As a Man Thinketh
Assessment by Godfred Kwaku Annan (Ghana)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea the author is trying to convey in the book is in two forms from my point of view. The first thing is the principles of self empowerment that impact on the behavior and action and the second one is the thought and focus that influence life. I will define the self empowerment as the understanding of the character, circumstances in life, health and body, purpose of life, factors of achievements vision and ideals and serenity increase self control and the need for one to come out from your comfort zone.
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.
“The thought of fear has being of my body”. Godfred is someone who fears to approach people even when he is saying or doing the right things, I remember in about three years ago I was a tenant to a particular man in my community. A new tenant and pupil teacher in a community who fell in love with the land lords’ daughter, the father got to know about it and he told me that he will arrest me if I don’t stop the relationship with her daughter but because of the love I have for the girl I didn’t mind them. The flamed into fire, I ran away from the house late in the night without even taken my things. It was my mother who later went and brought me belongings from the house for me.
“Purpose of focus” in the book is very true and I agree with the author. Instead of Godfred pay attention to his higher diploma certificate from Institute of Advanced computer Education in Accra he decided to become an actor during the acting he had friends who had no focus in life we realized that we need money for that we are wasting our time in the acting field and the education the we thought of making fast money so we started internet fraud but it didn’t work so we finally put our money together and we to do money rituals. We finished the process which was given to us. We were happy we thought that we had made and coming swum in money but it turn upside down two of us were arrested by the police but I managed to escaped.
There is the need for mankind to occupy his attention for a moment this is what I have realized after reading this book.
“The issue of calmness” if every man can follow this idea then nothing can prevent us from achieving the best. After the insults and the embarrassments from the girls’ parent which almost caused me to lose my pupil teaching, interestingly today we more than close friends because I didn’t say anything to them and today we living in peace and harmony whiles am still dating the girl.
“Suffering is always the effect of wrong thought in some direction”. I am suffering today then I am the architect of my own doom. As a student who should be concentrating on book was seriously doing money rituals. After sleeping naked in a room for two weeks, the money which was fake money
“Strong Pure and Happy thought” touching lives and empowering people has being my strong and happy thought. On the 30-04-11, I became a member of JCI Ghana but that I had a vision of putting up multi complex ICT centre for the children who do have access to ICT tools in my community. Because of this I joined JCI during my first national convention I met a foundation member of JCI and she told that she want to support the needy but brilliant student. With my support today two students have benefited from this project.
Again empowering is also a happy thought of me and today thirty women are going to benefit from JCI City Mines Mbaa Ahouden project. These women will be taken through entrepreneurship training and after that seed money will be given to them so that they can start something of their own
“A man should conceive of a legitimate purpose in his heart”. Great leadership is the purpose I have conceived. As a young youth who is aiming at becoming the National President for JCI 2016 and to become a member of the Millennium Development Ambassador to champion the MDGs and support the success work of Africa Unbound and other organization which will give me the opportunity to serve humanity. I have started all these as a Local President for JCI City Mines, Local coordinator for Africa Unbound and just accepted as a Millennium Development Volunteer.
Bestial Character I can dispute the fact that I have wasted my life for the pass ten years after reading the book. I have leaded my life like flock without a shepherd.
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?
Initially I was living my life like bestial character but I have seen that these ideas and the entire book can help me to position my strategically with critical thinkers and also to do away with fear, be able to control pressure it will cultivate my mind so that I can have good yield. There is no need to harbor bad weeds in your mind if you truly want a good yield.
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.
“Strong Man cannot help a weaker unless the weaker willing to be helped” this quotation is very important to me in and one can not do away with this quote. The person who introduced me to into this course is the stronger person whiles I am the weaker person. As a weaker I have to open myself and listen to his advice and directions as my stronger person.
