Kaddu Anatoli Kiriggwajjo – Assessments – International Institute for Global Leadership

As a Man Thinketh
Assessment by Kaddu Anatoli Kiriggwajjo (Uganda)

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

Man is responsible for all that is in and around his life. James shows that through the thought process man shapes his life be it the good or the bad part of it. He emphasizes the constituency of thinking and that we choose and encourage what to think about in our lives! This is a great punch in the face of the reader. All along in my life the notion has been that circumstances around me were a creation of nature and so they attract my thinking about the remedy! To Allen, this holds no water. He clarifies that actually I am at the control tower of all this. So I choose the what, when, why and the how of my entire life, its nature and the events in it.

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

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

This, much as forms part of the title, captured my attention and stood out as an important idea for me. This statement took my thinking back in time. Years ago, after a breakup with my so loved girlfriend I thought to myself that never shall I ever love again deeply. I shared it with my mum and I remember telling her that my decision was to have a child with a woman I thought I would love, construct a house for myself and gather thereafter my kids. The “so he is” part came after two years, meanwhile I had forgotten all about the decision I made earlier, a son showed up! Immediately my mum reminded me of the choice. After reading this text, I can now tell that I masterminded and crafted all this in my thinking.

ii. “A noble and Godlike character is not a thing of favor or Chance.”

I’ve always had friends and people whose ways of life I admire and called such Blessed! It’s James Allen that has brought it out to me that even those blessings have been their creation. They just chose to begin thinking right, taking full charge of their life right at its start. In my early years in school, my teacher of English always reminded those who gave irrelevant answers to specific questions that you should “put brain in motion before the mouth gets into gear”. This phrase has a lot of meaning now than it did then.

iii. Having read the start of the book, my heart started pumping asking myself how I could develop this kind of powerful thinking and then landed on this idea that “Only by much searching and mining, are gold and diamonds obtained.” Feeling some level of emptiness in my inner temple, I asked a wealth prayerful man how he managed to balance his life. His response was that growing spiritually strong is like developing muscles, one has to rehearse from strength to strength each day. These two phrases indicate consistent hard work through practicing the right thing, the right thinking.
iv. The old and traditional idea of the Law of attraction has been redefined from that known in physics that unlike poles attract.

According to Allen, like attracts like. The author insists that “the Soul attracts that which it secretly harbors.” Unlike the usual expectation that the world can provide one with everything they need, according to this book, one has to attract all that which they need and desire to have in their life. So you can enjoy to the fullest all that which you desire, admire, need, want to do or be in your life by simply thinking and acting like you have it already.

v. The idea that our thoughts dictate our health was so amazing.

During my reflection on this I looked around me to see those that were seek and dig deep into their minds to see the body being respondent to their thoughts. One of these was my 78 years old mother who thought had lived long enough and this was the time to pull stands of failing to take medication feeling tired. In one of the deep conversations I had with her convincing her to take medicine, she told me about her mirages of the dead and burial grounds. My question to her was whether she wanted to go such places, the answer being a no she resorted to taking her medication, she’s now well. The point I want to relate is that while she was thinking about death her soul connected to the spirit world and the result was resenting medication. There indeed a great connection between what man thinks and how one feels in terms of health.

vi. The idea of linking one’s thoughts and purpose was a great check.

In the first place one has to find a purpose of their life which to many people is far from being a personal thing, it sounds more of an organizational idea. I have for a long time known that one should have a purpose in life and severally encouraged those under my stewardship to have one. Little have I ever imagined the connection between thinking and my purpose! Yet I have always wondered why I had interest in particular materials, things and people all relating to my area of purpose. Instead I thought to myself of having may be a problem by restricting what I consider important in my life while the law of attraction was at work. I’m now becoming keener about integrating my thoughts and purpose more closely.

vii. The concept of serenity.

Calmness of mind and its incorporated paybacks is very captivating. In 2018, during one of our iron sharpens iron small group discussions, a brother shared his resolutions and on his list was focusing on listening more that year than he had ever. His reason was that he had talked too much the previous years and needed to take in more than give out! I now imagine he must have had a great dose of the meaning and purpose of serenity. James Allen has triggered my mind to the admiration of Silence. Surprisingly, this is no new idea to me but its strength and what comes secretly out of it is. I studied in the Seminary for my early years of education and we had this particular hour which was best described Silencium Magnum meaning silence at its maximum. But, I don’t recall anyone explaining its significance in one’s life and to us it merely remained a characteristic of the institution rather than a value of life, like it has been brought out now.

