Vivian Muciri – Assessments – International Institute for Global Leadership

As A Man Thinketh
Assessment by Vivian Muthoni Muciri (Kenya)

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

The main idea the author is trying to convey in the book is that a man is literary what he thinks, his character being the complete outcome of his thoughts. Allen went on justifying his book by stating that just as a plant springs from and could not be without the seed, so every act of a man springs from hidden thought and could not have appeared without them. He also states that the thought in our mind is what made us what we are by thought we wrought and build.

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

THE FACT THAT THOUGHT IN THE MIND IS WHAT MADE US:

I came to learn that before one get the ability of doing anything by thinking before doing it. Just as one may think and plan how to go steal before going to steal.

I also get to learn an act is the blossom of thought and joy and pain are its fruit. Anything we do comes from the mind and when it’s put to action there must be an outcome of the action and the outcome might be good or bad.

MAN IS GROWHT BY LAW AND NOT A CREATION BY ARTIFICE:

Here I came to learn that nothing comes to us through by chance or by favor but they are natural result of natural thinking. Just as one may decide to live a noble life or evil life e.g. one may decide to live as a saint or a drug addict. For one to be a saint his thought must be right and his action right too. For one to become a drug addict his thought is about drugs and those he ends up taking drugs.

WE ARE CAPABLE OF MAKING OR UNMAKING OURSELF:

As humans we are capable of thinking of whom we want to be, we might think of being good and create heavenly place or doing evil and become beast. This implies that one has a right and power to decide their character and all this harbored in our thought. I also came to learn that we have power and authority to control our thoughts. We are also the molders of our character it is in our power to decide what we want our character to be, we can decide to have a good or bad character. We can also shape our condition, environment and destiny.

ONES MIND IS LIKE A GARDEN AND THE OWNER THE GARDENER:

When I read this it reminded me of my peers and most peer group in most cases one tend not to think for themselves since they want top fit in one group or the other and thus forgetting that this may ruin there life by having a bad outcome. Just as one has to plant seed in the garden nature them, remove weeds in the garden that is the same case one has to work on his mind remove bad thought and nature good thought so that one is able to produce good fruit. For example its on a Sunday and am heading to church my mum happened to have given me ten dollars for offering. On my way to church I meet my best friend and she happens to see the ten-dollar, then tells me to bay candy with five and give five as offering in church. Its my duty to say no to her and go straight to giving the whole amount in church and not go with her idea since the outcome might be bad for example my parent may not trust me when it comes to money.

THE SOUL ATTRACT THAT WHICH IT SECRETLY HABOURS, THAT WHICH IT LOVE AND ALSO THAT WHICH IT FEARS:

I came to learn that the situations we are in are the means by which the soul receives it own. Thinking of it my worst fear used to be height I hated going in higher places or stand at a balcony that is located in fourth floor. So when I got to join high school I was offered the top bed of a double decor at least I got away with that one and got the down bad but the nightmare was yet to begin. The next day when we were going to class I met my real nightmare the class was on fifth floor. This was one of my greatest fear that I could not by pass but face cause there was no way the class could have come down or they would not change the school set up to favor me so, I had no choice but to set my mind and face my fear by attending my class.

CIRCUMSTANCES DOES NOT MAKE YOU BUT REVEAL YOU TO YOURSELF:

Here you are in a situation of poverty. You are known to be kind, polite, and respective.
You share the little you have and always ready to help both at you neighbor hood and local church. All over suddenly you have won one billion dollars in one of the lottery you signed for and now you are rich. WOW! That’s where the real you appear you stop going to church, don’t want to help anyone and you don’t want to share your money with anyone. This is when the real you is revealed to yourself and everyone because at first you were pretending or you wore this mask cause you were benefiting from this people but the new person that’s you the inner beast that is in you.

MOST OF THE TIME THAT WE ARE WILLING TO CHANGE OUR CICRCUMSTANCES BUT WE ARE NOT WILLING TO IMPROVE OUR SELVES:

At time we sit and wish that some situation were not the way they are. We are ready to change this circumstance but our thought is not yet set to improving ourselves. Lets say you have the characteristic of drinking too much and after drinking you misbehave, waste money, end up sleeping in the street and wake up the next day with a bad hangover. This have been bothering you for a while and now you are ready and more than willing to change your behavior, probably by avoiding the bars as much as you can, but you are forgetting that alcohol are sold in supermarket and other places to. One thing that you are not keeping in mind is that there is no way a bar is going to be shut down cause you want to quit drinking or beer company closed down. All you have to do is try working on your thought and improve your character then you will be able to quit drinking but not pinpointing others or wishing for impossibilities.

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 lesson has helped me learn how to control my thought and how to ensure that am going to have a positive life. It clearly states to me that am the master of my thought and I have the power to control my destiny so I need not to blame nature or any other thing but pick myself up and work on improving myself before thinking of changing my circumstance. I also came to learn that in order for me to get my wish and prayer I need to put them inline with my thought because for one to earn something he got to have a thought of working hard to achieve it, and putting the thought of working hard to action by literary working hard, and the end fruit will be him attaining what he want. In helping me create a better world I came to learn that I need not to blame everything I do or justify my action with my circumstance but work on my thought and act on them while they are still positive so even in that circumstance I will be able to tackle it with a positive mind and wont affect any one thus making the world 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.

Not what he wished and prays for does a man get, but what he justly earns.

This caught my attention because that is the truth. This because most of as have a wish list which we wish that they are fulfilled but this will never happen till we think and act towards having them fulfilled.

Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound

I came to learn that before we get to improve our circumstances we have to improve ourselves by changing our thinking.

A man only begins to be a man when he ceases to whine and revile, and commences to search for the hidden justice which regulates his life.

Most of the time we tend to complain about our situation and do nothing to improve it. So it’s a high time we wake up and move away from our comfort zone so that we may change our situation.

Men imagine that thought can be kept secret, but it cannot.

The idea that thought can be kept secret this is not true because what is kept inside will have to come out sooner or later.

The body is the servant of the mind.

This made me learn that as much as my body does not want to do something lets take an example of waking up I got to control it to do it. The body also cannot work without the mind controlling it since most of the time most of the body functions are controlled by the mind.

Until thought is linked with purpose there is no intelligent accomplishment.

This is quit through since once you make you mind to do something then you need to have a purpose of why you are doing it and what will be the outcome of it? The purpose also acts as a motivator for the action to take place.

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 kinder disagree with James where he stated that our thoughts lead to our circumstance. This is because for one to act he must be acting towards solving the situation he is in.

Lets take an example of a businessman this person will not think of restocking his stock till the stock is out that implies that he was in a circumstance where the stock was out and he acted by restocking his shop.

We can also take an example of a child born in a poor family and will really love to be out of the poverty situation. He will have the positive thought such as going to school get an education and graduate, have a better job and maybe start his own business. He decided to look for ways to put his thought to action and will start by looking for a school, after getting the school he will go ahead to look for sponsorship or look for the grant money so that he pays his school fees and also try to look for part time jobs so that he can pay his school fees. It all turns in vain and at the end of the day she is still poor. It’s clear to everyone that his workings towards improving his situation implying that his thoughts are right so are his actions. A child his age and in a different situation lets say he has all he need will not think as the other child meaning there circumstance are different so are there thoughts and actions towards there situation.

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 and I did them and still doing them. They are helpful in that am able to think right and learn to govern my action.

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

The fact that health is linked to our thought and they are reviled in various ways on our body depending on how the thought is. Good examples are when one is sick and decide to embrace his sickness the body tends to grow weak each day but if another one is sick but has set the thought not to embrace the sickness they tend to be healed so first until you tend to wonder how comes and both are seeing the same doctor and are using the same drugs. So its time for as to work on how we think even when it comes to health.

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? 5
D. Would you recommend it to others? 7
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 7

Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Vivian Muthoni Muciri (Kenya)

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

The main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book is that we are capable of doing anything we want to do is not look into our limits but learn to go beyond the limits and think beyond what limits us. We need to wake up and put aside everything that may seem to be limiting us, and work toward what we want to achieve. Just as Jonathan Livingston Seagull worked towards being the best in flying and never gave up or looked behind and see what they were meant for or thought they were meant for but went ahead to learn what was beyond their world so should we do.

WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO LEARN AS MUCH AS WE WANT WITHOUT GOING THROUGH ALL THE PHASES THAT EVERYONE GOES THROUGH.

As long as we have the interest and the zeal to do learn something then we can learn as much as we want to. He stretched his wings and turned to face the wind. “But you, Jon.” he said, “learned so much at one time that you don’t have to go through a thousand lives to reach this one.” As Sullivan told Jonathan it meant that Jonathan had the zeal and interest and it took him less time to reach where he was at that time.

Therefore for one to reach at a particular stage in life they have to dedicate themselves and be ready to learn what seem impossible to other men.

INSTEAD OF US GETTING PINED DOWN BY OUR SITUATION WE NEED TO BE EMPOWERED BY IT.

R5fdJust as the elder was not enfeebled by his age but was empowered by it, that how it should be in the case of our real life. Sometimes we tend to be pined down by our situation and tend to mourn over it we need to wake up and as hard as we can to make it work. We need to wake up and arise beyond our situation and concur them.

HEAVEN IS NOT A PLACE OR TIME HEAVEN IS BEING PERFECT.

I tend to wonder is being perfect really heaven. To some point I got to learn that the picture of heaven in everyone’s mind is a perfect world where there is no sorrow or strive and full of peace, thus once you reach your perfection in what you want you will be able to achieve all this and that will be your heaven at that time and that place.

For you to get your inner peace you got to achieve what you really want at that particular time and at that particular place this will lead your mind into its inner peace and joy.

ANY NUMBER IS A LIMIT AND PERFECTION HAS NO LIMIT.

Some times in life we get to meet our limits and thus we are pined down with what we are trying to do and it seem impossible for us to achieve what we want. Just as Sullivan “any number is a limit, and perfection doesn’t have limits. Perfect speed, my son, is being there.” This implies that we don’t have to meet certain target but work to perfecting the speed that really leads you to meeting the limit and you can even by pass the limit.

YOU DON’T NEED FAITH TO DO ANYTHING YOU NEED UNDERSTANDING.

I came to learn that it takes more than faith for one to do something, first you have to understand what you want to do how its suppose to be done then you will be able to do it. Some time we have the faith of a giant to do something and we meditate on it but once you don’t have a clue of how the thing is done then you can’t do that thing.

EVERYTHING THAT IS LIMITING US WE HAVE TO PUT IT ASIDE.

Some time we tend not to move beyond our obstacles and boundaries since we tend to think that we cant do it. The obstacle might be financially, socially or any other way. Some times we get to see that we cannot beat the limits or tend to think that is how far we were meant to go but the author states that we need to put the limit aside and go beyond the limits to achieve what we want. As in we need to have a free spirit and be ready to challenge ourselves whenever we reach the limit.

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

In my personal life the lesson will help me learn to know my limits and be able to attack my limit so that I maybe able to make my perfect heaven here on earth. In helping me create a better world is once I learn to go beyond my limit I need not to be selfish and I need to share the lesson with people who are willing to learn and also need to be able to forgive those who tried to pin me down. Just as Jonathan did, for us to have a better world it mean that once I get to see what lies beyond our comfort zone I should not sit there and wait for those who have already got there to help them but should come back and help those who are trying to get the to get there faster.

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.

* Such promises are only for the gulls that accept the ordinary. One who has touched excellence in his learning has no need of that kind of promise.

Some promises we make to ourselves in life are at times not meant for us but are meant for people that are just ordinary or pretend to be and once we get to touch excellence in our learning we surely don’t need to stay at our comfort zone but we need to wake up and look beyond that knowledge and see what lies there.

* We can list ourselves out of ignorance, we can find ourselves as creatures of excellence and intelligence and skill. We can be free! We can learn to fly!

We have the ability to work out each puzzle and prove to ourselves as being of excellence, intelligence and skill or we can just sit there and list ourselves as just as since we are ignorant of the power we posses and the abilities we have. We also have a choice of being free or being bounded to our comfort zone.

* Stand to center meant only great shame or great honor.

Once we are done doing what we have being the center of attention can mean that we are bound to great shame or honor depending on our judges, but as the saying goes failure is someone’s else opinion about your achievement and what counts at the end of the day what really count is what you think about your own achievement and the decision that you are going to take upon implementing the achievement and perfecting it so that it becomes better.

* For each of them, the most important thing in living was to reach out and touch perfection in that which they most loved to do, and that was to fly.

We need to learn what we really love doing and what we want to get from doing it.

Once we get to know what we love and tend to work towards searching the perfection with time we will get there and achieve what we really love and make it a better and better each day.

* The same rule holds for us now, of course; we choose our next world through what we learn in this one. Learn nothing, and the next world is the same as this one, all the same limitations and lead weights to overcome.”

I simply got to understand that we choose our next level in life by what we have decided to learn at the particular level we are in right now. If we tend to learn nothing in the beginning level then we will learn nothing in the next level. In both level there must be limitation and difficulties to 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?

I kind of disagree with Robert Bach when he stated that, “faith is not needed when doing something, but you need understanding to do it.” As much as you need the understanding to do something you need the faith to have the drive of doing it. Lets go back to Jonathan,

Jonathan tend to understand a lot about flying and as we read through the book there where points where he was having his conscious warn him about the risk involved while flying and who he really was. Literally he was understanding what he was doing but with the risk involved, and he understood the risk in it he could have quit it and join the rest of the folks in there day to day life, but it seems to me that Jonathan had greater faith that he was going to achieve something if he kept on trying. So for me one needs both faith and understanding to do anything they want to do. First you got to believe that you can do what you want to do and achieve then understand how you can do it and you are good to go.

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?

Am not quite sure about that, but have been enjoying the idea of being able to go beyond my limits and am working towards embracing that, and am working towards learning to forgive those who pin me down and help them see what I have seen.

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

* A thousand lives, Jon, ten thousand! And then another hundred lives until we began to learn that there is such a thing as perfection, and another hundred again to get the idea that our purpose for living is to find that perfection and show it forth.

This was my favorite line. Its true in that at times in life we tend to get our purpose in life while we are too old to do it and that’s when we go, “O! I wish I knew it before,” and the pictures were right at our face. Even if we get the picture we still don’t seem to be ready to find that perfection and show it forth or we find the perfection but we are not ready to show it forth.

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

Keys To Success
Assessment by Vivian Muthoni Muciri (Kenya)

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

The author is talking about the seventeen principals of personal achievement. Napoleon Hill’s have listed down for us the seventeen principal, which we can use to attain personal achievement both materially and spiritually.

Definiteness of purpose encourages you to specialization leads to perfection

The author states that definiteness of purpose develops self-reliance, personal initiative, imagination, and enthusiasm among others. If you know what you want to do you will specialize and once you do that you will perfect what you want. If you work towards one thing then you will give you full attention to it and thus you will be able to specialize and explore everything in that field of your specialization. Since you wont be concentrating with other stuff but only that thus leading to the perfection of that field.

The value of wealth that comes with success is that it carries with it the lesson you have learned acquiring it.

The author states that one who gets wealth without working for it will not keep the wealth but will loss it as soon as he gets it, but one who has worked hard to get his wealth. This kind of person will keep his wealth long than any the one who inherited from somewhere he will work to increase his wealth and make a better life out of it.

This made me learn that once you work hard and learnt the lesson in attaining your wealth you tend to keep it. It also made me stop and think if I happen to inherit or attain wealth that I haven’t work for I will have to think twice before spending it and work on making the person who gave it to me proud.

There are two types of people who never amount to anything.

This are those who never do anything except what they are told to do and those who cannot even do what they are told to do. The people who don’t do anything till they are told to never make their own decision or take time to look around and see what will the out come of their action since it was not their idea to do the job but someone else. They tend to get swayed by the waves of the crowd and people surrounding them. This tends to make them be failures since they cannot make it on their own and when they are not told to do anything they sit back and watch the movement. Those who cannot do anything even what they are told just sit back and complain blaming their failure to everything around them. They start blaming the chair, economy, nature, and competition among others. They never even lift a finger to try anything but will always tell you how it can’t work. They tend to loss before they even start. This helped me to learn to watch out such people since they will not help you in anything but will always be their to help you fail cause that is what they are best in.

The time to begin exercising your personal initiative is the moment you decide upon you major purpose

You cannot start a journey not knowing where you are headed. First you have to decide where you will be going then sit back plan then leave. This is what the author tends to say. We need to have a personal initiative before deciding a major purpose. Some people tend to pretend that they are exercising their personal initiative but when you ask them their major purpose they aren’t sure, this tend to lead them to failure since they shift in every challenge along their way. Its good to have a purpose since it will help you stick to your path even if you meet challenges of any kind. This will lead to a successful journey towards achieving your goals and being able to tackle challenges as they pop in.

Begins with the recognition that there only two kinds of problems: those you can solve and those you can’t

The author states that we should be able to identify this two kind of problems. Those that we can be solved should immediately be dealt with by the most practical means. This means once you identify a problem that can be solved we should not postponed solving it for later instead we should work on solving it immediately using the best way possible where by you won’t overlook on others, lower you dignity or hurt those involved. This will help you move on with you master mind plan. The problems that can’t be solved should be put out of your mind and forgotten thus building more space in for new ideas. Once you lock them out you won’t be dwelling on defeat but will be moving on and discovering new horizon that may lead to you success.

Once you dwell on problems you can’t solve it lead to a sense of defeat and one may end up abandoning their pans which was about to lead them to success and become an over all failure.

Cooperation like love and friendship is something you get by giving.

For you to attain such a cooperation you have to give love before one loves you, you got to love them first for you to build a friendship you have to be friend the person. Once you offer love to some one it comes with virtues such as kindness, just, giving among others thus the person wont have a reason not to love you back thus creating a world of harmony. Once you give love and receive it back the two of you can work in harmony where you hold them and lift them when they fall, you push them when they don’t feel like moving, you correct them when they are wrong, you glorify them in their success and you mourn with them when they loss and try to cheer them up. This will be done back unto you making both of you a success. When you friend gains you gain too, it’s a win-win situation thus living both of you happy and in harmony on your path to success. You can not expect to get all this if you are not ready to offer them no one would help you attain something yet they know you wont help them neither be their when they need you the most.

Creative imagination has its basis in the subconscious.

The author states that it’s the medium through which you recognize new ideas and newly learned facts. Thus all your effort to impress your definite major purpose on your subconscious work to stimulate you creative imagination. Before your conscious mind takes charge of you definite purpose the picture has to be created by your subconscious mind. The image of what you want is created and acted upon by your subconscious mind. It is the main step hold of your plan you have to create it in your mind before having it into manifestation to the outer world. The subconscious mind knows no set back neither limitation thus it gives you a clear vision of success that you need to work upon using your conscious mind.

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 idea will help in a practical way and in my daily personal life in that:

From the lesson I have learned I will be able to change some aspect of my life from a failure to a successful person.

I will be able to deal with every set back that may make me be far from achieving my success

Will help me decide on a definite purpose in life that will help me stick to my path.

Will help me change my mental attitude to positive thus making everything I do a success, and every set back a stepping-stone, every failure as a challenge and every mistake as a lesson. Thus gathering strength from every trouble and overcome every difficulties,

It will help me create a better world by:

Will lend them the book and have them read it then we can discuss the outcome from what he read and think about it. Once am done with him I can give to another then another thus making the knowledge spread.

I can volunteer to share what I have learned with my friends and people around me. Thus helping them know what I know.

I can practice the part that targeted relationship between those around and me thus leaving in harmony.

The teamwork practice will help us have a better world where by I can get people to join forces and work together in harmony thus attaining what they all want.

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

Your achievements-like a company’s-correspond unerring to the philosophy with which you relate to others.

No man is an island we need others to serve in this world. Just like a company, which has so many people working together in different field but at the end of the day they achieve the same goal and objective, even us we need to work together with other people so that we can be able to achieve our goals and objectives in life. No one is indispensable in this world you cant achieve any thing without involving others in your life or you mastermind plans. If you think of opening a business for it to be successful you will need a customer who is a person without the customer then it wont work for you. Thus our attitude and personality really counts since it determines how we are going to deal with the person we will be working with. If we are abusive both verbally and physically no one would like to work for you even if you are willing to pay them a million dollars but if you are noble and of good character everyone would like to be apart of your plan thus helping you to go as far as you want ed to. So we need to analyze our selves before doing anything and change our ways to better thus have everyone be willing to be involved with us. As we try achieving our goals we need to be mindful of others their feelings, happiness and well being, thus will be able to achieve our goals.

Those who do not move quickly cannot keep up with the parade.

The world is changing fast and we need to move fast, be flexible and be alert to the changes. Sometime we tend to complain about the change that the world is creating and do nothing to keep up. Sometimes we tend to loss some property due to ignorance and laziness when a new technology comes in instead of us embracing the idea and upgrade our business we just sit back and complain on how the idea is going to ruin our business. This help to learn that I should be on the alert every time cause the world is changing and I should always be ready to make the necessary change to suite my business or my life in general.

A keen sense of justice is not merely a tool for gaining material rewards.

The author states that once you have a keen sense of just it will not only lead you to material gain but will enhance your relationship with other humans. Cause once you have a keen sense of just everyone would like being associated with you leave alone him or her trusting you. This will lead to you living in harmony and a happy life since no one will doubt you or dispatch him or herself from you.

Creative vision is more than an interest in material things; it’s a commitment to a better future.

Most people wish to become rich and famous drive the best cars, live in the most fancy house, be the center of attention and most of all becoming the next billionaire.

Only a few think of helping other people who are in need and touching someone else that really needed something more than you do. A better future to me is having just enough for me to have a comfortable life and assist my family then spend the rest to help my neighbor have something for him or herself to become reliable. If all of us work towards making every person reliable giving them hope for a brighter tomorrow wont we all have what we are looking for and have everyone happy. In our quest of seeking financial success we also need to seek a life that’s better for not only us but also those around us. We cannot change the world but if you touch one who is around you and he does it to someone else and then to another you will be surprise that you helped more than a million or even more, but if we are doing it for recognition or noble prize nothing will ever get done. Because you will never have the multi billion shillings need to eradicate hunger in Kenya or some country, and if you are working towards making the money it may take forever just share the plate you are having with the one going hungry.

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

Trying to fight nature is like breaking a work with bare hands. Eagles fly above the storm they don’t sit back and watch the storm vowing not to move. Live fish swims against the current but dead fish moves with the current. Both the eagle and fish don’t fight nature cause they know it has to be there but they work towards beating it. Same case with us we should not try fighting nature or giving up due to nature since its going to be their and will always appear when it season comes. Learn to work with them to your advantage and not running away from them. If you try fighting nature you will end up being a loser and if you try running away from them you will run forever.

Your attitude towards life determines your attitude towards time.

If you take life to be slow you will have a slow attitude towards time too. Nothing will be done in a rush to beat anything. You will be always be caught by time and will always have nothing done at all. If you live you life with enthusiasm trying to set records and break them you are going to be more conscious about time and will never waste even a single second because you know the value of that second.

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?

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?

It had question which one had to fill this was able to help me work towards practicing the exercise set in the book like developing a definite of purpose, forming mastermind alliance among others since I hard a target set for me to follow.

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

The poems: These poems reflect the attitude towards defeat.

The poem done by Shakespear shows that a man was once defeated and thought that was the end of his striving towards success. Due to this defeat he thought that it was the end of opportunity and gave up pursuing his goal. The man becomes a loser both in life and in his road to success. This man has a bad attitude towards success since he never tries he just gives up and let all his effort wither.

The poem done by Walter Malone shows a different set of mind and attitude, Here the person gets a defeat or a set back he goes back analyze the reason of the set back and waits for another opportunity to try. He works towards his weakness and use it towards his advantage since he knows when one door closes another one will open if only he keeps looking.

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? 5
B. How helpful were the contents? 7
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 8
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 5

Psycho-Cybernetics
Assessment Vivian Muthoni Muciri (Kenya)

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

The main aim of the book psycho- cybernetic is: the idea that our self-image is created by our thoughts that later lead to our action. In this book Maltz states that the science of cybernetic applies to the human mind. (The self-image is the key element that determines whether our internal guidance functions for success or failure. Maltz also states that the self-image we tend to reveals is caused by what our conscious mind tells the subconscious mind. The book also talks about how we can change our negative thoughts to positive thus changing our self-image and become elements of success.

The main purpose of this book is to develop a self-image you can live with, one in which you can feel secure, one that you can be proud of to express to others, one that lead to self-confidence and success. Thus enabling you to develop a realistic self-image that will empower you to live your life effectively.

Each of us have a mental blueprint or picture of ourselves.

Maxwell stated that we have a picture of who were are or who we are suppose to be thus we hinder ourselves in doing most things. This picture might be positive or negative depending on what our minds have registered and what people say about us or the impact caused by our past success or failure.

I came to learn that we all have a picture of which we really are and this picture is caused by our past experience. We just thinking in the direction we want to and putting our thoughts in practise through the craft method may also change the picture.

Living creatures’ posses such a built-in goal- striving mechanism, a success instinct that guide us toward goals of nourishment, defense and reproduction.

Some much as we fail we still can achieve what we want and become successful if we not give up on our success instinct. I used to think that we have to work extra hard to achieve what we want and it was a seventy fifty chance as in failure was bounded to as but success is out of extra hard work, But after reading this I came to learn we all have a success instinct that lead us toward various goals in life.

I also tend to relate this statement with the other one ‘success is instinctive, but sometimes we block the instinct’ this so true in that we tend to look at the possibilities of failure and stick to that forgetting as much as we can fail we can still succeed this can be done by us stopping to watch the limits and work towards achieving the goals.

The only way people can push your button is if you let it happen.

Mostly we have a habit of letting people control as by what they say and do concerning our life. WE don’t make a stand but stand where they want us. The reason we tend to give is they know us better than we do know our self. This line helped me to understand that we can stand our position by not allowing others to pick the position for us. Just like when I wanted to become a writer everyone had an opinion about it. I took it to rest when my teacher took away all my writing and I had to watch as they burn to ashes this made me to chase a career the teacher had picked for me. When I cleared school was still doing a goose chase but came to realize I was not willing to do that. Now with the help of this book am going to learn not to allow people push my button by following what I so want to do without allowing everyone to pick the direction of my future.

If you don’t know what you want you are guaranteed not to get it.

Some time we tend to think that we are striving for something and when we are asked what we really are striving for we tend not to know or we are still unsure if we are making the right choice in striving for it. Another reason of not getting it is that once you hit rock bottom you aren’t going to chase the air. We also tend to shift from this and that, what worked for you kid brother or what worked for your best friend thus we are not constant on what we are chasing after all. By the time you come to realize that you were doing a goose chase is going to be too late and you will have wasted a lot of time and money. Here I learned that you should have specific goal and work towards achieving it, and not shape shifting with everything that come your way.

Successful personalities have some interest in and regard for other people.

Some people tend to look down on others or walk over others as they are climbing on their ladder to success. If they meet you on at the top they pull you down so that they are climbing. If we look around this people they don’t stay on top of their game for long cause they end up losing in one way or another. Maltz said that we need to work with others to walk on our road to success and the only way we can do is by holding their hands as they hold yours. This will help you learn, drop some aspect of your personality that may doom you to failure and they may tell you if you are heading the wrong direction. So we should learn not to kill other but encourage them and walk with them towards the direction.

Courage does not have to mean being a hero in a moment of crisis.

Courage means that acting boldly in the (little things), such as perusing your goals when faced with opposition from within our without. Sometimes we tend to wait for that one big opportunity where we can act as superman, batman or Hancock. We always look around and see where is the problem and what can we do to get noticed but we tend to forget even by facing our worst fear in the dark amount to as being superheroes in our own life. The most important thing I came to learn being a hero in my own life amount to more than being a hero in public since in the public will just feel good and walk away but in my life it may lead to a change that is worth it for a life time.

Most failures are caused by misunderstanding of the situation.

Maltz states that we tend to react to our situation according to the image we tend to create and not to how the situation tend to convey it self. He gives a good example using the game called broken communication. This is quit true cause at times we tend not to react to the actual situation but we react to how our thought say about the situation thus losing.

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

Since I was able to learn how to change habit of failure into habits of success in that I will have to change my self-image and what people say about me for that’s there opinion and it doesn’t count all I have to do is to look in to my inner self and affirm that am good in everything I do and not what people tell me am good in and what am not good in.

It also helped me in ways of relaxing where by Maxwell showed us some methods of relaxing. I also came to learn at time we tend to attack the situation we are in and this tends not to help us out, but at times when we relax it seems clear on what we should have done in this situation and the decision tends to be easily made and the problem get is solved.

I also came to learn that believes are powerful. What we believe tend to define who we really are. Just as the engine of the care is powerful so is believes. They tend to direct us to our destiny either a successful one or a miserable one.

I also came to learn that the only thing that cant change is change it self. This I came to learn from this statement ‘anything that has been learnt can be reevaluated and challenged, and anything that can be challenged can be relearned’ this helped me to realize we can work on our disabilities and become as successful as we wanted to be.

I might use the ideas I have learned in building a better world by telling someone else how to set goals, work on them, how to tackle stress and how to achieve there goals.

Lets take an example of a school going kids if I share this with them and help them go through the journey in their day-to-day life; won’t they become better citizen to our country? They may end up being successful and probably help someone else and thus how we are going to create a better world.

I will also use what I have learned to teach my sisters the value of there life future and the importance of there dreams. I will help them go get what they really want in life and tell my mum how to handle them by giving them a positive successful mental attitude and boosting there self-esteem, this will make them realize an out standing performance.

I may also know how to handle one with low self-esteem, the right words to tell him so that he can have a better self-esteem. I will also weigh my words before telling someone since they may kill their self-esteem or build. This will help me influence the world in that the person I reach will extend the same treatment to another person and the chain continues and there we will have a better world for all of us.

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

“It is our self-image that prescribe our limits”

As Maxwell stated most things that tend to limit us are our self-image lets take an example of a person who sees himself as a failure this person will never ever try even the simplest task since he knows that he will never make it. Same case with one who thinks he is a naturally the best he will do anything even the most craziest and hardest stuff with a positive mind that he is going to be the best.

If we have no worthwhile personal goals, it is easy to conclude that life itself is not worthwhile.

I tend to agree and disagree with this statement:

I agree with it in that at times we tend to forget our purpose in life and we tend to exist instead of living. In existing I mean that we are they’re waiting for our final calling (death). Such a person his life is not worthwhile since he has nothing to do, to challenge him or to entertain him thus his life is not worthwhile. Since he has nothing to put him on the go ahead of learning and living.

I disagree with it since in some situation we tend to have a positive mental attitude of success, we set our targets and work towards the target but we seem to hit the dead end in everything we do. This kind of person will tend to feel that his life is not worthwhile since no matter what he tries he tends to fail or get limited by the circumstance he is in let say someone trying to start a business and has no capital. He only believes in doing business and nothing else if he fails and won’t be able to do the business then he won’t fill the worth of living.

