As a Man Thinketh
Assessment by Iroegbu Daniel (Nigeria)
The author’s main idea of the book is that “A man’s thought affects him positively or negatively and affects his perception about life as well as determine his altitude and attitude to life.
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. “A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his
thought, for you will always gravitate toward that which you secretly love most.”
I remembered growing up and telling mum that am going to be a medical doctor in other to take care of her asthmatic ill health. Seasonally, as we travel to the village passing through the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu I will always point to it, tell my siblings and my mum that am going to work here. I started thinking and reasoning like a doctor, trying to dissect any mammal that comes my way and even attempted cutting my sibling. I burnt mid night oil reading every biology and human science textbooks that I come across. My character was been conditioned toward
achieving my vision, dressing corporately as I always see company doctor dressed. I had to change from the Model Comprehensive Secondary School I attended during my junior to Special Science School during my senior to meet with likeminded and motivated students and advance in capacity and intellects on sciences which I needed to gain admission to do medicine. All my career thought was just to be a medical doctor in other to impact lives.
ii. “As the plant springs from, and could not be without the seed, so every act of man springs from the hidden seeds of thought, and could not have appeared without them.”
I remembered attending some camping with the Boy’s Bridge of Nigeria. The venue happened to be remote villages with no access road, health centre and social infrastructures. I observed prevalence unsafe water use, poor sanitation and hygiene as well as rampant open defecation. On return, I started thinking on how the life of this rural community can be improve as to mitigate and intercept the diseases which are resultant of the poor WASH. The seed to impacting humanity especially those in the rural
community was sprouting up in my mind persistently. I realize the correlation between
pursuing a medical career and preventing diseases. Today the vision and the dream has come through with the establishment of Daniel Iroegbu Global Dental Health Care Foundation with the mandate to improve healthy behaviors as well as improved health in the rural communities.
iii. “A noble and God-like character is not a thing of favor or chance, but is the natural result of continued effort in right thinking, the effect of long-cherished association with God-like thoughts; an ignoble and bestial character, by the same process, is the result of the continued harboring of groveling thoughts.”
A noble and God-like character does not come by accident rather by sacrificial effort to abide in godly and pure thoughts. I remembered giving attention to every young girl that pass by way. I will like to give attention to the shape of her hip, breast and stylish. I
observed that it was really eaten deep into my thought life, even in my
solitary moment my mind will be pre-occupied with sensualities. But, I prayed
and asked God for grace to live above it. I started by not paying attention to
women especially the younger one who are more appealing, when
discussing with any of them, I would try to focus on the person’s face/
forehead. The thoughts and desire started fading away. I abound in the word of God
(Bible study) which tells me on how to live a God-like live which is the
resultant of a godly character. Today I can even be with the really pretty
young girls and I will be seeing them as my younger sisters and people that
God has brought my way to impact into their lives positively not for bestiality or
ignoble.
iv. “By right choice and true application of thought, man ascends to the divine perfection and by the abuse and wrong application of thought he descends below the level of the beast.”
Like the Bible said that the power of life and death is in the tongue, so right choice and its application brings about fulfillment in life. During my National Youth Services year in Kwara State, Nigeria, I was mobilizing the schools, communities, government and private establishments on improve oral health and hygiene social and behavioural change. The activities did not only badge me a State Award in Community Development
Services, it well enhanced and built my capacity in community mobilization, public speaking, program planning and implementation. When the President of my Community Development Services (CDS) was passing out from youth services, due to my active participation, I was pleaded upon to take up the position which I refused but some ladies went ahead and purchased a form on my behalf for the position of the president which I won unopposed during the election, I really thank God for the change in mind to take up the position which I considered a right choice in the right direction. As the CDS president, initiated and facilitated an advocacy visits to the Deputy Governor of the State to intensify effort to reduce the scourge and mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on the health, agricultural and educational sector of the state, mobilized the commercial road transporter workers, traders and the populace within the metropolis on the prevention of HIV/AIDS as well as to stop the discrimination and stigmatization of people living with HIV/AIDS. The knowledge I acquired through the position played a vital role in my advancement in development work. The choice to undertake a Diploma course in Computer Secretarial study the same period was a great step in the right direction. The computer skills I acquired has been a base to my foundation early growth as most of the computer works is been carried out by myself as well as minimize running cost. I did not make only the right choices but as well put
them to work and it is leading me to my perfection.
v. “Just as a gardener cultivates his plot, keeping it free from weeds, and growing the flowers and fruits which he requires so may a man tend the garden of his mind, weeding out all the wrong, useless and impure thoughts, and cultivating toward perfection the flowers and fruit of right, useful and pure thoughts.”
The mind is a battle field, were issues are settled. I remembered waking up one night to go and ease myself, behold my Aunty’s house help was busy mutilating her sex organ (masturbating) the thought preoccupied my mind and lingered resulting to my intermittent masturbation. As I kept praying and studying the Bible, restraining myself from position, images and actions that may lead to the act, filling my mind with the word of God and speaking to myself whenever am aroused that was how I became free. The seed was planted in a minute but it took me years to weed it out and replace it with the pure and useful thoughts. Just as a gardener cultivates his plot so I wish to give myself to studying and strategic planning. I try to avoid frivolities, open discussions and chats of no personal and spiritual advancement that I may achieve my vision. I continually plant in my mind the information that is needed to carry out an intervention and impact the rural communities. Why in the office, I concentrate on my work and not giving room to distractions rather growing flowers and fruits required to accomplish my purpose, not giving attention to and weeding out wrong, useless and impure thoughts that will not lead me to perfection. Been in a
non romantic relationship with Nel, often time staying with her comes with emotional and sensual feeling, but I try to remove my mind form sex and focus on discussion concern planning our life together, our wedding, honeymoon, raising a godly children, birth and child spacing, naming, career and extended family.
vi.“Character can only manifest and discover itself through environment and circumstance, the outer conditions of a person’s life will always be found to be harmoniously related to his inner state.”