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 first place, I would like to share this book with my team of leadership at our institution. This will help me have a team of deep thinking and fore sighted leaders, otherwise it’s better for many candles to give off their light.

I am beginning to be more cautious about what allow my mind to conceive because James made it clear that our mind though invisible create the visible world. This is so strong! In our environment people are so negative about many things in all spheres of life and so being a positive thinker is one of the x-factor of leadership, this I will stand for.
I have been running a leadership and discipleship mentoring program for students in Catholic founded schools, these ideas James advanced are going to be incorporated and we help to enrich our starter curriculum for these teenagers. My vision of this mentorship program is having as many young people make the right choices in life at an early and most dangerous/risky stages of their youthful 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.

“Humans hold the key to every situation.”

This statement is very thrilling in a way that have never thought of being in control of the situations and circumstances around my life. I have learnt that I am the creator of every situation, so I can choose to create or destroy undesirable circumstances.

“The divinity that shapes our ends is in ourselves; it is our very self.”

As a believer in Christ, it’s been always said in Church that we were created in the image of God. This statement brings it out with clarity what to be created in the image of God means. Having the God/divine creative power in me. Why have we been raised with this belief that there is a force that manages the affairs of this world other than man himself?

“The sole and supreme use of suffering is to purify, to burn out all that is useless and impure.”

I have never looked this side of suffering. This so positive and it has motivated me to evaluate the relationship between my sufferings and the surrounding thought processes of the time. There is great truth in it, I have discovered.

“Strength can only be developed by effort and practice.”

Reading literature like this book may make you wonder about two major issues. What have I been doing all along?! And, what must I do?! starting from where?! I found the answer in this statement. It’s a process that can be developed from baby steps to senior levels.

“He who has conquered doubt and fear has conquered failure.”

Since I began studying this book, I been trying to practically assess the meaning and truth in some of these statements. Truly fear has derailed many people. It is such a strong force that carries doubt by the hand. A chain of “what if” questions carries their banner in the air of one’s thoughts.

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?

Yes, there are issues a pondering about: This practice of controlling one’s thoughts is a new idea to me. To the author, it appears as if it’s obvious and easy to do. Are there particular guidelines to achieving great control of the thought processes? Who has the guidelines? Where can we find them? Or this is all it takes; “Cherish your visions; cherish your ideals; cherish the music that stirs in your heart, the beauty that forms in your mind, the loveliness that drapes your purest thoughts?”
The assumption of the author is that there is an environment where all people have good control of their thoughts. I imagine situations where you have mastered control of your thought process and you encounter someone on the centrally. The fellow sways you off the grid! Watering down whatever your clean thoughts generate. Are we to ignore such persons? What remedies?

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, I did not see any.

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, all has been addressed

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? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

Jonathan Livingstone Seagull
Assessment by Kaddu Anatoli Kiriggwajjo (Uganda)

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

One can become or do anything that they want to become in their life. The imagery he uses of a Sea gull is an interesting one. Jonathan starts by questioning the status quo of the Seagulls which gives birth to his real mission in life. Surprisingly, when he shares his amusement with the elders of the land, they not only seem oblique, they couldn’t image what Livingstone is thinking and talking about. Until Jon sets out to get to his desired dream that things begin working for him. Without the support of anyone in the Seagull world he focused on where his mind was leading him. Even the consequences of being burnished from the land where he grew up, much as he didn’t have a clue, were too weak to hold Livingstone back from his desired future.

i. The use of Imagery in writing.

I love and been writing articles for my School magazines yet I had never thought so much emphasis exploiting nature to deliver a message like Richard. Surely on the spot the title seemed weird especially if you wanted to summaries the book by its title. The Seagull, was not familiar to me. Then, the flow and follow up that Richard Bach pulls up, surely made me want to read the next part of the text. Indeed, he gave his writing a great shot.

ii. Following one’s inner voice in life is key to success.

The moment Jonathan Seagull conceived the idea of having better reasons for existing, he had no point of turning back. Many people around us have ideas that can turn around their life. What limits such people is failure to get allies and they lose out on their ambitions by simply saying “there is no one to support me”. From the text, it’s clear that for many ideas you’ll indeed have to support your own self because not everyone will see that which you see. And it is not obvious that they must. I liked it when Jon’s parents were advising and giving their most senior and experienced advice, he never refuted it but he chose to be extra ordinary and exceptional.

iii. Seeking to become better.