Doing nothing is the proper reason of an unreal problem

Sometime we tend to create problems, which are not there and tend to stress ourselves with that. We real over work hard to solve something that you aren’t sure they are going to raise. The common phrase we use is ‘better safe than sorry’. Just as Bobbe says we need to relax and wait for the problem to come up then deal with it. This is the hardest thing you can ever think of maybe cause you know the attitude of the person you are dealing with or you are used to miss it when it come to doing that thing thus creating insecurity on your work. I like the idea deal with it when it happen this will reduce the unnecessary stress, and will have you prepared sociologically to deal with the issue when it happens and there is a chance that it won’t happen at all.

In fact dreams of both day and night varieties are useful in pointing you towards your goals.

Just as the author said they are a method of subconscious mind setting goal that can convey a massages about where you ought to be. Most people in life when they tend to be asked why they are doing something they tend to say that they dreamt it or thought they could do it. I use to brush aside the daydreams and embrace the night ones as a sweet dream that’s all. Sometimes I used to think of them as a fantasy and would shake my head to bring it back to reality, but now I have learnt to listen to them and work accordingly. Since I come to pay close attention and discovered some are interrelated with my goals in

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?

If you won’t connect on paper, you won’t connect to reality

I am certainly unclear about this statement. I use to write everything I want to do to be and always had a time schedule to have the job done. What I use to write were stuck in places that I tend to see anytime like at the top of my locker in class but they never were done. I used to be caught by time at times I will tend not to write them anywhere but will have them done due to the zeal that I had towards doing them. Some people are not good writer but they tend to really connect with their reality but putting them down on paper is like stressing them up. I enjoyed writing that’s why I had everything down on paper, there some don’t put them on paper and they have it done.

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?

CRAFT (Canceling Replacing Affirming Focus Training) was to be practice for six weeks

This method helped me to drop old beliefs and pick new beliefs. By canceling negative thought that kept telling me what I can do and can’t how far I can go and can’t. I was able to replace this thought with new ones, and worked towards them. Now am focus to achieving my success a dream that I so long harbored and thought it was going to be just a dream but now am working towards putting it in reality. Since I have canceled all the negative thoughts, replaced them with positive thoughts, affirmed my positive thought, focused on working and training towards putting them to reality.

Learning to relax:

Here we learnt various relaxation methods such as Zen breathing, progressive relaxation, Radiant light and Dr.Lozanov’s listening list. This exercise helps me to learn how to relax my body and mind. At the end of each exercise I was able to feel relieved and able to think straight. It was also like closing a chapter for the day and opening a new one. I used to open a new chapter by making new decision concerning the wrong I did during that day coming with new set goals and target that I want to accomplish and coming with ways to balance work and entertainment.

Learning to use distress yourself tranquilizer through the SEEDS method (Situation, Evaluation, Emotion, Do, Self-esteem)

Here I learnt that once am caught up in a situation that cause stress the first thing is to adjust to the situation then evaluate it by trying to find out the reason you are in. Once you get this reason act upon the situation not reacting. This will leave myself esteem untouched and it helped me to have a positive mind on every situation I got myself in.

Learning to set goals via the SMART method (Specific, Measurable, Action-oriented, Realistic, Time-Conscious.)

This helped me to be able to come with attainable goals that didn’t make me feel worked out or stressed about achieving them. It made everything seem simple and fun doing them.

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

The imaginary dragon wow! I used to get anxious with stuffs that were not real at all. I would create images at the back of my mind and start working on them at the end of it all I ended up feeling miserable, hating myself and feel worked out. It something that used to be there every single day and I would make it real by sharing with my friends and trying to work it out, but at the end of each day the problem never seem to get solved. Since I read that bit I learned that the best thing is to do nothing about it till it happens (thank God they aren’t going to raise anyway) so am to do nothing about it. One thing I came to learn is; as much as I was caught up in my family situation I was not the problem neither are my sisters, but our parents are and its not my mess to clean up but there mess to clean up, and no matter how they clean it up am going to sit by the sideline and watch and live my life, but wont try to rectify what I think was wrong and what should have been done.

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

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

Success Through Positive Mental Attitude
Assessment by Vivian Muthoni Muciri (Kenya)

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

The author is trying to put across is that we both have a positive mental attitude (PMA) and a negative one (NMA). He is trying to have us learn to use our PMA towards success. The author also states that we both have a mind that can lead us toward success and also away from success itself. He also outlines the principals we should follow to achieve success and what tend to put us down from achieving success. He is also talking about the principals to success through a positive mental attitude and also how to attract wealth, security, and happiness among others through this attitude.

We are poor not because of God

Some people tend to embrace poverty by stating that it’s there fate “God given fate” The embrace it and tend to do nothing about it but just fold hand sit back and complain. Some churches tend to teacher their members to take vows of poverty such churches believes that is an omen to be rich and they dwell in that. They justify their situation by saying Jesus was poor so why should you be rich? Most people tend to be misled by this. The author explains that poverty is not a sentence given to us by God rather it is a decision one makes for his own life.

Necessity motivates a man with a PMA to action without transgressing recognized inviolable standards.

The author states that climbing from failure to success are not important, this cause an honest man will use his PMA to climb to success but a man who is not honest won’t use it instead will opt for the quickest and easiest way to achieve this. Probably he may opt to stealing, cheating or any dishonest task that will make him achieve the success, but a man who uses PMA will climb the ladder in a honest way and achieve what he want without hurting others and once he has achieve this he tend to give back to the community by getting involved with community building projects such as working in a charitable organization or helping some one with the thing they need the most. Reading through the book there are also other group of great guys who used their PMA to become successful in one way or another, they didn’t see the challenge as a set back but as a stepping stone to achieving what they wanted.

My greatest mistake is being with the wrong companions.

The author states that the Charlie Wade developed a negative mental attitude due to the wrong companion he choose to have. Charlie comes to realize this when he was in jail and make a resolution to change his attitude to positive. Sometime we think that we are immune to bad behaviors and we can’t pick them up from our companions so we stick to them only to find out later that we messed up in life. Just like Wade it took him long to realize that he was in the wrong companion, he had to go to jail to realize that and to decide to mend in his ways. Also our life we tend to be in this kind of situation and think we are cool can control it but when something serious happens that is when we realize that we had the same habit with our companions those that we thought we are immune from. We also have the story of Irving and his brother. Irving says that if it wasn’t for the boys club in their neighbor hood he could have end up like the rest of the boys in that neighbor hood. They made a choice to cut themselves out of their companions and go to the club and this saved their lives and now they decided to give back to the community by building a club that would help boys in similar situation. They realized this when they were out of the group and had joined the club. This proves that once you are out of a certain companionship, group or relationship that is when you learn that they had impact you in a negative way.

We’re a little bit afraid of our ideas when they first occur to us

The author states that we tend to be afraid of our inspiration when they first occur to us due to various factors. This is the reason we don’t work on them as immediately we get the inspiration. This is because we get factor like doubt, the opinion from the people around us. This tends to kill the zeal of doing what ever we are inspired to do and we end up not doing it at all. The writer tells us to practice the ‘DO IT NOW’ mentality and stop procrastinating about it.

You will not succeed consistently unless we know and understand the rules; you will not continually succeed unless you apply the rules

The author indicates that we need to know and understand the rules of doing something before doing it if we want to succeed in doing it. He gives a good example with the guy with the camera situation and how he was blaming his failure to the camera and if another person used the same camera succeeds. Knowing and understanding the rule is not all it take to succeed once you understand the rule you need to apply it in what you are doing this will give you a one hundred percent success. The first virtual thing is to understand the rules then applying them and one is going to succeed.

A magnificent obsession does take courage

From this book I learnt that courage is needed to do something even the most magnificent thing you want to do. It may look magnificent to you but not to those around you and they are watching to see you next move. Lets take the story of the boy club representative. It took lots of courage for this guy to go deposit the check at the club. If he could have made the step of telling someone about his plans the first question would have been; ‘are you trying to be Jesus or mother Teresa?’ go for a holiday or something? Such an amount why don’t you invest? Dude you are throwing it out the window. This might lead to him having second thought about it and probably dropping the whole idea. Even the person who received the check maybe had tried him to change his mind and have his name mentioned. So it had to take him lots of courage to give up the check and also staying anonymous to the rest of the world.

Lengel describes how energy is wasted through needless

He specified this by telling us we tend to waste lots of energy in factors like worry, hate, fear, suspicion, anger and rage. The same energy we put on this waste element we can put on power-producing units. He said that most people put much energy in failing rather than in succeeding. I come to learn sometime we tend to put a lot of energy in things that will not lead us to achieve success in anyway but achieve failure. Instead of doing something to our situation we develop emotions that will not help us in anyway what so ever. He also gives various examples in the book on people who wasted their effort in putting their energy in things that didn’t help them at all. If we direct this energy to positive things then we can be successful and will have used the energy in a better course rather than waste it.

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

In my daily life the idea will help me:

If I stick to the virtues and practice them I will be able to be at peace with fellow men and myself. This will create a peaceful life and a wonderful haven for those around me and me.

With the positive mental attitude I will be able to attract security, wealth among other things I may desire in life thus making me live a peaceful and successful life here on earth.

In helping me create a better world:

My life maybe an example to others and they might decide to follow the path am using thus being close to reduce the rate of poverty between those around me and me.

I may opt to share with a few people the ideas I get from this book and help them implement them making life a little bit more interesting and fun.

Being able to have enough money I may opt to help the ones suffering next to me. This will put a smile on their faces and hope in their lives thus making them have a brighter tomorrow, and pray that they may return the favor by giving someone else hope to face the next day with zeal and determination.

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.

If I started from where I was to get to where I wanted to be

This statement got my attention I came to learn that you couldn’t start climbing a staircase from first floor but you got to start from ground floor. Sometime in life we tend to get stuck where we are cause we are wishing to start from a higher place than where we are yet we forget that we can rise from where we are. I came to learn that we need to start from where we are with what we have to get where we want to be rather than sit down and mourn for what we don’t have instead of working with what we have to achieve what we want.

This is because you and everything in the universe are in constant process of change

I came to learn that everyone has a problem cause we are all entitled to change that is constant through out our life in the universe. What count is not the problem but how we deal with it and what becomes of us after dealing with the change just like the author states. With each victory we grow in wisdom, stature and experience. Thus I have learn that, I need to tackle the change with a positive mental attitude in order to grow and become a better, bigger person and more successful person if I tackle the change with a positive mental attitude.

Negative thought prevents the species of man being extinct

I came to learn that some negative thoughts, feeling, emotions and passion are not a bad thing but good since it prevent man from being extinct this is done when the negative thought is applied using a positive mental attitude. The author give an example with the anger that leads to one killing with the purpose of protecting something or one nation from an enemy, the emotion was negative it lead to a negative action but the purpose was positive because at the end of the day whatever you are trying to protect will be safe and intact. Fear is also another negative thought that leads to a good course. The fear of one getting knocked by a car has lead to one being careful when crossing the road and it has also lead to one obeying the traffic rules. This as created order in our roads and has made one careful when it comes to crossing of roads.

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?

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?

They gave us a formula that we may use to help us apply virtues into our lives

It was a fun excises and was able to shade of some vices and pick up some virtues especially the ones they gave us and some others. The excises is still on going and am determine to continue with it by getting done with some and creating new ones.

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

The example that the author used from the book done by Marden during the tragedy that hit American’s; In this book Marden showed how some men make millions and still be utter failure. This group of people is those who sacrifice their families, reputation, and health-everything for a dollar. They become rich and successful but they are total failure in real life. Since they have a bad reputation to friends, family and the world as a whole. Its know that no man is an island and once you hurt those around you they get detached from you and you become an alien in your own world. This teaches us as we try to achieve financial success we should also be trying to achieve success in other areas of our life. Us we strive for success let us not be motivated by greed or selfish ambitions cause this will lead us not to care about our brother’s feelings. We may achieve our goals but lose at one aspect of our life the social aspect and end up living a miserable life for no one would want to be associated with you or even render help to you in your time of needs. Thus us we try to make it let’s concentrate in all aspect of our lives and aim in making the world a better place those around us and for us too.

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

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

Giant Steps
Assessment by Vivian Muciri

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

The writer state that the book is based on the tools, techniques, principles and strategies that are offered to inspire and funnel the energy in us into measurable results by getting us to consistently simple actions which are going to lead us to the kind of life we desire to achieve.

ITS NOT WHAT WE DO ONCE IN A WHILE THAT COUNTS, BUT OUR CONSISTENT ACTION

The statement caught my attention since at time we tend to do something once and expect to get result there and then if we don’t get result we tend to give up and sit back to complain and blame. Just as a champion practice everyday a business man works hard and a child never gives up we need to try everyday rather than trying once and when we are caught with a set back or a challenge we should not give back but pick the pieces where we left and start all over again.

THE FLOODGATES CAN BE OPENED BY ONE DECISION, BRINGING US JOY OR SORROW, PROSPERITY OR POVERTY, COMPANIONSHIP OR SOLITUD, LONG LIFE OR EARLY DEATH.

We oat to be careful while making a decision, since the decision we make with our life determines our destiny. As the author states the floodgates that might be opened by the decision we make. Thus one has to be careful about the decision we make and have to know how the decision will affect his/her life in years to come. As we make the decision we also need to learn that each of us is endowed with innate resources that enables us to achieve all we’ve ever dreamed of -and more. The lessoned learnt is; I need to make sound decision since the decision I make may build my future or waste it.

WE MUST COMMIT TO LEARNING FROM OUR MISTAKES INSTEAD OF AGONIZING OVER THEM

If we agonize from our mistake then we will never learn from the mistake and we will also stand a chance of making the same mistake over and over again. Learning from our mistake does not come automatic we must commit ourselves to learn from them. It’s easy for one to agonize from the mistake that he has done rather than learn from them so it’s our duty to decide to learn form the mistake that we have made. Once we learn form them we will know the reason as to why we made the mistake, how we can avoid the mistake in future and this will enable us to move on with our actions, thus making us to be a step closer to getting what we want in this life.

TO GET WHAT YOU WANT YOU MUST DISCOVER WHAT’S PREVENTING YOU FORM TAKING ACTION

Sometime we tend not to take serious thought on what is preventing us from doing something that is going to lead us to getting what we want. Mostly the main reasons of not doing what we are to do to attain what we want are the fear of failure and wastage of our time and resources, thus leading us not to take action sometime we know and assume sometimes we are unsure if it’s really that. When we discover what’s is preventing us from getting what we want then we need to act on it and try to over look then work for what we want. Since once we get it won’t hurt that much.

IF YOU KEEP FOCUS ON WHAT YOU FEAR, THAT’S EXACTLY WHERE YOU WILL END UP.

I came to realize sometime we tend to fail since our focus is set on all the set back around us. Once we have our focus on this set back we tend to look around on what we can do to avoid them. Some might be easy to avoid but some are like mountains or walls they can’t be moved. When we realized they couldn’t be moved we come to a stand still and give up thus failing. When you shift your focus in what you want to achieve and the open path around you then you will barely notice the set backs that are going to make you fail and thus achieving what you want to.

THE MARK OF A TRUE CHAMPION IS CONSISTENCY

Here the author state that for you to become a true champion is you have to be consistence in what you do and how you do it. Doing something once and achieving what you want then quitting wont help you become someone you wanted to be. Just as the fasted runner who had to stick in the mind of the world kept on practice and was setting and breaking records. So can one do that set and break records in their own life and thus becoming true champions, who are going to live a legacy behind to be followed by the upcoming generation. If we persist in doing the things we want to do and do it consistently looking forward to discover the horizon ahead of us and better what we had done good then we are going to achieve something of greater value than what we achieved at the first point we started.

NOTHING SPLENDID HAS EVER BEEN ACHIEVED AXCEPT BY THOSE WHO DARED BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING INSIDE THEM WAS SUPERIOR TO CIRCUMSTANCE.

He the author states it clearly that for you to achieve anything it first starting by believing that you can achieve that what you want. The first thing is to believe then create the pictures in your head and work towards achieving it. You also need to have the confidence that you’ve got something superior and you can deal with every challenge that may a raise on your way towards achieving what you desire. With this faith then you can work towards achieving what you so long desire and want in this life.

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

This book a giant step will help me in a practical way in that:

– With the lesson about changing you emotions will help me to comp with how I feel and control myself in difficult situation since have learned that you can choose how you want to feel.

– The vocabulary of success as the author states will help me to tell myself the right words and give the right answers to the question that may a raise in my path towards achieving what I want.

– Getting the Knack of change will help me change my life and habit towards most things around.

The book will also help me create a better world by:

– Once I have changed my habit I might be able to appreciate others a little bit more thus sending a challenge to them and create a picture that they would all desire to follow.

– With the emotion control lesson I will be able to prove to others that you can decide what you want to feel and have control over your own life and not let your habit or weakness control.

– If I pick up positive vocabularies while speaking to my friends this will make them stop and think and see that life isn’t that harsh at all and they might pick them up along the way thus having people who are changed in their attitude about life.

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

* OUR DECISION NOT THE CONDITIONS OF OUR LIVES DETERMINE OUR DESTINY

The statement caught my attention since at time we have the habit of pinpointing fingers on the condition of our lives; we never try or make a decision since we are made to believe even if we try it wont work since you were set in that condition. Lets take the situation where a kid is born in poverty and is determine to be rich in future he has not gone to school and with that everyone tells him he cant make it in life,

But he makes up a decision and works hard to attain what he wants most thus ending up being rich. If he looked at the conditions and sit on them he could have done nothing with his life completely and remained in the state of poverty.

I came to learn that we should not look back to our condition but set ourselves to work and make the right decision to attain the destiny we want, and one decision may change your life forever.

* ALTHOUGH WE CANNOT ALWAYS CONTROL THE EVENTS IN OUR LIVES, WE CAN ALWAYS CONTROL OUR RESPONSE TO THEM AND THE ACTION WE TAKE AS A RESULT.

The author states clearly that not every situation in your life you can prevent or control (no one has control over nature) but one thing you can do is control your response to it and action. Lets take an example of rain it just happens that it started raining unexpectedly and you are on your way to the office. You cant make the rain stop you will either opt to buy an umbrella or run to the office or get into a hotel and wait for it to stop you can even stand at the sidewalks and wait. Every one will achieve his/her result the one running will get wet but gets to the office on time, the one who had bought an umbrella will get to the office on time and dry, and the other two will get to the office dry but late. So some situation are beyond us but they are not beyond our response or action thus they should not control our destiny or us. This is because we are the one who are responding to the situation and our response counts it doesn’t matter how big the situation is. We also need to know that we are the ones acting to the situation thus the action will affect us not the situation and we can be in control at all times.

RATHER THAN FEEL TRAPPED USE YOUR PAIN AS YOUR STRONGEST ALLIES.

Sometimes we tend to get trapped in the wrong situation since we fear the unknown pain but we are used to the known pain. This mostly happen in relationship and work situation. One may opt to stick to an abusive relationship due to the things she/he gets in that relationship despite the abuse she/he goes through, they don’t have any plan to move out cause they will lose what they were getting from the relationship plus the person and they tend to think this will be more painful. It never occurs that once they move out and forward the pain and lose wont last long since they might be a better person waiting for them. In work situation one might be having an abusive and annoying boss but you stick around for the little salary he gives you. You might be having the potential of doing business and become successful or shifting to another company but you are so scared of leaving the company since you don’t want to go through the pain of staying for a while without salary since you have bills to pay.

HOW WE FEEL –OUR STATE OF MIND- POWERFULLY INFLUENCES OUR ACTIONS AND INTERACTIONS.

This helped me to learn that one can be in a situation but instead of jumping into conclusion we can sit back and weigh all the option then pick up on one that will make us feel better rather than frustrated and wounded. If we pick a positive action and the outcome turns to negative then you might decide to act on it appropriately without fear or doubt since you will be able to tackle the situation in a clear frame of mind. If we pick a negative frame of mind it’s going to be tuff to adjust to the outcome of the situation and thus fail and start blaming others. If we have a positive state of mind then our action will be positive and we will react to the situation in a positive way and vice verse.

JUST REALISE IF YOU INSTANTLY CREATE A PROBLEM, YOU CAN JUST AS QUICKLY AND EASILY CREATE A SOLUTION.

The author gives a good example by stating that when someone seems to take long to change, has it taken that long to change –or just that long to get to the point where change is a must? Sometime we tend to create problems first and easily but we seem not to get the solution or wonder how it can be solved. The main reason the author state is that the problem might give you external pleasure or attention that seems right thus you don’t want to get it solved. The only ways you can make this stop is by making up your mind and see what the problem is making you lose now and in future. We also need to cut the tradition and norms behind achieving something first. With this we are going to be able to solve the problems we encounter faster than we thought we could thus saving a lot of time and energy.

WE MUST TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR CHANGE

No one can program you; you must recondition yourself in order to change. Some people tend to blame others for their failure to change or to keep up with the change they have achieved in short term. Forgetting that they power to control themselves lies in within them and not out in the external. This is a problem experienced with smokers and drunkards some tell you they are willing to change but alcohol is around them and cigarette some even give up and blame the company that supply the product. Some go in and out rehabs but are still the same as they entered. This is cause we expect that people around us will help us to change. It’s a high time we look inside and know that change must come within us and not from external surrounding. Once we such ourselves and create a clear state of mind on why we want to change then we can be able to attain the change we so long desire. And the external factors wont affect us.

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?

ONE OF THE MIRACLES OF BEING HUMANS IS THAT WE CAN DECIDE WHAT CAUSES AS PLEASURE OR PAIN.

I disagree with this statement since if it was right then I think as humans we would have avoided the stuff that causes us pain or would have turned them to pleasure rather than pain. The correct thing is to say that we can control our pleasure and pain to work for the benefit of us. We can be in the painful situation and decide to take another cause of action that will change this to be something of greater value that is going to change the cause of our lives to the good and maybe towards a better horizon at the end of the day.

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

The book contained different exercises, which were to be practice in long term. Some of these exercises were; how to choose your emotion/controlling, asking the right question and giving the right answer among others. They are helpful since they helped me change a lot of things in my life which used to be set back to me towards achieving my goals and living a successful 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.

ONE OF THE MARVELS OF BEING HUMANS IS OUR ABILITY TO FILL ANY EVENT WITH UPLIFTING OR DEVASTATING SIGNIFICNCE.

With this it made me stop and think what if that child who went through an abusive childhood grow up to help kids who went through the same situation, what if a woman who had to keep up with an abusive and drunkard husband decided to build a safe haven for women like her, what if the man who had to go through hardship gets something and encourage those who are young and are almost giving up would the world be full of hope and happiness. We can all decide to channel our events with uplifting influence by not repaying pain with pain but pain with love and forgiveness. Humans also have a habit if you get hurt with what you can’t hurt you tend to inflict the pain with something that you can really hurt good example is a wife and a husband, when the husband had a bad day in office probably picks a fight with the boss he will come and fight with the wife, the wife fights with the kid and the kid goes ahead and hurting their pet, but if we reverse this instead of passing down the pain we change it to love wouldn’t it be great? And will the pain feel less or even insignificance to our lives?

HABIT IS EITHER THE BEST OF SERVANTS OR THE WORST OF MASTER.

It’s the nature of a dog to obey its master, but at time the dog will not obey its master and can also make the master to become its servant. Sometime we let our habits take control and control us rather than us controlling the habits. We are the ones who develop the habits thus is our duty to not let our habits define who we really are or determining our destiny. Just as its easy for us to create new habit it should be equally easy to shake some of the habit that seem to destroy us rather than build us in life. Just as it is easy to control a dog and make it obey you as the master and not treat you as the servant.

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

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

Real Magic
Assessment by Vivian Muciri (Kenya)

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

The book real magic is a book about how you can be able to achieve what you thought that it was impossible with your life due to one reason or another. The main theme in this book is to show you that every thing is possible and you can achieve it easily and without much strain, the author tries to tell us that we can work and achieve what we want by showing us the spiritual man and his abilities to do anything and everything since he knows no limitation.

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.

i. ENLIGHTENMENT THROUGH SUFFERING. The author states that one needs to learn through their suffering situation and look at it as a learning period and they will achieve something of greater deal than the pain they are in that time. The great deal about the period is that you will be able to learn why it hard to happen and when you understand why you will be able to move on. We are not purpose to sit down and mourn our pain or grieve that it happened to us cause this will not change anything but will create more heartache than necessary and will be a waste of time. It will also hinder us from achieving what was good and better since we won’t want to look ahead and see what’s on store for us thus losing something that was meant for us. Just as the author states that we need to ask the question why me? But don’t dwell on it. Once we ask the question the next step is to understand why and move on. To the next ream of your life and work it out as a better person than you were during the painful situation.

ii. ENLIGHTENMENT THROUGH OUTCOME.

The author states that at this point we learn to know that there are no accident in life, everything I am experiencing is some way necessary for me to move ahead to the next step. He also says that when you focus your mind to what you can learn form an experience your mind can not have room to dwell on the questions like why me? Sometime we tend to wonder why we are in this situation, are we good enough or what’s wrong with us. We end up walking with sunken shoulders and baptize ourselves as bad luck. Nothing good comes our way no matter how had I try. It’s a high time we get enlightened through the outcome of our events and probably learn that some events are their to shape us and equip us to facing the next challenge. Sometimes the outcome of events helps us learn that we need to shake some aspect or our lives, which might not be helpful in our path towards achieving what we want.

iii. ENLIGHTENMENT THROUGH PURPOSE. The author states that learning to that you have a heroic mission and getting in step with the mission is another path on needs to take as he begins to discover real magic. Everything in this world has its purpose. Here the author is trying to tell us to try and learn our purpose in life and work towards achieving what we know it should be our purpose. He states that when we stick to this path and have a mission to reaching at the end of the road then we will experience real magic. Once we define our purpose then working towards achieving it then we will make through the entire roadblock on our path with ways we cannot explain.

iv. You will find out that being personally empowered does not reduce you to wimp hood and being the victim of others in any way.

The author tells us if we seek to become a spiritual being we will be able to be empowered in helping others and not in accessing power as we were in physical state. This does not make us less humans or victim to others. We should learn to serve and give cause that the main reason for us being placed here on earth to be a help to someone else. Just as the author states that empowerment is surrendering to that which is loving, harmonious and good in us, and not creation of enemies in our consciousness. If everyone sticks to this then the world is going to be more peaceful and full of hope and will be filled with love. There will be less pain and more joy, fulfillment and a balance in everything we do. It makes you a greater man if you serve the other but no less man than you were Jesus proved this by washing his disciples feet this act didn’t reduce him to being less than them for the great master to him self is the less one among others and the great servant is the master of his own world. One who is able to rule in offering service and will always be at peace with his inner man and will be able to control what hurts him most, He will know where to go when in pain and be delighted in everything he does cause its going to give him inner peace with himself and the people around him. This is cause this is cause they well appreciate him and learn to treat him with compassion and love.

v. You have loving relation with others cause you bring love rather than because you seek it from them.

The author is talking about what you give is what you receive, not what you seek. Sometime we tend to seek something from others but we are not ready to give it to them and then we tend to blame them and point fingers claiming that no one cares, loves us or is their for us. Just as much as we want to be loved its wise for us to love others not with the expectation that we are going to get love in return since not every one will give you back love in return. If you enter the relationship and offer love genuinely you will receive love, which you so seek and it will be genuine. Once you give love every other thing follows since love is the basis of most things like patience, kindness, trustworthy among others. It’s a high time we wake up and give love cause with us giving love the world will be a better place and as we give it we don’t point fingers or intimidate others so that they give us love in return, but let them seek themselves and give you love in return which is genuine and comes from deep within their hearts.

vi. There is no “right” way or “winning” argument. Each person has a right in his/her own point of view.

Most of the time we act with our ego rather than our heart especially when we are caught in a situation that raises an argument. We either try to fight back us much has we can so as to prove that the other person is wrong or we are right nothing was wrong with us doing that. If we can’t get away with the argument we try to justify our actions and don’t feel sorry about what we have done. This ends up hurting other and breaking down the relationship between you and the other person and also goes to the extreme of developing mistrust in the relationship be it with your spouse, friend, workmate, boss, customer or family member. If only we knew a simple word like sorry would have solved everything and restore what could have been lost for a lifetime. Mostly we tend to feel proud and just try not to lower our heads since we have a big ego. Lets take an example of a spouse where the husband is a workaholic he lives the house before the crack of dawn and comes back in the wee hours of the night has no time with his family and the kids cant tell his face since they can’t remember the last time they have seen him. Here there is a wife try to ask him to try and reduce his number of jobs so that he creates time with his family. With the financial crisis its right to try and fetch for your family but its equally right to spend time with them too, since they need you to be their for them. None of them want to lower their ego they all want to stand on their ground this will end up leading to a divorce thus leaving both party losing. If they would have sat down and speak through the situation weighing each situation and try and balance things out they would have ended up solving the problem thus saving their marriage.

vii. Being broke is a temporary state of affairs that afflicts almost everyone at one time or another, but being poor is an attitude, a set of belief that gets reinforced when we shift to blaming life circumstances for the condition of poverty.

Poverty is an attitude. I have grow up believing that for one being poor is a choice they make since that is what my mum, grand mum and pastor made me to believe. Our poster used to tell us that poverty is a sin one has to enjoy the good of the land but for you to achieve this you have to give. No man receives if he doesn’t give cause nothing is giving to a hand that is full since it’s going to be folded. My grand mum always told me that I can achieve everything so long as I believe and work extra hard to believe and my mum always told me we aren’t poor cause we want to but cause daddy is lazy and is used to the life of being given by his family. One thing I grew up believing is begging is a sin and so long you are here on earth you have to achieve what you want and work towards achieving it but not sitting back and waiting for someone to come give you what you so long desire. I have learned to live my life as one, which is full, and share the little I have with those around me thus making me happy and content at the end of the day. Most people we have grow up with sit back fold their hands and say we would love to be rich but God didn’t want us to be rich, taking the vow of poverty and embracing their state. They develop an attitude of laziness and never want to work to achieve anything. Some even go to the extreme of telling you my parents never made it why should I, I didn’t go to school, I don’t know anyone who is in a prompt position to offer me a job among other things thus they sit back and have the state of poverty become recurrent in their life. With what I have achieved in life I know that I am not poor but rich and as rich as I can get I came to believe one can become as rich as King Solomon in the bible since it states that He lived beyond his imagination. We need to wake up and change our attitude to achieve everything we want in this life and kick poverty out of our lives and those of others thus creating a world that’s going to be better and full of harmony.

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 idea in this book will help me in understanding

-What is my purpose here and how to go about achieving my purpose on earth.

-Know that there is no limitation in life; it’s us who create them.

-Will help to learn to over look what seem like limitation and work towards attaining my purpose in life.

-It helped me to realize Love is the great gift we have on earth and it cant grow if its not shared and given to the world.

These will help me create a world full of joy and hope for a brighter tomorrow.