The Bible said that Jesus Christ learned humility by what He pass through, so a man’s character is influenced by his environment and circumstance. I remembered repeating a class in my primary three, the circumstance of staying in the same class with my junior intensified my hunger to improve in my academics in other to be above them. Dad’s friend encouraged me to always
reverse my subjects on daily bases of which I did, before the term ends I was on top of Mathematic class and later became the school head boy (senior
prefect) and overall third position in the school. I attended national gifted children exam where I represented the state, I represented the school in mathematic exam at the Local Government level and in 200 meter race at the state level. Attending Special School brought about a change in my attitude as I meet brilliant students with great passion for
academic competition. A situation whereby a fellow student can ask you questions at any
time and for you to be in the class of A you must be above average so that
makes it highly competitive as it looks as if the students in the class of B are dull ones. That how my environment helped to shaped my career character. Raised by a father that dressed corporately to work helped to shape my dressing sense and in the medical school, dressing corporately was no longer an issue as family environment has already influence my dressing. When dad’s company was liquidate, life was a bit rough, but it comes
with a drive to have a better livelihood.
vii.“Having conceived of his purpose, a man should mentally mark out a straight pathway to its achievement, looking neither to the right nor left, for there can be no progress or achievement without sacrifice.” After my teenage experience of poor water use, sanitation and hygiene in the remote communities during youth camping, my vision was further expanded after a tour to the Marketing Manager, Nigeria Television Authority. As a student unionist, we planned a community dental health promotion outreach and solicited for their media coverage. During the discussion, he shared the ideas of partnering with development organizations and registering the body with the government as a non-governmental organization in other to promote the cause of dental health in the rural community. I conceived the purpose, on getting back to school I was opportune to meet with a mentor who runs a non-governmental organization. He coached and encouraged me that it is worthy course considering the fact that, there is no such organization with the mandate to improve dental health in the rural communities. I started the process of registration which came to fruition by November 17, 2009. At that point my mental faculty was adjusting to improve the lives of the rural community. I started advancing my capacity by taking a computer course, Global Health courses from United State Agency for International Development (USAID) and other online courses to be equipped in leading and managing health intervention programs. After my services year, I returned to take up a volunteer work in an NGO to advance my capacity in the management of an organization. In the office, my responsibility was multi-facets ranging from proposal development, program design and management, research, networking, presentations, strategic plan development, compiling quarterly and annual reports, coordinating and working with implementing partners/ agencies in projects, community mobilization, report writing program monitoring and evaluation, providing capacity building and technical support as well as Leadership role. With the acquired experience, I was offered the position of the Program Officer in the same NGO which I worked for ten months after which I resigned to run my own organization.
With my quest to impact the society, I keep on training to be equipped with the necessary knowledge in achieving my vision.
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 has helped in conditioning my life to dwell more on the positive and productive thoughts. I’m optimistic about life now and concentrates on the yes we can mind set in pursuing my visions. Despite the little beginning and no or low income for implementation of the foundation’s programs, I came to believe that we are not doing badly as we are running a commendable rural community intervention programs with pure heart and joy flowing in our hearts. I believe that one day the global perception of the foundation will be actualized and lives will really be impacted for good. As noble and
God-like character is not a thing of favor or chance, but is the natural result of continuous effort in right thinking and long cherished association with God-like thought, I strongly believed that our continuous effort will one day escalate to a global dimension.
your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were
important to you.
“A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thought.”
The Bible said, “As a man thinketh so he is.” I know as am writing this that what preoccupies my mind is how to carry out a health intervention program in the rural community especially as I was going through the newspaper today and saw cholera outbreak in the South
Nigeria despite the initial outbreak in South East. I found out that my expression is filled with development work terminologies and always make reference to it from on field experience. It has shaped my character and perception. “Act is the blossom of thought, and joy and suffering are its fruits.”
In the night before going to bed, I thought of replicating and scaling up our school led total sanitation intervention programs. I woke up, get to the office and draft a letter to the school heads to carry out the activity. It was approved and time is scheduled, we moved to the school and enlightened the students. A partnering organization get interested in our work and request for a partnership, we are then joyous that our thoughts that was put to action has yielded a positive outcome.
“Thought in the mind hath made us.”
I am so passionate about this quote because on daily basis my mind is filled with the
thought on how to improve livelihood and it has shaped my perception to life.
“Man is always the master, even in his weakest and most abandoned state.”
This statement is true because when you fall you can decide to pick up your pieces and move on or to remain on the ground pointing accusing fingers. If I did not receive any commendation from anybody regarding my works, I can decide to be depressed and quit or encouraged myself and keep on doing the good work.
“For only by patience, practice, and ceaseless importunity can a man enter the door of the temple of knowledge.”
This statement is true because without patience, routine practicing will be boring but persistency in practicing and learning will make someone becomes a master in his career.
“A man’s mind may be likened to a garden which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and must, and will bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it,
then an abundance of useless weed-seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce their kind.”
Just as a child is born with a blank memory, he or she is shaped by the type of information that he received both from his immediate family and environment. If he/she is living with a caring parent, he always sees the father petting the mother, he will grow up been a caring father and petting his wife because that is the type of seed
that was planted into him but if he sees his parent always fighting, he will grow up to assumed that it is the way of life.
“A man does not come to the alms-house or jail by the tyranny of fate or circumstance, but by the pathway of groveling thoughts and base desire.”
This statement reminds me of the need to be hard working as not to expect to wake up or be moving on the road to see a misplaced fortune or bag of money by fate. Gaining admission into medical school was not by accident but by diligent study of my books to be a medical doctor.
“Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him to himself.”
It is often said that the true character of a man is tested when he has wealth
and is given power, the same way circumstance of life reveal the true character of a man. It is often said that a hungry man is an angry man. Wealth, power, poverty and hunger are regarded as the circumstance that actually reveals a man to himself. Poverty and hunger can actually make a man to steal while it can make another to be more industrious.
“Men do not attract that which they want, but that which they are.”
An adage says, if a corn seller brings his corn to the market for sale, a man that needs a corn will buy so if a young girl is barely dressed in most cases a womanizer will be going after her because she is carrying what he want to buy and satisfy his lust or desire. I love community outreaching, I found that most of my friends as well has passion for
community development work. So, I attract likeminded men to myself.
“The man who does not shrink from self-crucifixion can never fail to accomplish the object upon which his heart is set.” If I failed to attempt and never quit complaining and finding faults, I will never fulfill that which my heart has set to accomplish.
