As A Man Thinketh
Assessment by Felix Iziomoh (Nigeria)
Part 1 – Content Review
The book has to do with the way man thinks and the character he exhibited. man is the master of thought, the molder of character, and the maker and shaper of condition, environment, and destiny. As a being of power, intelligence, and love, and the lord of his own thoughts, man holds the key to every situation, and contains within himself that transforming and regenerative agency by which he may make himself what he wills. Man is the maker of his character, the molder of his life, and the builder of his destiny, he may unerringly prove, if he will watch, control, and alter his thoughts, tracing their effects upon himself, upon others and upon his life and circumstances.
Thought and character are one, and as character can only manifest and discover itself through environment and circumstance, The body is the servant of the mind. He who would accomplish little need sacrifice little; he who would achieve much must sacrifice much. He who would attain highly must sacrifice greatly.
Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become. Your vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; your ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil. You will be what you will to be; Let failure find its false content In that poor word, “environment,” But spirit scorns it, and is free.
A perfect knowledge perceives the action of law in the weakness of the oppressed and the misapplied power of the oppressor. A man can only rise, conquer, and achieve by lifting up his thoughts. He can only remain weak, abject, and miserably by refusing to lift up his thoughts.
I found the book meaningful in the sense that it relates to human beings, the way human thinks and it also explains the kind of character one would try to have how to relate to people with meet both the ones we know and the ones we do not know, it is also meaningful in the sense that one should not be greedy, try to sacrifice what you have, be content with what you have. That man holds the key to there life, what ever goes wrong he is the cause of it.
One should try and control the mind because the mind directs the body.
It is also meaningful because it talks about what is happening in life, and how man can manage and conquer life, leave a healthy life, try to be honest in whatever one does.
That man should always have good taught, because good taught brings good things and more value in life.
Part 2 – Personal Impact
As a human, I have noticed the certain things are got by certain conditions. In general, It is hoped that for every thing I want, I have to work for it, but not everything I want I get by working for it. My relationship with people sometimes is based on what I seek. I had a girl friend who showed me much love then I did to her only after a while did I realized she was been sincere because she wanted to settle down, being a student and with what is obtainable in the campus, I can’t stand the ‘imprisonment’ of a woman monitoring me back and forward. I need to move and hang with as many girls as I want, so I did not consider her offer a big deal.
Each time I wanted sex she would want me to promise ‘heaven and earth’ to stick to her when I could invite a girl and she would give in to me without hesitation.
I remember a time, I had a brawl with an old friend which turned into a serious fight just started a joke. We were talking about a friend of ours who was given a job with a multinational from just because he was considered a good caddy who need to be uplifted in statue and pay only then did this friend reminded me that I only considered what I stand to gain from a person before I open up to that person as a friend. Some friends are there to make me cry while some bring laughter. But how hard it is to stretch for a hand shake with someone who bring you pain and misery, but in truth that’s life. By the concept of friend before now, a friend should be there for me and bring me happiness and nothing more.
My values, the economy and country policy have displayed what I would consider my values, I believe in hardwork, honesty and I consider very precious my integrity as a young man. I had a job before I eventually give it up for school. I tend to value things on earth because they are created by God, I always tell people that they should value what they have, what ever I values I always try not to loose them, because it will be painful when I loose my valuables.
I have many goals in which I want to fulfill before I die, and I also believe everything on earth has his or her own goals, what I did about mine is that I jot them down in a paper where any time I looked at it, it keeps motivating me to work hard, think more on how to achieve these goals, My thought, character, and sincerity has to do with how am going to acquire these goals. One thing I believe is that I am a goal getter, I pursue my goals, I never give up to things easily. Whenever I sat for exams and the result came out, if I did not pass the exams I would still retake the exams because if I give up that is the beginning of failure.
This book as a man thinketh relate to my personal issues in the sense that when I was working before I left for school, while working I didn’t like the job owing to the fact that the salary was too small, no job security and my employer then in my own words was ‘stingy’. He wanted me to work more and so I devised a means of compensation. Sometimes I will not go to work in pretext of being sick or some other reasons as situation warrant discover that some employer would want more, for less and conversely. Now things have changed and I hope to keep with me some of the moral values learnt from the book.
I try to increase my savings by deceiving my employer, whenever I resumed for duty I will pretend as if am working hard in which am not, it was later I discover the principles that I have to increased my workload by putting my best so my salary would be increased and I will also be promoted.
Part 3 – Summary
The overall summary of the book in my own sense is that, am using the chapters as the main points of the book. In chapter one we have thought and character which has to do with the thought of man and the character he shows or gives out, in chapter two we have the effects of thoughts on circumstances, it has to do with the negative effects of thoughts on circumstances.
In chapter three we have effects of thoughts on health and body, I value these chapter very much because it has to do with what am studying health and longevity of the body, these chapter is very interesting and I concentrated more on these chapter, it brought me more sense and knowledge that are very useful to my course. In chapter four, thought and purpose, here we look at our purpose of thinking, why we think, the vision I have for myself.
In chapter five thought factor in achievement, what man achieves and what he fails to achieves can be the direct result of his thought, how he reasons to achieve his desire, goals etc.
Chapter six, visions and deals one should cherish his visions and deals in life, and to try and obtain my desire in life and achieve what I aspire as well, with all these my life will be fun and sweet, I should dream lofty dreams and as I dream so shall I become, I also get to know that my vision is the promise of what I shall one day be, my ideal is the prophecy of what I shall at last unveil.
And the last Chapter that read about serenity, that calmness, that I should be calm in everything, I should be cheerful because cheerful of the mind brings joy and happiness.
What I think about the book is that, the book is an inspirational book, and it has motivated me and help me to know more about life, for me to obtain my desire and achieve what I aspire in life, it also taught me how to reason and it gives me insight of some words I have never come across before, I value the book in that it has inspired me so much, it is very interesting and it has practical value in my life in the area where I used as an example of myself, because I have done what the book talks about, about an employer. What I found most helpful in the book is the effects of thought on health and body because it has to do with what am studying, thought and character, visions and deals, serenity I also find them helpful. But what I found least helpful is the effects of thought on circumstances.
Talking about recommending the book to others, I have talked to my friends about the book and they are interested in the institute of global leadership, and they read little page of the book and they said is a nice book if one can get the original copy.
Jonathan Livingston seagull
Assessment by Flelix Iziomoh (Nigeria)
Part 1 – Content Review
Jonathan Livingston seagull is a sea bird who loves to fly, not only fly but to fly higher, Jonathan Livingston seagull did not intend to search for food from the shore but what matters is the for him to fly. what I believe is that Jonathan Livingston wants to discover, Jonathan was giving an advice that the search of food is what he should go for not to fly, because someday boats will be few and the surface fish will be swimming deep. If Jonathan must study he should study food and how to get food, because the reasons for him to fly is to get food. In the sense that he can eat fish in the sea instead of flying, struggling for scraps of fish and bread is not the way out he then suggest a way by learning how to fly.
It got to a stage that Jonathan sank in the water where he can not find his way out, he then remembered what his father told him, so he decided to be content with the way he is. To Jonathan boredom, fear and anger are the reasons that a gull life is so short. Seagulls never fly in the dark, these means that sea birds are not meant to fly in the dark if they are to fly, that is the reason they do not have eyes like owl. Jonathan has been a fool al the while he has been flying high.
Jonathan flew to heaven and discover that earth had been a place where he had learned much about fighting for food and being outcast. The important thing of living is to reach out and touch perfection, thereby using what you have to fight for food. There is more to life than eating, meaning that there is more one can find in life than just eating, fighting or power, getting the ideas that our purpose for living is to find perfection and show perfection. We choose our next world through what we learn from the first one, that is we learn from our past mistakes, when one learn nothing in the first world the next world is the same as the first one. When one reached his peak one has to know that he has already arrived. That Jonathan should stop seeing himself as trapped inside a limited body, that is Jonathan should discover himself and go out and not be locked up. He who sees fastest flies highest.
The memory of Jonathan Livingston seagull’s life on earth was falling away, he has learned much on earth about fighting for food and being an outcast. Jonathan forgot the right way where he had come from not caring where he was headed , living for the moment. You needed to understand flying, that is other seagulls need to understand what it takes to fly and where they will fly to before they start flying .
Part 2 – Personal Impact
The book has a personal impact in my life, as a person I tend to believe on what is called faith, what I can do and what I cannot do, I also believe that my purposes of being on earth is to make an impact, touch the life of other people.
I also wants to discover my self by doing the extra ordinary, going beyond my expectation, any little opportunity I have, I’d grab it fast. I also believe that certain things are got by certain conditions, it is also hoped that I cannot just depend on the things around me, I have to look out for some more things that I can take as a substitute.
I have a practical value in my life concerning these book, when I was in the swimming pool with my colleagues in school, swimming is part of my course which I have to pass and not only pass but to have a good grades. So every Saturday we have a practical class in swimming, then I do not know how to swim because I have never swim before.
