Paul Young Nwakuma – Assessments – International Institute for Global Leadership

As A Man Thinketh

Assessment By Paul Young Nwakuma (Nigeria)

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

The author in this book was bringing to the consciousness of both men and women that they themselves are the maker of themselves by virtue of the thought which they choose and indulge into, and that the mind is master weaver; creating the habits of men and yielding the corresponding circumstances.

i. “Men do not attract that which they want, but that which they are”:

This I feel is most true because over the years since 2005, since I started drawing closer to positive mind article, once in a while and most often I stumble upon article and write ups and circumstances that could bring my mind to positivity, I have got friend, who are positive, met avenue that provide me positivity write ups to read and mostly subscribe to for daily articles; opportunity like creatingpower.com, God’sdialyword.com and asamanthinketh.net. I believe that most of these opportunity and friends that I met believing in positive mindedness are as a result of my drawing nearer to Positivity.com. Even This issue of IIGL is part of the attraction matter.

ii. “Suffering is always the effect of wrong thought in some direction”:

I know that every occurrence in the life of a man has an origin, and as the effect of an action to a man depends on his reaction, which is pumped out from the content of his heart, there by bringing a corresponding consequences to his reaction. When I was in Secondary School, I took ‘Girls’ as having a different meaning than what they are just are and having such an ugly effect on someone than suppose, this made me keep away from them, trying most often to avoid them, but I feel hurt more than better. This I believe is as a result of the conception I have about them, which might not be really true.

iii. “A man only begins to be a man when he ceases to whine and revile and commence to search for the hidden justice which regulate his life.”:

This is to say that someone can truly overcome the challenges of life when he concentrate his attention less ‘how and why it happened’, and pays more attention to ‘what can I do now within this circumstances’. Like when in my studies it was so difficult to continue (that was in 2008) but by the grace of God, I see myself thinking more of how I can scale through than how I should quit; and now, it’s almost over.

iv. “There is no physician like cheerful thought for dispersing the ills of the body; there is no comforter to compare with goodwill for dispersing the sadness of grief and sorrow”.:

The book of Proverb said that a cheerful heart is a healing to the body but a broken spirit weighs the body down. This is true because sad spirit weighs someone down more than illness and even illness most of the times is caused by sad spirit. Whenever I made it smiling for most of the moments of a day, I see to that I look very agile and smart doing my duties with most enthusiasm. But when I feel bad for any reason while on duty, I commit a lot of mistake and blunder.

v. “As a man thinketh, so he is; as he continues to think so he remains”:.

Someone can decide to remain where he is and how he is by just keeping doing what has been doing over the years just the same way he has been doing it. But still can wake up one day and decide that he is going change his situation, by deciding, it’s obvious that something has happened inside of him, his thought has changed and if he continues to work on that change, he will end up changing his who he is and where he is. But for me, sometimes, some thoughts though seeming negative might also seem to be reality of the moment situation.

vi. “Until thought is linked with purpose, there is no intelligent accomplishment”:

I like this idea. There has to be a reason why someone is alive, a central reason why we run, walk and craw being to reach a predefined destination. This destination has be earlier known and recorded into the subconsciousness of the individual such that any path followed that which may not lead this destination looks and sounds odd to the mind of the person. Heaven is my ultimate goal, and affecting life here on earth is a priority and in this, for this, with this, I wake up each day, praying God’s help for accomplishment, each time I help someone achieve a goal, It gives me Real Joy and Happiness, knowing that in that practice or act, the route is still maintained.

vii. “He who cherishes a beautiful vision, a lofty ideal in his heart will one day realize it”:

This is an idea I like so much, because in this idea my mind is brought to believe that ONE DAY I will live my dream house. This house plan has been in my head an on a draft paper for about 5 years now, each time I speak of a home of my own, I picture a particular house in my mind. I have a goal, a life time goal and because it has always been a clear picture in my mind; wake me up any time and I will tell you what it is in clear terms. I believe that ONE day I will achieve my goal.

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

These ideas have strengthened my trust in myself, building a strong confidence in me that One day, I will be the kind of person that I want to be.

It is more clearer now how my thinking should be on the purpose for which I live, maintaining the tracks that leads to it, taking away bugs and viruses that are dangerous to life’s achievement like Fear, doubt, unbelief and so on.

I now see that IF I can change my thinking and its pattern, then I can change my life. If I have healthy thoughts in my mind, then health in my body is guaranteed and as I cease from worry to face the fact that if event occurs, it is something that caused it, but what the occurrence will cause is more important in my life. That is to say, I can now watch carefully what will be my Reaction to the Action that comes to me.

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.

i. “Man is made or unmade by himself”:

It is just pointing out to me that I make myself happy or sad, well or sick, succeed or fail, all by my thought. And if so, I want to make myself Happy, Well, Succeed. I know if I choose noble, righteous thoughts, I can alter circumstances around me now and make a better world around me for me and others.

ii. “Every man is where he is by the law of his being”:

This is to say if I

change who I am now, definitely, I will be where I want to be in life. I thank God for such laws as this.

iii. “The soul attracts that which it secretly habours, that which it loves, and also that which it fears”: This quote is important to me as it reveals to me that if I continue habour fear, doubt, failure and impossibilities in my mind, that is just what come my way but if I should meditate in the perfect law of liberty, nurturing right ideas, good motives, positivity and confidence, It will attract to me the Corresponding good fortunes of life.

iv. “Circumstances does not make a man, it only reveals him to himself”: I have always loved this quote. It’s placed right in the walls of my shop. It is as true as saying when you pour water on a Stone, the water just drains away without penetrating showing us and telling the stone how hard it is; but if you power water on Bread it penetrate right within, softening it this us how soft nature it is. The water is constant but being as a hard as stone or as soft as bread is revealed by the water being poured.

v. “Indigence and indulgence are the two extremes of wretchedness”: The perspectives to which a man sees himself and his condition, determines how he feels in it.

vi. “The will to do springs from the knowledge that we can do”: This is true because when someone is not sure that he can do a thing, he hardly develop the desire to do that thing. The knowledge that I CAN, that it is possible, that It might take time but will definitely come to pass, generate in me the will to register, subscribe and apply for any event at all.

vii. “Your vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; your ideal is the prophesy of what you shall at last unveil”: And am sure that ONE DAY it will come to pass those Nobel thought and belief I have had and am having about myself. If nature favours the righteous, By God’s grace, when I might have gained my perfection, I will be allotted the lots of the righteous. All I need do is to have a noble thought, a good vision, quality dreams, ideal of greatness and ONE DAY it will come true.

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 wasn’t actually looking for idea or fact to disagree with, about being unclear with an idea; I consulted my Encanter Dictionary for meaning of words that seem confusing, thereby creating more clarity.

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 is no exercise contained.

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.

Yes Story the Youth hard pressed by poverty and labor. Confined long hours in an unhealthy workshop; unschooled and lacking all the arts of refinement. But he dreams of better things. He thinks of intelligence, or refinement, of grace and beauty. He conceives of, mentally builds up, an ideal condition of life. The wider liberty and a larger scope take possession of him; unrest urges him to action and he uses ALL his spare times and means to the development of his latent powers and resources. Irrespective of how humble and crude his background is, He treasure greatness in his within and has respect for it greatness; urges for it and was making ready a good ground for any good seed of opportunity that could spring forth.

The end of the story had it that years later we see this youth as a grown man. We find him a master of certain forces of the mind that he wields with worldwide influence and almost unequaled power; he speaks and lives are changed, men and women hang upon his words and remold their characters. Sun-like, he becomes the fixed and luminous center around which innumerable destinies revolve. He has realized the vision of youth. He has become one with his ideal. Like this Youth, I have a dream of being useful to my Generation, and those unborn, I believe that in any little way or manner burden can be eased, truth can be revealed, light can be shone, the right way can be shown, and life can be lived. I know that ONE DAY it will come true.

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

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

Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Assessment By Paul Young

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

I see the author pointing out to the power in Personal Determination for success. He reveals al the Challenges that are encountered in the road to Real Success; He unveils the pains of failure, but most importantly, He brings out the Perfect attainment of any determined individual that seeks to discover something new in himself and what he is really made up of.

i. “The fact that Heaven is not a place, and it is not a time but that Heaven is Being Perfect” tells me that all the time that I have wished that I come from a certain place better than where I was born, or when I have the believes that ‘if only I was there then when the economy was better’ I really only need to discover that I was already in heaven if I can only see what I need do to my life.

ii. “But far away, alone Jonathan PRACTICED”: This ideas brings to my consciousness that when I am in the mist of crowd, I easily pay attention to other than to himself, but when alone, the only person I have is myself; to Praise, blame, look into, criticize and correct. And that helps me be the real person I want to be.

iii. “The Pain of failure: When Jonathan encountered failure, he felt like the Criticism of his parent were right, this made him vow to become a normal gull. Sometimes, I feel disappointed in a fact that only I seemed to believe among my equals or mate, and I begin to feel like joining them to be just street boys than claiming to be different.

iv “How much there is to living”: Jonathan discovered a Reason to live, a thing to be delightful about, a future to hope for, this kept him focused in practicing – I have always searched for a Reason why am “Here” not just going to bed and waking p the next day.

v. “Jonathan Practice Style”: Flight is all he most desired, he give his best time to practice how to fly; he like all about flying; anyone who flies becomes his friend just that he might learn. This has not been so easy for me, consistent practice in has been to me a great challenge.

vi.“When Jonathan Reached his ‘Heaven’, He expected to see a crowd of gulls, but he saw but a few, then he ask: ‘Why aren’t there more of us here’?: Sometimes I just wished everyone around me should have the same view of greatness that I have or see things the same way that I do but actually there are only but a few that that makes me ask; ‘why aren’t we much that see the truth as I do?’.

vii. “The only true law is that which leads to freedom”: This idea is as important to me as it puts it right to me the view and understanding to which my people approach events and thereby enslave their minds just in keeping their law. I have always being doing things the way I see it as best – my conscience being free from guilt. I go after noble fact as far as it pleases God.

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 has helped me discover that if I can only make up my mind on any matter, being determined to make any achievement, and being sure that as sure as the sun rise in the morning and sets in the evening, so it is sure that I will succeed.

The ideas revealed in this book made me discover that as much as I do not stop learning and practicing, and striving to understand more of the perfect invisible principle of life, success is sure. And by building myself, I can be at peace with myself first, then others; loving myself and then others and by developing myself, the world around me is made a better place.

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

i. “We choose our next world through what we learn in this one”: This means to me that my future life and the expectation of my life depend on how well I make use of the experiences that I encounter now. It makes me pay attention to the positive sides in the circumstances that I find myself.

ii. “To fly as fast as thought, you should know that you have already arrived”: This means to me same thing as ‘whatever or whoever I want to be’ – like wanting to be rich, I should behave like am rich already, and in wishing to be a happy person, I should make up my mind that I already am.

iii. “The Only true law is that which leads to freedom, there is no other”: This reveals to me an issue of Obedience to man or God. Peter and John asked the elders, ‘you men answer, which one should we do, Obey God or man?’

Though there are many laws that is, but one must look deep into the perfect law of liberty and make his conscience clear in his behavior, pursue that which gives you real Joy and satisfaction.

iv. “The Gulls who scorn perfection for the sake of travel go nowhere, slowly; – those who put aside travel for the sake of perfection go everywhere, instantly”: I love this quote.