“The poor man only descends into wretchedness when he regards his lot as a burden unjustly imposed.”
If a man fails to see the gold in the scraps surrounding his environment, he will die of poverty while scrap hunter will see the gold and make more income out of it. When dad’s company was liquidated, he did not go into self pity and depression rather he believed that one day he will be paid. He is healthy and hearty.
“Law, not confusion, is the dominating principle in the universe; justice, not injustice, is the soul and substance of life.”
This statement by application indicates that what goes around comes around and whatever a man sows that he will reap. I remembered that I hardly lost my item; I as well observed that ones I pick someone’s item, I immediately move to return it to the owner.
“A man cannot directly choose his circumstances, but he can choose his thoughts, and so indirectly, yet surely, shape his circumstances. A child can not choose the family, community, country even the continent he/she will be born into, but can choose his company, career and leverage from the slavery of his immediate environment. I did not
choose to be born by my parent, but I choose my career part.
“The body is the servant of the mind. It obeys the operation of the mind, whether they be deliberately chosen or automatically expressed.”
I conditioned my body to wake up whenever my mind decides despite the condition of my body. When I was preparing for examination, my body gets weak from long sitting and reading but my mind is still willing to cover the syllabus. I moved around to exercise my body and continued with my reading.
“Clean thoughts make clean habits.”
Conditioning my mind and having a pure thoughts toward my girl friends, helps me to
respect their womanhood and to keep my though clean and pure to them.
“Until thought is linked with purpose there is no intelligent accomplishment”. I realized that tagging a pursuit to a course, increased my passion to accomplish and not entertain failures. With the mind of improving livelihood in the rural communities, I have been able to undertake about Twenty-Five courses on global health which has improved my
knowledge on global public health burden.
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.
No, exercises for the reader to complete.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous question? If so, please comment.
None
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 10
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Iroegbu Daniel (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea that the author is conveying in the book is on personal discovery with passion and determination coupled with long search and practice to succeed.
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. “For most gulls, it is not fly that matters, but eating. But for Jonathan Livingston, it is not eating that mattered, but flight. Jonathan Livingston Seagull loved to fly.”
This idea is personally important to me, as it reminds me to live not for the purpose or reason for which others are living. Is all about what I love doing and what gives me happiness. I love community based health intervention activity and derive joy impacting on the rural community who don’t have access to improve health and who can only say
thank you without paying, while some colleague want me to go into full time practice. I
remembered participating in a community outreach in Ekerigwe, Izzi Ebonyi State. At the end of the night session, the Pastor was called to come and pray for a woman who was sick at about 11.30pm, he requested that some of our team members should accompany him but they refused and asked me if am going with him, I said yes because the reason why I left my comfort in the city to be in the rural community is to save and improve lives. It happened that the woman has had miscarriage for the past 24 hours
without adequate medical attention.
ii. “When he flew at altitude less than half his wingspan above the water, he could stay in the air longer, with less effort.”
At the course of fulfilling a vision, sustainability strategy is constantly been developed. The more we practice and repeat an activity over and over, mastery is achieved. Less effort will be needed in getting things done. Mobilizing the schools and the communities for improve hygiene and health is so easy for me due to constant advocacy. I remembered
visiting UNICEF, at the course of my discussion with the WASH specialist; he
said you are using the right terms.
iii. “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.”
This idea, reminds me of the need to be conscious of the purpose of living. For me the purpose of living is to improve healthy living in the rural community. To be able to impact and perfectly touch lives, I undertake courses in global public health to be thoroughly equipped with every necessary skills, knowledge and information for effective and efficiency intervention programs.
iv. “I just want to know what I can do in the air and what I can’t, that’s all. I just want to know.”
Discovery is the mother of invention. Before I started computer school, I
have been manipulating my Laptop to know the functions of different keys,
the singles, functions, control and alternates keys to enhance my utilization. This really helped me in the identification of special characters and symbols that are included in the key pad but can be found in the “inert” menu bar and tool bar. The quest to know and
learn positioned me above my course mates during the program. I started
community night health education; I was able to observed that it has great impact
in the community mobilization as some of the community goes to farm during
the day.
v. “The key, he thought at last, dripping wet, must be to hold the wings still at high speeds – to flap up to fifty and then hold the wings still.”
During practice and experiment we often develop a particular useful strategy in achieving a set goal but need to be conscious and alert to always identify that techniques that worked. I remembered carrying out a capacity building on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in a school. I started with a story and often introduce humor at an interval during the presentation and attempting speaking the language of the community during the mobilization. I realized that it helped to establish a rapport and cooperation with the audience. I observed that the community night capacity building works so I have been using.
vi. “Seagulls never fly in the dark! If you were meant to fly in the dark, you’d have the eyes of an owl! You’d have charts for brains! You’d have a falcon’s short wings!”
We are always presented with reasons and factors that stand as a limitation and challenges in achieving our set goals. I remembered encouraging a group of young peoples to plan programs aimed at improving healthy living and behavioral change in the rural community, there leader commenting on numerous factors that will hinder it. I realized that not having a particular capacity is not limitation in reaching my goal.
vii. “Jonathan Seagull discovered that boredom and fear and anger are the reasons that a gull’s life is so short, and with these gone from his thought, he lived a long fine indeed.”
The bible said that a merry heart heals faster than medicine. I remembered facing boredom after quitting my job as a Program Officer for another job which was later not given to me. I stay in the house eating, reading and my mind will be wondering from one place to another. Often times, there is fear prior to starting a thing which I don’t really allow to dominate my thought. Fear and anger arises from failure. This is the reason we
often refuse further trying and feel discouraged of continuity. But seeing failure as
part of the process better equipped and get me prepared to accept it when it comes. When I fall, I do not remain on the ground; I stand up, try another strategy and work on my mistakes. Finally am there and happy. I remembered going to register my foundation with the Corporate Affairs Commission, I did more than six name search, I felt like quitting, discouraged and wasting so much time but when I look back and front, I will say it worth the efforts and I am more willing to even put more effort.
