Oguche Ajifa Anastasia – Assessments

As a Man Thinketh
Assessment by Anastasia Oguche Elebiju (Nigeria)

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

This book established that we are what we think. That is to say that the effects and results we see are caused by us. This book made it clear that we don’t just get what we want that our circumstance are determined by our thinking and actions, this simply implies that we are the cause of the kind of life we are seeing and that we can always change our thoughts to the right direction, to only think positive.

Human beings as a whole is housing something special which is the mind which controls everything the body does, so the body is the servant of the mind and that if one wants to perfect his/her body the mind must be guided, this book also pointed out that the human mind is powerful, that our minds are out power they are the original house and since they are our house, we must guide it with utmost consciousness our mind is like a computer, garbage in, garbage out, as a person there is always a space in the room for improvement. What you think you do the body and the mind are in relationship.

As human we are what we think, we see our real self-manifest in circumstances that prompted it so, we tend to read our innate characteristics that truly display our true selves, as a man it is what you think that you will attract, you think positive you will get positive, you will act positive there is no image about that. The author in this book pointed out clearly on how we attract what we truly are which fakes place in our thought, actions, the soul attracts that which is secretly harbors both good and bad thoughts because man learn both in suffering and bliss. This shows that when a man is passing thoughts is a tough time he learns his mistakes and become a better person and during the happy time he also learns to appreciate the good thinks of life comes in the pleasurable moment

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

i. Circumstances does not make a man it reveals him to himself

This idea is so important to me because it opened my eyes to see things on a lighter way, it makes me to know as one grows and his been faced with different life circumstances so does the real him come to life, it just like a new face [of self-discovery, personally I have been faced with situation were by I was supposed to give up and settle for less but no I have a strong zeal to succeed in life and that dreams keep me going despite all the challenges it only reveal me to me and made me stronger. I could remember some year back in my university days, my finial to be specific, my hostel water was poisoned so many of the student had diarrheal including myself, it was so severe that I cloud barely walk talk more of reading my books for the exams, it was two days to the said exams although I have read my books before but at the moment my brain was blank I couldn’t comprehend anything and I couldn’t remember so I beckoned on my friend to stay close to me so she could at least tell me some answers; here I was relying on her completely. The day of the exams came we have already made our arrangements, but when the invigilator for the exams came they separated us and she was moved to my front instead of sitting beside me, I panicked a little but I had to put myself together and in my little mind I felt I cloud still get answers from her, during the course of this I still excused myself from the hall to go and case myself, it was so severe, I was losing strength and I was also in pains after I returned to the hall, I asked my friend for answer but she refused taking rather she was telling me how simple they were; I looked around there was no option for me but to write whatever I know, this was a four credit unit course the highest of them all, if I fail this course my results will be very poor, and I may have an extra year, were is the money for another school fees those were my thoughts, I took a deep break and said I was going to write whatever I know, I took my pen and answer sheets I started writing and I never stopped until I finished answering the questions. Behold the results came out and I got an A and my friend got a C and she started asking me how I did it. This particular situation brought out the best in me, my strength and my ability to do whatever and achieve whatever it only I can believe and trust in myself no matter the obstacle or situation I am in.

ii. Living through suffering and bliss

Living through suffering and bliss to me it means being happy in good times and bad times, if you appreciate the bad times that is the only way you will realize that you are growing and you are being shaped. Just like Gold, when it is gotten from the mold it is dirty and shapeless, but when it goes through the fire it comes out beautiful and it is being designed into different forms coming from a family of 10, think in have seen suffering of different shapes and size ha ha but it brought us so many bliss also. Life in general it not all sweet it also has it sour side that shapes and moulds us. I have been in situation that I lose hope but I have to overcome my fears and raise my head up high, I had two operations before getting married a hernia and ovarian cyst then I thought that was the end, I had not even meet my husband yet, I was depressed but I never knew God has his plans for me, I actually got married after going under the knife twice and to think I was going to deliver through C S, my delivery was the most simply and easy, I never imagine it to be so I labor less than an hour for my two boundless of Joy, I had a way blissful and easy delivery so that is life there is always a moment of suffering, just line through it because the joy that comes after it is endless.

iii. To cherish my vision

This idea is important to me because it made me to realize that I have to cherish my vision s, before these I just had them but I never cherished them. It made me realized that my vision is a marrow to my success, it cherish them I will definitely bring them to life. I have on so many occasion of being a count planner but I never cherished that I can do count decoration this book has brought so many light to me.

iv. Accepting responsibility

This particular idea is important to me because it made e accepting responsibility means growth. It brings about discipline and self-control. It made me to understand I should not blame anybody for my flaws; I should be responsible for my world and action.

v. Purpose as a supreme duty

This particular idea is important to me because it made me to have a guide time to really ask myself what my purpose in life really was is it to just marry, have kids and train them? It made me to realize that if I don’t have a purpose I will settle for less, and people will treat me as such. My purpose should be concealed in my heart and I should set out to accomplish it. I had a plan of helping young girls achieve their dreams at an early stage and expose them to a lot of things, like organizing a seminar were I will counsel them quaintly but this is yet to come to time light because of financially constraints, but I know as I have had my heart until I bring this to reality, I know I can achieve this because of my background in psychology.

vi. Calmness

Calmness of the mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom, personally this is one thing I lacked but this book has brought so many lights to me. I have been through life situation and my impatient caused me a lot to either lose part of something or the whole of it. I know with this book I will be a better person.

vii. Thought and character

This book has made me to understand that whatever we reflect is what we have harbor in our mind, a man with a good character is one with a healthy thought thinking right makes me to do things in the right way, if every time in your thought is how to fight then what ever situation that your find yourself in, you will always want to fight. Every thought seed sown or allowed to fall into the mind and to take root there produces its own. Good thoughts bear good fruit and bad thoughts bad fruits. I could remember in the early 2000’s a childhood friend and neighbor of mine always bad mouth mw and my brother whenever she is in her house but and when she is out of her compound she is well behaved so I saw that as an opportunity to always bully her whenever we are going to church together or going to get water I use that opportunity to initiate a fight and ended up always beating her, in my mind I wanted her to be afraid of me and to stop always speaking to me and my brother the manner she always do. This bullying continued until she reported me to her elder sister who gave me a stern warning never to touch her again and that was the end of me ever bullying her. We grew into loving each other and we had a great relationship thereafter and today we are best of friends so our thoughts shape our characters to who and whatever we are today.

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

These ideas will help me in a practical way both in my daily personal life and helping me create a better life in thinking positive and trying to uplift those who I know are in their trying moments, and most especially the youths and adolescent who may be going through adolescent crisis, I now have a better chance of counseling them to be master and lord over their thoughts letting the know they have the key to every situation and can transform themselves to whoever they want to be. This idea also thought me to be disciplined and this will apply to my kids too, a disciplined mind is a great mind. This idea also make me to learn how to accommodate people around me, neighbors, people I do business with and also people I meet on everyday tussles that environment affect how person think and reason.

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

“Good thought and action can never produce bad result.”

This particular quote is important to me because it made me to work harder, to see things on a higher way , that I should not just have good thought alone but action should also be taken to have a glorious result good thinking good product.

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

I understand the book every well, the message is clear and easy to comprehend.

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 were no exercises for the reader to complete

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

Nothing else.

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

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

 

 

Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Anastasia Oguche Elebiju (Nigeria)

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

The main idea the author is trying to convey in this book is that in living our daily life it should not be about norms (eating, sleeping, getting married, raise children, go to a party and die) but it should be about bringing out the best in ourselves through discovering the purpose of life, empting oneself totally out to humanity in offering selfless services, practicing love and aiming for perfection in ones calling to the good of humanity of which is the act of living heaven on earth, self-realization and spiritual transformation.

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

i. Getting to know the usefulness of being alive

This idea brought to meaning and more understanding to me. When the Bible says “that on should not worry about what to eat, or wear, that we should seek after the kingdom of God” from this idea I understand that the kingdom of God is about obeying the commandments and the summary of it is to love. Reading this book made me realize and understand that the true purpose of being is giving who and what you are to humanity. I always thought that discovering are purpose in life is about find a career and excelling in it, but I now realize that real purpose is love. I realize there is more to the love I get bullied as a teenager, intimidated with a low self-esteem and did not love myself for who I am can you imagine that feeling of not loving oneself let alone of loving others? This idea got me meditating as what love is as a purpose of living and evangelizing it to others and the needs of wanting others to feel the way you are and more.

ii. Prioritizing learning

This idea is important to me, because I have never thought of the idea of prioritizing learning. I just taught on can just learn skills however the opportunity comes mostly for monetary purpose. Before i gained admission to the University I learned many skills like catering and baking, tailoring and interior decoration. I had passion for humanitarian work and ministering to teenager, but never have I taught of learning and developing skills toward such passion. The reason I believed that this is very important is that I will learn what it takes to become a teenage advocate and humanitarian prioritize what I need to learn in order of importance.

iii. Never be content with impossibility

As a young couple, it was very difficult for me coping with my husband faith of “you can do anything you set your mind to” my husband is a fisheries technologist and own a fish farm, and he always insist that he cannot operation his farm like any other people in the field. I was not comfortable, because we were not financially buoyant and the little, we have had to go into his believe while we suffer financially with his belief of getting it hundred percent right, accurate and consistent regardless of the circumstance. We suffered, but he had his way of making me to belief, but now the result has started coming up. He wanted a perfect result and that it is very possible.

iv. Breaking promises, vow or covenant that prevent learning

This idea is important to me, because am use to making vows mostly out of anger, at times due to per care feeling of ill treatment, being used or cheated, for instant, enrolled my first kid in a particular school. Then later my neighbor enrolled her kid too into the same school, because of the writing skill that was impacted on a particular day, I discovered that they were giving preferential treatment to some kids of rich head mistress but the issue was not address, so I enrolled my kids into another school. And I vowed not to step my legs into the school premise when the school discovered that I withdrew my kids from their school, they apologized and made amendment. i accepted the apology and said my second kid will likely enroll in the school if they don’t keep up with the sentiment.

v. Don’t be swift to review what you know instead let them see by showing it.

This idea is important to me, because I have the habit of quickly reviewing my thought, feeling or what I know about something or situation. I end up most times feeling angry and depressed from the feedback I get. Being a very vocal daughter in the family of ten, five girls and five boys. My mother always confined in me because of this I end up getting hurt hard or beaten by the way I go about things in the house. I learnt from this idea and I put it into practice recently, I live in an apartment where gossip is the other of the day. One day I heard my neighbor mocking me my kids, saying my son is wearing a purple slippers and that the slippers was supposed to be for female child. Another neighbor responded that her child would like to have it since things was hard on them that period. The next day I jovially gave the slippers to my neighbor’s kid.

vi. Finding perfection in life and showing it forth

My understanding of reading this book is that love is the basis of all things and in loving people to the fullness lies perfection. This idea very important to me because it redefined what perfection is all about. I as a person have not in a lifetime imagine a life of perfection, but with this understanding, I should endeavor to find it in life and showing it forth.

vii. Being there, showing love and kindness

This idea is important to me because it define perfection as being there, showing love and kindness, that it not about until you have money that you can be there. A man lost his life due to lack of fund to treat himself of appended. I remember the man said how life is unfair to him, but I didn’t know it was that bad. Two days after I heard he died, he died of appendix disease of something he could have been treated with money that could be raise by family and friends. It was painful, but I learned never to take people words for granted however little it may be, but always be there.

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

These ideas will help me in practical way both in my dairy personal life and helping me create a better life by getting to know the importance of situation around me and creating positive impact, prioritizing learning skills accordingly and putting them in practice, digging deep into what love is all about. Learning more of it, to always give in kind action and any form of giving. This idea will also help me in raising my kids to practice kindness and teaching them about the main purpose of living in love. This idea will also help me in teaching people around me and also kids and family members that any chosen career should be about giving to humanity and loving as the main objective of one’s gift

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

“It didn’t need faith to fly, it needed to understand flying.”

My husband told me that he once prayed to God to giving the secret of getting 100% result in his fish breeding exercise. I needed to understand everything about making it work he kept on trying different approach, reading books and visiting all other professionals’ farms but he felt other professionals were contented with the result they were getting which he was not contented with, he kept on trying different approaches and when it fails several times I became tagging it spiritual attack most times he will laugh about it but I was worried. He will Say he is not bothered as long as he understand why it fails that he will adjust and not do it the same way. He finally got it and he said to me “with understanding anything needed to be done is done”.

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

I understand the book every well, the message is clear and easy to comprehend.

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

There were no exercises for the reader to complete.

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

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

Keys to Success
Assessment by Anastasia Oguche Elebiju (Nigeria)

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

In Keys to Success the author is trying to convey to us how to grow into a successful person in life most especially business wise and creativity aspect, one should have a burning desire to succeed, to succeed should not just be about wishes it should be a burning desire that you will work to accomplish, plant ideas that you can be able to nature and bring to reality. A definite purpose will make you know why you want to succeed in life. An attractive personality will make you believe in yourself and what will make you go an extra mile is that drive to be successful. As one who strives for success you should be fearless, tolerate people and accommodate them and also to have a disciplined mind at times.

The author also pointed out that to be a successful person in life I must encounter ups and downs so I should be ready to learn from my adversities and defeat. Failure is another road that leads to success if only you don’t give up. The author also conveyed that success comes with a price, am I ready to pay for 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. Have a driving motive

In whatever I want to do, I should have a reason why I want to do it, what is your motive for learning a trade? Why am I an IIGL student, its question should always come to mind whenever you want to do something new. Towards the end of 2020, I realized that I have been blessed for too long and getting a job will be difficult at that time because of COVID 19 coupled with caring for my kids without earning, so I decided to learn a trade. Tailoring is one trade I admire so much though I had a little knowledge about it before I wanted to upgrade myself in it and learn more new styles. Sometimes I ask myself why am I doing this, why do I still need this knowledge, why stressing myself up and down; but I realized that no knowledge is wasted, even if I don’t make it a business in sewing for people, I can make dresses for myself and my kids and save some cash for myself.

ii. Learning from adversities and defeat

Show me a man who is afraid of failure and I will show a man who is not ready to be successful, as we grow in life we learn new things every day. It is only God that is perfect so we as his creatures we learn to create these things through repeated process or effort. It is inside of us, because part of God’s spirit lives in us, so it is left for us to bring it through consistency, determination, discipline and dedication. Edison did it for 10,000 times before he got it right he never gave up. Sometimes in 2018, hubby was not always around then due to the nature of his job then. My socket always goes bad often because of the bad electrician we had in the neighborhood. One day I said to myself why I call someone who cannot render good services and still spend so much in doing so, can’t I do this myself, at least I know negative and positive charges. I summoned courage. I got a screwdriver, I went to the socket without putting off the light from the meter, so when I started I had a shock from the light and I ran outside the room. I gave up immediately, life is precious you know smiles, but then something stroke my mind, why don’t you just off the light from meter this come like a spark and I hid to that little voice inside, I had my socket fixed perfectly well that it took me more than a year to do a replacement on like the precious ones of 2 months or one month.