Know that perfection has not limit, unlike time and space, when I build my mind to the best possible perfection, I will have seen things from a more perfect point of view.

v. “Your whole body, from wing tip to wing tip is nothing more than your thought itself, in a form that you can see; break the chains of your thoughts and you break the chains of your body too”: This tells me that how I look outside is more of a factor from my inside being. If I can think right concerning myself, my environment, and others things around me, life in general tends to fall into better perspective towards me.

vi. “Heaven is not a place, and is not a time, heaven is being perfect”: This bring to me to the true meaning of Happiness, Richness, wealth and success; not being in the abundance but in the contentment and acceptance that one has.

vii. “Look with your understanding, find out what you already know, and you will see the way to fly”: Jonathan told Fletcher to look inward, concentrate in himself and he will see the way to fly, this shows me that it is more of me, in becoming who I really want to be.

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

There is really no idea that I disagree with, because all the ideas I read about are having personal impact in my personal life.

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

There is not exercise contained.

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.

Elder Chiang Last Advice to the young Gulls – “Till you can fly the past and the future, and then you will be ready to begin the most difficult, the most powerful, the most fun of all. You will be ready to begin to fly up and know the meaning of kindness and of love”. This keeps the young Jonathan Gull in mind that there is still a lot to learn and attain, in other to become perfect. With the readiness of Jonathan to Learn, it was so easy for Elder Chiang to impart himself into young Jon.

Just before his departure, he was exhorting them never to stop their learning and their practicing and their striving to understand more of the perfect invisible principle of life”. And his last word to Jonathan, “Keep working on love”.- these admonishing made meaning to my life, having gone that far, leaving all this years behind them, it is of a great importance that they work best to attain the peak there is.

Jonathan was expelled, or exiled, by his people, now he sees more than they do and have known more than they know. But in this state of perfection, he is advised to “keep working on love”. That is to say with he might have reached the level of loving his enemies, praying for them that hurt him, his perfection might have been reached.

And this he latter reached with time when had compassion for the many young Gulls that are at home where he was exiled, then willing to go back home, even when it seem against the law of the gull family.

The greatest gift we can give to someone is to put ourselves into others and make them become the best of themselves. This is what Elder Chiang did to Jonathan; Jonathan did it to Fletcher and Fletcher said “I want to go back to the Flock, of course. I’ve barely begun with the new group”. At this point Jonathan Said his last – “Very well, Fletcher, Remember what we were saying about one’s body being nothing more than thought itself…?”.

They all do their best. Jonathan was told by his parents that he is bone and feather. But right within him, he didn’t mind being bone and feather, but wanting to learn what he can do in the air and what he can cant. With practice and quest for learning, he discovered that he was not just bone and feather but a Perfect idea of freedom and flight, limited by nothing at all.

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

Keys To Success

Assessment by Paul Young Nwakuma (Nigeria)

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

While I read this book, I saw the author bringing out Principles, a must do for everyone who wishes to be successful. In Key to Success there are laid down principles to follow, an instruction to follow, from working with one’s self, working together with the environment, and with higher power in the Heavens. From Definiteness of purpose to the use of Cosmic Cyber Force, it was a “do and succeed” principle for all.

Of the truth, there are numerous point in this book I seek that there become part of my everyday life style. These principles are so touch and their effect on every life that applies them would be a life changing and world influencing type.

Some of these points include:

a. The major causes of personal failure

Having gone through this causes of personal failure it seem that almost all of them are present in my life. No wonder my life is the way it is now. I see that I have caused my life to be at the stage and state it is. The law of attraction states that LIKE ATTRACTs LIKE, and if my life being filled with such negativity, then how I not be fail. But I am determined to make a great deal of replacement, replacing all of this listed and found in my life with a positive mental attitude capable to move my life forward.

b. The benefit of defeat

If not that Defeat on its own has some Benefits, my life would have been doomed. But with the certainty that Defeat reveals and breaks bad habits, releasing your energies for a fresh start with better habits. Defeat being able to cause you to take inventory of your assets and liabilities, both physical and spiritual. More of these benefits gave me hope and made me go back again to myself, taking inventory of where I am now and making plans not to do things just the way I have being doing, for that will bring the same results to me again.

c. There is never just one chance, never just one tide that leads to a fortune

Of the truth, I see that through our life time, everything is a process to a destination. And just as the saying goes “when one door closes, another one is opened”. This point so affected my view of the present predicament am facing, because I know as a student that graduating with a good grade is one among route to a promising destiny. But with this point made clear in my head, I see to it that I still have numerous routes that lead to destiny. Having made clear my major definite purpose, I see numerous possibilities for achieving my goals; it’s about putting my eyes on the goal.

d. You must learn to work with natural forces, not fight them

Natural forces like sunlight, temperature, and other natural factors could work for humans; the Scripture says in Romans 8:28 “ALL THINGS worketh out for good to those that love God and are called for his purpose”. Learning to work with these natural forces helps a man reduce his personal problem, because he understand that he cannot fight them but when he learns to cooperate with forces like Rain, Sunshine, Climate or whether condition, things on their own work out for the our Good.

Like stated in the book that affected my life (The Science of Getting Rich); “there is abundance of opportunity for the person who will go with the Tide, instead of trying to swim against it”.

e. Managing your time – like managing your life requires knowing what you want to use it for.

This brings me closer again to what Success Through Positive Mental Attitude said about Knowing what you really want, and by knowing what one want, one is apt to recognize it when he sees it. When one doesn’t know what to live for, he is not worth living, so time and life is properly put to use, when it is used for a worthy task or lived for a worthwhile Goal.

f. Habit become a part of your nature by repetition

I love this point, by repetition, keeping doing one thing over and over, it becomes part of me and that I can do very well.

g. Separate facts from opinion, fictions unapproved hypothesis and hearsay, Separate facts into two categories (Important and un-important)

Just as it is put in Psycocybernetics about Facts and Opinion, attention given other peoples view say concerning any given point brings us a things of worry about or a believe about others. Most times, I have decided not pay attention to say “they said” because there are never absolute truth about those point.

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?

If only I can be good, I know my world will be good. I am working on myself how from day to day, making these various principles part of my life. I have printed out some of points like “I Can Achieve anything and everything I set my mind and hand to do”, “Whatever my mind can conceive and Believe, it can achieve, with PMA”, “Day by day, in every way, by God’s Grace, I am getting better and better”, and have pasted them in the wall of my room. Every day I see it and it keeping getting imprinted in my subconscious mind.

4. Quotes: Are there brief quotes from the book which really got your attention? If so, please list and comment on them.

a “Render more and better service than you are paid for, sooner or later you will receive compound interest from your investment”

I see this as an instruction that holds hope for the future, by doing my best to make another person feel satisfied in the Job or services I render to them, I could feel more fulfilled when finally my reward come.

b. “Seize every moment of time as if it were the only one you were sure of having”

Taking every moment as if it were only one I could be sure of having; using every opportunity as if it was my last; Living in each day as though it was my last; doing every work as though it was my only duty; seeing each and every person as the only person close to me; I try to find Joy, happiness and comfort in them all. By this principle, each day, each moment is made best for me.

c. “Self-discipline calls for balancing your emotions with your reasoning”

The balancing of emotion with reason tends to the use of the Heart and the Head to Guiding my footstep; there are sometimes that the Heart feels like embarking on a Journey that could be risky but the Head sees no reason for embarking on this Journey. The Journey could be the type that has not returning and balancing the Feeling with reasons helps in determining every action I take.

d. “There is a seed of equivalent benefit in every defeat you experience”

Just like noted in Success through Positive Mental Attitude, defeat can be an opportunity for a fresh start, now in a better way. Defeat is not an end on its own, life goes on after that, but only those who are able to understand the seed of equivalent benefit from defeat could discover a way forward. So from all failure I tend to seek all the successes that could be, because what made me fail could also make me to succeed, if only I can look from the other side.

e. “‘At sunrise everyone is born again’ that rebirth is the opportunity to put defeat behind you”

Just as the Bible said, they will be Joy in the Morning, this joy should be able to keep one’s mind off failure of the Yesterdays, and Put his mind in the present fresh start, hoping for better days. This opportunity that comes with the breaking of the dawn, makes the Singer to sing “Every time I see the breaking of the day, I say thank You Lord”. All we need to do most and all of the morning is to beg God for a revelation of a new opportunity.

f. “It makes little difference where you begin, the important thing to ask; where you are going”.

Having a goal set before you keeps one going and until he reaches that goal, he still have the strength to go in as much as he is still having his eyes set on the goal. Where one is going has to be his destiny and like my case, having come from a very rural background, being the first person in my vicinity to reach the University Education, there are many challenges to overcome.

Just like Nathaniel ask about Jesus, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”, so some times I see myself as not being able to make, with the kind of goal set before me now, (Raising PDN foundation) I know that as Philip answered Nathaniel, “Just come and see”; so will every that Hears about me and my foundation will and knowing where I come from as well as how I began, Will Having nothing to say, than, “God is Great”.

Psyco-cybernetics clearly states it (There is no merit in blaming yourself. The past explains how you got here. But where you go from here is your responsibility).

g. “The conscious mind acts as a lens concentrating the image of your desires and bringing them to a point on the film of the subconscious”.

For this I have decided to put all my eggs in one basket and devote all my attention to taking care of it. If like a lens, I concentrate all attention to studying how to be useful to my generation, to my people, to my God and to myself, I know I will discover it and will be really useful. This has been my prayer all day, “God help me to be useful to my people”. All of things both of life and Godliness, has been made available, so says the Bible. It just left for me to discover these things and use them to fulfill my destiny.

The Science of Getting Rich states “there is one Original Formless Stuff or Substance from which all things are made”. Now if can focus my lens to this Original Formless Stuff, definitely I will come to get exactly what I want. It is also stated in this book (The science of getting rich) that “the creative power within us makes us into the image of that to which we give our attention.

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?

By God’s special I grace, was able to comprehend the ideas and points delivered in the book. The principle are life affecting and I struggle each day to apply these principles to my day to day activity.

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?

Not really, any way the only exercise I can see is a commitment that I made about using these principles in my life.

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 were numerous points and ideas that were interesting to me. Paying attention, to them, I discover that I can achieve everything I set mind to achieve if only I can put into action all that I have come to known; all that I have read in books.

The seventeen principles of success can never be exhausted if I start to explain all the much they mean to my life. There are some I know I am good at already, but some like Creative Vision, Assemble an Attractive Personality, Create Personal Initiative, Cultivating Creative Vision, Budget your time and money; and Enforce Self-Discipline. But all of this principles really work together to bring a man, bring me to a platform of success.

Some other points that affected my life include:

The extra mile formula: this formula States Q1 + Q2 +MA = C. and tells me how much time I have to spend on my job and how well I need to do everything I have to do. The Mental Attitude (negative or positive) with which I do things determine my Compensation and I hope this compensation comes from the Original Substance (according to the Science of Getting Rich). The numerous benefit of Doing more than you are paid for actually trilled me and applying this formula helped me to put into

The law of compensation: Knowing that everything you do will bring you some sort of result of the same kind.

Finally Just as Brain Tracy will always tell me in his tape: Sow an Act, and You Reap a Habit, Sow a Habit, and You Reap a Character; Sow a Character, and Your Reap a Destiny. I now start with Act of Reading.