The first Saturday was to enter the pool, get use to the water and overcome the fear of water, later we were ask to start the some little skills in swimming which at the early stage is very difficult and as a beginner. I now discover later that if I did not do much of what am expected of , I would not achieve the grade I needed, so every Saturday I would go for the practical class and some swimming skills and all types of strokes before my instructor comes, then I believe it was faith that would make me achieve the grade I needed but I discover later that with constant practice and training I will be perfect in swimming. That was what Jonathan Livingston seagull did, he flew different times at different miles, from hundred of miles to thousands of miles until he got to heaven where he thought that he has reached his destination.
I value what people says as in they tend to give me courage and advice on how to overcome fear, boredom and fight for what I need to get. My values are those things that I know is really worth to have as your own, one thing I know is that I always fight for what I value most in life, I struggle for the things that are useful to me.
I acquire my goals by striving hard, struggle , put in my best, be dedicated to what I do. My goals to have a good grades then in the swimming class which at the end of the course I had what I needed. He who see farthest fly highest, these means if one see beyond what he expected he will reach the highest peak in life.
I belief in ‘want something get it’ I like to get what I wanted as far as that courage and good effort is there. These book relates to issues in my life because in swimming class we have different people with different goals and beliefs, every body wants to have the best and be the best,
I also like listening to the words of elders, because of there experience like the saying that ‘what a young man can see standing an old man can see seating’ .
Part 3 – Summary
What I think about the book is that if Jonathan Livingston seagull did not make any attempt of flying high he wouldn’t have reached heaven, more so when he was advice to study fish and how to get fish, he decided to learn how to fly because flying is what he prefer since he has wings to fly, he was later advice that someday the water would get dry and there would be no fish in the water so he concentrated more on flying.
The book is more valuable to me because it makes me understand the fact that one should always go beyond his way sometimes to discover other things in life, I should always spread my talents and dream high, see the farthest and reach the highest. The book has also motivated me to increase in my struggle in life, I should not be content with what I have there are other things I need to strive for in life.
The book is very interesting, most especially the part where Jonathan sank low in the water where he can not find his way out, another part is where he know the reasons of his living, that it is to reach out to people and tough perfection. Another part I found interesting is where he flew in the dark and he was told that seagulls do not fly in the dark that is why they do not have eyes like the owl.
The part I found most helpful is where they said he who see farthest fly highest and the part I found least helpful is when he was in heaven .
What I disagree about the book is the spellings of some of the words, they are not properly spelt out I had to search in the dictionary so I can correct the words and understand what the page is talking about.
Very well I will recommend the book to my friends in school and at home.
Success Through Positive Mental Attitude
PART 1 – Content Review
The content review which are significant to me are the 17 success principles and why I found them meaningful Is that it made me to understand that success is attainable when one adds these principles and these principles must be properly applied to avoid failures in life.
Another significant point is the successful techniques for changing my world and to identify myself with an image that will inspire me to make the right decisions. Why I find these meaningful is that it will bring out the hidden potentials in me rather something that will make people to know me and when faced with different problems I would be able to make the right decisions in solving these problems.
What the mind of a man can conceive and believe, the mind of a man can achieve with positive mental attitude, that is to say what a man wants in life, with more work towards these and he believe he can have it, the mind of the man can achieve it if he uses the 17 success principles. The positive mental attitude will motivate the mind of the man to achieve these.
The story of Socrates and xanthippe is also another significant points to me, where Socrates reportedly said that his aim in life is to get along well with people that is the reason he chooses xanthippe because he knew if he could get on well with her then he could get on well with anyone, to me it simply means to be happy with xanthippe it will also make him happy with people. That is his emotional attitude has something to do with these.
Another points that is significant to me is the word electroencephalograph known as EEG, an apparatus use for recording brain waves, I found the words meaningful because I have never come across it in my anatomy and physiology text book, I only know about the ECG which is electrocardiograph an apparatus use for recording the heart waves.
‘Is there a short cut to Riches’? is another points that is significant to me because sometimes there are things I want to achieve but without going through the normal process, I would want to follow the short cut, now I have realized that with the application of the 7 success principles I must think with my positive mental attitude to follow the direct route.
The more civilized, cultured and refined you are, the easier you can control your emotions and feelings, these simply means that if one is not civilized, cultured and refined the way he or she will see or accept things will be different from the way a civilized, cultured and refined person will, some uncivilized person do not control there emotions because they have not experience life to some extent.
Another main points I found important is if one can attract happiness? This is meaningful to me because everyday I try to be happy even if someone offend me, at least there are some times when I would not be in a good mood but I still try to be myself, be happy with myself, and try to put happiness on peoples face, joy on there lips to make them happy.
PART 2 – Personal Impact
How these book relate to my personal situation in life in terms of my relationships, in my relationships I use some of the 17 success principles, I never knew it is more important until I read the book success through a positive mental attitude, although I use the pleasing personality, to please friends and relations, I try to make them happy, sometimes I please them and displease myself which gives me joy because my mind will be at rest, making them happy does not necessary means all my friends though the few ones that I can make it up if I have the capacity or if it comes to that. Self discipline is another success principles I adopt in relationships, when I meet new friends or in a social gathering with friends and relations, I have these self discipline which I always watch out for, discipline myself and be little more principled, I always watch what comes out from my mouth, that is what I say, what I do, whenever my ideas are needed I will think properly before any action is to be taking.
Teamwork is another points, in school this is where these principle is been applied, teamwork is one great principle I enjoy when am with my colleagues in school, when an assignment is giving maybe individual or group assignment, I like to make it a team work so that we can get good result out of these, but the individual assignment we will make it different because we are not expected to write the same answer, here everybody will contribute by bringing ideas. Time budgeting and money budgeting, time budgeting here means how I keep to my time with friends and relations, my time are so precious to me that is what I use to tell people, time waits for no one, what has to be done at a particular time has to be done, there should be no procrastination, budgeting ones money is another thing, most of my friends do not know how to budget there money, the way they get it they will spend, some will tell me that if you do not spend you will not receive, but I tell them is a lie, not that kind of spend they meant, is spending by investing on people giving to the needy, assisting the less privilege, like what I am doing giving some of my time to the community service by volunteering to assist them.
I value my life most, because there is nothing as having a good health, enjoy good life and live longer. My friend once told me that you do not know what you have until you loose it, but I let him understand that I know what I have but I do not want to loose it, that is my life which I value so much and I enjoy very well. That is the reason why I focus on the chapter seventeen of the success through a positive mental attitude which is ‘you can enjoy Good health and live longer’. I have seen many rich men and women who are sick, some emotionally, some spiritually, some physically, some mentally, they have money yet they are not happy. Some has big home but they can not sleep inside there home, some can not sleep well because of the atrocities they have committed. To enjoy good health, I want to be positive minded, think properly, good health attract happiness, most times I find it difficult to relax at home, people like disturbing, they would not allow you to rest when you are free, most of the time I would go to my friend house to relax to avoid disturbances.
I have goals which I think about everyday, the goals before is how am going to have good grades in school, graduate without having extra semester and extra year. With these book, I have been motivated to pay the price, my time now has become very useful to me, how I manage my time matters a lot to me, I have understood that a day I have 1440 minutes, out of these 1440 minutes one percent which is 14 minutes would be use in studying, thinking and planning, these would assist me in receiving ideas that I would use in achieving my goals. I have also understood how to set my goals, firstly, write them down, then give myself a deadline, that is a specify time for achieving it, set standards as high as I can achieve, that is the higher I set my goals the more concentrated will be my effort to achieve it. Motivating myself to achieve my goals and also motivating others when I need them to do specific work for me. In achieving my goals the issue of procrastination will not help me in achieving these goals.
PART 3 – Summary
In summary, the book success through a positive mental attitude, is an encouraging book, which I would like to read over and over ,it as really inspire and motivate me in achieving things I desire, how I would cherish what I value in life, with the success quotient analysis, I answered the question that is been asked and most of the answer I choose are correct, that is to show how I have used the 17 success principles,
The book is valuable and I have said to myself that I will not lend it out, that is to show how valuable the book is to me, what I found interesting about the book are the case studies presented. It represent real stories because it will assist in finding solutions to specific problems. Also the ten basic motives which inspire human action, that is the desire for self-preservation, the emotion of love, the emotion of fear, the emotion of sex, the desire for life after death, the desire for freedom of body and mind, the emotion of anger, the emotion of hate, the desire for recognition and self – expression and finally the desire for material gain. What I also find interesting is that the problems that involves a misunderstanding with other persons, one must first of all start with oneself. There are more to life than what sees the eyes, it has motivated me on how set my goals , giving myself deadline in acquiring my goals, to specify time in acquiring my goals and to set standards as higher as I can achieve.
