or blames and guilt as means of coercion.
Nobody is perfect to remember that anything that’s worth doing is worth doing poorly.
The job of parenting, is extremely worth doing but we are going to do it poorly at times, if we are going to be brutal, with ourselves, when we are not perfect parents, our children are going to suffer for that. So we need not to be perfect parents but to become progressively less stupid parents, by learning from each time that we are not able to give our children the quality of understanding that they need, that we are not able to express ourselves honestly.
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 books is clear
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
The book contain a life time exercise since it is a process to raise a child and also creating supportive communities which we have to build for good parenting it is a long time exercise which we need to do on a 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 in particular
8. Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is the good and one is poor
1. How interesting was it to read? 9
2. How helpful were the contents? 8
3. How easy was it to understand? 9
4. Would you recommend it to other? 8
5. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9
Raising Children Compassionately
Assessment by Erick Kabeka Omari (Uganda)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the books?
The author offers unique skills and perspective of Nonviolent communication, he stresses the importance of putting compassionate connection which can help create a mutually respectful, enriching family dynamic filled with the clear, heartfelt communication. The author helps parents motivate children to act without the threat of punishment or the promise of reward. And also it helps children resolve conflicts and express themselves clearly.
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.
a) Motivate without the threat of punishment or the promise of reward.
Motivation without threat creates an avenue of understanding one another and one will do something or a task willingly, without any promise of reward or punishment, when we threaten people to do something, they will do them not out of willingness but out of the fear of being punished, or by motivation of being rewarded. When people do task in that condition, they do not focus on what they are doing but, the outcome, either to be reward or punished.
By wanting people to do what we want them to do people feel that they are not free to choose what they want to do and they are likely to resist even when they see the purpose of what we are asking them to do, once we put conditions it becomes a demand and definitely they will resist or do it, just to satisfy you but not perfectly or willingly.
I created a problem with my niece, by rewarding her every time I send her to purchase something for me, she was about 5 years, I could give her rewards, as soon as she brings something for me, I could give her sweets, chocolate, one day I didn’t have the sweets or chocolate to offer her, and I had sent her to purchase some stuffs for me, I told her thank you very much for bringing what I had send you, she didn’t move a inch, she stood where I was not moving, looking at me, I was like, okay! Thank you, you can go and play. Since then it was difficult for me to send her, she could demand first a sweet or she will not go.
b) Listen so others are really heard
Sometimes we express our feelings to others very much, without giving them a chance for them also to be heard, especially when dealing with children, we act as if we are dealing with robots, we give out orders, do’s and don’ts but we do not have time to listen to their request or how they feel, by doing so children grow rebellious and that is why the current society there is conflict between parents with children or siblings fighting one another, it is about the orders and demands we give them without caring to listen to them.
We tend to control the life of our children, especially when it comes to career, we even decide what they are supposed to do, not from their perspective but ours, and we forget that we are gifted differently, because of not giving the children time to talk with us and share with us, we need to be good listeners, by not doing so we end up pushing them to do things they didn’t intend to do. I remember interviewing one parent on the radio program, this particular parent was forced to do a career he didn’t like it at all, since his father was a doctor, he also wanted him to be a doctor, so he was forced to take a career on medicine, he did it and when he was graduating, he told his father, I have done this for you, so kindly you can have your medical degree career, I have graduated because of you but I never want to take this career, It was a total waste of resources and time, he said that he wasn’t comfortable with the career and he could create more harm than good that is why he handed over the career to his father in order for him to pursue what he wanted. It is advisable to listen to others as much as we could like to be listened.
c). Strengthen your emotional connection to your partner and children.
It is important for us to control our emotions and connect to our partner and children by understanding them, by doing so we will never want a person to do what we want but try to create a quality of mutual concern since we are not driven by our emotions but by mutual respect, a quality where both parties think that their needs matters and they are conscious that their needs and other person’s well – being are interdependent. By doing so it will be easy to solve conflict with deep understanding of one another.
d). Hear the needs behind whatever anyone does or says.
As much as we have personal needs we need to put them aside in order to hear the needs of others, so that we can harmonize both our needs and for others. Without forgetting that also children have their needs which we have to give them a chance to express them. That is why we need to be able to tell children whether what they’ re doing is in harmony with our needs or in conflict with our needs, but to do it in away that doesn’t stimulate guilt or shame on the children part. By doing so we will stop being judgmental and we will be able to use words like I’m scared when I see you hitting your brother because I have a need for people in the family to be safe. Instead of it’s wrong to hit your brother. We need to use our words in a way that the person receiving the information is more enlightened and can see sense out of it other than being judgmental to them, which will create rebellion.
When we brand the child that he/she is Lazy already we have instilled that concept in his or her mind that the child is lazy, and for sure he/she will be lazy, because already you have said so, (word power). So we have to swift the way we communicate to our partner or children from you are lazy for not cleaning up your room to saying I feel frustrated when I see that the bed isn’t made because I have a real need for support in keeping order in the house. Through the statement you have expressed your need to the child and his need without creating any judgments and demands. The child will be more willingly to support your needs without any threats and rewards.
e). Stay connected to your values during any interaction.
During any interaction we need to stay connected to our values, so that we may not be out of our focus, all human beings including children when they are in pain needs presence and empathy, we may also need advise when things go wrong but after we have received empathic connection, in order we do not go out of our values. In any case when we need our needs to be addressed we have to stay focused so that in any case we try to influence others not by how we can reward them if they do what we want. It should be based on mutual trust and respect, which also will make people open to hearing one another and learning from one another and giving to one another willingly out of desire to contribute to one another’s well – being rather than out of fear of punishment or hope for reward. By doing so we are able to openly communicate our feelings and needs without in any way criticizing the other person.
We require hearing what other people are trying to communicate, showing an accurate understanding rather than quickly jumping in and giving advice or trying to fix things.
f). Reduce family conflicts and sibling rivalry
Reducing family conflict starts by trusting one another by getting more in touch with your needs and get more in touch with our family needs, it is a direction that comes from two parties, you and the other party of your family, trusting each other rather than one party forcing his or her authority on another, which may result to conflict or rivalry.
When our family receive request as demands, or they think that they will be punished or blamed if they do not do that task, when people have that idea it takes all the joy out of doing anything and the result is conflict or rivalry.
We can also reduce family conflict by showing unconditional love, whereby we show people the same quality of respect when they don’t do what we ask as when they do. After we have shown that quality of respect through empathy, through taking the time to understand why they didn’t do what we would like we can then pursue how we might do what we ask.
Let your family know that no matter what they do, how they behave, they will receive trust and a certain quality of understanding from you.
We need to be present to our children in a way that will be good for them and good for us, in order to reduce sibling rivalry. By listening the needs of our children, the feelings, we will understand them and also they will be able to understand one another.
g). We can never really take care of ourselves without showing equal concern for the needs of others.
The way we want to be treated we need to treat others the same, at times for us we will never want anybody to command us to do something, we need to be respected but we do forget that respect is either way, respect and you will be respected in abundance, what we see wrong to us to do we need not to do to others, if we do not like to be given orders and demands we need to also do the same to others. We have to treat others with respect and love irrespective of the age, since that is exactly how we could like us to be treated.
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?
Being that I deal with children in my organization, the ideas will help me first and foremost, understand that children have needs and they are supposed to be respected, and what I have learnt is about not to use rewards as a way of making children accomplish task, I will let them do willingly without any threat and promises of rewards. I will also use this enlightenment to share with other parents and the community, in order to see how we can be a better example to our children and the society.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your Attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
Do not mix up that which is habitual with that which is natural.
Very often we have been trained to communicate and act in ways that are quite unnatural, but they are habitual in the sense that we have been trained for various reasons to do it that way in our culture. It is much more natural for people to connect in loving, respectful way, and to do things out of joy for one another, rather than using punishment and rewards or blames and guilt as means of coercion.
Nobody is perfect to remember that anything that’s worth doing is worth doing poorly.
The job of parenting, is extremely worth doing but we are going to do it poorly at times, if we are going to be brutal, with ourselves, when we are not perfect parents, our children are going to suffer for that. So we need not to be perfect parents but to become progressively less stupid parents, by learning from each time that we are not able to give our children the quality of understanding that they need, that we are not able to express ourselves honestly.
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 books is clear
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
The book contain a life time exercise since it is a process to raise a child and also creating supportive communities which we have to build for good parenting it is a long time exercise which we need to do on a 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 in particular
8. Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is the good and one is poor
1. How interesting was it to read? 9
2. How helpful were the contents? 8
3. How easy was it to understand? 9
4. Would you recommend it to other? 8
5. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9
Difficult Conversations
Assessment by Erick Kebeka Omari (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the books?
The author convey on how we can be able to discus what matters most, difficult conversation is anything you find it hard to talk about, and what makes such situation so hard to face, the author elaborates that it is our fear of the consequences, whether we raise the issues or try to avoid it, and why is it so difficult to decide whether to avoid or to confront, he further states that because at some level we know the truth, if we try to avoid the problem, we will feel taken advantage of our feelings.
Difficult conversations are normal part of life, and we need to face it intelligently, by sorting the three conversation.
a). We need to understand what the people involved are thinking and feeling, but saying to each other in a difficult conversation.
b). To make the structure of a difficult conversation visible, we need to understand not only what is said, but also what is not said.
c). The gap between what you’re saying is part of what makes a conversation difficult you’re distracted by all that’s going on inside. You’ve uncertain about what’s okay to share, and what’s better left unsaid and you know that just saying what you’re thinking would probably not make the conversation any easier.
The author gives out a solution on how to go about difficult conversation by raising tough issues without triggering defensiveness, managing strong emotions yours and theirs, and how to stay balanced regardless of how the other person responds.
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.
a). Choosing not to deliver difficult message is like hanging on to a hand grenade once you’ve pulled the pin.
Sometimes we keep things in our hearts which if spoken well and shared with understanding they could help a lot, we know the problem but we do not want to face it or we lack enough courage to inform another person how we feel or what is in our hearts because of the fear, that things may get worse, we may be rejected or attacked, we might hurt the other person in ways we didn’t intend and the relationship might suffer. If we understand the right way of delivering difficult massage, it will be easy to overcome anything.
When my parents passed away, I had this heavy and difficult message to deliver to my cousin, he had uttered some words during the funeral which upset me so much and I felt pissed off, I couldn’t face him and it took a long time for me to speak about it.
By then I had not gone through tips of how to handle difficult conversations, I had a poor method of delivering my emotions, and feelings, I met my cousin’s wife, and after sharing few words, I told her to tell her husband that, whatever he uttered during my parent’s funeral, I was hurt and I was ashamed of him.
One day we met with my cousin face to face, I didn’t bother to greet him, and also he didn’t. Where we met it was house for another cousin of ours, so being concerned and not knowing our differences, he said you guys you haven’t greeted each other. So we greeted each other, but not really warmly. When the time came for departing, cousin whom we had differences insisted we go together. Before leaving I told him how I was feeling about him and what he had done to me, we spoke for quite a long time, until we came to an agreement, we exchanged phone numbers, and we reunited, at the moment we share lots of information and we respect one another.
b). Each difficult conversation is really three conversation
i. The “what Happened” conversation, this involves disagreement about what has happened or what should happen, who said what and who did what, who is right, who meant what an who’s to blame. This is what makes part of difficult conversation since we analyze the what happened and wants to know who we can blame for the misfortunate instead of looking for possible solutions we look for who to blame, and the one to be blamed creates resistance to the blame.
ii. The feeling conversation, every difficult conversation also ask and answer questions about the feelings, are my feelings valid, appropriate, should I acknowledge or deny them.
iii. The identity conversation, this is the conversation we each have with ourselves about what this situation means to us. Conduct an internal debate over whether this means we are competent or incompetent, a good person or bad, worthy of love or unlovable.
Every difficult conversation involves grappling with these three conversations, so engaging successfully requires learning to operate effectively in each of three realms.
c). What we can’t change, and what we can.
What we can change is the way we respond to each of these challenges, typically, instead of exploring what information the other person might have that we don’t we assume we know all we need to know to understand and explain things. And this causes conflict since we make judgment without really giving the other people a chance to express their views. Difficult conversation are almost never about the facts right, they are about conflicting perceptions, interpretations and values. What I think about your intentions will affect how I think about you and ultimately how our conversation goes. The error we make in the realm of intentions is simple but profound. We assume we know the intentions of others when we don’t. the truth is intentions are invisible, and unless we give others chance to express their intention we will be making wrong conclusion. Like I said about my experience with my cousin, I had concluded that he had bad intention and that is why he hurt me, but after giving each other time to express our views we found that there was nothing big to make us enemies and we patched out our differences.
d). The Blame flame
In any mess we find out who to blame and who is supposed to take responsibilities for the blame. Nobody wants to be blamed, including you and me, especially unfairly, so our energy goes into defending ourselves. Talking about blame distracts us from exploring why things went wrong and how we might correct them going forward. The only way we can avoid blame game is by giving each other time to contribute on any mess that occurred, from there after listening to each other we will find out the way forward and people will be ready to carry responsibility without feeling that they have been blamed and forced to take the responsibilities, the contribution system allows us to learn about the real causes of the problem and to work on correcting them. By contribution system it makes difficult conversation easy and people to share feelings freely without feeling intimidated, embarrassed and blamed.
Difficult conversations are not just about what happened they also involve emotions, feelings are integral part of the conflict, understanding feelings, talking about feelings, managing feelings, these are among the greatest challenges of being human.
e). Disagreement is not a bad thing nor does it necessary lead to difficult conversation.
We disagree with people all the time and often no one cares very much. But other times we care a lot. The disagreement seems at the heart of what is going wrong between us, sometimes people won’t agree with what we want them to agree with and they won’t do what we need them to do. Whether or not we end up getting our way we are left feeling frustrated, hurt or misunderstood and often the disagreement continue into the future, wreaking havoc whenever it raise its head.
When disagreement occurs even arguing may seem natural even reasonable, but it’s not helpful. If the arguing leads us nowhere what else can we do, the first thing we should do his hear from the person we are arguing with. They think we are the problem. I remember when I introduced my members in a new system of getting financial loan through youths enterprise loan given by one of our local bank, it created a lot of disagreement, frustrations, blame game, and I was more frustrated, after contacting the credit manager and assured the members they will be given loan with more reasonable and reduced percentage, people didn’t believe, so they wanted to put me accountable if anything goes wrong I was to be answerable to them, what I was presenting to them was an opportunity to increase their business and with more reasonable interest rate, but it was very difficult to come to terms.
f). Arguing blocks us from exploring each other’s stories
Arguing inhibits our ability to learn how the other person sees the world, when we argue we tend to trade conclusions, the bottom line of what we think, but neither conclusion makes sense in the other person’s story. So we each dismiss the other’s argument rather than helping us understand our different views arguing result in a battle of messages rather than drawing us together, arguing pulls us a part.
Arguing without understanding is unpersuasive, this is because people almost never change without first feeling understood. We need to understand the other person’s story in order to get somewhere, when we understand the other person’s story well we see how their conclusion makes sense within it and we need to help them understand the story in which our conclusion makes sense.
g). Say what you mean don’t make them guess
It is good for people to understand what you mean, but do not leave loop – holes in your conversation for them to fill for you, tell them how you feel but do not leave them to guess how you feel or your expression. It is good to speak it out even if it hurts most, I remember the story I have given above about my relationship with my cousin, I was really hurt but I had to tell him point blank, and after a lengthy discussion we came to a conclusion and we had to bury the past, since them we are good friends and we even share inmost secretes, since we understand one another fully, so whenever you have an issue speak it out but remembering contribution conversation so that you may get a break through in your difficult conversation, make your conversation go a long for a period of either good minutes our hours in order for you to empty your feelings, emotions and reactions, this will also help you to reload your burden of feeling hurt and create new being in you.
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?
We encounter difficult conversation almost every day of our lives, and we feel more hurt or we hurt others, through our reaction, through this book difficult conversation, it broadens our understanding of how others feel and gives room on how we can handle difficult conversation amicably, dealing with the community the ideas will help me try to make people understand on how to live with others even when they are in conflict by applying contribution conversation to one another.
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’t change our past experience but we can change our story about those experiences.
We usually see faults in our bad past experience and we keep on carrying them forward and narrating to people about how bad it was and how it leads to failure of our present and even future. We need to change the story of our bad past experience and see the opportunities those bad experience presented to our present. Probably your parents were tough when you we young, and over protected you, you never know if they didn’t do that, you could not see your present life, through their tough protection you have a life that maybe without them you could be rotting in the street, or make mistakes that could take a big deal to mend them.
Delivering a difficult message is like throwing a hand grenade coated with sugar thrown hard or soft.
A Hand grenade is still going to do damage, choosing not to deliver difficult message is like hanging on to a hand grenade once you’ve pulled the pin, and it will explode to you, and damage you properly. So once you have a grenade in your hand be ready to deliver it, you may coat it with sugar but let the bitter part come out, quinines usually are bitter what the pharmacist do is coat it with sugar, the bitter part is hidden but after the sugar coated part is over then you feel the other test of the medicine. It is a break through for getting more to your opponent to give you time to discuss difficult conversation, we need to be tactical, by creating conducive environment for discussion, it takes time for sugar coated medicine to be over, so for your conversation it will be the same, since you have come far with the talk, then it will be possible to swallow the bitter part and come to mutual conclusion about your differences.
c). Don’t knock down a wall until you know why it was put up.