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

Comments

Key to success is of great importance to humanity any man who has a chance to read this book and fails to have not only let himself down but also the world around him and his generation as a whole. All the principles stated in this book has great and tremendous benefit, some immediate, some for later days, but all for the betterment of the human race. This principles studied well and applied, brings about a world with purpose, a world with full hope and faith in its Creator. I wish that more people read and apply this principles in everything in everyday life.

PsychoCybernetics

Assessment by Paul Young Nwakuma (Nigeria)

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

The main idea that I see the author delivering in this book is a discovery of True Self Image of whom God has actually created us as. We are already what we are and what we can be, but the problem is that we have limited knowledge about who we are. Our self image is our real personality and that is what we are really are, but when we see this self image to be poor or weak, there is no worthwhile achievement that can ever come out of such an individual, because grape can never bear pear.

I see the author saying to me, “Self-image is the key to human personality and human behavior. Change the self-image and you change the personality and the behavior. The self image sets the boundaries of individual accomplishment. It defines what you can and cannot do. With the expansion of the self image, areas of possibility are expanded.

Listed below are some ideas that personally affected my life:

a. Stop measuring yourself against “their” standards.

While with my mates when I was in school, I used to see some of them that seem to come from a noble background to be more superior to than I am. My caretaker used to tell me to always remember where I come from (a humble back ground, not disgrace myself and the family), this has made me pitch my tent with people of my class and I tried to avoid associating myself with them, just to be sure that I avoid humiliation which may not actually have come. By measuring myself to their standard, I have suffered some major setbacks in life and my career but now, I am awake. I know that I am not “them” and can never measure up. Neither can “they” measure up to mine—nor should they.

By my realization of the fact that each of us carries about with us a mental blueprint or picture of ourselves. The man who conceives himself to be a “failure- type person” will find some way to fail, in spite of all his good intentions, or his will power, even if opportunity is literally dumped in his lap. The person who conceives himself to be a victim of injustice, one “who was meant to suffer,” will invariably find circumstances to verify his opinions. I come to know it’s all as a result of what I do from the belief I have, that I am who am who I am.

The truth about you is this:

You are not “inferior.”

You are not “superior.”

You are simply “You.”

“You” as a personality are not in competition with any other personality simply because there is not another person on the face of the earth like you, or in your particular class. You are an individual. You are unique. You are not “like” any other person and can never become “like” any other person. You are not “supposed” to be like any other person and no other person is “supposed” to be like you.

Examine and Re-evaluate Your Beliefs

Trace down the belief about yourself, or the belief about the world, or other people, which is behind your negative behavior. Does “something always happen” to cause you to miss out just when success seems within your grasp? Perhaps you secretly feel “unworthy” of success or that you do not deserve it. Are you ill at ease around other people? Perhaps you believe you are inferior to them, or that other people per se are hostile and unfriendly. Do you become anxious and fearful for no good reason in a situation that is relatively safe? Perhaps you believe that the world you live in is a hostile, unfriendly, dangerous place, or that you “deserve punishment.”

After that I went through the above I beheld how much a mistake I have made about people about myself. But thank God, I am not my mistakes.

b. “You” Are Not Your Mistakes

This book has made to realize that where come from was a divine design by the creator, it was not by my effort nor by myself will that I am an offspring of my parents, and His design was a perfect plan and to his Glory. None of it was or is a mistake. Now along the line, I was meant to understand some false statements as truth, on which I built my belief and failed in most endeavors of my life.

But now I know and have come to accept myself just the way I am knowing that self-acceptance means accepting and coming to terms with ourselves now, just as we are, with all our faults, weaknesses, shortcomings, errors, as well as our assets and strengths. Things are actually better now, I see that I can make it if I want to. Do not be afraid of making mistakes, or of temporary failures. All servo-mechanisms achieve a goal by negative feedback, or by going forward, making mistakes, and immediately correcting course.

c. What is Success?

Before now, I see success in terms of just materials acquisition and then count myself less fortunate or a failure when I am not in that class. Here is a new discovery about success I have got (Trying to be “a success” in terms of acquiring prestige symbols and wearing certain badges leads to neuroticism, and frustration and unhappiness. Striving to be “successful” brings not only material success, but satisfaction, fulfillment and happiness.

With a right knowledge about what Success is and who is successful, I know what to do and what not to do in my striving to be “successful”. In accordance to Noah Webster who defined “success” as the satisfactory accomplishment of a goal sought for” I now set my worthwhile goal, having a purpose to live and a reason to wake up, each day of my life.

d. Only “Little Men” Are “Never Wrong”

There was this time that I see people who fail in any course of life as inferior people, and paying special respect to some to me are successful (per say). I valued utmost perfection that I hardly venture into any area that I am not sure of success or victory. But revelation came through this book, showing me all that I have loosed by not having to fail at least once, or in one area of my life. Like Sir Humphry Dave, I come to recognize that a lot is learnt more from mistakes than from my successes. “We learn wisdom from failure much more than from success; we often discover what will do, by finding out what will not do; and probably he who never made a mistake, never made a discovery.” This takes me to the idea of “not being so careful” with myself.

Our errors, mistakes, failures, and sometimes even our humiliations, were necessary steps in the learning process. However, they were meant to be means to an end—and not an end in themselves. When they have served their purpose, they should be forgotten. If we consciously dwell upon the error, or consciously feel guilty about the error, and keep berating ourselves because of it, then—unwittingly— the error or failure itself becomes the “goal” which is consciously held in imagination and memory.

e. Fact vs. Opinion

“Facts and opinion”, this point seems to be the most touching to my life. There are many personal I have had with myself, just because I misunderstand the fact about others and by adding my opinion to it. I see from this point that I am my problem all this while, instead of me to take people as they are and just hear what they say, I often read ‘why they would say so’ to the speech of people, thereby creating unnecessary enmity with people which would on a normal day be my friends.

f. Life Becomes Worthwhile When You Have Worthwhile Goals

Like the saying goes, he has nothing to live for is not worth living. Not until I made my goals clear to my subconscious mind and begin to see it every day come nearer to me, I didn’t find joy in my waking up every morning. When one has a worthwhile goal to pursue, he Keeps his Eye on the Ball. There is focus of attention, concentration of ideas, development of self discipline in order not do deviate from the route that leads to the achievement of such a goal.

Don’t Lash Out Blindly—Concentrate Your Fire; with a worthwhile goal in view, this is made possible.

g. Try to do only one thing at a time.

One thing at a time was difficult for me to implement, I work in a place where it is necessary that one processes more than one data at a time. Trying to finish one task before venturing into another makes my job slow, but I know all the benefit that is associated with this point.

I am still learning this principle not just in my place of work but in my life as a whole.

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?

By discovering who I am, I know that I can do all things, that already I am a winner, even right from conception. My evaluation about myself and about my environment, neighbor, natural forces around me changed with the new believe I have now. Daily I see God’s provision to make me perfect, Like the Bible said, “it is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth, but of the Lord that Showeth Mercy. If am at peace with myself, then I can be at peace with others. By the time that I have loved myself, I will be able to love others; and what a wonderful world we will have. I set my goal, and picture to myself what I would like to be and have, and assume for the moment that such things might be possible, each time I do this am happy, and I feels a sense of fulfillment. For sure, I am happy today just because I want to be.

I try not to attach my happiness to anything event that happens within the day. This makes me happy and cheerful when I am supposed and that should be always.

4. Quotes: Are there brief quotes from the book which really got your attention? If so, please list and comment on them.

The quotes in this book are numerous and so great to my life. Listed below are some;

i. “If you can remember, worry, or tie your shoe, you can succeed”.

This tells me that everybody, even me can succeed, seeing that success in an instinct

ii. “Doing Nothing” Is the Proper Response to an Unreal Problem

Most often we respond to False Evidence that Appear Real (FEAR), we call meaning to worry that are not real, by this quote I now address unreal problem as how they are really.

iii. “What Is the Worst That Can Possibly Happen?”

This question has saved me a lot of worry most the times. By the time I evaluate the worst that can possibly happen, I even discover that worst is not even too bad, mostly the worst in life is death, but even death is the beginning of a new life eternity.

iv. Your Nervous System Can’t Tell “Real Failure” from Imagined Failure

Like the Secret (Law of Attraction) admonishes me every day, to make all my thinking and speeches positive because the Subconscious mind cannot distinguish the different between Real fact and imagined. If I imagine great ideas always, set high goals and imagine myself getting there, the subconscious mine works to make sure that I get there.

v. Medical Science, Faith, Life, All Come from the Same Source

There was this time I used to take medicine to belong to those men of little faith, not know that they come from one source. The creator has made all things for his pleasure and all things are made from Him.

vi. Ignore Past Failures and Forge Ahead

Dwelling in the past is dangerous in that it hold one there, the ability to forge to the future is lost and one is tied down to a life of regret or complain, but we can let the past go with its failures and concentrate on the future with a hope that things might turn out for our favour, our life becomes more interesting, especially when we have a goal set in front of us to achieve.

vii. You must “let it” work, rather than “make it” work.

This calls for my trust in God and in his power to save and deliver. He knows ‘HOW’ to make to make it work, ‘HOW’ my life runs, ‘HOW’ I sleep and wake every day, so I just to Let HIM take the wheal. Like the instruction goes; (You must learn to trust your creative mechanism to do its work and not “jam it” by becoming too concerned or too anxious as to whether it will work or not, or by attempting to force it by too much conscious effort), this is my next objective.

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

The habit of relaxation; the theater of the mind; do it yourself tranquilizer, and all the process of getting connected to the imagination world actually gave me stress understanding how to carry on the exercises. The practice of keeping the mind in a quite mode was actually not easy one for me.

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

The nature of exercise contained in this book is not the type that is carried out in a hurry, it requires time (some a period of 21 days) before result is expected. And this was so for each chapter. So it was not possible for me to carry out the exercise before writing the assessment since I have only about 90 days read and submit my assessment for which I faulted (I plead for mercy and understanding).

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.

It is just that there are still more point that touched me personally. I tried to incorporate it in the seven listed above but it couldn’t enter as such. So these points are listed below:

Know the Truth About Who I am

The aim of self-image psychology is not to create a fictitious self which is all-powerful, arrogant, egoistic, all important. Such an image is as inappropriate and unrealistic as the inferior image of self. Our aim is to find the “real self,” and to bring our mental images of ourselves more in line with “the objects they represent.” However, it is common knowledge among psychologists that most of us under-rate ourselves; short change ourselves, and sell ourselves short.

Finding Your Best Self

This same creative mechanism within you can help you achieve your best possible “self” if you will form a picture in your imagination of the self you wanted to be and “see yourself” in the new role. You act, and feel, not according to what things are really like, but according to the image your mind holds of what they are like. You have certain mental images of yourself, your world, and the people around you, and you behave as though these images were the truth, the reality, rather than the things they represent.

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

Comments:
Feel free to share any additional comments about the book or about the ratings:

Psychocybernetics is full of ideas, points and life principles that awaked my view to who I am in the really sense of it. I cannot really list out all of these points in this assessment. The book changed my life for better, starting from the fact before now, I had a very low self image. I have always seen myself having a great number of limitations on so many areas of my life. Some of the these limitations include; Not being Good with girls; I am an average kind of person; I cannot just make it in an excellent way; – now I have discovered from Creation, I am a perfect being.

Success Through Positive Mental Attitude

Assessment by Paul Young Nwakuma (Nigeria)

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

The authors seems to be setting a pathway; a clear instruction to success. He proof that success can come even from failure; when one focuses his ability toward his area of strength, he become more powerful in that area and will definitely succeed.