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.

i. Behave in ways consistent with love and harmony, and do not be attached in any way to the fruit of our success.

The statement caught my attention since most people do something for personal gain and attention. They don’t do it for the love of the other person or for creating a world where everyone will be living in harmony but do something for the gain of fame and money. Look around few people do something with the will to help someone who really needs the help but what people will say about their deeds is. A good example is some politicians they tend to do good just to get the sit in parliament and once they get there they forget that we really need them and start doing things motivated by greed thus hurting those who voted for him and create hatred instead of love thus leading to a world full of doubt, hate and mistrust. If we only we start to think about others and do something to them with love then all of us will get to live in harmony and everyone will be successful thus they will be no one to get attached to the success, greed will reduce in the world and selfishness too making a better world for all of us.

ii. One simply must know they are much more to life than achievement, performance and acquisitions and that the measure of life is not in what you accumulate but rather in what is given to others.

This is something we all need to know if we know that then the world will be in harmony since we will not be focused on what we want thus eliminating greed, envy and hate making people love each other and care for each other. Most people are focused in what they want to achieve in life thus not caring for each other and work towards intimidating others to achieve what they really want in life. This group of people are never happy they are insecure in life since they know they stand a risk of someone else acquiring their wealth the same way they did maybe by killing them robbing them among others thus making them not enjoy what they acquired be it legally or illegally. If we all look in achieving most out of life by giving this forms of crime will reduce and there will be love and peace in the world where no one has to worry about thieves or anything of the like.

iii. Seek to enjoy each other not posses each other.

Sometimes we tend to have a sense of ownership in a relationship. This leads us to feel like we have a right to control and dominate the other person thus ending up hurting them It also create a sense of insecurity in ones life they never tend to relax when their partner is away from them. This leads to argument, miss trust then break up. If we seek to enjoy each other then we will have a fulfilling relationship and less stressful relationship.

vi. What you need, you already have, and when you know it, and go within and create it in your mind, the divine substance you seek in the form of material things or money will be manifested in whatever amount needed.

Once I was discussing the topic of poverty with my friend we were asking each other why is it that some people are rich and others are poor yet we all live in the same world and believe in the same God who is the provide, and he told me that this happened to create a balance in nature and due to some circumstance. “So why are some people picking themselves from ground zero and become multibillionaires?” I asked him and he told me because they made a choice to achieve wealth. We know the story of all rich men who made it from nothing to something they usually have a common ground they made a choice, and then saw them selves achieving what they choose to have, and believed they were going to have it, and the last thing they did was worked towards achieving this things. One thing that makes us human “special beings” is that we have been given something called free will we can make a choice either good or bad and live by the consequences of our choice. Another thing is the knowledge some say once the knowledge is subjected to everyone the world will come to an end, which I don’t agree with. The people who made it from ground zero to becoming rich men and women they had the knowledge hidden in them and the faith to believe and create the images in their mind thus achieving everything they thought of in reality.

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

No.

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

Yes it did. The exercises are help since I was able to relate with the spiritual being in me and be able to define my purpose. It made it easy for me to love people around me not because of what they do to me but because we are all God’s children. It also helped me to realize that we are all different in one way or another and I don’t have to understand you to be able to relate with you. It made me develop inner peace with myself knowing that I don’t have to sweat my way out towards anything neither should I intimidate any one to get what I want in life, but can achieve it by empowering someone else and this doesn’t make you a less human than you are but makes you a Hero in someone else 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?

i. For the spiritual being, success is achieved by aligning oneself with one’s purpose.

Once you know your purpose the spiritual being comes to intervene and work with you towards achieving your purpose in this world. This is cause according to the author your physical being works towards achieving what you want and that’s not your purpose in life. The spiritual being guides us to our own awareness of who we really are and what we are purposed to do in this world. In life most of the time we tend to become idle wanderer, nothing seem to please us or excite us in anyway that’s why most people do career hoping form one to another without success, from one relationship to another, from one neighborhood to another and so forth at the end of the day when they lie themselves to sleep they still if empty. Let me give a good example with my life I always dreamt of doing medicine in my life the main aim was for my good and fulfillment. I used to enjoy being around doctors and reading books related to my career of interest. After clearing my high school I didn’t make it for my career of choice its been two years now, and I thank God I didn’t make it in a medical school this is because when I didn’t make it in medicine school I had to look deep within me and ask myself I really- really want to do medicine? My answer was no to my rude shock first it will cut me out from a social life that I enjoy, cant stand blood and I have a compassionate heart which can not stand seeing any one going through pain.

After a long such I came to learn that my calling is to serve and help other people am happy with what am doing now and am at peace with everything in my life which I could have not got if I went to medicine school I guess. Having to sign up for Kenya red cross society and getting to be a part time teacher really makes me go home sleep and thank God for the blessing. We need to look deep within our self and work to what we are called to do. No matter how small the calling might look like, or how much less you will earn from doing this than from what you are doing currently. The big question is do you wake up happy and ready to go to work? When is time to leave do you want to stay or you just want to get out of the office? It takes more than courage to do something to leave ones job and go to serve the people who can attests to this are the preaches, but once you decide to leave and not look back you might start with little or nothing commonly know as humble beginnings but you are going to get more than what you had when you were where you were. First it will be an inner peace with yourself and all the material position you will need which will be just enough for you and those around you.

Ratings:

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

The New Dynamics Of Winning
Assesment by Vivian Muthoni Muciri

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

The main aim of the author in this book is to enable people to learn how to make some achievement in there life and helping them living their lives as winners each single day. The author goes ahead to quote great champions who made it despite their situation out there. They worked so had against all the odds.

Success depends on your ability to combine physical or technical skill with mental process in a stressful environment.

The author states that for one to be successful in anything it takes more than just talent in the field of specialty they are in. The most important thing that they need so that they achieve the success is the ability to combine there skills and techniques with there mental attitude this will help them achieve this without difficulties since they will have created the image of success in there mind thus the outer world doesn’t have much impact towards there motivation and action towards success.

The idea was important to me personally since at times I used to have a winning attitude and always setting for the right path in the road towards my success but kept on losing despite me having the required skills and techniques to achieve the best result in what I was trying to do. This was mainly because at the back of my mind I had set a failing image due to various reason such as I don’t have the required equipments or don’t have the best paper work to prove that am simply the best and I can achieve the best result. Since I have learnt this I will practice putting my mind in line with my action so that I achieve the best of what am doing every time am set in a competition.

The Drive To Win Is Set Inside Out

Here the author talks about the drive for one to win it has to come from inside and not from the out side influences since they will just kill the drive for one to become a winner. When you tend to look at the outwards factors one cannot achieve anything since there will be more stumbling blocks that stone set for your success in which ever way, but ones you have the drive of achieving the success you require you will over look the obstacle that are set in the outwards. Here I came to learn its important that you visualize your success before it actually happen and hold on it no matter what might arise from the real world just visualize your success in the imaginary world and create it exactly how you want to achieve it and you will achieve the success despite the obstacles set. Here I was able to learn that I can achieve anything so long as I have the desire to work on achieving it and become self reliance and take the necessary steps towards achieving my desires. At time I used to give up on them since they seemed like a giant and one who promised to help me through them just stood me up at the last minute. Since I read this book I have made a decision to be self reliant and would be breaking my desire into small measurable works and work towards getting the work done.

You can’t win by desires only, you need to break down the desire into smaller parts

Here the author is trying to tell us that desire don’t get the work done, but the action does. Desire is the strong feeling that you need to keep you going so you will need to substitute the “BIG DESIRE” into small potion of work that will make you achieve what you dreamed to achieve. Most people have the desire to do something but they are never ready to take the risk involved to doing it. They usually give up when hit by a tiny obstacle or when they get disappointed by someone who they were depending on. Just as the author had stated that he was to go fishing in a boat since one of his friend soldiers had promised him he had the desire and hardly got some sleep thinking about it but the man let him down. So he took the obligation of achieving his desire by breaking down the desire and did what was required to make him achieve his desire and enjoy the satisfaction of doing it.

Conversely, don’t be afraid to devote an extraordinary amount of time to a problem that requires a great deal of attention.

At times we tend to give up when it comes to problem solving we come with a assumption that they are beyond our league or it will waste a lot of your time trying to solve the problem. Yet you have a lot to be done in order to have the job finished. So we brush some problem aside forgetting that we need to solve the puzzle before having the work done, thus making us going round and round the problem and at the end of it all you come back to start point and at the end of it all nothing is ever done. Just as the author states that we should not be afraid of spending more time than intended in a problem that requires a great attention. The good thing about this you would have solved a piece of the puzzle and moved a step further to achieving your goal. So if you spend a whole deal of time in trying to solve the problem you will be able to learn what you had done wrong and work towards making it right so you won’t repeat the same mistake, and in future you will be able to identify the same problem and be able to handle it.

Before you can use your imagination effectively, you need to relax your body and mind.

Here the Author is talking about using your imagination in order to attract thing you want. He said for the right hemisphere of your brain to work effectively for you, you need to be able to relax your mind. This is because the left hemisphere which is the verbal, judgmental, and analytical is quieted. While the physical relaxation put you in touch with your internal environment and distraction. Once you have done all this you might be able to imagine what you want in life and since your imagination has got no limit you might see yourself achieving it stumbling through the road of you achieving it but managing to go through the road block and coming towards your success. This process helps one to be able to realize what they want and how they can go about it. It creates a strong believe that you are going to make it, it also help one to stick on there mission despite the challenges they might face down the line in real world. The imagination process also helps on to change focus on what can be done other than what can’t be done. It also helps in creating a vivid picture in your mind of what you want to be done and make your mind work on that image.

You are your own most important judge

The author talks about the fact that there is no opinion to you own well being and performance as the opinion you have yourself. You can not lie to yourself no matter what. People might lie to you once in while. Some my pass there opinion to you which are influenced by various factors such as fear or love. What you think about yourself or what you have done have a high chance of being true other than what other people tell you.

Your judgment about you is always right. The good thing is you need to stop convincing yourself or running to people so that they tell you what you want to hear but you need to judge yourself if it convicts you rectify the mistake, if it condemn you work on yourself and if it congratulates you buy yourself a gift. This doesn’t mean you need to over look others judgment because they are like a mirror of you, not all of them are wrong or might pass there judgment motivated by something. As much as you look through your own judgment about your action you need to also give time to review other people judgment and pick those are helpful. As the saying goes if you want to go fast walk alone but if you want to go far walk with someone.

Winners dwell on the rewards of success. Losers focus on the penalties of failure.

Here the author is basically talking about what one focus on is what one gets. This is the law of attraction. What you tend to focus on is what you will attract. It basically happens to our day to day life and that’s when we start our statement with “I Knew It!” If one tends to focus on failure other than success he will eventually fail but if they focus on success he will succeed. A good example is of this person who wakes up every morning and knows he will miss the first bus to work and will get late. His mind is fixed on this so even if he wakes up early he will miss the first bus due to some reason or another and when he get to the stage he will always say “I knew I was going to miss the first bus.” This is what he attracts and creates in his mind the missing bus attitude. Let’s say he decide to focus on getting the bus and making it to work on time. No matter how many times he misses the bus he puts it as that day and not his daily routine neither shift his focus on catching the bus. Eventually he will start to get the bus and making it to work on time. What we create is what we attract and is what we get from the outside world.

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

The lesson has helped me learn how to come up with new dynamics of winning. It has helped me develop a winning attitude which I need to apply on my day to day life. I also learnt the power of imagination and how to shift my imagination to work for me in what so ever way I want. Apart from learning how to achieve what I want it also helped me realize on how to work with goals and how to having them done. I also learnt that am the best judge in judging myself so every time I pass a judgment I need not to ignore my judgment but to work on rectifying the mistake or accepting the credit.

This will help me create a better world since I will be able to achieve my goals which will not only benefit me but the people around me. I will also be able to influence people in having there goals achieved since I will motivate them to setting there own goals and working towards getting them done.

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.

Champions don’t shrink from risks

Here the author talks about champions knowing that the greatest risk is doing nothing and that real security from constantly testing your potential. The greatest mistake in life is giving up on what ever you were trying to do as the saying goes a real champion keeps practicing each day and losers do something that winners never do and that’s quitting. This was too important to me since I came to learn that with each passing day no matter what risk am going to be taking whether I win or loss I will work out head high knowing that I didn’t loosed but I learnt the skills needed to tackle the challenge next time and am better that I was before I got into the risk so am equipped to tackle the next challenge.

Champions know where they are and they see where they want to go

If you don’t know where you are going or don’t see then you are not a champion. This statement was of much importance to me since we most try to sail with the tide and waves of life we sit back and wait on what’s going to happen and where the majorities are going towards, thus making us to be normal. Some of us don’t even know where they are, some do know where they are but can’t see where they are going. People who live there life this way have no vision in life and luck the motivation of doing anything with there life and they sit at threw side line blaming their circumstances that afflict them in life being the main reason for their failure yet they have no plan of success neither something they are targeting to succeed in.

Stair-stepping means taking a big goal and breaking it down into smaller components.

Here the author states that for you to have anything achieved you need to work on it in smaller bits not as big as it maybe. Let’s take for example you want to build a school as your goal. You need to divide the goal in small achievable bits like having to go register the school then picking the location, shopping for the perfect piece of land…..this will make it easy for you to achieve that big goals since you will be working on it bit by bit thus achieving the goals slowly but orderly rather than working on the giant bit yet you done have a plan. If you break the goal into small achievable bit it will save a lot of things like being disappointed when you fail to achieve the goal or feeling worked up while trying to achieve the big goal. It also creates motivation for the fact that you realize that you are making progress towards what you want to achieve in due time. It will also create a challenge in setting your on record in terms of time and trying to bit it.

The value that you live by are going to shape the future for you and those around you.

This statement got my attention since it was so true. Most people fail to realize this. They tend to pick Vices other than Virtues then go ahead and complain that life tends to be unfair to them. They fail to understand that it takes talent to open a door but it takes character to keep the door open. This are the kind of people who tend to move from one job to another and from one neighborhood to another since no one can keep up with them. Instead of them trying to realize they are the problem they make excuses and end up saying they don’t like me because of this and that. Some maybe unfortunate enough to be able to make anything or have anything. They give up and on life or lead a miserable in life, cause they lack friends, there family tend to isolate them, there workmate ignore them and the rest of the world turn there back to them. If only we try living our life right work on our character pick on the Virtues and try to ignore the vices the world will become peaceful, every one will look forward on working with us, some will want to be associated with us and most off all we can keep focused on what we want in life sine we know someone will be willing to help us and be able to feel that they are much part of your success as you. No one will feel left out since they know you will be there for them and it doesn’t matter if the played apart or not you will still come around when they need you.

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?

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

Yes it did contain some exercises which I am still doing. They were helpful since I am able to get time for creating my imagination and knowing how to work on them. Apart from that the exercises helped me in working on various aspect that might bring failure in my day to day life and also made me be able to sport this aspect and being able to know what to do about them.

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.

First, the coachable performer respects the role of authority figure: For one to be able to learn something you must be able to respect the person passing the lesson that is some one above you. You can not learn any thing from someone you don’t respect or value since you tend to under rate them, ignore them or hate them thus you will never see the value they are adding to your life. This does not only apply on authority figures but to everyone be it your boss or co worker both junior and senior since they all have an ability to teach you something in life and concerning your career. This is because they will be able to guide you correct you and encourage you in doing something to better what you want in life and career wise. So it’s a high time we try to respect people around us so that we will be able to get coached in various aspect of our life.

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

A. How interesting was it to read? 6
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 8
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 7

Unlimited Power
Assessment by Vivian Muciri (Kenya)

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

The author is talking about unavailing our ultimate power in attaining success in whatever we set our mind to achieve. He also tackles various aspects that will help us attain what we desire and how to work with ease towards attaining it. The book also captures a few aspects of self motivation and living a health way of life.

i.) It’s important to remember that emotions like depression do not happen to you, you create it like every other result in your life, through specific mental and physical actions.

The statement was important to me since I came to learn it take the same amount of hard work to loss and win they are equally proportionate. I also realize both mental and physical action contributes dearly to our result in life. I used to have this mental attitude of saying something’s are just beyond me and we cannot defy nature so this made me to embrace the failure attitude and kept telling myself what is the point of trying and eventually I won’t make it in the end. So even when I made a genuine effort physically I was still going to fail since I had sent my mental state to failure and I was doing it to prove that am working as hard as I can to attain it. Once I read this statement it made me makes a resolution to develop a winning attitude and have my physical state be in line with my mental state. I also came to realize that I need to work hard in changing this attitude which had become easy for me to develop the losing attitude and develop a new winning attitude both physically and mentally.

ii.) In every man and woman’s life there comes a point of ultimate challenge –a time when every resource we have is tested.

I come to learn that what matters the most in life is not the action we take but the reaction. Since the reaction will define our out come at the end of every challenge we face. If we decide to walk away when faced by every challenge or just sit back and begin to blame mother nature every time we are challenged then we will end up being miserable and depressed. I come to learn we need to look at every challenge as an opportunity to learn something new, grow both mentally and emotionally.

iii.) It is our belief that determines how much of our potential we’ll be able to tap. The author talks about how belief can turn on or shut off the flow of ideas. A good example is the saying that goes women are inferior beings and need to be in constant reminder of this statement. Most women grew up with the same idea since that was want they were meant to believe. I had that problem too in high school my math teachers used to tell us that it was nature that as a girl you are not purpose to pass in math and sciences of any kind but it’s ok if you pass in history, religious studies and languages, and throughout high school I didn’t pass in math and science until when I changed school. The new school motto was ‘what a boy can do a girl can do better’ and my math teacher was a lady. This changed my belief and my performance not only in math and science but also in the way I viewed life and also made me erase the boundaries I had created in my life about the does and don’ts. My change of believe made me become a better person and tackle challenge in day to day life. Before I was motivated by the idea if My math teacher could do it so can I, but after reading the book I come to understand that it took more than the idea but the change of believe which made me change my attitude and made me work hard in attaining a better grade in both math and sciences.

iv.) People don’t always lack resource; they lack control over their resources. We tend to blame the lack of resource if we don’t achieve anything. Especially with the education system the curriculum bases as on the idea whereby you got to go to school then university or college and then get a job, due to the high number of people who clear school every day and the job opportunity in the market can’t sustain us all we become miserable and start blaming it on the lack of job opportunity in the market place. Yet we have the resource of knowledge that we learnt in school that we can decide to use to create job not just for you but for others who are going to be out of school. I also come to learn that I need to use the resource I have to attain my goal and don’t concentrate on the resource that I lack. I also came to learn that I need to learn how to control the resource I have and use it wisely in attaining that which I desire rather than waste and have nothing done. We need to understand that resources are limited and we have to spend them wisely.

v.) Physiology is the most powerful tool we have for instantly changing states, for instantly producing dynamic result. The author here is speaking about the physical alertness. Here I came to learn that your result will be achieved by the way you set yourself. If you set physiology to a failing attitude then the end result of whatever you do will still be failure but if you do something with the expectation of winning and start working on it with a winning attitude then at the end of it you will still achieve a winning result. At times we do something and with the expectation we have at the end of doing the thing will really trigger our physiology and thus our potential in doing this thing. If I wake up some minutes past the normal time I wake up and then get upset and disorganized it will affect my production throughout the day since I would have created panic and fear of being late and once I concentrate on this two emotion I won’t be productive and will end up being late, but id I decide to react towards it with lot ease and just do my common morning routine and decide to reduce 5minutes from every routine I do I might end u recovering the time and make it to work on time. Since my mental alertness will be intact and at the end of it all I will visualize myself being early and my physical power will be intact thus achieving my target to be in work early.

vi.) Power of modeling. Here the author speaks about the ability to imitate those who did something before us. Since they got the necessary tools that we might need to work with in attaining the same thing. At time we set goals but are unable to attain them not because we are stupid or because we lacked the resource we need but it’s because we didn’t know how to use the resources we had at hand due to the fact that we refused to look at those who achieved the same goal. Here I come to learn that we all need people if we want to go far. Since I will be able to learn the mistake they did and avoid them, the formula they applied and I apply them thus making it easy for me to achieve my goal with less tension.

vii.) What you drive, where you go, who your friends are, what you do, reflect your self-identification. Just as the saying goes show me your friend and I show you your character. We all have had this problem of trying to convince ourselves that we are nothing like our friend and you are the golden sheep of the lot at least I have. It was one of the hardest things I had to deal with in high school. They defined me and I had to live up to their standard and slowly I began to adopt their behavior likes dislike and moral standard. It came to a point where instead of trying to change I got used to it and it become normal. Reading this statement it reminded me of how I used to let people define me and I used to identify myself through friends and went to places I never wanted to just because of people I associated with. It also made me realize that it’s a high time for me to make a drastic constant change by picking my friends, associate and choose where to go and not to. Since Knowledge is earned but wisdom is sharpened by sitting at the right place with the right crowd.

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 lesson has helped me in organizing my goals, sticking to the goals since I had to experience the feeling before the actual achievement; this will keep me motivated to work towards achieving the goal since I wouldn’t love to loss the excitement of achieving the success. I also learnt on how to use my emotion and physiology together towards achieving my dream. The book also helped me learn on secrets to use in unveiling my unlimited power in life.

By sharing what I have learnt I will be able to help someone in learning how to unveil his/her unlimited powers thus having them achieve their goal and also they will inspire others to achieve their goal too.

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

i.) People who have attained excellence follow a consistent path to success. (The ultimate success formula). This quote got my attention since I learnt the new formula that I will need to be able to attain success that I so much desire in life.

ii.) The world we live in is the world we choose to live in, whether consciously or unconsciously. We do not choose where to be born, who our parents should me, the condition we should be born in, circumstances in which we are born in or state but you have the total control of changing all this to suit what we wanted or pictured in the back of your mind as the ideal world for you.

iii.) We have a strategy to produce just anything in life. This statement implies that we can attain anything so long as the motivation is there, and we can decide on something in just a matter of moments. It doesn’t matter how indecisive we were at the beginning of the project we wanted to take on.

iv.) Powerful tool are not of much if you don’t have a good idea what you want to use them for. Some of people are born in the shoulders of giant and despite that they end up being losers in life. This is because they have everything in hand and lack ideas on how to take advantage of what they have to create a life for their own and others. Most don’t bother going the extra mile ahead of their parents. Some people have brilliant ideas when they lay them down you see how they can change the world but they never try going after their goal but rather complain of what they lack and don’t see what they have. This made me realize that I need to review the tools I have in hand rather than look for what I don’t have; I also come to learn that I need to work with what I have to attain what I so desire.

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

No.

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

Yes it did. The exercise is ongoing and they were helpful since it made me learn to change my eating habits and also my physical fitness due to the easy random excises the author provided that could help one be fit. There were some excises which were used to determine ones mental fitness and help in guiding one through combine the mental and physical alertness towards helping me achieve my goals and success in everything I do without having to work myself out.

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

No.

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

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

Leadership for Dummies
Assessment by Vivian Muthoni Muciri (Kenya)

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

The books is talking about leadership and ways of becoming a leader in different circumstance the author also outline qualities that will make you a natural leader and the common mistake we make as leaders and how to avoid them so as to become successful leaders in different circumstances and to be able to create leadership opportunities in our day to day life. The books also outline possibilities for people to rise beyond their expectation and becoming people of influence.

i.) Leadership begins with the willingness to embrace responsibility. For one to be a leader you need to accept the responsibility that comes with being a leader. This responsibility are putting other people need before yours, become a good listener and elicit the cooperation of others. For one to lead and turn to a successful leader they need to serve others or offer service rather to individual or community.

ii.) Effective leader seek the truth and adjust their sights according to what they learn. A leader is still a student and great leaders are great learners. Once you outline your goals and vision and how to attain it then as a leader you are suppose to draw a line between the fact and fantasy of your goal in order to be able to know how you are going to achieve the dream. Great leader leads with reality and not fantasy.

iii.) Taking in new information and adjusting your response to a particular situation requires intelligence. What count in life is not our action but our reaction in every situation we are in. What really define the intelligence of a person is the ability to deal with different situation at every given time and doing it with more intelligent. We do tell the personality of a person by the way he carries himself around others and the way he reacts to different situation. This also helped me to learn to be watchful in every situation and work towards solving the situation other than creating more havoc towards the problem. A critical leader has to look round for all possible solution in different situation articulate on that one thing that no one saw and work on it to perfection.

iv.) You become free by acting free. The statement caught my attention since most of the time we sit and wish for something but do not make an effort towards attain what we want. This statement does not apply on being free but it applies in so many aspect in our life and rather than taking it literally we need to make an effort towards what we desire and focus mostly on the end result of what we want, but what’s important is not letting our ego get caught in the glory and forget that we need to work in order to attain the glory at the end of the day.

v.) Making yourself a leader when you aren’t does not mean running around…..It does mean acting on the moment and helping those needs above your own. Some people work so hard to attain the spot light for different reasons. Some do it for fame, publicity some do it out of sympathy empathy among other reasons. When I read this statement it reminded me that a great leader is a great servant. Who offer service to other and keep others above himself despite how hard the task might be. This is the thin line that draws great leaders from the rest and the mark leaders live in the life of many. It made me aspire to evaluate myself before jumping to a leadership ground or before creating a leadership opportunity in my life it also made me aspire to be like one of the most greatest leader who ever walked on earth (JESUS). Do good and walk away rather than do good and expect the same in return since it will make you live the life of disappointment or make you change to blackmailing tactics.

vi.) Volunteering is a way to do a lot of things that have very little to do with helping others, or with leading. Some people see volunteering in many different ways and start the course due to different reasons. Once you develop the purpose and draw a fine line and make an effort towards dedicating your time, money among others you might end up not only getting a leadership position or creating one, but also learn and growing as a person. This might lead to you appreciating the little opportunity you get in life and also gives you the zeal of working in creating opportunities and changing circumstances to work for you and to work for others too but not against.

vii.) Your job as a leader is to ascertain the skills and experience of your team members and then helping them disseminate that knowledge to the group as a whole. No man is a high land and that’s why we need others. As a leader you are suppose to learn that you do not know every thing and every group member is gifted in one way or another and has the basis of one thing better than anybody else thus you should make an effort of discovering what is the talent of each group member and how you can use it to benefit each one of you and how it will help you attain your goal. We should learn to give each group member a chance to shine and make them fill as if they are important as any other person in the group and has equal magnitude as anybody to influence the progress of the group. If each member feels this way they will work with a lot of zeal thus leading your group to attain what you desire and make them celebrate the effort of everyone.

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 lesson helped me to realize that everybody has some leadership abilities in them and once given a chance or gets the right opportunities they can blossom in there own rank and way. This helped me not to hold back in place I can arise and lead towards achieving a better world or even to discourage someone who can arise and become leaders thus the book helped me purpose to serve when I can and also to encourage others raise and serve when they have the abilities and ideas.

The Author also out lines qualities that can make one become a successful leader and If I dedicate my life in practicing this qualities I might be able to lead others and also help others attain what they desire as I work towards attain my own desires.

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.

i.) The biggest single mistake that people make about leadership is that they think leadership means command. Most of the time we relate leadership to command thus we don’t make an effort in trying to lead others. Though leadership is the ability to guide, direct or influence people while command is an order given by somebody in authority this had made the chain or ruler to be inherited and it was unlikely for one to raise from nowhere and lead even though he had the quality to and could have done it better than the one placed at the position. This is one thing that really affect most of the African nation we are meant to believe and follow a certain system of government where only the people of authority tend to carry on the leadership of the country despite their bad governors and when they decide to let go of the top position they tend to have their children or close allies as their successors but since we are meant to believe that only the gifted one are to lead we do nothing about it and those who have the ability to lead better than the people in command sit back and watch from a distance.

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.) Leaders may rise only in response to a situation. We have grow up with the thought that a leader is born and not made thus if you don’t show leadership qualities from childhood you do not have the ability to lead but to follow. Plus the four temperaments describe each and every group and categories of people and behavior. This has lead to most people not to try attaining there potential in any situation even if they have the opportunity to. Since when you look at the temperaments some people are leaders and have a difficult time to follow this are the choleric while people like the phlegmatic tend to follow other than lead. Thus at some point I disagree with the statement that leaders may rise only in response to a situation thus every one can lead despite anything. For one to lead you have to develop a passion towards changing something that no one else has developed the passion and be able to influence others to follow your goal and help you achieve it, so I think circumstances and situation magnify the leadership trail in one other than rise a leader since we have people with great leadership ideas and would outline a situation but will never raise to take the position and responsibility to lead but would rather give the idea to someone else to take the position of leadership and work in the closet with the leader.

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?

The book had random text question which helped me in preparing myself for leadership position and which helped me understand difference between various leadership criterions and where I lie in my leadership skills. This also helped me develop a purpose to look for leadership opportunities in every circumstance and not allow the circumstance put me down but look at them as an opportunity to serve others. Some exercise also made me realizes that I can create leadership opportunity other than waiting for the opportunities to arise then jump on it.

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

Ratings:

A. How interesting was it to read? 6
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 7

The Law of Attraction
Assessment by Vivian Muciri (Kenya)

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

The author is talking about the ability of attracting something you want or need be it positive or negative towards our life. Just as the author define that the law of attraction is the ability to attract in our life whatever we give attention, energy and focus to, whether positive or negative. The author also defines the law of attraction as an universal energy around you that obeys the science of physics.

i. Positive and negative emotions do not occupy the mind at the same time. The statement caught my attention since most of the time we tend to concentrate on the negative emotion and work ourselves out towards the negative emotion until it becomes a habit and our way of life. This lead to us having nothing positive and there fore live a life full of anger, bitterness and regret. We need to learn on how to make positive emotions dominate our lives by creating positive thoughts which will lead to the attraction of positive emotions leading us in living a life of joy and prosperity.

ii. You can rest your vibration from negative to positive by simply choosing different words and different thoughts. You don’t have to work magic for you to be happy. All you have to do is choose different words that will generate the positive thinking and lead to a life of joy. Just as the author state that instead of talking of what you don’t have you could talk of what you want in a positive way and this may lead to you attracting what you want in this life.

iii. Only you can decide how long briefly is. Sometimes we come in contact with things in our life that we can’t keep up but decide to stick around and wine about the thing and wishing they could change forgetting that we have the power to change this. Personally I have been in such situations and thought I don’t have the capability of getting out of it so I decided to tolerate the situation and make it part of me, but when I came across this line I realized I can decide to get myself out of the situation if I want to and decide to.

iv. The key to using affirmations is that they need to be true for you in order to make you feel good. When affirming something to yourself you need to create the contest in a way that it will make you feel good and clear the doubt in your life. Affirmation may also create the zeal of you wanting to achieve your desire since you get to feel the outcome of your achievement before you achieve them. It also gives you a visual picture on how you would feel once you attain it or create a world full of joy if you live in your own desire.

v. Remember, it’s the absence of doubt that will bring your desire faster. Sometime we are caught up in doubt that we end up giving up things we desire most in life. We might have the strong desire to attain something in life and might also have the resources to do so but due to the strong doubt we have we end up not even make an effort to attain it. The doubt maybe created by natural factors or negative influence from people around us or the sequence of failure that we achieved every time we tried to achieve the goal. Just as the author states that it’s the absence of doubt that will bring your desire to you we need to work on the doubt by creating affirmation that might clear the doubt thus giving us the will to work towards achieving our goal.

vi. Abundance is a feeling and a good one. Here the author is taking about abundance being a feeling meaning we can generate the feeling of abundance in our own life despite our life circumstances in our own life. Once we attract the feeling of abundance just as the author says we may end up creating abundance in all areas of our life or in the area we so desperately want to have abundance of. I came to learn that we need to create a feeling of abundance in our lives by creating words that reflect abundance. Once we have done that we will start feeling good and work towards attracting your desire.

vii. Always say yes to money. Saying yes to money is not something bad or a show of greed but it’s a good gesture in our own life. By learning to say yes to money we might end up saving more than what we bargained for but we also end up feeling good about ourselves.