Learn that your feelings are as important as theirs, when you are more connected about other’s feelings than your own, you teach others to ignore, your feelings too, we translate our feelings into Judgment: if you were a good friend you would have been there for me, our judgment is that they are not good friends. Attribution “why were you trying to hurt me:? Characterization “you’ve just so inconsiderate”. Problem solving in that there answers is for you to call me more often, we need to negotiate with our feelings fundamentally, it involves a recognition that our feelings are formed in response to our thoughts, in any given situation our feelings follow our thoughts. You can express emotion well without being emotional and you can be extremely emotional without expressing much of anything at all. Sharing feelings well and clearly requires thoughtfulness
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 well understood and clear.
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
Difficult conversation is a learning process and cannot be learnt in one day, it is a long term learning 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.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is the good and one is poor
1. How interesting was it to read? 7
2. How helpful were the contents? 7
3. How easy was it to understand? 7
4. Would you recommend it to other? 8
5. What is the overall rating you would give it? 7
How To Make Collaboration Work
Assessment by Erick Kebeka Omari (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the books?
The author is bring attention into our mind the power of collaboration, we undoubtedly collaborate all the time, primarily at work, but also at home, in our volunteer activities, at our children’s school, we may not think of what we are doing as collaboration, but if you have to get support and agreement of others before you can take action of some kind, then you are collaborating.
Actually every day we work with others to solve problems and make decisions, but the experience is often stressful, frustrating and inefficient, the author David Straus, convey five principles of collaboration that have been proven successful time and again in nearly every conceivable setting. How to make collaboration work shows how collaboration can become a joy rather than a chore – a kind of chemical reaction that releases far more energy than it consumes. We need to learn how to manage conflict and build effective teams. Making collaboration more effective, efficient, even fun we need to work together effectively. Collaboration needs to be learnt it is an art, based on a few powerful principles.
Collaboration means working together, working together involves making agreement and one powerful way to make agreement is to work for consensus, but consensus, on a win – win solution is usually the best possible outcome.
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.
a). collaboration action and collaboration problem solving
Collaboration problem solving is the process people employ when working together in a group, organization or a community to plan create, solve problems and make decisions. When we talk about a problem this is a situation someone wants to change. Problem solving is simply situation changing. When we are solving problems it is important to involve the relevant stakeholders, to work collaboratively you need to determine who the stakeholders are and how to involve them. The power of collaboration action comes from inclusion, not exclusion. When people are involved to get a solution in something, they feel more comfortable and part and parcel of the process.
When I was working in a pharmaceutical company, decisions were made without involving stakeholders, orders could be given to employees, and employees could create resistance in a go slow work. The more the mangers pressed for more production, the more problems could be created with employees; something minor could take centuries to be solved, since employees were not involved. I do remember one day we were called for a meeting, unfortunately no employee was allowed to give views or suggestions, the director spoke hours without giving room to any question or suggestions, the problem was not solved until the employees were involved fully in contribution of ideas and suggestions. Building consensus phase to phase has been reached when everyone agrees to support a decision and agreement doesn’t just happen, it has to be build phase by phase.
b). The place to begin working collaboratively is in your heart
Try to hold in your heart two powerful ideas.
i). Every human being has the right to be involved in decision that affect his or her life
ii). With good process, people can generate more creative and comprehensive solutions collaboratively than they can by themselves.
Lack of involving people, to make decision on what affect them, causes a lot of dissatisfactions, in Kenya few individuals decides activities or projects to be implemented on the ground. In every constituency money is allocated for developing each constituency, and the policy is that citizens are supposed to be involved in what they want to be implemented, unfortunately few individuals will decided what to be implemented under their own interest. Due to this factor you will find a lot of project not completed.
In one of our place a fake project was established and fortunately the community were alert, it was about the play ground, few individuals had proposed trees to be planted around the play ground, and a lot of money was allocated for the same project, when resident heard about it, they took on the street to demonstrate and stopped the project, and requested for a different project to take place.
c). Problem solving is heuristic.
There no right way to solve problems, likewise there is no one right way to collaborate at best, collaboration problem solving is an educated trial and error process, so once you find out that one way doesn’t work, you need to try another way since, you cannot solve a problem, once, by involving stakeholders they will contribute their suggestions, ideas, by sharing the ideas, given out you will come up with a conclusion, that can be acceptable with almost everybody, and once people know that it was their suggestion they will do all it takes to defend it and work accordingly, for one they are not pushed to do it, and it comes from their heart, so they will do it passionately. If you look at a spider when making a cobweb, it makes several jumps, and all jumps are not successful to get the web completed, but it keeps on trying and trying until the spider web is finished, we have to be patient when we try one method of solving the problem and it doesn’t work, we need to try and keep on trying until we get the solution of our problem. A problem shared is half solved, once we involve the relevant stakeholders, the problem will be shared there are four types of stakeholders.
i) Those with formal power to make decision
ii) Those with the power to block a decision
iii) Those affected by a decision
iv). Those with relevant information or expertise.
Once we include these stakeholders, we will be in a position to get a better solution in our problem.
d). If you bring the appropriate people together in constructive ways with good information, they will create authentic visions and strategies for addressing the shared concerns of the organization or community
The power of collaborative action comes from inclusion, not exclusion. The process must be open and inclusive, if relevant stakeholders, can be involved appropriately and if they can reach consensus, the solution is likely to be of higher quality and more easily implemented than if it were created and enforced by one person alone.
The belief underlying this principle is that well – intentioned people can work together to find win-win solutions to challenging issues. It’s a matter of basic respect for human dignity – a belief that people have the right to be involved in decisions that affect their lives.
A group reaches consensus on a decision when every member can agree to support that decision. Each person may not think it’s the very best decision, but he or she can buy into it and actively support its implementation.
e). The concept of consensus building is particularly powerful because it connects with both minds and our hearts.
It speaks to what is possible and what is right, what makes practical sense and what is the moral thing to do, you cannot reach consensus by going for it directly you have to work up to it gradually, if you can’t agree on the problem you won’t agree on the solution, so first is to acknowledge that there is a problem that needs to be solved. There is a powerful relationship between the problem space and the solution space. How a group defines a problem has a significant impact on the range of solutions it considers, success may be defined not only in terms of getting results, but also in terms of improving the process and relationship of the stakeholders.
You must agree on the problem before jumping to solutions, when we try to collaborate face to face in meetings, the experience is positive and productive.
f). The idea that responsibility for success of a meeting should be shared among all participant
Power and responsibility are distributed in order to avoid abuse and ensure that all the important aspect of meetings are covered. There’s another benefit to sharing responsibility that has to do with measuring the success of a collaborative process. We feel strongly that the result of a meeting (e.g, whether agreement was reached or not) represent only one dimension of success, for collaborative effort to be considered successful, participant must be satisfied with three dimensions (Result, Process, Relationship) so once you are a facilitator, you need to keep in mind four functions
i). The facilitator as a process guide
Any conversation there’s is a process (how people are interacting) and content (what they are talking about).
A facilitator is a process guide he or she doesn’t evaluate or contribute substantive ideas to a discussion he or she is the servant of the group not its leader and works to ensure that the group accomplish its goals. He or she does this by offering process suggestions enforcing ground rules agreed to by the group, keeping discussion on track, protecting group members from attack and ensuring that all members participate.
ii). The facilitator as a tool giver
Facilitator should be skilled in a broad repertoire of problem solving and decision making methods.
iii). The facilitator as a neutral third – party
iv). The facilitator as a process educator.
g). The power of changing the physical environment
The placement of chairs have a powerful impact on a meeting, the circle is a great form for a dinner party or dialogue, but not for a problem – solving session. As a leader try using a decision – making options with a higher level of involvement. For example, rather than gathering input from individuals and then making decision, try gathering input from the whole team and deciding.
Ask someone else to facilitate an important meeting, stay in problem space and vision space before jumping to solution. Create a process map for your next meeting or planning process. Try to be collaborative and make your words and actions congruent, for example use “we” rather than “I”
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?
Being the founder of an organization, the idea will help me to know how collaborate and delegate the responsibility during the meetings, I do not have to facilitate on my group but get a different facilitator, I will never be the player, captain, coach and referee all at the same time.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your Attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
a) While a hammer is great for pounding nails into woods. It’s not useful for putting screws in wood, except maybe as away to get them started
While listening can be useful, it is also sometimes helpful to let an idea germinate, do not express it quickly, not every solution can be used to solve problems, a hammer can be good in driving the nails but not screws, so we have different ways and methods of solving different problems.
b). It is better to have your enemy inside the tent spitting out, than outside the tent spitting in.
If collaboration is invisible at the larger organization or community. If people don’t know a planning effort is happening, they won’t have an opportunity to volunteer or know how to monitor and participate in the outer rings of involvement.
c). If you can’t agree on the problem, you won’t agree on the solution.
You need to know there is a problem and agree on it first before getting ways on solving it, once you understand the root cause of the problem, and accept it, then it will be very easy to go about finding the solution.
d). Help people become the architect of their own future by giving them tools, not solutions
Once people have the right tools they will be able to get solutions even in your absence, give people tools to solve problems, but not giving them solutions to their problems, likewise teach people on how to fish but not on how to eat fish. Because if they know how to fish, they will teach themselves on how to eat fish, because it becomes a necessity to them and a product of their struggle.
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 clear.
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
The exercises were helpful and they are a long team exercises and a learning process.
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 to comment.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is the good and one is poor
1. How interesting was it to read? 7
2. How helpful were the contents? 7
3. How easy was it to understand? 7
4. Would you recommend it to other? 7
5. What is the overall rating you would give it? 7
Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Assessment by Erick Kebeka Omari
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the books?
The author conveys that evil must be resisted and no moral man can patiently adjust to injustice, also the author conveys the three dimensions of life, that the length of life as we shall use it, is not its duration, not its longevity, it is rather the push of life forward to its personal ends and ambitions, without the three dimension of life there is no development at all, no life becomes complete. Life at it is best is a great triangle. At one angle stands the individual person, at the other angle stands other person and at the tip top stands God. Unless this three are concatenated, working harmoniously together in a single life, that life is incomplete.
The author states that the oppressor never voluntarily gives freedom to the oppressed. You have to work for it. Freedom is never given to anybody. Privileged classes never give up their privileges without strong resistance.
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.
a). The Christian church, the gospel deals with the whole man not only his soul but his body, not only his spiritual well – being but his material well – being
It is very evident that in life we need our lives to move in all aspect, (a Wheel of life) in that we balance our lives, unfortunately we forget what life is all about, we need spiritual nourishment at the same time material well being to make our lives move.
At times we get mixed up, between the material well – being and spiritual well – being, as much as we seek for material well – being we need also to seek for spiritual well – being, through the materials possession we get we can use it to glorify the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, the material we gain helps us for instance to build churches, assist the needy in our society, purchase automobile for easy movements and communication to serve human kind. So we need both spiritual and material well – being, we are clearly told that we shall eat through our sweat, so it means we have to work to gain whatever we want. It is not bad to acquire material well being, if it is acquired justly and in the right way and also used in the proper way without exploiting others. The church is supposed to mould people all round, both material well – being and spiritual well – being for a person to be complete.
b). We are prone to judge success by the index of our salaries or the size of our automobiles, rather than by the quality of our services and relationship to humanity.
The way we measure our success is quite different, and we value other things which we are not in fact supposed to value so much, if we ask ourselves how successful is our relationship with mankind and our Lord then we will get a clear answer of our success, people move from one job to another because they are not satisfied of the salary they are given, the more you get the more you need, and the more responsibilities you have and at the end of the day you are not successful as much as you wanted, in my own view the only way to be more successful is changing somebody’s life positively, be it educating an orphan, providing food in destitute people, contributing towards people suffering from various diseases. Mother Theresa, gave compassionate to the poor, helping needy, sharing what she possessed to the needy, and she is indeed successful not in material things but through the service she rendered to others, she is known all over the world, many places have been given honor through her name and she permanently stays in our heart, a through way of being successful it is even when you are not alive people will still remember your work and the good you deed to the society. There are so many people who have lots of possession but still not happy and not successful in life. We are one people in one world, and created through the image of God so we need to share material resources together without being greedy.
c). Keep Martin Luther King in the background and God in the foreground and everything will be all right.
At times we forget to remember that we are a channel of the gospel and not the source. This is what as been a problem with our current society we forget that we are not the source of the gospel but just a channel in which God uses us to convey a message to other people, I am not really being judgmental but nowadays it is more of showing off, people need compliments after finishing conveying the message of God, they need to be praised through the sermons they make either in church or public, we are supposed to be at the background and God in the foreground, it is only God who says that we cannot do anything without him, and everything is possible when we call upon the Lord. When God is in foreground we can do the impossible, because it is God who is working in us.
Some people will tell you that if it was not me so and so could not be where he/she is today, we simply forget that God knows our destiny and plans for our future, if we follow his principles and keep the faith; we will achieve whatever we want through his name.
It is only God who can transform man’s weakness into his glorious opportunity. Moses was not fluent in speaking but God told him I will be with you, so Moses was to open his mouth and God gave him words to speak.
d). Where there is true unity, every effort to disunite only serves to strengthen the unity.
In whatever you do once you unite together nothing will put apart your unity, and this is what made Martin Luther group to be very strong, and the more they try to disunite them the more they became stronger and using a very wise way of solving conflict, nonviolently. There is amazing power in unity. And that is why the movement couldn’t stop. Once you have unity you are freed from fear. The mutual suffering wraps you all in a single garment of destiny.
I have always felt that ultimately along the way of life an individual must stand up and be counted and be willing to face the consequences whatever they are. And if you are filled with fear you cannot do it. When a person lives with fears of the consequences for his personal life, he can never do anything in terms of lifting the whole of humanity and solving many of the social problems which we confront in every age and every generation.
It is through the unity that Kenya gained independence, people shed blood for our freedom, no gain without pain, we had to unite as a country to gain our freedom, in any given time oppressor never voluntarily give freedom to the oppressed.
e). Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.
It is very true that whatever affects one directly, affects all of us indirectly, I remember the post violent election in Kenya, it affected all of us, those involved and those who were not involved, innocent people became IDP’s (Internally displaced people), who have affected us in one way or the other, this people used to do farming and also increase the economy of our country unfortunately at the moment they cannot do farming and totally depends on the government to feed them, and the government also depend on tax payers, this as lead to high inflation, life becoming more expensive, and unbearable, Kenyan’s united to contribute for hunger in Trukana, each of us contributed to the project, so in any case whatever affect one of us, it affects all of us indirectly, When Petroleum goes higher it affects up to the common Man, the lowest income earner, by increasing the fare rates, and also basic commodities becoming very expensive to purchase. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, we are caught in inescapable network of mutuality tied in a single garment of destiny. St Augustine states that an unjust law is no law at all.
A just law is a man made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law. To put it in the terms of Saint Thomas Aquinas an unjust law is human law that is not rooted in eternal and natural law. Any law that uplift human personality is just any law that degrades human personality in unjust.
f). Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever.
In any case if you oppress people, you will never oppress them forever, they will try all means to salvage themselves from the bond of oppression, it may take time to be freed but at last they will be free from oppression, they will use all mechanism to free themselves from oppression. Through this process there are those who write history, there are those who make history, there are those who experience history. But when you fight for freedom you are certainly making history and experiencing history. Justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream, let us not wallow in the valley of despair. Martin Luther King Jr. made history and experience it, by striving to freedom of Negros, he experienced it during his time and made it for us to read and follow his principle of nonviolent ways of solving conflict.
All men are created equal it is only we people who categorize ourselves, there is amazing democracy, about death, it is not an aristocracy, for some of people but a democracy for all of the people Kings dies and beggars die, rich men die and poor die old people die and young people die death comes to the innocent and it comes to the guilty. Death is the irreducible common denominator of all men.
g). Disappointment produces despair and despair produces bitterness.
Hate is just as injurious to the hater as it is to the hated. Like unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Many of our inner conflicts are rooted in hate. Hate is too great a burden to bear. A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death. On some position, cowardice asks the question “is it safe?” Expediency ask the question “is it politics?” and vanity comes a long and ask the question “is it right?” and there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must do it because conscience tell him it is right. The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of great crisis and controversy.
A man went to hell because he didn’t see the poor His name was Dives and there was a man by the name Lazarus who came daily to his gate in need of the basic necessities of life and Dives didn’t do anything about it and he ended up going to hell. There is nothing in the parable which says that Dives went to hell because he was rich, Jesus never made a universal indictment against wealth. It is true that one day a rich young ruler came to Him talking about eternal life and he advised him to sell all, but that instance Jesus was prescribing individual surgery, not setting forth a universal diagnosis.
Dive didn’t go to hell because he was rich, his wealth was his opportunity to bridge the gulf that separated him from his brother Lazarus. Dives went to hell because he allowed Lazarus to become invisible, Dives went to hell because he allowed the means by which he lived to outdistance the ends for which he lived. Dives went to hell because he sought to be a conscientious objector in the war against poverty.
3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?
The ideas have opened my eyes to see that at times violent is not the solution of our problems, we need to face conflict in a nonviolent way, being that we in Kenya have experienced violent in our election, the ideas will help me to enlighten the community on how to go about any dispute or disagreement amicably.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your Attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
a). It is life without the beauties of life, it is bare existence – cold, cruel and degenerating. This is a meaningless life, a life without hope (hopeless life), life without hope for tomorrow, just like an empty vessel.
b). Every thousand – mile journey begins with the first step.