“All that a man achieves and all that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thought” one cannot dine this fact because I JCI on GTV and after the show I have joins this organization which gives me the opportunity to serve my community. Today I am the founder of; One of the most important Local Organization Member for JCI Ghana which known as JCI City Mines and the only chapter in the Western Region of Ghana.
“There can be no progress or achievement without sacrifice” If there is a progress or achievement coming to JCI City Mines then I will say it’s all about sacrifice. I have to sacrifice my resources, my family and work for JCI City Mines voluntary. I had an opportunity to work for micro- finance as their Loan Officer after realizing that it will prevent me from working as a local president I had to turn the offer down.
“He, who cherishes a beautiful vision lofty ideal in his heart, will one day realize it” I had a feeling that I have to do something to touch lives of people and today with my effort three needy but brilliants student will be cater for. Also, we are empowering women in my community with my MDG project that is JCI City Mines “Mbaa Ahouden Project”.
“ A Man’s mind may be linked to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allow to run wild ; weather cultivated or neglected, it must bring to forth” the fruit or the product in the garden will be of no use if you allow it weeds to overshadow it. I cultivated my intelligently but I couldn’t take care of for weeds like fear, doubt, pressure, many but few are mentioned to over my mind, until I joined JCI that I started realizing that I am a good gardener
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?
No
6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
No
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.
No
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Godfred Kwaku Annan (Ghana)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book is the principles of leadership, this how I will term it. The author made mention of perseverance, courage, forgiveness, friendship, fast learner, vision, decision making many but few are mentioned. After understanding and carefully studying this it will you at a certain level in 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.
“Leadership” leadership is the discipline of deliberately exerting special influence with a group to move it towards goals of beneficial performance that fulfill the group’s real needs; from John Haggai. Based on this definition it clearly indicates that Jonathan Livingston is indeed a leader among the other gulls, he exhibited a true leadership skills like: courage, humanity, vision, discipline, inspirational power and executive ability in the book.
Motivational speaking, cooperate training, inspiring the younger once in the community and to leave a leadership legacy all these things are some of the aspiration of Godfred Annan. To build my leadership carrier is the reason why I joined JCI.
“Idea of Pressure” As Jonathan was lonely out there learn his flying the parent were also thinking about why he was not eating therefore they started putting pressure on him to his flying course. “Why son why” his mother asked. Why is so hard to be like rest of the flock, Jon? Why can’t you leave low flying to the pelicans, the albatross? Why don’t you eat? Son you’re bone and feathers!”
“See here Jonathan” said the father not unkindly. “Winter isn’t far away. Boats will be few and the surface fish will be swimming deep. If you must study, then study food, and how to get it this flying business is all very well, but you can’t eat a glide, you know. Don’t you forget that the reason you fly is to eat.” This really testifies to the fact Jon was under pressure.
Look at the family which find it difficult to sustain it, no has to tell me that Godfred do something being the eldest among the siblings. Instead of him to concentrate on his education he end doing money rituals so I can get quick money to support the family but the money also didn’t work and I couldn’t continue the school. Even now the pressure is still not easy because when I wake in the mid-night look at the way we sharing the hall of our chamber and hall room, it’s compelling to do something to save the situation quickly. How are you going to feel if you are the elderly son of you of the family and your mother is indirectly tell you to support her to pay the school fees. Jonathan was able to control the pressure coming from the parent, therefore I also have to so.
An acting local president for JCI City Mines who has invited people to their first local convention and the money we have spent couldn’t control my self then to burst into tears because for the first the first time in my life I have organized such a program and it was raining as at the we have to start the program.
The Encouragement aspect of Jonathan Livingston Seagull is tremendous from the part three of the book. “You’re wasting your time with me, Jonathan! I’m too dumb! I’m too stupid! I try and try, but I’ll never get it!” said by Fletcher Lynd Seagull. Jonathan Seagull looked down at him and nodded. “You’ll never get it for sure as long as you make that that pullup so hard. Fletcher, you lost forty miles an hour in the entry! You have to smooth! Firm but smooth, remember?” He dropped down to the level of the younger gull. Let’s try it together now, in formation. And pay attention to that pullup. It’s a smooth, easy entry.