What I found most helpful is the 17 successful principles and what I found least helpful is the advice that if one does not have money, one should use other peoples money, why I find it least helpful is that when one borrow money from the bank or use the money that is been entrust in the persons hand if there is no way to pay back, there one would now be having negative taught, on how to run away or do something nasty.
Of course , I would recommend the book to people, at least what I have read I have discuss it with few friends and they are interested in the book.
Psycho-Cybernetics 2000
PART I – content Review
The main points which were most significant to me and why I found them meaningful. These points are the letters of word Dr Maltz used such as. SUCCESS, FAILURE, CRAFT, SEEDS, SMART.
SUCCESS
S-ense of direction
U-nderstanding
C-ourage
C-harity
E-steem
S-elf confidence
S-elf acceptance
FAILURE
F-rustration
A-ggressiveness
I-nsecurity
L-oneliness
U-ncertainty
R-esentment
E-mptiness
CRAFT
C-ancel old negative data
R-eplace with new, positive data
A-ffirm your new self- image
F-ocus on an image of success
T-rain yourself in your new attitudes and behaviour.
SEEDS
S-ituation
E-valuation
E-motions
D-o
S-elf esteem
SMART
S-pecific
M-easureable
A-ction oriented
R-ealistic
T-ime conscious
I found these words meaningful because it explains how I can build my self esteem and self image, and the way I will tackle failures and achieve success, it gives me a sense of direction that enables me to steer a path among all choices to find the ones that are right for me. Understanding things the way they comes, understanding people feelings, courage to me means to be bold, to face opposition from without or within to pursue to my goals.
To me these points are so significant in the sense that it has giving me the courage, sense of direction, self confidence and self acceptance to solve problems when they arise because surely problems will definitely arise as one is climbing the ladder of success, one should ignore opposition, oppositions are distraction.
Another method is the CRAFT method which is another important point I found helpful, whenever I have a negative taught about something, I should always say ‘CANCEL’ then replace it with new, positive data, then affirm my new image and focus on the image to have a successful me then finally train myself for a lasting change.
Another method is the SMART method, these method is meaningful to me on how to set my goals and how to achieve the goals I have set. The points has also taught me how to set my goals and target on them, by making my goals specific, set measurable goals, develop an action plan for the goals, decide what goals are realistic for me and set the time conscious goals.
Another method is the SEEDS method, to me these means when problem arise first thing to do is to see the situation of things, then evaluate the situation and see where the problem is coming from, and whose fault is it, then shift my emotions to fit the evaluation after that I should do something about the situation lastly self esteem will follow, and this is when relieve on anxiety over the situation will come to restore self esteem.
Another points I found helpful is the principles of subconscious mind and the principles of conscious mind.
Subconscious Mind Principles
* The agreement principle: these always says ‘yes’ to everything the conscious mind tells it.
* The compliance principle: the subconscious mind always moves in the direction in which the conscious mind points.
Conscious Mind Principles.
* The selection principle: the conscious mind looks at options and makes purposeful choices among them.
*The elimination principle: once the conscious mind has made its selection all other possible options are eliminated for that given moment.
Developing a ‘fake it till you make attitude’, this is also meaningful to me, as in I should never give up in achieving success, most people give up there success because they feel they cannot continue with what they have started, one should just continue to strive for success and focus on the new self image and keep on behaving as though one has already achieved success. Nothing good ever comes easy so one should develop the fake it till you make it attitude.
PART 2 – Personal Impact
Before the text on psycho cybernetics 2000, I had my ideas about certain event, situation, behavior etc on issues. I believe every individual in life has a starting point. A lot of people have been affected by certain articles they must have read. The book has a lot of paragraph that I undoubtedly agree with. These paragraphs and articles will most certainly influence my entire life these I am very sure of.
The personal impact and practical value which these book has made me to understand in life is that it has made me understand how to programmed myself for success, how set my own targets, more so how to cope successfully with severe emotional blows, how to determine what personal and career goals are right for me, how to develop and stay with an action plan for achieving my goals, how to overcome discourage while pursuing my goals, how to manage my time efficiently, how to anticipate and prepare for career changes, how to upgrade mutual understanding in interpersonal relationships, how to develop courage of taking risks, how to accept myself non-judgmentally, how to cope with new responsibilities without feeling ooverwhelmed, how to recognize and correct aggressive behavior, how to break the hold of self destructive feelings of resentment, how to respond constructively to negative criticism, how to keep negative thoughts from eroding your self esteem, how to overcome habits of shyness and self consciousness that may be keeping me from achieving a loving relationships, how to develop feelings of competence and confidence about learning new skills. With these practical value I would now practice these points and see how is going to impact my life.
The Ideas or major points that relate to my personal situation in life such as my relationships, the relationships am going to relate these book is about my friends, what I get to understand about relationships is not what I have always wanted the relationships to be sometimes, before I choose a friend I try to understand the person and visualize things and think well before I make a person my friend. I have come across different people of different place, background, culture, and race which some are good and some bad, but the good ones sometimes turn out to be the bad ones while the bad ones tend to be good. Good in the sense that they are open minded, free with you, discuss personal issues and share life experience with me, while some are bad, they hide there feelings and even plan bad for me some when they heard that am trying to achieve success they will be angry instead of been happy with me. I use to have negative thought about friends because of my past experience, but with psycho cybernetics 2000, I have understood some method of erasing these negative thinking, with the ‘CRAFT’ method. Which I now realized that I need to cancel old negative data, replace it with positive data, affirm myself image, focus on my image to success and train myself in my attitude and behaviors.
For example, there was a time a friend came to me that he has a business that will fetch both of us money, and that I should bring some amount of money so we can execute these business, then I was having these negative thought that I should not drop the money but another mind was telling me to drop the money, I now drop the money so two days later I got a reply from the guy that the business did not go well, I would have listen to the other mind that was telling me not to drop the money but I later realize that life generally is risk, I took a risk in the business and I should forget about it and move ahead in life. So there is no short cut to success.
I value my integrity and love for humanity, my integrity and love for humanity is what I value most in life, I would somebody to rubbish me or bring me to low, but sometimes I do away with my integrity because I feel it is not needed in some cases. I also engage in volunteer because I value love for humanity that is helping in a community, I offer myself to them it brings me joy to put smile on their face and laughter on there lips, I try to love people I meet daily both old and new ones, and try to make them happy, though I can make everybody I meet happy but the few ones that I can make happy I will also be happy with myself.
I have tried to achieve many goals in life, but the way I tend to achieve these goals is what matters to me, everyone has his or her own goals in life but the way an individual set his or her target is what matters to them. Though before I read psycho cybernetics 2000, I have set the way I want to achieve my goals in a book, according to the way I want it to be, now I have realized how to achieve my goals in a successful way by using a method as ‘SMART’ making my goals Specific, I should set Measurably goals, I should develop an Action plan, I should decide what goals are Realistic to me and I should be Time conscious in the goals.
I believe in trying to make happiness a habit, though I believe in fake it till I make it, but I never knew is a good idea but now that I have read the book I know no is a good thing to do to reach my desire goals. There are sometimes when I have these false beliefs about myself, like for instance what I believe I can do very well there would be these fearful act that will rise up to me. For example there is these lady I met sometimes ago, but there is no moral attitude, my intention was to call her on phone and ask her out for lunch, I was so anxious then because I just met her but there is these fear in me, my believe then was that I was too small to ask her out, now psycho cybernetics 2000 has made me to identify my false beliefs.
PART 3 – Summary
Overall summary about psycho cybernetics 2000, is that it has inspire me so much and motivate me to things that I have been having negative thinking about. It is very interesting is what one can read over and over without getting bored. The book is very helpful to me, it has encourage me a lot because am these kind of person that procrastinate a lot, but now the book has made me to understand what effect procrastinate has to do in a person, it has made me to learn how to overcome irritational fears, it has also expand my personal views in life and how to acquire success. It has also made to know that loneliness is not good and how to have a healthier life.
The book has practical value in my life with the experience I have read from the book, some of the experiences has been affected by friends I know here, most of the stories are interesting and inspiring, what I found most helpful is the case studies presented in the book because it represent real individuals stories because it will help me in finding solutions to specific problems, and what I found list helpful is the drug-free tranquilizers.
I will recommend the book to people to share the experience I have derived from it. Though I have been discussing it to friends and they are interested in the book.
Real Magic, Creating Miracles In Everyday Life
Assessment by Iziomoh Felix (Nigeria)
Part One – Contents
The main idea in the book by DR.WAYNE.W.DYER’s real magic, are on sensitizing the mind on the reason for existence. The book looks at life from the beginning of a man’s journey to the end.
The first part of the book looks at the processes of enlightenment. This according to the book comes in three phases, enlightenment through suffering, outcome and purpose and everything therein revolves round this views. According to the passages enlightenment through suffering is the act of learning. There we are told that the learning is through a rethink of what has happen, the outcome of an event or disaster teach the person how to read meaning to life and that people at this level never learn from any other means except through suffering.