Despite the many pitfalls and failures, Livingstone kept practicing exceptional flight. Whatever his achievements were from time to time, he was competing with himself. The author comments that “It wasn’t long before Jonathan Gull was off by himself again, far out at sea, hungry, happy, learning. He learned more each day.” This attitude is a rare commodity for many people. I at times look at my colleagues in the profession, teachers, after graduating with a bachelor’s degree they no more opportunities of learning. Neither professionally nor personal. A single degree acts as a seal for growth.

iv. Having an open mind.

On being ex-communicated, Jonathan’s so called shame and solitude, did not enslave his mind. His spirit of adventure was stimulated by the decision of the council of elders. The elders had closed minds that limited all their existence to laboring for food. For Jon, there was more to life than merely fending for oneself! And life was far beyond “ancestral” practices in the era of discovery. That, is living the past in the present. While in Diaspora, having overcome fear and anger, Jon freely incorporated in the company of the seagulls he met. They shared similar ambitions and vision.

v. Always seek to associate with people of like minds.

In Livingstone’s mind, there was a particular kind of flock that he believed would accommodate him. To him, it was like merely being out of place keeping in his father’s flock which was bound by their way of thinking, limited by fear and desire to maintain status quo. So upon being burnished, it appears he had a backdrop hope. Alas, it was the crave for a family of those with similar minds. Probably in his mind was the belief that, if there were no seagulls with a similar nature to his mind, the Falcons would absorb him! After all, they were having the very characteristics he admired. But Sullivan and the companions, Jon met, made him even forget the world where he came from. They introduced him to the very flock they had gulls with similar minds. Who spent hour after hour every day practicing flight, testing advanced aeronautics. Livingstone had a lot to learn. All he felt was a welcome home.

vi. Creating Opportunities for others.

The elders of Jonathan’s family hardly saw the opportunities that came along with his crazy mind. Transforming communities involves embracing every member contribution. As a young Gull, Jon simply needed precautions to his adventure. As an innovator and inventor of flight modifications, required motivation to carry on. Yet the council of elders saw irresponsibility and shame! Albert Einstein, once observed that the duty of a genius is to inspire the mind of a child, and I think to do more, become more and achieve more. Aware of this, Chiang – the old seagull, briefed Jon. It was said, he was soon to be moving beyond this world, probably about to die! This is what Jon did for Fletcher Seagull, Martin William Seagull, and Kirk Maynard Gull. And by the end of three months, Richard reports, Jonathan had six other students. After all his learnings, Livingstone went back to the very land where he was an outcast to train, inspire and motivate his own. His words were “Each of us is in truth an idea of the Great Gull, an unlimited idea of freedom.”

vii. Having a teachable Spirit always.

Unlocking one’s potential involves taking a series of lessons. Learning never ends. To be a good leader, one must be a good follower first. I was impressed by the crave Jon had for learning. His learning was particularly unlimited to anything. Every gull that showed a skill that he never had, was a must learn for him. His learning had no lid. From strokes to skills, jargons and glides of the air, heights to plights of all sorts and aerobatics. These and more he achieved because of having a teachable spirit.

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 an educator, I am going to do more, in terms of seeking learning opportunities for not only myself but also the students I mentor. I have always sought such opportunities and this is how I encountered IIGL, and with these insights, am ready to do it aggressively because we become nothing but the lessons we learn in life.

I am going to strive as much as possible to create opportunities for others. This was the way Jonathan rose to a position of becoming senior. Several gulls mentored him and he was then able to mentor other. I now confirm mother Teresa’s word, do for one what you would do for many. A single change, will cause a series of changes. Livingstone transformed his homeland. From hence forth, I’m remaining firm and strong to my decisions and choices regardless the consequences. Amidst the scares of shame and considered irresponsibility, Jonathan swallowed the guilt and used it as a force from within to push his ambition. At the end he achieved the desired.

I am going to beef up my levels of tolerance especially in regard to those that don’t see yet what I may have seen. Truth be told, I have zero tolerance to individuals that contradict my views on certain issues. Observing the patience of Jonathan, and his coaches and the time to mastery of the aerobatics. High levels of tolerance are required.

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

“One who has touched excellence in his learning has no need of promise.”

Excellence will always excellence. Every level of achievement will lead one to another. This statement was a motivation to me in a way that I’m learning to focus more on the what I have been able to lay my hands on successfully. It such that can motivate one to work harder.

“Fear and anger are the reasons that life is so short.”

I imagined the things I have not done because of fear of the unknown consequences and quite often this fear results into anger especially after seeing someone who took courage in the very moment or field you feared. The achievements of such individuals causes emotional diseases. With inner ill health life can’t be any longer.
“We’re free to go where we wish and to be what we are.”