I was glad I was able to do this and I ended up saving some cash for myself. I also taught my hubby how to fix it too even though he was claiming he knew how to do it before. So one should not accept defeat but learn from it because adversity can become a blessing to you.

iii. Let you definite goal be more than just a wish it should be a burning desire.

This idea shows that one needs to be obsessed about your goals in life; this burning desire is my observation about them. I should be able to think it through every now and then, my thoughts and action should be geared toward how I will achieve this thing that I want if I want to be a billionaire in the next 3years how am I moving towards it? What am I depriving myself of to attain this height. I should be able to think of excellent ideas that will enable me to achieve with hard work and dedication.

iv. Use Comic Habit Force

You are where you are, and what you are because of your established habits, his idea established that my personal habits have a whole lot to play in my attainment of success and it made me realize that many habits have a lot to do in my journey of being a successful person in life. These ideas make me realize that if I can control my thoughts I can control my habits, because habits are formed in the mind nurtured and brought out in the open.

vi. Seize Every Moment of time

Seize every opportunity in life is one of the greatest things to do because you never tell if you may still have another. January 2010, just a few months after completing my secondary school, a neighbor came to our home to seek permission from my mum to come manage her in-laws interior declaration (curtains, blinds and duvet) shop. It was just a street opposite ours the pay was so little, but I was glad because I could also learn the trade when I resumed the CEO of the shop was surprised when she saw me on the machine, from then she knew I had interest in learning to sew this blinds and curtains, she started giving me task and being a fast learner with two weeks of resumption I was already saving after a month my salary of 3000 was doodled, I started receiving 6000. I seized that opportunity and saw where it landed me. Even though I was naive I seized that opportunity not knowing how it would end but it sure did end well, the knowledge and skill I gained is still with me for over ten years now and nobody can take it from me.

vi. Increase intensity of thought and imagination.

Just as my hubby will always tell me, the world is big so always think big it causes no harm to you but it makes you aim for a better life. There is a saying that goes “ good thinking, good product what you think it will manifest, this idea struck my heart because I am a victim and I am working towards making my mind to have great and positive thought; I should always imagine good and not negative thoughts. Whatever I picture in my mind’s eyes should always be a good thing.

vii. Learn to Love Others the Way they are

Love is kind, it does no wrong and does not hurt. So instead of demanding that they be just as I want them to be is rude I should love them the way they are, this is one way to success. Love changes the entire chemistry of our body and it condition it for the expression of a positive mental attitude.

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

These ideas will help me in a practical way both in my daily life and in helping others by trusting in myself first, yes I can do it so go for it with this also I can help the youths who are trying to start up a business by training their minds on these 17 keys to success. I am in a youth called peniel, we normally meet on Sunday for prayers, I can use this avenue to organize a seminar to teach and enlighten them about this.

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

“Be a doer not a sayer.”

This idea got my attention because it made me realize not to just say things because I wish for it but I should act on it and bring it to limelight, doors always recharge their positive mental attitude.

“Time is precise and it is now.”

Time waits for no one, as you think it acts on it immediately because time is money and it is only when you use it judiciously that you can attain that level that you want, if you don’t act on your ideas now somebody else will.

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 why?

No there isn’t anything.

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

Yes the book gave some exercise to be computed and indeed they were very helpful.

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

No there isn’t anything else.

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

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

Psychocybernetics
Assessment by Anastasia Oguche Elebiju (Nigeria)

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

Psychocybernetics is telling us how to discover ourselves, that self-discovering comes both in our failure and in our success. To really live we must find life reasonably satisfying. I should have an adequate and realistic self-image that I can live with, and one should have a wholesome self-esteem having a self-esteem that correspond to reality so that you can function effectively, the book thought me that I should know myself both my strength and weakness and be honest with myself-concerning the both. There is a life instinct inside of us which makes us crave for health, happiness and all that makes life for the individual. This life instincts works through a creative mechanism or success mechanism built in each and every one of us. Cybernetics entails that our subconscious mind is not a mind at all but a mechanism consistent of a fore brain and nervous system which is used by and directed by the mind. Sometimes you need to relax and let your success mechanism work for you. The book is centered on self. How to bring out the beauty that lies within my imagination into reality

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 life.

i. Keep your eyes on the Ball

Here this idea is telling us about focus, to be successful I need to focus and not to be distracted either by my fear or worries. There are a lot of business I wanted venturing into in the past but distraction came from different angles and I was discouraged, so many people who invested in it are successful and making their own cash now, so to be focused always makes one to keep the ball rolling. Distractions always causes delays and slow down a lot of things we want to achieve so being focused and enthusiastic about our achievement eliminates some unwanted situations that may be an obstacle for us in our quest for success.

ii. Relax and let your success mechanism work for you

To be successful is one thing that every human crave for, to acquire wealth and live the kind of life we want to live, we as humans all have a built in success mechanism that triggers us to crave for more we have all ignored it. But this book has thought me how to connect to it. William James made it clear in one of his lectures that the way to success is by surrender let go of your worries. That creative instinct is one channel that leads us to our success. anxiety most times always leave us with no choice but to be afraid of the unknown so it is better to relax and let it flow, things will fall in place just as you have thought and imagined it to be ,so it is better to relax.

iii. Victory by Surrender
Here Williams James in his lectures brought to lime light how making conscious effort will only but stress us into having chronic anxiety but we should rather submit and surrender the care of our Destiny to a higher power (God) this has been me for sometimes now in all my struggles to be successful most times when I try and I fail, I can only but pray and draw strength from my maker and whenever I do so, I see and do things in a more different and better ways. My husband is into fisheries and hatches, for so long hatching of fingerling has always given him challenges the knowledge he gained from school he has used most of the approaches but it’s not working for him, but one day he began praying that God should reveal the secrets of the work to him, that God should give him a particular approach that he will use and get a massive breeding’s, he surrendered to God and his request was granted he is good at what he does now, he even knows so many things that even some professors don’t know. So surrendering to a higher authority who is the creator of the universe can be solution to your problems, because in him lies all the power and knowledge.

iv. Acquire the Habit of Happiness

Happiness is native to human mind and its physical machinery we think better, feel better and healthier when we are happy. Even our physical sense organ work better. Happiness comes from within and to be happy is a choice only you can make. As a human being you must have one or two things you worry about, but you can always choose to be happy amidst all your problems and it is a choice I personally made in recent times, in all I choose to be happy some days, I go without money on me but instead of wailing, I put on music and dance out my worries. There is a saying in Nigeria “Wahala no day finish” meaning problems never ends, so tackle one at a time and just breath. For there is light at the end of the tunnel. Happiness is that which is earned or desired, it is a state of mind in which our thinking is pleasant a good share of time. Let that that problem not blind me to see my other blessing because as a human being except on a death bed there is something to always be thankful for and happy about.

v. Turning Crisis to Creative Opportunity

Have you been in messy situation and you think that is the end, you can turn that into another opportunity most times it is in that crisis that you rediscover yourself, so never sit down and see light in that situation.

vi. Imagination

Imagination is the first key to your success, imagination plays a very vital role in our lives we all act, feel and perform in accordance with what we have thought about ourselves in our heads to be successful starts from the mind what we have imagined and I picture is what I will bring to reality I will rather imagine beautiful things so that I can create heaven for myself.

vii. Be Courageous

To be courageous you must have courage to act on the ideas in which you have established, you should desire to act courageously on these ideas for actions speak louder than words. It is one thing to have an idea, and it is another thing to bring them into reality. I have been meaning to start up a shopping for people platform were we help you shop for food items I have been nurturing the idea for a while now but lack the courage to start it, but reading this book has now make me bold to act on this ideas as soon as possible.

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

This idea will help me in my daily personal life and in helping others by practicing the new knowledge that I have gained in such a way that it will create a hug impact on people around me sharing a daily doses of what I have learnt on my Whatsapp status and Facebook platforms for friends and families to learn and to those I can meet one on one I will gladly conceal them using these ideas.

4. Quotes: Are there any statement which the Author made that particularly got your attention? Is so pause quote and comment as to why they were important to you?

The author a made a statement that let the sleeping dog lie. Here they went on to say that once an error has been made and recognized as an error and correction made, it is equally important the error be consciously forgotten here I was remember sometime s I find myself digging it back which makes me feel bad, but with this I will surely let the sleeping dog lie,

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

None.

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

Yes there were exercise for me to do, I carried out the exercise though there were a handful of them and they are really helpful to me.

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

No there is none.

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

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

Success through a Positive Mental Attitude
Assessment by Anastasia Oguche Elebiju (Nigeria)

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

The main idea that the author was trying to convey in this book is that whatever goal, objective, plans or dreams a person have positive mental attitude is the main ingredient that bring out the good test of all the ingredients combined to make it a good and palatable food, that is positive mental attitude is the catalyst which makes any combination of success principle having a definiteness of purpose combined with all or any other success principle to yield expected end.

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 life.

i. Identify yourself with successful image.

It is difficult for me when it came to identifying myself with a successful image of a person I want to be but haven’t seen or met physically. My goal is to become an humanitarian and a philanthropist helping teenagers, vulnerable youths and single mothers. It was difficult meeting such person as a mentor, I realized that I don’t necessary need to meet any successful person I want to identify myself with physically, but that I can through other means especially through reading autobiography.

ii. Definiteness of purpose make you become alerted to opportunities that will help you achieve your objectives they present themselves in your everyday experience because you know what you want.

One of the reason I enrolled in this global institute for leadership is to discover more about myself. It was really difficult for me to be specific about what I really wanted, although I was obsessed about doing business but always applying for all NGO Jobs online related to humanitarian and community services. The NGO Jobs I always apply for was not available in the state I reside, so I made up my mind to give up the idea of doing business and face what I really wanted, while still applying for the job outside the state I live, my husband got a farm at the Federal Capital Territory state and the relocation was possible and brought me closer to the area where I can get an NGO Job in the humanitarian sector.

iii. To achieve anything worthwhile in life, it is necessary to set high goal for yourself and want to achieve it.

This idea is important to me, because I have not taught that it is necessary to set a high goal for myself I have always taught setting a small goal at a time, before one take another towards a higher one on a step by step basis.
iv. Cobwebs prevent accurate thinking when we start with premise, thinking inaccurate when we allowed all-embracing word symbols to cluster up our minds with false premise.

This idea is important to me because of the real life experience of eating catfish. My fiancé was working on a farm as a manager before we got married, he always bring catfish to our house anytime he carried out breeding or after sales when his visiting. He didn’t like eating catfish so was I then. When ask why he didn’t like eating it, “ he said the first time he tasted it in a restaurant he vomited and such was my experience when the fish was prepared at home. We continue giving out fish after we married, because both of us didn’t like eating catfish due to its taste. One day while watching a program on Television on how to prepare catfish, I decided to give it a try. I was surprise at the taste so was my husband, since then eating catfish became an addiction that we have wanted to recover those days we have avoided eating catfish. I realized that it is not the catfish taste that was the problem but in its preparation. I learnt a lesson from this idea that I should think different way by which a single thing can be done or made and not to neglect the thing because of a previous negative outcome. A lot of food my husband and I eat today are food we didn’t like eating in the past, but the realization that wrong information is a cobweb that has prevented us from accurate thinking about something base on circumstances. Our mental attitude changes towards a lot of things and not only food.

v. Select environment that will develop you best towards objectives.

My husband and I plan for relocation to another state. It was difficult for us making the decision, we had to pray about it, think and ask ourselves questions of the importance of the decision leaving our established farm behind to start over in another place. We came up a lot of very important reasons that is to the best interest for our children character development, my husbands’ business expansion and me getting a good job. We got the apartment in a low costing house estate to start with. Sine we cannot afford the rent in the area we wanted to live for now. We decided to start attending church service on Sunday outside the area we live at the environment where we planned to live. I didn’t buy the idea of going such along distance to worship on Sunday in a church outside the area we live when there is so much churches around, and my husband said to me that the place matters because that was the main reason for our relocation. I have always wanted my kids to grow in godly environment and I also need it for my spiritual growth. I didn’t understand this idea when my husband always make reference to the idea of recognizing a godly church in an environment we desire to live until he explained it to me and I also came across it while reading this book P.P.M.A.

vi. Sow an action and you reap a habit: sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.

What knowing how to acquire desirable habits and eliminate the undesirable: there was a time in my life when it was difficult for me to sleep at night, it was difficult for me because my husband had travelled for a job. I will be awake by 3 or 4am every night and will be unable to sleep till morning. This situation continued for some months, and I said to myself to turn this time of sleepless to praying time. So I made it a habit of praying at that hour am awake. when my husband came back I became very relax and the sleepless night went away, but no longer was I praying at such hour again, even when I consciously woke up between the hour of 3 to 4 am I just fell asleep immediately I close my eye. I felt emptiness, because I was no longer doing the prayer at this hour or any other time as I use to. I asked myself of the benefit I got from the time of waking up at night and pray, the different it made in my life, family and I realized the need to develop the habit intentionally to get back on track to a fruitful prayer life. I now made it a habit of waking up by 5am and pray. Some time when my husband or the alarm failed to wake me up, I find myself awake at exactly 5am or four minute late or early. This idea became more important to me because it makes me realize that forming any fruitful habit can be sow and reap, and there is a principle to actually make it work.

vii. Keep a smile in your voice: thus talking loudly and rapidly, you eliminate gruffness, you can put a smile in your voice by putting a smile on your face, a smile in your eyes.