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 learned persistency no matter what the obstacles are as far as am on the right track. I learnt that surmountable challenges are bound to come but my attitude toward it will determine if I will overcome or not. I am bound to face both positive and negative criticism, I will choose to do those things that makes me happy and gives me satisfaction. I will always work towards discovering myself, my strength, weakness, opportunities and
threats in achieving my vision. I learnt that at the course of achieving my vision, I
will likely face lack but never to give up. I learnt that am bound to fail, get devastated, depressed and even face isolation form friend but to keep focus. I remembered losing my laptop and seriously needed another one. A senior promised to argument the funding, but when the time came, he said that there was no money, considering the volume of things to be done with the system, I was perplex and nearly devastated, but I prayed at that very moment, I was directed to call a friend, immediately she funded the procurement.
your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were
important to you.
“Why can’t you leave low flying to the pelicans, the alhatross? This statement reminds me “as a man thinketh so he is.”
If I always see limitations, I will keep on complaining and will never try new innovations. Wealth and opportunities is not made for a particular set of
people but to those that are determine to follow the part of success. Hard
work and industriousness pay.
“It’s all so pointless, he thought, deliberately dropping a hard-won anchovy to a hungry old gull chasing him. I could be spending all this learning to fly. There’s so much to learn! I see a man that detest routines but wants to explore new grounds and opportunities. On daily bases is all about eating, drinking, and complains on the taste of the meal as well as who is not doing his house chores. I see a man seeing life from a difference perspective and saying I got something bigger than junks we are daily fighting for.
“It wasn’t long before Jonathan Gull was off by himself again, far out at sea, hungry, happy, learning.”
I see a man deriving joy learning and doing what makes him happy not minding his stature and the hunger that has reduce his physical look but not the mind. I see a man very enthusiastic improving and distinguishing himself.
“Ten times he tried, and all ten times, as he passed through seventy miles per hour, he burst into a churning mass of features, out of control, crashing down into the water.”
Challenges are bound to come until mastery is achieved. We often make mistakes, face failure, not been satisfied especially on the onset. We may even lose all that we have taken time to build.
“There would be no ties now to the force that had driven him to learn, there would be no more challenge and no more failure.”
When we fail especially in the beginning of our venture, we always thought
that winding-up will bring about less research and no more late sleep, less
thinking, challenges and failures.
“We can lift ourselves but of ignorance, we can find ourselves as creatures of excellence and intelligence and skills.”
Someone can decide to advance in his chosen course in life thereby been
lifted from ignorance. This act is stimulated by change of thought resulting
to intelligence, skills and excellence. That my father did not own a car does not mean that I will not ride an SUV because an wonderfully and gorgeously made by God with every skills and intelligence to succeed.
“We can be free! We can learn to fly! This statement reminds me that life is full of choices. It is said that our actions either make or mar us. The choice is ours.
“The years ahead hummed and glowed with promise.”
This statement, remind me of a better tomorrow. Slow and steady, we will
get. There are untapped wealth and riches to invest in improving humanity.
“Who is more responsible than a gull that finds and follows a meaning, a higher purpose for life?”
We are responsible for the course or part that we chose in life.
“He was not sorry for the price that he had to pay.”
This reminds of the statement “do not underestimate the power of a desperate woman” any ambitious man is ready to pay any price.
“One school is finished, and the time has come for another to begin.”
This statement reminds me that life is in stages and we must go through
these stages to achieve our purpose in life.
“As he came from Earth now, above the clouds and in close formation with the two brilliant gulls, he saw that his own body was growing as bright as theirs.”
Evil company corrupts good morals. Show me your friend and I will tell you
who you are. We are easily transformed and influenced by friends or the
company we keep.
“Instead of being enfeebled by age, the Elder had been empowered by it. Because any number is a limit and perfection doesn’t have limits.”
“The gulls who scorn perfection for the sake of travel go nowhere, slowly. Those who put aside travel for the sake of perfection go anywhere, instantly.”
This statement is applicable to work before pleasure. A man that acquired
wisdom will feast with the kings while a fool will be among the commoners.
“You didn’t need faith to fly, you need to understand flying. It always works, when you know what you’re doing”.
This statement reminds me that skills and dexterity is needed in every human
endeavor. I would not say that I have faith therefore let me enter a car and start driving without first of all going to driving school to learn. That means I have signed my death warrant.
“Everything that limits us we have to put aside.”
This statement reminds me of the needs to ignore side attractions and distractions that may hinder us.
“We’re free to go where we wish and to be what we are. “You have the freedom to be yourself, your true self, here and now, and nothing can stand in your way.”
We have the choice to be whatever we want to be in live. I have the choice
to say no to bad companies.
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 don’t understand this statement: “Life is the unknown and the unknowable,
except that we are put into this world to eat, to stay alive as long as we possibly can.”
There were no exercises to complete.
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? 7
C. How easy was it to understand? 7
D. Would you recommend it to others? 8
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 7
PsychoCybernetics
Assessment by Daniel Iroegbu (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The author’s main idea of the book is that “A man’s self- image is tantamount to his attitude, altitude, purpose, success and fulfillment in life”.
2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your life.
i. “Investigate the good in others, but first examine the good in yourself.”
Seeing the good in other people drives me to keep on trusting even after been castigated, freely working with others I meet up the ladder to achieve my goal. I know that I have good qualities that help me to easily identify the same good in others “because if you don’t know what you want when you see it you will not identify it but when you know what you want when you see it, you will recognize it.”
ii. “Shrink from enslavement; move instead toward participation.”
Participating in volunteering work and serving the community through my not for profit making Non-governmental Organisation leverages me from worries and egocentric living to a live of empathy and services to the rural community and the vulnerable groups.
iii. “Without forgiveness you will not achieve relaxation.”
Forgiveness is a thing of the mind and it has an impact on the emotion. The person you are holding grudging against may not be aware of it. I remembered an incidence that took place during my undergraduate studies, I cooked a delicious soup and as soon as it was done, we had an afternoon lecture. On my coming back, my friends have almost finished the soup. Out of anger I poured water into the remaining soup and pour it away and left the room to the Library to read. While in the Library, I could not read, my spirit was not at peace and my emotion was been disturbed terribly. I quickly went to the hostel and called out my friend and apologized over the incidence and ask for his forgiveness. As soon as we were done, I regained my peace and I had peace of mind.
iv. “Your concern for humanity reaches far beyond yourself to encompass your community, friends and nation. Your sense of responsibility extends beyond yourself out to all humanity.”