I love this because I’ve always stood for such a mindset. Where we wish to go in achieving our dreams and aspirations is all just determined by our mind and heart. Whatever you conceive as impossible, so it will be. My interpretation is that we are what we decide to become.

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?

“Heaven is being perfect.” Surely given my Christian background, this has never crossed my mind. I have been pretty aware that Heaven is not a geographical location yet never have I considered it this way! Please throw more light on this.“Any number is a limit, and perfection doesn’t have limits.” What about the quantification of achievements that is and has always been made? We set targets always, does the author want to mean quantified targets are futile? What should it be like then? “Forget about faith! You didn’t need faith to fly, you needed to understand flying.” one of the traditional soft skills even known is Faith especially in things unseen! This is what has helped many to dare, including myself! The author asserts that understanding supersedes this incredible force of faith! I would request a finer and detailed illustration for this shift.

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, there were no exercises.

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

No, all has been covered.

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? 7
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

Keys to Success
Assessment by Kaddu Anatoli Kiriggwajjo (Uganda)

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

A Positive Mental Attitude is all that one needs to succeed in life. That after identifying one’s burning desire (definiteness of purpose), the key driving force is PMA. Hill insists that you can achieve everything that you want as long as your mind is focused on it. The way you make your decisions all around you, is fully a residual outcome of your mind’s decisions and as such you ought to teach your mind to reason out. In brief, you can train your mind to work for you, the way you want it to. With PMA, you can control both yourself and those around you because you will be dedicated to your course of life.

i. Defining a goal and starting with the goal in mind as you navigate your activities of the day.

This stood out even with the simplest of all goals and objectives such as crossing the road, blocking that junction on a heavy traffic day. The question that should ring in one’s mind is what do I intend to achieve in so doing. I intend to intensify my focus on the goal before engaging in any venture.

ii. Harnessing the power of the mind.

The way this power is revealed by the author, surely is amazing. It took me back through the choices I made at some point in life and how they came to be realized. When a close friend and a colleague in an organization was promoted to being my supervisor, our team mates anticipated that I would ride on his shoulders and usurp his authority. When approached about my opinion, I openly mentioned how I never focused my attention to positions of section leaders, rather top management. This was realized after eight full years, for which he still headed a section. I became deputy manager in another organization. This was first conceived in the mind and later it materialized, such is the power of the mind I intend to harness.

iii. Definiteness of purpose may be clear to you however it may not be to others.

This is true I realized after deep contemplation on Napoleon Hills’ explanations on the definiteness of purpose. In the early days of my leadership and mentoring program in a school where I was working, the students were always discouraged from attending these sessions and eventually the principle told me how the program didn’t benefit the school in any way. I explained how passionate my team and I were to improve the lives of these young girls helping them to make a choice to stay longer in school. Surely our focus was not the school, it was the teenagers in the school. No one saw this until my time of departure from that school, when most girls broke into tears on learning that I was leaving the school.

iv. The concept of Positive Mental Attitude (PMA). I have come to learn that this is the backbone, cornerstone and deepest foundation of all that one can realize. I was fascinated with the fact that it could even speak to old age and death. One of our team members has often told me how we have grown too old (at 40) to take on ‘aggressive’ ventures assumed to be engagements of the ‘young’! Throughout the book, PMA is revealed as a pivot for all undertakings. I have started on my rehearsals to strengthen the influence of PMA.

v. Learning from adversity and pain.

Defeat may be a stepping stone or stumbling block! Surely to many of us this is hard to see. To see a blessing in the storm! As I was contemplating on this concept, I remembered how relocating from an apartment in the city center was tough for my family and I. We were to do away with electricity and turn to other sources of energy in mid-2018. I had lost my job and a single income of my life couldn’t sustain us in the city. We chose to relocate to our unfinished property and secure some living space. On arrival, we started growing food crops, rearing domestic birds and animals. With the tragedy of the COVID 19 pandemic, imposed lockdown and curfews, we had what to feed our small family from our property. The pain and adversity mentioned earlier disappeared in thin air because it turned out to be a stepping stone divinely hewn in our cloth of life.

vi. The aspect of managing my time using PMA.

Surely, I had not taken trouble to specifically develop this faculty of life. I have learnt to start feeding my dream constantly by diving up my extra 8 hours of the day into Study, thinking and planning time. This does not mean I haven’t been doing these things, rather it’s been dependent on mood!

vii. Self-inventory was another idea that touched me deep.