The second aspect of learning is through outcome. Here the book explains that people at this point are use to asking “what is in for me”. They use the outcome of event to learn an conclude as what life is all about.
The third and most important aspect of leaning is that which is leaning through purpose, learning through purpose is when we consider as purposeful everything in life. In this paragraph of the book the universe is considered as perfect. It is hoped and believed that from the beginning of life everything is perfectly done and that is what is needed to align with the perfection of life is the human.
Nothing in life is accident not even accident itself. The individual here views everything he encounters as a purpose that leads to another. To move from pain to outcome is a purpose that people must be ready to embrace.
Part Two – Personal Impact
I found this points very important and meaningful because it involves practical aspect of my life. I have always wondered why something happen in my life and never really attached any meaning to it, of something other than physical being connected to it occurrence. Maybe from an unconscious mind I have felt that things happen to teach us lessons, but I have never really concluded that it is for reasons that things happened. If I say I have learnt my lesson from an event it may not occur in the same form or physical combination but it will still come back as earlier and only then will I realize that I should have known.
Two sticks cannot come to someone at the same time to flog him or her but it won’t be easy to know that the second is coming to do the same as the first. In relating the ideas and concept of this book to mine, I would say that, I had an encounter sometimes, I was destine to leave my country after years of working in a groceries store. I gathered everything financially I could find and against the morning of my inner person, I started making friends with those who had experience about traveling. I got admission to a polytechnic then but felt it was a waste of time schooling in my country. All I was interested in was to travel work and make money and of course tell myself that I deserve to be with the big boys.
Everything worked and I traveled, the destination was Canada but I found myself in china and I was left alone with nothing except that I had a return ticket, I came back home looking like a fool and a complete waste.
I had to start all over again this time to return to school which I was again fortunate to get admission again. It is only now that I have realized that I ignored the inner voice.
I have also noticed that I have a job to do here and I need the help of those people I have come across with each day. The intention to travel out is not to serve anybody but to meet my own personal needs and to be respected among my friends and family.
The new concept I have learned from the book real magic is that I am learning to serve, to love and help people in what ever field of vocation I have chosen and to help teach people to do the same in order to make the world a better place. Again, I don’t need anything other than what I have to get to where am going. The book made me to understand that I should also pay attention to the journey and not any destination. Life should be on a purpose and right mind set and the ability to effect change against all odds which will definitely come.
My entire system of operation was affected after reading the book. I took time to view the outcome and practical possibility of the impact in an environment like mine where people behave in what is physical. I now know that I am a soul with a body rather than a body with a soul and the help of constant meditation and setting the plan for my life activities each day. It is therefore important to know that magic exist for a purpose but as indicated in the book, real can never be considered as magic whereas magical things cannot be describe by any body as real, therefore what prompt the writer to choose such a heading for the book but clearly to see the real magic there is the need for us to reveal the miracle within us for us to see the reality of a magic, thinking beyond reasonable and the effort we put into transforming our thought clearly describe the reality of magic.
I have also noted that loving somebody Is not to be focused on what I stand to gain from the person but accepting the person the way the person is an not defining the person by seeking what is missing in the person or wanting the person to be what I want but accepting the person the way he or she is. There are some ideas in the book I would not say totally disagree with but don’t fancy like not asking anything from people. In Nigeria at my level almost everything I need I have to ask somebody. I do not live with my family, I struggle on my own, a fulltime student, how do I feed, cloth and pay my school fees and that’s why I considered traveling in the first place when you see those who have travel with all the goodies they bring and unemployment rate you don’t even think twice about getting out.
The book real magic is trying to create mark in every individual that exist and the idea is to make every person a spiritual being because it is the only way we would truly define our reason or purpose of existence. Again, relating it to people who rose from prison to power and the elimination of segregation and other vices that where used to distinguish people as being different the book send a clear cut message of what is expected from each leader. The ability to affect change against all odds and urge people to tolerate each other.
Part Three – Summary
I would rate the book to be 10 despite the fact that I don’t agree to ask anything from anybody. The book, while I was reading, was spell binding. I could not drop the book for a see, at a point the light went off I had to lit a candle to continue reading the book. The speed by which I was reading the book was very slow because I wanted to catch the message behind each sentence and practically relate it with my life. I also noticed that a point I had to start counting my age and mentioning all that I have achieve.
The content of the book were very easy and flexible to understand each point or sentence led to another thereby creating a platform of flair reading with vocabulary which mean I did not have to get distracted by always consulting the dictionary. The book real magic is very easy to read and understand. Although it is the only book I have read word in word out that is over 300 pages so far, I have read books and novels that are more than 300 pages but does not require or need me to take each word with special attention.
How I wish you would send me more copies of the book so I can save myself the insult of being a bad person. There’s no single person that I told about the book who would not like to have it but I’m not ready to give out the book for a second for any body. I am not being greedy but I have a strong feeling I will only be told stories and there is nothing I can do about it.
I wish to see leadership ideas in everybody I see around me but for people to start thinking like leaders they need to have a reminder like the book real magic so I would recommend it even to fanatics I see around me.
The overall rating of the book is a must read for everybody with no exception.
It is a wonderful life only if the purpose for existing are clearly identified and personal interest and concerned are left to play themselves out.
Unconditional life: Discovering the power to fulfill your dreams.
Assessment by Iziomoh Felix (Nigeria)
1. Discuss the main ideas that you found most important in this book and discuss why they are important to you.
The Ideas I found most important in the book Unconditional life are; the points where the book author says for every marching in there is a marching out, these idea is important to me because I have always had these thoughts that “want something and get it” but you can not get that thing when you are in a static position as in when you did not move from where you are, so one has to move a particular position to get to somewhere, so for one to get to somewhere one has to leave his former place. These idea is important and I like the word the author used that’s: “for every marching in there is a marching out.”
Another idea I found important is in (page 18) is about two people riding the same roller coaster, one is terrified and his body is flooded with stress hormones, causing his immune response plummet, while the other produces a flood of chemicals, such as interferon and interleukin that strengthened his immune system. These two uses same input but there result was opposite because of there different point of view. I found this idea important because we all have different point of view towards something, and our body system react differently to things. For example I can have same problem with a friend but our solutions to these problem can come up differently because we have different point of view.
Another idea I found important is in (page 18) where the author says a person thinks approximately 50,000 different thoughts in a day. I have never come across these before until I read these book, I try to figure these out to see how come our thoughts will be up to 50,000 a day, I arrive at a point to where from one thoughts will leads to another, these idea is important because it gives me an insight of how our brain and the mind works, this is the reason when one thinks too much he or she will develop headache.
Another idea I found important is in (page 8) where Barbara as a young woman set up certain artificial goals of her self that she wanted a beautiful house, adoring husband and children and financial independence by her age forty, so that she could quit working and enjoy her family. I found these point important because I have a set a goal like these that at age 35, I want to be in my beautiful house ,with my adoring wife and children, in a financial independence enjoying with my family.
For every layer of order there is another layer that collapses into disorder. This is important to me because for everything to be in order there must have been a collapses into disorder. I made these as an example for my self, I want money to go to school, and the kind of money that will be sufficient for me, but I realize that for me to look for a job at the same time go to school there will be a collapse in either of my school or the job. So I have to let the job collapse and face my school.
People hurt without knowing the cause and yet seek relief without ultimately finding it. This is another point that is important to me because it has occurred to me most times, but it kept me worried that how can I be hurt without knowing the cause of the hurt ness, I would just seek relief all for me to get fine at the moment.
2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Explain.
My relationships: The idea am relating to my personal circumstances in life as my relationship is with my friend, I have these friend who always discourage me whenever am heading for good, I have really come along way with these guy, these friend always bring me down whenever I want to do something good. But I later found out that am not getting the things I need, I now sit down and think to find out the cause of these. Then I had to march out from him so I can march in to another level. That is why I found the concept of for every marching out there is a marching in.
My beliefs: my beliefs is about for every layer of order there is another layer that collapses into disorder. Why I have these belief is that , there are at times when you want to get something and you find out that for you to get these things, you have to make yourself happy and the person you are getting it from to be unhappy. You have to be satisfied and it will cause the person to be unsatisfied, my friend use to say that if one person own is not bad another person owns will not get better. So for every layer of order there is a layer collapsing into disorder.
My goals: the goals that I have set is just the same as Barbara set when she was young. I have also set the goals because I know with these am going to be happy and live a happy life with my family. I am really striving hard for these goal and I strongly belief that with faith I would accomplish these goals I have set at the stipulated time.
My values: what I value is my health and my life, that is the reason why I took the idea of people hurt without knowing the cause and seek relief without ultimately finding it. I get hurt without knowing the cause of it but at that moment I seek relief all for me to be fine. I value my life because there is a saying that states “an healthy man is a wealthy man.”