He brought to light people who have succeeded even at odd times, showing that at all times, one can still succeed if only he believes he can. He also pointed out ugly circumstances from which some people have succeeded, meaning that no situation is totally BAD, even if the worst happens, the NEXT Step could be the BEST, leading to success beyond failure.

The author simply said to me “You can succeed in anything you set your mind to achieve, just believe and move ahead with PMA”.

The following are some points that affected my life during the course of my reading this book

i. You can change your world by using the 17 Principles to success.

By the application of some of the 17 principles to success to my life, principles like; Going the Extra mile, Self-discipline, Creative vision, budgeting time and money and the use of Cosmic habit force, to which I was not actually good in the practice of them, I come to discover that things are actually easier than it seems most of the times. I can make things easier for myself and for others, life tends to became more interesting, with my Going extra mile, my work became more fruitful, I can render better services with my development of a pleasing personality.

ii. Learning to separate ‘fact from fiction’ and the difference between ‘important facts and unimportant facts’.

Like I learn from Psychocybernetics; not adding opinion to fact, this idea has actually saved me from a lot of trouble and many unnecessary heart aches. I take things just as they are said, separate the important ones that concern me and discard the ones that I feel that they will not make a meaning to my life and my career. I know that there is no absolute truth on what I hear from person and I also know that nothing I heard is absolute lies. I seek the truth and from all I hear, I pick the truth and discard the lies.

iii. Necessity Plus PMA can motivate you to succeed

This point has actually motivated me to do some things just because there are the right things for me do. The necessities of doing these things helped me to keep going, even when there seems to be clearly adventurous, PMA have helped me overcome some obstacles and use them as stepping stones towards higher ground.

iv. When you receive a flash of inspiration, write it down, this may be the something more that you are looking for.

Inspiration has most of the times come to me, just like a flash and also go as they come, and this has actually made me loss some important ideas that would have yielded a lot of success. I am into music and most often new songs come into me like a flash, though sometimes I sing those songs, but after that time, it seems to go away. When next I seek to remember that song, it will not be there again, then I remember that if only I had written that song down, it would have been easier to remember and worked on.

v. The Secrete of getting things done ‘Do it now’

This is actually a secret and a fundamental motivator of getting anything done; just do it now because now has always seems to be the best time to get anything done. This idea has made me work well with the flashes of inspirations that I receive from the Infinite Intelligence, implementing these streams of idea now, gives my Goal a successful result.

vi. You’ve got a problem? That is good

So you’ve got a problem? That’s good! This is important to me because over some period times, things have not been going on so well as it supposed, but that I have come to know that it’s not really an end in its self. Just as stated in the book “repeated victories over your problems are the rungs on your ladder of success, with each victory, I grow in wisdom, stature, and experience. I have become a better and bigger, more successful person, each time I meet a problem and am able to tackle and conquer it. I am happy with the realization that I’ve come to gain from this book, at least now I am fully aware that there is never a single route a destination, I look at a situation from another side of view.

vii. There is always a cure – find it.

This point correspond to my initial believe and favorite quote that says “there is always way out”. The fact that there is always a way out speaks to me to be calm in any situation I found myself and to wait for a way to be made and it has always has been like that. I feel a hope even when I don’t see one. I know it’s going be over even if it takes long.

The bible confirms this point from the mouth of Prophet Habakkuk Chapter 3:17 that even though the fig trees have not blossoms, and there are not grapes on the vines, even though the olive crops fails, and field lie empty, yet I will be joyful in the God of my salvation.

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 has helped me in being who am meant to be, seeing things on different side of life and in becoming a better person, the world around me can be better than I met it. I feel better staying with my friends, and that makes them feel better staying with me.

Seeing the other side of life, makes me hope for the better things that are and the more am composed, I could do my work better and the better influence that has on my environment.

Going extra mile has helped me make more money in my work place and is gradually make my personality pleasant to people.

4. Quotes: Are there brief quotes from the book which really got your attention? If so, please list and comment on them.

There are numerous quotes in this book that attracted my attention, of which I so wished they become part my every day speech, some of which are:

i. “Keep your mind on the things you want and off the things you don’t want”.

Like I learnt from The Secrete, (Power of Attraction) that likes attack like, Bob Proctor would say that u attract what you pay attention to. So I come to realize that if pay my attention to those area that I want things positive in my life. I learnt that it’s better that I thank God for the blessing that I already have than complaining about those blessing that I don’t have yet.

ii. “If you know what you want, you are more apt to recognize it when you see it”.

Tony Robinson says “tell what you want and I will tell how to get it”. Knowing exactly what you want is the first step to getting what you want. Just as Brain Tracy will ask “What do you really want?”

iii. “Every adversity has the seed of equivalent or greater benefit”.

This means to me that there are two sides of every coin “failure or success”. Failure can make someone to discover his reason of failing and push towards achieving his goals in life.

Failure has made me appreciate success and to bear with every one knowing that sometimes, “I might just be on the bridge when the lightning stroke”.

iv. “It often takes only one idea, followed by action, to turn failure into success”.

Only one idea to Change a man and his world, now the action that followed must one that is needed to bring the idea into reality. If an idea comes into a heart of man like a flash of inspiration, he is supposed to follow it up with action and the action must be done NOW.

v. “What the mind of man can conceive and believe, the man can achieve with PMA.”

This quote makes me see myself as being able to achieve anything I want to achieve. I typed this quote, printed it out and paste in the wall of my room to remind me every day that I can achieve anything and everything I set my mind to achieve.

vi. “See another person’s abilities, capacities, and view point; you may be overlooking a genius”.

Nobody is an Ireland, we all depend on each other to survive, the strong and learned all need the help of the common man to survive well. And most often we look down on other just because we seem to above them, but in the actual sense, we all are down. I took quote and considering it critically, I saw a lot of things I could grab from my friend “Emmanuel Enenche” who sometimes, behave like he is not serious about anything. When I went closer to him, I saw how good he is Human relation, his ability to stay well with everyone marveled me and I saw a real genius that I have been looking down upon all this while.

vii. “To be enthusiastic, act enthusiastic”.

Actually we become who really want to be by acting the path. Brain Tracy told me to “Fake it till I make it” and this has helped me to be really what I want to be most times I don’t even know how I become, but I just get to know that am there already. Acting like “I am” to “be” is a strong tool that helps us become whoever we want to be.

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

I did not find any statement or idea that I will say I didn’t understand. Most ideas were plain and expressly straight for me to grab. I am happy for the Understanding God gave me through the session I was reading this book.

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

Yes. The Success Quotient Analysis (SQA) was an exercise that helped me access myself to know exactly how well I have been using the Principles of Success to achieve success.

After the analysis, I scored 224 out of 300 which according to the rating, is just Good. I actually hope that upgrade some areas of my life that scored zero (0) during the Analysis period; Principles like the “Masterminding”, “Budgeting time and money”, “Creative Vision”, has a been suffering deficiency in my life. I hope the next time I will RUN this analysis, I will be able to score at least 280 out of 300. So help me OH GOD.

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 are numerous point that moved my life to having a rethink and a change of mind and view. There also many quotes that helped me of which I am struggling each day to make them part of my everyday language. Some of these points are listed below:

i. There is nothing as hard as evaluating one’s self\

ii. To learn, one must pay a price

iii. The burden of learning is to person who want to learn

iv. Using the step-stone theory

v. Read everything you can find about those who had successful careers in your own field to determine what principle you can use to succeed.

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

Comments:
Feel free to share any additional comments about the book or about the ratings:

SUCCESS THROUGH A POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE is 2nd Best book I have read in my life time, the first being “TOUGH TIME NEVER LAST BUT TOUGH PEOPLE DO”. The book was and is full of lesson, principle, guideline and instructions for people who wish to be achieve in any field of life what so ever. I can never explain exactly how happy I was when I lay my hand on those books (Psychocybernetics, The Key to Success and Success through PMA). I Thank God for having time to read through the book, though it was not easy making out the needed time because of nature of my job but I know that God who Saw me through and who in wish that I Prosper and Be in Good health (3 Jn. :2) brought this book my way will see me through the Programme.

Real Magic
Assessment by Paul Young (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The author to me was revealing hidden secret from the land of the Spirit World. God is Spirit and has made man in his own image; given him his Spirit to enable man to understand the things of that are spiritual.
Not everybody knows this; that he has power within him; higher powers that cannot be seen but is there and with which he is able to create his world as he pleases. Some people that are seen in this realm of great performance seem to be given special names but in the real sense, the author reveals that we all ought to be operating from this particular realm (as spiritual beings).
The author was showing me why Jesus Christ; who knew and operated at this realm was able to do so in this world without any limitation. He (Jesus) created his miracles everyday knowing that to them that believe, all things are possible. While He walked on water, he showed Peter that even him (Peter) if he desire, can also walk on water, this he (Peter) did until doubt sets in and he sinks.
There are two important words which the author used (KNOWING and BELIEVING) which to me is the key to all performance; all accomplishment; all achievements. The author’s main idea was built on KNOWING the Real truth about how God created us, how we are complete and without any limitations. With BELIEVING, we come to bring into existence those things that are not there. It is with Believing that we really come to see.
This is to me the entire author Said in this book “Just know that you are complete right from creation and all of those things which we don’t seem to see can come to be when we believe.

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. “When the Student is Ready, the Teacher will Appear”: The is really true, most especially of me, because right from the time that I was in Secondary School, I have been having in mind the idea of how to get motivational materials, even when I entered The University, I still could go on line to search for materials on Time management, goal setting, and so on but I didn’t get it all. Even in my level three, When Ahua Gura Bem, a fellow student of IIGL, tried introducing me to IIGL course, it was not working out, but Not until I was truly ready, the Teacher, appeared that I needed came to effortlessly, I Got motivational tapes and audio books from a friend which helped my life. These are the things that I wanted but not ready for them until when I ready for them. Thanks to my Teacher, (IIGL), it’s God that brought you my way.
ii. “Believing Real Magic and Miracles”: Though I don’t see it all now, I belief what is written; though I still see, feel, and perceive not so pleasantly, but deep in me, I still belief that I am more than being a limited being. That is why I keep reading, studying to discover “what is that is not seen in me”. I belief that one day I shall be conformed to the Image of God’s Only Son, Jesus Christ. I see that there is no harm in believing; at least I believe in a thing, to live and die for, if I lose, after here can tell better. This believe has helped my creating a miracle mind set, I try to practice what I read, though not perfectly for now but I know that at least I am on the process of creating my own perfect world, a world where I see all things in perfect form in me and around me.
iii. “Ask Nothing of Any One and Practice Unconditional Acceptance”: This point has really helped me reduce my trouble level to a very minimal level in my relationships. With my friends, I really have believed that they owe me nothing; rather, it is me that owe them Love; the Gift of myself in service to them. I tolerate to a great extent, knowing that it is not a duty of any one to serve me, but it is my duty to serve. It with this point that I fully realize what Jesus Meant when say “I do not come to be served but to serve”. This has helped me relinquish my need to be right. I really don’t prove myself right and another wrong, because if they are wrong, or right, it really doesn’t make a better or worst person. I am who I am even if they are not there.
iv. “Know that You Don’t Have to Understand”: After thinking and considering this point, I really come to understand that it is true. I don’t have to understand, because sometimes they don’t understand me but I Know that what I am saying or doing is true. This is a great way of staying in a loving relationship; I come to understand well, why many things have been going wrong and tough some times in my relationship with others. Just because I don’t understand a thing, I come to condemn it or the person that believes in that. But this not right, at least this point have helped me consider the views and ideas of other people and tried to see things from their view, putting myself in their shoes, less condemnation, more appreciation, and better and loving togetherness.
v. “The Big Lie”: This is a point that moved me so much, there are some things that I don’t even try to change in my life before, because I believed that they cannot be changed, based on Heredity and Genes. I actually believed in those limitation like I am not good with girls, and with idea, I have grown up not having a female friend, but Now I know better that there are all BIG LIES. I see many people around me that are actually living under this big lie, I come to show them they can actually live a life that is far this cocoon that they have stayed for all this while.

vi. “Love the Central”: The Scripture, and all other respected books have revealed the utmost important of these four latter word “LOVE”, the Scripture said, “The Greatest is Love, God is Love”, but this is one major thing I am still learning to do as I ought to: “Loving without asking anything in return”. This is just the love that is needed of us all, and sometimes I love, expecting that the “at least …”, but more light have been thrown in this area of my life.
vii. “Stop Structuring your life upon the need to be better than someone else”: this brings to my mind the ideas conveyed in the Book that changed my life “The Science of Getting Rich” about Competition and Creation. Competitors live their whole trying to push someone down in other that they might climb up; creators carry others up and in doing this they see themselves up. I have given up competing, building my success upon the failure of others, basing my joy in the sadness of others. This makes my life better and helps me stay on purpose. I actually want to live out my dreams, the dreams of being a solution to people problems and an answer to people’s questions.