As an accounting officer, I have always audited processes and inventory at work and the organization’s life. The same has not crossed my mind as a key component of the analysis of my life. As I meditated on this concept through the 18 chapters on my second reading, I realized I don’t have any master mind alliances complete enough to cover all my spheres of life! It’s one thing that required my immediate attention. However, it brought to my attention why our chief administrator has always engaged me in long hours of discussion concerning strategic decisions and plans he has to make. It’s been bothering me so much.

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 straighten up my undertakings. I am going to share this material with my wife so that we can both have a similar or related perception of life. This will in turn help us raise children who not only have a focused mind, control their perceptions of life and can make swift decisions. I would like to share the material with my administrator who has always been bothered with “indecision.” Whatever he finds good he thinks can be undertaken as part of our business. I have learnt from the stories of IBM, INTEL, Microsoft, etc. that specialization is keys to success. And keeping your lane of specialization is key.

Taking practical steps in solving my challenges ahead is vital. I have learnt that yes everyone is optimistic about solutions to their problems. Yet, failure to lay down a structural practical way to resolve the matters arising is only laying a bed for your fears.
Offering charity is in so many ways. So I am going to be more aggressive to my giving of mentorship sessions which I was giving up on conducting because of betrayal by colleagues who used the resources for personal benefit. I think our initial ‘team’ had left quite a number of stones unturned, especially the cost-benefit analysis. I am taking the initiative this time to assemble the “A” team to pursue a single 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.

“The most important part of this book is not written on its pages but is already in your mind.”

Reading this line was a kind of “wait a minute!” What is the author trying to mean? Does this mean that I should stop reading the book? Or? On meditating and further reading I realized ideas were popping up in my mind. It is this that brought sense and meaning to that statement. So, the real purpose of the book was to re-awaken and bring to light that which is hidden in the mind. Also, to bring to clarity what seemed to be “vague” thoughts.

“Whatever your mind can perceive, you can achieve.”

One’s success arises from the continuous perceptions of our minds! Thus, without any perceptions, no achievement and absence of achievements denotes lack of perception! I am committing myself to auditing my thoughts to evaluate the dominant perceptions so as to drive in that direction for achievement of greater goals.

“You mental attitude towards a situation determines whether it is a disaster or boon.”

Indicates that I am fully responsible for the definitions of the circumstances around me. This is mind blowing. It directly rhymes with the previous quote. My challenge is how to fine tune my mind to reach this level of maturity? Of course, like Hills say, the best options are already in my mind! Practice and Rehearsals.

“Personal initiative is not simply for the benefit of others.”

This had never crossed my mind. To many it appears to be a ‘service above self’ motivated initiative. The idea I get here is that I must employ this skill to aspects concerning me. I am sure this is a new perspective, going an extra mile while focusing on myself.

“Our strength grows out of our weaknesses.”

Many times, I have feared venturing into things I am not sure of, little did I know that I was missing out on an opportunity to grow strong. I have also come to confirm that it is in moments that you think you can’t do something; you discover many alternatives. There’s truth in Emerson’s words.

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 rightly has it that with PMA success is unlimited, I agree. However, since we don’t live in a vacuum and like science has it that force is affected by friction. Where and how do we place the friction that may significantly affect my PMA arising from the environment without quitting? It may be systemic to make matters worse.

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

Yes, it contained exercises. Reflecting on them took me back on the decisions that I earlier made some of which were self-destructing while others lifted me up. When my wife and I were preparing for our wedding we asked ourselves about the end result of this intimacy. Our vision was “aging gracefully together.” And through reading this book and answering the questions herein, I’ve been adding the missing pieces of this vision. Such as defining what it is, who are we journeying with, what indicates we’re on the right course. I honestly haven’t completed all the tasks. It’s a continual process. It’s an interesting adventure.

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.

Sure. The departments of the mind. All through my studies, no one had explicitly brought out these six departments. It’s always been the Ego and Super Ego. I intend to re-visit this chapter and even do further studies to materialize and enhance the power of my mind.

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? 9

PsychoCybernetics
Assessment by Kaddu Anatole Kiriggwajjo (Uganda)

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

The power of Imagination. Dr. Maltz goes ahead to call it the theatre of the mind. To him the mind is unique and tapping into it is equivalent to tapping the gold mine. He clearly demonstrates this through vivid illustrations and the various challenges he gives to the reader are great aids to a personal discovery of this power. And he affirms this by saying that “When the will and the imagination are in conflict, the imagination invariably wins the day.”

i. Unlocking the real personality also stood out. Little did I know about Inhibition and Disinhibition.