3. The most important new ideas or concepts I learned from the book are :
The two people riding the same roller coaster, one is terrified and his body is flooded with stress hormones, causing his immune response to plummet. While the other loves roller coaster and he produces a flood of chemicals, such as interferon and interleukin that strengthened his immune system. Same input , opposite result. This is because of a different point of view, what I have learnt from these concepts is that we all have different point of view to similar things and these makes us different from one another.
Another concepts is where it says in (page 19) that pain is basically a signal of where healing should begin. I have learnt from the book that it is where you have a pain that you will try to heal and that is where the signal would come from.
Another concepts is in (page 32) where the human eye has about 125 millions rods and 7 millions cones implanted on the surface of the retina. Since I have been reading my anatomy and physiology textbook and in my anatomy and physiology class I have never come across these concepts of the eye having about 125 millions rods which is responsible for night vision and the cones 7 millions for the day.
4. Has these book challenge or changed your thinking in any way? If so? explain how.
The book has really challenge my thinking and also changed it. There is something that challenges our thinking everyday and also changed them in one way or the other. The stories in the book is a challenged to one, another challenge is that am just thinking on how to write my own books and the time to sit down to write my own books. All these are what challenges my thinking. More so the story of Liam also change my thinking, that I will always be open to my friends and people around me tell them my difficulties and what is bothering me, share my pains with them.
5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?
The idea I totally disagree with the book is in (page 157) the story Alice Miller describes about a Greek man who owns a restaurant. That beating are necessary in bringing up a child properly. That it is the best way to make the child respect you.
Why I strongly disagree with these idea is that beating a child can not change anything, supposing you are beating a child in the process the child collapses or dead, what will happen? The saying “spare the rod and spoil the child” people mistake it to be beating up the child. There are so many ways one can punish a child for his or her wrong, so beating will not help instead the child will still do what he or she has been ask not to do believing that after all is beating that will end the situation. That is why I disagree with these idea.
6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?
The part I found most helpful in the book are the stories in the book because it gives me challenges on how I can face my social, physiological and psychological life. Another point is the code maharishi expresses in (page 246).
While the part I found least helpful is in page 18 where the author says we feel true love and true hatred for people closest to us. I do not really understand what he is trying to say in that page.
7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.
To me what the book is trying to convey is that unconditional life means a life that is not attach to anything, most times things happen to us and we blame people around for the cause. We do not share our feelings to our love ones. And how we can be our true self when situation arises, the way we see things are also what the book is trying to convey.
The rating about the book goes like these:-
A How interesting was it to read? 9.
B How helpful were the contents? 10.
C How easy was it to understand? 7
D Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9
Your Sacred Self
Assessment by Iziomoh Felix (Nigeria)
1.Discuss the main ideas that you found most important in this book and discuss why they were important to you.
To point out the main ideas in these book, well to be honest if I have to pick the points and going to point out everything in the book. First of all I will start with the story of the Ego and the Spirit, these two were babies in the utero of the wall of their mother’s womb, in a conversation for the sake of clarity. Why I found these idea important, because the ego is my self esteem, and there are seven primary characteristics of the ego are; 1.Ego is my false self, 2.Ego teaches separateness, 3.Ego convinces me of my specialness, 4. Ego is ready to be offended, 5. Ego is cowardly, 6. Ego thrives on consumption, 7. Ego is insane. While the spirit is my soul, my person’s nature.
Another important idea is in page 10, which says “YOU ARE HERE FOR A REASON” It says that, there was an instant in time when we are no where, that is before my conception I was no-where, but in the holy instant I went from no-where to now-here. To me these point is important because before I was born I was no-where then after I was giving birth I now went from no-where to now-here. Now-here means I have a reason to be here and that reason has to be fulfill before I die, because am in these earth for a reason and everybody is in these earth for a reason and we all will die at the appointed time assign for us.
Another important idea is the qualities of heightened awareness which has to become part of one’s daily life as one walk the inner path. These qualities are important to me because to start with the number one quality, which states that you will experience and enhance the meaningfulness of coincidences. I have these belief that when things happen the first time is accident and when it happens the second time is coincidence, now I have learnt and realize that everything that shows up or happen in our life has something to teach us which we learn from.
Another idea is the words wrote by Albert Schweitzer, that every man has to seek in his own way to make himself more noble and to realize his own true worth. It is important to me because every man has to find and search in his own way to make himself more generous and to know his worth, what he is made up and what he is capable of doing.
Another idea is the suggestions for meeting the challenge of freedom this is important because everybody that exist has freedom, that all living things need freedom. Freedom is more important in the sense that when you can move freely, talk freely and follow your higher self life will be more meaningful.
Another important idea is in chapter 2, that states, no matter how much I protest, I am totally responsible for everything that happens to me in my life. This is important because no matter how much I disagree in life, am totally responsible for everything that happens to me in these life, also how I perceive things depends on the way I take them. Someone need to move to the next level no matter the circumstances. Life is a going concern, it is a continuous process, as we are required to pass exams in school to in order to move to next class, so as it is to pass exams in the larger school called life, just like as it is after reading the book provided in these program someone is expected to assess at least 7 books to move to the next level.
Another important idea is the beliefs and knowing concepts, that beliefs will let one down in crisis but knowing never let one down, beliefs are handed to one while knowing come from within, beliefs are mental exercises while knowing are physical exercises, beliefs restrict one while knowing empower you. These concepts are important because whenever I have entrusted my belief on what I want and know
Later that belief fail me, I will be hurt somehow. So now I have understood that knowing is what I should be emphasizing on since knowing comes from within.
Another important point is the FEAR and DOUBT, I should get rid of these idea because it destroys oneself. We should always have the faith to over come fear and doubt. The story Dr. WAYNE W. DYER gave when he went on stage to speak before several thousand people and forgot his notes. He experienced the feelings of fear, why I found these story important is because it happened to me when we went to a leadership training course with my classmate. During the training we were to give speech each on any topic of our choice, that is each and everybody has to come out to say something on the topic, when it got to my turn, I had these fear in me, because am shy and I do not have the courage to stand in front of hundreds of people including the trainers in the camp. But there is these higher self in me which gave me the faith to get rid of the fear and doubt that I can do it, if others can do it, so I went outside and at the end of the speech I was giving an applaud.
Another point is the story of a poor laborer name Sheikh Mohmoud, who his employer gave clay pot full of ghee (clarified butter) Sheikh Mohmoud has already counting and calculating what he will buy with the reward the employer will give him after he has fulfilled the task. I took these idea important because in my own experience I have these saying that “NEVER COUNT YOUR CHICKENS BEFORE THEY HATCH” It says one should always complete his work and get his reward before saying what he or she wants to buy, so in these sense Hohmoud was disappointed because he has counted his chicken before they hatch.
Another idea is the troubles begin with a thought that you put into your mind, it is we that cause troubles to ourselves because of the kind of thought we have. Bad thoughts which destroys us and bring diseases or sickness like arthritis, high blood pressure and career cardiac.
Another point is in (page 166) which says prayers seem to be the independent variable in which healing takes place, this is important to me because I have come across the independent variable in my research methodology text book, and it helps me to give the meaning that an independent variable is referred to as that variable that is manipulated under treatment conditions, to me it means prayers can be manipulated under treatments conditions for healing to take place.
2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Explain.
In relating the ideas or concepts of these book in my personal life such as my relations is that, like what Mother Teresa says about love, that love is the central point or our existence. That we are created for a purpose, that is to love and to be loved. In these sense if am going to love a girl I have to be loved as well, I can not enter a relationship whereby it is me alone that will love the girl and the girl not giving me back love. Relationships is not want can just enter, some might be carried away and they say is love, sometimes it is not love, is it lust or infatuation, the person might be carried away with what he sees in the girl, that is why it is important to be friends before any other thing can come up. By been a friend then both people must have known and understand themselves better. Giving love and receiving love is what it means by to love and to be loved.
My beliefs, well my beliefs are give and take, scratch my back I will scratch your back known in Nigeria, thereby sacrificing your self or time for what you want and what you value. When you sacrifice for love you have to be giving back love. I also belief on my ego, but know I understand that I ego is my false self that I should always follow my higher self.
My goals are to set target to always do my best, my goals in terms of relationships is what I want for myself, in every relationships one set his/her goals as in what he wants to achieve out of the relationships.
My values, I value my emotions most, before I enter into any relationships be it to male or female, firstly I will let the person knows that am too emotional and I do not want my emotions to suffer, because I want to give what I have, what I have is love, I want to give love and receive back love.
3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Please Explain.
The new ideas I learn from these book is the poets suggested by Walt Whitman’s, leaves of grass which says,
I exist as I am, that is enough
If no other in the world be aware I sit content
And if each and all be aware I sit content
One world is aware, and by far the largest to me,
And that is myself.