In anything you do, there is a first time, a beginning, which counts to the end, an action that will lead you to somewhere or to your destiny, to reach your destiny it maybe not smooth, but the challenges you meet on the way strengthens you and makes you value the outcome. In this first step we keep on asking ourselves how long? Not long because no lie can live forever, How long?, not long because the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends towards justice, How long?, not long because you still reap what you sow.
c). What insane logic it is to condemn the robbed man because his possession of money precipitates the evil act of robbery, society must condemn the robber and never the robbed.
d). Open your mouth and God will speak for you.
When you have nothing to tell people, encourage them, just ask God to fill your mouth and you will have plenty of words to talk to him, God fills our mouth with precious words to speak, so before you speak ask yourself, is it God’s words am speaking?, what impact will they create to people?. You can also view it in this manner “before you speak ask yourself, is it kind?, is it necessary?, is it true?, does it improve on the silence?” if it does then speak.
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
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
Next year we are going for general election, I am enlightening the community to use Martin Luther King Jr nonviolent way of solving conflict, in order to have a peaceful election.
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 the good and one is poor
1. How interesting was it to read? 8
2. How helpful were the contents? 7
3. How easy was it to understand? 8
4. Would you recommend it to other? 7
5. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8
Gandhi an Autobiography
Assessment by Erick Kebeka Omari
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the books?
The author conveys how he developed his concept of SATYAGRAHA, or active nonviolent resistance, which propelled the Indian struggle for independence and countless other nonviolent struggles of the twentieth century. He is one of the most inspiring figure in non violent communication.
Also the author states how to resist injustice without violence and the attitude of experimenting of testing what will and will not bear close scrutiny, what can and what cannot be adapted to new circumstance in order to bring about changes in own lives and communities.
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.
a). The heart’s earnest and pure desire is always fulfilled
Whatever you want in life, if your heart embrace it earnestly it will come to pass, the author resisted to positive change until it become clear, that by any means they had to achieve it, however we have to be prepared through the challenges, intimidations, discouragements we have to face them boldly in order to achieve our hearts desire, personally I have been struggling to see the success of my organization, it is a desire burning in my heart to see all needy, neglected children go to school and have a better life, a better life for all, not for individuals, through the burning desire have come to see my dream come through, however in a small capacity, I do appreciate it since a step makes a mile, at present a number of students are being sponsored in education achieving their dreams, and that is my heart’s desire, to see more and more is achieved, Gandhi’s desire was to see that nonviolent communication and resistance is practiced in several regions in India, through persistence, he became an icon in he world and people admire his way of approach which also Martin Luther Jr used.
b) Service of the poor has been my heart’s desire and it has always thrown me amongst the poor and enabled me to identify myself with them
When you are a man of people, you will find yourself in a situation whereby by fighting injustice, becomes your priority no matter what class you belong, you will find yourself identifying among the people you are fighting for, at times we see Gandhi, going to jail with his fellow Indians who were discriminated, and arrested once you have a burning desire naturally you will find yourself connected to the people you are serving, you become a total servant since, the desire drives you, I have identified myself with Kibera resident, not because I like the way Kibera slum is but because my desire is to change the life style of Kiberian, it may be difficult to change the entire region of Kibera but one at a time, by changing the perception of the young children, youths and empowering women, they will see the other side of life and be determined, do not force your heart’s desire to people but let them see the real sense behind your desire and you will be able to work with them. Mother Teresa, identified herself with the poor of the poorest, and out of what she did, she is remembered up to date on the work she did.
c). It has always been a mystery to me how men can feel themselves honoured by the humiliation of their fellow – beings.
Especially in places whereby other people do not have means of survival, people have been humiliated, abused used and misused in order to achieve favors from those who are able to assist them or connect them, in our current political era, instead of our Members of parliament doing something constructive, they feel more honored by trying to outsmart others, by abuses, degrading others, and they feel good, proudly you will see them boasting about it. House girls have been misused, over worked, we see how in India, not only India, people were categorized in different classes when it comes to traveling white will never mix with blacks, different restaurants for different race, colour, blacks where not allowed to sit the first seats they were preserved for the whites, we are all the same and deserve to treat one another the same irrespective of our class, an Hindu husband regards himself as a Lord and Master of his wife who must ever dance attendance upon him.
d). Differences prove helpful where there are tolerance, charity and truth.
When we have differences lets us never miss a single opportunity to remove obstacles in the way of unity, let us know how to solve our difference in amicable way, it is very sad to Kenyans who lost their loved one, properties, lives because of a mere differences, political differences, which went to the roots of common people to kill one another, lets adapt the system of brotherhood, oneness, in order to know that no matter what happens we need one another, and we need to iron our differences and make a better nation.
e). Howsoever you may repair it a rift is a rift.
It is only when one sees one’s own mistakes with a convex lens and does just the reverse in the case of others, that one is able to arrive at a just relative estimate of the two. To safeguard democracy the people must have a keen sense of independence, self – respect and their oneness, and should insist upon choosing as their representatives only such persons as are good and true. Identification with everything that lives in impossible without self purification, the observance of the law. Anything you do remains an empty dream. God can never be realized by one who is not pure of heart, self – purification therefore must mean purification in all the walks of life and purification being highly infectious, purification of oneself necessarily leads to the purification of one’s surroundings. However the path of purification is hard and steep, that is why a rift is a rift howsoever you may repair it, one has to become absolutely passion free in thoughts, speech and action to rise above the opposing currents of love and hatred, attachment and repulsion.
f). Services which is rendered without joy helps neither the servant nor the served
When you render the service and it doesn’t come from your heart, you become miserable in the process and end up suffering inner wounds, it won’t be beneficial to you or to the person the service is rendered to.
g). My experience has shown me that we win justice quickest by rendering justice to the other party.
When we render to others justice we get it back in compound interest, I am glad to read the autobiography of Gandhi, in his law practice, he didn’t defend even his client when he finds out a rift, which indeed is justice to the two parties, until something changes within you nothing changes around you. Every change begins from within, if you want justice it begins with you offering justice to others, without a change within there can never be time to take up responsibilities for a change, the change you have long awaited is not at the mercy of chance, though time and chance happens to them all…. They accept responsibly their role in the deal if you live and leave your life to chance, you have no chance, it is now time to work it out.. God told Moses, take up the serpent by the tail and it will turn to a Rod…..Though there are challenges and dangers in every pursuit, however if you fail to take up the serpent by the tail, nobody will take it up for you Not even God and it will never turn into a miracle, take up due responsibility now, we see Gandh, Martin Luther Jr and so many taking up responsibilities and changing the world, be the next Martin Luther or even Nelson Mandela, in your area of operation.
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?
Educating others to use nonviolent way of resistance, especially in our local universities and colleges in Kenya, they need to be enlightened on how to use nonviolent when things go wrong in campus other than blocking roads and stoning innocent people on the road and breaking other peoples business in the name of fighting for justice.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your Attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
a). It is the reformer who is anxious for reform.
When you want the changes or reform you are the vision bearer, it is you to make others understand why you need reforms and how effective and beneficial they will be to the society.
b). Whatever a man sows, that shall be reap
Indeed whatever you sow is what you shall reap, no day even one you will plant beans and harvest potatoes, if you plant injustice you will reap injustice, practically you can see leaders who have harvested injustice, Gadhaffi and many others.
c) As a man eats so shall he become.
Whatever you eat will make you who you are, if you do not know how to take good care of yourself, you will end up sending a lot to shape yourself, we have lots of foods which are natural and in fact prevents lots of diseases in our bodies, we need to look in to them and keep fit.
d). Hate the sin and not the sinner
A precept which is though easy enough to understand, is rarely practiced and that is why the poison of hatred spread in 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?
The book is fine and well covered.
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
The exercise are long – term, actually life time exercise, we need to keep on practicing on our daily life and change our approach of dealing with challenges rather than resorting to violence, physical confrontation, we need to use a nonviolent way to agree to disagree on issues which affects our lives, this will be a sure way to experimenting truth in our lives.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.
No comment.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is the good and one is poor
A. How interesting was it to read? 7
B. How helpful were the contents? 7
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to other? 8
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8
The Compassionate Classroom
Assessment by Erick Kebeka Omari (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the books?
The compassionate classroom helps teachers and students practice communicating non-violently, when compassion thrives, so does learning. This book shows teachers how to strengthen relationship, fuel interest, passion and inspire accomplishment. The authors solve the age – old mystery of how to resolve classroom conflicts without disrupting the learning process.
It also presents clear and concise explanation of “how and “why” of no-violent communication along with playful exercise and games that animates the joy of natural giving.
The language of nonviolent communication is a very clear and usable tool and replaces, the language of shame, guilt and blame. The authors demonstrate how this language introduces cooperation and peace into the classroom, and consequently into the world, supported by scientific research that show emotional clarity and ease enhance children’s ability to learn, the authors give various examples of how to learn and teach this process, adding a number of fun classroom exercise and games.
The authors’ divides the book into two sections; the first describes with certain clarity the power of learning in a safe classroom where children can participate without fear of shame or blames. Second section provides practical tools and exercises that are easily duplicated in the classroom.
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.
a) Creating safety and trust. Kids learn in communion. They listen to people who matters to them and to whom they matter, to make children trust you, our first question should be “what do children need? followed immediately by “how can we meet those needs?” from this point of departure we will end up in a very different place than if we had begun by asking how do I get children to do what I want?
The two primary ways to create safety and trust in the classroom are
- ·Focus on the needs of students and teachers
- ·Basic human needs, are for survival, power belonging, freedom and fun
Learn and practice a language of giving and receiving
How we communicate our needs and listen to the needs of others determine whether needs are likely to get met.
b) Power is two kinds. One is obtained by fear of punishment and the other by act of love
Power based on love is a thousand times more effective and permanent than the one derived from fear of punishment
Classrooms should be places in which students can legitimately act on a rich variety of purpose in which wonder and curiosity are alive, in which students and teachers live together and grow.
When people hear a demand they usually do not want to give what is asked for because their needs foe autonomy and giving freely are not being met. Learning to make requests of others rather than demands makes joyful giving and receiving possible. I remember when I was in school if you didn’t do an assignment, it was terrible, you could come early in class and copy from those who did it, just to avoid being punished; students did that because of fear of punishment, cheating themselves and cheating the teacher because of fear.
c) When students feels supported and successful in classroom, they rarely act out when teachers feel supported and successful in their school, they rarely burn out. Once students feel supported and appreciated you unleash their potential, when a student answer a question wrongly and he or she is rectified in a loving and caring manner, you encourage the student to keep on trying and improving, but when they are blamed, punished for getting a sum wrong, you demoralize the children, and the interest of learning becomes low, school becomes to them hell or prison, they lose the interest of learning.
d) A capacity to care is the thing which gives life its deepest meaning and significance
We are all natural givers, we each have a lot to give and enjoy giving when we do it willingly, and we can give and receive to meet the most needs for everyone, needs are universal and identifiable, our needs are always our trying to meet our needs in different ways, our feelings are helpful messengers of met and unmet needs. Identifying our needs is empowering, to meet needs we can become more choicely about how we think, listen, talk and act. We are agents of choice, there are many ways to meet needs, we can choose how we act, how we listen and learn new ways to meet needs, by refining strategies to meet needs, celebrate when strategies work.
By focusing on needs we can prevent, reduce and resolve conflicts.
e). We can have lot to give. Each of us possesses wealth ideas, talents, skills and the fruits of our interests that we can share with others. Some people give their singing, some give vegetable, from their garden, some give cookies, some give poems or paintings. Even if all personal skills and talents were set aside, there are some things that we all can give. Time, energy, attention, sometimes just sitting in the same room with some one who is ill is helpful, so sharing time can be a gift, when a family member has a big job to do, sharing time can be a gift when a friend is in distress, our attention can be a gift. I have seen that through my organization just giving people time and listen to them, they have been able to heal the inner wounds.
f). Whatever we do, it is an attempt to meet one or more of our human needs. There are many ways to meet needs, we live in a world of abundance, for every need there are many ways or strategies to fulfill it, painting, sculpting, dancing, singing, are different ways to meet a need for creative expression, to meet a need for learning, we can read, watch movies listen to tapes, discuss with others, or think quietly.
g). True compassion is not just an emotional response but a firm commitment founded on reason. When you recognize that all human beings are equal and like yourself in both their desire for happiness and their right to obtain it, you automatically feel empathy and closeness for them, you will be able to listen, in any dialogue, there is a kind of traffic flow sometimes we express and sometimes we listen, it helps to notice the direction of traffic and whose needs are most pressing. When both people in a conversation express at the same time there, is a traffic jam and neither person is heard to his or her satisfaction, observing the flow of communication assessing the needs of the expressing and listening are skills we develop when we learn and practice giraffe language.
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?
Being in the position of dealing with the children, the ideas are very helpful to know how to handle the kids, and also this will be a handbook for Alfa baby care and kindergarten which all teachers will read and transform the classroom.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your Attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
a).To observe without evaluation is the highest form of human intelligence
When we evaluate we blame, judge and also condemn, by blaming people we create a conflict which doesn’t help and doesn’t give out good quality of compassionate classroom.
b). The greatest gift we can give others is not just to share our riches with them, but to reveal their riches to themselves It is better a person who doesn’t give you hand – outs but gives you knowledge on how to nurture your life, teach people on how to fish, because if they know how to eat fish, because if they know how to fish, they will learn on how to eat.
c) Listening is an attitude of the heart, a genuine desire to be with another which both attracts and heals. At times people need someone to listen to pour out what they have in the heart, by giving them attentive ears they heal their wounds and pain.
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?
It is a compassionate book and clear to the point.
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
Section II of the book contains numerous exercises both practical and theoretical to make a compassionate classroom.
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 comment.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is the good and one is poor
A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to other? 8
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8
Sitting In The Fire
Assessment by Erick Kebeka Omari (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the books?
The author demonstrate that engaging in a heated conflict instead of running away from it is one of the best way to resolve the divisiveness that prevail on every level of society, in personal relationships, business and the world. Behind the world’s most difficult problems are people – groups of people who don’t get along together, you can blame crime, war, drugs, greed, poverty, capitalism or the collective unconscious. The bottom line is that people cause our problems.
The authors states that to make a better world, notice the time spirits and bring them forward, then you are doing individual work, relationship work and world work in one value trouble. Accept nature, make peace with war, fewer people will be hurt. Enjoy the sunshine, and the rain and nature will do the rest that’s the revolution we need.
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.
a). The fire that burns in the social, psychological and spiritual dimensions of humanity can ruin the world
During post – violence election in Kenya 2007, it ruined our country up to date, we have IDP’s (internally displaced people), the number of orphans increased, people lost their properties, and others up to date are mentally, physically challenged. If at all it was not the intervention our country could be in dilemma, when we talk about the country we talk about the people who live in that country. We had to sit in the fire to resolve the conflict by power sharing which brought peace in our country.
The world is one even if we have different country, if one country is affected by war, the entire world is affected in one way or the other, all over the world we have refugees camps, we pay the price of feeding them, sheltering them educating them, generally providing for them human basic needs, if the world or their country was peaceful, this people could be productive, in one way or the other, and that is why when we have terrorist, we join hands to eliminate them before they create havoc in the nation.
b) The price of liberty
Creating freedom, community and viable relationship has its price. It costs time and courage to learn how to sit in the fire of diversity
It didn’t take Kenya a day to gain independence, freedom fighters faced lots of challenges and even some paid the price of their lives for us to gain independence and freedom from colonial slavery.
Many of us would like the world to change, but we don’t want to endure the trouble of helping make that happen. Most of the people will complain about poor leadership and governance, but they are the one’s who do not vote and don’t even have a voting card. How do we expect change if we do nothing towards the change we want.
c).Before we can transform communities with conflict, we have to be able to survive it ourselves
A special kind of inner work is needed to transform us into elders who can sit in the fire, without such a transformation, we will continue to repress our awareness of group tensions and thereby perpetuate the world’s troubles.
We have to endure all the trouble boldly, change and transformation comes with a price, we have to be strong and determined to overcome the storms during the process thus sitting in the fire.
d). Power and prejudice in relationship
The prime cause of conflict is the imbalance of power. It is the power that leads to conflict in Kenya during post – violence 2007, who won the election being a question and since there was no agreement it broke to conflict, just because who is supposed to be in power. Rank is a drug that makes us feel well; in Kenya once you have a rank in the government people misuses it by grabbing government properties and protecting their status quo.
The way we share resources in our country is not equally distributed, if you have high rank and powerful in the government you dictate the direction in which you want more services to be provided. This creates high rate of poverty in the country, the power have been pushed to the edge whereby even educating their children is impossible, and this as created hierarchies, whereby there are schools for the middle class, high class, and of the poor society. There is no equality in power sharing; the more powerful you are the bigger the share for you and your family.
e).There are no permanent solutions to social problems
It is necessary to come together again and again, notice the time spirits and express their intentions, the community we find in this way is more sustainable than temporary solution to the problem.
Love and hope draw us together, economics, politics and spirituality may inspire us, but the fear of being publicly hurt by angry, vengeful comments or terrorized by subtle oppression restrains our participation in meetings and depress progressive movements.
Power battles and hidden vengeance pollute group and international life more than toxic fumes.