This implies that I should have a global developmental perspective. Before registering my Foundation, I was visualizing reaching not just the Nigerian populace but the global community, wherever I found myself, the people there are my friends, brothers and sisters and I have a responsibility toward them likewise them toward me. That why we mobilize the schools and community outside our states on various Public Health cross cutting issues ranging from family planning and healthy timing & spacing of pregnancy, malaria elimination, WASH, and reproductive health (sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS) just to improve livelihood and promote healthy living.
v. “The successful, relaxed person knows he will fail sometimes and take failure in his strides.”
I realized that am human and have limitations which can lead to mistakes and failures, so with that in mind, I accept it and never remain down but move on whenever I fail. According to the prayer of “Francis of Assisi I quote God give me the serenity not to try changing things that I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can change and the wisdom to know the difference.”
vi. “Clearly thinking implies an understanding not only of your own needs, but of the needs of others.”
Clearly thinking is not self or egocentric but has the interest of others at heart. In our foundation, despite that we had no grants yet for our projects, we tasked ourselves to implement our Public Health dynamic programs in the rural communities and schools as to help in meeting the public health needs of the populace.
vii. “Once you are thinking clearly, you can take action, and then improve as you go.”
Positive mental attitude and thinking toward the vision of improving livelihood has propelled me to take action by engaging and mobilizing schools on Lassa fever prevention and hygiene promotion, reproductive health and other cross cutting issues. As I develop grant proposal, I found out that I continue to improve in every aspect of the development work operations.
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 will help me to understand the needs to investigate the good in myself , always commend my efforts even if no one is doing so, to appreciate the little effort and improvement I make. The same character has equally helped me in appreciating the good in others and their little efforts. All my activities are centered on improving a healthy livelihood, community and to make it more conducive for human existence. I forgive those who offend me and ask for forgiveness of those who I have offended. I strive to improve myself, community and to take responsibility for caring for those around me and not doing things that will affect the community and the posterity. I have made allowance to accept failure but greater provision to keep moving on in the days of failure. I conditioned my mind to dwell more on the positive and productive thoughts rather than the past.
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 inner space in your mind, so important to your happiness.”
In my story of the day I lost my inner peace due to bearing grudges against a brother who finished my soup, reminded me of the place of the Holy Spirit of the living God occupying that inner space where no blood can penetrate in my life. There was a serious contention between the carnal man and the Spirit man to go and ask for forgiveness or not, but thank God that the Spirit man prevailed. I have found out that my obedient to that still voice occupying that inner space motivate my taking actions that lead to my happiness.
“We possess a power of creative imagination which makes us more than creatures- Creators.”
During my one year National Youths Service Corp, I observed the nuisance of nylon bags and plastic waste within the neighbors. Within my imaginative mind, I started creating and visualizing how these waste materials can be transformed into a finish product. This leads to my researching and sourcing for machines for the project. This makes me a creator not just a creature.
“This failure mechanism is a composite of frustrated, negative feeling which pulls us off course, side-tracking our positive inclinations, shrinking our self-image, blocking our attempt to reach our full stature as dignified human beings.”
One day, returning from work, lying on the sofa, I started feeling depressed, perplexed and frustrated that despite ones effort, time and investment, there have not been any reasonable outcome to portray or quantified the effort. While studying my Bible the book of Zechariah He ministered to my discouraged condition. I found courage in the Lord my God.
“If you reach back to past success, you re-awaken confidence to succeed in the present. But if you go back to past failure, you defeat yourself.”
I was praying to God for a break through over some issues and was wondering how it will happen as I was not seeing any visible sign of its manifestation, but God granted me those desires of my heart. Anytime am faced with a challenge, I present it to God with the full assurance that He that saw me through by answering my prayer previously is able to do it again.
“Upgrade yourself; stop down-grading yourself.”
Often times in managing our organization, humanly I will see our small resource strength in carrying out our public health dynamic and intervention programs. But I keep on encouraging and upgrading myself. Through this continuous effort of self upgrading, the organization has been receiving recommendations, growing in strength and ability to mobilize and engage the schools and communities in its programs.
“Keep on visualizing these good moments- no matter how few and doggedly focus on these wonderful success pictures utility in incorporate them into your basic personality.”
Within a year our organization was able to engage and mobilize communities and schools on Lassa fever prevention during the outbreak in Nigeria, healthy timing & spacing of pregnancy to reduce maternal and child mortality, malaria elimination, reproductive health (sexually transmitted disease including HIV/AID ) and hygiene. The goal is to improve livelihood and impact the community. I constantly visualize these goals by focusing on the success which has progressively been improving our personality, value and motivate our progress.
“In the second World your eyes see sunshine, the fields are green, the sky is blue, and your prospects seem brighter each moment.”
On daily basis my prospect about life gets brighter with the success of each passing day, even when I think I have achieved so little, I kept on seeing the sunshine so bright indicating prospective today. The greenish field as an opportunity to impact more lives and the blue sky as possessing all the potential required to make a mark and leave a legacy in my community and achieving my goal in life.
“You forget yesterday’s blunders, you stop worrying about the past. Today is the day, and you reach out toward today’s opportunities.”
Mistakes and failure are bound to occur but the willingness to put it behind and stop worrying about the past but continue with the opportunities that lie ahead keep me focus.
“We are more easily hurt by our failures and by the way others react to us than we like to admit.”
In some occasion, the failure to fulfill a promise or perform a responsibility hurts. Personally, I have observed that those occasion which I got bordered finally end in a lighter mood or is been postponed. I got hurt with words and reactions from a man I was closely helping in carrying out his responsibilities that made me to withdraw from him.
“Opportunities exist for us in the present, and we must reach out to grasp them as eagerly as a baby clutches for its mother.”
On daily basis, around my community, I see areas to impact the lives of the populace especially those in the rural area with poor health, water, sanitation, hygiene and high morbidity and mortality rates. I surf the internet, I saw IIGL and donor partnerships grants, scholarships and fellowship programs present opportunities to grasp eagerly.
“Every day is a challenge to you, and you respond to this challenge with the best that is in you.”