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

I see these points as being able to influence my life to becoming a better person, the science of getting rich told me that “the very best thing I can do for myself, is to make the best of myself”. These points make me aware of what I have to be and do and how to do them, in other to become who I really have to be. I know that if I can become a better person, a spiritual person manifesting in the physical, then I will be able to get what I want in such a way that when I get them, every other person around me will have more than they have now.

4. Quotes: Are there brief quotes from the book which really got your attention? If so, please list and comment on them.

How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the age, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these.

This is to ought to be a goal to which when I have achieved, I might have fulfilled a life a purpose in life. By the time I might have done all these I know everyone in my life might have felt my impact in life.

All human miseries derive from not being able to the quietly in a room alone.
Mediation has been my problem; I hardly find time to be quite on regular basis. I really need help in this area of personal daily meditation.

When someone respond to hate with hate, or anger to anger, it is not because of what was directed your way, it is because that’s what’s inside him.

This quote reminds me of what St. Paul said that we should “Put to death” then, all the earthly desires at work in you. This was his advice to the people of Colossians, he told them to put to death, not to hide or cover within them, I realize with the above quote that it is because we still have hate within us, that we can love enough. I pray for Grace to crucify with Christ all that is earthly within me and then, be filled with His GIFT, the Holy Spirit. This quote explains why “As A Man Thinketh” said Circumstances does not make a man, they only reveal him. That is to say, when circumstances come to a man, only what is within is what shows out.

The great tragedy is not death, but what dies within you when you are alive.
It is rightly said that the fear of death is more painful that death itself. How I wish that this quote will come to a full knowledge of everyone who is still attached to things around. I actually seek a consciousness that I am a conscious mind dwelling within a body; develop an attitude of loving concern for my body but a detached sense of identification.

“Now I Know better”
St. Paul said, when I was a Child, I think like a child, but Now, I am matured, all childish thinking has disappeared. Now I know better, is a statement of the overcomers, people who by God’s grace have come to realize the truth behind the BIG LIFE. The big lies was there, but “Now I know better”. This quote reminds me of so many things different from my life now and before. Before, I lived in darkness, now I live in live in Christ’s light; before, I go without purpose, but now…; before, I lived under limitations, but now I am freed by knowledge. Thank God for NOW.

“Result are not what motivate me”
The idea of not being motivated by result tell it all true that when wealth is the reason for my activities, and the quality of my life is based on what I have accumulated compared with others, then prosperity is impossible for me. I lived like this for long, and I have to realize that it is true. When on purpose, doing what I know I am here for, and forgetting about what will come into my life in the way of money and wealth, then money and wealth arrived in my life in amount sufficient to provide me with a life of prosperity. I Pray God to keep my on purpose, I ask for the grace to think purposively all the time.

“Nothing is more powerful than an idea
which time has reached”
Idea, I have come to understand its importance over the period of times I have been reading books. I actually value ideas as a gift from God, on the development of the world which he has created. He has perfected all things, and made man. We are to bring all these to be by the way of ideas put into work. Everything that is, is as a result of idea, from someone; I pray that God make my ideas a reality one day.

4. 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?

By the Grace of God, the content of Real Magic happens to fall in line with my searches at the moment I relieved this it. Understanding was not really difficult. I believed the contents, and I know a miracle has started happening in my life already. A realization of who I am and what I am made up of is truly a miracle to my life.

5. 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 was not exercise to complete.

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

HOW CHILDREN FAIL: This point really grabbed my attention, with this point I come to understand that the BIG LIE to which we truly believed in most of the times, is inculcated in us from childhood. It the real purpose of life and the truth that no one is actually superior to another can be inculcated in our life from childhood, the Problem of superiority and inferiority complex can be actually taken care of, children can actually grow to appreciate themselves and others, walk and work to reach their full potential, knowing that we already have all this is needed to attain the best that we are created to be.
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

The New Dynamics of Winning
Assessment by Paul Young Nwakuma (Nigeria)

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

The author was conveying the idea that we are all born winners; we are born with the potentials and gifts we need for survival. I come to understand that from the being of our existence, are all are winners, not in our winning others who lose but in just being winners. For we to have being the one that fertilize the egg that formed the zygote that formed the baby which is us, we actually was meant to be a winners.
The author took his time to reveal the steps for the development of skills and the practical mental skills to achieving peak performance in area of our life. Just like he said, we are all what we choose to be and by paying the prices for gold, we have gold.
He revealed that being a champion begins from thinking like a champion; and the book was aimed at teaching how to think like a champion. We are all champion, by choosing to show it; live like one; we change our orientation, imaginations and mentality and have the mind set of champions. And what a wonder the world will see in us.

i. “The three basic rules of Lou Holtz: Do what is right; do your best; treat others as you want to be treated.”
I like this rule just and will like to obey it just the way I obey Golden rule. I see the golden rule incorporated in it. I see that when I might have obeyed this rule, even the blind the will the good that I have turned into. I pray God help me to do just this.

ii. Getting to the “Zone.”
The Zone as it is explained to be “that special place that only winners inhabit – where there is no past and no future, only the exhilaration of the moment, of going all out.” Trying to get this state has for sometimes now been a struggle for me. I know it ought not be a struggle but with practice I hope to get to state where I can absolutely be present at the present, soul, mind and body doing one things, not caring about the past nor the future. This was a technique I saw a coach teach his gymnastic students in a movie I watch (peaceful warrior), not to care much about the result nor the outcome but to pay attention to the present, here and now. I see that this has a lot of result to give as explained in Real Magic as meditation.

iii. Paying the price
Paying the price actually challenged my life, because I know for anything worthwhile to come be, a price has to be paid, Jesus paid the price for our salvation, which of course, we couldn’t pay and now we are saved, Thank God for that.
Now I come to consider what I actually need in life, and looking at what price I am paying or I have paid so far, I discover that am far from the target, if I must get what I paid for.

iv. Setting internal standards for success
As it follows (Don’t compare yourself to others. Competition should be viewed as a way to maintain excellence, to keep yourself performing up to your own potential). Trying to be the best person I can be has become my goal after reading Psychocybernetics, and I have been trying improve on this since then. Though I am tempted some times to compare myself with others, the book said, the happier person in life know that they don’t really have to compete with others. That success comes from doing their best.

v. Propelled by desire vs. compared by fear
I actually want to live my life above fear of failure. This idea showed me people who have made it in spite of many odds, not that the road was smooth, not that they have all it takes to get to where they want to go, but just that they are engulfed with the joy that will come when they have achieved their goals. These people have a desire for success that is far more than the fear of failure and it makes them take all risks.
And finally they discover the highest risk is in not doing anything. As I was considering this point it becomes clear that the statement Brain Tracy was true when he said, it is not what we do that mare us but what we fail to do.

vi. Fundamentals of self esteem
Psychocybernetics as taught raised my idea about my self esteem and with that knowledge I have been working on how to be best kind of person. I actually started loving myself and that has helped me to love others around me. I went through the Fundamentals of self esteem as listed in the book and am trying to build for myself a strong and magnificent self esteem knowing that, in that I make more of myself and be more of myself most especially.
All those self-destructive beliefs were somehow seen in my characters also but I will dig them all out and be the best person I can be.
vii. Perfectionism and protectionism
On this point, I come to reflect what is actually needed of me. The process is most often important than the destination. I want to be my best; I am motivated by a desire for success; I am enjoying the process of success.
I have decided that no matter what happens in my life I Will Be Happy.

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?

“Day by day, in every way, I am getting better and better”.
This is because of the principles and techniques I learnt from these books. By the special grace I continue to acquire this knowledge, I will be able to be the blessing that I am meant to be to my generation.

4. Quotes: Are there brief quotes from the book which really got your attention? If so, please list and comment on them.

The following are quotes that affected my life during the course of reading this book.
“An idea whose time has come, nothing could stop it from being turned into reality.”
I love this quote and it makes me say, “When my time comes to be shown to the world, nothing can stop me” and I seriously believe, that now is my time, now is the day when I come to be my best, and nothing can stop me. Though I might see it all now but I know, that my joining league of great minds in IIGL, some different is happening in my life.

“Today is your day. Choose how you will spend it and do the same with every other day of the rest of your life.”
How wonderful, that it is in my hand to choose how I spend my day. I wish I can achieve all the things I wish I can accomplish about a day. Some I go to work and it seems like I lose control of every events that happens, no more time to read any book, pay attention to friends or even have break time for myself. I love the job but it seems to demand more of my attention that I hardly have time for others things.
Please I need help about this.

“Mistakes are painful when they happen … but years later a collection of mistakes is called experience.”
This is true, I have made some mistakes in the past and now it helps me talk to my younger ones and even my friends, I mean speaking from experiences. I may make mistakes now but based on the fact that I know so well that mistake is not failure, I get up and forge ahead.
“It’s never too late to get in the game.”
What a fact, that is why even at the Cross; there was still a chance for the Thieves to gain eternal life; one made to paradise, the other didn’t. I see this with general life. Whenever one is ready is for change, it can still be made. But this does not mean that we should waste our time and procrastinate. It is very dangerous to waste time, now is the day of when you make up your mind to be your best.
“There are no rewards in anything unless you try.”

Just give it a try, no harm in trying. That is how is life is made, we learn by feedback mechanism and if we live our life in fear of failure, we most often and always lose the reward of achievement, because if we don’t try, no one will know if we would have succeed or failed.
“Performance is only a reflection of internal worth, not the measure of it.”
This quote teaches me to enjoy the process of successful journey in which I am in. Even as look forward to graduating as an IIGL student, the graduating is no longer what matters to me now, but all the knowledge I gain on a day to day basis. As I told some of ministry colleagues when we were preparing for a singing competition, to enjoy themselves during the period of rehearsals and to forget the idea of the competition first, they did not understand this point I was making, I don’t blame them for it, but I wished they did. The competition came and passed and some did not even understand how it passed.