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 idea will help me in different aspect of my life since I learnt how to attract positive vibration in my own life which will end up helping me achieve my desire in life.It also helped me realize that having everything good in all areas of my life is not being selfish but self-care so I decided I won’t limit myself in achieving everything good but I will work towards having them for me but without hurting others.

The idea will also help me in creating a better world since I will work towards building the ideal world by sharing what I have learnt with the people around me and we will help each other to put what we have learnt in practice thus creating a world full of joy.

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

i. It’s OK to be selfish when you understand that being selfish is simply an act of self-care. We tend to live with guilt when we tend to care so much about ourselves this make us forego some things we need most in our life and make us give up trying since we think its wrong attaining success in all areas of our life. At times we just concentrate in fewer areas of our lives and forget about the other areas. The idea of being selfish when you achieve good in all areas of your live maybe caused by religious believes or our culture. Which we need to break and live a life full of abundant so long as we work hard in achieving everything good without manipulating others, cheating our way through achieving them, stepping on others in order to attain it or hurting others then its ok for you to attain all good in your life.

ii. A void or vacuum is always waiting to be filled. When we have voids in our life may it be intentional or not we do not need to wine about how we loosed the chance but rather think of it as room to be filled by us, and work towards feeling the empty space with the right information you want. Most of the times when we see an empty space in our life we tend not to see it as an opportunity but a loss. When I came across this statement it made me decide to change the way I am going to view empty spaces I decided I won’t see them as loss but I will view them as opportunity to be filled and work towards filling them. I also decide I will look at the space as a challenge and work with great joy in achieving my desire in filling the vacuum.

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

No.

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

Yes it did contain some exercises which are ongoing. The exercises were helpful since they helped me to know how to put off the negative vibration and attracting the positive vibration that would help me achieve my desire. The exercise also helped me to learn how to turn off doubt by creating affirmation in everything I want to do and this will enable me have hope towards trying to work it out to achieving my desire. Most of all through the exercise I come to learn that the law of attraction is real and is surrounding us and most of all it affects us whether we know or don’t know and by learning this I made a decision of making the law of attraction work for me and towards helping me attract things that will lead me to achieve my desire in 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.

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? 4
B. How helpful were the contents? 6
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 8
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 5

The Power of Intention
Assessment by Vivian Muciri (Kenya)

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

The author is taking about the power of intention. Here he defines intention as a strong purpose or aim, accompanied by a determination to produce a desired result. Thus the book is taking about how one can develop the power of intention that will help them in achieving there desired result in life and learn how to live a life full of purpose and desires to be accomplished. The books contain guide line towards discovering the power of intention and how once we do discover this unlimited power we can use it to work for our good in life and also use it in achieving our goals and a life of harmony.

i.) Man has given up silent knowledge for the world of reason. The author talks of silent knowledge as the ability of knowing something but one cannot describe or explain the evidence of his knowledge since he just know, but we give up on this knowledge and try to prove everything with facts as the world tries reasoning everything out. This statement caught my attention since I grew up with the habit of “I knew that!” but could not explain how or why I did know. I also came to learn that at times it’s important to give time to the inner voice that might be putting things clear to you, and take your time other than having to concentrate so much about the facts that are out there as one of my teacher used to say, “Everything is a True the only thing that matter is the amount of fact in it.” It also made me make a resolution of working things out but not concentrating so much with the world of reason, and most importantly not to forget about the reason bit completely but add on it partially.

ii.) The ancestor to every action is thought. So we should let our thought define use and not the circumstance around us. Just as the author is talking about shifting to an abundance mind-set. This might be done by repeating over and over again that you are unlimited because you emanated from the inexhaustible supply of intention according to the author. Most of the time we let our circumstance control our thoughts and we think in the direction of our circumstance thus letting circumstance to define us. Just as the author talks about repeatedly reminding ourselves that we are unlimited we also need to act like it even if we do not feel it yet nor see it. “Fake it till you make it!” once you practice to act according to your mind set it becomes a way of life that may end up leading you towards achieving your goals and getting off the circumstance you are in into the circumstance you want to be in.

iii.) What you may fail to see inside is a result of how you choose to process everything and people. Some people see others as set backs and do not want to associate with them in whichever way and they rather accomplish things by themselves, others view every situation as devil/God punishing them but its mostly the devil so they sit back and wine about God having forsaken them or they are being punished for this that or something else. Instead of someone seeing people as helpers who will carry him the extra mile and show them the hidden things that were close to his reach, and learn to co-exist with others and offer kindness and love thus creating harmony to himself and those around him. This may end up creating a thought of failure and he is always bound to fail and never gets to understand why. These other people have doubt in their ability since they take everything and view them in one angle and most of the time they see things as being beyond them and they will never get anything done no matter what. (What if they decide to view everything with a different angle, what if they take every situation in their life as an opportunity for something new and what if the people around use are helpers who would assist us in attaining our goals?) If only we decide to view things at a different angle then we might end up creating our world and not live in the world that is set for us.

iv.) If you desire peace for others you will receive it. Here the author is trying to tell us what you give others is exactly what you are going to receive no matter what, how and when. Since you can not give love and gain hate in return but you will receive the love you gave out if you offered peace you will feel the peace flowing within you and you will live a life of harmony with oneself and the rest of the people. We need to decide to give the virtues and not the vises since the virtues are all what we will receive at the long run. Though at times it may not look like it and all you get is the opposite of what you give you need to create the reward you expected and learn to appreciate yourself in everything you do and never do it for self benefit but for creating a harmonious world.

v.) The art of allowing. The author here describes allowing as becoming aware of the resistance source of abundance that has always been supplied. By allowing things to happen in our life we diminish the attitude of resistance in our own life. Some time thing tend not to happen in our life for the fact that we are so rigid and want to keep up with a tight schedule and never ever want to allow ourselves going an extra mile claiming that we are so principal in life. Sometime we need to allow change in our own principals but we also need to ensure that the change is positive and worth the extra space created. Since by learning to allow certain things in our life it may help us towards achieving our desire in this world and making things work for us as we opted and wished they would have.

vi.) Once we Consider that all human beings have within themselves the same essence of consciousness, and that the process of creativity and genius are attributes of human consciousness. Here the author tries to prove that everyone has the ability to rise beyond the ordinary. Since we have the ability within in us the problem is we have not taped the ability ourselves. Most of us the ability is untapped due to what we are made to believe. If all of use new about this and believed in it then we would have eradicate things like poverty. With this in mind I can do anything I set my mind to and I can inspire others in doing the same.

vii.) There is no actual stress or anxiety in the world; it’s your thought that create this false believe. Imagine a world that is stress free? Everybody is content and happy, but it all starts with you getting to live a stress free life. As the author state that our thought creates stress then it’s within our power to get ride of the stress by ourselves since the ability is within us to do that and not the external forces around us. The only way of getting rid of our thoughts is by speaking out. The perfect way of getting rid of stress is every time our mind shifts to create a stressful situation we need to speak out something of the contrast and remind ourselves that we are in charge and not the situation that appears stressful so we can control the stress.

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 idea and lessons will help me to impact my own world and create it the way I want it to be and look like. In this lesson I come to learn that am in charge of things surrounding me and I have power over them and there fore I will be able to let every situation work for me and create a perfect haven for myself and others. By practicing to give out virtues instead of vices I will be able to create harmony within myself and others and this will bring joy not only to me but to those around me since what you give is what you receive.

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

i.) When doubt is banished, abundance flourishes and anything is possible. We all know that doubt is what hinders one from doing anything or everything. This statement caught my attention since most of the time in my own life personally I grew with a lot of doubt and fear of trying anything because I thought it will never work out positively and the evidence was out there proving it will never come to be and it was a waste of time. As the author says once you get rid of doubt every thing becomes possible. I learnt to change my doubt by visualizing the possibility of the result come into being and never had any room for failure in my life and whatever the out come I rewarded myself for the effort other than beating myself for not getting the result I expect. For abundance to flourish one need to add will after banishing doubt. Since you might decided to banish doubt completely and succeed on that but luck the will of carrying on with the mission and therefore accomplish nothing thus not creating abundance as your end result. I know of someone like that He was good in laying his mission and plan and would convince you on how it was going to work and he also succeed in getting ride of doubt not only from himself but for those listening to him, but he lacked the will to carry on with the mission. Despite him having a brilliant mind he never flourished in the world of abundance but he lived in a world of less than enough but people came behind him and moved way past him with his ideas.

ii.) If you are looking for occasions to be offended, you’ll find them at every turn. This statement acted as a mirror in the reflection of my own life and made me smile. Sometimes in life we might get upset by something very small and this make us view everything as upsetting even if something good happen down the line we will still find it upsetting. At times I used to getting offended with everything and would even end up picking on my younger sisters for nothing but it was one of my way of getting my bitterness and frustrations with life and to make it worse I used to create situation that will make someone offend me. It never made me feel better at any point but I used to get the feeling of relief though am still at the same spot where I was when I started it and have loosed a lot of energy to get anything done. I used to find this as a perfect way of getting out my wrong emotions that I thought I can’t do anything about them. It felt better having to here it from someone else that we create offenses ourselves sometime and we need to stop this. Since I used to convince myself that am the one creating the situations and I need to stop but I never found myself convincing enough and thus never made and effort to stop, but by coming across this line I decided I will stop being offended completely and try transferring the energy towards something rewarding other than wasting my energy and time on the offense and also creating more offenses so that I feel like the world is unfair to us including God.

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

No.

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

Yes. The book contained some exercises which are going. The exercises were helpful since they helped me change some things in my life and they also helped me realize the ability within me that I thought I never had and would work towards my advantage of creating a better world not only for me but for those around me.

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

No.

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

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

How to Win Friends and Influence People
Assessment by Vivian Muciri (Kenya)

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

The main message that the writer is trying to convey in this book is how to get along with people in our day today life. Also he is speaking on how we can be able to interact with people and be able to influence them when it comes to our thinking ideas and also building relationships that are positive without affecting the other person. The main focus of the book is to enable people relate with people, understanding human relation and relate with them for the purpose of ones growth.

i. Criticism are like homing pigeons: Most of the time we tend to think that we can correct people through criticizing them and condemning them for the mistake they have done or for not doing something as we expected them to do it, we tend to forget that by criticizing them we are just setting them up to justify themselves and criticize us in return rather than creating a constant change that we might want to see in them or in the role that we have delegated to them. This statement stood out for me because it gave me an opportunity to realize that when I decide to criticize someone I need to prepare myself for them to criticize me back or condemn me for being harsh other than have them do what I want them to do.

ii. The Desire to be important. Considering that most of the time we have the urge or desire to be important we need to learn and value the other person and what they want. This enables you to value the other person and appreciate their opinion and also be an encourager. By understanding this statement it helped me learn that the world does not only revolve around me and despite that I got my own dreams goals and ambition to learn and as important as they are to me so is someone’s else dream and goals are equally important to me and I need to learn to respect that and help others achieve their own goals and they will enable me to work towards achieving my own. Also I learnt the importance of appreciating other people and making them feels valuable not only because of their desire to feel important but because they are valuable and we need each other to get things going.

iii. That is by controlling your thoughts. This statement indicate we can decided the kind of feeling we want to project and how we can act in a situation that we are in. It also proves that one can control their own thinking and hence affect everything that is around them. The statement was profound for me since I came to learn that I have the power within me to control my own emotion and also thought about people and be able to overcome every situation that might come to me and still maintain that positive attitude. We are in control in what we do and also how we decided to come out of a situation. With this in mind I decided to take control of the situation am in and also the kind of feeling I want to project despite the situation or circumstance am in.

iv. Good manners are made up of petty sacrifices. This statement stood out for me considering that sometimes we have to give our. We need to make sacrifices to attain good manners no matter how petty we see it or if we will shame ourselves. Sometimes we tend to work hard to safe guard our reputation and try to ensure that our ego is intact but we forget that our action may hurt the other person. We need to practice good manners and also do the things we find petty like accepting our mistake, say thank you or excuse me. This was profound because with such good manners we will be able to influence people and have others genuinely appreciate us.

v. Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you. This is a common scripture and almost everyone knows about it but few practice it. We tend to see is our right to be treated the way we want to be treated and forget that the other person has his own right to be treated the way they want to be treated. If we just stop and think of the others person feeling and treat them the way we expected to be treated it will be much easier to get through them than try to prove a point to them, or get them to do something the way you want it done.

vi. Admit ones mistake. Once you do something wrong it’s courteous to admit that you have made a mistake and work towards correcting the mistake. Even if you have not corrected the mistake. Sincere ambitions of once mistake soften the other party and ensure that they will not yell or become ill mannered towards you. It also safe guards the relationship between you and the person you wronged.

vii. Letting one save face. When we are talking to people handle argument among other things that are making us interact with people. We need to think of their emotions and how our action or words can affect their emotions. We need to think of the other person well being and also the emotion of the other person.

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?

With the lesson learned from the books will be helpful to creating new relationships both in my daily life and my career life. Despite that I was able to understand why we act the way we do and hence from the lesson learnt it will be easy to relate with other people and come to a level of understanding the lesson. It also made me learn how to avoid argument and also come to a level of agreement with people and sincerely apologize. This makes people to appreciate you and want to be associated with you.

I also learned how to influence people to come to your way of thinking, by being able toinfluence people to your way of thinking it will enable one to build your own goal and also help you achieve the goals you want to achieve.

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

The note Father Forgets by W. Livingston Larned: This story really got my attention since I learnt that instead of judging people or measuring them with our own yard sticks in life we need to look for the good aspect of them and appreciate them. It also helped me realize the fault that my parents might have hold while raising me and the harsh time and instead of holding reproach over them. I learnt to appreciate and take a minute to look at things through their eye and understand why they parented me the way they did. With this in mind I decided to forgive and harbor no ramous feeling towards my parents but love and appreciate them for the parenting technique they used and also decided to take the lesson and pine them so as to become a better parent to my own children when that time comes.

Apart from that I also purposed not to see people the way I think they are supposed to be or the way I perceive them but learn to see them for who they are and appreciate them for who they are. Hence I will be able to encourage people other than criticize or treat them with resentment. We also do not have the write to judge people, considering that at the end of the book W. Livingston Larned say that “God Himself, sir, does not propose to judge man until the end of his days.” Even the bible says do not judge and you shall not be judge, therefore we should live with people without judging them and belittle them but learn to exult, praise and encourage them and help them be the best they can be in order to fulfill their purpose in life. The only way we can come to this realization is by understanding that we are all unique, have different gifting and different interest and this is what makes us who we are and no one will be a carbon copy of who you are.

“If you argue and rankle and contradict you may achieve a victory sometimes; but it will be an empty victory because you will not get your opponent’s good will.” The statement got my attention because you might have the victory but without your opponent good will what will happen the next time you will need his or her help or need them in your life. Considering that the victory is not a trophy you will hang ion the wall and keep seeing it or you can count on it as a n achievement since most of the time the victory we get through an argument only make us feel good for a moment and that’s it. With this statement I learnt before engaging in an argument with my opponent I need to count the cost of the relationship and if I really need to sacrifice the relationship over a piece of argument and what good will winning the argument do to me other than having to safe guard the relationship between the two of us.

“Think the whole thing through from another person point of view.” Before judging the other person for not agreeing with you or wanting to be part of your initiative you need to think the whole thing through from their point of view since once point of view depends with the view point. This will enable you to understand their point of view and appreciate their decision when it comes to the speculated matter. It might also soften your heart and make you appreciate the other person and come to an understanding of the person and where they are coming from.

“Hatred is never ended by hatred but by love.” The bible also says love your enemy as yourself. If only the world may realize this fact we won’t have war and violence since we do not have room for that when it comes to love. Anyway if one applies this though at times is so hard to even like one who causes you distress and hurt it will be much easier for you to transform their actions towards you by repaying their mean action with a deaf ear or good deeds.

5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?
No! Because everything in the book was self explanatory and the author used a lot of illustration so it was easy for me to understand 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?

The book did contain practical examples that one can apply on a day to day life. Hence I picked the examples and apply them and they were very helpful especially when it came to forming new relationship with people and I have seen a positive impact when applying the things I learnt from the book.

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

No.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read?           8
B.   How helpful were the contents?                    10
C.   How easy was it to understand?                    10
D. Would you recommend it to others?        7
E.   What is the overall rating you would give it?    8

Goal Setting 101

Assessment by Vivian Muciri (Kenya)

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

The main message conveyed by the author it’s the basic principal that helps you set goals and how to set the goals and ensure that you achieve this goal. He also bring about clarity when it comes to goal by defining what is a goal and steps of setting goals which is mostly very fundamental in order to achieve success.

i. A goal is an end of which you direct specific effort.

This statement really caught my attention because it defined a goal through the simplest and most practical way. It’s an end that needs specific efforts, Hence when am setting my goal I know that this is the final outcome that I would like to achieve within the specified time and after having the outcome in mind I will have to come up with specific efforts to achieve this outcome. Having that in mind it will also be easy for me to monitor progress when it comes to the result that I intend to achieve, focus on the end and keep working

ii. To assure self-fulfillment, you must provide occasions to rise to.

From the first part of this statement rising to occasions that present its self its good and fun but for a period of time because as a person we are here for a purpose and unless we fulfill this purpose we tend to be caught up in going in circles and hence unless we understand this we will never achieve self fulfillment. Considering that when we provide occasions to rise to we have the self fulfillment assured to us we need to first define our purpose. Know what we are to do and what makes us complete as a person then create occasions to fulfill that purpose and am sure with every achievement we will be filling more fulfilled as humans.

iii. Creating circumstances rather than merely responding to them.

Most of the times we tend to react instead of act. We respond to circumstances rather than create our own. I would like to take an example when it came to the formation of my business. Most of the time we tend to go with the flow of the circumstance like when we use statement like the economy is bad hence our quick response is cut out our spending at times reduce the spending instead of creating our won economy. Live life to the standard that we want too and working towards achieving these standards.

iv. Maximum productivity is working economically.

This statement stood out for me because sometime we are caught up in working hard and exhausting the resource we have and getting more resource to just keep us going, by doing this most of the time we do not get the desired result or outcome that we would have wanted and we also end up having a lot of waste that can be avoided or mitigated. If we just learn to manage our resources effectively we will witness and increase in the result because we have more resource spared and we do not get exhausted. The author here also stated that we should also learn to manage time. Time is one of the most important resource that we tend to ignore yet it’s one that cannot be recovered once you loss it. It’s constantly moving and you cannot increase it but you can use it wisely.

v. If you push the limits you define new limits.

This statement stood out for me because it just proved that we are constantly growing and also motivated me because I came to realize that when I achieve one goal there are more to be achieved, and by achieving more goals and stretching myself to the limit I become someone of value and establish the life I so desire to have.

vi. The more intelligent you are the more you become frightened/

Knowledge is great and it is potential power. So depending on how you apply the knowledge you have the outcome defers. The more intelligent you are implies that you understand the risk and opportunity very well and this can be used as a strong tool for once success but can also be of many setbacks when it comes to achieving the desired goal. This is because with the information you have and also the road map it becomes scary and also doubt tends to settle in more since you tend to over analyze things before having them done.

vii. Humor is when expected future is replaced with unexpected future.

I loved this statement since it made me realized despite the outcome I do have the power to choose my reactions towards the outcome and at times it’s just great when you laugh it off and try again especially when you fail. Being able to celebrate every outcome it gives you a clear mindset to go through and look over the shoulder to see what you did wrong then work towards rectifying that, but when you are too keen and focused at beating up yourself after not getting the desired outcome it tends to make you be de-motivated in achieving the goal you want or making any change.

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?

Goal setting 101 is one of the best guide books that I have come across which not only shows me how to set goals but enables me to define goals and understand the tiny details of setting goals. Is one of the best books that have a foundation to relay on when you want to set goal and also clear clarification of what a fulfillment goal entails and how to come up with one that is motivating and captivating you to work towards achieving the goal you want. The book also has practical explanation and it’s done in the simplest form ever. This knowledge gathered from the books will help me establish clear path when it comes to my own life and also has helped me with the basic tools that will enable me se practical goals that I will be able to achieve. The book also enable me to realize the major difference between having a wish list and having a goal and how to go about making the goal a reality and transforming the wish list into a goal and achieving it. This will be beneficial for me because by learning about goal setting I can be able to transform my own life by applying the knowledge and as I grow personally, I will also impact and inspire the community to grow too by sharing the same knowledge partaking projects that are community geared and work towards achieving them. It also gives me a guarantee that when am set to do something I am prepared to push through it and being time bound I am more focused.

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

“Inspect what you expect.”

Sometimes we go through life expecting so much but we fail to inspect what we are expecting. This tends to make us lose the tiny details that are going to make us not achieve our expectations, it also makes us fail to prepare adequately to meet that expectation effectively. Having gone back and looking into my own life experience I realized that most of my failure tend to be because I did not inspect what I was expecting and hence ended up not adequately prepared and found myself going round in circles and also using a lot of energy, hence getting exhausted and finding myself quitting due to being so tired.

“Values lay the ground work for your goals.”

Understanding that values lay the ground work for my goals made me realized that the most important thing in setting effective goals is not the willingness of applying what we have learn or just a thing we do search as coming through new year resolutions. We need to first understand our own value and do not compare it with other people if we are looking to set goals that we will not give up on when we meet a set back or get bored with working towards this goal. Once we realize the values we have it will help us set goals that align with our desires and goals that we will not only focus to achieve but will enjoy working through the process until we achieve this goal.

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

No.

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

Yes! Considering that it is a guide book. There were a lot of exercises to be done. I did start on the first exercises and it is very helpful just reviewing yourself and working up through creating goals that I would like to achieve. The exercises will be helpful for me personally because I will be able to go through life purposefully and also see transformational growth in what I do because I will be working towards a specific end.

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

No.

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

A. How interesting was it to read?                             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

Nonviolent Communication

Assessment by Vivian Muciri (Kenya)

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

The idea that the author is trying to convey is how to establish a means of communication which focuses on the observation, need and desire from each other and handle every situation in a compassionate way, hence ensuring that throughout the conversation we are able to meet each other’s need and have fulfillment.

i. Using static language to express or capture a reality that is ever changing

This statement helped me understand that the world is constantly changing and hence we need to work on our mode of communication to ensure that we are able to pass information to the other person and get the response that we so desire. Most of the time we tend to focus on the old forms of communication though we yield zero to no response from the people we desperately try to express ourselves too. Hence we should be constantly open into learning and practice what we are learning to ensure not only our communication but also our relationship benefit from this process.

ii. The more direct we can connect our feelings to our needs, the easier it is for others to respond compassionately.

99% of the time we tend to speak of our feelings and most of the time the people we are sharing the feeling with do not know how to respond to them hence they end up missing the desired need that we wanted met at that point. This leaves us empty and discouraged and at times mad trying to figure out why the other person is not understanding our needs. From the book I realized that without I first understand the underlining need behind my feeling then it will be very hard for someone else to meet the need for me as effective as I want it to be met. Hence before expressing my feeling I need first to search deep within me and understand what the need that I have is, and how I can have this need met as genuinely and effective as possible.

iii. When I only identify what I don’t want to do, without clarifying what I do want to do.

I was able to relate this statement and the law of attraction meaning if I focus on something too much it keeps coming back to me. Also with the statement I realized we need to communicate more often what we want and what we expect others to do for us instead of what we do not what or what we do not want others to do for us. This will save time when it comes to other doing something for us and it will make life easy for me and those I relate to since I do not have to keep anyone second guessing if what they are doing is right or relevant to my need, but they will be meeting my need.

iv. We’ve allowed ourselves to be intimidated by are just individuals with unmet needs appealing to us to contribute to their well-being.

This statement was very profound to me whereby I realize before grudging anyone I should try and understand what if their need that is making them react that way and how I can genuinely and compassionately try to connect with the person at the basis of the need and not the action or reaction that they might have put forward. It also made me realize how easy it can be to build a harmonious relationship with the people around us and be of best friends. Also I learnt that if you understand once genuine need you can have minimal conflict with people around you.

v. The process of mourning and self-forgivingness frees us in the direction of learning and growing.

It is important to learn to forgive yourself all the time and not take it hard for a mistake you did this will enable you to see things clearly and not judge yourself harshly for mistake you have committed but to come to a point where you can have a sober mind to looking things through and learning from it.

vi. The more we are seen as agent of punishment the harder it is for others to respond compassionately

If you are always on the authority most of the time is hard to realize that most of the time people respond to you out of fear and hence you might get the result you want just for a while but not a permanent change that you might desire. Being a firstborn most of the time I get an upper hand when it comes to passing instructions to my sisters and having them respond, sometimes the way I want them too and something we run into fiction for not having them do what I expect them too. So realizing if only I act with compassionate and focus on what is their need is and express my need clearly to them it will be easy for them to respond the way is expected and have both of us happy.

vii. Our culture implies that needs are negative and destructive.

Growing up we get familiar with the statement “there is no money” or “you are being selfish” hence growing up we learnt to sabotage our need and always chock it inside because of the fear that you are being selfish. Hence most of the time we get hurt and try to hit for people to pick our need and address it and get frustrated when they do not. Reading through the book I learnt that our needs are not negative or destructive they are genuine desire that we would like to have them meet.

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?

Learning in the nonviolent communication it will enable me take time and try to understand the other persons need and trying to meet the need of the person. This lesson will also help me express myself more freely and not just make demands and expect it to be made or judge others with expectation of a different outcome; but to consciously to think of the other person and putting their need that they want met and how well I can meet that need.

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

None.

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

No.

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

At the end of most chapters there was an exercise to ensure that you do understand what nonviolent communication is and how you can apply it in your own life. This exercise was very helpful because it enables you understand more about the communication and how it works to enable you be able to have a clear picture of the communication and also how to differentiate between our normal communication and nonviolent communication. The exercise also helped me understand more about how to use nonviolent communication and how it can be of benefit for me and for people that I interact with on my daily basis.

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

When the author spoke about appreciation and the attitude we always have towards appreciation that is receiving it with the attitude of Yes! I deserved it and it’s a high time for you noticed or the other way of feeling that you are being humble by being nice and trying to justify why the offer you appreciation. We should always come up with ways to appreciate the compliment and appreciation we get from others and always try to find out the need that was met and also the action that I performed to meet that need. Having identify this two I can genuinely appreciate my role on and influence to making other peoples life better.

Also viewing the identification on the basis of the action that I did to make the other persons need met made me appreciate myself and accept a thank you from someone else. Also from this chapter I was able to understand that we all have an ability to make a difference in everyone else with this gift and hence we should not always put myself down.

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

A. How interesting was it to read?                             7
B. How helpful were the contents?                            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

Goals

Assessment by Vivian Muciri (Kenya)

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

In this book the Author is informing us how we can achieve anything we want and the capability we have to achieve anything. He also teach us how to set goals and stick through them in order to acquire the result we want to have. Apart from that the book is all about self-realization and how to become more than what we are currently and how to be more effective and live life with a purpose. It also provides coping strategy for some issues and create a healthier and happier life.

i. You’re thought forms and shape your world and everything that happens to you.

That was a very powerful statement since it made me realize that I have the power within me to be all I want to be and to achieve all that I want to achieve, and in order to achieve a world I want I should be cautious to guard my thought, since I can control my own thought build my own thought and manage my own thought.

ii. Nature doesn’t care about the size of your goals.

The statement was very powerful since sometimes we tend to set low goals because we are setting them based on the circumstance we are in. We also limit yourself due to factors that are external. This made me realize I can set any goal I want despite the size of the goal and the circumstance I am in and achieve it.

iii. If I didn’t change nothing would change.

Change begin from inside out we can’t change from the outside in hence for things to change you have to change first. If you want to be more you have to become more hence for one to achieve the change they want in their life they should be willing to take the necessary in achieving the change that is required to ensure that the life they want is a reality to them. You can never realize the goal you set by doing the same routine that you have been doing over and over again you need to change the strategy and work through making the necessary adjustment that will help you achieve the goal you desire.

iv. You have more potential than you will ever need in your entire lifetime.

This statement was so profound for me since most of the time we tend to limit ourselves because of what someone said to us, we feel inadequate because someone else can do something better than us or because we failed doing something once and hence we feel like we can never achieve it or be anything else or become better in the thing we were doing. This is a statement that I will carry a long way and always remind myself over and over again I have more potential to last me for a lifetime.

v. Take action.

We might have the best goals, the best plans to achieve the goal and the will and desire to achieve the goal but without action we can never be able to achieve the goal. The most important step for you to achieve anything you want is to take action towards the goal you have set without taking action it can never be achieved it will be a good idea on paper and your life will be where it has always been.

vi. Everything worthwhile take a long time and a lot of work to accomplish.

Whatever is importantwhatever is worth having its worth working for it. It will not be easy to achieve it will take time, hence we need to work with patience and dedication to ensure that we accomplish every goal we have set for ourselves.

vii. Your performance on the outside is always consistent with your self-image on the inside.

This statement compelled me to think about having to work on me first. Work on myself image and what I want to achieve first before setting goals on the outside and also be for doing anything else. Since I need to develop me before developing anything else. This was also a profound statement on my part and it made me think through so many things that can hinder one achieving their goals and also go through life hurt.

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

The book was so powerful and had practice example that will help me become a better person and also create progression in my life, the tools from the book helped me set goals and how to stick to them until I am able to achieve them and this was so profound. Also the tools in the book were so practical and they forced me to think about my personal life and how to go about ensuring that I live life all round and fulfilled so as to create happiness in my own being. Also with the practical example I was able to see some part of my life that I need to deal with to improve on me and create more happiness for me and help me become someone of value in life.

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

“Positive emotion is empowering and negative emotions depowers.”

This statement made me realize that no matter what I should always go through life with a positive attitude and work my way building up positive emotion. I also realize negative emotions might hinder you from growing and moving forward in life.

“You are responsible for the personal strategic planning of your own life.”