We can express riots in our cities and murders in the suburbs as long as minority issues are ignored. Those small issues which are not addresses, they are the once which lead to a bigger problem, small leakage can sink a ship, if the small misunderstanding and conflict are not addressed, they will blow up and cause real trouble, in Kenya land issues are very sensitive and they steered a lot during post violence election, no wonder up to date we have IDP’s, some communities claim to be marginalized and their land grabbed, so it was high time for them to get back what belonged to their ancestors by use of force and violence. Violence will stop only when you and I are ready to work on it, that entails interrupting our lives to include awareness of the agony of the oppressed.
f). How good societies make war
Family gatherings, where certain people are put down for not meeting a subgroup norm.
Schools that belittle children for breaking the rules and that teach only mainstream values and history ignoring non-main stream values and styles of communication.
Business that succeed economically at the expense of the environment, minority groups, and the needs of individuals.
Civil service organizations, such as the police, that harass minority group. Newspapers that don’t report information of concern to marginalized groups, media that either portray ministry groups in negative stereotypes such as unreliable employee or ignore minorities and reflects only the lives of the dominant population.
Banks that favor the mainstream businesses of the middle and upper classes, religious groups that threaten punishment for “Sinners or otherwise make non-members, feel they have no chance of liberation. Medical systems that ignore the feelings of patients.
In practical life we have grouped ourselves in terms of our tribal line, we have made our children come up knowing that a certain tribe is not good, or it is inferior that our own tribe, socializing with a certain tribe, it is an issues since probably the tribe is known to be thieves. Comes to employment opportunities, if you identify yourself with a given tribe, you are likely to get or lose a job chance.
g). Trouble brings us together
Many of us hate to open the door when trouble knocks; we are afraid and only let in peace. But if we remember that when trouble knocks, process is an unpredictable spirit trying to manifest, new relationship could begin. When troubles knock a possibility of a new kind of community is at the door. The new community is not based only on understanding one another, but on the common decision to enter into unknown, into trouble, into the fire that is the price of liberty. A spiritual attitude makes it easier to tolerate anger and move through the double edges to reach understanding and even enlightenment about the nature of the world.
3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?
The ideas have helped me to be a good facilitator of peace especially this time we are heading to election, so that we may embrace peace in our country.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your Attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
a).Trying to facilitate without training is like climbing to a roof without a ladder
Whatever you need to do it is good to do research about it before doing it. Be prepared get enough information before sharing with the group.
b). An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth
What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others, Christ taught: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Revenge begins with repressed anger; some of us just grind our teeth and smile when we have been hurt.
c) It’s not the words that are the problem, it is the unconscious feelings and assumptions behind the term.
You do not have to have been in war to experience post – traumatic stress. Any situation that reminds you of past problems you could not solve may strip you of the amnesia that was protecting you from pain and bring on anxiety and depression.
d).Rather than forcing things, wait until the wind blows and then follow it. When a person is angry with you or an issue, give him or her time to settle down and then intervene, because threat provokes threat, insult provokes insult.
e). Just as a person newly free of drugs needs a community that is clean, a community recovering from racism needs a world that sees social inequities clearly.
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 clear and well covered.
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
Transformation and conflict resolution is a process that we learn gradually, the exercise is practicing on how to connect with people who have been victims of conflict, and also we cannot evade to encounter conflict, but the way to handle the conflict is very important, because in the family conflict can emerge, in our society we face conflict on a daily basis, the book is a tool on how to go about solving conflict.
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 comment.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is the good and one is poor
1. How interesting was it to read? 8
2. How helpful were the contents? 7
3. How easy was it to understand? 8
4. Would you recommend it to other? 8
5. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8
You Just Don’t Understand (women and men in conversation)
Erik Kebeka Omari, Kenya
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the books?
The author Tannen shows why women and men can walk away from the same conversation with completely different impressions of what was said. The author gives out tools to understand what goes wrong in a conversation and find a common language with which to strengthen relationships at work and at home. A man and women can interpret the same conversation differently, even when there is no apparent misunderstanding.
You just don’t understand, is a true cultural and intellectual phenomenon, the book brings gender differences in ways of speaking to the forefront, of public awareness.
In equality begins at home, another reason that gender differences are so much more troubling than other cross – cultural differences is that they occur where the home and heart are. To learn how to interpret each others messages and explain your own in away your partner can understand and accept.
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.
a). Different words, different worlds.
In some ways all people are the same. We all eat and sleep and drink and laugh and cough and often we eat, and laugh at the same time. But some ways, each person is different and individuals, differing want and preferences may conflict with each other. Offered the same menu, people make different choices, and if there is a cake for desert, there is a chance one person may get a larger piece than another and even greater chance that one will think the other piece is larger, whether it is or not.
b) It begins at the beginning
Even if they grow up in the same neighborhood. On the same block, or in the same house, girls and boys grow up in different worlds of words. We have heard people talk to the boys, do not cry you are not a girl, you behave like a girl, even when it is painful, you are confronted with words such as you are not a girl, so girl in African culture it is seen as a weak gender whereby if you do something shameful and you are a man, you are referred to be a woman or a girl, men gossip but they do not accept it, women are the one’s who are known to be gossipers, a baby boy is more respected than a girl – child and that is why in Kenya we have come up with girl – child education, to empower girls in education, people preferred to educate boys since they said girls are meant for marriage and once they are married they go to make families in wherever they get married to. So it was not important to educate them, because for one they will move out of the family and also they do not have a right to inherit properties.
c). We all want, above all, to be heard but not merely to be heard.
We want to be understood – heard for what we think we are saying, for what we know we meant, with increased understanding of the ways women and men use language should come a decrease in frequency of the complaint “you just don’t understand” from what the author explain, we need to understand what words mean and be clear to be understood, the way we frame our questions matters very much, like from the example given, a woman will you like to stop and have lunch, by giving out an honest answer, no I will not, it becomes an issue since she wanted to have lunch, preferred to refer to you whether you will stop for lunch, those are indirect communication which we need to understand and make one another to be well understood.
d). who talks more, women or men?
According to the stereotype, woman talk too much, women are believed to talk too much, yet study after study finds that it is men who talk more at meetings, in mixed groups discussions, and classrooms where girls or young women sit next to boys or young men. When a public lecture is followed by questions from the floor, or a talk show host opens the phones, the first voice to be heard asking a question is almost always a man’s voice and when they ask questions or offer comments from the audience, men tend to talk longer, more men feel comfortable doing public speaking while more women feel comfortable doing private speaking, studies have shown that if women and men talk equally in a group, people think women talked more. Men think women talk a lot because they hear women talking in situations where men would not: on the telephone, or in social situations with friends, when they are not discussing topic that men find inherently interest or like the couple at the women’s group at home alone in other words in private speaking.
Husband may not want to talk because he is tired when he comes home from work, yet women who work comes home tired too, and they are nonetheless eager to tell their partners or friends everything that happened to them during the day and what these fleeting, daily drama made them think and feel.
e). women and men have different ways of talking
For girls talk is the glue that holds relationships together. Boys relationship are held together primarily by activities doing things together, or talking about activities such as sports, or later politics, In my baby care the way boys behavior is different from girls, boys in early age tend to take control of situations, grab other’s property by force, jump on the seats, run up and down. I remember when I was in primary school; we used to fight one another, in a class we used to have one who is in control, and above the other pupils. Men usually glue themselves together by doing business together, having common interest, in stock market, being associates and this dominates their daily talk, by venturing in new careers, business and new endeavor
f). Gossip
When people talk about the details of daily lives, it is gossip, when they write about them; it is literature, short stories and novels. So written novel, short stories about somebody is also gossip, but put down in literature and by request from that person. Someone who knows your secrets has power over you, she or he can tell your secrets to others and create trouble for you, which is not good news for you. This is a source of the negative image of gossip, when gossip is a rumor; the most negative image of gossip reflects a situation in which destructive rumors that have no basis in fact are spread. Rumors are effective even if they are later disproved and retracted, the damage is done by their mere existence, because most people assume “where there is smoke there’s fire” so many cases have been reported in Kenya especially about assignations, brutal killings of most prominent people in our society, once the rumor as been spread, even if you are compensated the damage as been done, if a Kenyan news paper contains sensitive rumor, be it fault or true, the newspaper sells goes higher, by many people purchasing in any given price, so even if you sue the offenders they will compensate you without any difficulty because they have already made money out of the negative rumor.
g). The noticing of details shows caring and creates involvement
Men, however often find, women’s involvement in details irritating, because women are concern first and foremost with establishing intimacy, they value telling of details, I remember I invited some couples in my house, so one of my friend wanted to know who did one couple get to know each other up to getting married, first it was the man to give out how they met, the husband gave out facts, and how they got married. It wasn’t interesting story, when the wife gave out the details how they met, it was detailed, romantically, well explained and it took hours for the story to end, conversely many women complain that men don’t tell enough details. Women may get impression men aren’t listening to them even when the men really are. This happen because men have different habitual ways of showing they’re listening. Women are more inclined to ask questions, they also give more listening response – little words like mhm, uh-uh, and yeah – sprinkled through someone else’s talk, providing a running feedback loop. And they respond more positively and enthusiastically, for example by agreeing and laughing.
Women use “yeah” to mean I’m with you whereas men tend to say “yeah” only when they agree.
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 the life we are living, this is a practical book whereby we need to start understanding one another, what a women means, in a conversation and how to avoid conflict on a daily basis in family and society as such, it is better to understand even though we are created with in God’s image a man and women are different in a very unique ways, physically, emotionally and how we react to events it is quite different.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your Attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
a) A women’s tongue wags like a lamb’s tail.
A lamb will keep on wagging even when there is nothing to chase, women will never keep quite, they will keep on talking unless there is something, that makes them suffer internally, (internal wounds) but they will get a way to speak it out unlike men.
b) Foxes are all tail and women are all tongue
Women are very active in terms of talking and pouring out words, nothing can stop them from talking, even if it is a secret, they will tell another one and tell them do not tell anyone, and the cycle will go on and on.
c) The North Sea will sooner be found wanting in water than a women be at loss for a word.
Mouth with saliva will never lack words to talk.
d). The older a boy gets, the more his fights tend to be verbal rather than physical
when boys are young they will use physical fight, grabbing one another, but once they grow older, they start using words, which are verbal to solve conflicts rather that physical.
e). A protective gesture from a man reinforces the traditional alignment by which men protect women.
A protective gesture from a women, suggests a different scenario, one in which women protect children that is why many men resist women’s effort to reciprocate protectiveness. It makes them feel that they are being framed as children.
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 practical, well understood and clearly framed, to the current society.
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
Yes, it contains exercise in which we need to start understanding one another, and know that we have different ways of communicating, the way we address issues can be different for both men and women. Practically lets understand one another and appreciate them the way they are.
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 comment.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is the good and one is poor
1. How interesting was it to read? 8
2. How helpful were the contents? 6
3. How easy was it to understand? 8
4. Would you recommend it to other? 7
5. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8
Your Faith Is Your Fortune
Assessment by Erick Kebeka Omari (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the books?
The author believes that one could create one’s physical reality through imagining, man can decree a thing and it will come to pass. The author states that in the beginning was the unconditioned awareness of being, and unconditioned awareness of being became conditioned by imagining itself to be something and the unconditioned itself to be, so did creation begin.
The author also brings awareness of our conscious. Every man automatically express that which he is conscious of being without effort or the use of words, at every moment of time, man is commanding himself to be and to posses that which he is conscious of being and possessing.
Neville Goddard also states the law of consciousness is the only law of expression. Consciousness is the way as well as the power which resurrects and express all that man will ever be conscious of being.
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.
a). The principle of truth
Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free John 8:32
The truth that sets man free is the knowledge that his consciousness is the resurrection and the life, that his consciousness both resurrects, and makes alive all that he is conscious of being. A part from consciousness there is neither resurrection nor life.
When you speak the truth your conscious becomes alive and you feel relieved, there is no burden of mind that if it is revealed that I was not trustworthy I will face the consequences, also truth makes you consistency, since the truth will remain to be the truth until the end of time. This is what I practice in my life, especially being the founder of a nonprofit organization, speaking the truth will make you respected and also being trusted, in any society usually conflict exist in different area, I remember recently about 5 students were about to drop out of school, since I was trustworthy I didn’t have anything to fear sharing with people to advise me on how to go about it, also involving the stakeholder to see how important it was for the students to continue with their studies, indeed it worked out and I am happy that all the students are in school and taking their education.
b) to rise in consciousness to the level of the thing desired and to remain there until such level becomes your nature is the way of seeming miracle.
Once your conscious is clear and you stick on what you want, you will surely get it and it will seem to be a miracle, whatever you ask in faith shall be given to you. Fake it until you get it, it reminds me, of a book called The government Inspector. One of the actor faked to be the government inspector and received all the favors, when he left that city the real inspector arrived but he had already received good treatment from all sectors. So whatever you want your life to be it will be if your conscious drives you into that direction. Positive conscious produce positive results.
What we need to understand is that you cannot serve two masters or opposing states of consciousness at the same time. One of the first things man must realize is that it is impossible in dealing with this spiritual law of consciousness to put new wine into old bottle or new patches on old garment, it is your decision of conscious either to leave the old and get the new and positive conscious to move you forward.
c). law of your being has been revealed to you.
Change your world by revaluing yourself, there is nothing which is impossible when we believe in god and call upon the Lord for help, everything is given into us, both spiritual and material things, it is only our conscious that draw us back from receiving them, we undervalue our strength so much.
We are told we were first in our own sight helpless grasshoppers; we undervalue our self in our own sight and undermine our potentials, we can be to others only that which we are to ourselves and begin to feel ourselves to be the giant, a centre of power we automatically change our relationship to the giant reducing these former monsters to their true place making them appear to be the helpless grasshopper.
d). I am the vine and you are the branches,
Consciousness is the vine and that which you are conscious of being is branches that you feed and keep alive.
Just as a branch has no life except it be rooted in the vine, likewise things have no life except you be conscious of them just as a branch withers and dies if the sap of the vine ceases to flow towards it so do things and qualities pass away if you take your attention from them, because your attention is the sap of life which sustain the expression of your life.
The man who is conscious of being poor does not need the assistance of anyone to express perfectly their problems than solutions, a person can express for hours how he or she as suffered, without forgetting any details, but when it comes to the solutions he or she cannot see any positivity out of the suffering, we justify our problems very much.
Poverty is in our mind once we clear or clean our consciousness of poverty we start attracting prosperity in our lives (The law of attraction). I have seen people who have moved from nothing to something, by thinking positively and working positively towards their goals.
Everything is given unto us, we have the power and authority to attract or repel them. There is only one master and this master is god and there is no barrier to God, for God is your awareness of being, regardless of what you are aware of being, you can and do express it without effort, stop looking for other masters to come, he is with you always “I am with you even unto the end of the World”, god is with us even unto the end of the world.
e). No man can lift you to the level you desire.
Even a magician can never do that. Rising from one level of consciousness to another is only ascension that you will ever experience.
The power to ascend is within yourself. It is your consciousness. Many times we try to lift people to the desired level, but only to find them back to the original level they were.
The only way of lifting somebody is by facilitating on what their desire wants (consciousnesses). This as been a problem with parental responsibility especially in our African society, whereby if a parent is a lawyer he will force his or her children to go for law school, and at the end we receive disappointments.
f). Your belief in masters is a confession of your slavery. Only slaves have masters
Jesus would not permit himself to be called Good master. He knew that there is but only one good and one master. He knew this one to be His Father in heaven. The awareness of being is the kingdom of God (Good) and the kingdom of heaven is within you.
The creator is ever greater than his creation. Man fails to do the work of Jesus Christ because he attempts to accomplish them from his present level of consciousness, claim yourself to be that which you desire to be and that you shall be. I claim my life to be a blessing and prosperous and that is what I am.
g). Do not be lot’s wife who looks back and became salted or preserved in the dead past.
Your consciousness is the only door into your world. Remember the story of Simon peter when Jesus said come and walk on the water, he started walking without sinking, but when he came back to his consciousness, his original sense he started sinking, I guess he was speaking how can I walk on the water, is it me?, the fear developed in him ands he started sinking. At times we lack to trust our conscious like Thomas, who could not believe without seeing the wounds of Jesus. We need to reverse the statement “Seeing is believing to believing is seeing” instead of out of sight out of mind, it is really out of mind out of sight.
We usually visualize things in our mind, we create what we want in our mind and finally we achieve it physically, you have to create that conscious of what you want in your mind before it becomes a reality.
3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?
First I have been made aware of the mistakes that I have been making in the past, what you think is what you become. The ideas have helped me to know that my conscious is the pillar of my life, and I have to learn to be positive in my life. What I claim shall come to pass, I need to keep affirming myself and my life positively and help others to discover themselves through consciousness.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your Attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
a) Do not try changing people, they are only messengers telling you who you are.
Revalue yourself and they will confirm the change. Now you will realize why Jesus sanctified himself instead of others.
Awake from the sleep of condemnation and prove the principle of life. Stop not only your judgment of others but your condemnation of yourself. Stop asking yourself whether or not you are worthy or unworthy to claim yourself to be that which you desire to be, only as long as you condemn yourself, you pin yourself down.
b) stop trying to change the world, since it is only the mirror
Man’s attempt to change the world by force is as fruitless as breaking a mirror in the hope of changing his face.