A time came, Jonathan wanted his group to visit the Flock but Henry Calvin Gull said “we’re not ready! We’re welcome! We’re Outcast! We can’t force ourselves to go where we’re not welcome, can we?” And Jonathan told him that we’re free to go where we wish to and what we are,” I have been encouraging my family especially my mother because life is not all that good for us and I keep on telling her she should not compare us to any other person because we unique and we appreciate the way we are.
“Perseverance from Jonathan Livingston” was superb, because he knew what he was doing and looking for, he didn’t give up when the pressure was coming from the parent, and even the pronouncement of his outcast from the Flock council before the flock and after failing ten times in his studies. He knew what he want in life a gull therefore he persevered to his vision and mission and finally he achieved his goals. If I didn’t give up after my effort of getting job to do after my Technical School program, also If I would have continue my technical education at the higher level like I wouldn’t be just a pupil teacher in a private school. Instead of Godfred to concentrate on his ICT I was rather chasing. If Jonathan is celebrating he deserve it because knew exactly what he can do to achieve his destiny.
“The spirit of Courage from Jon” he exhibited true courage from the book that makes him a great leader from the other gulls. What is courage? Jonathan created his own courage, he gained the strength, confidence by every experience and he also manage to put cannot do aside. He took a bold step by approaching the Elder Gull with this courage he became all that he want in life.
3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?
I am going to adopt these ideas and make them my principles of my life. If these ideas becomes my principles I will be able to make it in life like how Jonathan Livingston Seagull made in life with ideas.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
Ten times he tried, and all ten times, as he passed through seventy miles per hour, he burst into a churning mass of feathers, out of control, crashing down into the water” Man must struggle and suffer and make a lot sacrifices before you become successful. Success comes with many ups and downs from the leaders I have known, they didn’t take it easy but they have face failures before they became successful in their lives. It took Jonathan Livingston Seagull ten times failures before he became who he wants to be in his life. This is very important to me because it has testified the fact that man suffer before he achieve what he want in life. I have seen, after reading this book that failure is the architect to success.
Break the chains of thought, and you break the chains of your body” the spirit of fear, limited to perfection, not having courage and all the negative thinking are the chains on the thought but if you are able to free your mind from all these things you will surly make it in life. Things that I have mentioned happens to be the issues affect me after realizing things I will make in life.
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?
“Forget about faith” which was said by the elder gull Chiang to Jonathan Livingston Seagull, I strongly disagree with him because the holy bible which my religious book has categorically stated in Hebrew chapter eleven reading from verse one and three says that; Faith means being sure of things we hope for. And faith means knowing that something is real even if don’t see it. Faith helps us understand that God created the whole world with his command. This means that the things we see were made by something that cannot be seen. I have faith that I shall one day a great leader for Africa because of I joined JCI in 2011 and working on my reasons for becoming a member of JCI Ghana and a founder of JCI City Mines I met the 2009 JCI Ghana president based on my drive a local president on one of our general assembly after the meeting he told me that I should walk with him and help me to become what I want be and through that he first introduced me to this institution. I strongly believe that faith is the kingpin to every success story and impossibilities can be achieved by faith and supported by understanding.
“No Jonathan, there is no such place. Heaven is not a place, and it is not a time. Heaven is being perfect” Mathew chapter 28 verse 18 it reads “so Jesus came to them and said “All authority (power) in heaven and on earth is given to me” this clearly indicate that there is a place call heaven is the place we all anticipating be after our work on this earth.
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?
No
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.
I will refer Jonathan Livingston Seagull as an acronym PIG. The P stands for Pride: Jonathan is the pride for the gull flock, I stand for Intelligent and the G stands for gut and glory. Jonathan is indeed the PIG for the GULLS
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 10
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10