This particular idea or exercise came to mind when I was to make thirty minutes presentation in church to people to come to the youth organized vintage charity program. I thought of a way to make this presentation as lively as possible considering I was not a very bold person but a shy one too. I had to think of a way to go about the presentation and I came up with a comic way of speaking English language using igala language intonation. It was fun, I became very excited, their was a smile in my voice, face and I was able to speak actively in any direction when making presentation with so much laughter coming out from the congregation. People were surprise that I was the one with such jovial character. It really changed my personality knowing what putting a smile in your face, eyes and mind can really bring out in you.

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

In becoming a better person, setting higher goals and achieving it through thinking and acting positive. I will only become a better person through the use of positive mental attitude and being a better person means better world. I believed you can only give what you have and have learnt a lot reading how to transform one’s life using P.M.A and if my life can be transformed positively, then I can apply same principle

4. Quotes: are there any statement which the author made that particular got your attention? If so please quote and comment as to why they were important to you

“Save one dime out of every dollar you earn. Each six months invest your savings and the interest or divided returns from these saving and investments. Before you invest, seek expert advice on safe investments.”

These statements are important to me, because it made me realized hour to save towards achieving ones set target through purposeful savings. The only reasons I have saved money in the past is for material needs and not for investment, but the way the author simplify how to save ones tenth income toward investment make it more easier to save toward higher purpose rather on material needs

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

None.

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

Yes, there were exercises for me to do and I did carried out some and currently on others that I have sent a target for.

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

None.

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

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

How to Win Friends and Influence People
Assessment by Anastasia Oguche Elebiju (Nigeria)

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

The main idea that the author Is trying to convey in the book is on how to win people to ourselves, how to deal with people knowing so well that we all come from different background with diverse perspective ; people sees and perceive life differently. Thus in our daily dealing with people across all work of life we should avoid judging people at first contact, because they do not portray what we actually want them to look like; first impression matter but mood and other circumstances come to play, if we could allow people express themselves, appreciate the little effort they put in instead of condemning them. This book teaches one how to appraise people, accept their ideology and there after show them the possibilities of doing it the right way without creating communication war. The book also teaches couples how to communicate better in their marriage by understanding the use of word and body languages.

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. Give honest and sincere appreciation: In this book the author made it clear on clear on how one should be sincere in giving others appraisal, figure out their good points, forget flattery and appreciate them sincerely.

This idea ministered to me, because I have not been sincere in giving people appraisal. In the past whenever my friends did something which was not really good and I won’t want them to feel bad, I just flattered them and they get to be cautioned by someone else and I later get the face attitude from them as a bad friend. This idea will help me in been honest to everyone without remorse feeling and appreciate people in an honest manner.

ii. Do not fear being misunderstood and do not waste a minute thinking about enemies

In my life what I have always being afraid of is for people to misinterpret my intention even though they were good, am always afraid of keeping distance with friends because of misunderstanding that their thought of negativity being in my head. This book has broadened my knowledge of how to think of the positive only, and about the friends that want to remain in ones life will always stay and be there.

iii. Use praise instead of criticism

According to BF skinner’s teaching, the good things people do will always be reinforced; when someone make an effort it is better to praise the person than finding faults to bring the person down. This idea will help in my personal life when raising my children in particular and also influencing me in dealing with people around me and the world at large. Using praise instead of finding faults will really change a lot of things for me, especially in relating and making friends, no one will want to be look down on or criticized for their genuine efforts they made, so praising people first and appreciating them is one sure way of making friends instead of keeping enemies. I learnt criticism create boundaries and therefore it should be avoided as it deter good communication and make use of word not been place appropriately, I learnt that criticism is like bully word and can make you not been sensitive to the word one use on people. A neighbor who just learnt how to bake asked me about her work and I was thinking how awful it was, but I know it will sound rude and disrespectful even if she ask for honest opinion, but it occur to me that I say something more positive in correcting her baking error. I quickly responded by telling her that she did great with the baking but she didn’t add enough baking powder to make it rise and she needed to do this and that and it will be perfect. From my response, she said people at home told her of the resources wasted on the cake for such outcome and that she should go and do something else with her time. Although it’s was a joke from her people about how awful the cake was but she had to seek for genuine opinion.

iv. Call attention to peoples mistakes indirectly

In the past I have seen how direct I was in dealing with people attacking them directly on mistake they made on their face which made them withdraw from me or stopped talking to me, but this book thought me to praise someone first and use other instances or stories to correct them without making them feel bad. Correcting people directly means you are already tempering with their ego which will hardening them the more and may turn down your corrections , but this I now know can easily be corrected by indirect correction and with love.

v. Always believe in yourself

This idea thought me the very reason one need to believe in oneself above any other thing that one is a tabernacle of unseen marvels, when you discover you will be amazed how much potentials lives in there, if I do not believe in myself who else will?. I should be intentional in achieving my goals and be proud about it.

vi. Be a good listener

This idea is very important to me because, in some ways I have not being a good listener, I am always quick to bring in my own ideas without knowing that the other person’s own idea is good too, this is a selfish act I came to realized and am glad to know better now. As humans we grow everyday, when me listens it always give opportunity to learn from the other person’s thoughts and also read in between the lines.

vii. Welcome the disagreement

This idea is very important to me because, it has thought me that disagreement is an opportunity to also be corrected If am wrong , it is an avenue for me to avert future blunder, and as human we disagree to agree. Most disagreement is good to clear the air and listen to each other to attain a glorious height.

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

This idea will help me in my daily personal life and in helping me create a better world by praticing the above ideas, living each day to be conscious about what I say to people, I will live to always put smiles on peoples face, love them despite their flaws and also spice my marriage up by showing true kindness Io my spouse.

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

The statement that particularly got my attention is “believe in yourself, you are the Tabernacle of unseen marvels. The statement really got to me as it encourage me to believe in myself, trust in me and aim for greatness which can be achievable through my dedication and discipline. There are a lot which has been deposited in me and it can Only manifest if I believe in myself.

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

No, the book is clear and well explained

6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all the exercise and did you find it helpful?

Yes the book contained exercises for me to complete. I did and will continue working on some, they were and are helpful and challenging.

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 none.

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

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

Awaken the Giant Within
Assessment by Anastasia Oguche Elebiju (Nigeria)

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 all about being focused driven, the author made me to understand that inside of us lies a great potential and we need to be intentional about making a great change. There is a giant sleeping inside of us that needs to be awakened, in me lies a great potential that needs to be brought to the limelight, how to have controlled focus and be able to command and master so many things in our lives. The book talked about how to know my values and how to also work on my belief system because it shapes my destiny and on how to also select my words because my words are a reflection of who I am and my words Carry life.

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

i. A controlled focus

This idea is personally important to me because it shows who I was before now, I am this kind of person that is easily moved by people of creativity, when I see people who are creative I admire them and I also would love to be like them or better still learn their art, but in a long run this has had a negative effect on me, it made me not to focus on what I really want to be because I have been distracted by a lot of other juicy opportunities but with this book awake the giant within has showed me how to be focus driven and be dedicated to a particular thing I intend to achieve and that I should be a master of it before I will be able to venture into another one.

ii. Raise your standards

In this book raising your standards is placing values on yourself, that is, how do I see myself? Do I allow low self-esteem overshadow me and trample on my self worth? This idea struck me because I am the type that always makes myself available for everyone body never gets same favors when I need same, I had a deep thought about this and decided to make myself a little bit scarce, that was when everybody then knew my value and began say if only Ana’s was here things would have gone better orderly and perfectly, my friends knew my value but only took advantage of it, so if I don’t put a good price tag on your goods it will be priced below it’s standards so it is good to Raise your standards and also do with a high shoulder.

iii. Change your limiting belief

If I raise my standards but don’t really believe I can meet them that means I have already sabotaged myself. I need to be certain about this new decisions I have made believing that nothing can stop me all things are possible and achievable. In the past I used to think that there is some particular age you will reach and you will not be able to achieve some certain things but that all changed after I watched a Chinese man at the age of 60+years decided to be a model and a run way model at that, after watching that, I told myself that I can be what ever I choose to or desire to be it doesn’t matter the age.

iv. Man is born to live and not prepare to live.

This particular idea means a lot to me because it helped me realize that I don’t need to have everything I wish to have before living my life. I can not deprive myself of enjoying the little things I have because the bigger ones are not yet ready, this idea makes me to know that life is a gift and should live and enjoy every moment.

v. Realize now the power your words command if you simply choose them wisely

The words that comes out of our mouths is a reflection of who we are ,word carry power and they sure guides our human behavior and it also reflects on our journey to being a successful person. This idea struck me because as a person working towards being a successful person I have to be guided by what I say because it is my motivation and my greatest drive to speak those positive words into my soul. when ever I speak those positive words into my soul I feel much more alive than being depressed and it helps me to achieve my goals faster, In the never watch my words I used words how ever I feel not minding if they have negative effect those words have on me, sometimes those negative words makes me to give up easily once I try some thing and it doesn’t come out the way I want I will just abandoned it and move on , but my husband really sharpened my thoughts as he would always encourage me to watch my words and be of a more positive person, my words Carry power, those positive words are destiny shapers and aids one to attain success. This book has also enlighten me in many ways on how much power my words command so I have realized it and I’m making necessary amends.

vi. If you don’t know your true value prepare for pain.

This idea is personally important to me because I personally don’t value my self ,on so many occasions I have been taken advantage of because I didn’t place value on myself this idea made me realize that over simplicity as humans open door for insults from people and in a way people think they can walk away freely even if they hurt you. so I have decided to only go to were I’m valued. For example,. A table water that goes for a dollar in a random super market can also be sold at a hotel or an airport for 5 dollars, it is same water same content, and same company who produced the water, but change in environment gave them all a different value so it is very important to stay in a place where you are valued.

vii. Harness the power of decision

This particular idea struck my attention because it made me to remember the true power of making decisions, this means that making decisions helps us to be a better person and allow us to know what we truly want, it also makes me to make a true commitment and be sure I keep to my promises of being committed, as a good leader one should always make decisions often and learning to play from the decisions which I have made, and also in as much as I am committed to my decisions it is also good that I stay flexible about it and be joyous in making decisions. It boosts ones confident.

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 will help me in a practical way both in my daily personal life and in helping me to create a better world by putting all this new ideas in to practice, this idea s will make me stay true to the decisions I have made and also to be committed. I have decided to learn new skills in order to build myself financially and I will make sure that I am dedicated to achieving this and not be distracted. I have also decided to use my social media platforms to encourage friends about commitment and decision making to better their 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.

“Goals take you beyond your limits of a world of unlimited power.”

This statement particularly got my attention because goals allows to focus well on what ever you have chosen to achieve, living a life without goals limits you because the world is a big place with a lot of things to explore and make a living out of it, but if you are not focused to succeed you might just give up and settle for less, this statement awaken the giant within me to set my goals and be focused on achieving it without distractions.

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

There is nothing.

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

Yes there were and it was all carried out.

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

No further comment.

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

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

Creating your Path Through Leadership
Assessment by Oguche Anastasia Elebiju (Nigeria)

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

The main idea that the author was trying to convey in this book is on how different graduates of the international institute for global leadership were able to navigate their paths through leadership studies. The book which is centre on various leaders’ biography exposed a lot to me on how taking leadership course can make one to relearn and unlearn to become a better version of myself. Creating your paths through leadership unlocked so many things and challenges that people take and go through to become a better version of themselves. When you are on your way to becoming a good leader there are so many obstacles and temptation that comes your way but we learn through them. Sometime those obstacles become an eye opener thereby allowing us to rediscover ourselves and creating our own paths to becoming a great leader.

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 life.

i. Realize the power of mind

The universe operates in accordance with our individual and collective beliefs and attitudes, we have incredible creative powers to determine our future within the frame work of a collective belief system and sometimes outside of it, so as an individual I need to take charge of my mind as I am the first prophet of my life, I need to agree in my mind about great achievement and tell myself I can achieve some before it begins to even manifest on the outside. Realizing the power of the mind is one big step to actualizing our dreams, so far our mind can take it and digest it , then we can achieve it no matter the challenge.

ii. Be intentional

Being an intentional has helped me in several ways to actualized my goal and dreams. Since I discovered the international institute for global leadership and started reading some books I was able to take to practical some of what I learnt and I was able to achieve it , because being intentional about doing something has made me not to only make wishes but also write out ways in which I will be able to achieve all the goals, planned properly and in making sure that I achieve my goal. There was a time I wanted to learn how to make souvenir bags, and I felt it will be easy for me since I have good knowledge of sewing and that I can just be creative with various ideas and make the bags, but that wasn’t it. I gave it a try and watched some You Tube videos, but I still didn’t get the result I wanted. I decided one day to get apprenticeship with a bag maker to learn how to make the bag. I wrote out plans to pay the people I wanted to do apprentice with and to start the apprenticeship training. After starting the apprenticeship, my other ideas is to learn different sewing and other items apart of bag making. I was able to achieve so much within a space of one month into the apprenticeship.

iii. Embrace your uniqueness

Growing up as a teen was challenging for me as I had to battle with low self-esteem, but navigating my path through leadership has thought me to embrace my uniqueness and that there is no other as me. I am my own version. If I decided to be someone else it is going to be uncomfortable, so I have to embrace my own uniqueness.

iv. Clarify your values

Your values are the true essence that gives direction to your life. Having values have guided me to make right decisions about my life. I have always wanted to have a master degree in clinical and mental health and the first thing for me was to get my transcript from the school I graduated from. I had made several attempts to get my transcript from the school after many months that I had applied for it, but still yet to get it and it was becoming very frustrating. I had started the process earlier but had to reapply for it with additional cost of starting all over again. I believe that I should do what I love and its to help people with their mental health, and I believe getting more knowledge and the opportunity to practice will help me achieve my goal and living the values I cherish about life. I still believe in getting my transcript and securing a scholarship to further and I still believe that is possible. So, clarifying my values is part of being true to myself to set my priorities right.

v. Beyond dreams

Beyond dreams and wishes is not just about dreaming and making wishes .As a timid child while growing up I didn’t really understand how to go about achieving my dreams coming from a humble background, I always wish to be wealth in life, but I didn’t know how the rich make their wealth. It didn’t just happen, dreams are planned for and goals are mapped out on how to achieve them. So as an individual I no longer just dream, but after dreaming I also plan ways through which I can achieve my dream.

vi. Seek a mentor

As a person I have never believed in seeking for a mentor, but I have had a couple of them in the past. Recently my mentor has been my brother Philip Oguche. I have seen how he has navigated through life and made it to the top. All the steps he took and things he did to achieved what he had. I always want to take those steps through his guidance, and how he has been mentoring and rendering his assistance to me in order to achieve my goal. So having a mentor can be a source of strength when every other things seems to be failing, as this encourages and put one back on track.

vii. Power of effective communication

Effective communication teaches us to show positive body language, consider the opinion of others, be confident in our ideas, think before we speak and listen while a person is speaking . The power of effective communication has made me to become more of a listener, because in the past I have always that challenge of listening to others while they speak.