Leave the mirror and change your face, leave the world alone and change your conceptions of yourself.
c) The man who is not thankful for things received is not likely to be the recipient of many gifts from the same source
If we need more blessings from god we need first to be thankful to the wonderful life he as given us, remember Lords prayer. Before we ask for our daily bread we thank him first his will to be down as it is in heaven.
d). A conviction is not conviction if it can be shaken
Your desire will be as clouds without rain unless you believe; temporary obstacles will be there to strengthen your faith. Remember the Bible says whatsoever you shall ask in my name that will i do, this certainly does not mean to ask in words, pronouncing with lips the sounds, god or Christ Jesus, for millions have asked in the manner without results cleanse yourself and your conscious before you ask what you want.
e). Expressions follows the impression, they do not precede them
“Leave all and follow me” is a double invitation to you. First it invites you to turn completely away from all problems and then, it calls upon you to continue walking in the claim that you are that which you desire to be.
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?
Very inspiring and well covered.
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
Yes it contains exercise whereby we need to be very careful with our consciousness, our problems is not poverty, material possession, spiritual guidance, but more of poor consciousness
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 comment.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is the good and one is poor
1. How interesting was it to read? 8
2. How helpful were the contents? 8
3. How easy was it to understand? 8
4. Would you recommend it to other? 8
5. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8
Failing Forward
Assessment by Erick Kebeka Omari (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the books?
The author needs us to turn our mistakes into stepping stones for our success. Most people are never prepared to deal with failure, the author wants us to make failure our friend, through that you learn how to confidently look the prospect of failure in the eye and move forward.
In life the question is not if you will have problems, but how you are going to deal with them. Stop failing backwards and start failing forward.
Failure is a price we pay for success. To succeed a person needs only four things, you can remember them by thinking of the word REAL.
a). Relationship – the greatest skill needed for success is the ability to get along with other people it impacts every aspect of a person’s life, your relationship makes you or they break you.
b). Equipping – those closest to you determines the level of your success. If your dreams are great you achieve them only with a team.
c). attitude – people’s attitude determines how they approach life day to day. Your attitude is more than your aptitude, will determine your altitude.
d). Leadership – everything rises and falls on leadership. If you desire to lift the lid on your personal effectiveness, the only way to do it is to increase your leadership skills.
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.
a). Realizing there is one major difference between average people and achieving people
The difference between average people and achieving people is their perception of and response to failure.
Nothing else has the same kind of impact on people’s ability to achieve and accomplish whatever their minds and heart desire. The average person looks failure to be a deadlock and count themselves losers.
Our lives can change if we are willing to look at failure differently. You have the potential to overcome any problems, mistakes or misfortunes. All you have to do is learn to fail forward. One of the greatest problems we have with failure is that we are too quick to judge isolated situation in our lives and label them as failure instead of keeping bigger picture in mind.
b) Learn a new definition of failure
Get a new definition of failure and success, the difference between greatness and mediocrity is often how an individual vies a mistake.
Success is not a destination – not a place where you arrive one day, instead it is the journey you take and whether your success comes from what you do day to day. In other words success is a process.
Failure works the same way. It is not some place you arrive, just as success is not an even, neither is failure, it is how you deal with life along the way.
I remember taking a risk to succeed though a micro – finance I borrowed a loan to invest in taxi business, I knew that if I give myself permission to fail, at the same time I gave myself permission to excel by trying to risk, I gave people to do taxi business for me, since I had other things to take care of in my organization. It was a challenge since the people I entrusted never delivered to my expectations, I had to ground the taxi to refocus once again and get ways of repaying the loan, of which I did and I do not possess the vehicle but own it, a big difference of possessing and owning. It doesn’t matter how much milk you spill as long as you don’t lose the cow, I believe I have the cow in the process.
c). Get moving, build momentum make mistakes, move on
A life spent in making mistakes is not only more honorable but more useful than a life spent doing nothing, through mistakes we were born, I do not know whether we could be there if it wasn’t the mistake of Adam and Eve.
This book rejuvenate my ability and I do agree with it, he who makes not mistakes makes no progress, I am ready to make more mistakes in life, I am ready to take them boldly, indeed I am planning to make an investment whereby i know I will face challenges but I want to face them boldly knowing that the more I fail, it is the more I am near my success.
Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows that it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up it knows that it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn’t matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle when the sun comes up you do better be running.
d). To move forward today, you must learn to say good-bye to yesterday’s hurts, tragedies and baggage
We have been carrying heavy burdens of our yesterday’s problems until it becomes hindrance to even attempt doing something, too many people when they make a mistake just keep stubbornly plowing a head and end up repeating the same mistake. I believe in the motto; Try and try again, but the way I read it says, try then stop and think the try again, one reason God created time was so that there would be a place to bury the failure of the past.
e). We can change our whole life and the attitude of people around us simply by changing ourselves.
People are always getting ready to live but never living yet anyone who wants to live a better world needs to be willing to change himself.
You need to understand that if you are not realizing what you want is a problem of knowledge, not persuing what you want is a problem of motivation, not achieving what you want is a problem of persistence, in Alfa I am inspiring the children especially in attitude, to have a positive attitude towards life and live a better life.
f). The abilities we need to fail forward
Achievers reject rejection a man is literally what he thinks his characters, being the complete sum of all his thoughts. That is important to make sure your thinking is on the right track
Achievers see failure as temporary. People who personalize failure see a problem as a hole they’ve permanently stuck in but achievers see any predicament as temporary.
Achievers see failure as isolated incidents, achievers keep expectations realistic
Achievers focus on strength
Achievers vary approaches to achievement
Achievers bounce back, no ones should take mistakes personally that’s the way to take yourself out of failure.
g). The more you do, the more you fail
The more you fail, the more you learn, the better you get.
If you repeat the same mistake two or three times, you are not learning from it. A winner knows how much he still has to learn, even when he is considered an expert by others. A loser wants to be considered an expert by others before he has learned enough to know how little he knows.
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?
There is no any given time that I will see failure to be an obstacle to my success. I have known that failure is the hallmark of success. It can be the starting point of a new venture, such as when a baby learns to walk it has to fall down a lot to learn the new 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.
a).There is no doubt in my mind that there are many ways to be a winner but there is really only one way to be a loser and that is fail and not look beyond the failure.
If you see failure as deadlock to your success, then you have really failed, but if you see the opportunities created through failure, then you will bounce back to success.
b). It doesn’t matter how much milk you spill as long as you don’t lose the cow.
You will never be the first neither last to fail, keep on trying and think and try again. It doesn’t kill you to keep on trying.
c) Laughter is the shortest distance between two people
When you know people’s values, you can add value to them, find out what others need, how can anyone add value to others if he doesn’t know what they care about?, listen to people. Ask them what matters to them and observe them.
d).you do not have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great
Many people want to wait for inspiration before they are willing to step out and take a risk. Do it when you can and anytime, it is your future you are making. Take the bull of failure by its horn.
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 well covered.
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
The book encourage us to face failure boldly and exercise to this extent, is to do what it takes no matter how much we fail, I will no am near to achieve my success. I want to be more an achiever rather an average person.
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 comment.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is the good and one is poor
1. How interesting was it to read? 8
2. How helpful were the contents? 7
3. How easy was it to understand? 8
4. Would you recommend it to other? 8
5. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8
The Happy Child
Assessment by Erick Kebeka Omari (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the books?
The author convey on how we can change the heart of education, the happy child is the preparation of the young person for their role in the larger society, the author also questions the society in the efficiency of producing citizen workers, are we missing the deeper meaning and higher purpose of learning?, have we forgotten about the spirit of the child, the purpose of life, the unique and fragile expression of a passionate and integrated life.
Our children need more than a home and a family. Essential as those components are. They need a community out of which they will emerge into the world at large and to which they will return again and again, perhaps to stay and live, perhaps to simply share their life and leave again.
A child needs a community not a place of anonymous houses and strip malls, but a living community, this is more than a place, it is all the potentials of relationship located in a place such as community is alive. Where the structures of society support the inquisitive, the creative, the passionate, where roads lead not just to destination but to discovery, where houses are built not just to protect, but to connect, where productivity, creativity, living and learning are not divided by architecture and zoning, but integrated into forms that reflects the deepest aspirations of the human beings.
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.
a). Learning and happiness
A child finds happiness naturally, but also finds every other quality just as fluidly. Surrounded by pressures and conflicts, the child easily takes on those patterns.
Any discussion of happiness of a child must turn eventually to the world that the child inhabits; any solution to education must address the adults who create the conditions in which learning takes place.
The question of happy child turns to the question of the happy adult, where is happiness to be found for either other than in their shared and playful life journey of open exploration.
Adults, administrators, parents have created environment where learning is no longer a happy subject, children have been forced to do what they do not want because their parents have decided for them instead of learning being a happy discovery it becomes miserable.
That is why we find people are in careers they do not love, they do them because they were forced to do that,
b) Educating the whole child
When educating the child we need to look at all aspect of development. The child should be molded all round.
We should be able to learn about the whole child looking at what the whole child is a part of. By educating the whole child we will produce, the whole parent, a whole family and a whole society, but unfortunately we don’t find many whole parents, whole family and whole societies. All of these tend to be fractured, dysfunctional and confused.
Our challenge is to find away to interact with each child that enables the child to develop in wholeness even in a fragmented world.
When we consider all of the dimensions of human beings, not simply the intellectual. We can’t say that expanding the education to include verbal, mathematics, and graphic learning will describe the whole child. We can say we want to educate the intellectual, emotional, physical and even the spiritual element, of the child and this is what I am dong on the ground through Alfa network, by providing all the elements so that the child can develop wholly and this still will not describe the whole child, children also need to discover, explore on their own, it is part and parcel of growth.
We live in the society of dos and don’ts which limits children discovery.
c).it is not information that will be useful, but the ability to understand how to utilize it.
We all go to school right from pre-school to universities or higher learning, gathering information and facts. How we utilize the information and apply it is the challenge. A child who we is given the chance to explore and investigate the source of information, the meaning of information the utility of information and the skills of manipulating and crafting information will be able to move fluidly in this future.
d). Let us give children supportive environment, the freedom to express themselves, and the responsibility for their learning
In African tradition it was a taboo for children to give out suggestions to the elders, this was assign of bad manners, and lack of respect, which attracted punishment, you could not speak when adults are speaking, because they are not your age mates, also education was meant for boys, girls were thought on how to serve and be to submissive to their husband and take care of the family.
e). Children are interactive, they communicate and take in communication constantly.
Children get along easily and quickly with one another unlike elders. They know how to interact, bond and make friends through various ways; you will find them playing together even when they do not know one another.
Children are inquisitive since they have anxiety to learn only we adults obstruct them from learning and control their discovery life too much. We also isolate them from their friends. At times we do not answer questions asked by the children by responding to them that they will know when they grow older.
Children like communicating, talking and asking because they are ready to learn so they communicate constantly.
f). Learning to fail
We don’t typically get to success without failure, so our relationship to failure is a defining aspect of our life.
Why should a child have to sift through a predefined sense of success and failure or external reward and punishment to understand the nature of a joyful life. Most of the parents will never accept failure as part of learning process, they will proof they scored A’s during their time, and never failed at all. And will demand their children to follow the suit. Failure is not defeat, and that is why young children are interested in areas we have long forgotten. At school we learned that right answer is good, and the wrong answer was bad, do we elaborate to our children to understand why the right answer was right and the wrong answer is wrong. Do we give them a chance to share their views?
Leaning takes place in the freedom to encounter something, to have the full experience of that contact, to have space to integrate that experience and to have the time to learn the technology of that experience (what its characteristics are) and how to utilize them.
g). The reality is that nobody likes being manipulated.
Adult will never like being manipulated, same case applies to the children, but many times adult manipulate children, corrupt their thinking by rewarding or punishing them to do something, children precisely because they are extraordinary learners with tremendous creativity and spirit, have discovered all kinds of ways not to be conditioned, they rebel, they don’t pay attention, they drop – out, they withdraw and so forth.
Schools began identifying the various kinds of reactions and responded to each kind with a program, a therapy a punishment, a reward, until the culture of the public schools system has become an incomprehensible mess of conflicting intentions.
Empowering students to direct their own education includes the responsibility that school community and everything that school touches.
Relationship is what drives children and much of what they do is the exploration of its parameters.
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?
Being the founder of a nonprofit organization dealing with children, the ideas have assisted me to know that there is more than in learning. We do not need only to prepare children to be academic intellectual but to develop a whole child.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your Attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
a).We are social animals, we are driven by our relationship to each other.
It is very wrong for a parent to stop children to socialize or play with other children. We set boundaries for our children, questioning who their friends are, and even deciding on their future, selecting for them who to marry, what career to take and forgetting that they also have a right to choose what they want to do.
b). Life is not a problem to be solved, but a mystery to be lived.
Can we face the mysteriousness of life and can we give that mystery to the children, whose curiosity would drive them through the mystery into their own unknown
The child who comes out of unusual learning situation is likely to be unusual which has more value in any market place, the common or the scares?, the value of the unique is far greater.
c) Sometimes you can observe a lot by watching
Our world has too much information and not enough contexts, what serves our children is simply endless stream of information but the intelligence to organize and utilize it. It is the relationship to information not information itself that defines intelligence.
d). everything is food for the mind
What we see is food for the mind to digest whether it is applicable in the current society. Violent images projected through commercial driven media literally change the brain chemistry of the child, creating both reflection of those image in nightmare and mental agitation and their expression in more violent behavior,
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 well elaborated and covered.
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
The book contains exercise whereby to have a happy child, the child need to be involved in any decision that concerns them, also the author gives us task to create a whole child, not only intellectuals and academic giants.
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 comment.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is the good and one is poor
1. How interesting was it to read? 9
2. How helpful were the contents? 7
3. How easy was it to understand? 9
4. Would you recommend it to other? 8
5. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8
Money Is My Friend
Assessment by Erick Kebeka Omari (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the books?
The author Phil laut wants us to eliminate our financial fear and take first step to financial freedom, he also educates us to discover how the pleasure principle can help us make a profit, establish a secure financial foundation, and create a prosperous future for you and your family.
He also demonstrate how you can overcome the principle obstacles to making money, guilt, fear and feeling of helplessness or pressure once you have made money your friend, you will discover that increasing your income is a simple matter of using your imagination, and also by following the four laws of wealth. That is, the earning law, the spending law, the saving law and the investing law.
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.
a). The earning law
All human wealth is created by human mind. The application of earning law involves the pleasurable creation of sufficient income
In a daily life we need to earn, in order to save, spend and invest, if we come up with creative way of earning, then we are in the right track of financial freedom, if you are able to use your mind properly there is a way out of earning, either buying and selling a commodity, for a profit, you will start earning, or being employed, earning is a fundamental step for financial liberation, you can deliver service in order to be paid for that service. Personally I started my earning by working as a casual laborer, through the saving scheme, I managed to start my own business ands establish some few development in my rural area, we need to put up our strategies on how we can earn and invest our money.
b) The spending law
The value of money is determined by the buyer and the seller in every transaction. Application of spending law involves enjoyment of the things that you spend money for.
You cannot spend if you do not earn, you spend according to your demands, and on line with your earning, unfortunately at times we find ourselves overspending, out of our budget, and we end up being broke, our earning becomes meager in that we cannot sustain ourselves, if we do proper budgeting of our money then we will be in liberty and we will be financially stable. There is a difference between spending and over spending, using money unnecessarily, at the end of the day we create financial constrain in our lives.
c).The saving law
The accumulation of surplus from your income. Application of the saving law results in attitude of abundance which you can expect to see reflected in your future income.
The saving law is very important, since in life we need to live a better life, by saving we can achieve what we could not manage to acquire once, I do remember it took me time by saving little amount in order to build my house in our rural area, it took me one year saving the little I got, I had already visualized what I wanted and planned for it, and made a budget, when I started the foundation people thought that I had a lot of money, because I did it independently and unstop, whatever you want you budget and save it, since you know what it takes to achieve it, you start building it slowly by slowly in a saving scheme, by saving in terms of money, when it comes practicality, it is only withdrawing what you have saved on that purpose and effect it. Had it be I continued with that spirit at the moment I could be very far, I thank this books that it reminds me to go back in time and start applying the four principle laws of wealth. There is nothing impossible if you believe you can and apply the right producers.
d). The investing law
Spending your capital in your name for the purpose of increasing your income. Application of investing law of wealth as the factor of earning, spending and saving.
The money you save you can put it in investment, investment increase your earning, and leads to financial freedom, people have done lots of investment in their desires, the investment will help you increase your financial stability, and it is away to create more opportunities in your life.
e). Achieving financial freedom
Financial freedom is when you never do anything that you don’t want to do for money and you never omit doing something that you want to do because of lack of money. Being financial freedom means that money works for you, instead of you working for money. By doing so you will have a prosperity conscious whereby it is the ability to function effortlessly and conveniently in the physical world, having money or not.
f). People with a prosperity conscious know that money is one of the least important things in life.
If you haven’t mastered money yet the tendency is to worry about it, constantly. Constant worry does little to improve your cash flow.
The earning law is the most important; if you haven’t mastered the earning law, then the others are just intellectual concept.
g). Rich people work a lot less than poor people do.
The truth is that money was invented by people for their own convenience, and since your money comes from people, the only thing you can do with it is to give it to other people. If you spend money you prosper other people, if you save money you prosper others because the bank takes the money you deposit and loans it to others, and if you invest money then you are simply giving it to someone else to spend in your name.