“Whenever a society gets to the top of in the league, it forgot to keep doing what it did to get on top in the first place, and down it came to take its place in the minor leagues.”

These are the people who thinks that destination is what matters, and when the reach, they relax, and at this time, the reality unfold.
“Many of the greatest accomplishments of a true leader go largely unrecognized.”
I think I believe this is true. Because all the leaders I see that work sincerely, most often, their work is done at a time when no one is there to praise them, to recognize their effort and even to understand. Most good leaders spend quite times, plan secretly, and go the extra miles, even give up their right and in think these mostly go unnoticed. But leaders still go ahead to do more, know that for this are there here.

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

It is not that I just accept anything as they come, but these books are books I need at this moment of my lives. In essence, there I was able to understand the point in the book.

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

There was a twenty one day plan exercise. The aim of the exercise was to teach me how to set a goal and achieve that goal.
I carried out this exercise for the period of twenty days, though the goal was not achieved, but I was pleased I did try to achieve that goal. I hope to carry out the exercise again, this time I’ll make sure I achieve my goal.

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 no how I can say with the word of mouth all the lessons that I learned from this book, it is actually a follow up of the lessons I have been acquiring from the other books. These points are worth of including as some of the lesson I learn from this book. “Like it or not, you are going to have some good days and some bad days. The ability to make the most of the good days is a fundamental quality of mental toughness.
The Contingency planning: Expecting the Best, Planning for the worst; and being prepared for a surprise. (I explained the principle for a friend and he was so surprised where I got such an idea from).
The Mental-Toughness Checklist is actually worth taking note of. It helped me and can help anyone who is ready to for the journey of champions.

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

A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
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? 8

How to Win Friends and Influence People
Assessment by Paul Young Nwakuma (Nigeria)

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

The author through this book brought out techniques and principles for interpersonal relationship, based on the fact that if one must make a remarkable impact to/in our society, we have to work so effectively and efficiently with other people living around us. We work with, walk with, play with and pray with people all around us on every day basis.
There is always a pattern and way of interacting with people, both those in a lower or higher carder than we are, that will bring out their self worth and increase their respect for us and even increase productivity.
A leader needs the cooperation of his followers to make a good leadership, and even the followers need the cooperation of their leaders to move forward in life; and if these have to be achieved, a good understanding of how to interact with others is highly needed.
Having read this book, so many facts come up, so open to me that I know if only I have been using these principles before now, I would have made more friends and meet more important people.

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 examples from your own life.

The following are the Ideas that affected and attracted my attention during the course of reading this book:

a. If you want to gather Honey, Don’t Kick over the Beehive.
This point seems like proverb that is dug out with a critical caution. It reveals to me the importance that need to be paid to higher authorities, leaders, and people that have excelled already; if at all we will like to reach the height which they are. It tells me that the respect and sincerity with which I follow my leaders, determines the extent I can go as a leader.
From this point, I also learn that if I want the best in life, I should not take for granted the substances from which the best are made from. “Time” is a major raw material in the production of life and one cannot afford to “waste time” if he needs the best of anything.

b. Happiness doesn’t depend on outward conditions.
It isn’t what you have or who you are on where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about. This is true; happiness is a matter of mind, just as Psychocybernetics tells me “if you want happiness, just be happy, that’s all”. This point reminds me that my happiness should not be based on any variable (which is liable to change with time, season, location or age) but if at all I want to base my happiness on anything, It should be on that which has not iota of change; (and that is GOD, the ever the same ONE). With this, happiness is as certain and long life is sure.

c. You can’t win an argument (The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it.
The main reason why people argue has been to show that they are better than; but I come to realize that this is not necessary. Being better than is not meant to be shown, just like Lord Chesterfield said to his son; (Be wiser than other people if you can; but do not tell them so). I have come to say no to argument, because as it is rightly stated in the book, “If you argue and rankle and contradict, you may achieve a victory sometimes; but it will be an empty victory because you will never get your opponent’s good will”.
And I agree that it will be better to have the people’s good will than to have an academic, theatrical victory. One will always know that he is right or wrong in his own view but when shown things from other point of view, he can change is opinion, (which is not a must for us any way).
I come to conclude this point by saying that it is better to give way to a dog than be bitten by him in contesting for the right. Even killing the dog would not cure the bite. I actually try to put into practice the suggestion given under this point (how to keep a disagreement form becoming an argument) and it is actually helpful.

d. The power of a smile

Smiling has been a charm to which I easily fall prey to most of the times. I know how power smile can pull what effect it can create and has been creating in my life all this while.
I decided to use the smiling techniques I learnt from some of the books I read currently. I just stand in the front of my mirror sometimes naked and smile to myself, just to make sure that I can easily do that. More than once I have met some upset persons and smiled to them, just to put into practice the smiling technique thing and to my surprise it works.
Smile, according to article in the book,
It cost nothing, but creates much;
It enriches those who receive, without impoverishing those who give;
It happens in a flash and the memory of it sometimes lasts forever;
None are so rich they can get along without it, and none is so poor but are rich for its benefits;
It creates happiness in the home; fosters good will in a business, and is the countersign in friends;
Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed or stolen, for it is something that is no earthly good to anybody till it is given away;
And if in the last-minute rush of Christmas buying some of our salespeople should be too tired to give you a smile, may we ask you to leave one of yours.
For nobody needs a smile so much as those who have none left to give!
Smile has made buy some articles, more the price, but I liked the way the seller smiled at me and nowadays I pay keen attention to my smiling attitude and I respond to those who smiles at me.

e. If you are wrong, admit it.
(If you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically), this is how it is stated in the book. Admitting one’s fault is a great sign of humility and goes a long way to restoring peace amongst us. Having in mind that “by fighting you will never get enough but by yielding you get more than you expected”.
Accepting my fault has ended argument and has wined me many favors even when am wrong but when I come to accept my fault it seem to show that I am sincere and ready to make amend. More than once have I gotten second chance to do the same thing again for which I would not have gotten if I had claimed right.

f. Show respect for the other person’s opinions. Never say “You are wrong”
This is the point that has helped me gain much respect among my friends, more often we come to agree on some certain point with no one feeling inferior or superior, just because I decided to put myself in their shoes and see things from their point of view. Though sometimes ideas are changed but with no hurt of feelings and ego.
I have been learning to how to avoid some terms like, (It’s a lie; You are a liar; it’s your fault) and actually having learnt the positive way of presenting this terms makes my speeches more accepted and respected among my equal. Now I will never say “You are wrong.”

g. Ask question instead of giving direct orders
This point has worked for me, helping to communicate what I want done and having it done without any one feeling hurt. There was a day I come to our shop where I seem to in charge and just outside the building was so littered with dirt. And after reading this point the previous night, I said, ‘Ya, I will put this point into practice now’, I went out, picked the broom and after sweeping I ask the sell boys, I don’t if we can have this dirt burned in the evening and he smiled and responded Ya. In evening without reminding him, he had the area cleaned and burned.
I was happy I had my message passed without force or orders. This point also made me know that we all have certain amount of self worth which deserve to be respected, no matter who we are or any position we occupy, and instead of me claiming boss, I should know that we are all important and actually this works like miracle in achieving any goal at all.

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

The point I learn in these books are actually transforming my life and making a better person. I can see it in my every day interaction with people. There are times when I seem down and so low that I feel that I can not affect any life around me, but even at that point and time, some people still show me that I am their encouragement.
There was a time that I become so bored with my business, which was not moving as supposed, I couldn’t raise the money I needed to settle my day to day challenges, even the Upcoming conference in Lagos Nigeria, I needed money to get registered, but nothing was coming up and at this time, I feel like quitting the business and going to stay with my elder brother, but a friend come to me and told me what I mean to him and how much the existence of the business is still giving him encouragement.
He then volunteered that we work together and see what will come out of the business. We worked for a period of one month (from 22nd November, – 22nd December, 2012) and come up with a good amount of money that was able to get me started again. I was able to register for the conference, I get myself a second hand laptop worth Fifty thousand naira (N50,000.00), I paid off some depth worth Thirteen thousand naira and do some other major expenses.
What I am trying to say is that some people have believed in me and my ability to doing great things and I believe as time goes on, I will develop all the abilities needed to change my world for the better.

4. 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.

“Don’t criticize them; they are just what we would be under similar circumstances.”
This quote took be back to seeing things through another person’s point of view. Criticism, I don’t think is the best way of passing messages across to other people nor is a good way of analyzing other people action. But I think we can pray for change in the life of people who are feel are in the wrong side of life. Understanding that we are liable to temptation should remind us that we should not laugh at those who have fallen because we might be the one to fall tomorrow.

“Don’t complain about the snow on your neighbor’s roof, when your own doorstep in unclean.”
This is an old quote, just like Jesus puts it, “Try and remove the log that is your own eye, before you can see clearly to remove the spark from the brother’s eye”. When we take our time correct ourselves first before correcting others, it makes things easier for us and for others, it passes message easier because this days, people read character faster than words. And when people see truth in us, they will hardly tell us lies.
“When dealing with people, let us remember we are not dealing with creatures of logic. We are dealing with creatures of emotion, creatures bristling with prejudice and motivated by pride and vanity.”

And with knowledge of this we come understand how really we ought to relate with people around us. There are pride, ego and self esteem that seek protection in all of our lives, and the better we get this fact straight, the more peaceful our society becomes, and the better progress we will make. People emotion is important to them, even mine is very important to me and I won’t play with it, so I try not hurt other people’s emotion, I learn to respect whatever it is that other have value for, because that might be so important for them.
Don’t be afraid of Enemies that fight you but, be afraid of the friends who flatter you.”

Enemies are there to fight us and make us stronger, but friends are cheer us up and build us up, but when friends begins to flatter, they become more dangerous than enemies because already they know all our week points. I am actually on a watch out for one of my friends now whose life is beginning to contradict mine. Friends are the best in life if they happen to be good friends. I need friends and am trying to make myself friendly so as to be a friend of me first and then others.
“I shall pass this way but once, any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”

This is true of everyone here, we are all sojourner in this earth, there was a time when we break out of eternity are born in the flesh form, we will stay here for a while and after sometimes, we will all go back to eternity, but while we are here, there are lives to be touched, hope to be raised, help to be rendered and so on. I wish God help me do all of this before I go back to eternity.
“It is the individual who is not interested in his fellow men who has the greatest difficulties in life and provides the greatest injury to others. It is from among such individuals that all human failures spring.”
I beg for deliverance from this kind of life style, and this spring in me a hunger to tell others about IIGL that the world (youths) might be filled with the knowledge of what ought to be just as water covers the sea.

“I don’t blame you one iota for feeling as you do. If I were you I would undoubtedly feel just as you do.
We all have certain percent of deficiency however it comes, but I know we are not perfect yet. And if we understand this, we can only feel sorry about people’s fault and know that when we were at their state or stage, we might just have to be doing exactly as they are doing. That we are saved today is by grace and not by effort, so St. Paul tells us, and we all have to be grateful that were are. But not to condemn those who are yet to, but the same grace is still at work and for them also.
I believe if we work this understanding and use the Quote in talking to any one he will listen to us more and make a positive change certainly.

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

The lessons were found in our everyday lives and activities, as in our day to day, we live our lives in service to others either to help them earn a living or earn a living through them. And all of this involves interaction which has deserves courtesy and respect in all level.
So with the fact that the book is more of practical theory, each point was easy to understand, there is no disagreement really between me and the author.

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 useful?

There were no exercises.