I learned that my life is in my own hand and it’s up to me to direct it the way I want. It’s up to me to work towards achieving what I want in life to become who I want in life. My past, circumstances, history does not define anything about my life but Me. This statement was like a light bulb that has gone own and I realized I have all the power within me to work through life and live my dream my destiny and my purpose.

“To achieve something you have never achieved before you will have to do something you have never done before, you will have to become someone you have never been before.”

I came to learn the importance of growth and the fact that it should be a constant factor in my life if I want to achieve more in my own life. So I should be looking for opportunity and have a plan for my own growth plan like reading more, working with mentors and doing what it takes for me to grow bit by bit in order to achieve more in life.

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

No.

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

Yes! The book contained some self-assessment questions that were so profound and helpful because they took me through a journey of self-discovery and helped me learn more about me. It also enable me to come up with clear goals and desire that will enable me be happy and some habits that I should work on in order to change and improve my personality and character to ensure that I achieve the goals that I want to set in life. Also the goals that I set will be in line with my desire and will make me happier and self fulfilled once I achieve but will not create emptiness in me. The exercises also made me see goal setting in a different light and the overall importance of goal setting in once life and the importance of one managing all areas of their own life and how creating balance in our own life can make us be happier and less stressed.

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

No.

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

A. How interesting was it to read?                             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

How to be like Women of Influence

Assessment by Vivian Muciri (Kenya)

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

The main idea the authors are trying to convey from the book are the habits and characteristic of different women who played different roles to shape the world they live in. The author speaks of the roles they played in Society and what made them known. They also speak about the philosophy held by this women and their journey towards becoming known by the world. The authors also list different key traits from the women that one should adopt in order to become influential and achieve any goal/ desire you set for yourself in this life.

i. People are not mere units in statistics.

This statement made me have a different view and take when it comes to mob phycology. Where we always say we are all hungry or we are all suffering. Hence the statement challenged me to not always put myself against the statistic but to work towards being exemplary and work in making myself better. Despite the statistic that is out there. The statement made me choose to stand as an individual and not go with the norm. But to foster on towards achieving my personal goal in life.

ii. Communicate with everyone you need to.

I am not a fan of talking to people hence most of the time I bubbled up my feeling and opinion. Rather than share them out. Having to learn how Eleanor Roosevelt shaped key issues through her articles and ensuring that her opinion is known by the people who were out there. This made me wonder of incidences when I had an opportunity to share my thought and opinion but failed to do so. What would have been the impact in the situation and what would have been the outcome of the situation.

iii. To give whole hearted and free service to the poorest of the poor.

The forth vow that was added to Mother Teresa nun is a food for thought and a daily challenge for me. Sometimes we commit ourselves to charity either to spend a few hours or to give a portion of our income. For one reason or another. But the big question is do we do it whole hearted and free or we expect something in return for our work. When we serve in church do we expect the pastor to notice or feel like we are doing a favor to them. The statement challenged me and reading through the accomplishment of Mother Teresa and her work of service. Made me make a decision to do everything I do whole hearted and if I am not able to. Its better that I do not do it.

iv. If you can’t feed a hundred people then feed just one.

Sometimes we shy away helping others with hopes that when we have more money more time, more resources name it is when we will be able to serve others. We become too busy to dedicate our time in the work of service and our needs become more limiting our resource from helping others. We always dream of one day when we will do something big to the people in need at our neighborhood and community. Always planning to do something big for someone. Yet we have never done something small for them. The biggest conviction in this statement is that it’s important to start from where you are. With what you have. If you get used to doing the small thing for others it will not be a surprise when it comes to you doing something big for them. You can never start from the top but from somewhere so purpose to do something for someone no matter how little it is.

v. We must be brave and strong, bear discomfort without complaint, do whatever is in our power and trust in God.

This statement made me realize that I should do what I have to do to change my situation. Instead of complaining I should be working towards making my life better and trust God completely to change my situation. I should not put my hopes on anything other than God Himself. The statement also challenged me to work extremely hard in making my situation change. I also came to realize complaining does not get the work done but faith in God and hard work can make things change.

vi. I act as if everything depends on me and pray as if everything depends on God.

We are familiar with the statement do you best and let God. The statement challenged me to trust in God and when I pray I should not be vague about it. But pray knowing that it all depends on God and believe that he will perfect what concerns me. Also in my day to day routine I will be able to work as if all things depend on me. I should not wait and see who is doing what or do my work halfway thinking that someone else will finalize the work. But in all that I do I should do it as if it all depends on me and no one else.

vii. Keep working as long as you are able to.

Laziness is not an option for one to become better and acquire more skills we should continue working. As you keep working you become better in everything you do and become more and more equipped in the field you are working on. Also working helps reduce stress and increases focus in our life giving us a sense of purpose.

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?

Having to learn simple things that wealthy people do made me realize that I can become better by the day in everything I do. From this book I learned somethings are not a priority like money, but money is a factor that comes in when you do what you do well. As Oprah stated that if you are in it for money forget it. Also having read through the book most of the women were doing the things they love and their focus was to make a change. In the process they become wealthy and well known to the world. Hence despite having bills to pay and having to live in a material world my first priority should be towards doing what I love and work hard on it till I become better. And in the process I will be able to make a living out of it.

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

“Good, better best. Do not stop until your good becomes better and your better becomes best.”

This statement reminded me that you become a person of value when you master and perfect a skill. Hence it posed a day to day challenge for me to work extremely hard when it comes to my day to day activities. It has also made me realized that I should narrow my focus on one thing and work to become better in it.

“Choose the right partner.”

The people you surround yourself with determine the outcome of your life. Hence it’s important to choose the right partner in all relationships form friendship to business. This will determine how far you will go in your personal life. Also for any plan or activity you want to do in order to achieve it you need to have partners. People who will either usher you to the next level. People who will chip in their resource, knowledge and time. And people who will challenge you to become better by the day. Having the right team and partners will help you in the process and reduce the amount of time you would take to get there. Also it’s important to go where you are celebrated and not tolerated. Since this will boost yourself esteem and courage to become better every day.

“Every achievement big or small begins in your mind.”

The mind is the most powerful tool in the world. Its only in your thoughts where you can break every boundaries or create them. So before doing anything its important to visualize it while planning and see yourself succeeding in the process. Hence every achievement should first be envisioned in our mind and the picture created. This will help us plan and achieve them in the long run.

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

No.

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

No the book did not contain any exercises but had principals that were recommended for one to apply to their day to day life. This principals were important to achieve success and influence in our own life if applied. I did find some of the principals helpful and purposed to apply them in my day to day 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.

One thing I realized from the book most of the principals were cross cutting and applied by all women in the book. For example self-belief, faith, hard work among others. Despite this women achieving influence in different areas from leadership, science, spirituality business, career, sports. They all had similar principals that govern their day to day activities and life. They had common traits that enabled them to achieve different goals and become women of influences. Also this women had setbacks and limitation. It was not easy for them to break barriers but they were focused and dedicated to become better. They did not give in to their limitations but used their strengths to become better. They remained focused in what they wanted to do and enhanced their skills. The world later gave them the opportunity. For example despite Oprah Winfrey challenged with race and weight she was able to have her own talk show. And she finally got into the height of their career by owning her own broadcasting network.

Money is important but not the main factor neither should it be the motivation for us to wake up every morning. All these women became successful and wealthy but money was not their primary goal. Their primary goals was to achieve change and to become good in everything they do. As they become better and better and serve humanity in the process they were able to make money. This is a major challenge in my day to day life. When it comes to setting priorities. I should dedicate myself in working hard and becoming better in everything I do. Also I should focus in what I love doing and enjoy doing and become better at it. Then my value will increase.

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

A. How interesting was it to read?                          6
B. How helpful were the contents?                        9
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

The Power of Failure

Assessment by Vivian Muciri (Kenya)

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

The main idea that the author is convey from the book is a different perspective in regards to failure. The author is trying to view failure from a positive perspective. Sitting that failure is a process that one has to go through in order to attain success. Hence by failing it gives you an opportunity to learn and perfect the skills necessary for you to become successful. The author goes out of his way to explain how we can turn life setbacks into success. Throughout the book the author main goal is to enable the reader to view failure in a different set of eyes and with a different perspective, rather than what we are used to when it comes to defining failure.

i. When we try our best and are willing to learn, we always succeed, even when we do not achieve the intended result.

Sometime I used to have the habit of beating myself down when I do not achieve the result I wanted. For me the end result was more important than the process. But coming across this statement it made me reflect on the current project am working on. The project am working on is to simplify the petroleum act of South Sudan in plain English that can be understood by the community. With no legal background or training as a lawyer. My task was double the effort that a linguistic guy or a lawyer can apply. I did my first draft that was scrapped out by the community that we met for pretesting. This was very discouraging and I almost gave up. I did beat myself down thinking I did not put much effort to it. Always saying if only I read more. Did a little more research maybe it would have been better. Despite the congratulation remarks I got from the participant, other employees in my organization and the donors themselves. I had a perfect picture in my brain and I felt I had not achieved it. Through reading the book I decided to take a few hours off and review the exercise with a sober mind. Not focusing on the result but the process. I decided to write down the lesson learnt during preparing the citizen education materials in regards to the act. The opportunity that came my way due to the process. I also decided to take kin notice of the positive comments I got. Rereading the emails sent by different people. I took the training manual and focus only on the positive remarks. The negative I decided to view them as the remark on the paper and not me. Always thinking of how I could make it better with the consideration and the comment in line. This made me really come to appreciate the process. Feel good about myself and have a positive energy in my work. It also opened an opportunity for me next year to work on the citizen education materials in regards to the land act of South Sudan. The greatest thing is I realized I can make a good lawyer. For every person reviewing the material could not believe that it was done by someone with no legal background. This made me appreciate the process of achieving a specific goal and also the lesson learnt in the process. It made me also decide to shift my perspective form what really matters is the end result to. As much as it will feel awesome to achieve the end result, the process is equally important and always make us grow.

ii. Today’s failure contain the seeds of tomorrows greatness.

The statement challenged me to look at a failure as a process of learning. Where every mistake and every setback is just a process for me to polish and master a skill of doing the job better than when I started. Also no matter how many times I fail I am getting closer to achieving success.

iii. Failure should not be viewed as the end of the story but as a stepping stone to a larger success.

The statement encouraged me that no matter how many times I fail I should keep trying and keep going. I should not give up. Until I am able to achieve the success I so desire. The actual failure is the giving up on training and not failing to achieve the result I want. This statement really encouraged me to stay focused and no matter how many times I do not achieve the desired result I should never give up, but embrace the failure as a learning process and a step closer to success.

iv. Fear of failure is one of the biggest obstacle to living a fully and rewarding life.

I remember I had postponed learning how to swimming for a while since I felt ashamed of failing and drowning in public. Considering I also felt that am old and hence my time for learning how to swimming must have passed. This is because most of the time I saw kids are the ones who were taught. Until one day I decided to take the chance and learn. It took me less than two hours to learn the basic, and three days to be able to swimming across the swimming pool by myself. It also to me a four days to be able to go to the deep end. Now I enjoy swimming and it has turned out to be the best hobby I could have. Every chance I get I spend it in the pool. I was able to make new friends and meet a lot of people when I went for swimming which is a great thing. Come to think of it if I continued to be afraid I would have never learnt to enjoy swimming; neither would I meet the awesome people I met when I go for swimming. It has also turned out to be part of my exercising program apart from doing aerobics at the gym.

v. if we help others get what they want, we usually get much value ourselves.

Sometimes we feel discouraged in helping other people. We tend to think they are infringing in our time and limiting the time we have to finish a certain task in the office. I had that challenge with the new interns who joined the team in the organization I was working in. I had a lot of deadline to bit. Organizing workshop, doing workshop reports, preparing training manual and developing concept notes. The work on my desk felt too much and now to top it up I had a team of two interns to brief about the work. At first I just felt I did not have time but decided to readjust my scheduled forcing me to sacrifice my weekend and evenings in the office so as to train them. I was also forced to keep some of my personal activities on hold like doing my book assessment for IIGL among other things. The process went on for one week. Having to do a briefing regarding the organization current project and the pending activities. Looking back I would say this was worth it since now one of the interns turned out to be very helpful. He took upon himself to help me prepare some training tools and they turned out to be much better than I would have done it. He also offered to train for me in one of the workshop. This will cut out my work load by half. Despite that I was able to have a learning experience in the process since I had taken time to revisit some of my previous work and now I would rework them and make it better. Hence I tend to conquer with the writers statement and would say helping others at your expense sometimes it’s worth it.

vi. When you find yourself in a battle of ego learn to ask; do I want to be happy or to be right?

This statement really stood out for me since most of the time we find ourselves carried away with trying to be right. Sometime we want to be right at the expense of our own happiness. We tend to be carried away with proving our point and working towards achieving a certain degree of being right. The statement made me realize being right sometimes do not matter and the most important thing is that I be happy. Every time I am faced with a challenge of proving a point then I need to sit back and ask myself if I want to be right or happy. Especially when I am in conflict and this conflict might cost me the relationship. I need to be perspective in judging the situation.

vii. Tomorrow never comes for when it does arrive it is today.

This statement made me realize that I should not postpone what I can do today for tomorrow. I should always set targets and work to finish them. It also discouraged me against procrastination and postponing of assignments that can be done today for tomorrow. The statement also made me realize the value of investing time since once I use it up its gone and can never be recovered.

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 lesson in the book made me realize that failure is not as evil and bad as we tend to describe it. Also the book made me learn that failing is not the end of the task neither is it proof that you are incompetent in the task at hand. I learned that failure is a process that helps me towards achieving goals in life. The lesson from the book will help improve my life and have a different view in regards to failure. It also made me realize that the important thing is not the goal and the end result but the process, hence with every task at hand I will choose to learn from the experience and help others learn as well. The application of the book lessons in my day to day life will help me in regards to my relationships. Since I will always choose to value the relationship rather than the argument. Always having the statement “do I want to be happy or to be right?” in mind before entering in any argument.

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

None.

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

No.

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

No. But the book contained practical principals that one can apply to their day to day life. Yes! I did find most of these principles helpful in my personal life. By applying some of the principals I also witnessed a lot of change and success in the process.

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

No further comments.

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

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

The Dramatic Literature of Nawal El Saadawi

Assessment by Vivian Muciri (Kenya)

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

The main idea that the author is trying to convey from the book is about injustices that be fall women and slaves. She focus on the aspect of religion, political and social injustices and how this in justices are justified by the unjust. Nawal scrutinize the three main religions and point out the aspect of injustices and short fall from the three region regarding women and slaves a like. She also points out the contradiction within the same religion and also the masculinity of religion. She also try to highlight the roles of women in society and the role of women in ancient history. The development they had made and contribution they offered in the development of the world we live in. She also highlight the fundamental principal of humanity by claiming that we are all equal, Rich or poor, slave or free, women or men.

i. History belongs to everyone who possesses an amount of imagination, brains and genuine curiosity to know the truth.

I was never a fan of history lesson in schools because of the details and the amount of reading that came with it. I preferred geography and physics more data and less information I used to think. Until after school when I started to rebuild my career and work with the youth later on had to volunteer into some programs from one of the government office. I came to realize the key important thing was to study the history of events so as to tell the trend of things. On how the project will be next year lesson learnt and all. This was a key importance for me to have to dig into information. My boss used to joke that here is where you apply history. So if you hated history you are on the wrong place. The statement also challenged me to raise the curiosity of reading historical books and books that are interesting to me in line to what I want to do in life. Learn from the best and always do what I can in the minimal mistakes possible.

ii. Justice is above power; peace is above war.

This was a profound statement for me and a constant reminder that when I become in position of leadership I should always remember that Justice is above power. I need to always be fair on my juniors and always treat them with just. But not load over them. It is a constant reminder and challenge for me and others to always treat others with respect despite our position and level of relationship with them. Also every time I find myself in conflict I should always choose peace over fighting with the person who might have offended me or the other way round. I should administer revenge or target to make them pay but exercise forgiveness and administer peace.

iii. As long as we live, we create hope.

This should be our biggest role and only philosophy in life. To always be hopeful in our own life and create hope for other people. This will make life better and encouraging for other people and for ourselves too. Always waking up in the morning with the hope that things will be better for us and those around us.

iv. The virtue of a just ruler is better than the bulls he sacrifices.

This statement was so profound for me since it put justice and virtue above all things including sacrifices. If only the world was to live by this rule everyone to uphold justice and virtue. Things would be different there will be peace among humanity. It’s a statement that challenged me to purpose to live every single day with virtue and purpose to administer justice when it’s needed of me. I know it will not be easy considering we are faced with all vices including the tiny little bit of corruption. As the saying goes corruption begins at home so does injustices. Like bulling your kid sister over something that is rightfully hers and you know it.

v. Equality is against nature.

This statement then disqualify the effort of people who fight for different forms of equality. From gender equality to any other form of equality. But I think it’s a statement mostly used by people who want to oppress others and hinder them from accessing their right. Despite nature itself not being equal I think it’s fair and just. Hence in our quest for this equality we need to be just and fair to other people.

vi. People who are driven by their mission do not cower.

I learned that once I set my mind to do something I do not have room to doubt myself or my ability. I also have room to cower from the mission I have set for myself. This was an important statement for me and a day to day challenge where I need to decide that my mission in life is more important to have me distracted, or give up.

vii. Responsibility is linked to power and cannot be separated from it.

This statement was fundamental because it highlights the principal the more power you get the more responsibility that comes with it. Hence bringing about the statement where much is given much is expected. It also verifies that ascending in the ladder of leadership in the office implies more workload and expectation from the management regarding the roles you are holding and given.

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?

Most of the lesson and principals from the play were food for thought regarding to how we conduct our day to day life. It also highlight on the relationship between one human being to the other and how we view others through the glance of religion, political affiliation or our position of affluence. The book highlighted on the injustices that befalls different people in the society and the shortfalls in our religion and other spheres of influence in our life. Some of the key principal focused on the relationship between us and our junior and also our senior. It also highlights the roles we can play to invoke change in the society through advocating for justice and virtue in the society in general.

The lessons from the books got me to think on how I conduct my day to day life. On how I treat other people who I assume they are beneath me. It also made me think of my relationship with those who I consider above me or of different belief or affiliation from me. This made me realize that change starts with the. I need to realize the basic principal of treating others the way I would like them to treat me and the importance of viewing others as human being first; not as someone beneath me or of different affiliation from me or religions believes from me.

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

“My life is my own.”

This statement challenged me to decide to live my life as I choose to since its my own and not for anyone else. I need to come to that understanding and live a life that is profound and completely stratifying without a care of what other people will think. I need to pursue what I want and what makes me happy but not what other people dictate for me.

“Love is Knowledge; value the knowledge of your lover.”

I learned that you should not despise the knowledge of the other person but learn to value their knowledge. Since you might not know where you might need to use it. Also I learnt that you should not despise other people but learn from them they might teach you something important and helpful in life.

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

No.

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

The book did not contain any exercises but a lot of challenges and food for thought. For the reader to think through in regards to all the injustices that have befall women and slaves around the world. It also highlighted the roles that women played and would play to ensure that the change is achieved in the world. It also highlighted on principals and basic ways we can treat other people especially those who wrong us. With a key emphasis on forgiveness of those who wrong us.

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

The biggest lesson I learnt from the book in is in regards to the short fall that comes with religion; how men used their power to manipulate religion so as to carry forward their agendas and selfish interest in life. How they viewed others and how people even now do and still use God as a means to justify their wickedness. It also opened my eyes not to believe everything blindly and to always question the motives of men. Why they are saying, acting or intending to do what they are doing. Be it in the name of God or just themselves. This has also opened my eyes to the understanding of why different people do what they do in the name of religion. Hence you should not cluster every person in that faith as a murder. But single out the individuals with their barbaric acts. This was a relief for me. Considering I grew up in a Muslim neighborhood and with the resent happening in Kenya most Muslim were clustered as “alshabab.” It made me fear associating with my friends in primary schools since I would have been branded as an sympathizer ad get critic. But reading this book made me realize that not all of them are murders but a few individual who kill others in the name of God. Hence destroying the entire religion and what it stands for. Christianity too has its short fall so we should not judge others and try to prove which religion is superior from the other but always focus in building our relationship with God.

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

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

The Servant Leader

Assessment by Vivian Muciri (Kenya)

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

The main idea that the authors are trying to convey are the principals of leadership that one should draw from the life of Jesus. They use biblical example to explain different principals of leadership and draw most of their teaching from the life of Jesus Christ. The author are keen in proving that our spiritual life is an everyday event and not something we ascribe to as on specific occasion. They also draw biblical examples and lesson towards servant leadership and different attitude and attributes of a servant leader.

i. On of the biggest fear a self –serving leaders have is to lose their position.

This statement reminds me of an incident that happen once. When a donor suggested that they felt I will be better off as a project officer than a program officer managing only one project instead of the entire projects run by the organization I was working for. What the donor had in mind was to bid me to work on the project they were funding. This meant law pay considering we get percentages per the project you are working on and hence here I would have only one project. I did accept the role and this perturbed my boss since he was not expecting such a reaction. The donor ensured that I had an increase in my salary and later informed me that she felt I was the only one within the office who could have delivered the project result to their expectation. This came in as a big surprise to me since I felt that they thought considering I do not have the academic qualification I was not well equipped for the position. I was also feeling unfit for the position that was handed over to me and always worked overtime to prove my capability and worth for being in the position. Having read this statement it really encouraged me and made me feel more of a leader than I felt when I handed over the position.

ii. We see Jesus preparing to lead by acts of submission and testing of his character.

Jesus was the son of God and despite Him being fully God. Jesus came to earth and lives His life as fully man. This poses as a challenge to us human being when it comes to how we live our life on a day to day basis. Jesus had the intension of living on earth with act of submission and he always test his character. On the period that Jesus was on earth he led by example and set the standard for us to follow. Hence it is important for us to always have the intension to lead as Jesus did and prepare ourselves every day as He did.

iii. A servant leader never asks anyone to do something that they wouldn’t be willing to do themselves.

The biggest challenge in life is being able to ask someone something that you will be will to do yourself. Most of the time when you are in the position of leadership you always give or pass on the roles that you yourself is not willing to take up or do them. Roles that you feel that are beneath you. Hence the statement pose as a challenge when it comes to assigning roles to your junior the biggest question you should always ask yourself is will I be willing to do the same thing myself.

iv. Your self- worth is equal to your performance and the opinion of others.

This statement made me realize that the opinion of others about me is very important. How others opinion about me determines my performance and hence my self-worth. Especially their opinion on my interaction with people and how I carry myself in the position of leadership that has been awarded to me. It has also challenged me to be keen on other people’s opinion about me and always purpose to improve my performance. And change the negative perspective/ opinion that they do have towards me.

v. A clear purpose or mission provides direction.

For one to have a sense of direction we need to have a clear purpose. This statement challenged me to review my mission and take time to commit to my purpose and the purpose I have set for myself. It helped me and proved the importance of having a vision and a purpose in life.

vi. Before something can become a habit it must be first practiced as a discipline.

This statement stood out for me because it challenged me to practice something. And stay committed and disciplined to the things I want to change in my life. Only then will the new behaviors or characters that am wishing to attain will become a habit and I will be doing it flawlessly. It also proves that change is hard to be achieved and hence it needs dedication and commitment for one to achieve the change they want.

vii. Having truth-tellers in your life is important.

This statement emphasizes the importance of having a friend, mentor and confidant in once life. People who you can go to for advice. People who are not scared of being honest with you and challenge you to become better than you are. People who push you beyond your limits and celebrate mileages with you. The statement also made me realize the importance of having a confident and a friend who I can be myself around and open up with honest truth. The statement also challenged me to open up into possibility of having genuine relationships. I realized the benefit of having this relationship.

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?

Learning about servant leadership and drawing lesson from Jesus Christ. Has been a profound lesson for me and has changed my view of leadership completely. The biggest lesson I took from the book is that my spiritual life is not only reserved for church and Sundays only but it’s a day to day thing and a lifestyle that I should ascribed too. Being a Christian is a calling not to be like other Christian but to be like Christ who is in me. Hence the biggest lesson I learnt is to draw my leadership from Christ way of leadership and to pursue to be more and more like him. To always treat other people with respect and to serve them with humility. I know it will not be an easy thing but having Christ as my confidant and source of strength I will eventually learn and implement what I learn in my day to day life. I purpose also to share lesson that I learnt with different people I come in contact with from my colleges at work. I will constantly remind myself of the key principals I learnt from the book and memorize them then apply it in my day to day activity.

Change begins from the inside out for me to influence others to change I have to change myself. Having changed the way I interact with people around me will have them change too. This will create a ripple effect they will also affect others to change as I did.

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

“The three parts of a good vision that is: Purpose/ Mission, Preferred picture of the future and value.”

This statement got me thinking about my vision and mission statement for my personal life and if I have visualized it. The statement also specified simple things that make ones vision a success or not. Also having created and imprinted the picture one wants for the future is valuable and important since it limits the chances for failure.

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

No.

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

The book contained some rhetorical questions and a few exercise that were very helpful. This is because they bring you to the moments where you would stop and think things through. By examining yourself and seeing areas you have to change. It also contained a commitment kind of contract. That forces you to carry and make change in your own life by committing to practice what you have learnt. This is great since it will ensure that I commit to my word and review the book once in a while. It will also challenge me in changing the areas of my life that need to be worked on.

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

I really did enjoy the book because it personified Jesus and highlighted his character, habits and attitude towards leadership. It also brought the bible into the Now context by relating the scriptures to our day to day life. The book also was practical. This is because it not only highlighted what you should do. But also provided practical ways and guidelines to do them. With a guarantee to change. The book also had helpful insight from the bible and go to verses in times of different challenges in the quest of becoming better leaders.

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

How to Make Collaboration Work

Assessment by Vivian Muciri (Kenya)

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

The main idea the author is conveying in the book are basic skills that can help one build consensus, solve problem and make decisions. Among different group of people. The author in his book share different insight about the process of human solving problems as individuals and how complex it is. He also shade insight and share principals that can help one solve problem as a group. He discussed the process of solving problem with different stakeholders and gives detail bit by bit process. The author has put these principles in three parts. The first part is fundamentals which he explains the basic human process in problem solving and collaboration. He later talks about the basic principles that bring people together and help them collaborate into making decisions. He finally ends the book with a third segment listed putting it all together. This is a summary of the entire process and key recommendation for making the process work.

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

i. On teaching us content not process.

The author is speaking on how we learnt in school. He cited that in school we learnt content. Not the process of achieving the content. This has led us to be more result oriented. What the end product will look like. We do not appreciate the process of achieving the end result. This is interesting considering I used to think that is how its supposed to be at work what matters is the target set for everyone to achieve. Coming across this statement made me realize the process is equally important to the result. Since if you master the process it will be much easier to achieve the result at the end. It will also help you achieve the result with a lot of ease.

ii. I define a problem as a situation that someone wants to change.

This statement helped me view problem in a different light. It also enabled me to be able to see every challenging situation as something I can overcome. It also enable me enter any challenging situation with a positive attitude and result oriented. For example recently I had a problem with my assistant at work. He was very difficult in terms of completing his assignment. This created a rocky relationship between us and I had a challenge of being forced to do both my assignment and his. Considering if he does not hand over his assignment in time then our report will be delayed. I got fed up of him and decided not to give him a cold shoulder and never ask or hand over any assignment to him. But all the assignment in our department I do it myself. I gave up in trying to solve the problem between the two of us. Reading this statement I thought to myself not to think about the situation as a problem that I can’t control but as a situation I want to change. Hence I had to sit and do a list of how I want this situation to change. What do I envision as a solution and how can I apply it. Also it made me refer back to a book I read sometime back “Nonviolent communication”. Instead of being mad and angry of the person. I feel more relieved and happy knowing I will achieve a solution and the situation will be changed for the better.

iii. To describe how you are solving a problem, and it was helpful to do so.

I have a tendency of retracing my steps verbally when working on something. Or doing it in a pictorial form when am not able to speak out loud. This is what made me be good in math during my school days. Since I will do the equation and later go back and visualize and explain the steps I took to arrive into the answer. Currently it helps me in doing my project proposals. This helps me take key note on minor errors that I would have missed when doing the proposal. It also helps me to defend my idea without being confused of the intended outcome.

iv. The power of collaboration comes from inclusion not exclusion.

Sometime we tend to exclude people who are directly affected with some problems. Thinking that in order to achieve the intended result it will be better to have them out of the picture. The statement made me realize that it is important to have everyone who is affected in a situation be included in trying to create a solution for the problem.

v. Collaboration is not measured by how quickly you can solve problems but by how quickly you can implement the solutions.

The hardest thing for any group is not to develop the idea but to implement the idea. This is when interest verses commitment raises. Issues of competition too. This is no different to solving a problem and implementing the solution attained by the team. The author also cites this as a challenging factor in any collaboration. To try and implement the solution. He also site the success of the process is when this group can achieve the solution and implement the solution.

vi. Collaborative organization will be value driven in that it will be based on the core value of respect of human dignity.

This statement took my attention since I think the value of respect of human dignity should also be inscribed to all individuals. TO respect one another at our own capacity. This will be a solution to almost all relationship conflict we have. It will also make people work in harmony.

vii. Each phase of problem solving in itself, it’s a problem to be solved.

This made me realize in order to solve a problem I should learn to go through the process phase by phase and address one challenge after another. With this attitude I will be able to make progress and learn in the process. It will also enable me to remain motivated and encouraged in doing the process.

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

The ideas in the book helped me to learn how to collaborate with people to achieve different tasks and goals. The idea will also enable me work towards building consensus and working with people to achieve different result at organizational level and community level. Considering I am working at a National NGO I was able to see how we can apply the lessons in this book in our day to day engagement with the community, government and other stakeholders. When bringing them together to reach consensus regarding different issues.

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

“Facilitative Leadership”

In my line of work I do facilitate a lot of meeting at different capacity. Sometimes as a trainer who impacts a specific skill. At times I play the role of enabling participants develop a work plan. From this chapter I was able to learn key lessons and principals that can help me become effective in facilitating a meeting and how to switch into different roles when am required to. It also helped me learn different and common mistakes I personally make during facilitating a workshop. This also encouraged me to learn more on becoming better in facilitating a meeting.

“Process mapping”

I learned the importance of doing process mapping both in a meeting and on my personal life. I realized by having a process map it helps me know where I am in the process and how much is done and what is to be done later. IT also made me be able in planning my work and how my work should be following after each other.

“The three dimension of success (Result, Relationship, Process)”

This statement enable me to release the two key important thing that enable one achieve the result. That is Relationship and process. This two leads to the result we want to achieve and the result can be quantified as a success or a failure if one was able to master and learn in the process; and also if one has establish good relationship or networks that enabled them achieve the intended result. Most of the times in life though we tend to forgo some of the process and think we will be successful. We will be successful but the success is always short lived.

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

No.

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

The book did not contain exercises but had practical principals that one could apply. For example the principal of process mapping. I did find this principal helpful and it really enabled me organize my work and track what level I am in regards to a specific process in my work,

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

None.