This is very true, the money we deposit in our accounts, it doesn’t just lie idle in the account, the bank loans people and they pay with a given interest, out of your money some people you don’t know will benefit by being given the loan and invest on your money, I have received personally money that I could have not received from an individual from the bank, I gave been given loan, invested on it, and paid back with an interest, but it enabled me to acquire what could have took me more years to have it. You can make money work for you, but not you to work for money; once you invest the money will work for you, through investment. People invest in real estate, put there finances in it, and finally money works for them, after finishing they will only be colleting rent forever, since already the money invested works for them.
3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?
Mastering the principle of money and wealth is the key point to financial freedom. A step makes a mile, to be a millionaire you have to start having a saving scheme, this ideas, will enable me to motivate others and myself to start immediately having a saving scheme, no matter how little it is.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your Attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
a).your life is ordered, by your thoughts, our thinking generates a creative process, what you have been thinking is what creates your life, negative thoughts only creates negative results, as long as you think negatively. .
b). Money is a game
The game will be a lot more enjoyable for you, if you master the rules of the game you will be a victor. Through this game you will be empowered to serve more people with your income, producing activities by realizing that your survival is not at stake. It is a game of numbers, by adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing money; you need to balance the equation for a better financial freedom.
c) A man is never so naked as when he stands before his accountant.
When you are told to declare your wealth, or to account yourself, that is like unleashing yourself, in order people to know exactly your strength, and weakness, this as been an issue in our country, our ministers and members of parliament will never expose their financial and asset acquiring, and give account to it, it is a hot subject to talk with them, they will never disclose their wealth and it becomes questionable.
d). If you plan to live in a society that uses money as a means of exchange then it is intelligent to master money
In any society money is the means of exchange, you need to master the game of money since you have to use it by all means, this is a game that we cannot avoid, and need to be mastered by everyone, those who have mastered are taking advantage in the society by enjoying the fruits of mastering the game, like any game you need to know the rules and apply them same applies to money.
e). If two people agree on everything you can be sure that one of them is doing all the thinking.
Disagreement is part of getting new ideas, do not be a yes man, you cannot think beyond what your friends are suggesting, you sit with your idea and you do not speak out, think differently, we are gifted in different area, your thinking may lead you to a better reflection.
f). Action speaks louder than words
The action is what matters in life, no matter how loud you speak if you do not put it down to action, then it is a waste of time and resources, if you want to earn you have to do something, the business you are thinking about to start, start it, in order to gain your financial freedom, do not wait for tomorrow, for tomorrow never comes, do not use excuses of not doing it, at times we say we do not have capital to start with, remember the law of using other peoples money, by getting soft loan from the bank, it will be a stepping stone to your victory.
g). If you have the ability to save regularly it is an indication that you are at least intelligent that as a squirrel who stores, away nuts for the winter.
By saving a penny it will be gained, we need to start having a saving lifestyle, no matter how little it is just save it, at the end it will accumulate, and it will assist a lot, I have seen kids having a saving home bank, whereby those coins we do not want them in our pocket we give them and they insert in a tin, the tin becomes heavy with coins to a point that the kid cannot lift it, we help them to open only to find out that they have saved, thousands of shillings, which we bank for them in junior account.
h). Leaving a job that you no longer want can be like leaving a marriage that you no longer want.
People have been in the jobs they complain all the time, they are not comfortable, they feel misused, but they do not leave it, they become depressed. Only because the job is the one providing their daily bread, it is high time to drop what does not sooth you, you are the master of what you want, jobs are created by people through thinking, if you engage your mind, it will create a job for you that you love, other than being in a job that you do not love at all.
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 fine and well covered.
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
The book contains a lot of practical exercise which is a life time tool, for financial freedom, the exercise is applicable in day to day life until money becomes your friend and understanding the principle of generating money and making cash..
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 comment.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is the good and one is poor
1. How interesting was it to read? 7
2. How helpful were the contents? 7
3. How easy was it to understand? 8
4. Would you recommend it to other? 8
5. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8
The Invisible Path To Success
Assessment by Eric Omari
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the books?
The author states that success is an inside – out job. We conceive – believe – our invisible path and then achieve with visible results.
The invisible path to success gives you seven steps to understand and better manage the invisible forces that shape your life and to create the life you really want.
a). Discover your life purpose
b). Find out who you really are and what you really want.
c). Eliminate or manage your fears
d). Manage the unseen forces in your relationships.
e). Understand and cope with confusing changing times.
f). Learn to make decisions and not worry about mistakes.
g). Develop confidence in yourself
h). Design your own road map to success.
In creating this book it was the intention of the author to open a doorway for us, a doorway that connects the visible with the invisible, the seen with the unseen. The unknown with the mysterious. This book is called the invisible path to success because so much of what creates your daily life, what shapes your thoughts and feelings and what happens to you is invisible – behind the scenes.
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.
a). Inner experience – because those experience go on inside of you, having fun is a feeling you have inside, having an “escape” from your daily routine is a feeling that happens inside you. Learning, growing and experiencing differences, thoughts experiences and feeling experiences and they happen inside you, too. What goes on inside of you is more important to you than what goes on outside of you. If you be confident and feel inside that you’re successful it will definitely reflect outside and indeed you will be successful.
b). We are all different and what interest one person doesn’t interest and may even disgust another, but that’s the way life is. At times we do things that we like very much, but different to others, they don’t like them, they feel bored about them. This as been a big challenge especially when parents need their children to be or to do what their parents wishes are we force children into careers they don’t like, jobs they don’t want and end up being miserable, we need to know that what interest us doesn’t necessarily interest them. We are copy cats we want to be like so and so, do what they do even if it doesn’t make sense to us.
Life is about creating outer situations that allows you to explore the inner experiences that really interest you, even if they don’t interest someone else. When you watch a movie, nothing happens by chance. Everyone and everything are there because the writer or director put them there to impact your inner experiences in certain way. It’s the same with your life, tremendous resources are being invested behind the scenes to create your life, just as it is. Everything you see around you, the building, nature, cars, houses everything else represents a prop or a special effect, it’s all designed to impact you in certain ways so you can have the inner experience you want to have. Everything that happens to you, all the people you meet and all the events that cross your path, all are managed, created or allowed by your director so you can explore what you want to explore.
c). Turn off the cruise control. If you take a close look of your life as complicated as it might seem, is composed of just two things: your inner experience (what you think, what you feel, what you learn) and your outer experience (what happens to you daily the things you experience with your five senses)
Taking off your cruise control is being responsible to your life and stepping towards the invisible path to success, if you know your strength, weakness, opportunities around you, and threats, it becomes easy to deal with your daily life challenge. I have personally been depending on donors for the success of my organization, but found out that being the vision bearer I have to take control of the cruise, because I have been embarrassed, disappointed in many occasions, whereby I have to take charge for the organization to move forward, I appreciate for the support they give out for the children’s education but besides education being a basic needs, children needs medical care, few stuffs like sanitary pads, writing materials, school uniform, among others, I am in the process of creating an income generating activity which can be able to be to provide supplements for the organization and reduce dependency syndrome, this will lead to self – sufficient of the organization.
d). Sail with the winds of change. The unconscious is coming to conscious what was hidden is being exposed what was behind the scenes or beneath the surface is coming into the open to be looked at. We need to sail with the wind of change mostly when we are in the past or the future – not in the moment. We also notice that if we bring attention back to the present the pain, the stress the worry and the unhappiness disappeared almost immediately, we budget for tomorrow and forgetting the day at hand, my personal worries have been either the past or how the future will be for me, we worry about what we will eat tomorrow, our next month bills and so one, which leads to confusion, stress and heart breaking, we accompany our past failures to the present and future, you will find that we are glued on our last event that didn’t work out, until we loose focus on the current development and fear even to attempt to do something you think, you will fail.
e). The transition is a process I see everyone on the planet going through. You will move through it at your own pace and in your own way. You will be guided by your director every step of the way there is no hurry, no deadlines and no timer running, we usually compare ourselves with people, define ourselves in terms of wealth or riches doesn’t necessarily make one happy, the only thing that makes somebody happy is having a peaceful mind – the inner self, inner experience that is the only way that cam make you enjoy your wealth and health in a peaceful manner.
We strain ourselves to be like others, I mean probably somebody rich but we forget that we have different life and we are the ones to build our road map to success, that is why in life we have different gifts, doctors, lawyers, teachers, carpenters and so on, we all need one another for life to be complete, be content with what you have and better it. When we look in God’s creation our fingers are not of the same length, meaning that we are gifted differently appreciate what you have first to get what you do not have.
f). Create instead of react. Often times, instead of creating or asking for what we want, we simply react to what’s happening to us, something happens we react instead of focusing on what we want, we need to define our “surface goal” and the inner experience beneath it that you really want. Whatever you ask for something there’s always “surface goal” and an inner experience beneath it that you really want. For example, if you ask for a man or a woman to come into your life for a new relationship, the relationship is the surface goal. But there’s an inner experience beneath it that’s more important to you, it might be feeling love, excitement, or companionship, when you ask for something, it’s possible to achieve your surface goal and not get the inner experience beneath it that you really want.
g). How to follow the invisible path to better manage emotions, stress and tough time.
In life we have positive emotions such as love, joy, happiness and confidence; we also have negative emotions such as fear, guilt and anger. We enjoy the positive emotion and tend to seek them out, but we struggle with negative ones. When talking about emotions as they relate to the invisible path to success, it’s important to remember that your total immersion, movies is about having inner experience, a huge part of your inner experience, is emotions and that means both positive and negative emotions. It’s helpful to understand that positive emotions aren’t bad, they’re just different experiences and you’re here to explore both.
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?
Invisible path to success ideas have enlightened me to know that the inner experience of success is very important. These ideas will help me to transform myself and others to start thinking successful and not dwell on past mistakes or fear of the future.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your Attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
a). You always get a vote, but you don’t always win the election
Anytime you ask for something, the first thing that happens is that your request, whatever shape it takes, goes to your director ask is this request in alignment with your movie generally or the current set of scenes specifically? You always get a vote meaning you can always ask what you want and offer your opinions as to why you want it, but you don’t always win the election, meaning you don’t always receive what you ask for. This is why some personal development techniques work for some people and not others, why they work sometimes and not other times.
b). Sail with the winds of change
A big wind is blowing put your skills and allow it to fuel your journey rediscover who you really are, and start a new ways of living where your life explode freely and fully out of the real you in the present moment
c). The world you see day by day is very different from the world I see and the world everyone else sees.
d). Nothing is allowed to come into your life and have an impact on you unless it’s arranged or allowed by your director.
If you think about how many murderers, thieves, rapists and criminals there are who could get you, or you think about all the possibilities for a car accidents, getting diseases or getting hurt in sports, you could go crazy with fear and you will never do anything or go anywhere.
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 clearly covered and well understood
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
Yes, it contains mental exercises whereby we need to have our inner experience at work in our daily life and stop worrying about our past failure and our future being at risk.
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 comment.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is the good and one is poor
A. How interesting was it to read? 8
B. How helpful were the contents? 6
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to other? 7
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8
The Book of Agreement
Assessment by Erick Kebeka Omari (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the books?
The author states that crafting agreements with others is a fundamental life skills, unfortunately, most of us never learned how to do it. The agreements most people make are incomplete and ineffective, usually focusing on protecting against what might go wrong. Instead of designing them to make things go right.
The book of Agreement shows you the value of “Agreement for result” versus agreements for protection” Stewart Levine details ten essential elements for creating agreements that clearly articulate a joint vision and desired results, and serve as road map to achieving them.
The purpose of this book is to introduce you to simple and powerful tools of agreements for results, whose purpose is to create collaborative partnerships.
The book highlights:
The difference between agreements for result and agreements for protection
The ten essential elements of agreements for results – what you need to fully discuss to create a covenant based heartfelt agreement
Templates of effective agreements of organization professional joint venture and personal situations.
The value of constructing agreements for result
The perspective of seeing the construction of agreements through authentic dialogue as trust – generating success tool.
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.
a). Getting to Resolution
Conflict usually arise because our agreement was inadequate, we can eliminate a great deal of conflict if we begin with a solid agreement. In getting to resolution the final step in resolving any conflict is putting in place a new agreement that incorporates the terms of the resolution and redefines the business or personal relationship.
When we move into action before we have built the solid foundation of an agreement for results, we often end up in conflict surfaces, even when you had a good agreement you pay the transaction cost, it includes direct, productivity, opportunity continuity and emotional cost.
Personally I found myself in this issue of agreement, I gave a person to process for me, legal document, and even paid the fee for processing, unfortunately I didn’t know that it won’t work out and if so what will be the fate of my application fee, so there was no proper agreement, and how we can resolve to get agreement for results. After failing to get what I wanted, we had to come up with new agreement, only to find out that I was dealing with a conman, had it be I had this book such calamity could have not happened but I am thankful, because I know now how to go for agreement for results and how to get resolution just in case it doesn’t work out.
b) It is important to remain mindful of the context in which you are operating
Different rules, standards and expectations are present in different situations to have successful collaborations; we need to have awareness of accepted operative standards and the ways in which they are changing.
Collaboration is established in language by making implicit (talking to yourself about what you think the agreement is) and explicit (discussing the agreement with others).
The real key to the success of the collaboration is the development of relationship and trust it’s essential to make sure that everyone has the same picture; the same vision of the desired result, so that everyone is working towards making that vision the reality.
c) The clearer the agreement, the more satisfying the relationship.
Everyone knows where they are going – no one is holding back, all of their energy is in the game of producing results not fighting insignificant battle.
d). Principle of agreements
The source of productivity and fulfillment in personal and professional relationships is effective collaboration. The more seamless the collaboration, the stronger the results.
We work and live in a sea (context) of agreement.
e) When conflict arises the best place to devote energy is to look to the future, and the desired results, and what must happen to get there, that will guide you to a new agreement it is only useful to look at past behavior to improve the future not affix blame all you need is a plan, a road map and the courage to press on to your destination.
At times we stick to the problem, keeping on blaming one another about the past mistakes, we affix ourselves in blame game and lack to face the reality and solve the problem, by setting new agreement. I remember after I encounter a problem by one of the person I was introduced to, he kept on giving me false promises, time and again we made new agreement, I remember agreeing with him to meet the person who had conned us, so that I may also have a chance to know him, after setting the date of meeting, the fellow made an excuse, and we didn’t meet as expected. I was the one to make decision, the quicker the better, I had to solve the problem by getting different person to process for me the required document. Trust is very important in any agreement, at times, we meet people whom we can trust, and other times we meet people whom you cannot trust at all, and that is why written agreement is very important to keep reminding one another on the agreement, it doesn’t mean that who do or do not trust one another, but a binding agreement is very important, it serves as a covenant for the two parties.
f). Three facets of agreement
There are three important aspects of agreements to keep in mind
i. The process of agreement is the negotiation and exchange of information
ii. The phenomenon of agreement is a meeting of mind by which you can comfortably say “yes” I trust we have an agreement
iii. The artifact of agreement is the writing that expresses what has been agreed to have an effective agreement you can implement and use as a structure to frame collaborative activity, all three are necessary.
g). Making an agreement with yourself is an excellent way of organizing your thinking, about something you want to accomplish.
The model draws out your vision and the road map to that vision it provides a path to what you want to accomplish.
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?
We always make agreements in different ways either by people, organizations, these ideas will help me from now henceforth to know how to make agreement for results and also encourage others on how they can come up with a productive agreement and honor it, by following the strategic steps provided in this book.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your Attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
a). Some people see things as they are and say “why” I dream things that never were and say “why not”
Creative minds and free thinkers think on how to invent on things which do not exist and make them exist.
Those who come up with new ideas, invent things are the owns who are focused and shine out, in Kenya most of our youths have been brought up, and educated to get a job but not create a job by themselves, self – employed youths currently are the ones who are doing well, and creating jobs to employ others, the jua kali sector, being very competitive, in my life I have never believed that we only make a better life by being employed, I believe self – sustainability starts by being a free thinker and thinking outside the books, this is what made me think on how I can assist people in the society by empowering youths through theater for development, advocating for child rights, and micro – enterprise activities, many have gained through this project.
b). You can view your life as a series of agreement
We work and live in a sea (context) of agreements. When your mind and heart makes an agreement, then you are set to go forward and achieve it, without forgetting to put God forward.
c). To have a true agreement for results, you also have to have a meeting of the heart
When you do what you want from your heart, it produces result and no remorseful issues encountered.
d).When I was crossing into Gaza I was asked at the check point whether I was carrying any weapons. I replied oh yes my prayer book (Mother Teresa).
We students in IIGL we have a very strong weapon, for leadership, one book can change a mind, if we share what we have gained through our studies I believe we can change our community and empower them to know how to chose good leaders who can be productive in our society, we are sharpening our thinking, in a very special way, when I speak with people, I see them nodding with agreement on my views and suggestions, thanks be to the books I read.
e). Anything on earth you want to do is play, anything on earth you have to do is work, play will never kill you, work will. I never worked a day in my life (Leila Denmark)
When you enjoy what you are doing, you feel good and energized, those who enjoy their work, it becomes like a favorite game or movie, but when you look at your job as work, a task that is mandatory for you to do, you feel more like in prison and your productivity is not up to the required standards, even if you are well qualified.
f). The pie is only so big, so let’s fight about how to divide it.
g). I have learnt silence from the talkative tolerance from the intolerant and kindness from unkind, yet strange, I am ungrateful to these teachers.
h). Many are called, few choose
Consultants are teachers, great consultants tell, explain demonstrate and inspire. They operate on the premise that it is better to teach someone how to fish them to throw the fish when they are hungry
i). Happy is said to be the family which can eat onions together; they are for the time being, separate from the world and have harmony of aspiration.
j). Those of us who walk in light must help the ones in darkness up for that’
That is why I do appreciate all those who are devoted to help human development, thanks be to IIGL, helping different people including me walk to the light of leadership, and those who assist children in Alfa network, by supporting them in education. Let’s help those in darkness see the light.