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

Using the power of effective communication will in a practical way to be more accommodating and considerate in my work place, business and relationship

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

A quote by Les Brown: “Shoot for the moon even if you miss you will land among the start.”

This is important to me because it gives me the courage to start anyhow I can and there shall be a result even if I don’t get my expected outcome but a close one is better than none.

“You cannot start the next chapter if you keep rereading the last one.”

It is about me letting go of the past and beating around the bush about one’s current situation without making move toward alternative option of doing thing. It is important that I keep on acquiring knowledge of how things can be done by exploring new innovations.

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

None.

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

Yes, there were exercises for me to do, I am currently doing some and practicing some of the ideas I learnt from the book

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

No there is none.

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

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

Maximum Achievement
Assessment by Anastasia Oguche Elebiju (Nigeria)

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

The main idea that the author is trying to convey in this book is on how an individual can reach his or her maximum potentials by following some principles of life, that will make them achieve, and reach their life fulfillment. Brian Tracy in this book explained vividly using his life experiences to explain the strategies and skills that we will use to unlock our hidden power to succeed, goal mapping, health and energy, relationships, self-knowledge, and also abiding to the laws of life (natural and man-made) will all aid and guide us to achieving our full potential in life.

2. What are 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 example from your life.

i. Peace of mind

This idea got my attention because peace is one thing that every human desire and want in our homes, work places, relationship with others and even in our countries. This idea made me to realize that I need to make myself very happy no matter the challenge or circumstances it has to be me first, let me have that happiness within me first before I will be able to give others. You cannot make someone happy when you yourself are sad. Even if you try it, it is only going to be for a short period, so it is a good idea that I should always work on my happiness every now and then so that I can have enough to share.

ii. Self-knowledge and self-awareness

This goes hand in hand with inner happiness and outer achievement “man know thyself.” This statement simply means to perform at your best you need to know who you are. This idea got my attention because sometime early this year, I did not know myself anymore, I could not dream or think. I was really helpless because of life challenges, if I want to do any meaningful thing, I get distracted and over think myself to sleep, but at a point I started reminding myself of who I am. Saying to myself who am i. saying to myself that my name is Anastasia meaning resurrection power of God that raises Jesus from the dead, lives inside of me. I kept on saying to myself and I felt better whenever I say this. I always feel like a lion that is roaring and I want to tear something apart. With this energy I put into my daily works and affair is on a different level.

iii. The law of control

The law of control says that you feel positive about yourself to the degree to which you tell yourself that you are in control of your own life and you feel negative when you feel others are in control of your life. This idea got my attention because as a person it has helped me in the past to be in charge of my life and even now. Whenever I had a negative dream at night, I don’t just jump up and start screaming, I will immediately close my eyes and go back to the dream. And I act it the way I want it to be and cancel every of the negative thing I had previously encountered in that same dream. I act it the way I want it to be, then I will wake up and say my prayers. For example, when I dreamt that someone was beating me in a dream, I will quickly short my eyes use another energy and climbed on that person, I will give him or her the beating of his or her life. So it is good to always be in control of our life and what happen round us.

iv. Law of attraction

This law is neutral as it can help you or hurt you. This is more like the law of what you sow is what you will reap. This law is helpful to me in that it reminded me that any hard work I put in to whatever I am doing today I will surely reap the fruit of my labour. Sow a thought you reap an act, sow a habit you reap a character, sow a character you reap a destiny.

v. Associating with positive people

Get around the right people and associate with winners. This idea helped me to realize that people around us affect the way we think. It is good to deliberately select great minds and successful people to be around me. There is a colleague of mine I always avoid having conversation with, because her talk is always about politics and pouring of insults on the president or the citizen that voted the president. I have tried several approached to talking out of using such language falls on deaf ear. I had to avoid such company and hope to get a better job and lace where I can get such great mind which my soul needs for improvement.

vi. Courage and honesty

You need courage to be your own psychotherapist. Courage is needed basically in all areas of our life. I can relate to this because life has offered me a couple of challenges that the option I had was to be courageous and to face my fears to be able to defeat the giant in front of me.

vii. Feeding your mind

Cabbage in cabbage out. Our mind like a computer, whatever we feed it is what it will produce. If I continue to think about greatness and how to become great on life, I will start seeing myself doing things that will lead me to greatness, from my mind I will start figuring how to achieve it. So it is good to feed our mind with positive things. I say to myself: I am great; I am the best of my version; There is non like me; I am beautiful
I can do it; I am the apple of Gods eye; God loves me dearly

3. How will this idea help me in a practical way both in your daily life and in helping you to create a better world, if so how?

The law of habit- everything we do or become as a human is from a habit, the way I talk, walk, work, drive, think and interact with others. So practically I have decided to work on some habit to always appraise people like if someone looks good or made new hair to compliment the person and say to her that she is beautiful, your hair look good on you, you are beautiful. This I believe make them happy and fulfilled, and makes me have friends instead of enemies.

4. Quotes: Are there any statement which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so please quotes as to why they are important to you.

“Success is just failure turned inside out.”

This is important to me because it will help me to prepare for success having failure in mind and believing that failure is part of the process to succeeding.

“If necessity is the father of invention, then pain is the mother of learning.”

This is important to me because it helps me to think of learning as the giving birth of new thing I want to have in my life, as I long as I want it I have to give birth to it through 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? If so why?

I don’t have anything in the book that I disagreed with

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

Yes, there were exercises for me to do

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

No there is none.

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

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

Goal Mapping
Assessment by Anastasia Oguche Elebiju

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

The main idea that the author convey in this book is about mapping goals and working to achieve them. He talked about things that are physical and a combination of words and pictures. When refers to left brain and right brain. Our left brain thinks in words while our right brain thinks in pictures. The book is an eye opener as it vividly guided me to setting my goals in life, whether I have the resources yet or not let it be on my list. let me dream it first, have the idea of what it looks like to write them down, from there my answer will come. Mapping out goals directs our paths to greatness.

2. What are 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 example from your life.

i. Dream

What do I want: dream is a succession of images, ideas, emotions and sensations that usually occur involuntary in the mind during certain stages of sleep. Dream energizes our mind and gives us hope, so dreaming is one of those steps that leads to success. Before one begin to create things, it first sprung up from their mind or from their subconscious. Ideas are gotten sometimes when we shot our eyes we dream and an idea comes up, what do we make out of it. What do I really want to achieve in this dream, what I do I really want? Everything begins in the mind, think big and do not allow any negative thought discourage you. It is good to be well focused so that you will always see the possibility of achieving your dream. Although your dream could be bigger than your present capability, but dream it anyway, so far as is believable a d realistic, I will definitely achieve them once my mind is set on achieve it to work toward it.

ii. What is my priority.

This particular idea got my attention because it thought me that in goal mapping my goals should start with the most important goal, marking and setting our priorities right goes a long way to show how we make impact with our lives and the lives of others often depends on what we decide to prioritize. Once I am cleared on my goal am able to make better informed decisions that will guide my life choices. Priorities are those areas of my life that meaningful and very important, so I should always put those things that are important first on my list. When I prioritize I will be able to manage my time properly as everything I do will be channel towards things that matters most.

iii. Draw

What does it look like: drawing our dream gives vivid illustration on how its going to look like, even if we cannot draw, just a little stretch of it gives us the zeal to work toward achieving our goals. With the picture I can say this is what I want and this is how it is going to look like. Felix pointed out that now is the time to power up goals by turning our written words into pictures. Our subconscious mind works with pictures and thinks with pictures, so drawing them helps one to always be connected to his or her dream. Our right brain plays a major role here as it is the side of the brain that interprets in pictures, so drawing my goals no matter how the picture looks will give me that feeling and desire will give me an edge to make my dream colorful.

iv. Why

Why do I want it: in this step, it deals with our emotional reasoning of why we desire to achieve our goals, this particular idea got my attention because lately I decided to take some steps that will help me get a better life in the future. I have been frustrated for some time now about the economy of my country and how things has become, it is difficult for an average man to survive, this situation made me to start taking bold steps for the future of my children. I decided to move to a new environment and have started saving towards it, we decided to leave because the new environment will allow us to grow and have a better life with the high chance of getting a good job. So setting ones goals and having a reason to why you set such goals helps to achieve it even faster.

v. When

When do I want it: in this idea, felix pointed out that this is the time to choose a date, to set a deadline when you would like to achieve the goal. Here we are to set time on our goals not just any goal of ours, but the main goal. So setting an achievable timeline will help me to achieve my goal without procrastination and also in helping me to be serious and hardworking.

vi. How

How will I achieve it: this is the step I started asking myself about what are the three main actions can I take or things I can do that will help me move forwards achieving my goals. This helps me to think and ask myself these three questions below
Are there new skills or talents that I will need to develop?
Are there new qualifications or teachings that I will need to gain?
Are there new resources or income that I need to secure?
These particular steps made me to search within me talents and skills that I may need to acquire to achieve my goals, even my qualification needs an upgrade and I have decided to register to further a course in clinical and mental health in the coming months. This I decided because it will help me I n pursing my future and achieving my goals.

vii. Who

Whose help will I require? Here is to determine the people whose help I will need, whose cooperation and assistant I will need to achieve my goal. Relationships are everything. To achieve anything of consequence you will need the help of lots of people. The more and better relationship I develop, the faster I will be able to achieve my goals and the better they will be part of my life. Here I need to note the key people in my life, and do things that will make me gain their assistant in my professional life

3. How will this idea help me in a practical way both in your daily life and in helping you to create a better world, if so how?

These ideas will in a practical way help me in my daily life and in helping me create a better world by drawing, writing and achieving my goals. The step by steps ideas in this book made me to be able to figure out how to achieve my dream and it has motivated me to pick up myself and never give up, because the whole world is awaiting for my impact to be felt in the world of mental health campaign.

4. Quotes: Are there any statement which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so please quotes as to why they are important to you.

None.

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

I don’t have anything in the book that I disagreed with.

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

Yes, there were exercises for me to do.

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

No there is none.

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

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

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
Assessment by Anastasia Oguche Elebiju (Nigeria)

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

The main idea the author Steven Covey in his book- the seven habits of highly effective people is that; let me quickly define the meaning of the word effective. To be effective means to be successful in producing a desired or intended result. So covey in his book talked about how we as individual perceive, understand and interprets the world around us, he talked about working on the mind, as most of the things displayed on the outside starts from the inside. The book really place emphasis on the importance of personal responsibility, goal setting, prioritization, effective communication, collaboration and self care in achieving success and fulfillment in life. Covey guided us through each habit explaining how to apply them in our personal and professional life and how to create the shift from a mind-set of dependence and independence to one of interdependence and collaboration.

2. What are 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 example from your life.

i. Be proactive

Our is basically a composite of our habit, so proactivity simply means taking responsibility for our lives, our behaviors is a function of our decision, so whatever we decide to put out there sprung up from our own personal doings from the way we take ourselves that is the same way others will, no one can hurt you without your control and no one can take away ourselves respect if we do not give it to them. Our language matters in all of these whether we choose to be reactive or proactive is a matter of choice, reactive people are always bitter people because their environment controls them and they are affected by it. Reactive language : there is nothing I can do, that’s just the way I am, he make me so sad, I cant, I must. But being proactive allows us to speak language of lets look at our alternative, I can choose a different approach, I can create an effective presentation, I can, I will, I prefer. So being proactive allows us to create and manage.

ii. Begin with the end in mind

We detect rather than invent our mission in life. This particular idea got my attention because it really made me to think deep toward my life dream and aspirations, and I asked myself this question? How will my story end? I have always pictured this sweet and loving life for myself and I know that very soon I will get there, so convey on this particular habit emphasize the need to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve as this will help you stay focused and motivated, having clear mission statement will reflect that uniqueness of mind both in content and in form. This mission statement is like a fuel that keeps me going on my journey to success.

iii. Put first things first

Things that matter most must not be at the mercy of things which matters least. This particular idea got my attention as the third habits to be an effective person, because it talked about prioritizing our task and focusing on the most important ones. The power of independent will which makes self-management possible, as it guides to make it possible for one to make decisions and choices and to act in accordance to them. Quandrant One talked about urgent issues and how it require urgent attention, of which it can burn us up because of its urgency, but Quadrant Two on the other hand is the heart of effective personal management. It deals with things that are not urgent but very important. It deals with things like building relationship, writing a personal mission statement, long range planning and preparation. So putting first thing first requires us to also do a critical calculation of how we will be able to manage all our affairs in a long run, building a lasting relationship with family, business partners and friends and be intentional about them all these will make us to become highly effective in the society.

iv. Think win-win

A win for one is a win for all. This habit by convey talked about a win-win as a frame of mind and heart that constantly seek mutual benefit in all human interactions. Win-win means that our agreements or solutions are mutually beneficial and mutually satisfying. Win-win sees life as a cooperative not a competition arena, win-win exist on the paradigm that is plenty for everyone. That one persons success not achieved at the expense or exclusion of the success of others. This habit is one in which I felt the whole world knows about it and live by it because what is the fight for , what is the hate for, if only we can love and live peacefully and accommodate ourselves to coexist appropriately and enjoy the wonders that God Almighty has bestowed upon us. Also relate to this win win habit as also being happy for others even when they are doing better than us, celebrate them because one day you will also be celebrated as a win for one is also a win for all.

v. Seek first to understand and then to be understood

This habit talked about listening to others first carefully, before you share your own point of view. The principle of empathetic communication. The way we communicate and pass on information to others be over emphasize as it is the root of human living and being able to coexist appropriately peacefully requires communicating well. Allow people to express themselves concerning a situation first, even if you know they are wrong, correct them with love and point out where you know they did wrong, correct them with love and point out where you know they did wrong. Listening to others is a great skills that I personally need to acquire as an individual. Do not listen with the intend to reply rather listen with the intent to understand what the person is trying to say

vi. Synergy

Synergy a word which simply means the interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substance, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects. Convey talked about this habit to synergize as a creative cooperation. That is to create something that is greater than the sum of its parts. Convey connected synergy with the habits and how it focuses on the four unique human endowment, the motive of win-win and the skills of empathetic communication. Synergy is everywhere in nature, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. How two different individual can cooperate and achieve greater goals in life. I have seen two different individual achieve greater thing than one. One had the money but no business idea, and the other has idea and very intelligent and skilful. And when they both agree to partner together, what they both achieved was mind blowing, and they both become two successful men, because they synergized and at the end is a win-win for both.

vii. Sharpen the saw

This habit talked about preserving and enhancing the greatest asset that I have. Renewing the four dimensions of my nature, physical, spiritual, mental, and social or emotional. So I have to express all four of this and take care of them. consistently and regularly in wise and balanced manners. So I must be proactive in any approach. The most valuable investment one can ever make is to invest in oneself, taking proper care of my body. Checking up on my mental health, keeping good relationships with others and taking out time to enjoy myself and be with family

3. How will this ideas help you in a practical way both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world if so how?