On daily basis, I wake-up thinking on how to improve community livelihood through public health intervention program. At the outbreaks of Lassa fever in our country, it presented a challenge to me as a community development worker on how to response to the challenge by raising public awareness on prevention and hygiene promotion. We quickly collaborate with the UNICEF, Ministry of Education – Post Primary School Management Board and Esther Moses Foundation to mobilize schools on the prevention and hygiene promotion.
“A goal implies desire and when you feel this desire acutely enough you give yourself an atomic power that will help propel yourself toward the opportunities that the day brings.”
Growing up in an industrialized estate, I attended severe youth’s camping in the rural communities. I experience firsthand malnutrition, poor health, water, sanitation, hygiene and inadequate health care. I felt strong desire to redefine, improve and impact livelihood. I proceeded to found the NGO Daniel Iroegbu Global Dental Health care Foundation. I gave myself to advance in public health career as to better intervene. I worked as a volunteer and a program officer in an NGO as to learn how to manage an organization.
“Your actions hinge on your opinion of yourself.”
I have observed that am a strategist and initiator of ideas. These are as a result of studying both my Bibles and other books just like Biblical Daniel. In different occasion, I have been distinguished among my equals. The opinion of myself have improved even when I felt like quitting or discouraged, I keep on pushing because I am a success.
“You must realize that, at the onset, that thinking is in itself a worthwhile goal.”
It is at the moment or at the place of critical thinking that strategic planning on how to realize the vision and goal is achieved.
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 exercise for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercise and did you find them helpful?
No, the book did not contain any exercise for the reader to complete.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous question? 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? 9
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? 9
Success through a Positive Mental Attitude
Assessment by Daniel Iroegbu (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The author’s idea is that, anything is possible if approach with a positive mind set. With a positive mental attitude lives are transformed, failures are turn into success, stumbling blocks are turn into a stepping stones and ruined marriage are transformed into a blissful and lovely home.
2. What are the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal example from your own life.
i. “Anything in life that is worth having worth working for.”
As a Christian, I desire and try my best to obey and reverence God for who He is. By doing his will and living a righteous life, in that case I commit myself to studying His word and to prayer to know Him more and maintain a relationship with Him. I am working for that relationship which I desired from God and am reaping the dividend. I desired to impact lives of the vulnerable groups and the despondent in my community and beyond, I have to improve in my public health career as to be better equipped to transfer knowledge and impact lives”.
ii. “It’s impossible for you to conceive how far up is, except for the limitation of your own mind.”
The more I read, the more I desire to, the more my brain wants and keeps accommodating. The same is applicable to the extent I want to go in life despite life challenges; it may take a little more time but with determination and passion I will get there. There is no limit to what I can conceive and desire to achieve if only my mind is not limited. My mind is mindful of my career goal, so it focusing achieving it.
iii. “Meet the most important living person.”
I, Iroegbu, Daniel Ifegwu is the most important living person globally because I don’t have a duplicate or prototype. I am who God made me to be immaterial of any other opinion from any quarter. This understanding has helped me to acknowledge myself and to apply positive mental attitude in everything that I do and to appreciate others, their opinion and for who they are as very important because we all need each other to survive.
iv. “And don’t ever let me hear you say that it is God’s will that we are poor.”
My Bible tells me that God delight in the prosperity of his people. He wants us to prosper in health and in our finances as our soul prospers. With this divine idea and principle I work hard with positive mental attitude trusting God to proper the works of my hands.
v. “We are poor- not because God want it. We are poor because Father has never developed a desire to become rich. No one in our family has ever developed a desire to be anything else.”
As I said early, poverty is a mindset not the will of God. God created us in His image after his likeness and gave us dominion over all creatures. In Psalms, the scripture said that we are gods, so God does not limit anybody that is developing a success mindset. He detests slothfulness and encourages hard working. He expects us to think big and start small. It is a desire, an aspiration of what I want to be in life, what I want to be remembered for with a positive mental attitude, I will have it”.
vi. “In the darkness of my room I kneel down and prayed.”
Just like King Hezekiah in the book of Isaiah kneel in prayer when the King of Assyria weighed a war against him. He put on sackcloth and prayed to God to intervene and He really intervened. I have learnt to commit all things into God’s hand because He cares for me. God answers prayer. I have received directions, solutions, ideas and strategies at the altar of prayer. So I pray always.
“If you know what you want, you are more apt to recognize it when you see it.”
If you know what you want, when you see it you will recognize it. When you have a vivid description of a person when you see that person, you will recognize him/her. In running an NGO when I see implementing partners that has the same goal/ objectives like us, I recognize them. When I saw the opportunity at USAID elearning in Global Health, because I know what I want, I quickly enrolled and today I have more than twenty-Six Certificates courses ranging from Malaria, HIV/AIDS among others.
3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so how?
These ideas ranging from committing all things into God’s hand have been a major backbone in my personal life and our organizational existence for without Him I/we cannot do anything. God delight in hard work and prospers our hand work, there is dividend in hard working. I have no limitation to that extent, I will go in life with PMA. I am the most important existing person on earth because I have no prototype or duplicate and to value others because we need each other to survive.
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 have everything to gain and nothing to lose by trying: success is achieved and maintained by those who keep trying with PMA.”
This statement is particularly interested to me because by training experience is acquired. It is sustained by continuous training and the same is applicable when I meet the pretty and beautiful damsel that I want to marry, by telling her my interest in her, I have loose nothing whether she accept or not and by her acceptance, I have gained everything.
“A skill in day to day living which adds up to a happy and love filled life is success.”
Our organization’s dynamic community and school public health programs on Lassa fever prevention and hygiene promotion during the recent outbreak in schools, malaria elimination, reproductive health (sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS) education and capacity building, water, sanitation and hygiene, family planning small focus groups discussion with teenage and couples of reproductive age, menstrual hygiene management as well as our multivitamin nutrition program targeting pregnant women, lactating mothers and under five children in the remote communities makes me feel happy and successful. I derived joy in impacting rural poor and vulnerable groups.
“Every adversity has the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit.”