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 clear and well covered.
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
Agreement is day by day event, almost everyday we make agreement and we either honor or not honor it, it is good to learn new technique of making a lasting agreement in which all parties are happy about it. The book is handy to give out guideline on how to have effective agreement, it is a life 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.
No comment.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is the good and one is poor
A. How interesting was it to read? 8
B. How helpful were the contents? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to other? 8
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8
Creating Money
Assessment by Erick Kebeka Omari (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the books?
The author outline step by step guide to creating money and abundance conveys on how we can learn to let money flow readily into our life while doing what you love. The easy to learn techniques, positive affirmations and exercises provided by the author help create rapid changes in our prosperity and lead you to mastery of your life.
The author states that you do not have to work hard to have abundance, learn to work with energy to easily create what you want. Creating money is about much more than creating money itself in your life, it gives you more than the keys to abundance, it shows you along the way how you can create wonderful abundance and prosperity in your life doing what you love to do.
The keys to abundance are already within you. This book shows you how to find those keys and use them to transform old, unsupportive beliefs, to go beyond struggle and survival thinking and create a creative abundance joyous 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.
a). You are special, unique person and you have a meaningful contribution to make to the world.
You have a role to play that no one else on the planet could fill. The special contribution you came to make is your life’s work when you are doing that work, you are following your higher path and your life will be filled with increasing joy abundance and well – being.
When I started a community based organization all wasn’t well, sometimes when I wanted to avoid it, the more I was drawn to it, nothing I could do could satisfy me, the more you try avoiding the purpose of your life in this universe, you will find yourself going back to the purpose you are called for. Assisting the needy child as been my purpose of being in this world and I feel at peace when I accomplish this mission. I quitted the job so that I can be able to concentrate on assisting Alfa children to pursue education and live a better life, a promising future, today I feel proud that I have changed life of individual students, two have finished High school, and more will be finishing next year and others are also pursuing their education in different academic levels. It is my joy to put a smile on kids, challenges makes us strong in this purpose of our lives.
b). abundance means more than having quantities of things. It means having things that fulfill you as well.
When we talk about abundance whatever makes you feel good is part of your abundance, what makes you happy and fulfill your desire is what counts, some people have abundance in material possession, some have money but they feel that they have nothing, start by appreciating what you have to attract abundance, what brings joy is more important, other people feel joy when they give out what they have to others than even receiving, this also attracts abundance in their day to day life.
c). Creating money (You are the source)
You manifest things naturally and automatically all the time, using your thoughts and feelings to create what you want. Manifestation is a process of bringing your ideas, concepts, visions and dreams from your inner world into your outer world, where you can experience them with your physical senses.
When you think of something you are fairly certain of receiving, you have positive picture you can see yourself having it and you don’t worry about getting it. You want it, intend to have it and are motivated to do, what is necessary to bring it into your life. There is no limit to what you can create you live in a limitless world, anything is possible.
I am the source of my abundance you are the sources of your abundance and money. Through working with your feelings thoughts and intentions, you can become a master at creating whatever you want. You are the source of your riches, not your job, your investments, your spouse or your parents. Once you are the source having money and things is not as important as mastering the process of creating them, once you master the process of creating them, your ability to be prosperous will not be determined by economy or outside conditions for you will be able to create whatever you want when you want it.
Being the source our thoughts are like magnets and we can attract or repel abundance. Everything around us was a thought in someone’s mind before it existed in your reality cars, roads, homes, building and cities, all existed as thoughts before they become realities. In my mind Alfa was just a thought after seeing the children suffering in the slum and I had to put it in reality for the better of the slum kids.
Positive emotions and thoughts draw what you want to you. They bring only what you don’t want. When you do not think in higher ways dwelling on things such as problems, you repel abundance. By making your negative thoughts fade out, you take away their power to create your reality. By making your positive thoughts more vivid and real, you increase their ability to create what you want. It is very true that some of our negative thoughts may come from being around people whose fears and doubts amplify your own, for instance, you may feel fine about your finances, but after you talk to a friend who is struggling and fearful about money, you start worrying about your own financial future.
d). You cannot live on earth and avoid lessons, but you can learn them easily and with joy rather than struggle.
I have learnt lessons since I started my organization and still I am learning, learning is a process sometimes dealing with human beings is learning from them. Responsibilities also makes us learn through different situations, different categories of people, both young and old, in amicable way. Do not wait to take action, until your skills are more advanced for your ability to manifest is developed step by step. Don’t try to have everything all at once. Take one small step at a time and your success will build itself.
e). Appreciate where you are now. Rather than focusing on how far you have to go, appreciate how far you have come.
When you reach a goal you have been striving for, give yourself a reward before you look to the next goal. Acknowledge your successes for as you do you will build upon them. Once you view yourself as successful in the past as well as in the present and future, you become more determined and successful.
Transforming our beliefs, beliefs create your reality. Beliefs are assumptions about the nature of reality and because you create what you believe in, you will have many “proofs” that reality operates the way you think it does. Our belief creates our reality. Your belief about money determines how you attract it, spend it, and relate to it.
f). Letting money flow
As you grow and become sensitive to more and more aspects of creating abundance you will recognize that money flows in and out, like ocean waves. You will experience times when the tide is in and times when the tide is out. Your universe is made of energy and energy moves in waves and cycle. There will be times when your magnetism has a larger result and times when it has a smaller result. Some months you will receive more money than usual. Some months you will have more bills than normal. Some weeks your business may be booming and other weeks you may have very few customers.
Every person has cycle in life, times when money is going out more than it is coming in and times when money is coming in more than it is going out. When you are living at a survival level, barely able to pay your bills do not feel that you are a failure, I remember when my finances were down, when commuting I could avoid rush hours at least to save some coins for my survival, and also trains in Kenya are cheaper than buses, so I could take a train instead of a buses at leas to cut short my expenses, a place where I can work, I had to walk and avoid taking passenger vehicles, in order to have something for my basic need.
g). Creating your dreams takes patience, persistence and commitment.
Your dreams are already real on the mental plane. They are just awaiting the perfect time to appear in your physical reality. Trust your higher self to bring you the right things at the right time. As you take small steps you will discover that your dreams are within your reach and easier to accomplish than you imagine. Creating your life’s work is a process of discovering yourself.
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?
Nobody in life will never want to create abundance in life, the ideas will help me, help others and myself to be more productive by tapping talents and encourage others to be more creative on how to create money by using their talents. The book is a tool to attract abundance in whatever we do in 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.
a). You might imagine your thoughts as magnet
We have the power to attract or repel, what we want, the way magnets do. We can equally attract money and abundance in our lives or repel it.
b). The process of getting there is the quality of being there.
When you start doing anything the process accounts for you being there, your savings will lead you to your dreams home, so the moment you start saving you are in the process of being there.
c). Ideas are like seeds; when they first come up you often don’t know what they’re going to grow into.
Just keep following your joyful impulses and your ideas will unfold into the form that best serve you.
d). Some people look ahead to the next mountain to climb without taking time to appreciate the one they have just climbed. They never have the satisfied feeling they are looking for. Acknowledge your successes in the past as well as in the present and future.
e). life is like a spiral
You will pass through every stage again and again, experiencing each stage from a higher and higher perspective.
f). Think of yourself as the rosebush that is cut back in the winter so that it can grow strong in the spring.
When you have little money, you are learning many lessons that will make it easier to handle money when it comes, to break through this level; you may need to keep your life simple and uncomplicated in terms of money, expenses, demands and needs. Use this time to get in touch with basic needs and eliminate the things that do not serve you.
g). Even the biggest plans are realized by living them one day at a time.
In fact the largest plans are often best created by looking at them day by day and months by months, constantly focusing on the next step.
h). You are the captain of the ship
Your success comes from you.
i). Good employees are like gold highly valued and treasured.
Make yourself to be a good employee and your value increase at your working place.
j). Give your gift without strings. If you give a gift to someone release it when you are attached to what you give you block the flow of more into your life. Everything I give to others is a gift to myself, as I give I receive.
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 clear and easily understood.
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
In every chapter of the book it contains a play sheet which is very important exercise, which makes me examine myself on a 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.
No.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is the good and one is poor
A. How interesting was it to read? 8
B. How helpful were the contents? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to other? 8
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8
Understanding and creating Alternatives to Legal Tender (Money)
Assessment by Erick Kebeka Omari (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the books?
This is an eye – popping fundamental view on money, both the “legal Tender” and the innovative forms that have been developed to promote local economies in communities around the nation and the world
Money explain the mysteries and realities of currency, interest, barter and much more in clear and accessible prose, revealing the alerting fragility of our existing financial system.
The author elaborate the truth about how money is created and what it actually represent, why we’re all in debt, how the financial system is structured to inevitably transfer wealth from the poor to the rich and how to start a financial resolution in our local community.
The author also describes the nature of the dominant system of money and explain how and why it is dysfunctional, outline its political and social implications its historical manipulation and its use as an instrument of power, define what money really is and how it primary role as a medium of exchange can be served by nonpolitical, democratic community currencies and shows how community currencies fit into an overall strategy for restoring and maintaining the health of communities.
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.
a). Having new road map for healthy money in a healthy world is as vital to our souls as food, air and water are to our bodies.
Money being human creation, it is meant to serve us in an healthy way, we need to be content and improve on what we have, there is never enough money, debtors are always required to pay interest on loans, thus the commercial banks lends something that they create out of nothing and then require that the “borrower” pay interest for privilege. Further such bank loans are usually secured that is the banks usually require that the borrower pledge some “collateral” which they will confiscate if the borrower fails to repay the loan.
b) Monetary realities and official illusions
Money is a subject that very few people really understand. Most believe that it is something they are not even capable of understanding this is not surprising given the shallowness with which the subject is treated by the mass media and seemingly intentional mystification of the subject by bankers, economist and politicians.
c).Money is created when the bank makes a loan to someone.
The main point that needs to be understood is that in order for money to come into circulation, someone must go into debt to a bank if there were no bank debts there would be virtually no money. Today money takes the form of bank credit that must be borrowed into circulation.
Money has a beginning and an ending; it begins when the bank makes a loan and it ends when the loan principal is repaid.
For the bank will never go at a loss that is why collateral are important before you are issued the money, they have also to access your capacity of paying, if you are not worthy to their standards, they will never advance a loan to you.
d). My own struggle has taught me some important lessons.
The most important of which is that I cannot change anything without first changing myself. Freedom is not free it has to be earned. I was one of the people who feared to borrow loan from the bank or any financial scheme because of the strong rules and regulation, and also the securities required in order to get a loan, but I found that it was easy when being in a group whereby your savings become collateral, and you enjoy the right of getting the loan and repay back. Through the loan scheme I have managed to acquire little stuff for myself. It takes time to repay the loan with interest and it is real struggles but once you finish you enjoy the fruits of your struggle. There is no gain without pain.
e). To possess money is to posses power
For with money one may induce others to conform to one’s will. As money become a more powerful element of economic life, its creation and control become an object of political contention. Those who understand its power have been able to gain monopoly over its creation and allocation making it readily available to the favored few and scarce and expensive for everyone else.
In Kenya politician use money as a bait to gain votes and favor from voters, by bribing them, to vote for them at the end it leads to having poor leaders in leadership, due to money power.
f). The place of money in Human interaction
To say that money confers power is not to say that money or the use of money is inherently evil, on the contrary, the proper kind of money used in the right circumstance in a liberating tool. Money properly conceived can allow the fuller expression of human creativity and fuller realization of a dignified life for everyone. Those who like to quote the Bible on this subject usually quote it incorrectly. The Bible does not say that money is the root of all evil: it says the LOVE of money is the root of all evil, But the word money in this context actually is more accurately rendered as “riches” or wealth” not money as we understand it to be a medium of exchange. So the meaning of this verse is to caution us against the extreme pursuit of material riches – greed and acquisitiveness, and bondage of materialism.
g). The money problem
Lack of money is the usual reason given for problems not being addressed. Yet as described official money is kept purposely scarce in the mistaken belief that scarcity is what gives money its value. As a result the official monetary system does not provide an adequate supply of money to allow for a fair distribution of the products economy or even to provide everyone with a subsistence level for money to be “lent” at high rates of interest and enables those who control its creation to determine the course of the economy and the financial fate of the people. The tragic result is that important work remains undone, and human needs often go unmet because of the lack of money. This scarcity, is felt most acutely at the margin of society, by those who are less well connected and whose skills are least valued by the market economy. Their numbers include an ever growing proportion of young people.
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 book explain vividly that money is human creation – right from barter trade to coinage, I am not supposed to worry about money but be creative on how to get it also through how we define money. Money is rally just away of keeping scores. When you take something from the market (by buying) you offer money in payment when you put something into the market (by selling) you receive money in payment.
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.
As water is to the fish, so money is to people
The quality of water that the fish inhabit is crucial in determining the quality of their existence, if the water happens to be polluted the fish sickens and die, likewise money is a primary element of the modern economy that we inhabit. The quality of the money we use determine to a great extent, the quality of our lives.
When money is “polluted” our economy malfunctions and people suffer as their material needs go unmet and social dynamics are distorted.
Money will decide the fate of mankind
Money has the power to command resources and because most of us take current monetary practices for granted, those few who control the creation of money are able to appropriate for their own purpose vast amounts of resources without being noticed.
Without money our children cannot advance in education, even the quality of education depend how much you can pay for your children education and that is why people save money, invest money to live a better life. If you are declared bankrupt, you cannot make any progress, people earn respect when they have money, and this gives a different way of viewing money, when you have money you are welcome and you can go anywhere you want.
The chains that bind are in the mind
it is what we believe or refuse to believe that limits us, both individually and collectively but it is not belief alone that limit us. We must be willing to act on our belief if we are ever to realize our dreams.
Money has become a ring we wear through the nose which allow us to be lead around by those who control it.
Money has a beginning and an ending, it is created and it is extinguished.
Money simply does not exist until it has been accepted in exchange. Hence two factors are necessary for money.
A buyer who issues it and a seller, who accept it, since the seller expects in turn to re issue the money to some seller, it will be seen that money springs from mutual interest and cooperative action among traders and not from authority.
Money now is Nothing you get for something before you can get anything
For people living in industrialized countries everything has become increasingly commodified even babies, human blood, and body parts have become objects of commerce.
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 clear and detailed..
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
Money is part and parcel of our life, we keep on exercising on how to use it, invest it on a daily basis, this is a long term exercise as much as you are a live, you will need money for daily use so we have to keep on practicing on how to manage it.
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 comment.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is the good and one is poor
A. How interesting was it to read? 7
B. How helpful were the contents? 7
C. How easy was it to understand? 6
D. Would you recommend it to other? 6
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 7
The View From Nowhere
Assessment by Erick Kebeka Omari (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the books?
The view from nowhere is about a single problem, how to combine the perspective of a particular person inside the world with an objective view of that same world, the person and his view point included. It is a problem that faces every creature with the impulse and the capacity to transcend its particular point of view and to conceive of the world as a whole. Though it is a single problem, it has many aspects, the difficulty of reconciling the two standpoints arise in the conducts of life as well as in thought. It is the most fundamental issue about morality, knowledge, freedom, the self and the relation of mind to the physical world.
The author explains deeper about our mind, mind and body, knowledge, thought and reality, freedom, value moral progress and ethics, living right and living well and finally birth, death and the meaning of 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.
a. We ought, in the words, to be able to think of ourselves from outside but in mental not physical terms, such a result, if it were possible, would qualify as an objective concept of mind.
When we view ourselves the natural place to begin is with our own position in the world one of the strongest philosophical motives is the desire for a comprehensive picture of objective, reality since it is easy to assume that is all there really is. We have to ask ourselves if our world itself have an objective character? Second, what is its relation to those physical aspects of reality whose objective status is less doubtful. Third how can it be the case that one of the people in the world is me?
b. Knowledge
All theories of knowledge are responses to this problem. They may be divided into three types: Skeptical, reductive and heroic.
Skeptical theories take the contents of our ordinary or scientific beliefs about the world to go beyond their grounds in ways that make it impossible to defend them against doubt. There are ways we might be wrong that we can’t rule out. Once we notice this unclosable gap we cannot, except with conscious irrationality maintain our confidence in those beliefs.
Reductive theories grow out of skeptical arguments, assuming that we do know certain things and acknowledging that we could not know them if the gap between content and ground were as great as the skeptic thinks, it is, the reductionist reinterprets the content of our beliefs about the world so that they claim less. In any case on a reductive view our beliefs are not about the world as it is in itself indeed that means anything they are about the world as it appears to us. Naturally not all reductive theories succeed in escaping skepticism for it is difficult to construct a reductive analysis of claims about the world which has any plausibility at all, without the realm of experience.
Heroic theories acknowledge the great gap between the grounds of our beliefs about the world and the contents of those beliefs under a realistic interpretation and they try to leap across the gap without narrowing it.
c. Any improvement in our beliefs has to result form some kind of self-transformation.