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

A. How interesting was it to read?                        5
B. How helpful were the contents?                       8
C. How easy was it to understand?                        7
D. Would you recommend it to others?                  6
E. What is the overall rating you would give it?     6

My Experiments with Truth: An Autobiography

Assessment by Vivian Muciri (Kenya)

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

The main idea the author is talking about is his life experience. The lesson he learned throughout life, the principals he uphold, the daily challenges and changes he had to go through. The author in his story described the challenges he was facing on a day to day basis. With emphasize on what we perceive important as human being and the effect that cost us when we value one and reject the other. For example the battle with morality what we know we are supposed to do. Why is it difficult to do what we are supposed to do and the impact of not doing what we perceive to be morally right. The aspect of rewards and punishment, guilt and all other emotions entangled with morality. He speaks about spirituality and clearly make us understand that we are all spiritual beings and we long to connect with a supernatural being despite our spiritual belief and background. There is always a reason as to why we ascribe to specific religion and disregard other. He also touches on relationship the value trials and challenges in all level of relation and its importance. In general the author conveys and focus on our entire being and key areas that are important to once life. He does not portray himself as perfect but a human and upholds humanity. The general key idea the author was trying to bring out is the importance of the entire sphere of life from birth to death. He touches on Spirituality, Relationship (family, friendship, acquaintances among others), Education, Career and Work, Philanthropy and Morality.

i. For I have learned to carry out the orders of the elders not to scan their actions.

This statement was so profound for me. It actually got me thinking and smiling at how most of our parents used to have a checklist of what we should never do but they ended up doing the total opposite. For example my dad used to have this tendency of telling us not to do this or that but he was doing it. When we challenged his opinion and his action he would say, “Wait until you are grown and can be able to take responsibility of the consequences. For now do not do it for there is always consequences.” As a child I felt that my parents were just mean and all fun things are left for grown up so I was personally eager to grow up so that I can have the entitlement of the presumed freedom. Now that I have grown my view is different and I have learnt a lot for example my parents were not being mean but hoped for me to have the best and much better than they did. There was a blessing tied in obeying my parent and honoring them. Also life is much easier when you obey your elders and people in authority. The lesson learnt is you do not have to agree with their action but honor and obey them as your elders.

ii. I am still paying the penalty of another neglect.

This statement was profound to me because the author was recollecting the consequences of neglecting simple things that did not seem of any importance then. The author recounts the effect and consequences of neglecting this actions. We have all lived with the consequences for neglecting something that we should have done. I used to have a tendency of procrastinating in my work and would do them at the last minute. This made me trans night for several nights or taking excessive coffee to keep me at par. It happened once when I did this and stayed for 48 hours straight with no sleep since I had to a general cleaning and supervise the servicing of some computers at my uncles cyber café. He had given me two weeks to do the work and get help but I thought that there was too much time. Until when he called me to ask how the going was and to inform me he is coming back in two days’ time. This got me sick for about a week and had a long lecture from the doctors and my parents for wasting money on unnecessary treatment.

iii. God Bless you.

Every time we say it to someone else and mean it. It a sign of gratitude and appreciating someone else action and a source of encouragement. The author has used the word in a couple of lines in the book. There is this statement that what we do not appreciate depreciate. Hence sometimes it’s key to appreciate the people in our life once in a while and tell them we appreciate it. He also spoke of his feelings when he had the word and how encouraged he was. Having the aspect of gratitude make people enjoy doing more for you. No matter how little they do for you we need to appreciate them.

iv. As I kept a strict watch over my way of living,

From this story and the rest of the chapter it showed how successful the author was when he was living in a foreign country. He recollect the challenges he was having when he got there and how his expectation was shattered. He also spoke about other people and the way they were living that motivated him to watch his way of living. I had the same challenge when I relocated to South Sudan. The country was new for me and also there was a lot for me to learn in understanding the market. For the first few months I wasted a lot of money and exhausted my saving and up keep money. This forced me to have to plan my spending and cut on some of my unnecessary expenses.

v. Minor Expenses at times absorbed large accounts.

This statement was so profound to me because it really clearly state the importance of controlling how we spend our money. The little expenses that we over look or the financial habits we might develop over the years can cost us in the long run. The statement made me realize that there is need and importance of budgeting and tracking all expenses and be frugal when it comes to spending. I also learnt that there is need to manage the tiny expenses like phone credit, little snack or luxury, for they affect our finances in the long run.

vi. The companion was very clever and, I thought, faithful to me. But in this I was deceived.

Sometimes before we get people into our inner circle and consider them our friends or trust them completely we need to evaluate the kind of person they are. We might think people have our back but they deceive us. There is need to get to know people before putting your trust in them. The author trusted and had faith in someone who later deceived him and got them in so much pain and trouble. This has happened to me a couple of times where I trusted someone and they deceived me more than once and got me in more trouble than I was in before. Even though I cut ties with her it was too late.

vii. But the path of self-purification is hard and step.

This statement made me realize that when it comes to our spirituality and purpose in our life there is need of having complete trust and faith in God. This made me realize that we only need to trust in God to help us live a pure and self-fulfilling life. We can never do it on our own. How many time do we try to be pure try to change our habits? The truth is it is achievable but it will take time, hard work and God’s help.

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

The lessons and ideas cited by the author as he narrated his life experience was very helpful. It made me learn the importance of seeking a balance when it comes to spirituality, education, relationship, family, career, and work among other things. One of the key important lesson I picked up was the importance of Religion and having a relationship with God. I also learned the importance of staying focus and seeking growth in all areas of my life. One cannot live a fulfilled life by focusing one area. We need to have a balanced life and work in making it better. There was also need for valuing humanity and being treating other people well. There is also need of value relationships with people who cross path in our life. The biggest lesson I picked is that in life there is no reset button that you can go back and start all over again. Hence I should live life each day as if it’s my last and make the most out of it. This will help me grow and value all things.

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

“The condition of a Successful Strike.”

The principals and the conditions shared there is very important. Not only in conducting a successful strike but in achieving success. For example never to accept alms. With receiving Alms or hand outs make us lazy. Also by receiving hands out we never grow financially but give our power to someone else to control us. Hence it is important to ensure that we value hard work and work towards achieving every goal and appreciate our efforts.

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?

None.

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

None.

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

I did like reading the book but it felt like am reading a school text book because of the size. This made the book to be less enjoyable and took me much longer when it comes to reading it.

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

A. How interesting was it to read?                          6
B. How helpful were the contents?                         8
C. How easy was it to understand?                       9
D. Would you recommend it to others?                  8
E. What is the overall rating you would give it?    8

Demystifying Grant Seeking
Assessment by Vivian Muciri (Kenya)

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

The author of the book demystifying grant seeking writes about techniques that can be useful in developing project cycle. He talks about preparation process for developing the project proposal. Setting up a grant office and looking for funding. The author also touches on the norms and myth on grant seeking that serves as limitation for most organization to be able to mobilize resource and funding for conducting any project. The book has key resource that one can use when developing project ideas, proposal, fund raising for the proposal, implementation and reporting. The author also touches on the preparation for donor meeting.

i. It makes sense to see a grant as a fair deal between colleagues who’s interests are similar but whose resource are different.

Working in an organization we are tasked with fundraising a lot. Especially being in the program department hence this statement was like turning on a light bulb to me. Considering as an organization we used to position ourselves as the inferior and the donor as the superior. Hence wanting to work had to impress them with our proposal and our activities. This made us to be over ambitious and as an organization we were seeking grant and not partnership hence we applied for any call of proposal even if it did not meet our strategic direction and interest as an organization. This statement made me realize that its very important for one to focus on what is in line with their interest. That there is need for one to look for donors and grants application that is in line with the organization interest hence reducing the amount of time and workload.

ii. Your local papers are also valuable for keeping you up-to-date.

I am not a fun of listening to news let alone reading the newspaper. Most of the time when I pick up the paper I will go straight to the comic page and am done. Working as a program officer I would get information from other people who attend cluster meeting or by scanning through different organization website. With this attitude it took me longer to develop project ideas and get fact for my proposals. Considering when I want to write a proposal is when I will start researching for the issues to address and the data available. The statement challenged me not only to read the newspaper but to atleast develop the habit of watching or listening to the news atleast once a day and take a few minutes to read through the local newspaper just to be at per with what is happening.

iii. People in theatre say Success is 90% casting.

I understood this statement and applied it in two different scenario. The first I believed the author was talking about the team and the people who you are working with in developing the project idea and the donor who you are targeting. The second way for me understanding the statement was on the process and cycle of developing a project idea and proposal that you want to send out for funding. A good proposal is determined by the effort of the team in developing the proposal and the proposal of idea generation and conceptualization of the idea into paper.

iv. The funder made the form for a reason.

Most of the time we tend to discard the form that the funder prepared. We assume that the form is too complicated or limiting what we can write. Sometime we become rigid in using the budget template because we are used of working with a certain type of template and theirs is not meeting the norm we are used to. This statement is a constant reminder that every funder has a template for a specific reason and its upon us the grant seeker to use and meet the criteria of the template they have stipulated and the guideline. It also posed as a challenge for me to ensure that before I embark on writing any proposal I will need to read through the guideline carefully and stick to the template provided by the donor.

v. Strike a balance between statistic and anecdotes, between big ideas and program specific.

Sometimes as I embark on developing a proposal or concept I tend to be carried away in my writing I feel like everything is important and should be included in the concept or proposals. Especially when focus on the current evidence on why the project is needed. So the statement is a good reminder on how we should embark on writing the proposals and what should be our major focus. What we want to stand out and capture the attention of the donor and yet convey clearly what we intend to do and the result we want to achieve by the end of the proposal.

vi. You do not contact grant makers without thoughtful questions, information and invitation.

The statement reminded me that we need to always strategies before requesting a meeting with any donor. We should not get over excited or carried away with the leads we get or the donors we have met in some informal gathering. Before planning to contact them we need to sit down and think through what it is we want to tell them. What we want to learn from them and areas we think are potential partnership for us with the donor. This will help us not end up wasting time for the donor or looking disorganized. It was a great tip and reminder to always be prepared for every meeting no matter how small it may seem.

vii. The impression is based on the myth that your power as a writer are the sole reason grants are won or lost.

This statement helped me realize that achieving grant is not dependant on only my ability to write a proposal but there are other factors beyond the skill I might have in developing the proposal. With this realization I learnt that I should not take every rejection of a proposal that I might have developed personally but try and find out why my proposal was not accepted and learn from the recommendation so that I can be able to submit a better proposal next time. Its also an eye opener for the team I work with and hence they need to stop blaming the program team for not receiving the funding that is set out in a call for proposal if we missed the chance but encourage the team to work harder and take part in the entire grant seeking cycle.

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

The ideas from the books were so profound and helpful in my line of work. Applying the lessons learnt from the book will help me be able to improve on the quality of proposals that I develop and also the relationship I develop with donors. This will help me and the team I work with in grant seeking and improving the quality of the grant seeking process. Hence increasing the funding we receive in our office and help us in becoming better in serving the communities we work with. Mitigating the challenges faced by this communities will help create dignified life and restore hope for the afflicted communities that we are working with.

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

“The chapter of Resource: Hand on forms for grant seekers.”

This chapter had all the resource available to me that I can use in the grant seeking process. Having this resource available to me that I can use throughout the grant seeking cycle was amazing and it made my work easier.

“Your attitude is expressed by the respect that you show people you work with both inside and outside your organization.”

This is a constant reminder that in order to work in harmony and enjoy your work environment there is need of treat other people with respect and dignity. We should be a source of strife or discord in the office neither should we disrespect other people. This is a constant reminder to be humane and to work with everyone with love and respect.

“Grant makers expect you to bring your top priority need to them.”

This is a constant reminder that whatever we set to do as a team and an officer before going ahead to developing an idea on it. We need to evaluate and see if it’s the top priority for the organization and the community. For if it’s the top priority we are going to invest a lot in it and dedicate our effort and time in ensuring that the process is a success.

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

No.

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

Yes! The book contained exercises and step by step guide on grant seeking and proposal writing. I did the exercises and they were very helpful especially in my line of work and I really enjoyed doing the exercises. Also the exercises were things that can be easily adopted and applied in my line of work on a day to day basis.

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

No.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is 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?              10
D. Would you recommend it to others?        10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it?   10

You Just Don’t Understand

Assessment by Vivian Muciri (Kenya)

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

The main idea the author is trying to convey is how men and women communicate or conduct themselves. She talks about how men and women interact and the background behind what makes them interact the way they do. For example the author talks about men mostly position themselves in way of status and always their communication is designed in that line on who is on top of the hierarchy. She also stated that women way of communication is different they seek connection and understanding from their communication. She also goes further to explain why men focus on issues and not details but for women they focus on details and try to get as much as they can from every conversation they are in.

i. Women in conversation are not inclined to display their knowledge because it doesn’t get them what they want.

This statement got my attention and got me laughing at the same time. How sometimes I sit through a meeting and not contribute but feel like I had an idea that’s much better. Or how sometimes

ii. Many things conspire to separate people from their single friend if they find a stable relationship.

Most of the time we tend to get mad once our friends cut us off or spend less time with us. Once we get a stable relationship a lot of time is invested in regards to build up this relationship. This statement made me realize that once our friends get into stable relationships we will not have that much time to spend with them. So instead of being upset about it there is need to be happy for them and just get used to have much time to yourself.

iii. The more people you are in a conversation the less well you know them.

This statement made me realize that we should not judge people from the basis of a group conversation if we want to know someone we need to have one on one time with them. Most of the time we get carried away with how people act in a group setting and judge them on the basis of that but when we have an opportunity to interact with them we get surprised on how sweet they are.

iv. For everyone home is a place to be off stage.

I like being home because it’s a place where I feel like I can be me. I can shout goofy around and not worry about being judged or criticized. Working in a foreign country I always look forward for the holidays to have that opportunity to go home. To just play around and be with my family. This made me to strongly agree with this statement. That only at home is where you are confident to do what you want to do without the fear of being looked at differently or judged.

v. More men feel comfortable doing public speaking, while more women feel comfortable doing private speaking.

I used to argue that men speak more than women. I would also challenge my colleagues at work telling them they speak a lot. Mostly point out how they dominate conversation for office meeting or when we are discussing projects. But I never understood the difference until I got to read this statement, for me it was an argument of conviction and defense for the women out there who are told they talk to much. Reading through the statement I came to realize that we both speak a lot but the setting is what matters.

vi. Many men get a pleasure of fixing things because it gives them a sense of being in control.

This statement made me understand why men always have the urge to fix things and why some behave the way they do. It also gave me an important insight on how to handle the men I interact with and work with. So that I do not look offensive or trying to outdo them.

vii. Conversation between women and men is cross-cultural communication.

Growing up I spent more time with men than women. This is because most of the time I was with my dad and most kids my age then in the place we lived in were boys. Being in such an environment when I went to boarding school that was all female. I got bored with the conversations that girls had. I used to feel like the details were too much. Most girls felt I was a snob and didn’t like hanging out. One of the first girl best friend I had used to say, “I love the one liner conversation;” that to get something out of me you had to force it out. I used to feel like something is wrong with me. I would love to have girls as my friends but most of them felt I don’t care enough yet with boys it was easy natural and no sentiments attached. Going through this statement it was an affirmation that there is nothing wrong with me and hence the exposure and the relationship I had with boys made me to communicate like that. The statement also got me laughing and made me stop trying harder to make girls be my friend or try to fit in.

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 content of this book was amazing it made me learn on how to handle people better in conversations. It also made me realize the importance of my response in any conversation and how the recipient of my response may interpret the message I convey. With this in mind the book will help me communicate much better with the people I interact with on a day to day basis. Most of all from the book I learned not to judge peoples’ response or gauge people from the conversations we had. But to understand their point of view and their need within the conversation and the message they are trying to convey. This has made me for the first few days not to urge to prove a point or work myself up trying to fit in on any conversation.

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.

“You just don’t understand! Women and men in conversation.”

The title of the book itself got my attention, and demystify my beliefs in regards to women and men conversation. This is because when I started reading the book my expectation was that the book is going to criticize what men and women do wrong when trying to communicate and/or giving tips on how to communicate right. But reading through the book it made me learn a lot on why women communicate the way they do and what is the need behind their communication. For example the author state that women seek relations in their conversation and connection among themselves, but for men it’s a point of superiority and who is on top. It also made me realize sometimes we might miss out a good relationship if we choose not to understand each others’ background and strife to prove a point. Hence from the book I learned that the biggest outcome of within the conversation is to be right and loss the relationship, or to retain the relationship and loss of the debate.

“As a result both women and men complain about being interrupted by each other the behavior they are complaining about are different.”

This statement and other statement throughout the book made me realize that. When women and men complain in any conversation their point of view is different. So we should not generalize their complaints but try to read in between the line. As the saying goes ones point of view is always determined by their view point, hence it’s important to analysis the complaint and work towards an amicable solution that writing someone off because they do not hold the same point of view as you.

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

No.

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

No.

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

No.

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

A. How interesting was it to read?           7
B. How helpful were the contents?            8
C. How easy was it to understand?           10
D. Would you recommend it to others?                6
E. What is the overall rating you would give it?    8

The Starfish and the Spider

Assessment by Vivian Muciri (Kenya)

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

The main idea the author is trying to convey is about how to conduct a sustainable organization or business. He speaks of different way of managing an organization. They also talk on effective ways of managing an organization with guarantee of result and sustainability. Their main focus is on comparing a centralized and decentralized organization. He state the effectiveness and timely response of a centralized organization is limited due to the bureaucracy of decision making. Also the author compares how the systems work and how the response is limited to one person this also makes the person in leadership to have a lot of work load. A centralized system also leads to competition for the team working and increase internal politics. Whereas a decentralized system allows creativity, timely and effective response and also its customer oriented. Also the sustainability of the organization is high than a centralized. We see the author also comparing and giving example of different institution and organization with their sustainability mechanism.

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

Open Systems can easily mutate.

The author states that if one has an open system its easy for it to be duplicated and a new one formed than a closed system or a centralized system. This is because of reduced bureaucracy and having to wait for one person to make decision. By having this process easy one can understand the system and run with the vision making the growth of the company faster than expected and also having its growth timely. This is also prove of reduced co-dependency of the company on one person or management structure so if the person is not available then there is nothing that can move until the place is filled again.

The decentralized organization sneaks on you.

The growth of a decentralized organization grows first. This is because of the independence of the individuals to step up and make timely response. Also on the down side if one is not too much watchful they might be caught by events and are left hanging or overwhelmed with the growth. With this in mind I personally think that it’s a good idea to run a decentralized organization but have an end picture and how to catch up with the growth.

iii. People don’t notice or care whether they are dealing with a spider or starfish… as long as they are given freedom, as long as they can do what they want to do they are happy.

This statement was so profound for me and made me changed the way we work. Sometime we are really caught up on trying to sell our title in a company rather than the need of the customer. Thinking if we tell the customer our position in the organization they will feel more relaxed and valued. But from reading the book I came to the realization that most of the time the people are just interested in the service we offer and how well we treat them.

When you give people freedom you get the job done but you also get incredible creativity.

Working with people its great to give them room to work freely. This will give them an opportunity to become creative and concentrate on what they are doing rather than who is watching them. This is because when you are on someone back all the time they try to act in a certain way to meet the standard they think you want. This statement helped realize that its better to work under low supervision that contestant supervision. I personally function much better under low supervision and when someone is bugging me all the time for some work to be done and keeps following me. I will delay the assignment and work away from the person and deliver the assignment. I feel freer working when am alone in the office and hence I do my work mostly at night. I also think when you are free to work on something you become more creative and experimental hence delivering your best work.

Ideology is the glue that holds together a decentralized organization.

Working with a decentralized organization for people to stay motivated and committed there must be an idea that they buy into. People get motivated to join a course or work with someone if they know the end game. It takes people to buy in ones idea to commit in seeing the project grow. Hence for one to establish themselves in anything they need to buy into the ideology of the organization. This is the reason that one will sacrifice their time and effort to ensure the growth of one institution or get committed to something

When attacking centralized organization they tend to become more centralized.

This is the same thing that happens to even our personal lives. Once we meet a critic we tend to become more on guard and try to avoid the challenge instead of figuring how to move one and enhance ourselves to be better. We go with the same mentality at work whereby if the traditional way of operation or the person in top leadership gets criticized he tend to load it on the team. Instead of realizing why this happen and trying to address the issues. Sometimes being in leadership position we tend to confuse the position we hold and ourselves and cloud our judgment and even the attack on the position tends to make us feel like we are the ones under attack.

vii. Is this wave of the future:

Despite the statement giving us food for thought on the centralized and decentralized system of governance for any organization. It also reminded me to always analysis the situation am in and work towards the future. Always planning a head and not just to meet the specific need of the time. Also there is need to always be prepared and always think ahead so that you are not caught by surprise be it in your personal life or future plans.

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 did find the idea of the books pretty much helpful. But I also felt that more of the ideas are best suited in learning an online business or network market. This is because if you focus on decentralized system you loss a few of your control and hence managing people becomes had and hence sometimes you can manage what is happening. Apart from that some of the lessons that were helpful for me and can be well applied in my day to day life are those of a catalyst which teaches you how to deal and interact with people. These principles are fundamental in our day to day interaction with people and when working with people they are the key element that one needs. Also the difference between a CEO and a catalyst points out the characteristics that are very important for a leader. So that they can have good relationship with the people they are leading and also enable them have a safe and open environment to work and deliver. Having this quality incorporated in my day to day life will make my life and interaction with people easier.

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?

“For a starfish it needs to have five legs.” (1. Circle, 2. Catalyst, 3. Ideology. 4. Pre-existing network and 5. Champion).

This statement was important for me because I was able to learn the characteristics of a successful organization and how they position themselves for success. Also the systems make me realized that pounding a lot of money in a business is not a guarantee of success but working towards building a network and having your team and colleagues build themselves up is the key to success. The legs also explain the key potential of a decentralized organization over a centralized and how they operate.

“If you cant beat ‘em join them.”

This statement got me thinking of ways companies are changing and transforming themselves towards meeting the market competition. How centralized organization are trying to be more and more decentralized. How CEO and manages are trying to be in touch with the employees and giving them more decision making powers and increased responsibility. The have contact with the customers and are involved from the inception stage to the production and selling face. This also proves that there is need for the organizations to work extra hard and become more decentralized to remain sustainable in this changing environment.

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?

None,

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

The book did not contain exercises to be done by the reader but focused so much on case studies and comparisons of how the principals in the book were applied by other organization and institution. This gives one a food of thought on the principal and how the principal can fit perfectly in the organization that one is in and how to make it work. While reading the book the success of each organization tends to justify how the principal work. I did find some of the principals helpful and viable to apply in my day to day work but other principals did not fit well with the nature of work and my current position in the organization I work for.

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

None.

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

A.  How interesting was it to read?                            7
B.  How helpful were the contents?                           5
C.  How easy was it to understand?                          10
D. Would you recommend it to others?                    5
E.  What is the overall rating you would give it?         8

The Great Game of Business

Assessment by Vivian Muciri (Kenya)

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

The author focuses mostly on how to effectively manage a business to ensure that it runs successful. He mentioned different principals that enable one to manage an effective business. The author also site on different experience from other successful businesses. The author speaks on the effective ways of running a business and how to ensure that there is sustainability in one’s business. The author sited issues that are keys in ensuring that you sustain your business and work well with your employees as a team.

Everybody can take pleasure in their work.

This statement made me realize that enjoying once work is a choice. That choice is not tied into the circumstances that one is in, the amount of salary that one gets, the people you work with. But this boils up to you making the decision to take pleasure in what you are doing. I think by learning to do that you get to enjoy your assignment and working environment.

As you learn you grow, you get more out of life and you have fun.

Learning is associated with boredom, fatigue and institution. Most of the time we forget that learning is a process and a journey in our day to day life. Throughout life we have opportunities to learn, unlearn and relearn new things, based on our experience and also the materials and resource that are out there. I tend to agree with this statement because I have witnessed growth in my career. Despite having the academic background within my career I have been able to learn and grow so first within my organization. To the point of joining the management team.

iii. Pride is all about caring.

It is the sense of pleasure or satisfaction you take in what you do, or what you have. Here the author associate pride with contentment. Where he says pride is about caring. That is if you take pride in what you are doing you care about the outcome of the project or assignment and do it within the best of your ability. This will also give you pleasure in learning how best you can deliver the assignment. By caring about the assignment it leads to contentment and taking pleasure in what one does, or have. Being able to appreciate the position that you are in and work towards getting to the position that you want to be.

The big picture made us more flexible as a company.

The author talks about how having a vision made the company moves. I tend to agree with this statement because when you have a vision it makes one’s life have meaning and purpose. Looking at my personal life I came to the realization that ones I set a goal or created a vision. I would stay focus and very flexible in my day to day activity so that I can be able to achieve the goal that I had intended for myself. This also gave my life meaning and a sense of direction as to what am doing and what I want to achieve as an end result.

Numbers are not a substitute for leadership.

What is important is how you use them. Here the author was talking on how a business can motivate their employees to become dedicated to the course of the organization by sharing the finances of the organization with them. I went to apply this statement into my personal life and regarding to my finances. I have been trying to set up financial goals and ending up not achieving them because of various factors. One of them being my family. For when my finances increases the needs within my family increases. This year I decided to change the tactics and involve them in my financial goals. By honestly informing them how much I am earning and sharing my goal and budget allocation. This has made them become more involved in the planning process and more focused in budgeting within the budget limit that I gave them for expenses.

Don’t pay the bonus unless it is earned.

The author speaks about motivating individual within the organization towards working hard to maximize the organization profits. One of the issues he speaks about is creation of bonuses and having the individuals work hard. This can also be applied in ones day to day life. You can create a system of rewarding yourself and appreciating yourself for achieving a goal that you have set. I tend to do that all the time celebrating my mileage and this helps me stay motivated and focused in achieving the next milestone in all that I do.

vii. You will need another six months to deeply embed the practice and stay true to the discipline.

Most of the time we tend to bit ourselves up when we fail in achieving something that we wanted to achieve. We tend to criticize ourselves and at some point create excuses or give up all together. Here the Author is informing us that it will take time to master any skill and becoming discipline despite the motivation at the initial stages.

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

The ideas from the book were so encouraging and not only focused on the side of business management. This is because some of the ideas were practical and can be applied to one’s day to day life. Also holding the management position of my organization am sure by applying some of the ideas can help the interaction between me and the rest of the team to run more smoothly.

The authors ideas also encouraged me to stay focused and take leadership initiatives for my personal day to day life. Hence the leasons learned from the book will help me focus on taking charge of my life and become better with each passing day. The authors’ ideas also focus on demystifying the traditional knowledge that we know for management. This gives us an opportunity to learn more and become better on personnel relationship in different areas of our assignment.

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

“Change begins at the top. Most of the time we want things to change

and hope that our institution would change forgetting that for change to be realized. We as individuals need to change first and the management need to change so that those who follow us would change. Also within our personal life if things are to change then we need to change first from our mindset and attitude before the situation change for the better.”

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

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

The book did not contain any exercises but practical principals that one can apply within the different position of management that they have. This principals help maximize result from the organization. For example the principal of peer to peer support and encourage learning. It has enabled me witness my organization employing two people who were under the subordinate team into project management. This is because now the two took initiative and were interested in learning. With this bold step most of my colleagues are encouraged to learn and have taken initiative to perform when it comes to assignment. Also having some changes in how operations are running within my organization has been an outcome of the principal. For example we have introduced performance evaluation for each staff on a monthly basis, also the strengthening of the M&E department have been witnessed. The biggest success I can attest to due to the reading of various books and the entire IIGL experience I was able to be promoted to the Assistant program Manager within my organization. This is because of constantly applying the lessons from the various books I read from IIGL. Becoming innovative and taking up leadership position where needed. Most of all becoming an agent of change within my organization and to the people I interact with.

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

No.

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

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

Full Steam Ahead

Assessment by Vivian Muciri (Kenya)

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

The main idea that the authors are trying to convey in their book is creating a vision. Through the earlier chapters of the book we see the author struggling to identify the main purpose of existence of the company they work in. This enables them to come up with a vision that incorporate the entire team and motivate the team to work. The authors also try to show us that having a purpose of existence for a company and the entire company subscribing to that leads to not only growth within the company, it also enhances team work and engagement with each other. Leading to reduction of tension among the colleagues of the company and their customers. This also leads to increased productivity and benefit for the company. The authors also tell us the importance of having personal vision and a balance in once life.

Learn from the past, plan for the future, live in the present.

These words were so significant for me. This is because I used to let my past define me. I would beat myself up if I fail or hang on that one failure for a while not wanting to learn from it but to figure out why I fail. Always wondering what would have happened if I did it differently or start all over again. Most of the time I never use to do both. Hence having me stuck in the past wishing I can undo it. Hence the statement was a good reminder on where to put the priority in life and how to deal with the past the future and the present. It also encouraged me not to always look for the answers but pick to accept some situation can be left an answered and I need to move on.

Having purposes really does make a vision alive.

I come to realize this in a more practical way. Goal setting was a routine when I was doing level four of my IIGL course and also when I read goals. But it never sank into me and most of the goals I just did them for the sake of completing my assignment. Despite going through the process they were just fantasy that I thought cannot be achieved. But being in South Sudan and working it gave me a sense of direction and purpose. It forced me to revisit my goals and be more realistic to them. One thing that I was forced to do was to create a vision for my career and family. This drives me every day gives me opportunities that I myself could not comprehend. I used to want to travel and do site visit and this has fit well to my job. I get to travel a lot which is awesome. Every time I look at my vision board I fill excited to live another day. With a clear purpose in my life I also learnt that every morning the possibilities are endless.

iii. We need to be proactive not reactive.

This statement made me learn that I should not let my environment define me or my limitation. Neither should I sit and wait for my turn or for something drastic to happen so that I can do something about it. It also made me realize there is need to go to life doing what I want instead of waiting for chances. I can create them for myself and work towards achieving the goals and desires that I have

The power of a picture works when you focus on the end result and not the process of achieving it.

This is true because when we focus on the process most of the time we tend to see the limitation, setbacks and opportunities that will enable us achieve the ideal picture. But if we focus on the picture we have a set track despite the challenges that we might face. We create and work through the process the best way that we know. Also this enables us to stay on course no matter what. But focus on the process might make us change the course because of the limitations that we tend to be having or the challenges that we might face.

Purpose tells why, picture of the future tells where, value tells how.

I never realized the three components the way the author puts it. Neither did I think they are connected in anyway. Throughout life I wanted to be so many things when I grow up. I remember I wanted to be a doctor as a child in primary, in high school I wanted to be preacher or teacher, then after high school I wanted to be a web designer, later on motivational speaker, a coach, a mentor and the list was endless. I had lot of passion doing most of the things but got bored in between, or gave up because of life circumstances. I always had a good reason why most of the things did not happen. I was also keen in listening to people telling me what to do. Until the day I decided to discover for myself. It was not an easy process. I had to write what I really want this is because I liked my job but was not sure I loved it. So I started writing what I liked about the organization. Then searched deep on what I really value as a person and try to connect with the organization vision and core value. Ever since I did that I loved working here and things started falling into place. I feel am in the right career and am in the right place with my job. Also feel that am in the right country and am fulfilling my purpose for life.