These ideas and habits will I a practical way help me in my daily life and in helping me create a better world by changing and working on my self first to create this habit of win win situation around me, and also educate those around me with this habits so that the world will be a peaceful place for all to live and be happy.

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

“The way we see the problem is the problem.”

“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual being having a human experience.”

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

None.

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

Yes, there were exercises for me and it involve daily practices of what I learnt

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

No there is none.

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

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

Goals
Assessment by Anastasia Elebiju (Nigeria)

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

The book GOALS by Brian Tracy is centred on the ways things we need to do to achieve our goals in life, how to set them and achieve them. Brian showed us how to unleash the power of goal setting to help me get or become what ever I want, identifying ways to set goals that will lead me to being successful in life to be specific, challenging myself thinking positively, preparing, adjusting my timeline on big goals to reach greater satisfaction in every aspect of my life. Brian also talked about how goals fuels motivation and define our road maps to realising our dreams and also helps us to accelerate our success and personal growth.

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 life.

i. Accept yourself the way you are.

This idea got my attention as Brian rightly said in the book that first things first, discover your strength, we are born with certain natural skills, abilities, tendencies, strength, weakness and talents which emerge in early life and usually crystallise in our late teens, they do not change very much over the course of your life time. This idea got me, because right from childhood, I have always live a life of service to others, anywhere I found myself I always serve people and try to make every one around happy. When I was about 10 years old in my church, I was born a catholic, so there is this group I belonged to call legion of Mary, we gathered together to pray and thereafter activities were assigned to us to carryout, like sweeping of the church premises, praying for specific people, assisting in church decorations. Most times when I was assigned prayers or to sweep but I was not satisfied with it, and my friends on the other side were always ask to go and decorate the church altar, oh how I loved to do this, so decided to follow my friends to do this on a Saturday, and that was how I started finding joy. I also anticipate Saturday to always come so I can do some decorations; I was so good at this that I grew into doing this for my church for almost 15 years. I have seen myself as someone who wants to live a life of service to others, I have a dream of furthering my education and giving back to the society in the aspect of medical care, especially in mental health, helping women live a better life and create a better society with a good sound mind. This point really made me to identify what I really want in life. Mary Baker Follet once wrote “the very best direction to ride a horse is in the direction it is going.” The very best way to develop myself is in the direction of my natural talents and interest, this means to nurture my nature. Brian encouraged me here to embrace my talents that make me unique and different from others.

ii. Born to excel

Natural talents are inborn, they are programmed in the subconscious mind, they are what we put on this earth to achieve. This idea got me because it talked about how to discover the area of natural talents. Here our natural talents come to play. Every human being is blessed with a gift by the almighty God, it is left for us to discover it from within ourself. God is so big and mighty for him to create a thing without his or her own talent, it is for us to just discover it. It sad how people talk about only two types of intelligence, but there are several of them in which an individual will at least have one, be it spatial intelligence, bodily kinesthetics intelligence, musical intelligence, social, emotional or logical intelligence one can excel in life. Once we discover ourselves and make good use of this talent. God has created everyone of us to excel, so its left for us His creation to search within us to bring out that innate ability of ours outside for the world to see. We most put our mind to work and search, because whoever seek will find, and whoever knocks the door will be open unto him.

iii. Associate with the right people

Here Brian talked about our relationship with customers. Identifying with them whose help we are going to be needing or requiring. Who are they?. In setting goals for our business and in other to achieve those goals we need the right people around us, because birds of feathers flocks together. It talked about which organisations help will I need to grow my own business, what are their flaws and how can hey help me to avoid making mistakes that might ruin my business. It is good to associate with like minds to be able to excel well in my business.

iv. Manage your time

Choices and decisions get you time under control. Sense of control is like a feeling of happiness, confidence, power and personal well being and a sense of control is only possible when you practice excellent time management skills. Time management is a skill and like any other skill is learnable no matter how disorganised you have been. You can also learn to be organise if you choose to, whether you always procrastinate you can learn to do things at the right time, one thing I am good at is having my day planned, how and when to do some certain things and these requires determination and self-discipline. Brian also talked about applying our 80/20 rule or practicing my ABCDE method to manage my task and keep my feet on track. ABCDE method is putting your major goal as that means start with the most important things first, set your priority right.

v. Your past is not your future

“It doesn’t matter where you are coming from, it is where you are going to. How much do you like yourself. In psychology, your level of self esteem determines your level of happiness. This idea got me, because it make me to understand that I should never allow people to determine my happiness at any time. There are some people who derives joy in seeing you sad, never let them. They always have the habit of reminding you of your past especially if they see that you are happy at the moment. They are just there to steal your joy, don’t let them. My past is my past I am not living there anymore, I am now in my future and that is what matters most and I will make the most of it.

vi. Clarify your values

Know how you are. Life is lived from the inside out, one of my personalities is my values and my values are what makes me who I am. Anything I do on the outside is dictated and determined by my values on the inside, whether clear or fuzzy. The greater clarity I have regarding my values on the inside the more precise and effective will be my actions on the outside. It is good for me to know the things that are of importance to me, if possible rank them so I will know which one is very important and how I will work to achieve them. It is good to also possesses positive values such as love, compassion and generosity and it will make me belief that people in my world are deserving of these values and I will treat them accordingly. One of the best understood language in the world is the language of love, so it is good to give out other whether they deserved it or not.

vii. Unlock your potential

The potentials of n average person is like a huge ocean unsailed. A new continent unexplored, a world of possibilities waiting to be released and channelled toward some great good. Our ability to set goals is in the matter skills of success. Goals unlock our positive mind and release ideas and energy for goal attainment. Do not hide your side, explore and set goals as sales trainer Tom Hopkins says goals are the fuel in the furnace of achievement. This idea encouraged me to always think about what I want and how I will become what I think about most of the time.

3. How will this ideas help you in a practical way both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world if so how?

These ideas will help me in my personal life and help me create a better world by putting all what I have learned and acquired from this book into action. Sitting down to think critically about my goals, setting them and writing out plans on how to achieve them. Goals fuels the motivation and define the road maps to realising my dream, goals helps me to assess where I am in currently in my personal and professional life. So I need to set my goals because this world is waiting for me. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time, so step by step and little by little I will achieve my big goals and I have decided to start it now by writing them down.

4. Quotes: are there any statement which the author made that particular got your attention? If so please quote and comment as to why they were important to you.

“The person interested in success has to learn to view failure as a healthy inevitable part of the process getting to the top.”

Temporary failures always proceeds success. This quote means that one is expected to fail and fall short many times before achieving success. Failure is merely an opportunity to be more intelligently begin again. If you fail at some thing, there is always a new thing you will learn whenever you fail at something. It is either you didn’t do it well or followed the right step or may be you don’t even have the full knowledge of doing that. So imagine doing something over and over again you become perfect in it, be it business or trying to create something, we become better at the thing when we repeat the process.
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5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about or are there ideas which you disagree with? If so why?

None.

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

Yes, there were exercises for me and it involved daily practices of what I learned.

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

No there is none.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from one to ten. Ten is good and 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? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

Leadership for Dummies
Assessment by Anastasia Elebiju (Nigeria)

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

John Mairin in his book, Leadership for Dummies explore the fine line between managing and leading and the book is full of tips for making the most of my leadership experiences and how to cope with the dilemmas and discomfort all leaders at some point experience. He also talked about how to lead our friends while still remaining their friend, how to lead change in a way that people accept and understand, when and where to draw the line and how to reflect on your experiences to becoming a better and more effective leader. He also talked about the meaning of leadership, types of leadership, leading myself and others, singing my leadership songs, being my best critic, and he also talked about clarifying how I add value to my life and also creating a sense of purpose 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 life.

i. Pinning down the meaning of leadership.

This idea got my attention because the author vividly explained the meaning of leading, he talked about understanding the difference between leadership leading and being a leader. Knowing what it takes to be an engaging leader and also deciding personally what leadership truly means to me. Here we are asked to pin the meaning of leadership down so that by doing so one can be able to really know and understand what is expected of us as a leader. That is what you expect of yourself and others may expect from you. By so doing I will be able to work progressively on becoming the great leader that I inspire to be. Leadership is a process; we grow in doing it and understand things better as we do so while leading is more of an activity. In leading my team, you need to involve them in contributing to the teams’ objective like contributing to decision making and taking actions to implement those decisions.

ii. Leading yourself

This idea got my attention because it talked about leading from the inside out, knowing myself from within and become a good and better leader on the outside. This idea made me to ask myself some questions, if I don’t really know myself, how can I lead others, if I don’t know my strengths and weakness, how can I manage other people at their lowest ? the people I am leading is just like a reflection of myself in a group and in a different body. So I need to know myself very well in order to become an authentic leader. I need to develop myself confident , be my best critic, criticize myself even though it is me, and also harnessing the power of reflection and discover how to lead from my own personal experience believing in myself, setting my goals and working towards achieving them, believe! Believe ! and leave doubting Thomas to doubt him self.
iii. Singing your leadership song.

This idea got my attention because the author talked about; knowing when you are out of tone with your values; appreciating the value of your values; getting in tune with others. Leadership in this phrase is just like singing a song and when you are out of tune people tend not to enjoy your music anymore, so as a leader it is good to always know when you are out of tune and work towards fine tuning your music to the one that is pleasant to the ears, and acknowledge that it is not good and it doesn’t feel right. One has to be an authentic leader, authentic leader knows themselves and they are genuine and they know what is important and what’s not there by making them to know the values and their actions and behavior are always aligned or congruent with those values.

iv. Leading others.

This idea got my attention because it talked about having the knowledge, skills, competence and understanding of how to engage, motivate and manage people. This idea also means how we can understand how to be a great leader, what is expected of us, how to motivate my dream to accomplish it. My company’s and this implies becoming a visionary leader, valuing having a vision. My vision for my company serves as a drive that leads me towards achieving the goals that I have set to achieve.

v. Discovering that you have more influence than you think.

Your success is influencing people and situations in as much down to your mindset as to you having a particular skill. You can either be a victim of change or an agent of change. Accepting to being an agent of change means you are likely to look for opportunity to improve the performance of your organization and bring in new innovations and creativity. Discovering that you have more influence than you think is an idea that got my attention, because last Sunday in my church, I was surprised when a member of leadership team walked up to me and asked me If I will accept to be part of the leadership team, that if I accept to join that she will be glad to nominate me into the leadership team of the church. I was so surprised, because I didn’t see that coming, so most times we don’t even know the impact we create by the little things we do, people see it and they use it to judge us whether good or bad.

vi. Becoming an engaging leader.

This idea implies how we enhance our relationship with people. Working with and not for people and recognizing our existing skills in performing in an organization. Having a genuine interest in others, building strong connections, being non judgmental, developing the courage to speak my mind at all time, standing out from the crowd, coping with embarrassment and threat, seeing what others missed, listening for meanings, being brilliant at building commitment, focusing on winning together and avoiding meaningless language

vii. Celebrating peoples’ contribution

Celebrate the contribution that people made and are making to the success of your team. When an individual is not recognized on appraised for the contributions he or she has made to the organization, they tend to be demoralized when their past contribution to the success of the company is over looked. Appraising and recognizing individual contribution can even make others to seat up, like those who are hardly noticed will like to do something or bring ideas that will take the company to another level. So keeping appraisals causes harm and reduce creativity but when recognized or even awarded for such efforts will improve performance. There is a particular hotel my church uses for Sunday service, and for like almost every month the company have their employee of the month celebrated, they have a laminated photo of the employee of the month laminated and placed at the reception. I think with this every employee will like to be at their best always so that they too will also be celebrated.

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping to create a better world? If so, how?
These ideas will in a practical way help me to now prepare myself very well for my future career as by Gods’ grace I will be working in a bigger organization, and I will be looking up to myself to be a leader in every area of my life taking responsibility and also teaching my co-worker about leadership.

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

None.

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

None.

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

Yes, there were exercises for me and it involves daily practices of what I learned.

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

No, there is none.