And whether I come to my own today or in ten thousand or ten million years.
I can cheerfully take it now, or with equal cheerfulness
I can wait.
I learnt these because is inspiring, it made me understood why am existing and that my existence is enough for me to be content with who I am and what I have, I will wait for what belongs to me and for what I want to get, I should not rush to things.
Another new concepts I learnt from the book is the love and hate concepts, that fear is the opposite of love, well I have been using hate as the opposite of love, but now am convince by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer that the opposite of love is fear.
4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how?
To be honest these book has challenge and changed my thinking in so many ways, my ego, higher self, have also changed, after reading the book, I went through the qualities and characteristics of the points in each chapter, for example belief and know, fear and frustration, love and doubt, but now my thinking has changed about these and am happy about these.
5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?
There are no ideas I totally disagree with.
6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?
What I find most helpful are the qualities and characteristics that is in the book, and those sub topic in the chapters.
7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.
The main idea these book is trying to convey is about the holy self of a person, that one’s sacred quest and how one can ignore his ego and follow his higher self. And to know the difference between beliefs and knowing, fear and frustration, love and doubt, and to understand that fear is the opposite of love, and one should have the higher self and courage to overcome challenges that may arise at any time and to know that whatever happens as accident we learn from it.
Please Rate this book 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
My comments about these book is that, is really enjoying and interesting to read, I would appreciate if people follow the contents in the book, that is if they have the opportunity to read it.
The Psychology Of Winning
Assessment by Iziomoh Felix
1. Discuss the main ideas that you found most important in this book and discuss why they were important to you.
The main ideas I found most important in the book psychology of winning. Are the 10 qualities of a total winner.
In chapter 1 we have the positive self- awareness. These ideas are important to build the skills to make one a winner. Why this idea is important to me is that, I now know the Antonyms of self- awareness to be dishonesty, insensitivity, funnel vision. And the synonyms are self honesty, empathy, openness. Another important idea is what losers will say in their self-awareness is “the world is flat and that is that” what winner will say “I understand where I am coming from”. The self-Awareness is also important to me because it says more about losers and winners, that losers become hardened, cold and closed to new ideas and new opportunities, losers surfer from hardening of the arteries connecting their insights with their hindsight and foresights these insights connect with the hindbrain and the forebrain. Losers are narrow minded human beings. The winners are open, that positive self-awareness are open mindedness.
In chapter 2, positive self-esteem, why it is important to me. The Antonyms: self-depreciation, self-doubt, self-consciousness. Synonyms: self-worth, self-respect, self confidence. Winning takes self-worth, respect for yourself and others, and be confidence any where at any time.
I understand that to develop more positive self-esteem we need to base more of our actions and decisions on rational thinking than on emotions. Emotions are automatic subconscious reactions. It is also important because if we wants to establish true self-esteem, we must concentrate on our success and look at the failures and negatives in our lives only as corrective feedback to get us on target.
In chapter 3. positive self-control. Antonyms: irresponsibility, indecision, chance. Synonyms: self determination, volition, choice. Self control is one quality that if a person does not have is life, he or she would not be good, self-control has to do with determination. How you control your self to situations in life and how you react to things that comes around. The way we control things matters a lot, from these chapter, I understand that there are two people in these life. The winners and the losers, winners “make things happen” while losers “let things happen” winners believe in cause and effect and they have the philosophy that life is a “do- it- to- yourself”.
Winners realize they personally have the power to take control of many more aspects of their lives both mental and physical. That the real essence of positive self-control is that everything in life is volitional.
In chapter 4. positive self-motivation. Antonyms: motivation fear, compulsion, inhibition while the synonyms: desire for change, excitation, urge, that fear looks to the past and desire to the future are important ideas to me. I understood that I should always put fear as my past and desire to the future. In self- motivation, winners say “I want to” and “I can” while losers say “I can’t because”.
In chapter 5. positive self-expectancy, Antonyms: pessimism, cynicism, despair, synonyms: optimism, enthusiasm, hope. Winners expect to win, winners know that so called ‘luck’ is the intersection of preparation and awareness. That winners expect to win for three reasons.
1. Desire – they want to win.
2. Self control – they know it is they you make it happen.
3. Preparation – they are prepared to win.
I found the word voodoo important because I have been hearing about the word for so long now, I now understand what the word voodoo is about and where is it originated from and as a form of Ancestor worship.
In chapter 6. positive self-image, Antonyms: dark, imagining, worries, neuroses, Synonyms :synthetic experience, visualization, creativity. The ‘judge’ which is the conscious level of thinking is responsible for collecting information from the environment, storing it in the memory bank and making rational decisions, can be compared, while the ‘Robot’ is the subconscious level of thinking, is responsible for autonomic body control such as breathing and heart- beat, the storage of information in the so – called memory bank, and the goal seeking can be compared.
In chapter 7. positive self-direction. Antonyms: aimless, non- specific, wandering, synonyms: Goal-seeking, purpose-oriented, cybernetic. Another point that is important to me is the response to the challenges of life purpose is the healing balm that enables each of us to face up to adversity and strife. “Where there is life there is hope”, “where there are hopes there are dreams”, where there are vivid dreams, repeated, they become goals”. The secret of self- direction is in establishing a clearly defined goal, writing it down, and then dwelling on it morning and night.
In chapter 8 positive self-discipline. Antonyms: Repetitive error, inconsistency, discouragement. Synonyms: achievement, stimulation, drill, practice. From these chapter, what I found most important is the saying that winners are people who can do “within” while losers do “without”. That winners never quit. Winners never give up, winners pick themselves up, dust themselves off and do it all over again.
In chapter 9. positive self-dimension: Antonyms: shallowness, ego-centricity, superficiality. Synonyms: total person, visionary, humanist. What I found important in these chapter is the greatest example of self-dimension a winner can display, that is the quality of earning the love and respect of other human beings. The losers philosophy in life is the “do it to others before they do it to you” that losers have the I win and you lose attitude. While winners practice the double win attitude, if I help you win, then I win.
In chapter 10. positive self-projection, Antonyms: aloof, Unfriendly, unkempt. Synonyms: personable, supportive, impressive. The ideas I found important in these chapter are the success formula- that conceive +believe = Achieve. Visualize + Internalize = Realize. Imagination + Simulation = Realization. Smiles is the light in ones window that tells others there is a caring, sharing person inside. Another point is the idea that marriage is not looking at each other, but looking in the same direction together.
2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Explain.
The ideas in this book can be related to my personal life such as my relationships. The relationship has to do with my friend, I have several friends but am use to one because we stay together. I always look at him as a winner because he has these qualities of a winner mention in these book psychology of winning, the guy is controlled when ever he talks always listen, the words that comes out of his mouth are inspirational words because he read the bible as well, these guy is a God fearing and he is motivated, discipline, directed. I enjoyed him a lot, when I received these book P.O.W, I was trilled I called him immediately I went through the book, these guy is hard working and he is gifted with wisdom, whatever he does there is always a positive results. What I understand about the guy is that he is honest and nice, straightforward, so I think that is the reason why he is favored and have the luck of winning. Most times what he told me that I should do, when I does them I got a positive results.
My beliefs is that with these 10 qualities of a total winner, If I practice them, and add them with what I have learnt so far from other books, I would have a positive results and be winner, again I know that when I believe and conceive I will achieve. It takes these qualities to be a winner, I also believe in practicing these new ideas that I have read in these book psychology of winning and I follow the steps in it, I will attain the winners touch.
My goals are my game plan, what I have set to achieve in life be it my emotional life, career, finances, and spiritually. My goals are most important, because if one goal is achieved another one comes next. When one is directed towards something, then next thing is try and achieve it. Goals are set to be achieve, no matter how these goals has been set and the period also. In achieving these goals, I discipline myself, always try to avoid procrastination, because it delays in achieving specific goals that have been set to be achieved at a particular period. Now, I have learnt to achieve my goals through the success formula.
My values is that, I value myself, I tried to control myself, I make things happen for me, I do not allow things to happen, I make people around me happy, when someone got me angry I tired to control myself, because I know when am sad any decision I make will be wrong and people around me will get hurt. I protect my self image so that people do not understand me, sometimes I bring myself image too low and sometimes high. Well sometimes I come too low to get what I want, my self- direction is where am been directed to, where am coming from and where am going to. I do not allow what I have gone through in the past to affect where am going to.
3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Please Explain.
The most important new ideas or concepts I have learnt from the book is the 10 qualities of a winner, though I have come across these words but with the explanation been giving and the review of each chapter is what makes it more important to me.
4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how?
The book psychology of winning has really changed my thinking in the sense that after reading each chapter and the review , the take action today for more is what makes it more challenging, that is after each chapter you take the action and practice what has been read.
5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?
NO Ideas.
6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?
What I found most helpful is the TAKE ACTION FOR TODAY MORE, at the end of each chapters. And the winners circle are also helpful to me. I found nothing least helpful.