Adversity tends to expose one to life experience the good and ugly. The affluent and despondent all face a measure of adversity. Just like the Biblical Joseph went through a season of adversity for thirteen years. Bible said “Until the word of the Lord came to pass in his life the same word tried him” he passed through series of adversity which was a part way to his greatness and success in life. Personally, I have pass through odd times but I strongly believed with an assurance in my spirit that it has a corresponding greatness waiting for me.
“Man’s greatest power lies in the power of prayer.”
Prayer is the ultimate weapon or arsenal for wining every warfare both physical or spirit because Divinity rule in the affairs of humanity. Through prayer, we communicate with God. I have been strengthened and burden lifted in the place of prayer. King Hezekiah was told that he is going to die as to prepare, he face the wall and prayed to God and He added fifteen more years to him. Moses, Daniel and many others prayed, and God answered.
“I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.”
A friend who quit our relationship called after one week she said “I know you are hurt but I know it is for good” I never imagine or felt hurt by her actions. In fact I have praying for God’s direction over the relationship. I believe that God is the master of my fate because for generation he has been directing the path of mankind and I am the captained of my soul controlling the mind and emotion, so the power to feel hurt or not lies on me.
“Nothing is ever accomplished without work.”
Reading is work, mobilizing communities and schools on public health dynamic programs is work. I make it a work and I do it as a work. I feel blissful and delightful working by writing even answering my IIGL assignment, writing proposals, developing our organization’s strategic plan, reviewing programs frameworks, budgets and traveling to the remote communities with poor terrain to distribute multivitamin to pregnant women, lactating mothers and under five children.
“Loving people and serving others is the greatest value in life.”
In many occasion, while in the remote communities or school providing public health service whether training schools on menstrual hygiene management or reproductive health (sexually transmitted infection) or providing communities with nutritional supplement or malaria elimination program, we always receive “Thank You” from these people who cannot afford to access these services. With my heart, I see love been expressed and a service to humanity and it give me value.
“And the highest ideal of man is the will of God.”
In the Bible, God has a plan/ purpose for Joseph. To use him to preserved unto Himself a posterity. Moses was born to be a deliverer of his people and Jesus Christ was born to died for the sin and save mankind. I exist in this world under the plan and will of my maker as to fulfill a destiny for which I was created. He said in vain is the plan of a man.
“To learn, one must pay the price.”
As I am doing a course in global leadership with IIGL, I have to commit myself to read the materials, summary and post the materials online for assessment and review. That is the price I have to pay to learn.
“Be respectful and listen to those who have experience.”
Our Accountant has experience having worked and retired as an Assistant Director, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation. I respect him and listen to his advice. Many of our team members ranging from former General Manager/ Assistant Director Radio Nigeria and many others bring their experience from their years of service into our dynamic programs and strategic plan.
“The burden of learning to advance is on the person who wants to learn, not on the person who wants to teach.”
The burden of learning to advance in my professional career is on me. If I don’t learn; what will I teach? Teaching is to improve and impact on me the learner. If you don’t learn well you cannot teach well.
“And if parents would devote more time to teaching character, both by precept and example their children would catch and learn this admirable quality so necessary for success.”
Children learn faster and easily by imitation and observation mostly from their parents and teachers. In our school mobilizations on menstrual hygiene management and reproductive health (sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS), we use visuals aid such as projector to facilitate understanding by the pupils and students. There is great likelihood that the children of a drunk or a smoker are likely to follow. The male child of man who commits assaults against the wife is likely to do same.
“Choose your goals! Work toward them! Direct your thoughts, control your emotions, get into action and you ordain your destiny.”
I choose to be a medical practitioner due to my mother’s Asthmatic condition and to help people who are undergoing one medical condition or the other. I started studying hard to gain admission to study Medicine but ended up in Dentistry but am not through yet. I continue to direct my thought to impact humanity, so I found the NGO and enrolled for a Master of Public Health and after that to proceed for Doctor of Public Health. Everything about me is flowing through a definite goal, the community intervention programs is indicating reaching it and my destiny have I ordained.
“To get rid of that guilty feeling, get into action.”
I have observed that help which you refuse to render will hurt you. My friend was travelling, along the way he meet an accident victims and because of the time schedule of the meeting he was rushing to, he did not stop to render a helping hand to the victims but on getting to the meeting venue, he realized that the meeting has just ended but the hurt remain within him even as he was telling me the story.
“A guilty feeling can teach you consideration for others.”
The guilty feeling my friend I stated early went through made him to say that “no matter the urgency of his schedule that he will always give a helping hand”. Having suffered hunger I understand others when they say that they are hungry because I have been there.
“Happiness begins at home.”
Most of our time is spent at home with our families. Showing concern and care for others show them that you care and that bring happiness. Personally, when someone is helping me to do something, I feel this happiness within me that someone is giving me a helping hand.
“They do not realize that when you withhold from others that which you have which good and desirable, your own portion of the good and desirable diminishes.”
I love when people are improving as I am doing. The more I release the good and desirable in me, the more I improve and advance because I will seek new things to release.
“There is very little difference in people, but that difference is attitude.”
We human are the same in our anatomical and physiological make-up despite our colour, race and ethnicity but our attitude to things differs. Our behaviour and manner of approach to life events and situation makes the difference. As Deb, will approach a situation will be quite different from how Dan will. Hope it true Deb.
“Always have something to live for.”
With millions of people living below $1 daily and without access to health care, water, sanitation and hygiene in Sub-Saharan Africa. Millions dying from sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS, diarrhea, pneumonia and malnutrition globally. The need to improve these lives keeps me alive.
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so why?
The comment “The more civilized, cultured and refined you are, the easier you can control your emotions and feelings.”
I want to say that “The more civilized, cultured and Spiritually refined you are, the easier you can control your emotion and feelings. Because man is a spirit being as well possess body and soul.” God is the master of my fate because for generation he has been directing the path of mankind and I am the captained of my soul controlling the mind and emotion, so the power to feel hurt or not lies on me.
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercise and did you find them helpful?
No, the book did not contain any exercise for the reader to complete.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous question? If so, please comment.
None.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 10
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10
How to Win Friends and Influence People in the Digital Age
Assessment by Daniel Iroegbu (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
Our daily encounter and interactions with people is an avenue to make new friends and influence people through our behavior, approach and reaction to life events”.
2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your life.
i. “The art of communication is the language of leadership.”