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

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 others? 8
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8

Nonviolent Communication
Assessment by Anastasia Elebiju (Nigeria)

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

The main idea that the author is trying to convey in this book is on how we can communicate in a non-violent way; he talked about non-violent communication is a trait of healthy , loving relationships; communicating without passing judgement on others; listening to others and showing empathy to others and creating a happy environment for all. It entails that each person communicate in a way that maintain the dignity of the other person. Not name calling, no ridicule or mockery, no comparison, no threats. It is a choice we create on how we translate judgement or blames and speak and listen in a way that boosted the heart to connect. Non violent communication is the key and it is also a lifeline of any relationship. The way we express ourselves and listen to others by focusing our consciousness.

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 life.

i. Giving from the heart

Believing that it is our nature to enjoy giving and receiving in a compassionate manner. This idea got my attention because it reminds me ones again that as humans we should be always ready and willing to give at all times. It is not good to exploit others, but rather give so that you can receive, give people your attention. Someone who can listen to them without judging them. Non violent communication guides in refraining how we express ourselves and hear others. Instead of being habitual automatic reactions, our world become conscious response based firmly or an awareness of what we are perceiving , feeling and writing. We are led to express ourselves with clarity, honesty and while paying other a respectful and empathic attention.

ii. Observing without evaluating.

Here the idea is talking about separating of observation from evaluation. We need to clearly observe what we are seeing, hearing or touching that is affecting our sense of well being without mixing in am evaluation. This idea talk about how we wish to clearly and honestly express ourselves how we are to another person. So this idea make me to understand that I should not mix my observation with my evaluation , when one does that it decreases the likelihood that others will hear our intended messages; so we need to be careful when speaking as individual tends to pick those negative words that we say to them. In conclusion this idea pointed out that when observing, don’t blame your party as people are apt to hear criticism that thus resist what we are saying. Rosenberg also pointed out that this idea doesn’t entails that we completely remain objective and refrain from evaluating. Nonviolent communication is a process language t hat discourages static generalisation, instead evaluation made based on observation specifies to time and context.

iii. Observing without evaluating is the highest form of human intelligence.
identifying and expressing feeling

Expressing our vulnerability can help resolve conflicts. We use our feelings to express ourselves in different ways. In this idea our emotions comes to play , we can connect more easily with one another, allowing ourselves to be vulnerable by expressing our feelings can help resolve conflicts feelings. This idea got my attention because the author guided us into how we can express our feelings without hiding them. And the right choice of words to use in expressing them. Most time I feel it difficult to express myself to others, maybe an incident happen and it is not my fault, the person tend to blame me always remain silent most especially if the person is using a higher tone of voice to communicate, but reading this book has opened my mind on how to communicate well and express my self. Most time if I don’t get to express the way I intended I always feel bad always. If I can take back the hands of time to do that to do that. So it is always pleasurable to express our feelings.

iv. Taking responsibility for our feelings

What others do might be the stimulus for our feelings but not the cause. We see that our feelings result from how we choose to receive what others say and do as well as our particular needs and expectation in that particular moment, here that response to people in a way that will make you angry and speak in a violent manner, even if someone should approach you in a violent manner, try to choose your word constructively, do not listen to response. This idea got my attention because I just pictured a scenario where someone who has been longing to pick a fight with you tries to do so by saying words that are hurting to you and you also replied bitterly. It is going to be a disaster, a war, but if you choose your word properly you will win. Be responsible for your own feeling, do not let another person control your emotions and how you react to things, so it is good to always be in charge of how other make you feel.

v. The power of empathy:

According to Carl Rogers, empathy means when someone really hears you without passing judgement on you, without trying to take responsibility away from you, without trying to mould you. Empathy allows us to re perceive our world in a new way and move on. The more empathise with others the safer we feel. The power of empathy helps one to regain himself from what ever we have lost, especially if there is an open arm ready to accommodate such person and give a listening ears. The power of empathy can be seen in our ability to offer empathy to people in stressful situations which in a way can diffuse potential violence whenever we listen to their feelings and needs, we no longer see people as monster. No matter what that person is saying to you, if you listen with empathy in your heart, there will be a peaceful environment and you will be able to co-exist well without fight
vi. Liberating ourselves and counselling others

Freeing ourselves from old programming. This idea got my attention as it talked about freeing ourselves from the old us, to relearn and unlearn. Be a better version of ourselves and impact us positively. We should be readily available to get in touch with ourselves. This idea got my attention because it is my dream to become a mental health practitioner, so of late I have always imagine how I will be able to achieve this when I am still struggling with managing my ownself , so I have decided that life is a process, start with yourself first, then you can help others. I can not be mentally down and at the same time trying to help someone who is battling the same thing as me. I have to relieve my own healing first before prescribing the cure for others. once I have liberated myself then I can counsel others.

vii. Expressing appreciation in nonviolent communication

This idea got my attention because it made me realised how appraising someone can make them improve on their performance. Rendering compliments makes people in the work place to even work harder. My second son for instance has been struggling in writing his numbers, correcting him most times I see myself threatening him with stuffs like- if you don’t write no candies for you or you will not follow me to the park if you don’t write. Most time he became angry and does it and sometime he won’t. But when I tried another method of appreciating his little efforts and promising to get him candies, there is a positive change in his behaviour and a drastic improvement in his academic. Using non violent communication helps both at work place, business, families and in community to have a loving and peaceful environment for all.

3. How will this ideas help you in a practical way both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world if so how?

These ideas will help me in a practical way to curb the amount and level of violent communication around me by first telling those around me to register in IIGL or better still get this book -non violent communication so as to read for themselves and have a first hand information on communicating in a non violent way. I will also in the coming days teach my pupils in class on how to communicate in a non violent way basically by telling them about how expressing appreciation and in also expressing their feeling.

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

“Empathise instead of putting your butt in the face of an angry person.” This quote simply means that when someone is angry is better we show empathy rather than making them more angry.

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

None.

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

Yes, there were exercises.

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

No there is none.

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

A. How interesting was it to read? 8
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 7
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

The Law of Attraction
Assessment by Anastasia Elebiju (Nigeria)

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

The main idea which the author is trying to convey in this book is centered on practical terms on how to create financial abundance and anything else you desire in life. Each and every component that makes up our life experience is drawn to us by a powerful law of attraction, response to thoughts you think and the story you tell about your life. When you are in total control of your life, we attract to ourselves positive things and it starts within us, from our thoughts. The book also talked about how when we start blaming things for our lack of success or health that what is wrong is not that injustice has occurred or that the gods of good fortune are not focusing on us, that someone else has received the success that should have been yours, but what is wrong is that you are not in harmony with your own being. This book basically place emphasis on positive thinking, if you think abundance, abundance will find you. Money and everything else come to you because of what you think and not because of how you feel.

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 life.

i. I am here as a joyful creator.

We are not here on this earth as accumulators or regurgitate, but rather we are placed on this earth by the almighty creator to also be able to create things out of what he has created. Whenever we look at the ending place of a thing, we tend to exaggerate the feeling of lack between where we are now and the ending place, and this habit or thought can slow us down in the process of creation and can also hold us apart indefinitely. We are the attractors of our own experience, so as we look for positive aspects and make efforts to find good feeling thoughts, we hold ourselves in a place of positive attraction. So let us always focus and enjoy the process of creating something as its us to have a marvelous and fulfilling end results.

ii. Attracting money and manifesting abundance

While money is not absolutely essential to your experience, to most people money and freedom are synonymous. You get what you think about, even as the phrase is arguable, the point is that one needs to think right and be sure you mean what you say from the inside, instead of doubting the possibility of having such money, you have to fix your mind right before things will be able to start flowing in that direction. If you want to effect substantial change in your life experience, you have to offer substantially different vibrations, which means you must think thoughts that feel different as you think them.

iii. Creating a book of positive aspect
This idea got my attention because it is all about writing things, I already feel positive about, just to get in the habit of good feeling thoughts and for the pleasure of good feeling thought it is a nice way to live. I personally named this idea as my positive affirmation book where I write out things I want to see in myself, like I am courageous, I am healthy, I have life in abundance, I am rich, I will live a fulfilling life. All these positive affirmations attract good fortune and set our minds on the right track.

iv. Focus on the solution not the problem

When you consider why you want something, your vibration usually shifts or pivots in the direction of your desire. Whenever you consider how it will happen or when or who will bring it, your vibration usually then shift back toward the problem. This idea got my attention because in life we tend to worry so much about a particular problem which often times leave us moody and unhappy, but if will decide to put on that energy into finding solutions to that problem, we begin to feel better and in most cases we no longer even see that things as a problem any more, it becomes a normal life happening that broadens our knowledge more or most times, we even discover new ideas of doing things and produce best results and become better humans.

v. Living abundantly is not magic

It is our life experiences that brings knowledge to us, often times it feels like magic as your life begins to transform right before your eyes, but it is not by magic, its by the power of the law of the universe and your deliberate alignment with those laws. It means you have to sow so that you will harvest, you have to do the necessary things in life to achieve success, you cannot graduate as a first-class student when you don’t study your books. You have to read to pass your exam or do you have a magic word that you will just shout abracadabra and knowledge will fall from the sky? The world operates on a principle and one must follow it to achieve success in life.

vi. My thought creates my physical experience

Every part of your life is experienced through the perspective of your physical body and when you feel good everything you see looks better. Certainly, it is possible to maintain a good attitude even when your physical is diminished in some way, but a good feeling body is a powerful basis for ongoing good attitude. It is quite interesting to note that not only does a good feeling body promote positive thoughts, but that also positive thoughts promote a good feeling body.

vii. The law of attraction expands my every thought.

The law of attraction says that which like unto itself is drawn in others words, that which you think in any moment attracts unto itself other thoughts that are like it. That is why whenever you are thinking about a subject that is not pleasant more unpleasant thoughts regarding that subject are quickly drawn. As your negative thoughts expand proportionately, soon you find yourself discussing those unpleasant subjects with others. So, it is good to mostly tell a different story that is of great values. Tell a solution-oriented story. The law of attractions is responding to your thoughts not to your current reality. When I change my thoughts about myself, about my body and about the things that matters to me in a different direction from only what is happening right now.

3. How will these ideas help you in your in a practical way in your daily life and in creating a better world, if so how?

These ideas will in a practical way help me to become a better version of myself as it will help me to find my vibrations in life, and I have also decided to write 30 affirmations that I will be declaring on myself on a daily basis. This will comprise of positive affirmation for my husband, myself, my children and my country. I will be saying it on a daily basis. I will also get some quotations to support them from the bible. I have decided to live a positive life and be intentional about It. This will help me in creating a better world by impacting my environment with every positive change that comes out of my vibration to bring about positive and good atmosphere of empowerment.

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

“Money and everything else comes to you because of what you think and not because of how you feel.”

This quote implies that our feeling does not bring money, but rather what you think, if you think a positive thought about money you will attract it because your whole body has aligned to it which make the universe to favor you. If some percentage of your thoughts on a daily basis reside around the topic of money, as soon as you are deliberately guide your thoughts, not only is it certain that your financial success must improve, but evidence of that success will prepare you for deliberate improvement in every aspect of your life experience intelligent. He who controls may be powerful but he who had mastered himself is mightier still.

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

None.

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

Yes, there were exercises for me and it involves daily practices of what I learned.

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

No there is none.

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

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

Unlimited Power
Assessment by Anastasia Elebiju (Nigeria)

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

The book unlimited power by Anthony Robbins is centered on our unlimited power to create and to love that will make the biggest difference in the quality of life that we have the book empowered me to take charge and total control of my life and achieve my goals. The book talked about taking actions that will unite us great success .Action is what produces great results and that knowledge is just a potential until its to the hand of someone who know her self to take effective action .what ever we can be or want to achieve in life has no limits, therefore little by little the actions we take we will achieve our goals.

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

i. The power of belief:

Man is what he believes; One person with a belief is equal to a force of ninety-nine with interest. believe opens doors to excellence, believe directs commands to our nervous system and if handled effectively beliefs can be the most powerful force for creating good in our lives. beliefs helps us to tap from the deepest resources from within .this idea got my attention because what ever you are doing and you do not believe in it’s the first step to failure .My mind should always play a vital role in me before taking any action in life everything within me should always be in agreement with all the positive actions that I take because “a life without belief is just like a train without an engine,” by Anastasia. It will not function ,it will not move it will be useless. So when I believe in something it helps me to tap from the deepest resources from within. This idea got my attention because, whatever you are doing and you do not belief it is the first step to failure. My mind should have played a vital role in me before taking any action in life. Everything within me should always be in agreement with all the positive actions that I take because a life without belief is just like a train without an engine. It would not function, it will not move neither it will be useless. So when I belief in something it helps me to tap from the deepest resources which is my brain. Ideas begin to flow and creativity begins to take place which there after will make me to achieve my desired goals in life.

ii. The importance of physiology

Our physical state affects our mental state by consciously controlling our body language, breathing and posture can influence our emotion and increase our confidence and energy levels. Physiology is the biggest leverage we have any situation because it works so fast when you feel physically tired or your muscles are weak or you have pain some where you perceive the world differently from when you feel rested alive and vital. Physiology manipulation is a power for controlling my own brain or when my physiology runs down my state of mind runs down. I could remember vividly in 2021 when I lost my mum. The whole world became blank, I was numb and I began to see things in black and white like a vintage sort of, I began to see people differently, the sky looks different and everything about my existence looked different and so unreal at that moment. My whole body was completely shut down, because of my loss. It came as a rude shock, and this affected the way I did things then, but after some months I felt relief and the sky became blue again and every other thing around me also received life, even my facial looks became brightened. So physiology is a very important tool in our lives. If you say you have the resources to be alert and on top of things, if you consciously adopt that physiology, your body will make it so. Change your physiology and your change your state.

iii. Mastering emotions

This idea is one which emphasis on how to manage our feeling by understanding and managing our emotions effectively we can make better decisions and maintain a positive state of mind. There are always highs and low in life but good to understand them, why it happens and how to overcome them in any situations. Emotion is a powerful force that can either propel us forward or hold us back. When ever we are down it is good to know how to manage ourselves and how we feel at any given time. Showing empathy, helping others and living with a positive mental attitude makes the world go round emotions can also be powerless it is the amount of life that we give it that makes it powerful

iv. Taking massive actions

Success comes from taking consistent and massive actions towards our goals. This idea got my attention, because in the past I have always had ideas and lots of wish list, but it keeps staring at me most time as everything still remained the same. It is good to have ideas, anybody can be bestowed with idea to do things but it is the actions taken that makes the difference. I once had an idea of selling a local drink in my area called “kunu aya (tiger nut milk)” I was harboring this idea for so long but never took action in starting it or better still I didn’t have enough resources at that time to start. It is a diary product and requires a lot of ice to keep it cool, but couldn’t afford a refrigerator that can power such business, since there was no action but only ideas, someone else was able to start same business because he didn’t just had the idea but also put in action to bring it to life. So going the extra mile to taking actions is very important in our lives. By breaking down our goals into smaller, manageable steps and consistently taking action, we can make progress and achieve extraordinary results.

v. Building rapport

No one does it alone. Building strong connections with other is very essential for success by developing strong effective communication skills. There is no one that has attained success alone. We all need each other at some point or someone who has gone on that journey before we rapport with them to get a guide and be shown the way instead of us struggling to do that. Like when I wanted to do my kunu aya business and I had no refrigerator, imagine that I know someone who could at least loaned me that money the story would have been different for me. Building rapport and creating long lasting relationship is one way to have an unlimited power in life.

vi. Continuous learning

Continuous learning and growth is a personal development in life that is a life long journey by continuing to continuously learning and seeking new experience we grow and evolve into a new thing. There is always room to learn relearn and unlearn. Just like our believe we can always change it if it is no longer working for us. There are some things I used to do before but no longer do them because they are no more relevant but choose to do things in more different ways.

vii. Taking responsibility

This idea got my attention because it talked about taking full responsibility for our future. We have power to shape our life through the choices we make. By taking full responsibility for our actions, decisions and outcomes. Whether I ended rich or poor it is as a result of each action I take in my life, so I am supposed to sit up ad the right decisions and choices that will better my life and those around me and have a better society.