I was raised to be humble but I think we all misinterpreted it, what Dr. Maltz has enabled me to see timidity and docility. I’ve always known to mutter just about the things that make me uncomfortable especially if it involved my supervisors or even my spouse. I have come to learn about the inner comfort that lies in being yourself. Though measuring extremism is challenging.

ii. The method of teaching as used by the author is impressive.

From the title, it sounds like a complicated book yet Dr. Maxwell unravels this solid word (PsychoCybernetics) with vivid illustrations in a kind of a story told by a senior to a minor or junior. So, narratives are an amazing way of reducing the bulk of concepts.

iii. Striking the difference between a person who has failed and a failure.

Being a teacher, I have often been exposed to both the ‘so gifted’ and ‘Less gifted’ students. On reading Dr. Maltz’s work I came to realize why some students after poor grades in one test improved in the next yet their counterparts continued deteriorating in performance. Maxwell brings it out that it’s the interpretation of these poor marks that determines the scores after. The student who called themselves failure continued failing while those who said had failed went ahead to get assistance and improved in the next test item. Dehypnotization.

iv. The concision of Inferiority and Superiority.

To we are challenged by the success of our pears, something which ends up eating our very creativity and resilience due to anxiety and the desire to be like others. It was indeed an I open when Dr. Maltz asks whether there is a perfect person that acts as my baseline for comparison. I was relieved of the pressure with the timelines of progress compared to my peer colleagues. I am now competing with myself since I set a baseline myself.

v. Using mental pictures for relaxation of the mind.

I tried out this technique and surely it enhances concentration and memory. I further combined it with meditation and the whole experience is admirable. Therefore, it’s not theoretical, it’s practical and worth a do.

vi. Self-image to me came through as self-branding.

It’s how I view myself that determines the perception of the public. In 2010, I got into several social messes and felt dejected by my friends and family. Out of my despair, a single brother invited me for a cup of coffee and requested me to talk about my previous achievements during my professional work. He used this to help me paint a picture of how I would look like. I did so and my head rose again. Dr. Maltz speaks to me again about self-image after the lockdown and all seems broken.

vii. The idea of over-beliefs.

I have had my eyes open over the fact that everyone has to develop a personal creed that governs them. Now Dr.Maltz talks about this aspect as though it’s obvious and compulsory. What about those who are ‘unaware’ of such beliefs and seem ‘incapable’ of realizing that fact. I am intentionally editing my creed to see to it that there is a match with the kind of life I intend to lead.

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 currently practicing two major aspects dis-inhibition and mental relation. These are so powerful that I am finding my brain as being more efficient in retention and concentration. As a teacher, I have engaged my learners in mental relation sessions as a way of helping their minds settle. This especially important to them because of the too much ‘noise’ that has prevailed all through the lockdown and the political season we’ve been through as Ugandans. I told the administrative team that we didn’t need to use coercion to encourage reading. Rather, we needed more conviction to do what is right, that which they as convinced about. For my children, I’m starting with the journey of helping them build a strong sense of self-image.

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.

“Feelings of inferiority originate not so much from facts or experiences, but our conclusions regarding facts, and our evaluation of experiences.”

There has always been a belief in me that society and our personality dictate our social positioning. It’s news to hear that it’s our conclusions that lead to these kinds of stereotypes.

“It is not the child who is taught about love but the child who has experienced love that grows into a healthy, happy, well-adjusted adult.”

This stood out because of its being contrary to what is traditionally taught of doing what I say not what I do. I am learning to just act what I want to see around me in my children, students, and workmates. It’s about experiential learning.

“You must find yourself acceptable to you.”

I found this very motivational in that it calls for falling in love with me before I think about any other person coming into my life. It thus calls for practical living and the fact that you can’t give what you don’t have. If I can accommodate and control myself then the outflow to others ought to be smooth.

“You are Not Your Mistakes.”

This is so powerful a statement that frees one from their own faults. I used to fear making mistakes thinking they were a reflection of who I am. But after making what I may call the gravest mistake of my youth (having a child with a girl I wasn’t about to marry), I felt everything I said and did before and after was laid to waste because of that one mistake. Hidden in my despair, a brother whispered words that Dr. Maltz has summarized in this statement. My faults are continually being filled up. My mistakes are just an indicator of enthusiasm for learning.