The thing we can do which comes closest to getting outside of ourselves is to form a detached idea of the world that includes us, and includes our possession of that conception as part of what it enables us to understand about ourselves.
We are then outside ourselves in the sense that we appear inside a conception of the world that we ourselves possess but that is not tied to our particular point of view. Self – transformation helps us to see even the impossible being possible we think outside the box in order to invent new ideas, strategies for a better world. I have encouraged students who come from poor financial background that it doesn’t matter where they are but where they want to be and they have come out with good grades in academic and become productive in the society.
d. The kind of things we judge others for vary
We condemn a rattle – snake for nothing and a cat for nothing or practically nothing. Our understanding of their actions and even of their point of view puts us too far outside them to permit any judgment about what they should have done. All we can do is to understand why they have done what they did and to be happy or unhappy about it.
I do remember when a friend of mine supported Alfa kids for a lunch treat in a fancy place, this are kids from the deepest slum, who had little and some had no exposure at all, in such places whereby things seemed to be unique and strange for them, eating using a fork and knife, use of serviettes for eating, it was more than torture, self – service it was another terrible drama, they had to put food up to the fullest in the plate and even to carry the plate was an issue, because of being overloaded. It was a learning process and I was happy for my friend who made this happen, this was a learning process, after the meal we had to have some evaluation on table manners, it wasn’t their mistake, so I could not blame them. In this regard before judging people lets know more about their background history and why they did what they did. A snake will bite you for its protection.
With regards to small children the possibilities of moral judgment are somewhat a greater but we still cannot project ourselves fully into their point of view in order to think about what they should do as opposed to what would be required of an adult in corresponding circumstances. Similar limits apply to judgments of other people’s intelligence or stupidity, someone has not made a stupid mistake if he completely lacks the capacity of thought needed to draw the correct conclusion from the evidence available to him. The larger his intellectual capacities, the greater his opportunities for stupidity as well as for intelligence. It is the same with good and evil.
e. The pure idea of realism.
The idea that there is a world in which we are contained – implies nothing specific about the relation between the appearances and reality, except that we and our inner lives are part of reality.
f. Dual Aspect theory
If we believe that true conception of the mental world, however much objectivity it attain, must admit the minds irreducibly subjective character we still have to fit the mind into the same universe with that physical world which can be described in accordance with the physical conception of objectivity.
Our bodies and in particular our central nerves systems belong to that physical world, as do the bodies of all other organisms capable of mental activity. We have reasons to think that the connection between mental life and the body is very close and that no mental event can occur without a physical change in the body – invertebrate the brain of its subject.
g. Living right and living well.
The moral life is defined in terms of the good life, it means that the content of morality is defined in terms of the necessary conditions for a good life so far as this depends on certain aspect of the individuality conducts such as his relations with other people, the fulfillment of his social role and the expression and control of his emotions the test of moral principles will be their contribution either instrumental or constitute to the good life as a whole but since we are social beings, this may entail some of the familiar moral virtues. The good life is defined in terms of the moral life. Living well and doing right are both things we have reason to want. And while there may be some overlap, those reasons are generally of different kinds and come from different sources.
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 view from nowhere helps me to think outside the box, be creative and focused, also makes me come up with new ideas, by taxing my brain to work over time in terms of reasoning and viewing different issues in different ways.
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 best hasn’t been thought of yet.”
This quote gives us a challenge that we have room to invent new ideas, new technologies and being more creative and inventive.
“Certain physical processes might be both necessary and sufficient for what I call the taste of chocolate.”
“I’m a brain in a vat.”
This is when perhaps you can’t even think the truth about what you are because you lack necessary concepts and your circumstance makes it impossible for you to acquire them.
“One doesn’t have to believe anything and to believe nothing is not to believe something.”
“The cat’s immunity to the problem of autonomy does not mean that it is free.
We can consider the cat from outside and it may be that we will see it as trapped in certain respects by ignorance, fear or instinct its nature is given and cannot be subjected by the cat to endorsement, criticism or revision it cannot increase its own rationality.
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 fine.
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 contains no exercises since the best hasn’t been thought yet; we need to be creative to make a better world, and to make our brain work more extra.
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 comment.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is the good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 7
B. How helpful were the contents? 7
C. How easy was it to understand? 7
D. Would you recommend it to others? 7
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 7
The Intention Experiment
Assessment by Erick Kebeka Omari (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the books?
The intention experiment demonstrates that thought is a thing that affects other things. The intention experiment reveals that the universe is connected by a vast quantum energy field. Thoughts generates its own palpable energy which you can use to improve your life and when harnessed together with an interconnected group, to change the world.
The author M.c Taggart offers a practical program to get in touch with your own thoughts, to increase the activity and strength of your intentions and begin achieving real change in your life.
The intention experiment forces you to rethink what it is to be human. It proves that we’re connected to everyone and everything and that discovery demands that we pay better to our thoughts, intention and action.
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.
a. In physics if you want to find out how something behaves, the best way is simply to make it uncomfortable and then see what happens.
This is very practical and true if in our life we are put in uncomfortable situations or environment we try our best to move out of uncomfortable zone. Usually when we poison a rat, it will try its level best to find water so that it can survive, some applies to people, at times when we want somebody to adhere with certain rules we set regulation which will guide them, mostly they are not comfortable but they are set to achieve a particular situation.
I remember when we were in primary school, it was mandatory to know multiplication sums, and if you failed you could be flogged, or receive some several beatings, this made us, in any way be in a position to answer the questions even if it forced you to memorize them.
I do remember the teacher coming in class and we stand up, you only set after you answer a sum, so the questions were asked randomly once you answer correctly you will set down, and if not you were in trouble.
The teacher also introduced another method especially the last period to lunch time, you answer the question you go for lunch, and if you do not answer, you remain there until you answer correctly, this was a mixed reaction, you miss to answer you are likely to miss your lunch, we had to work day and night to master the multiplication sums.
b.Our emotional responses are constantly being picked up and echoed in those closest to us.
Whenever we experience something that stimulates us, the vascular network in our extremities constricts slightly to maximize blood flow to the core of the body
c. Prayer is viewed as a kind of super – intention, a joint endeavor.
You do the intending and God carries it out. In some quarters, intention is considered synonymous with prayers, and prayers synonymous with healing when send out an intention, God puts the intention into action.
When we pray for our intention, God fulfils it in different forms, we are answered different ways, we can get what we want, at sometime or in God’s planning, this super – intention gives us assurance when we ask for God’s guidance. I have found myself so comfortable when I submit my burden to god I feel more relieved and assured. Prayer nourishes our heart and purifies our minds.
d. The power of your thoughts.
During Muhammad Ali training he was not training his body to win. He was training his mind not to lose. Ali spent much of his training time learning how to take punches. He studied how to shift head by just a hair a microsecond before the connection was made or where in his body he could mentally deflect the punch, so that it would no longer hurt. Ali was a master of intention. He developed a set of mental skills that eventually altered his performance in the ring. Before a fight, Ali used every self – motivational technique out there, affirmation visualization, mental rehearsal, self confirmation and perhaps the most powerful epigram of personal worth ever uttered “I am the greatest.”
e. Visualization implies that you observe yourself in the situation as if watching a mental video.
This mental video will be featuring yourself or seeing yourself through another pair of eyes. All things I have achieved in life is through visualization, before I started Alfa Network, I visualized on how it will be, the kind of office I will have, the type of schools the students will be attending, and through visualization though I haven’t achieved all, at least I have gained more, in Alfa we currently have students sponsored in education, and upkeep, 15 parents through a micro – finance scheme have established business which have led to self – sustainability, and job creation.
f. There a difference between mental and physical practice.
With physical practice, when you practice too much, you become fatigue and fatigue causes electrical interference and blockage along the tracks. With mental intention no roadblocks ever appears no matter how much you practice in your head.
When you practice through mental, your opponent will never know what you are planning and your strategies, we win in our minds before we win practically, we foresee ourselves where we want to be before being there, when I follow the level three studies, it gives us a mental picture on what we want to be and where we want to be in a specific time.
g. Your current state of mind carries an intention that has an effect on life around you.
The mind continues affecting its surroundings whether or not we are consciously sending an intention. To think is to affect. When we are consciously attempting to affect someone else with our thoughts, we may want to search our hearts about our true feelings to ensure that we are not sending tainted love.
One of the most basic assumptions about intention is that it operates according to a generally accepted sense of cause and effect the cause must always precede the effect.
If A causes B, then A must have happened first. This assumption reflects one of our deepest beliefs, that time is a one way forward – moving progression. This assumption is reinforced every moment of our ordinary lives first we order a book, from Amazon then it arrives in the mail. Indeed the most tangible evidence of time is our own aging. First we are born, then grow old and die assuming the uncertainties like early death. Similarly we believe that the consequences of our intentions can occur only in the future. What we do today cannot affect what happened yesterday.
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, and will continue to help me understand that my thought cannot only change my life but the entire world. I am practically using these ideas to improve my life and those surrounding me, by educating them the importance of the intention experiment.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your Attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
“A human being is part of the whole, called by us “universe” a part limited in time and space.”
He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness.
“Hearts that beat as one.”
When you send an intention every major physiological system in your body is mirrored in the body of the receiver. Intention is the perfect manifestation of love – two bodies become one.
“Every a tom belonging to me as a good belong to you.”
When you command that every good thing belongs to you, you attract it, we have the power of commanding what we want and attract them.
“Prayer is good for the heart.”
For sure when I pray I feel good, it is a connection between you and your creator, usually God is there for us and that is why he as good plans for our lives, prayer is the energy for our soul and prayer is supreme, pure and divine, it is the only way to communicate with our Lord Jesus Christ.
“With intention the agent of change is human with prayer it is God.”
There is nothing impossible when we call upon the Lord, through prayers and commitment our intention are fulfilled, God answers our intentions in a very special way.
“Healing someone else also healed the healer.”
When somebody is healed the healer also is healed, it is one way of accomplishing your mission, when the children I support excel I feel also being successful, their success is my joy and also my success. I feel joy when all the students supported in Alfa all have gone to school, there is nothing more stressful when the day of opening school for the students I support and others have joined while for them they have not joined, I feel more happy and complete when all of them join school in the right time and with other students.
Miracle do not happen in contradiction to nature, but only in contradiction to that which is known in nature.
“One man’s noise was another man’s signal.”
Some people communicate through different means, in our tradition when you could hear people blowing horn that meant that there was serious problem to be addressed and urgent meeting is called for discussion.
Phrase often used by medical doctors usually in emergency situation; “when you hear hoof beats, don’t think Zebras in other words, when you are trying to diagnose someone with physical symptoms, first rule out all the most likely causes and only then consider more exotic possibilities.”
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 books is clear and detailed with scientific experimentations.
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
The book contains exercise which is to give task our brains and mental thinking to change our lives and the world.
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 comment.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is the good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 6
B. How helpful were the contents? 7
C. How easy was it to understand? 7
D. Would you recommend it to others? 7
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 7
What You Can Change and What You Can’t – Learning to Accept Who You Are
Assessment by Erick Kebeka Omari (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the books?
The author states, that in the climate of self – improvement that pervades our culture, there is an overwhelming amount of information about treatment for everything from alcohol abuse to sexual dysfunction.
Much of this information is exaggerated if not wholly inaccurate. As a result people who try to change their own troubling conditions often experience the frustration of mixed success, success followed by relapse or outright failure.
To address this confusion the author Martin Seligman has meticulously analyzed the most authoritative scientific research on treatments for alcoholism, anxiety, weight loss, anger, depression and a range of phobias and obsessions to discover what is the most effective way to address each condition. The author frankly describes what does not work and pinpoints the techniques and therapies that do work best for each condition discussing way they work and how you can use them to make long – lasting change.
The author presents four natural healing factors for recovering from alcoholism, the vital difference between overeating and being overweight, the four therapies that work for depression the pros and cons of anger and much more. This book helps anyone who seeks to change, what you can change and what you can’t.
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.
a. What changes and what doesn’t change.
This is the age of psychotherapy and the age of self – improvement. Millions are struggling to change, we diet, we joy, we meditate, we adopt new modes of thought to counteract our depression we practice relaxation to control stress.
Factors about what you can change, panic can be easily unlearned, but cannot be cured by medication, our moods, which can wreak havoc with our physical health are readily controlled, depression can be cured by straightforward changes in conscious thinking or help by medication, but it cannot be cured by insight into childhood, optimism is a learned skills once learned it increases achievement at work and improve physical health.
b. The knowledge of the difference between what we can change and what we must accept in ourselves is the beginning of real change.
With this knowledge we can use our precious time to make the many rewarding changes that are possible we can live with less self – reproach and less remorse. We can live with greater confidence. This knowledge is a now understanding of who we are and where we are going.
c. Every step of the way, the good events are wholly the doing of God.
When the situation improves, it is not by human agency but by God’s intervention.
We usually forget that it is God who can uplift you from nothing to something, from a nobody to somebody, at times we forget when our situations changes, we look down upon those we suffered with we scorn them and forget to remember that he who gave you what you have can also do miracles and give those who didn’t have. Especially here in the slum I have seen many people when they prosper and move out of the slum, they disassociates themselves with people in the slum, since the status quo as changed.
Also when other people are driving during rainy seasons some they will splash water on the pedestrians but once you are stuck, this are the same people you need to push you or assist you.
d. We remember unsolved problems, frustrations, failure and rejections much better than we remember our successes and completions.
Very true in life we keep bad memories in our minds and easy to narrate them other than the success, I do remember it is now nine years since my parents passé on, but I do remember as if it was yesterday, also we keep our failures in our daily life until we lack to see the opportunity ahead of us, once we fail we fear to attempt to do any other new thing in life. Failure is a stepping stone to success, if at all we could quit schools because of poor performance, then we could not have been what we are today.
Due to break ups, most of the ladies have vowed not to love again, not to be married, because of the frustrations they have faced, but if we look positive side of it, we will find others who are successful in marriage, business which we thought they can not work best, so we need to concentrate more on a positive side than negative.
e. A child hears a dog growls, but she is undisturbed.
But once the dog bites her after that she is afraid whenever she sees a dog.
Some events turn us off or turn us on the very first time we encounter them.
This is what we call post traumatic stress, those who have undergone rape cases will fear even being closer to men, fearing of rape, some will hate men in general, so for what we can change and what we cannot change, we need to know how to deal with it. They cannot change the fact that they have been raped but they can look forward and forget about it and live a better life.
f. The way you think when you are depressed differs from the way you think when you are not depressed.
When you are depressed you have a dour picture of yourself, the world and the future your future looks hopeless and you attribute this to a lack of talent, small obstacle seem like insurmountable barriers. You believe that everything you touch turns to ashes.
g. Parents fighting may hurt children in such a lasting way for one of two reasons.
The first possibility is that parents who are unhappy with each other fight and separate, the fighting and separation directly disturb the child causing long – term depression and pessimism wisdom. Fighting and separation themselves have little direct effect on the child but awareness of parents unhappiness is the culprit – so disturbing as to produce long term depression.
I do remember when I was volunteering in a local Radio, I used to expose children and also working with organization dealing with children I have learnt a lot, one of the child asked his mother, since the boy used to see every day the husband had to beat the wife before sleeping so one day the boy asked the mother, it is a while Mum, since Dad beats you. For the boy it was normal to beat his mother and I fear what type of behavior this boy will grow with. It is parental responsibility to nurture the children and behave in a discipline manner.
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 ideas have helped me to know what I can change and how to deal with what I can’t change, also from the exercises provided in the book, it will help me to be a guideline to help my community to understand what they can change and how they can do that also know how to live with what they cannot change.
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.
“God grant me serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference.”
Through God’s guidance we will be able to accept things we can not change and those we can change, it is God helps that will give us inner healing to be able even to accept those difficult situations and come in to term with them.
“We remove the fire and the boiling stops, we rekindle the fire and the boiling resumes. Fire is the cause.”
We need to know how to control our tempers, if two people have high temper it will be difficult to come to terms but if one calms down, we will solve the burning fire of quarrel.
“Bad weather inside.”
People by and large are astonishingly attracted to the catastrophic interpretation of things not just phobias, not just explosive personalities but most of us much of the time.
“Mental tongue – attend to your tongue.”
Our tongue is a very small element of the body but can cause a lot of harm, what we speak, and our utterance, can cause conflict in society. We need to take care of our tongue and what we utter.
“Learn ability itself is shaped by evolution.”
“Jokes are no longer funny, but unbearable ironic.”
When somebody cracks a joke which is not only a joke but a bitter joke it is no longer a joke but unbearable ironic.
“Anger is the effective defense of what belongs to us, the springboard to justice the emblem of honesty, the path to rosy health.”
“If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow.”
Anger can cause more damage, it causes conflict and if you can be able to control your anger you will be in a safer side and avoid a lot of stress in the community.
“First the man takes a drink then the drink takes a drink, then the drink takes the man.”
“Once the drink takes a man, the man is finished because he is out of sense and can do unthinkable.”
“Mind the pattern – a pattern of mistake is a call to change your life.”
Mistakes which happen all the time, need to be rectified, if you see something doesn’t go right it is high time to change the mind pattern.
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 well covered and clear.
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
The book contains numerous exercises with guideline questions which I have practiced and will keep on exercising.
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 comment.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is the good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 7
B. How helpful were the contents? 7
C. How easy was it to understand? 7
D. Would you recommend it to others? 7
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 7