7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.
The whole book is trying to convey that one should follow the steps and attain the winners touch, and also how one would be a winner with the 10 qualities in it. Finally, one should be a winner.
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
Goal Setting 101
Assessment Iziomoh Ibdemi Felix (Nigeria)
1. Discuss the main ideas that you found most important in this book and discuss why they were important to you.
The main idea I find important in these book Goal setting 101 are : firstly the definition of ‘Goal’ which says a goal is an end toward which you direct specific effort, it made me to understand that the end is the exact and tangible result for which I want and which am willing to expand my effort in order to achieve it. I find these idea important because it further explains with the three key elements of a goal, which are
*Goals are accomplishment to be achieved,
*Goals are measurable outcome,
*Goals is a specific date and time to be accomplished.
Another point I find important is the know why Goal setting is important, this points is important to me because it gives me meaningful values to be gained from practical goal setting.
Another important point is the Anatomy of a Goal which has three Collaborators that is the what, the why, and the how. Each of these have different role to play with there separate reason for participation. I find these important because it explains how goals can be achieved with the what, why, and how. Which the what to be achieve is the goal which provides direction and the why which is the personal benefits which provides energy to reach the goal and the How that is the strategy one would use in achieving the goals.
Another important points is the Ten Crucial Life Dimensions in page 12, why I find these important is that it explains how our goals need to be set in each of the following Categories, Personal, Health, Recreation, Family, Friends, Community, Career, Financial, Household and Spiritual.
Another idea is the make everything count, which is a Philosophy for living, this is important to me because In life everything count, life is a game, I just have to know the rules of life and knowing this rules does not guarantee that I will achieve everything I wants so I just have to examine life because the examined life is the one worth living.
The six important goal setting questions is another point I find important, because I have jot it down in a piece of paper, whatever goal I need to achieve I have to ask myself the six goal setting questions which are the who, what, where, when, how, why. This is important because it will make me achieve the goal fast.
Another important point is the use SWOT Analysis. This is very important to me because I have come across these word in school during my Camping and Leadership course in my second year. As a leader, or an Administrator one should do what is called SWOT analysis which is Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threat. To me the need for SWOT analysis is born out of the competitive nature of the market being controlled by the law of demand and supply. The two variations of a SWOT analysis which are: Internal SWOT Analysis and the External SWOT Analysis. As an individual the circumstances, objectives and conditions that surround me personally and professionally is the internal SWOT Analysis while the circumstances, objectives and conditions of the situation in which one is competing is the external SWOT Analysis.
Another important idea is the Act like a leader, this is important to me because being a leader is what I really desire, in which these book has giving me some insight I need to know and what I need to do in becoming a leader. I have learnt that I have to make myself in becoming a leader, thereby believing in myself and act like a leader.
Another point I find important is the watch your language in page 31, these languages is the same as the positive declarative statement in the book Law of Attraction. Why I find it important is because what I will always say are those affirmatives language which bolster confidence while pursuing my goals. And as a leader, what comes out of my mouth should be without doubt, thereby I can never be in doubt In whatever I want to do.
Another important point is the set performance standards. Performance standards indicate the level of results expected for each goal l find these important because of the five standards for performance use as an example which are the Outstanding, Good, Average, Poor, and Counter Productive.
Find a Member is another point l find important, l find these important because in order for me to achieve my goal in the area of my profession l need somebody that has gone above the stage l am so that things can really go well for me.
Another point is to learn to manage fear, sure every one is afraid from time to time. The more intelligent one is the more he or she may be frightened. I find these important because l have learnt that no matter how it is in life one should learn how to live with Fear, and learn to Control fear.
Lastly the idea l find important is the point that says the road to success is often bumpy and constantly under construction find it important because it is encouraging, that good thing do not come easily, and there are no short cuts.
2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Explain.
The concepts in this book can be related to my personal circumstances as my relationships, such that there is a purpose and a goal to be achieve, having a new relationship be it male or female I have to define the purpose of my relationship, and set how am going to achieve it. In my relationship with my friends, I set goals in different ways and each of my friends has what I need to achieve from them and they too has to achieve from me as well, so is just a give and take thing. I have develop a vision and create mission statement in achieving my goals. I have to make a good relationship with my mentor because in achieving my goals, my mentor have to direct and provide me with guidelines on what to do to achieve my goals at the stated time and date that I have to accomplish the goals.
My Beliefs, what I believe is that, writing my goals down is going to help me a lot, well before now I have not been doing so, but since I started these program, reading books that talks about goals setting and goals achieving, have come to believe that it helps a lot when I write down my goals and cross each one that I have accomplished. I also believe that the road to success is always rough, I should just experience it with deep satisfaction and fun to reach my peak. I believe that if I want to be a leader, I should act as a lead by leading myself in the direction of my goals.
My Goals, the goals that I have set is for me to be a leader someday, leading people and not only these becoming a mentor or role model to people, I have develop these feelings of becoming a leader, I want to motivate people, inspire them that what life is sometimes is not what they think about it. The diagram of the Anatomy of Goal, is very interesting because it made me understand how achieving a goal works, to know also why goal setting is important, we all have different goals we need to achieve, I have seen the process of goal setting and how am going to plan and accomplish my goals.
My Values, I value my goals, my goals are what inspire me most, this is what keeps me going in life, what am striving for is what I consider more valuable to me. The ten crucial life dimensions are what I meant by what keeps me going in life, these are what it takes in life, that values lay groundwork for one goals, goals lead to the fulfillment of one mission, and mission leads to the realization of my life’s work, that is legacy.
3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Please Explain.
The most important new ideas I learnt from the book are: firstly, the Six important Goal Setting Questions, another is the Use SWOT Analysis, that is both the Internal and External SWOT Analysis. Also the watch your language is another important idea I learnt from the book. Another most important new idea I learnt from the book is in page 39 that says ‘the road to success is often bumpy and constantly under construction, but that doesn’t mean one can’t enjoy the ride.
4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how?
Yes, the book has challenged me, and it has changed my thinking in the sense that as a leader there are some certain things I need to know and put in place, and there are ways on how my goals can be achieved, the book has challenged me to go the extra mile to achieved what I need to achieved. In whatever am doing I should plan and be focus, by so doing I will achieved my goals.
5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?
Well, there are no ideas I disagree with in the book, I enjoy all the ideas.
6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?
What I find most helpful is the SWOT Analysis in page 24, that is exercise 2. which state select a goal you would like to achieve and then complete an internal SWOT analysis. It is helpful because I have to complete it and know my goal, my strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and my threats. What I find least helpful is the don’t forget Murphy’s law in page 22.
7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.
What the book is trying to convey is the guidelines in setting your goals and achieving them and also it gives some strategies, planning through which goals are going to be accomplished.
Please Rate this book 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
My additional comments is that the book Goal Setting 101 is a good book and I thanked the author GARY RYAN BLAIR,.
Leadership for Dummies
Assessment Iziomoh Ibdemi Felix (Nigeria)
1. Discuss the main ideas that you found most important in this book and discuss why they were important to you.
The main ideas I find most important in this book are the icons used, which gives me guideline to understand what that particular page or content is talking about. Why this icons were important to me is because provides me with some specific point, whenever I come across any of the icon I already know that this is what the page is talking about, for example, the ‘Red Flag’ icon highlights the crucial pieces of information and skills needed for leading anyone. It is red flag because is a warning as much as an icon. Another icon is the ‘Championship Strategy’ icon which highlights advanced strategies and tips that go beyond the basics of becoming a champion of leadership. The ‘Anecdote’ icon highlights edifying stories about leadership from peoples experiences and other well-known leaders. The ‘Tip’ icon highlights words of wisdom to use for all kinds of leadership situations. ‘The Remember’ icon is a friendly reminder of information discussed elsewhere in the book or stuff you definitely want to remember. The ‘Warning’ icon marks things to avoid and common mistakes people make. These are the main ideas I find most important.
Another Idea I find important is the Responsibility and Accountability in page 10. I find these important because as a leader one is embrace with Responsibility, and that I have to accept whatever responsibilities that were giving to me and the Responsibilities I took as a leader, thereby coming out and say ’I want to do these’. Accountability here means as a leader I have to be accountable for any task assign to me and whatever goes wrong as a leader I will bear the brunt.
Another idea I find important is the Three keys leadership abilities. The first key is: Eliciting the cooperation of others, Listening well and Placing the needs of other people above mine. Why they are important to me, is because Eliciting the cooperation of others here means as a leader, I must be able to get others to buy my vision of the future and the right direction to get there. Listening well means that as a leader I will be able to gather many kind of information from others n other to lead, doing these requires that I hone my listening skills. The last one is Placing the needs of people above mine, as I have known leadership requires that I would be willing to sacrifice for a greater goal. That is I should first consider people before considering myself.