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 act of speaking and working without a plan. I had this teacher of English in my primary school days who deterred us from speaking without thinking. He would say “don’t put your mouth to gear before you set your brain in motion.” Dr. Maltz’s words to this end are fighting against the old guard. I think there are moments where the emergency requires your hasty action- building bridges as trump on them. And other moments that require thorough preparation otherwise any non-strategically planned events may backfire.

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

Yes, it contained exercises. They were helpful and interesting. However, I noticed something unexpected in the course of the two exercises. As one practice mental relaxation, especially my students, some reported that the silence made them visit their “old graves,” a position many of them didn’t want to get into. I also looked into my relationship with my Principal and I realized symptoms of exploitation. I, doing all the strategic plans, receive all the lamentation messages of the bad times. To this extent, I discover that people often talk about teamwork but with cynicism. Actually, I developed a dislike for my supervisor because I realized I was being used to achieve his objectives. As Dr. puts it, I am becoming strong to quit this place so as to discover my full-scale performance.

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.

Of sexual integrity stemming from the control of the mind. At first, it sounded kind of impossible but as practiced this control more, I am finding it even easy to advise my male students and friends about the greatest sexual organ, the mind. This has even improved the way I relate to my wife. I have a stronger emotional attachment. Thanks to the mental relaxation exercise.

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? 7
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8

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Success through a Positive Mental Attitude
Assessment by Kaddu Anatole Kiriggwajjo (Uganda)

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

Success and failure have much to do with one’s Mental Attitude, Positive and Negative respectively. Napoleon Hills articulates this fact in all the chapters and themes developed in this book. Impressively and Creatively relates PMA to the power of Sex and Other People’s Money. These are dimensions that one would hardly think of as easily affected by way of perception mentally.

i. What the mind of can Conceive, he can achieve.

All that has come to humans, on reflecting on this teaching, whether good or bad is resultant of the creations of the mind. Scanning through my past as a young person (25-32 years), I suffered from unstable relationships and thus concluded (in mind) that I would date beautiful girls and have them conceive and bare my children but marry none! And then gather all my children in my home. I shared this conception of mind with my mother with anger. At 29, the first son was born. This drained my energy, I said to myself, never have I ever thought & planned on being a careless father! I was not even emotionally connected to this girl! It was just Disappointment, anger, lust, and fantasy combined. When I notified my mom about it, she nailed right in my head, “but you said you would do that,” she reminded me. It was conceived in my mind, and now I was achieving. I have learnt to control what comes to my mind.

ii. Sex is Power.

I don’t remember anyone discussing this ‘power’ with me in my life that is not Hills. In my cultural environment sex is ‘sacred’. So, hardly can anyone come out to discuss the nitty-gritty of it. Napoleon’s relating it to power and PMA makes me concretize my capacity to control this power since I’m at the generation point. And like an Africa president I’m now ‘guarding’ it jealously because once taken one’s off the throne. I’m only using that power to protect my marriage.

iii. Stepping stone theory.

This caught my attention especially using the meal to teach about certain aspects about specific food. I am going to spice up my teachings with in -depth knowledge about the things around us. I have shared it with my wife, because I feel it will add value to our children’s learning. This, to me, seems to be a practical illustration the One-Minute Manager, John C. Maxwell talks about. It is an interesting way of breaking boredom and making sense out of the work one does. It also motivates life long learning and growth of knowledge.

iv. Do it Now, now is the Time.

Procrastination has always been a secret challenger of mine. With the author emphasizing this idea, I surely came to realize that all my work backlog has resulted from failure to do things as they emerge thinking that I would have better and ample time to do thing. This is a see it, deal with it there and then philosophy and surely it has helped to even create space on my table.

v. Emotions that motivate us as human beings.

I’ve often been aware of motivation having its foundation from within but the emotions. There are many times that I have been conducting my mentoring programs, colleagues ask me what motivates me to do what I do since no clear financial motivation was known for any of the projects I undertake. Reading success through a PMA, I’ve come to realize what forces have been pushing me into this motives (Love and fear). However, I realized that I have a lot of work to do in my motivation of those around streaming from my own motivation, especially for those who haven’t seen the essence of what I am involved in. I seem passionate about youth character development to the extent that I have limited tolerance to anybody that is blind to this. I surely have work in this field for me to rally my “A” team.

vi. Seeing beyond the Routine.