3. How will these ideas help me in a practical way both in your daily life and in helping me to create a better world, if so how?

These ideas will help me in a better way and n helping me create a better world by believing in myself that my goal to become a mental health practitioner and advocate comes to life. And also that my dream of running an NGO that will help the Africa child have good healthy meals and shelter come to reality

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

He who knows much about others may be learned, but he who understands himself is more intelligent. He who controls may be powerful but he who had mastered himself is mightier still.

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

None.

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

Yes, there were exercises for me and it involved daily practices of what I learned.

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

No there is none.

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

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

Crucial Conversations
Assessment by Anastasia Elebiju (Nigeria)

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

The main idea that the author is trying to convey in this book is that relationship are the priority of life and conversations are the crucial element in profound caring of relationships. This book exposed me to learning how to handle difficult discussions effectively, to ensure that productive conversations can happen even when emotions and feelings are high. The author of this book tried to in a practical way provide strategies for navigating high stakes conversations in both personal and professional settings. The book emphasized the importance of creating a safe environment for dialogue, fostering mutual understanding, managing emotions and reaching productive outcomes.

2. What are the seven ideas that are most important to you? Give example has of why they are important to you using your personal experience. The seven ideas that are important to me are listed below:

i. Learn to spot crucial conversations

This idea got my attention because it clearly shows how one can spot a crucial conversation. It is true that there are conversations, but how do we spot one that is crucial and need to be handled well or better still in a professional way. A crucial conversation is a discussion between two or more people where one stakes are high. Two opinions vary and three emotion runs strong. So spotting a crucial conversation is the number one way to find a solution to handle it properly so that it will not resolve into violent issues. This idea also caught my attention because it broaden my knowledge to immediately figure out what I want to do if I am in a crucial conversation

I can avoid them. I can fake them and handle them poorly or I can face them and handle them well. With this knowledge I should be able to face them and handle them well, because any conversation that is not treated and resolved can escalate into a serious matter be it on a professional level, with families and friends.

ii. Mastering dialogue

This particular idea caught my attention because it made me know and understand how to stay in dialogue when I am angry, scared or hurt. Personally when I am in a crucial conversation I always keep silent in such conversation, because when am unable to dialogue and explain my points in a situation that the person am talking to raises his/her voice and my opinion is ignored and I had to wait for the person to finish speaking for me to explain myself to the third party present for clarification. This book has taught me to gain absolute control over my crucial conversations by having control over my emotions, by learning to exert influence over my own feelings, so that one will not allow others to dictate how I feel. For example, telling someone that he or she made me mad, and this should not be so as no one has the right to control my life to the extent of making me mad. This help me to always be in charge of my life and conversation. I am sole creator of my emotion and that is a good reason to always be in charge of ones emotion in a dialogue and be able to be calm enough to pass ones message and get issue resolved.

iii. Fostering mutual respect

When in a crucial conversation, one must foster a mutual respect for the person you are in conversation with and respect yourself. You can always say your points without insults or bartering, you can always make your points clear without tempering on the persons personal space or physical assaults. Most times when I am in a crucial conversation, although I always try to avoid one but has a human and things can happen in a flash no matter how you try to avoid certain conversation because of our individual difference. This make me to be very conscious of myself and my environment to make sure I end that crucial conversation peacefully and respectfully

iv. Clarify and align

When in a crucial conversation, encourage clarifying intentions. It is good to clarify your intentions on that conversation that you want to have, make it plain, ensure alignment on the objective, and define common goals to drive a productive conversation. This idea got my attention because every conversation have purpose or aim, why is there a conversation, what you will achieve at the end of the conversation-it is good to make it clear. For example, my colleague has the habit of using the toilet and leaving particles around the toilet vicinity and this keep repeating itself no matter how many corrections from almost all the colleagues at work. I have to remain focus on the issue at hand that I want to resolve not to bring in other unnecessary things that would result into something else.

v. Explore others paths

This idea got my attention, because it encourages me to put myself in other persons shoe and see where it hurts most. If you always feel it all about, then you will get it wrong and miss the other persons point. Therefore, it is good to explore their paths, look at their points of view and make amend if you are the one at fault. Someone could have misunderstood your intent, use contrasting to explain what you do and do not intend as this will make the person feel better about themselves.

vi. Start with the heart

Start with the heart and get ready to listen. The idea got my attention because it talked about listening to others, be sincere to get at others fact and stories. Once you have shown interest to listen to them, be sincere and caring in your approach, because at some point in life what we need is listening ear. Be compassionate and show empathy, with this truth will come to light and the best way to get at the truth is by making it safe for them to express the stories that are moving them to either silence or violence, this means the moment that the people become furious, we need to become curious. This has helped me with my kids. My little boy is the one that always cries first and reports things to me most times. I ignore the senior one stories thinking he is the one at fault. I now study their actions and ask them to explain what really transpired between them. You know kids, most times I get a contrasting respond with different stories and evidence, but wisdom also pushes me to discern in the story they tell and come to a conclusion. So listening is a great tool in handling a crucial conversation.

vii. Learn to look

Learn to look, pay attention to verbal non-cues to understand others perspectives and emotions. When both stakes and emotions are high, we get caught up in what we are saying that it can be nearly impossible to pull ourselves out of the argument in other to see what is happening to ourselves and to others. So it is very necessary to stay at alert so that you can catch the sign that the conversation is starting to turn crucial and know what to watch out for. This idea taught me to watch out for my environment and stay safe.

3. How will this ideas help you in a practical way both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world if so how?

These ideas will help me in my personal life and help me create a better world by showing mutual respect at my work place, ask questions where I am confused and be transparent as much as possible. I will also make out time to write out this lessons I learned down and make a slide to present it to my colleagues or better still recommend this book to them.

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

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

This quote got my attention and is very important to me, because it made me realize how precious others feel when you give them a listening ears. Listen to people and give them a big hug instead of speaking and blaming them, this also made me realized how listening to others will make you yourself realize how wrong you were the whole time.

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

None.

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

Yes, there were exercises for me and it involve daily practices of what I learnt

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

No there is none.

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

The 360 Degree Leader
Assessment by Anastatia Elebiju (Nigeria)

 

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

The book 360 leader by John Maxwell is about a leadership style that involve leading up, across, and down in an organization. This leadership style allow a person or leader to lead in every direction.

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

i. The less familiar the work, the greater the tension.

This idea got my attention and it is important to me. When I got my first professional job working with special need children, I was not confident with the role and was very scared of being seen not capable of handling the role. I needed the job badly that I became afraid of be noticed. I had to continually say to myself that am capable. The tension on the job became high each and every day, and I had to face it and accept that I am new on the job and that I will see it through, that its ok to feel a little bit on easy. Because of my unfamiliarity with job, I was stressed and I had to be courageous to say to myself that this job is my profession as a psychology graduate and it is necessary I became familiar with it and learn more.

ii. Maintain dialogue concerning expectation with your superior.

I am glad I learned a little of this lesson earlier immediately I resumed at my new job. At first, I was a little bit confused on what to do, and suddenly I just realized that am a leader an IIGL student and it is my duty to know what to do in a situation like this, where I am to know what is expected of me. I realized quickly that I needed to ask my superior and not my colleague about my expectation. I did and it helped me better than relying on colleague for guidance. I almost got caught up in a blame game situation had I ask my colleague that day for what the expectation of the work is like on my first day at work.

iii. 80 percent of the time- work where you are strong
15 percent of the time- work where you are learning
5 percent of the time- work in other necessary areas

When I came across this idea, it got my attention as I have been trying to schedule my time towards maximum utilization at my new place of work. I don’t want to confuse productivity with been busy. What I did was to identify with my duty and expectation, then also with what I need to learn on the job and finally on other necessary areas that will help my work and development. This idea got my attention as it help me to acclimatize very well and be confident on my job and in my time management and daily plan.

iv. If you have something worthwhile to say, say it briefly and well

This idea got my attention, because I don’t like been a loquacious person and I feel been a social person needs me to be able to speak a lot, and this also gives me difficulty in expressing myself precisely most time. While I read through this page, I got to realize that been able to communicate effectively require you to be able to say what you want to in brief and well. Doing this enable will enable me to resist from forcing myself to speak when not necessary and from speaking jargon.

v. You can’t wait for life to come to you, you need to initiate it

This idea got my attention and it serve as motivation and a guide for me when I feel am not getting what I want. It serve as a push to think of this idea to be able to ask and not to be discourage with a no or yes answer. The idea that you cannot wait for life to come to you, you need to initiate, invest, and do what is right when you do not feel like really got my heart and I just had to put it down and paste on the wall of my room. This is to remind me always of the need to continually push for my heart desire and my vision no matter how it may look unfeasible. To always ask for help when I needed to. I remember when my husband and I always fantasize about our chance of moving to the city to get a better opportunity especially for me to be able to get a job and practice. It was not an easy initiation to start saving every week to attend church service in the city an over one-hour drive with my children, this is just to associate with the right people and connect with better opportunities. We had to save even when we don’t enough to eat during the weeks. I remember my husband telling me that getting a better life is more important than this little sacrifice of saving this weekly token to get connected. When I finally got the present job at spring hall British school as a special needs instructor, it was a recommendation from a member of the church I attended. This means the sacrifice payoff and it was good that we initiated it. When I look back and I see people with good qualification struggling with the same situation as will did, I saw the different in our struggle and that not everybody will consider 30% of their weekly income just to go to church in the city to be linkup.

vi. Until you value yourself, you won’t value your time

This idea about valuing your time as it relate to one self-worth really got my attention. I now have good understanding of the real value of time to my growth. Until you value yourself, you will not value your time, until you value your time, you will not do anything with it. This idea awaken my understanding of what my life value will be if I don’t value what I do with my time. It enlighten me to know that what I do with my time is a reflection of who I am. I now have better understanding of what time is, instead of me thinking about what I do and what I buy in terms of money, I will think about them in terms of time and with whom I spend it.

vii. Resist the temptation to fight for your idea

The book made me to realized that whether I work in an organization or own my business I should resist the temptation to fight for my idea when its not the best idea. This idea got my attention and it’s going to help me to manage my composure and confident, to be open minded and listen to other people point of view and not to be defensive or reactive. It will help me to feel at easy with myself by acknowledging other people thought or opinion that is or maybe superior to mine at any given period in a conversation or dialogue

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

These ideas will help me in my personal life and help me create a better world by becoming a 360 leader which give me a good understanding of how to lead and participate in an organisation to contribute in the growth of individuals and the organisation, and also to be a good team player while placing importance in serving others. This will help me to create a better world because the growth of my team is the growth of everyone which make the world a better place.

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

No, there is none

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

None.

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

Yes, there were exercises for me and it involve daily practices of what I learnt

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

No, there is none

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

How interesting was it to read? 9
How helpful were the content? 10
How easy was it to understand? 10
Would you recommend it to others?10
What is the over all rating you would give it? 10

The Power of Self Confidence
Assessment by Anastasia Oguche Elebiju (Nigeria)

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 about self-development, setting great and mighty goal without thinking of any limitations. This book thought me how to develop unshakable self-confidence in every area of my life. The book also asked great question for the reader to pounder on. It talk about what great thing on would dare to dream if you know you could not fail. What one great goal would you set if you knew you could not fail what wonderful things would you want to do with your life if you were guaranteed success in anything you attempted? With all of these questions, the book made me to realize that my level of self-confidence determines the size of the goals that I will set the energy, the determination that I focus on achieving them and the amount of persistence. I apply to our coming every obstacle, the book also talked about clarifying ones values, and that values are non-negotiable and it is very important to organize our values.