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

I am so happy that this books are coming to me at this time of my life, I seriously believe that my moment of truth is here, a time never will I forget. All that I seek and desire to achieve my goal and fulfill my destiny keeps coming to me, Just as Real says, “when the Student is ready, the Teacher will appear”. So has it happened to me, I know that gradually I keep gathering this information and knowledge, ability to apply and field of exercise will come my way. And sooner than I expect, I would have built my “PDN Foundation” especially as God is interested in its actualization. Thanks to Dale Carnegie for bringing this interpersonal relation manual. Thanks to IIGL for accepting to help me grow.

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

A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
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? 8

Giant Steps
Assessment by Paul Young Nwakuma (Nigeria)

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

Anthony Robbins in the book (Giant Steps) pointed the need for human development; man as an ever growing being needs tips on how to grow, however little it is but should be consistent. He simplified the ambiguity of knowledge by creating daily step by step growth pattern for every sincere person who desire growth.

Mr. Robbins pointed out the key factor to the development of human nature (a belief that you can/can’t) from which pops the energy to perform. Since no one can ever achieve anything to which he believes he cannot. He reveals factors that leads to believing and even stronger belief (conviction) “References or Experiences” and the perception of humans to and from what happens to them on daily basis. Every day in our lives we are faced with different events, some as we plan, some not, but Robbins pointed out that how these events affects us depends on what meaning we attach to them.

The world is to us how we see it and what metaphor we use to describe the world show how we relate to people and all that is around us.

The following are the main ideas that got my attention during the course of reading this book.

i. “Success and failure are usually not the result of a single event.”

This idea makes me believe that failure doesn’t just happen, and the fact that I fail once doesn’t make me a failure. It gives me the nerves, the power to use another chance, this time more carefully. It lets me pay attention to all the “little little” events that happens in my life, knowing that even the smallest occurrence in my life counts a lot to the success and failure recorded in my life. Though little, but it could also lead to failure or success at the long run.

ii. “The ultimate success formula.”

For success to be accomplished in life, I see this formula to be a must followed formula, even those who have succeeded in one way or the other of their life have made use of this formula (deciding exactly what it is you want; taking action; noticing what is working and what is not; becoming flexible with the process). Of course I know what I want, and for that course am I alive, I will continue to walk towards reaching that end value.

iii. The difference between achieving to be happy and happy achieving.

This is the point which really sets me in a good mood. I am happily achieving my goals, “I am not setting a goal to be happy, I am happy” and this happiness gives all the energy I need to move forward. I am currently finding it difficult with graduating from the University and this is actually painting me like a failure in my house and with my friends. It’s actually making people around me unhappy and for sometimes now I have waiting to graduate so that I can be happy but it’s not coming forth, so what will do, go around unhappy? For how long? What if I couldn’t graduate then I go on all life as an unhappy person? I have decided to happy, not because something happens or as a result of an event but because I want to be happy.

iv. “Having a point, a direction you are headed.”

This idea is the first in the formula for success. I have also realize that when one has a point, a direction he is headed, it makes things easy in life, not being so worried about many events that happens along the way of life. Life is so complex and without having definition of points that one needs, he might go all along chasing the wind.

v. “Whatever we focus on determines how we feel.”

“Feeling” according to (the Secret) can either be bad or good, and how we feel, from this idea, comes from how we focus on the events of our lives. Things may happen but feelings that come from them are mostly from the point of view we have.
For example, when one have a hope of eternity, he sees death as a transition to another realm, with this focus, he believes that one day there will be a get together again that will last forever. And the feeling will not be to kill oneself like the unbelievers do.

vi. The belief of a problem being personal

The idea that problem are personal makes one assume things that are never real, and handle situations negatively. The scripture says no challenge that comes to any man is Unique, we are all faced with challenges, and when we realize this fact, we gain the strength to handle situations that arises with positivity of mind.

vii. Addressing problems at their cause instead of their effects.

The idea of addressing problem at their cause (from the root) helps deal with life challenges perfectly and helps invest our energies resourcefully, than always at the defending point. Detect the monster while its little and deal with then, better prevention than correction.

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?

Day by day, I keep seeing the world from a better point of view, I focus more on the things that bring me more fun and by being happy I interact with people around me in more happy way, all thanks to God.

I have believed that life has its season and though I am presently at my hard times now, I know that better times are ahead and I wait for my morning to come, for there will be joy in the morning. My vocabulary has changed and my development into positivity keeps me strong all day long. No matter what happens, I know that even this will pass, but life goes on.

4. Quotes: Are there brief quotes from the book which really got your attention? If so, please list and comment on them.

During the course of reading this book, I so much wish that these quotes will be part of my everyday language and even my life style.

“Who you become as a person is the ultimate reward.”

Not everybody sees this point, I mean I don’t often see it either, but under critical examination, I come to see that it’s true. I have spent 6 years in the University for a course that am suppose to spend 4 years and its seeming now that I might not even graduating with certificate (this is a big challenge for me), but at least I have become different person from who I was the last 6 years. I still love myself even though without certificate, and I see to it that I will still fulfill my destiny.

“What really shapes our lives is the meaning we attach to events.”

Yes, the meaning I put to events in my life now is actually turning my life around, helping to take things easy, I actually believe that everything that happens to me now is meant to teach me a lesson and to take my life to a greater height. Though some are painful and seems disgracing but I know God is able to make all things beautiful in His own time. Of course I know that nothing in life has any meaning except the meaning we give it.

“This too shall pass.”

This quote keeps my tension down even when it’s all hot around me. Even now I know that my current state of challenge will pass, it’s not going to last forever, in the morning, there will be Joy again.

“Life has its seasons, and I’m just in winter right now.” Am happy for all things that has happened to me so far in this life, the good, the bad, the pleasant, the unpleasant and in them all I have come to discover more of the love of God.

“Just because you don’t see immediate results, it doesn’t mean you are not making progress.”
So we will just have to thank God and wait for him to make all things perfect. Holding on happily on the course for which we all believe is worthy going through. This quote helps me understand the point that said, “though, we are not where we want to be yet, but at least we are not where we use to be.”

“Kill the monster while its little.”

Treat the cause of the cancer, (quit smoking); try and care of the malaria epidemic in the community, (keeping proper sanitation); and so on, I think this is what this quote is portraying. This is easy to do and yields more results than cures.

“Knowing what to do is not enough, you must do what you know.”

There was a movie I watched, “Peaceful warrior” and it pointed the difference between knowledge and wisdom, knowledge he said that it is knowing what to do and wisdom as doing it. Almost everybody knows what to do or what needs to be done but the challenges is the wisdom aspect of it, doing it. I have praying for the grace to put all I have read into practice in the development of both myself and the people around me, after reading the nine books from IIGL, I have known enough to save a life, but I wish I can put all of them into practice.

“A powerful agent is the right word.”

Knowing the right words to say at anytime, in any circumstances, guarantees winning to who so ever is involved. This because it seems that all human beings reacts to the tune of voice that speaks to them and responds to the words they hear. Saying the right words to a friend who hurts can make you the best person ever and when words are wrongly used, there is bound to be a disagreement.

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?

Action signals: I did not fully grasp the message that was conveyed in section of the book.

Warning signals: I don’t know what these signals are in a relationship.

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

There are several exercises in the book but not be taken at an instant. Most of them are to take several days and during the course of reading this book I couldn’t cope perfectly with the exercises. The book is actually to be an exercise that is meant to take a whole of course of one years, but I read it through to get the points that I needed for overcoming daily challenges for the submission of the assessment.

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 were major points that are in line with the demand of my life at this time, especially with the current challenges that I am facing in my life right now.
The state I am now in life journey seems to be the most challenging ever since birth. And seriously I needed some genuine words that could me going. Everything seem to be falling apart, though with the lesson from the book, I got to know that Life is like a season, I am just in one season right one. After the darkness, the dawn will definitely come.

The book have also made me understand that the end value can be reached through numerous means and even as it turns out to be that most of means value has failed but I still believe that I reach the destination, for the power working in me is definitely beyond limit of a means.

The Giant step is a book meant to make a giant by step by step approach over a period time, applying the lessons found there in. The reading of this book was somehow tough for me. I got entangled with some activities that did not allow me pay full attention to the book.

The activities made me read and reread this book so many times, but later on I discovered that wasn’t a waste of time. The knowledge stocked more and more and I was so conversant with the lessons contained in the book.

This is the last book for my level studies. I look forward to receiving my level two books.

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

A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 5
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8

Unlimited Power
Assessment by Paul Young Nwakuma (Nigeria)

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

Revelation of points, rules and techniques that could set one in perfect control of his life; that will help one to know who he is and also master his mind and body; this were the ideas that I see the Author revealing in this book. The book covers an entirety of one’s life; from Emotion to Reason, then to Physiology, covering the Past, Present and Future of “my life.”

My Robbins revealed a power that God has put in man from creation, which is unlimited, able to help man in achieving his every goal in life. The book seemed to be like other books I have read about positive thinking, but as I went further into the study and exploration of this great life manual, I discovered that it was a SUM total of all others because it covers “all” areas of human existence from Belief to Knowledge, to Action with corresponding results that could follow every action.

The most important fact that Mr. Robbins revealed to me in this book is “why I behave the way I behave; what governs my actions; how I have been acting upon most basic values and being guided by them though most of the times unconsciously.”

The author also touched my view about the world in general and of the people all around me. There are facts about the past he revealed to me through the book. He then brought me to the present moment; what about the past affects the present and in what dimension, he linked the past perfectly to the present and showed me why I believed in things that I believed in and why the way I do; that my relationship with people had been governed by past experiences, both ‘success’ and ‘failures’, even though he told me that success is not a state but a process and even failures are real only when they are accepted and made real by an individual.

Mr. Robbins revealed how the present can be put to use as to leading to a perfect future, though the past might have been ugly but it can be repainted and the feeling/effect on the present changed for better (by reframing). New belief can be formed that will empower one for the future (by meta-programming).

With an understanding of my most basic values, I presently know how to invest my most valuable resources (time and effort) in the area that will congruently gear me to success.
Finally Mr. Robbins also worked on the future by providing a Joyful Syntax and modalities for goal setting and achievement of such goals. He said, “Judge yourself by the goal you set for yourself and this is all about success and accomplishment.”

Mr. Robbins has just designed a program (life manual) that when installed in human bio-computer (the brain) and if run perfectly, will provides the best that life can offer, a good life to enjoy, a destiny fulfilled for one and for all mankind.

Thanks to Mr. Robbins.

The following are the ideas that affected my life during and after the course of reading this book.

i. The commodities of the kings (what make the difference between success and failures).

From the book, I got more light on the word ‘power’ being the ability to take action. Most of the times I had let some ideas die within me, though there are perfect ideas that if put to use might change my generation, but procrastination kills such ideas, putting them off for the tomorrow and when tomorrow reaches, the zeal to act, sometimes are gone. Mr. Robbins said in his book, The Giant Steps that the Secret of getting things done is doing it now, that is, taking immediate action. The idea of having the ability to take action now is most important for me to imbibe into my everyday life.

During the course of reading this book, there were several exercises that was prescribed and recommended that they be carried out at the moment. To some that I was able to carry out, I received immediate reward and was happy I did, but there was some I pushed out for further time, and I tell you I latter didn’t carry that out. I know if I should put to work all that I have learnt so far, it’s enough to carry me through life.

ii. The seven lies of success

The seven lies of success are really not lies for me; I see enough fundamental truth in each of the lies. Going through each of the lies from the first to the seventh, I see most of them as affecting my present situation.