As a fresh graduate, in this girls’ high school, I was appointed Patron of Prefects in School. After two years of my leadership, I was bored by the idea of having to relate with leaders for a single year in office and letting them off. I always labored to affirm to them that “once a leader forever one.” This statement I inherited from my mentor. But then I asked what if this became former student leader statement after ‘poking’ their nose into poorly handled situations by their successors. So, I thought of having a program to enhance long term relationships between current student leadership, those yet to takeover and the out-going. This gave birth to the idea of a leadership hub with a normal school setting. This became my something more that I am proud of. And, by the close of last month, after a period of 9 years advocating for this approach, Cornerstone Development Africa has embraced the idea for Partnership with high schools in Uganda. I see this as a result of seeing beyond the routine and doing something more to the routine.

vii. Enhancing one’s experience and expertise to create health, wealth and excitement.

All the illustrations herein, are a reflection on things done over time. Right from Young Fuller through John P. Grier, Robert Christopher, Mikimoto and Benjamin Franklin among others, we have a record of specialization and popularity through the years, serving as a backdrop of their success.

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

I am investing time to dig through my personal inventory to sensor one dominant attribute that cuts through all my undertakings over the years. It’s with this that am going to build my success empire. At family level, am to apply stepping stone theory to enhance my children’s growth in knowledge but also pass on the skill to them for further sharing. I anticipate strong bonding especially at meals. I belong to a men’s fellowship and I hope to share this particular theory to these fathers as one of the remedies to their failure to start up conversations with their families. At work, my focus is going onto motivating others to appreciation the cause I pursue for better achievement of organizational and personal goals. Fighting procrastination and working with excitement towards a target is key.

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.

“And something more.”

This hit right in the spine. I started the construction of my dream house and somewhere the resources became limited so I had to pause. This went on for years hoping that the good times would return and the construction resume at the same pace as before. Alas, nothing of that sort happened and neither did I add a single brick onto this building for five years, till I read and contemplated on this. My wife and I asked ourselves something that we could do using what we have to beef up our finances Guess what, between the reading of this and now, we have added 3000 bricks, 20 bags of cement, etc. onto the building. All this making continuous improvements on that house has been realized because of thinking and planning to do something more than we’ve done before and we are determined to see its completion in a year from now through such baby steps.

“Stay Dissatisfied.”

The school I serve as deputy head teacher is locked in the middle of one of the big slums in Uganda – Bwayise. Having been posted here 3 years ago from a 1st world class school, faced a lot of challenges from within me, the team I got here, and the nature and character of the students. I began on the transformation agenda for the school. I knew and still know where we want to go and should be. Here every day is indeed a new day. There are no routine challenges as such it has taken me so far three years to establish a consistent culture. I have surely invested my everything into this school including 95% of my time, staying with these kids, teaching and having transformational conversations. I had reached a point in time saying I have done my part and someone else will start from there. The punch of stay dissatisfied took me back to the ring to fight for what I believe in.

“You are the most important person.”
Growing up in a noble Catholic-Christian family where humility is interpreted and monitored on the precepts of docility, I wasn’t different from other young men taught that others are more important than you. That you should never blow your own trumpet and always place yourself last and wait to be elevated. I found these words by Napoleon liberating and uplifting, centering me at the most responsible seat to take charge of the decision to grow me.

“You don’t need to be ashamed of failure.”

I am one person who has always wanted to be perfect at what I do and when things don’t work my way I feel greatly ashamed. This fear in particular made me fail to learn how to play musical instruments. What the perfectionist in me was saying was that at some point in time I will be able to play perfect tunes yet I wasn’t ready to play the wrong tunes that would lead me to the perfect ones. So, fear of failure is failure in itself. Also, in my earlier youthful days, I was in a relationship where I considered myself the least beneficiary yet I was afraid of exit. I feared to be ashamed. Surprisingly, when I exited it, an elderly woman came to me seeking affirmation that it was over as heard from rumors around the village. On saying yes, she congratulated me and told me how much they had been praying for me all along. That my then girl-friend wasn’t committed to me. Sometimes failure is all you need to succeed in life.

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

Not, all are clear.

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

No. However, there are tasks that I had to take at different levels of reflection such as practicing the: Do it now, Stepping Stone Theory, writing a personal letter- this I am still improving, it is a new concept. I’ve never tried this.

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.

“A Square Page in Round hole and Squaring the hole Vs Rounding the page.” This took my mind back to the friction I have had and still experience whenever I reach out to fellow educationists with a proposal to build students leadership & character development programs. One time I was told by my supervisor, that it was of no value to the students and the school. She probably said this because it had no direct financial in-flows to the school budget. Having failed to round the page, I quit the job. At my current work place, I am aggressively squaring the hole.

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