Vision is knowing who you are, where you are going and what will guide you there.

This statement was so compelling for me and carried a lot of weight. Most of the time we tend to think of a vision as what we want to achieve period. But through this statement I came to realize that a vision is more than that and once you have such a vision it set once course. I also tend to think by having such a vision it helps you focus and gives you an identity hence nothing is going to stop you in the course. It also motivates you considering that the vision is in line with who you really are. Hence giving you an opportunity to discover yourself and work on becoming the better version of you.

vii. Vision without present is like holding your head in the cloud, holding on the present without a vision is like being stuck in the mud.

I think the present is the reality we are in and it helps us set great vision for the future. But living within the present is like being stuck and makes life meaningless because there is nothing that motivates you. I also think that the present also helps you to have a plan on moving on and becoming better. But a vision that is set without checking on your present situation tends to be a fantasy. I have had that experience. One of my craziest visions was to increase my income by 20 times within six month. By then I did not have an income but was from listening to a motivational speaker and was charged up. So I pick a figure multiplied by 20 and started working on that. The plan was to get a job that pays that amount. Without a college degree and little work experience it was impossible. I never achieved the goal then but three years down the line I achieved it. But I was forced to look into stock taking and had to work on getting a job then the started setting realistic goals from there.

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

The lessons within the book helped me gather fundamental principles that will enable me set a course for my own life. Through reading the book it made me review my personal goals and the goals I set for my family and see the set backs in them. It also enables me to review the goals I had in place and why I never achieved most of them. With doing the review I learnt the limitation I had created and hence with the book I will be able to make changes and improve on most of the things so that I can be able to achieve more in my life. Also the book made me realize that I can have a meaningful life and set the course of my life.

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

No.

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

No.

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

Yes! It contained guidelines that were to help one develop vision, value and purpose and this was very helpful. It enabled me to review my goals and come up with my personal value. Hence I did find them very important and helpful at a personal level.

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

No.

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

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

Natural Capitalism
Assessment by Vivian Muciri (Kenya)

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

The author in the book is talking about way that one can invest with special consideration of our environment. How human beings can develop business, maximize profit without destroying the planet that we live in. The author also gives practical example on the effect of not considering the plant the cost implication and the long term destruction that this has to the environment and to the human population in general. The main ideas and objectives of the author it to work with the community towards achieving an ecological sustainability. While still meeting the demand and supply of the commodities that the market needs, embrace technology that are not harmful to the environment and work towards securing the environment that we need.

i. In Nature nothing edible accumulates: all materials flow in loops that turn waste into food.

This statement focused on recycle and the authors further explain the impact of recycling and the usefulness of recycling of commodities. He speaks about how the materials or food items that we consider waste is consumed by either plant of animal and gets back to our body. The author also state that the technology company can also adopt this method and have all the machines, and other equipment developed in a way that it can be recycled and reused. Reducing the impact of this waste to the environment and work towards reducing environmental hazard.

ii. The action of both developing nation and developed nation are mutually supportive.

The statement got my attention because the author is trying to emphasize the importance of having both the developed nation and developing nation to work together. The author state that natural capitalism requires the effort of this two nations. I tend to think more issues around the world require the two nations to work together and complement each other. This is because the action of either nation affects the other since we do live in one planet and once we think like that we will be able to do what is good for the planet rather than compete on who is doing what and how to outdo the other person. Or bring restriction to one nation and not to the other.

iii. High efficiency means doing more with less

This is applicable to both business and personal life. Most of the time we tend to complain in life about what we do not have and tend to forget what we do have and hence reading this statement despite it being used in business term reminded me of what is important in life. This is what you have at hand, how you use what you have to make more for yourself. It also made me reflect in my personal life and how I went out of my way to decide not to focus on what am missing but work towards creating the ideal world for me. So this statement was a constant reminder for me that I can use what I have and do more and become better at what I do rather than complain on what I do not have.

iv. The GDP, only measures money spent, not valued received.

The author believed that the GDP does not measure growth and value of ones economy but the money spent. This applies to our real personal life. Most of the time we measure our life status or quality of life with our ability to either live in an expensive neighborhood, drive the latest car or go to vacation destinations that are too expensive, buy expensive electronics gadget. If you look keenly all this are factored by spending money that we do not have. They add no value to our lives but put us in a cycle of debt and loans. This statement made me have a different approach on how I spend the money that I have and how to view my personal life quality. One thing that the statement challenged me is to live within my means and be able to only spend on what I can afford and what I need at the time. Rather than go through a spending spree that will create a notion that I am successful or have more than enough.

v. Sometimes the best change in design are the simplest.

This statement was profound for me and also funny in some way. Looking at the simplicity of how things operate. The author states that at times we do not need to over think stuff but come up with innovative and simple ideas that can make profound change.

vi. This success is starting to be mirrored worldwide.

The statement emphasizes how ones action can create a positive impact and allow other people to mirror the action. It is also a reminder that we do not need to be selfish and work towards improving the things that we do and share our success and breakthrough with other people. This will enable solutions to be created first hand and gives us a platform that will allow use to learn from each other rather than inventing the wheal. Most of the time we tend to think that within our capacity and environment we cannot create an environment where change can be mirrored and people appreciate our effort. The statement was also a reflection for me in my personal life that I do have an ability to instigate change and create a platform where my action and ideas can be mirror and help other people.

vii. What if efficiency is not enough?

The author is trying to reflect on the conduct of petroleum companies and other companies on how they are trying to become efficient in the work they are doing. He highlights the challenges that are faced despite them trying to be efficient and the impact that they experience. We can also apply this in our day to day life. By reviewing our action and the impact when it comes to work careers and personal life. Most of the time I get caught up in being efficient in my work and producing the best but neglect some component of my life.

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

The idea from the book focused on having practical intervention on how to come up with sustainable business venture that will not destroy our planet and environment but helps us utilize the resource in them. Some of the examples in the book can be used at individual capacity to be able to contribute towards taking care of our environment and also building sustainability for the future generation. Some of the lesson learnt also can be applied in my day to day life. Also I felt there is need of creating discussion on issues of our environment and take active role in supporting initiatives that focus on safe guarding our environment.

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

“The topic that focused on wasting people.”

Here the author focuses on how employment rate has been dropping for years despite the economic growth. The impact of unemployment and deployment of people to the society. For example he stated that there has been increase establishment of jail cell and high rate of poverty. Also it was interesting for me to go through the topic because despite the author painting a gloomy picture for the population rate he also gives amicable solution that will enable the population to be able to reverse the situation.

“Protecting the climate for fun and profit.”

The author proves that the climate can be protected and people can make profit while doing it. We tend to think that by industrialization comes pollution and that is when business men can make profit. But the author offered solutions on how industrialization can be done and the business still make profit and how the process can be fun. This was an eye opener for me, because the notion was always going to Stone Age in order to save the planet but if we need to embrace technology there is need of destroying the environment. So this chapter was interesting and profound for me.

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?

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?

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.

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

A. How interesting was it to read?                              6
B. How helpful were the contents?                             7
C. How easy was it to understand?                        8
D. Would you recommend it to others?                       7
E. What is the overall rating you would give it?          6

Difficult Conversations – How to Discuss What Matters Most

Assessment by Vivian Muciri (Kenya)

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

The main idea the authors is trying to portray with their book is how to have any set of conversation without offending the other party. The main idea in the book is how to help us go through conversations in a win-win situation. With the aim of being able to discuss difficult issues without reading into the line and or offending others. I believe the main idea for the author is to pass tools that will enable the reader communicate more effectively.

i. A difficult conversation is anything you find hard to talk about

Sometimes we tend to classify difficult conversation on specific topics only. Having to read through the book and trying to classify different conversations I have been into. I also looked at the point in an argument and how to solve such a situation. I do find it hard to pick up an argument or confront people. This is because most of the time I look at the impact of the confrontation to the relationship. So the authors’ ideas in the book showed me how I can have such conversation without losing the relationship or feeling bad afterwards. This has ease the burden of carrying the weight around and pretending to be fine.

ii. Delivering a difficult message is like throwing a hand grenade

There is need to be sensitive in regards to how you deliver such messages without offending the person receiving the message or hurting someone else. The statement reminded me the need of being sensitive on the person who will receive the message, to always consider other people’s emotions. It also challenged me on how to be considerate and caring for others.

iii. Being accused of bad intention. We have a strong tendency to want to defend ourselves.

This reminds me on how most of the time we either want to defend ourselves when saying something. Or when we are accused by someone about something. This is so common with women at least most of the time. We become apologetic even where we are not supposed to be. For example I was nominated to represent my organization in a meeting and most of the time I found myself being defensive on why I was nominated. This is because I felt that I was nominated not out of merits but based on my gender. This made me fill like I am list qualified or just favored and made me always when talking of the subject I would have to defend why am there. Despite that reading this statement made me realize that I should not always jump on the defensive side. I learned that I can equally pass my view without being intimidated for my gender but focus on my merits and be truthful while minding other people feelings too.

iv. We usually assume that we must either accept or reject the other person’s story.

This story has been a relief for me and also a bit challenging to comprehend. This is because I grew up with the phrase that there are only two side of the story, what fact is and what is not. Whereby if two people tell one story in different versions one must only be right. So having to accept both stories was a bit difficult for me to agree. But the statement also reminded me that our point of view is always dependant on our view point and we might all be relatively right. It also reminded me that for us to be relatively right we always must try and accept the other person view point before ruling them out, and declaring that we are right and they are wrong.

v. It’s always best to put the bad news up front.

Finally someone who relates with my point of view. I tend to prefer someone telling me the bad news rather than string me along for a while with the guessing games, or even the good news. I tend to think that this allows someone to deal with the situation and move on. My family used to think that am being insensitive because I like spending my time alone. Having reading through the book it was a relief for me. The book also tells the importance of sharing news upfront and how to share them without being insensitive about the person receive it feelings. I also learned that we are not responsible of someone else feelings or reaction.

vi. Listening to them helps them listen to you.

Sometimes we want other people to listen to us yet we do not listen to them. This statement reminds me that there is need of listening to other people if we want them to listen to us. That we should be genuinely attentive to what the other person is telling us. This will also force them to want to listen to you and contribute to the conversation. Also by showing that we are attentive to the person’s conversation will prove that we are willing to reach consensus in the difficult conversations. Most of the time when we find ourselves in an argument the first reaction is to out talk each other. So that one can be right and the other one wrong. Applying this tactic does not solve the problem neither saves the relationship. But if we decided to genuinely listen to the other person they will also want to listen to you and hence a solution might be reached without hurting each other.

vii. Negotiate your way to curiosity.

I would relate this with the statement that says be genuinely interested on the other person story. Despite how boring they might be or we think they are. Sometime we tend to overrule someone or prejudge them thus not giving them the attention they deserve. If someone does this to us we tend to feel hurt hence we need to remind ourselves that when we do this to other people it hurts them. The author reminded me that I can decide to choose to be keen listening to someone else. The author tells us how we can revive our interest towards someone else’s explanation based on applying empathy on how they shall feel if we lose interest from what they are telling us.

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?

Considering we communicate with people from time to time. Also in the day to day conversation we administer different conversation. The book has been key for me because it reminded me on basic elements that will help me in administering such conversation. The book also reminds me on emotional intelligence when having conversation with other people and how to handle them. Having to apply the books lesson on my day to day life has made me to find it easier to get away from confrontational conversation without me feeling hurt or hurting the other person intentionally. I also came to realize that we can genuinely be interested in other people’s conversation by talking ourselves into having empathy. This has made me not to snob people but to be interested in them.

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

“Don’t just listen: Talk.”

Such comments in the book reminded me that the author was not being unrealistic or being super human. The author gives us tips and reminds us that if they not work there are actions we can take. This was search a relief for me because at some point I was wondering how some of the tips could be applied and when to apply them. It was also a constant reminder that our feelings matter too and makes us human. Hence there is need of not suppressing them.

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?

None.

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

No the book did not contain any exercises but it did have helpful tips that once applied can help one to administer difficult conversations. It was great to learn how to go through a conversation with the people without hurting people.

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

None.

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

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

Built to Last

Assessment by Vivian Muciri (Kenya)

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

The main ideas the authors are trying to convey in the book is how one can start an organization and have them grow for years. The authors based the principles of successful organization on a research done at the Stanford university. They did the research to try and understand what makes successful organization successful and have them exist for more years while others collapse after a short period of time. Focusing on the companies that have been around for decades. The authors focus on companies such as 3M among others which have existed for over a period of time. They also focus on companies that were start up and collapse and those that lasted for a short period of time and later died. This is a way that the authors have used to drawn the principles applied by the successful companies that outlived their founders. With this exercises what the key message that the authors are trying to convey is that once someone is determined and want to build an organization that will outlive them then it’s doable.

i. Vision

“All individual leaders, no matter how charismatic or visionary eventually dies.” The statement was a reminder that there is need of having a vision that will live beyond the founder and as a leader there is need of having room for other people to grow and carry on the vision. The statement also reminded us that we need to develop other people into leaders and be open to the ideas of others who are part of the company to enable us grow the vision.

ii. There is a fundamental flaw in merely pursuing a “common Characteristic” analysis.

This statement got to me because it reminded me that in order to have a concrete idea about something or defend an idea there is need of having bother the positive and negative of things. One need to ensure that both side are critically looked into. Focusing on one side does not bring out the actual outcome of the idea but the information will be biased. Hence there is need for looking on both side of the idea so that you can have a clear understanding on what works and what does not and why it did work or not. The statement also reminded me on my day to day assignment, where most of the time am tasked to review some projects. This reminded me I should focus on both side to see if the impact is actually met, what was a success and what failed.

iii. Twelve shattered myth

These myth were like a light bulb for me considering most of the time we tend to think in order to start an amazing company you need lots of money and a great idea. But reading through this myth I realized that these is not true and hence you just need to have an idea and believe in it. This myth clarified a lot of things for me and how to make things work in order to achieve this goal. Some of the myth were really crushed for me considering I used to think you really need them to be a success or to run a successful business for example visionary company are best place to work for everyone. With this clarified I learnt that there is need of having to start from scratch and focus on the vision rather than think of something great and wait until you have the most exciting idea for a company.

iv. The evidence Speaks

Working in an NGO this is a term that is familiar with us in the nature of our work. Where we need to focus too much on the evidence on the ground and how it works out. This topic reminded me the importance of having evidence based research and how you can use that to quantify the outcome of the activities. This chapter reminded me that there is need of having more evidence based research and reporting so that the idea have more weight and how this helps in transforming the idea and bringing it to life.

v. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties

The author here quotes Hitler and use him as an example as he led the people to conquer the war. This statement reminded me the need of constantly being active and focused on the assignment given to use. He also reminded me that there is need for focusing on the end result rather than focus on the challenges, the bulkiness of the assignment or the setbacks that are in place. The author reminded me the importance of focusing on my duties and having the assignment done in line with the contribution of the overall goal.

vi. Harvesting the fruit of our labours.

This statement was important to me and reminded me that there is need to enjoy the effort that I have made and the outcome of my hard work. The author reminded me that there is need of working hard and enjoying the need of having to enjoy the outcome of our work hard. I’m not a CEO. What can I do with this findings? This statement reminded me that some life lesson are not used to only apply for a company but can be crucial for our day to day life. This statement reminded me that the principles in the books can be used to be applied on my day to day life and help me in improving my work.

vii. Preserve the core/stimulate progress.

The author tries to remind us that progress is important in life and hence we need to preserve it. There is need of us to work hard and ensure that we are progressing in life. This is important because there is need for one to grow to find meaning and purpose to life. The author challenged me in regards to making progress in my own life. That I need to grow from day to day and work extra hard to become better each passing day.

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

The book had principles that can help me grow. Steps to take towards becoming successful or establishing a successful company. The book taught me the need to build myself and become better in order to transform the world we live in. The ideas also reminded me the need of having a vision and idea that is out there to help people. This book reminded me that in order to make meaning to the world there is need of being consistent in what one do and work in serving people.

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.

“You can have change or stability.”

The authors try to remind us that you can have both, it doesn’t have to be a case of neither/or. Most of the time we tend to think that in life we cannot have both. With this mentality we tend to be stuck in one place in life. Where we do not move and get afraid to start on change. Sometime we tend to be stuck with the fear of growth thinking if we make the change we might be forced to loss the stability we tend to have make. Read through this statement I was challenged to realize that we can change and have stability as we move towards any goal. The author reminded me that there is need of having to work hard in order to make progress and we should not fear making any change necessary in fear of losing the stability we once enjoyed.

“Again, the key word is authenticity.”

This statement reminded me the importance of the value of having to offer people something authentic.

“Having to deliver within ones capacity is key for any business and it enhance trust between the service provider and the company.”

This statement reminded me the need of constantly being authentic in everything I do and doing things to the best of my ability.

“We believe that continuity is immensely valuable. Continuity is very important to foster any skill or grow any business.” The author reminds us the importance of having the continuity of what we start, this enable us to master some skills and also bring consistency in the work we are assigned.

“The option of excellence, permitting the creation of something for all of us.”

This statement reminded me the need for being excellent in everything we are doing and having to always be creative and try new ideas. These was important to ensure that things need to continue to grow.

“We have a visionary company that strayed from its ideology.”

This statement reminds us that we should not be rigid but we need to learn more and open up to new ideas. That we need to build up on our ideas and be open for other people who are willing to make the idea grow.

“Greatness will need to relentlessly push themselves for self-stimulated change and improvement. The author reminds us that if we want to grow we need to push ourselves day in day out with one goal in life to improve ourselves. There is need for us to be open to change and to work hard to become better and better each day.”

This was an encouraging statement for me and reminded me the need to set goals and work towards self-improvement.

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

No.

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

No the book did not contain any assignment but exercises that can help in our day to day 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.

No.

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

A. How interesting was it to read? 7
B. How helpful were the contents? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 6
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 6

Mindset

Assessment by Vivian Muciri (Kenya)

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

The main idea the author is trying to portray is how our mindset plays a key role in our day to day life. How the way we perceive things are based on the perspective of our mindset. The author also informs us that the most important tool to live a life of growth and success is based on our mindset. One of the things that the author emphasis is that it takes more than talents and abilities to be able to achieve success in our life. The author state that there are two types of mindsets and how each mindset determines how we conduct our life. They two type of mindset the author talks about are the growth and fixed mindsets. She states that people with a growth mindset tend to achieve more in life and tend to be successful. This is because they do not dwell too much on the success or failure but the lesson they learnt and purpose to improve themselves. Through the growth mindset one tends to view themselves as individual and do not find fulfillment on the achievement they have hard. Leading them to be open to criticisms and also work on improving themselves each step of the way. Through the book we also learn that people with a fixed mindset are defined by their achievements. The author stated that people with a fixed mindset tend to be carried away with their success and do not work hard to improve. She also stated that this people do not take criticisms well, and this is crippling for them,

i. “So common is the belief that potential can be known right now.”

Sometimes we tend to judge our potential based on the achievements that has happen to us immediately. We tend to focus think because we had the achievement immediately our potential was realized at that point. Forgetting that it takes time to cultivate the potential or even realize that we do have the potential. This statement was a reminder that our potential is not defined by an incidence or a word we are told by someone, but that potential can be cultivated and improved with time. This statement made me realize that we should always work on improving ourselves. Also it reminded me that there is need of having to not brand ourselves

ii. “People with growth mindset know that it takes time for potential to flower.”

I learned that everyone has potential and for us to live into our full potential we need to realize that it take potential to flower. Hence the biggest lesson I pick from this statement is that I need to work on improving my potential and in order to become the best I can be. This was also a challenge for me because sometimes I would like things to happen instantly and would beat myself down if I do not do things based on what I think my ability to be. I realize that instead of being hard on myself I need to work towards improving on myself and purpose to constantly live to my potential.

iii. “If you make a mistake you got to make it right.”

In some aspect this statement is true but not in all areas of our life. Sometimes we need to realize that we have made a mistake and learn from the mistake and move on. This is because we might not have the ability to change the mistake or the resource in some cases. Leading to us hitting dead end and if we continue we might end up feeling disappointed and more and more frustrated. This also was a reminder for the constant need to forgive ourselves rather than beat ourselves for making the mistake for this will make us feel stuck.

iv. Everyone knows you have to show up to win.

The statement is a reminder that in order to achieve anything in life there is need for you to put your hands on it. We can’t have success if we do not participate in achieving that success. One of the most important lessons for me is that I need to not procrastinate but I need to do something. Instead of playing scenario on my head but focus on doing the things I need to do in order to have a success or learn a lesson.

v. “For no matter what your ability is, effort is what ignites that ability and turns it into an accomplishment.”

The statement was a reminder on the important of effort and how it plays in accomplishing any goal. One of the biggest challenge was to focus on what we need to accomplish something in our live.

vi. Remember effort isn’t quite everything and effort wasn’t created equally.

This statement was powerful for me because I had to learn it might take more effort for one to achieve something that the other person. This statement made me realize that I should always focus on competing with me and not envy others who might seem a head. It also reminded me that I need to put the necessary effort required in order to achieve what I want in life.

vii. In the growth mindset, you don’t always need confidence.

Most of the time we tend to think that we need to have confidence in order to do something. We tend to overlook doing some things because we do not have the confidence and the right skill. This is a reminder that we need to work on improving ourselves.

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

The lessons from the book and principals are there to help one grow. One of the lesson that has been key is to shift to a growth mindset and work towards improving on that.

“Failure is a painful experience, but it doesn’t define you.” This statement was powerful for me and decided to recite it to myself. One thing that was clear is that once you fail you need to pick yourself up. You can deal with the pain and give yourself time to heal but not make that as part of who you are. This is because by doing so this experience will cripple you from moving on with life. I have had a similar experience in life where I worked so hard to be successful in my academic assignment because I felt that grades will get me where I wanted to be in life. Also it felt good to be on top of my class. But when I was doing my O level I had a grade in mind that I wanted to achieve but did not manage to achieve the grade I wanted. This beat me down and for a while I felt like a failure and there is nothing I can do in my life. I had also contemplated repeating the class, but one of the teachers advised me not too. One thing is I resolved to working extra hard in everything I do and not focus too much on either succeeding or failing but on the lesson, principals and how I can improve myself.

“The best pilot flies more than the other, that is why they are the best.” What this statement basically implies is that we need to keep practicing in order to become the best person we can be. This statement was a reminder of the term that says practice makes perfect and in order to be good at something we need to keep practicing. The statement also reminded me on what my math teacher used to tell us. He used to tell us that repetition is the motto of learning. He used to tell us that in order to be good in math we need to repeat and keep practicing everything we have learned. Those who applied this in their math classes always scored the highest in math.

“You aren’t a failure until you start blaming.” I learned this the hard way in my life. Where I came to realize that I shift blame to my circumstances and other people. As I continue doing that the situation in my life never changed until I decided to take responsibility. The statement was a reminder that we need to learn to take responsibility on the things we need to do. Having to take responsibility implies that we look deep and learn what we need to learn. It also helps us to search deep within to be able to see the resources we have to be able to transform our situation.

“Even genius have to work hard for their achievements.” This statement was a reminder that because we are good at something does not mean that you don’t work at improving yourself. Most of the time I have been putting more efforts on my weakness and trying to improve on them but neglect my strength because I feel that I am capable in that area. And sometimes if I fail on what I am good at I tend to be baffled and start wondering why this happened. This statement reminded me that despite being good at something I also need to improve this.

“You have to work hardest for the things you love most.” This was a wakeup call for me because am not doing what I need do to meet my day to day needs but there is no fulfilment. The statement made me realize that in order to get the fulfillment I need, I should work hard in achieving It. More efforts should be put in order to achieve this and be able to grow.

“When stereotypes are evoked, they fill people’s mind with destructive thought.s” We all have people who tend to put you day every time you are doing something. This is because they either tried it and failed or know someone who failed. For some it might be because they feel intimidated if you achieve the goal you have set up to achieve. Some of the things I have learnt that help me deal with such situation are. To have a small circle of confidants who you can share your goals and they would encourage you and cheer you on. There is also the need of talking less and doing more. This enables you to move on and have less and less stereotypes comments from people. I have also decided to focus on what am doing and the goal and hence encourage myself and focus on the reward.

“Humility is a start, what about the management skills?” It takes more to hold a managerial position in any organization. So there is need of focus on improving our management skill and learn to treat other people with humility. We need to learn more on what is happening in every area of my life.

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

“One of the things that stood out for me while reading the book is that we are not defined by our achievements.”

For example once you fail in doing something you tend to brand myself as a failure; or when you have success you dwell on that success and forget to move on.

“Another thing that was very strongly articulated by the author is that there is a key need of focus on life with a growth mindset. We should not let the little achievements that we have as our identity.”

For example if you fail at something does necessarily brand you. This also was a major challenge because our education systems tend to brand us and have us identify with either being a failure or success. Our school grades also determine what our future holds and what career we will do. So with this perspective it means that there is need of reprogramming ourselves into a growth mindset. To we need to relearn some of the things imprinted in our minds since an early age where we are branded either a failure or a success and that’s how we go through life.

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

No.

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

No the book did not contain any assignment but exercises that can help in our day to day 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.

No.

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

A. How interesting was it to read? 6
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

Rookie Smarts

Assessment by Vivian Muciri (Kenya)

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

The main idea that the author is trying to compare two type of groups within employment, this are people with long term experience on a certain field and people who are just starting up in this field. By comparing these two groups the author is able to highlight both pros and cons of this two group and what value they add in an institution. The main ideas from the book is that both rookies (people starting up in a field with limited experience) and Veterans (people who have been in the field for a while and bring in some form of expertise). Have something they bring in any institution but the rookies have more advantages compared to the veterans and brings about more value compared to the veterans due to their willingness to learn, zeal to work among other reasons.

i. My value didn’t derive from having fresh ideas: It came from having no ideas at all.

This statement caught my attention, the author was trying to explain her values and how she came about having the values she is having currently. The reason it caught my attention is because most of the time we tend to derive value from what we do or the title branded to us based on our careers rather than who we are and what value we uphold and bring with or without the career or any other thing that describe our value or make us feel valuable. The reason why it stood out for me is because the biggest question I have been battling with is who I am, considering most of the time people tend to fit me in a career box and second guess what I did in college, at times this made me feel inadequate and inexperience in some cases due to lack of a title and the fact that I enjoy trying new things and conquering new activities. I am not a fan of monotony and hence been criticized for it and at times made to feel that am inadequate. So reading this statement got to me think about my value and why am I valuable. So reading this statement was a reminder that we should always have a strong base of identity and value hence having no room for someone to up you down.

ii. To know is to have power.

I have grown up with the statement knowledge is power, until I met someone who told me otherwise “knowledge is potential power.” So coming across this statement made me to stop and think and try to dissect what the author was trying to imply by this. This is because the statement for me did not resonate with her initial introduction and title of the book. But as I read further in the chapter the author main idea was that the more we know or gain knowledge on a specific field the more powerful we become in this area and are able to become veterans but also he stated that also as we continue knowing we also tend to limit ourselves in terms of growth and hence settle. Despite that the statement was a reminder to me that there is need to continue having the desire to learn and grow in a specific field and become better and better each day. Also as am pursuing the knowledge I should always have the rookie mindset and not a veteran’s mindset.

iii. I didn’t what a job I was qualified for there will be nothing to learn.

Most of my job experiences have been in field that I am not qualified for and hence by the time I leave that field I usually feel like an expert because of the amount of knowledge I have acquired during trying out the field. Reading through this statement I kept asking myself if I give an opportunity to work in the department I joined when I was clueless and now if it will be fulfilling. So reading through this statement I agreed with it because if you work in a department that you are not qualified in there is that desire to learn and become better and better in this field compared to working in a department that you are qualified for. This is because there is that tendency of relaxing and not experimenting with new ideas.

iv. Having the right questions, may be more important than having a ready answer.

At times we strive so hard to have the answer so that we look smart or outdo our peers, hence we do not have room to learn or be open to other people opinions. So this statement was a reminder that its ok to ask questions that will be helpful. For me in primary school there was that culture of when you ask a question in class you look stupid and the class would laugh at you. So most of the time you had to follow the teacher up after class and ask the questions you had in mind. Hence when I came across this statement it reminded me of my school days when most of the time I felt that asking the question would make me understand the subject better compared to reading through the text book to get an answer. So the statement was an affirmation that there is need to always ask questions and learn more rather than stick to the answer you think you know.

The critical skill of this century is not what you know in your head, but the ability to tap into what other people know. Most of the time we tend to prove that we are smart than others and what to outdo others, but not willing to create synergy to learn from other people. This statement affirmed to me the desire to learn and importance of having mentors who will help you grow each day. I was able to see the importance of learning from others. Considering that the career terrains are moving so fast and things are changing.

v. The critical skill of this century is not what you know in your head, but the ability to tap into what other people know.

Most of the time we tend to prove that we are smart than others and what to outdo others, but not willing to create synergy to learn from other people. This statement affirmed to me the desire to learn and importance of having mentors who will help you grow each day. I was able to see the importance of learning from others. Considering that the career terrains are moving so fast and things are changing.

vi The less you carry the more you can truly see what is transpiring around you.

The author implied that we need to be open in learning and not stick to what we know. This is because by doing so we shall have room to learn and be open to trying new ideas. This statement reminded me of how sometimes we tend to feed ourselves with information and get stuck to what we know. I came to learn that I excel more when trying a new field and also when working hard in getting a new assignment done than when am working on what I already know.

vii. The most dangerous place is to be at the top either at the top of your ladder or the top of your game.

This statement got me thinking of how we strife so had to be on top and prove ourselves.

Being on top is a good thing and makes one see far but I think the author was trying to say that once we get on top we tend to settle. This is because we feel that we have reached and hence nothing can take us down. We do not strife to move further and become better and better but we get stuck. This was a challenge for me that there is need to strife to learn and not loss the zeal of learning no matter where I am either on top or below. I need to continue to stay focus and build myself up as the days go by. I should work had each day and become better and better no matter what level I am.

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

The ideas in this book have made me realize the importance of continuous learning and trying out new things. This will help me grow and become better on my day to day assignment and enable me to be better in everything I do. This book was a challenge for me on how I view establishing the career and how to become better and embrace growth. With the lesson learnt from the book I will be able to improve on my day to day work and hence improve my assignment and touching lives for the people I need.

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

“Sometimes not knowing is more valuable than knowing.”

This quote resonated with me because I do enjoy working on ideas and field that I do not know. I always thrive in new ideas for me monotony becomes boring. I get the thrill of trying out something knew doing research and having to see things come together. SO when I read this statement I completely agreed with it and it was an affirmation of my desire to always learn and get new ideas in the field that I am experimenting.