This phase of my life seems to be the most interesting one so far. I commented about my present challenge in my last assessment, concerning my school and my graduation, which as of then I was not certain of what was about happening but now it’s all over. School over, no degree certificate, and reading the first lie, it said, everything happens for a reason and a purpose and it serves us. From this lie, I refocus my attention to trying to find reason and purpose for which it will serve me.

Lie # 2 said there is no such a thing as a failure. This point helped see the other side of the situation with a more positive perspective. Reading through Abraham Lincoln story, I know that if I can start again, maybe this time I might make it.

Lie # 3 said, whatever happens, take responsibility. You know, I somehow was thinking of external factors as being responsible for what happened to me, but after considering the third lies, I see that winners take responsibility of happenings in their life. And considering the fact that I want to be a winner, or already a winner, I take full responsibility of what happened. And after that I really gained courage to face my challenge, though not so pleasant but I know God will see me through; as I put my all in Him.

Lie # 4 told me it’s not necessary to understand everything to be able to use everything. Actually I didn’t seem to understand many things about those happenings and even now I still don’t understand some but I just have to keep going. May when I get to top of the hill, I will see how low it is under my foot.

iii. The syntax of success

This implies the way we order our actions to achieve a desired result. The syntax of success reminds me of the book I read “the science of getting rich” which stated that everybody has the potential of becoming rich if only he can do certain things in a certain way. The idea Robbins refers to as Running the brain in a specified manner. This idea helped me to enhance my internal representation of external happenings; the way to rephrase event to empower me to success not to limitation or failure.

iv. The physiology of success (act as if principle; being by doing; fake it until you make it).

Here come the idea that get me back my health and happiness instantly as well used. Acting as if, to me I understood as faith in action, and according to Brian Tracy, who said, “act like what you want to be.” I was sick this certain day and really felt like lying down and having self pity on myself, but it was just a day after finishing this topic, then I decided to act if I was ok. I got up and moved around, answering a very healthy ‘am very ok’ when asked; how you are feeling? To my great surprise I didn’t even know when my body came back to normal.

Robert Kiyosaki said about his Rich Dad, who normally says, I am rich and rich people do things this. Even when he is broke, he encourage himself by behaving like the rich people, knowing that being broke is temporal but poverty is eternal. So now I have to live the life that I want to be like, even though for now, it might not be as I wish that it should be, but I will keep faking it until I make it.

v. Meta-programming

The idea of meta-programs really helped me to discover why I do the things I do, the way I do them; the reason behind every of my action. Once I was bent on finding out who I am and what I am made up of, it was easy to study others and asked them many questions that led me to discover what governed people’s life. This really enhanced and guide my communication and relationship with the people around me; knowing why they do the things they do, helped me to move about with them knowing that if I be in the same state, I will do exactly the same thing. Meta-programs helped me to discover that everyone is right in his idea of event, depending from where he is looking from.
When I was trying to discover the program that runs in me that brings the results of the my actions, I discovered that I moved toward, internally framed, sorting by others, I am also a matcher, it really doesn’t take me many attempt for me to believe, I easily believe people. I know that not all of these will give me the desired results all the time in all cases, and I also know that flexibility is the key because extremes are dangerous, there are cases I needed to move away from, to respect others with opposite view of point.

vi. Handling resistances and solving problems.

This idea tells me to build from agreement, not from conflict; learn to align and lead rather than to try and overcome resistance. Most of the things I learnt here was how to communicate with people and gain their point of view. Before now, I used be bent on winning any conversation “on proving my point,” but Robbins simply said, arguments like this can be the most destructive thing in a relationship. I started learning to use the three phrases stated in the book, “I appreciate and.” “I respect and.” “I agree and.”

When I appreciate, respect and agree with others, it makes me feel that them too might be right in their view of the situation, so first I have to agree with them and respect their view, then I can now show or say what I feel about the situation.

Fortunately I was reading this topic; my elder brother needed to send a text message and cancel an appointment with a prayer colleague but didn’t know how to compose the text message so as not to provoke the man to anger. He gave me the task, and after doing the job, he told me; ‘perfect, send it’. I was happy I learnt the context and that I was able to use it when it was needed. Day by day, I am getting better and better by God’s grace.
vii. Reframing: the power of perspective One of the keys to success is finding the most useful frame for any experience so you can turn it into something that works for you rather than against you. The truth is that things happened to me and will continue happen. The idea of reframing laid a helping hand to handling any of happenings whenever there happens. Like Robbins puts it, “there are multiple meanings to any experience.”

Most especially the state I am now, not knowing which way to follow to achieve my life goal, but I will say with faith, “even if I have to stay here longer, I will, but while I am here, it is to do the best I can with the most of what I have, life does not end here”. I know there are two side of every story and I am patiently waiting for the other phase of this situation to unfold, of course with time it will.

vii. Value hierarchies

What my most basic value has been and is still is; is to please God. This reason has always made me have a mixed feelings when I pursue a thing and after getting it, discover that in one way or the other, I have wronged God.

Presently I am into a relationship and sometimes with I am with my girl friend, there is this lustful play that we had, after then, my temperature rose, my heart beat increased rapidly and most of the times I feel terrible afterwards, though I didn’t know why that happened, but after reading this chapter I come to discover that it is because of what is at the top of my value hierarchy which I have violated.

I began to watch people and to study what usually formed their serious speeches, one will tell me, “I don’t like someone ridding of over my right.” I went on to watch his language style and see much authoritative commands in them. Though at this time I was consciously dealing with him to discover why he behaves the way he does. My feeling about his behavior changed when I now know that its because of what is at the top of his value hierarchy that motivate his behaviors.

I now take people for who they are; knowing that if I am who they are, I will do exactly what they are doing, but still I evaluate the origin of their actions and knowing what the consequences of such actions, I tend to proffer a shift of ground for better living and understanding of themselves.

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

There is great joy in knowing that day by day there is growth in my life. I am glad that my dreams will come true one day, because for now I am so sure of what I want, why I want the things that I want, I have also come to the knowledge of the price I needed to pay to get what I want. The belief that all things are possible has saved me a great deal of trouble and stress in my day to day life.

My relationship with has been greatly improved as I see myself as master of my situation and my life. I have responsibility (response ability) to all that come my way. I know that people like being respected and feeling like masters, though most are not, even then you don’t have to deflect their ego, I follow people now with a master mind, (of my own) though I am not right all the time, but at least I am the master of my fate.

Growth is essential for accomplishment of goals, and from this book, I have grown more in conscious knowledge of why I do the things I do, my basic values, and also how to work in congruity along the way to my destiny, till I see my Lord face to face.

4. Quotes: Are there brief quotes from the book which really got your attention? If so, please list and comment on them.

The following quotes got my attention and so far, I have been trying to keep them in mind on a daily basis for to make my life better.

“How you feel is not the result of what is happening in your life, it is your interpretation of what is happening.”

This is close to saying that, “Nothing has meaning except the meaning we give it.” Also, it is not what happens to us that separate failures from success, it is how we perceive it and what we do with what happens that makes the difference. Actually I have read this quote from many of my level one books, but when I saw it here, it was like the first time am seeing it, even the meaning it gave me, was very obvious based on my current challenge. I have chosen to see my present situation as a training moment for a greater future, knowing that failure is an opportunity to start over, this time in a better way.

“For every disciplined effort, there is a multiple reward.”

The bible said whatever your hand findeth to do, do it with all your heart. Taking appropriate action concerning anything, I noticed pays a lot of benefit. A scholar said, its not the things do that weighs us down but the things we fail to do. Disciplined effort I believe is doing the right thing at the right time. And this though hard to carry out but whenever I accomplished disciplined effort, I feel great.

“Building from success of others is one of the fundamental aspects of learning.”

This is really true. Brian Tracy said life is too short for one to start afresh and develop his own principle when he can learn from the principle laid down by others. The events recorded in the Holy book (the Bible) are for us to learn from, and what will it really pay if we should go on rebel against God, and feel his wrath. If I can read, I can discover the principles that I have to obey for me to gain life (even eternal), then all I should do is to use what I have discovered, for that is why it is meant to be there.

“I can produce the same results if I’m willing pay the price of time and effort.”

There are great achievements that have been made by people, for which I wish I make mine but there is a price to be paid. When I was going through the names of people that have graduated from IIGL, I wish I am one of them but the price of time and effort I have not paid. I just have to be dedicated to my goal and also be patient with myself and with God who said, “at the appointed time, I will make all things beautiful.”

“What a person believes, what he thinks is possible or impossible; to a great extent determines what he can or cannot do.”

To some extent, I have read much about believe and day by day, my belief about God and myself grows stronger. I believe that God loves me and that with time, if I do not give up, I will certainly win a crown that last forever.

“Good timbers does not grow with ease; the stronger the wind, the stronger the trees.”

This is really an encouraging truth for me. It tells me all that is happening to me now are actually meant to build me stronger. I have to come to learn the lessons of my life during this period more than all I have learnt in my entire life. Real life lesson, about how to be patient, humble, trust others, trust in myself, and much more. I know if I overcome this time, I will make an impact in my generation.

“The road to success is always under construction.”
This is to say that for now, no one can say that he is successful until he has gone to the great beyond, then it can be certify that he was successful depending on how and what he left behind. Some people go and leave things, others go and leave behind histories and stories, while still others go and leave behind lives touch and changed; these are the successful people I can boast of. I know that any road under construction is never smooth, and so with how rough my days are now I am confident that He that holds my life is able to keep it safe until the day of His return, when all works will be rewarded, and to give a crown of life to them that overcome.

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

Yes, there were two topics that really gave me tough time putting them into practice; Mastering Your Mind; How to Run Your Brain and How to Elicit Someone’s Strategy.
Going back to yesterday and changing the colors of events, altering the tonality of the sounds, the intensity and all that, so that its effect on us today can be made better; the process was really stressful for, course I didn’t know if I was doing it right.
Even anchoring my way to success was somehow hard to put to work, especially trying to anchor someone else. I still need help in these areas.

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

The nature of the exercises in the book is this kind of ‘Close your eyes now and go back to yesterday and try to change the effect of the events there in your life today’. I tried to do some but that challenging. Other exercises are found in the value hierarchies, where I needed to discover and outline my most basic values and put them in top hierarchies to see which one is on top, I did this. And also on Limitation Disengage (knowing what you want), it is like goal setting, where I was asked to make a list of what I want in life and making plans on how to get them. Though before now I already had a written down goals for which I work and walk toward daily by God’s grace.

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

Yes, on Energy; the Fuel of the Excellence. I tried to work the food combination for effective and proper digestion chart, and some were not flowing smoothing with me. Like this part of the country where I live, (Benue state, Nigeria) common breakfast is usually ‘Rice and beans’ combined, Akamu (pap) and beans; and all these are carbohydrate and protein. Actually I like doing just as recommended by my Mentor (Tony) but this was off course. Well, I will keep trying. Also trying to get mentors, I was searching for people to model and I discover that if I can live like the following people: Jesus Christ: (The bible said, I need to conformed to the image of God’s dear son to be able to see God. Anthony Robbins: (My mentor); Bob Proctor: (I got to know about him from the Secret) Nelson Mandela: (My favorite African Leader) Bill Clinton Am still studying to know more about these people, with time I hope I will get all that I need about how they handled their challenges.

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

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