During my final interview with the Atlas Corps and Young African Leadership Initiative/ Mandela Washington Fellowship, the interviewer asked me the qualities of a good leader? It is the ability to convince and mobilize others to follow.”
ii. “You leave someone either a little better or a little worse.”
I have actually worked with a man after by graduation whose principle and way of living really left me better than he meet me, he impacted into me without him knowing, he always narrate his life experiences, struggles and his observations in the little time he has lived”.
iii. “You can make more friends in two months by becoming more interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get people interested in you.”
This idea is so powerful, I have been acquitted with friends who take time to care by asking after my welfare, I remembered the first time I called my girl friend in the early morning, it was a memorable day to her and she did confess her appreciation for that care and gesture.
iv. “People follow you because of who you are and because of what you’ve done for them.”
People followed you because of your purpose, honesty and integrity. People volunteered in our community outreaches, get committed and engrossed with the public good and our public health intervention for the purpose they see us living.
v. “If you are wrong, admit it.”
Many conflicts and quarrels has been averted by simply saying am sorry. It makes me take responsibility for my actions.
vi. “When we observed that a person’s behavior has an ulterior motive, he has less influence with us than someone we’ve met only once.”
We tend to associate well with stranger who are in our team, whether they are good or bad but the moment we have a premonition that they have bad characters, we start becoming skeptical about them.
vii. “The reasons we do things are more important than the things we do.”
When purpose is not known, abuse is evitable, if I don’t have a purpose for founding the organization, I may as well not have a justifiable vision and mission statements.
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?
Communication and leadership that deals with mobilizing others to follow a justifiable course has helped me in partnering with schools stakeholders in mobilizing schools on public health interventions. These improved students’ knowledge and provide an opportunity to invest and impact lives through the organization’s dynamic public health programs.
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.
“Soft skills such as compassion and empathy drive hard skills such as programming, operation and design to a rare effectiveness.”
If an employee is ill and the employer make out time to call or even visit, most time it goes a long way to effect the employees perception of the employer, and his work performance.
“Every downfall was triggered by the executive’s inability to connect with employees on a tangible and meaningful level.”
I remembered the day I quit as the Program Officer in our organization, my boss felt so bad, in one occasion I visited him, and he reminded of the project we designed together, that am not available to execute it. I was meaningful and resource to the organization but the tangible and meaningful aspect of my life is not been connected to, though, I was there to learn NGO operations.”
“We lose the faith of friends, family members and others when we follow the steps of relational success without feeding the essence of the relationship, the measuring and meeting of human needs.”
My kid sister ones said to my friend, if am not her brother, she would have done everything possible to marry me. I pondered over the statement, and realized that I go extra miles to show her care and ask after her needs. I even buy sanitary for her.”
“When we behave in ways that be friend and positively influence others, we tap a deeper well of.”
When I accommodate my assistant, working with him and let him in the organization’s vision and goal, he could not reserve his own resource because he has buy into the vision and fulfilling purpose in it.”
“People are moved when their interactions with you always leave them a little better.”
Personally, I have burden, but kneeling in prayer and studying the word of God to know the mind of God over that burden, has always left me better than and getting me on my feet to move on.
“The reasons we do things we do are more important than the things we do.”
I may see water on the floor, wiping it off will prevent domestic accident of fall especially on a slippery floor. Improving nutritional needs maternal and child health is more important than moving from one hard to reach rural community to another.”
“Every man is entitled to be valued for his best moment.”
Capitalizing on someone’s best moment to boost his morale goes a long way to build him up and instigate him toward a healthy part. Personally, if I receive praise for a particular job well done, I will strive to be more proactive.”
“When we treat man as he is, we make him worse than he is, when we treat him as if he is already what he potentially could be, we make him what he should be.”
Many young fellows particularly follow a profession just because when they are been asked? What do you want to be when you grow up? Their response necessitates most often how the person is been addressed at home may Doc, Bar that has potentially pushed many to end up in one profession or the other.”
“We are not enemies, but friends, we must not be enemies.”
God made us to compliment and help each other and not to fight each other; we need each other to survive.”
“No worthwhile business relationship, whether with your own people or customers and partners can endure without mutual respect.”
Respect is a reciprocal; we drive well in our relationship when there is a mutual respect. Personally, I know I have withdrawn from relationship that has slander and despises and to be with those who take me and willing to accept me for who I am.
“Influencing others is not a matter of out smarting them, it is matter of discerning what they truly want and offering it to them in a mutually beneficially package.”
A friend possesses a strategy in school management, the Proprietress observed that commended. But she does not want a mutual benefit for his input, he quit and she complained bitterly”
“Getting people to agree about virtually anything is particularly impossible.”
I have been in meetings where constructive criticisms are viewed as antagonism because the leader does not want everyone to see things from his own perspective.”
“Smile is an important social asset.”
I remembered with a warm smile telling someone that her dress is gorgeous, she reciprocate immediately with a response really! Smile to a baby, you receive a warm smile in return. It is contagious.”
“It is clear that our names can hold value today but lest we e tempted to forget, knowing others names can lead to greater success.”
Smiling and addressing strangers by their names has availed me greater opportunity to interact and receive more attention. People like to be addressed by their names instead of hiss.
“The power of listening is the power to change heart and minds. It is the power of giving people what they most desire to be heard and understood.”
Amaka will always tell me, you know I like gossiping and you Dan like listening, we both laugh. People are looking for someone to listen to them and understood them.
“Successful leaders are always initiators.”
They mobilize others to take a positive course for public good.
“Surrendering the credit is a way of life you cultivate in your relationship because you are grateful for them and for what they give to you.”
I found out that, allowing other people to take the credit, for achievements motivate them to go extra mile to engage in the vision and mission.
“When we acknowledge the value a person has to our organization, we establish a positive tone for open communication.”
“Someone said, if you don’t treat your employee’s well, they will use your internet to search for a new job. You tend to less productive when you felt not been appreciated”.
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 exercise for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercise and did you find them helpful?
Yes, I completed the exercise and they were helpful.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous question? If so, please comment.
None.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 7
B. How helpful were the contents? 7
C. How easy was it to understand? 6
D. Would you recommend it to others? 6
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 6