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

i. You become what you think about

This idea got my attention so much because it explained vividly how my thoughts and feelings about myself and what I can and cannot do, are the sum total result of a lifetime of experience and conditioning. It also talked about the law of concentration, which says that, anything you dwell upon grows in your reality. Anything that you think about long enough and hard enough eventually becomes a part of your mental processed. My thoughts is who I really am, and my entire reality. Gradually my life will start moving in the direction of my thoughts. I remember how early last year of 2023, I and my husband always prayed and wish we could move to a better location in the capital city in order to meet up with better opportunities for myself. It seems all impossible as we do not have the means, but because I have always thought about it and wished for it somehow God worked his miracles in our lives and it happened in December. The thought about it alone was a direction to guide my actions toward achieving this and to the glory of God, it came to pass.

ii. Fears hold you back

This idea got my attention as it explained fear, that everything we do is the result of either fear or desire. If you desire something so much you will always want to achieve it so much, but if you desire it so much and you begin to think of the possibilities of it happening or you begin to doubt yourself- that is fear knocking at your door and it brings limitations which holds you back from achieving the thing you desired. In some cases, I have seen fear as a drive that pushes me to achieve something, I am in no way countering the author’s view, but sharing a part of me on how fear of poverty has made me take some mighty steps in life. So just as what the author explained every action of a man is as a result of fear or desire.

iii. Follow your heart
It is very important to follow your heart and do that which you were uniquely qualified to do. This Idea got my attention because on so many occasions I have found myself doing things that naturally are not in my line of career and at the end of the day I feel irritated and frustrated as I could barely give in my best, but this idea has encouraged me to follow my heart as this is a sure way to a successful life.

iv. First, convince yourself

This idea got my attention because the author made me to understand that the world will largely accept you at your own estimation, it myself that I have to convince, before I can convince anyone else. And once I am absolutely sure that I have what it takes to master my situation, I will definitely act in such a way that my beliefs will become my reality. Mentally I need to possess an unshakable self-confidence that I really desire. I can do and more than enough should be my watchword at all time.

v. Access your strength and weakness

This idea got my attention, because it exposed me to really knowing fully importance of self-assessment with regard to my strength. When I know my weakness it helps me better to know what I can do , and what I cannot do. It even helps me to know if what I am about to do will actually bring me success or failure, because I know myself, I know what I can do. So whenever I see any opportunity is good I do a little bit of self-assessment before embarking on any project, when I know within me that a project will be a success the level of energy I will put in to achieve that will be on another level, because I know truly within me that it is something that I can do. So, self-assessment is key to achieving ones desires and goals in life.

vi. Persistence is essential

Napoleon hill wrote that persistent is to the character of man, as carbon is to steel. He also said that before success comes in any man’s life he is sure to meet with temporary defeat and perhaps, some failures. When defeat overtakes a man the easiest and most logical thing to is quit, but winners never quits. In reality my persistence is my measure of belief in myself and my ability to succeed. In my view, persistence and perseverance is the key to achieving ones goals because life throws difficult situations at us that may make us to quit, but if we persevere, we will at the end realize that it is just a phase and it will pass.
The four D’s of success and self confidence. This idea got my attention because it talked about ways I can infuse in me the kind of self-confidence that makes everything possible for me. These are place in the four D’s of success

Desire: This point shows that I must really want to become a totally self-confident human being, I must build up my desire by thinking about it and talking about it and working on it all the time, my desire become so intense such that it over powers my fears of failure, rejection and inferiority and becomes the dominant emotion governing my behavior.

Decision: I must make a do or die decision that will go to work or my self and keep at it until we achieve the kind of self-confidence that enables me to be, to do, and say whatever I want

Determination: sometime progress will be slow and often times you will see no progress, but nonetheless, I must persist on the positive. My determination should be as unshakeable as the self-confidence that I desire.
Discipline: underlying and surrounding all great achievement in life is the quality of self-discipline. This is the ability to make yourself do what you should do, when you should do, whether you feel it or not. Discipline is key to achieving success in life. During this period of the year that is very cold, I had to wake up As early as 4:30am. and make necessary preparation for the day, take my children to school and get to work before 7:30am. I had to discipline myself to do this despite it inconveniency.

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

These ideas will help me in a practical way both in my daily personal life and in helping me to create a better world by achieving competence and personal mastery in impacting people around my knowledge. I will make sure people around me feel my impact positively by teaching them the knowledge that I have gained from this book. My friend, family and colleague will also notice a great change in me.

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

“The qualities of a person’s life is in proportion to their commitment to excellent no matter their chosen field.”

The quote got my attention, because it made to be more aware about success, not being associated with a particular profession, but by commitment to whatever you choose to do. Whatever it is, be it a trader, a hairstylist, a doctor or a psychologist, success only comes because you are committed to your duty and giving in an excellent approach to carrying out those duties.

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

There is none.

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

Yes there were and it was all carried out.

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

None.

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

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

This Child will be Great
Assessment by Anastasia Elebiju (Nigeria)

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

In this book the child must be great is the biography of a legend and a former president of the Republic of Liberia. The story is one of greatness, never giving up, and always pushing for the best no matter the circumstances. Ms Ellen was faced with many challenges growing up but all this never stopped her from dreaming, from marrying early to a toxic man, pursing her dreams against all odds, to being wrongly accused of planning and having a hand in a coup against her country to being divorced. All this didn’t stop her even going to prison. The book is centred on never giving up, what will be will be, just sow the right seeds and you reap a great harvest.

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. Education is the key, so put it first

Education they say is the key to success. Education is to be put first in our lives as it enables us to soar high to any level we want in life, the absence of education can bring limitation in the future, this was what made Ellen to go back to school after getting married and having four children, she was motivated when she saw her peers doing well in their various profession. She didn’t saw her limitation, she didn’t have the certificate because she didn’t go to school. What was she going to contribute to her family that would help her children if she does go to school , this were her thought. This idea got my attention because it made me realise that as a girl child, you should always complete your schooling before getting married and having kids.

ii. The simplest step can be the greatest step

Ellen was just concerned of how she was left out among her peers as the only uneducated one, each of them returning as a graduate with nice jobs while she on the other hand was just a house wife nursing babies. She took step furthering her education and she got a scholarship to study in the U.S.A. she complete her studies and got a job in the bank, she later got involved in politics and represented Africa at the international level becoming the president of her country. Therefore, some little steps that we take can be big steps in disguise.

iii. Learn how to accept help

This idea got my attention because it made me to realise how to acknowledge my limitation and understand how people’s contribution could maximise the potentials of my vision and talent. I will never hesitant to ask for help when the needs arise. I remember sometime when I was about to go to the university, I had a priest friend who was like a guide to me, I was so young and didn’t value the help he wanted to render to me at that time. I thought he was bothering me, but my other friend kept the friendship with the priest and got sponsored through school, graduated and secured a good job. Sometimes when I look back I felt I should have let that help in my and it would have helped with all the choices I made in my life and things would have been better, but as the saying goes we learn everyday. Ellen didn’t take all the help she needed for granted, she asked for help from different world leaders in other to make her country a great nation and they all did help her the best they can. Liberia is what it is today because other nations intervened and by Gods’ grace they are a better nation today.

iv. Difference is strength

Don’t doubt your value, don’t run from who you are, your difference is something to embrace. Ellens’ story inspired me a lot. She struggled even with the colour of her skin. Her mother is a mixed race of German and Liberia ancestry. Therefore she got the fair skin from them and this sold her out as an outcast even though she is not. Even when the accusation came that she was not the true daughter of the soil because of her political ambition, she fought through it. Our different is what makes us unique and stand out. This idea got my attention because on so many occasion that I tried doing something different from others and they start pointing fingers to bring me down, but I have realised now to just be good at whatever I do even if I am the only one doing it; I should be focused and be a master of it.

v. Rise above fear and failure

While growing up, we have a definition for fear as false evidence appearing real. Fear is just something to limit you from achieving that thing that you so desire even if faced with those bad situations, one must rise up just like Ellen. Losing her first trial for presidency didn’t stop her from coming out to campaign again, she did and she later won. Imagine if she didn’t run for president again after her first attempt?. Even as a president she survived and escaped a murderous coup. She was resilient and never gave up on her dream to make her country a better place.

vi. Never weaver

Unwavering courage and resilience are necessary to reach ones height. Be it anything you want to be, so far as you are courageous and resilient you will succeed. Even after going on exile, going to prison, got divorced, all this didn’t stop Ellen from dreaming and pursuing her dreams. Life come with its own ups and down, but we must never give up sometimes. I used to wonder if I should get scholarship to study abroad how will my children fend, how will the absence of a mother look like in their life as this kids have never been away for a day without me, but with the story of Ellen and her leaving her four kids behind with the youngest being just a year. I told myself I can do it and everything will be fine, they will be with their grandma and dad and the angels will watch over them. She was resilient, and determined. I also have to be determined, resilient and courageous to fight for my future.

vii. Believe

In anything you want to achieve in life, just first believe that it is possible. Remove fear, remove doubts and watch how things unfolds itself for your own good. Believing in yourself means that sometime you may not have anyone supporting you in your dreams simply because they feel it is too big or unachievable, but have to believe in your own self. Just like Ellen when she announced to her family when they went on cruise that she was going to Liberia to run for the presidential election. She received a total silent and not a single one of her family supported that dream. Despite the no answer from her family she pursue that dream believing in herself and trust that she can, knowing that nothing is impossible under the sun. it is just to take that step, then you will see yourself riding on the journey where success is the end. Even I sometimes have fears and doubt, should I apply as an intern in the USA in a clinical hospital or should I just apply for a scholarship to study clinical and mental health. I thought of which option will I be able to achieve, but one thing is sure is believing and sowing the right seed and the answer will be a thing of the past. No backing out, no giving up, with God by my side and hard work and dedication. I know I will achieve that which I have set out to achieve.

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

These ideas will help me in my personal life and help me create a better world as it will guide me to be a more patriotic citizen of my country, no matter what my country is facing now, the love I have for it will make me a conqueror. I will also recommend this book to a friend of mine to read.

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

“If your dreams do not scare you, then it is not big enough.”

I could remember when I was writing assessment in Level Three and I write out my dreams and goals, I was really scared because I imagined I was going to achieve that, but just like this quote “the world is so big, and my God is a big God, whatever my brain imagine can. Come to reality so all I need do is to work towards it.
.
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about or are there ideas which you disagree with? If so why?

None.

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

Yes, there were exercises for me and it involve daily practices of what I learnt

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

No, there is none.

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

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

How to Sell Yourself
Assessment by Anastasia Elebiju (Nigeria)

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

The main idea in this book is about selling yourself, your ideas, your skills using your face, your body and your voice to win, because in the end likability wins. The emphasis of the book is being honest with your audience. Arch presents that people are often honest when talking to immediate family member and friends, however when in front of audience; they fake who they are to be the person they think the audience believe they should be. However being yourself is the secret to communicating with the audience. Arch made us to understand that when you are yourself, you are relaxed and opened about what you are talking about, this influence the audience to like you and likeability is what sells you to the audience.

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 life.

i. We need three things to sell ourselves and they are competence, likeability and luck.

Arch pointed out that likeability is the most important, because the perceptive of others on who we are is what influences their decision on you. You have to be honest and a natural person, be yourself and no faking it. Be honest, be welcoming and accommodating and people will always find their way towards you, I am not really a peoples’ person, but I always don’t lack people as they always needs my help or assistance in one way or the other. I am very much accessible and kind towards others which makes them to always want to be around me and they are always comfortable, because I make them feel so, with the kind of jokes I crack which make them more relax around me. This make me to even sell my ideas to them easily and they buy them.

ii. Selling your competence

Competence is about showing my audience that I know what I am talking about. It entails believing that I have the information I am sharing with them. This enlighten me not to use competence defeating words like “ummm or uh” in the middle of my speech, because the audience might starts thinking that I don’t know what I am talking about. According to Arch, he said that it is better to go straight to the point, make my message short and straight to the point. Giving unnecessary stories make the audience lose focus point of my message and when I have finished talking, stop.

iii. Selling your likability

In this point Arch makes us to understand that in other to make yourself likeable before men you need to get rid of artificial person you think are supposed to be. Become the person you really are. Sometimes you may have a mentor that you will always want to imitate, it may be the way he /she talks or walk, but sometimes when we want to do this, it is not really comfortable for us because that is not who we really are. It will be hard to be comfortable in that skin and even so, at the end it will look so fake because that is not who we are. So I I want to sell my likeability to my audience it is better to be natural and be myself, be my usual self around my audience. This can be achieved by ensuring an open face and smiling appropriately.
iv. Selling with confidence

Confidence comes from how relaxed you are with your audience; use the breathing technique to relax before you give a talk. The audience perceives my message based on how confident I present myself. There is a Nigeria saying that goes like this “I want to do this with my full chest” this simply means that I want to do it with the whole me, like being gallant in performing my duties. Being confident is the awareness that being audience friendly is how I can sell myself. Confidence is key in one’s life as it have a way of telling people that you are good at what you do with mixing words.

v. Selling with the right signals

This idea got my attention, as Arch tells about how important body language is when selling ourselves, using the right signals and keeping the amount of eye contact, standing in the right position are important. It good to always have a good body posture when communicating, my body language goes along way to sell me even before I start speaking, so I have to be coordinated and maintain a good body posture with addressing an audience.

vi. Selling your negotiations

This idea got my attention because it is about conferring with other party and not arguing to get my points across. In negotiations, both sides should get a fair time to express their ideas and exchange information, and remember to allow my opponent to get their points across fully before interfering.

vii. Selling yourself in a job interview

Whatever you do, do not panic. In this case, imagine me going for an interview, likability wins. Therefore, I have to ensure that the person conducting the interview perceives me positively. I have to take control of the interview and make sure I present myself as I want and not in how the interviewer structures their questions, and I will always remember my worth and value; and not in how much you are paid or what you are doing.

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

These ideas will help me in my daily personal life and in creating a better world by becoming nice and more accommodating.

Being nice and accommodating: in a word where no man is an island, where we rely on each other. I have learnt that I have to be very accommodating, that next door neighbor might be one of my audience in the future , and what if I was rude to them in the past and they now became my audience. This will definitely affect the way I relate my presentation to the audience and make me feel a little uncomfortable.
These ideas has made me realize that I am a leader and must show confidence in her people. I have to be confident in whatever I do for people to believe and trust me to take my words serious

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

“Tell me and I will forget; Show me and I may remember involved me and I will understand.”

This quote got my attention because as it me with understanding of how to carry people along In any activities toward achieving a designed purpose. This means that I should not just tell or show people what to do, they should partake in it and they will understand it better.

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

None.

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

Yes, there were exercises for me and it involves daily practices of what I learned.

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

No, there is none.

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

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