What we learned yesterday may not be relevant today. I agreed with this statement because in a word of globalization and new invention coming up some of the ideas we grew up with tend to become irrelevant as time goes on. SO this statement is a constant reminder that we should be alert and not rigid so that we can be able to learn the trend. Work on improving ourselves and unlearning something that we learnt that was valuable at that point but might not be at this point.

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

No.

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

The book did not contain any exercises but had practical example and principals that I can be able to followed in improving my areas of assignment.

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

No.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and 1 is poor
A. How interesting was it to read? 8
B. How helpful was the content? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

Team Genius

Assessment by Vivian Muciri (Kenya)

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

The main idea that the authors are trying to portray is a big analysis about how to make a team perform better. The authors share practical examples that make a team function better. They also ask fundamental question about team performance. Ranging from the ideal size of a team and also the life cycle for a team. They also share insight and lesson that are useful when managing a team and how to ensure that the team stays motivated.

i. Metcalfe’s Law

It says that the value of a network is proportional to the square (or a similar multiple) of the number of users. The authors were trying to explain that each new addition adds to the web out of the usual proportion to its presence. Despite them referring to the internet error and how this line is applicable to this error it’s also practical on network marketing. Where the more people you introduce to the market the more your value increases within the market and hence your income increases. This statement also is a constant reminder on the importance of having to build a team and have the value of any business you are doing increase. The statement also challenged me and posed questions such as when did my business not grow. It also made me realize that the fundamental for any success is to have team that you are working with.

ii. Humans are actually wired to connect.

This explains the strong need of wanting to be part of something. It also highlights the constant desires for us to be around people and building relationship both work and social once. The author further explains that the need of connection among humans is embarking on an intimate brain to brain connection.

iii. Knowing their own preferences, weakness, and strengths and help understand how their own style can stifle creativity.

The authors of the book state the importance of the team to understand their operation style in order to be able to function together and also contribute effectively towards the success of a team. This is a reality to any organization including the one I work in. Considering I work in an NGO setup there is the constant need to learn from the organization style of operation and also contribution of each member in the design and implementation of different projects.

iv. Keep project goal front and center

This is important because it maintains focus among the team and momentum when working with a sense of direction. So having the goal in front and center it makes the team work towards meeting the goal. Even if they are working on an individual capacity. This also ensures that everyone knows what the team is working towards and they will design activities that will help meet this goal.

v. The integration and learning perspective.

This is one of the frames the author is talking about in regards to framing a team. The author feels this is important when wanting to frame diversity as mechanism to helping teams their capacity for adoptive change. Apart from what the author said I think it’s also important for the team because it will enhance peer learning that leads to the growth of the team performance and also their ability to respond effectively and timely when a need arises.

vi. The team is bounded.

The bonding of team members is crucial because it builds trust, help each member to understand one another personality, skills level among other things. These are very important things for a team to be able to perform and achieve high result. Because each person understands each other and hence they know how to handle each other and work effectively. By bonding this also informs the member who can do a specific task and hence they can distribute roles based on their strength and weakness. This has been key within my organization and has helped the organization in terms of performance and also in terms of understanding one another better.

vii. The team receives coaching from experts, peers and leaders.

Considering the change in the market place. There is a constant need for enhancing the team capacity to effectively response and adopt with the current changing context. This has been very key and has enhanced performance for the organization. This also make member motivate to stay within the organization. It also increases performance because their skills are enhanced and they are able to effectively do the assignment and deal with challenges. Doing this helps the team member to also be willing to share capacity needs area that they have.

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

The lessons in this book were very fundamental and will be very helpful in my daily life. Considering I head a department within my organization and have a team that am working with. Hence the insight from this book has taught me how to offer effective leadership and management role within the department am working with hence to ensure high performance and the team members remain motivated in conducting their role and duties within the organization. The book also gave practical examples and lessons that we need in order to be able to manage a team effectively and how to build a team. This will help in the sense that I will be able to keenly identify people and characteristic of what I need in a team I want to work with.

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

“The exponential force at work in today’s culture and economy rewards winners quickly and punish losers mercilessly.”

This statement is a constant reminder about our market place culture which shifts from growth and learning, to competition among colleagues. This reducing the potential of individuals within a team growing together but force them to compete with each other. So as to be successful and get rewarded and at times leading to individual sabotaging on another and hence leading to failure of the inter time or under performance within the team. Also the time we learn the most is during failure and hence I do not see it fit to punish losers but to use their loss as a fundamental basis of learning and perfecting the skill. Also in order to enhance performance we should not single out individuals but encourage the team to work together and each take responsibility for the team in both failure and success. I think this is what will make the team to stay motivated and instead of competing they will be complementing one another.

“Identify the need.”

Before forming a team you need to identify the need that the team will work towards meeting. This will ensure that once the team is formed they do have a sense of direction and hence their function will have improved and also they will direction oriented. Sometimes we tend to start by having an idea then a team. This kind of team functions and productivity seem low, this is because they are trying to figure things out. It also leads to increase time wastage.

“Manage transition.”

This is one of the major challenges for any team to know when it’s time to transition to either diversifying or end the team function is their objectives are met. Sometimes teams out leave their usefulness and do not want to transition and hence leading to a lot of confusion and also what is seen as under performance. So as a team leader you need to know when to transition and be willing to transition in the right direction.

“Take records.”

There is need of taking records because this will help in terms of evaluating the performance of the team and also other key issues such as weakness, strength, and success or failure. This will help them improve the performance of the team and also provide a platform to document lesson learnt. That might be useful in improving the performance of the organization.

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

No!

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

No it did not contain any exercises to be completed; but the book did contain practical examples and resources that one can apply on a day to day life. The book also had key principals to consider following and applying them in our daily 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.

No.

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

A. How interesting was it to read? 5
B. How helpful were the contents? 7
C. How easy was it to understand? 4
D. Would you recommend it to others? 8
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8

Becoming the Boss
Assessment by Vivian Muciri (Kenya)

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

The author of the book focuses on giving practical tips towards management and personal development. This are tips that the author has come up with from practical experience and also interviews she did with various groups of people. The author has compiled this tips with practical actions for imitation that allows one to develop leadership skills for management of institutions and just grow personally in any professional career. The book has also been key in helping one identify the major needs for professional success. This has been through the exercises the author has in the book that triggers one’s thinking towards developing skills that will get them grow. Most of the tips in this book range from management in institution, mastering social media etiquette just to mention a few.

i. Step out your viewing zone, your reading zone. It’s all fodder.

For me this was a reminder that at times it’s good to be adventurous and try something new rather than to stick to what we know. This is because it’s rejuvenating for one and also relaxing. Despite that by doing this you might discover more about yourself, get new ideas or even learn something different from what you already know. For me by trying something new and is not within the norm helps me relax and gives me the energy to continue when am feeling stuck.

ii. Take immediate action to fill the gap you identify.

Looking back in my personal life journey and career growth. I really identify with this statement and also the important of putting effort towards your career progress. Having to work on the progress towards improving one skill for any job. There is need of one to stop complaining and start working towards becoming better in all that they do.
Practice daily. I remember my school days my teachers used to tell us practice makes perfect. With passing of years I realized practice also create familiarity which at times brings the fear of one moving into something new, because we have settled. Despite that practicing daily makes one masters a skill. Personally I have seen improvement on myself when I take things seriously and practice on a daily basis. Despite that I always remind myself about trying something new and not only focusing on the same skill over and over.

iii. Leaders need visibility.

One of my biggest challenge is that am always a background person. I do enjoy getting things done but do not like the attention. I remember when a branding guy wanted to work with me and was pushing me towards getting visibility. He stated that this will make me known and also increase my chances of build a better career. So coming across this statement made me realize the importance of visibility in one’s career and how this can enable someone grow. The author also clearly explains the importance of visibility for leaders and how it create progress for them.

iv. As a leader you must be mindful because you are representing more people than just yourself.

Being a leader sometimes put too much pressure on someone but most importantly it’s a lifestyle that one needs to adjust too. The author had put this statement in the context of media and social media and our interactions with this. Personally I feel that it’s important to think through our image beyond the media because people are watching and interact with you based on how you carry yourself.

v. Choose your method, know your audience and becoming the master of meetings.

This statement is about niche and how to develop your own niche. This has been one of the things that I have been struggling with as I prepare on the registration of my social enterprise. So the book was really helpful in regards to understand how to package my message and also understanding who I am packaging it for. This chapter guided me into being able to do this and also developing effective listening skills.

vi. Succeeding as an individual contributor is not the same as succeeding as a manager.

This is one thing most employers tend to forget and most people who get promoted are those who succeed as individual contributors. We tend to miss the focus on what being a manager means and what it entails in terms of the quality one needs. This has led to institution/department failure, simply because the person did not have the skills that would have moved the enter team forward. For me this was a statement that made me feel great and also affirm the element of constantly being a team play and work hard even when am intimidated. The statement was also a great reminder for me that it takes more than just being a great contributor to manage a team and there is need of self-improvement in all areas.

vii. Bring Solution

I remember reading a book that said for you to be effective at work you need to be part of the solution and not problem. Going to work every morning implies solving someone else problem. This was a constant reminder that there is need of working to improve myself and be able to be relevant in solving the problem.

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

The book had a lot of principals that are needed towards becoming more effective as a leader. Some were daily habits that one needs to work on. For example maintaining a social media presence and how one interact with other people. The book also is more of a reference book that one can go back and pick principals that can help in learning and improving oneself. Some of the messages around branding are amazing towards self-development. The book is also a great tool for training and reference for other people, because it has questions that were very practical and can help one learn and prepare the processes of improving themselves and grow. Also some of the topics in the book are so essential for day to day improvement.

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

“Avoid using the Cliché.”

When the author was talking about avoiding the cliché it was under communication. This statement caught me off guard because most people think using the cliché words makes you look cool and within the trend. So the author citing this made me think this might make you look old fashion and not with the trend. Reading further in the book it made me realize that the author speaks about keeping the conversation simple and straight on point. This was a good reminder that at times it’s good to have the cliché in informal conversation and it’s not important to use it.

“Adaptability to rapid change.”

This statement was a remind for me that the world is changing and changing fast so there is need for me to be adoptable in order to catch up. The statement was a reminder that there is need of constantly focusing on improving myself and being at par with the market trend.

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

No!

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

The book did contain exercises that were very helpful. This exercises ranged from figuring out what level of career you are at, to personal branding, use of social media among others. It also had practical examples and tips that one can follow up and utilize on a day to day life. Some of the examples and principals in the books are helpful towards becoming someone better on a day to day basis and helpful towards improving one’s professional 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.

At the beginning of the book the author shared several business book and also names of authors and resources that one can get. This was so amazing because it builds a foundation on how to build up on what one has learnt form the book and helps one get other resources. It also create a larger platform for learning and growing.

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

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

The Millionaire Mind
Assessment by Vivian Muciri (Kenya)

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

The main idea that the author is working on trying to bring out from the book as per my perspective is the lifestyle that set the millionaires on a path towards success. The author shares statistic that he has gathered over the year about the operation and lifestyle of the millionaires and what set them apart. Also from numerous interviews that he has listed in the book. The author states various principals that most millionaires use to govern their life. He also give practical examples of what is necessary to get anyone to become a millionaire such as what is important when it comes to growing wealth. It’s a book that is worth every cent while reading through it because the author is more practical on what these millionaires that he was studying were doing to get where they are one. It also gives you insight and examples that are designed to help you grow and set you in a journey of becoming a millionaire.

i. Millionaires love their careers.

This is very essential because we can only do and give our best when we love what we do. Also having discovered our purpose forces us to work on what we are passionate about. The author made the statement upon a chapter where he was focus on the life of Mr. Warren. The author stated that Mr. Warren was able to perform at his best due to the love of his business. Most of the time in life this is an area we tend to negate and instead of focusing on doing what we love we tend to focus on doing what pays the bills. Having the security of income has become more important than working on what we love. This statement was a challenge and a reminder for me on the importance of developing ourselves into a career that we love. This is because once we do this we shall be able to enjoy what we do and hence don’t look at it as a means towards an end, hence giving us the leeway to grow in what we do, pursue to become better and better in the process.

ii. His fortress is his financial success.

According to Warren Buffet his financial success was his fortress because of the previous background he had. The author stated, “if Mr. Warren had another option he would not have become wealthy.” This was a motivator for me because it showed and reminded me the importance of putting all my eggs in one basket. Looking at the success of Mr. Warren throughout the years it shows that he put all is effort and wealth in the process of becoming successful. He did not invest on his business as a hobby or pastime but he knew deep down that he needed to make it work. Having red this one of my key take away is the need of working hard in becoming better at something and investing on this thing without prejudice or exploring alternative. I do not mean that I become ignorant of what is out there and wanting to pursue several things. But I mean having a laser focus when it comes to working on building my career. This is because people pay for services that one can deliver as an expert.

iii. They have a lot with convincing them that they do have the potential to succeed. This statement had a profound impact on me. This is because at time I felt that I was not adequately equipped for a specific task and would feel like I might fail. Despite having this major fear of failure. Most of the time when I was able to move past this fear and the inadequacies within me, I would surprise myself when I manage to succeed in the assignment. The statement was a reminder that there is need to realize that we have the potential to succeed in anything we set our mind to do or through any challenges that might come our away. This was a challenge and a remind for me that before I let doubt or fear linger in my head I need to first close my eyes and remind myself that I do have potential.

iv. Discovered that hard work was more important than genetic high intelligence in achieving success.

Most of the time we tend to attribute success to intelligence and/or academic success. We tend to forget that success is achieved from shear hard work. This has crippled individuals who could not achieve academic excellence or are perceived not to be intelligent. Despite that we have seen a few individuals throughout life proving this theory wrong but we still hang on it. The author tries to remind us that some of the millionaires did not have high intelligence but worked hard. For me the statement remaindered me the importance of choosing to work hard on something vs. relaying on intellect. It reminded me that all it takes is persistence and hard work in achieving anything I am aiming to achieve.

v. You know intuitively that you can succeed.

Through this statement the author was trying to emphasis the importance of relaying on our inner gut. He stated that most of the millionaires listened to their inner guts and knew they will succeed. The author also reminded us of the importance of this gut not only on the succeeding part but also on the decision making part. This is one of the area that I personally need to develop and learn to listen to my inner gut. Because sometimes I rather look at the external environment and try to judge situations based on that even if I have a strong personal affirmation that am going to succeed.

vi. Particularly the courage to take financial risk.

The author states that most millionaires became millionaires because of taking financial risk. Especially when it came to investing and starting new business ventures. This is a reminder that employment will enable you pay your bills and meet basic expenses but if you want to grow your income there is need of working hard and be willing to take up financial risk when it comes to investments. This is the only way you can grow your income and become self-reliance.

vii. You must learn how to motivate yourself constantly to overcome fear with courage.

Throughout life I learnt that my biggest fear are self-imposed and none existence. Most of the time this fear was always the fear of the unknown and most of the battles I have had is within my mind. Sometimes this battles will cripple me in moving forward towards achieving something. This statement was important for me because it reminded me the need to always learn to motivate myself. It reminded me that I do not need to relay of on others or external factors to gain motivation; but the need to always learn to motivate myself from within in order to achieve this processes.

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

The ideas from this book will enable me to transform my lifestyle and set myself in a path of success. The author had powerful principals that are applied by the millionaires in order to be successful. Having picked and learn some principals I believe they will enable me to start a journey of success. This shall be a motivation for my peers to be able to pursue success and self-motivation. Also considering that I am involved mostly in mentoring and coaching some of the lessons that I have gained from this book I can share with individuals in my day to day work. So that I can be able to inspire them to work towards becoming successful in life.

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

“Having a supportive spouse is not an accident or random occurrence.”

One of the millionaire who was interviewed by the author made this statement. It caught me by surprise and also gave me a lot to pounder on. This is because being young dating has been for fun and at times we tend to over emphasis on irrelevant things. The author stated that also several business men have said that given a choice beyond love and physical attraction, they prefer to marry a woman who can manage a business. This for me made me realize that as much as marriage is important on the relational and family aspect. We should handle the issues on isolation and need to learn to view it as a complete package. Considering things like finances, spirituality among other things. This is because it should be a partnership and hence you need to relay on a spouse who shares the same sense of direction and purpose with you. So that you can be able to trust and support each other through the journey.

“What you have is special.”

As the author had put it, we all have something and whatever we have is special. For me what I took out of this statement is that we all have a significant role to play in this earth and whatever the role is it is special. The statement also reminded me that we all have something to offer to the world. Hence the major challenge is for us to discover what this is and try to work in ensuring that we are able to package what we have and offer to the world.

“Courage is taking positive moral action that conjure up fear.”

This is one of the best definition I have come across when it came to defining courage. This is because in this definition it did not mean courage is the absence of fear, but reminded us that despite having fear within us we can decide to do something towards achieving the result we want to achieve. From the statement I also realized that at times it’s the little positive actions that we take that slowly makes us subdue fear and have our fear subside. Hence for me the statement reminded me even when in fear I can still do something to achieving the goal I want to and in the process I will be gathering more and more courage that will make me confident in doing what I want to.

“A wise man will be the master of his mind but a fool will be a slave to it.”

For me this statement was profound because its only through winning the battles in our head will we be able to win the battles in the world. The statement was a reminder of the need to work hard in order to subdue negative thoughts that cripples us in achieving anything. It also reminded me the importance of having a positive self-image that will enable one to have strong mental courage. For the world reflects the perception you have for yourself.
Never consider relaying on other people’s money to make you rich. For me the statement stood out for me and reminded me on the importance of working hard to acquire wealth. It reminded me that it will take more than employment for one to be wealthy and there is need of working hard in achieving this. It also proved that in order for one to be wealthy there is need of going beyond what we earn through employment.

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

No.

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

No, the book did not contain any exercises but had a lot of principals that one can apply on a day to day life in order for one to become wealthy and live like a millionaire. Also the book had attached data that was essential for one to research and learn more from. This enable me to acquire more insight and also do comparison on what the author has included in the book and other research that have been conducted.

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

No.

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

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

The Business Adventure
Assessment by Vivian Muciri (Kenya)

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

The author of the business adventures focuses on several businesses and what might have led to the success of this business and the sustainability of the businesses. He also focuses on a few challenges and setback that some of the business experienced that led to the failure of this business. In order to ensure that the readers learn from the businesses, he does a critical comparison and also highlight on issues of finances and fluctuating market. In order to bring his ideas home, the author shared recollection of 12 businesses. He used simple language and did this in form of storytelling despite having statistic and figures in some parts of the book it was easy to understand and read the book.

i. Being a Victim

“Is that it was a victim of the time lag between the decision to produce it and the act of putting it into the market.” The author here is looking into the fate of the Edsel’s car (E-car) model that was produced by ford. Despite the reputation of Ford during the production of this E-car and selling it. The company experienced a big loss with this model. For example they were not able to meet their target sale and most of the car they sold was within Ford staff and associates. From this statement the biggest lesson I have learnt is that in business despite your reputation and network, time is very important. Also time plays a key factor when it comes to determining your success in any venture and in our day to day life. For me this statement was a reminder on the importance of timing, and how the simple act of being time conscious can change the outcome of something. It also challenged me to becoming more and more proactive in my day to day life and focus on ensuring that am timely in everything I do.

ii. Information is almost as readily converted into money as any other commodity.

For me this statement was a challenge especially because of my desire to shift into a coaching career. For a while will working on my career plan and doing research on the same I kept asking myself what am I planning to offer and how can I package my service differently from what others are offering. I also remembered having to go through an interview with some organization and they kept pushing me towards adding training component on my idea which I did not feel like. They also felt that I do not have much to offer considering its just business coaching that you want to pursue. Hence having come across this statement it was a reminder for me that it takes more than just class room knowledge to pursue something. It was also a reminder that we can package our personal experience and learn from it, once we acquire this knowledge we can easily share with others as a way of transforming their situation and easing their processes in achieving what they want. Most importantly it was a reminder that I should not be short changing myself when it comes to earning from the knowledge and information I have. This is because it’s a service I will be offering and will make someone else benefit from it.

iii. Sensing Trouble

“Its easy to say now that he should have smelled trouble, but he didn’t.” This is a statement made by one of the official when talking about Haurpt & Co. The reason for me to put this statement here is because it reminded me on how we bit ourselves down after failing on something. We tend to ask ourselves why we didn’t see this coming or why we did not do it in a certain way. Most of the time forgetting that probably at that point we did not have the right skill or we did not have time to think objectively. Personally I used to over analyze situations in my life, especially those that did not yield the result I expected. I would also at time beat myself down especially when I discovered or felt that I should have done something in a different way. This use to beat me down a lot and I would feel bad. So for me this statement was a reminded that before I judge myself or someone else too harshly, there is need of me to remember that there must have been various factors that had contributed to that result. The statement also challenged me not to be beating myself down because when you are out of the situation you tend to think it would have been easier. So I should always pursue to learn and equip myself to becoming better and better.

iv. Opportunity! Opportunity! It Knocks! It Knocks!

Do you Hear? Do you Listen? Do you understand? Do you wait? Do you act Now? The author shared this piece of poetry during a reflection on how a company managed to grab an opportunity in wall-street that enable to change the fortune of their business. In this chapter the last great corner, it’s a classic tale of perfect timing and taking action. So reading the piece of poetry reminded me the importance of preparing one’s self for every opportunity in life and look for it. It also was a reminder of changing one’s perspective even in difficult situation. This is because further down the paragraph the author speaks on bible characters such as Joseph, Daniel, and Moses. All this characters were in difficult situation but that is where opportunity yields. One of the biggest take away from this poetry was in every situation opportunity is always underlined hence there is need of focusing in getting the opportunity from it.

v. The starting with almost northing.

I really resonate with the statement because of having to go through life with northing tends to shift ones perspective. This is because you have to work twice as hard to be able to forge forward. Also having to be in this situation is always challenging and a test of character. Having going through life and starting from ground has brought a lot of lessons in life. The journey has been challenging and also difficult but it has been a journey where a lot is learned.

vi. A second sort of life.

For me this was one of the most inspiring topic in the book and also a chapter I really resonated and learnt a lot from. Considering for me where am at currently is a somewhat a second sort of life. The reason for that is due to my background and also despite missing out on pursuing the career I wanted and I am currently work at a place I really love and also pursuing a path that is fulfilling. The chapter also challenged me to have a reflection when it comes to wanting to move forward. What I learned was the importance of remembering the past and also work had when moving forward. The biggest lesson for me is that there is hope. So long as there is a lot of hard work and dedication, your background does not matter.

vii. Paying for Services

“Boy, am I going to make these guys pay for my services.” This is a challenge for every entrepreneur, especially those in service industry. This ensures that one tend to work hard in terms of doing research, branding and marketing to ensure to have a service product that can be sold. For me the statement and the rest of the chapter reminded me that there is need of seeing this as a challenge to forge forward and not give up. This is because if you do your marketing right and package the product well then there is an available market.

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 selected the book because my biggest expectation in doing the book was to acquire principals, knowledge that would assist me in meeting my future career goal. To my surprise the language and style of the writer it felt as a journey through a story telling of business with specific focus on their operation around the 1950s and 1960s. So at some point it felt a little bit discouraging for me as I started on the book. At some point I felt the book will not meet my objective of wanting to read it. Upon finishing the book I realized that it had a collection of well researched and written business and financial events that happened in the past. Also looking at the focus of the author the book did not look as if it was geared towards a specific business principal. Despite that there has been a lot of highlight of business principals through the collection of the stories, these principals were not clearly outlined but they were vastly portrayed in the stories. For example in the chapter “one free bite”, the biggest lesson I have learned is threatening a staff/ someone will not guarantee that they will stay. Also through the entire book another principal I have learnt is the value of research and need to learn more and more. For this will be crucial when one needs to make a decision. I also learnt from the general book that we should not be quick to dispose something because we think it does not meet our expectation or because its different. If we give it a chance then it will enable us grow and learn. With these principals it has changed my perspective on how I view challenges and issues. It has also changed my perspective when approaching issues and when dealing with people. With such lessons I will be able to become objective when dealing with situations in my life and my environment. I shall also be able to look at things in a different perspective and handle issues in a more sober manner.

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

None.

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

No.

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

This book did not contain any exercises to be done, despite that it beat my expectation when I selected the book as one of the read. This is because the book challenged me a lot and also made me have objective reflection of how to move forward in life. I managed to pick principals that will not help me in setting/running business but also on my day to day 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.

No.

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

A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 5
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 8
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 7

What in the World are you Waiting For?
Assessment by Vivian Muciri (Kenya)

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

The main idea of the author is to try getting the reader to understand that they have specific assignment and resources within them to pursue these assignments. The author is writing about her experience and also offers insight on what is important towards the pursuit of life. Throughout the book the author shares practical guidelines that can be used towards pursuing your life and becoming better. The author has also shared stories of other successful people in different position of influence in their life in order to be able to achieve this success. The life examples and stories within the book are designed to inspire one to achieve success, and also provoke action.

i. The moment we forget that we were made in the image of God, we lose our real identity.

The author is talking about the need of realizing who we are and what God intended for us. Most of the time in life we tend to loss that identity and start identifying with our circumstances or what people tell us we are. This always affects us in pursuing our identity and living a life of purpose. The biggest challenge for me while reading this book is the realization that I lost my identity. It was a hard reflection to come by and to accept. But upon reflection I realized that I tend to identify myself based on people’s perceptions and expectation about me. This made me pursue life based on this view and also forced me to deal with issues of fear, insecurity and inadequacy. Despite having ideas of who I want to be or what I want to do, I felt I did not have what it takes to be all that. For me this statement was a real reflection that forced me to dig deep within me and to see what is the missing link between now and pursuing all that I am meant to be.

ii. As a man think, so is he: As you think so you act.

I have heard this statement so many times that is engraved in my mind. From books that I have read and people just saying it. The statement is always shared in different versions too. There was a season my life I would work on building up positive thoughts in my head as a way of motivating myself to become better. It did help me feel better but nothing changed much this is because the thoughts remained just thoughts because I was never ever able to translate it into action. Some most of the time I would cave in and just focus on the inward motivation but still would act in fear and negative perspective because it was engraved in my subconscious mind.

iii. We all need the courage to see it and pursue it and to not be weary in well doing, for you will reap a harvest if you don’t give up.
My mum used to tell me that when we are at the end of our road that is when we give up. For a better part its true. We always start worked up and happy, but when we are almost at the finish line is when doubt comes in, fear develop among other factors. This is because we face challenges we never anticipated. We get listen to negative people and problems kick in. Very few people tend to push through till the end. For me I always gave up on some issues in my life when it became difficult or too scary. So the author reminded me with this statement that there is need of soldiering on. Especially if I want to achieve the goal I had set in mind.

iv. Perceptions are powerful prayers in our mind.

For me I feel that we do shape our world based on our perception. This is because when we have a low perception towards someone then we shall always prejudge them based on that. For me this statement reminded me that the biggest battle that one will ever have to conquer is that of the mind. This is because once you are able to do that then every other thing will fall in place. Also it will make you view the world in a different light.

v. Whatever you are facing in life, you have what it takes to get through the difficult times.

Sometimes when we get through life challenges and struggles we always feel like we do not have what it takes to pull through this. At least for me I have always felt that. There days I would feel like this challenges are too much for me to bear or I do not have the energy to push through. For me this statement reminded me to always look inwardly when it comes to going through life. This is because it makes you realize that you have what it takes no matter what. The statement also reminded me to go through life with gratitude always reflecting on the mini challenges that I won. This is because it reminds you the current challenge too shall come to an end.

vi. Whatever the platform is; don’t wait for the platform to work for you, you work for the platform.

Everyone has been so blessed in life with different platform and opportunity. Despite this we always miss out on this platform due to various reasons and fears. Sometimes we tend to wait for things to be perfect, or come with ease. We tend to miss out due to the problems that are attached to the platform. Hence always being left behind at times we go through complaining about our situation. So for me the statement was a reminded of the statement when life gives you lemon make lemonade out of them. So instead of staying in the sideline hoping that things will work out. There is a high need of taking up the opportunity and work it out to your own advantage.

vii. Between your pain and your gain there is wealth of knowledge to acquire.

There is a season that I felt the biggest life lessons are learnt in hardship. This is because most of my life lessons, character formation and identity revealing was during this seasons. When things went well there was no much impact when it came to learning, but the moment I went through a challenging situation I became better from the other side. So the statement was a reminder that every season and situation in life comes with an opportunity to gain knowledge that are crucial for one to move forward in life. Also the statement reminded me to always have gratitude during the painful season and the season of gain. For in the season of pain is when I learn lessons that will help me achieve the gain.

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

The book was an impactful book for me. This is because the book got me reflecting inwardly on very hard issues within my life. It also got me to ask difficult questions that needed me to answer before moving forward. From that inward reflection I am able to pursue life forging forward. This has helped me to gather courage to pursue desires that were deep within me. It also helped me learn that I do not need everything to be able to live a perfect life, but I need a strong sense of identity and purpose. For with that I will be able to take up challenges and pursue things with a passion. From such a mindset I will be able to effectively contribute towards creating a better world by ensuring that I use my gifts and talents in making the world a better place.

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

“Remember that you can never fail at being you.”

This statement caught my attention and was more of an AHA! Moment form me. This is because I realized that if I do not live my life as me but imitate others I will fail. So the statement was a reminder of the need of focusing on being me and working on becoming a better version of me. I can have mentors and role models who will be an inspiration of becoming better; but I should never loss my identity and try to imitate them.

“The problem most of us face in life is not the absence of knowing what we want to do, but the absence of doing it.”

For the better part of my life I knew what I wanted to do. Sometimes I even had a plan to pursue this but I never got a round doing it. This is because I would talk myself out of it and make excuses of what I am lacking to be able to do it. For me the statement was a reminder on taking the step of faith and believing that I will be able to do what I want to do with my life.

“Silence is the place productive people go to think.”

The statement got my attention because as I was reading this book I was in a place that I need to think. The statement made me decide to quiet all the voices including the one in my head. So that I can do an inward evaluation and stock taking on where to go from where I was. After going through this process I gained some clarity. Out of this experience I really agreed with the statement. It is also was a reminder that sometimes it’s good to seek advice and opinion but at times you just need that space to think.

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

No!

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

The book contained a lot of reflective question and exercises that made you think and reflect on a personal level. YES! I did some of the reflective exercises and they were very helpful for me. This is because I was able to gain some clarity will be doing the reflection. The exercises also made me discover a lot about myself and what really drive me.

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

The fact the author really focused on a relationship with God throughout the book and how this influences the direction of our life. This was a reminder that we need to connect to higher power than self in order to be able to face life through all season. It was also a reminder for me that sometimes in life the only thing that can make sense is God. He is the only one who can hold your hand and bring you to that point of peace and purpose. This also made me realize that there is always that sense of emptiness and confusion because we do not have that connection.

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

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