Another point is the Empathy loves company, in page 22. I find these important because as a leader or manager one just have to understand peoples feelings and share with them. It is also important to me because I have learnt from these ideas, I also find out leaders with a high degree of empathy choose this option because they understood the people’s pain.
Another point I find important is in page 26, leaders may be mistaken for manager. I find these page important because I have been mistaking it as well, that leaders and managers are the same thing, since I have read these page I now know that leaders lead people while managers manage things, managers do things right but leaders do the right things. Leadership is about vision and managers is about execution.
Another idea I find important is the Transient nature of leadership. Why it is important to me is because it explains the Situational leadership, Transitional leadership and the Hierarchical leadership. Under the Situational leadership, we have some decisions that we take as a leader, these are-No-cost decision, moral decision, Solomonic decision, decisions for the greater good, meditative decisions, princely decisions, community decisions, philanthropic decisions, institutional decisions.
Another idea is the Test your leadership IQ in page 47. This is important to me because, it makes me to know myself as a potential leader, if I have to work more on my leadership intelligence skills. More so, to improve on it and to do the skills mentioned.
Another idea I find important has been mentioned earlier, that is about the Situational leadership, Transitional leadership and Hierarchical leadership, in page 75, I find it important because it explains clearly to me what they means, Situational leadership :is the right person in the right circumstances at the right time. They expect one has a leader to succeed. Transitional leadership : is the right person in the right circumstances at the wrong time. They expect you as a leader to fail. Hierarchical leadership :is the right person in the wrong circumstances at the right time. You are there by default.
Another idea I find important is in page 99. That is Creating a cohesive team, where we have the factors in creating an affective team, which are the motivate and encourage your followers. Create teamwork throughout the ranks, and creating an orderly atmosphere. In the motivate and encourage your followers, I find out that ‘if everybody is focused on the same goal, you waste a minimum amount of energy, and you reach the goal faster and better. This point is important to me because Mr. Michael has told me in on of his mail he sent to me that if three or more people focus on the same goal it becomes a synergy.
Another idea is setting Reasonable Goals- forget the impossible dreams. I find these important because the primary responsibility of a leader is setting goals that can achieved, and learn to be realistic about the goals that you set. The story of Peter Derow the president of Newsweek, that one should take care in how one set his or her goals. That if you set them too high and do not reach them, you will be seen as a failure, if you set them lower and then exceed your goals, people will look at you as a hero. Here I have understood never to set my goals too high as a leader.
Another idea I find important is in page 166 that volunteers come in many different forms. I find these important in the sense that, since I have been doing volunteering job, I do not know that volunteers comes in different forms. I now know the three types of volunteer, that is the Head volunteering, Heart volunteering and the Hearth volunteering. Now I can differentiate these three forms and explain more about them.
Another idea is the ‘But what do you really want’ in page 194. I find these important because it allows me to know where I am now, what it takes to get there, and where I want to be. It is also important because it gives me a clear vision about the goals I have set, what it takes to achieve the goals and where I want to be after achieving these goals.
2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Explain.
My Relationship, my relationship to people as a leader, well I have gotten different leadership experience in the past and volunteering task which am still engaged in. As a leader, there is a great task for me, because am accountable and responsible for the people working beneath me. And mostly the job which am assign to, I knew then I have to put people’s needs above mine, though the guys beneath me were not okay with the kind of job we are doing then, but I elicit cooperation with them, telling them about our vision in life, what we want to achieve is the reason why we are doing the job. Whenever they complain to me, I have to listen to them and find solution by encouraging and motivating them. I have these empathy loves for people, I try to understand there pains, most people feel pain inside but they do not want to say it out. There is these saying I like telling them, ‘that a mother attends to only the child that is crying’.
Beliefs: As a leader I believe in carrying people along, which to me is the best leadership style. I also believe in the decisions I make, as a leader your decisions matters a lot. If I want to decide I have to consider the people with me and come to agreement with them I know that there and then everybody will be happy.
Goals: As a leader, I set my goals according to the task am been giving. I know that the set goals has to be achieved and accomplished at a stated time. After telling the group the kind of goals we have to achieved, I will also explain to them and make everyone come with his or her opinion or ideas on how we can reach the goals. That is the strategy and ways we can use to accomplished the goals.
Values: As a leader, I value my potential skill, everybody has an innate ability, in whatever I do, I have to be sincere and give my best because I know as a leader you are expected to give in your best, as a leader, you are a model to other people they are watching all you are doing. I value volunteering task, there are joy in volunteering, because am these kind of person that like s putting smile on peoples face and joy on there lips.
3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Please Explain.
The icons are the most important new ideas I learnt from the book, why they are important is that, it gives me clear picture in understanding the passage most especially the Anecdote, this is kind of a past experience stories about some prominent leader and founder of organization, or CEO in some companies.
4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how?
Yes, this book has challenged me and changed my thinking, because, I know that leaders are not born leaders they are made, so if other people mentioned in the book can be a leader why can’t I be one, or be a founder of an organization, rather a CEO of a company. So the book has changed my thinking largely, with some of the examples in the book.
5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?
No, there is no idea I disagree with, I agree with the ideas in the book.
6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?
What I find most helpful are the icons in the books. And what I find least helpful the El Centro de la Raza in page 225.
7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.
The main idea the whole book is trying to convey is that, to build and flex one leadership muscles, to enable one see opportunity and use to change, and to develop one own leadership style, to lead with communication, encouragement and promotion to earn greater respect, success and recognition.
Please Rate this book 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
My final rating I would give the book is that it is 100% interesting, and more so, it helps one build his or leadership skills, the book can also be regarded as a textbook.
The Law of Attraction
Assessment Iziomoh Ibdemi Felix (Nigeria)
1. Discuss the main ideas that you found most important in this book and discuss why they were important to you.
The definition of the law of attraction Is one point I find important in these book and why it is important is that it says I attract to my life whatever I give my energy, focus and attention to, whether wanted or unwanted. This is important because whatever I give my energy, my strength, my time and whatever my focuses are and what I have giving my attention to be it what I want or what I do not want.
I find the positive and negative vibrations important in page 11, that joy, love, excitement, abundance, pride, comfort, confidence, affection and the negative vibration are disappointment, loneliness, lack, sadness, confusion, stress, anger, hurt. I find it important in the sense that am aware of my vibration because whatever am vibrating the law of attraction will give me more of what I really desire.
Another idea I find important is in page 13, the ‘Reality Cycle’ observing what you are receiving in ones life, how much money one have, the quality of relationships, my work and my health, all these comes with a feeling (vibration) that can be either be positive or negative. I find these important because in all these I have to put in or use my positive feeling (vibration).
The declarative statements is another points I find important because I have learnt that a declarative statement is an expression we use as a statement of truth. It can be positive or negative. I also understand that complaining and worrying are negative declarative statement. That is when I get worried about life am giving more attention to what I do not want.
Another Idea I find important is the clarity through contrast, what is contrast? Well to me I know that contrast is when something is not clear, but now It is known that the first step in making the law of attraction work, what I want has to be clear to me, and by these we call it ‘dislikes’ contrast. This is important to me because in whatever I want I have to offer it to be law of attraction and make these my wants clear to me.
Another important point is the clarity through contrast model, I find it important because of the prominent areas it emphases in ones life, which are : Career, Money, Life Partner Relationship, friendship, Business Referrals, Education.
Another important point I find is the case study of Janice that is about her relationships, I find these case study important because after her past experience she decided to use the law of attraction to attract her idea relationship. She began with the process of deliberate attraction with identifying her desire using the clarity through contrast worksheet. She made her contrast when she recalled what has happened in her three past relationships, she now made her clarity, by asking herself what she really wants. She struck a line through the matching contrast in her worksheet. Same thing applies to Greg a 27 year old whose Ideal is about money.
Another important point is the ‘blow your fan’ in page 45. It is important to me because I get to understand that when my fan is blowing I feel great, but when there is a fault with the fan, it annoys me, this is important to me because I have joy when my fan is blowing well, and when it does not blow my emotions becomes negative, that is where I start having fear, anger, loss, or lack.
Another point is in page 47. That states what is the purpose of your life? Is true each and every one has different purpose in life, I find these important because immediately I saw these points, I ask myself, what is my purpose in life and what I do that always brings me joy, I know each person uses different strategies to experience joy. What brings me joy are when things are moving well in all area of my life and more so when am getting what I want.
Another point is in page 63, the step 3. ‘Allow it’. Allowing is simply the absence of doubt. This is important to me because it is illustrated with a game which makes it more easier to understand. The illustration goes thus: the marbles which were placed on the sticks represents (Desires) while the sticks represents (Doubt) and the falling marbles represent manifestation ( Allowing). It is important to me because it makes me to understand that it is how fast resistance are removed, that is how fast my desire would be realized.
I find the common source of Doubt to be my own limiting beliefs, why I find these important is that limiting belief is a repetitive thought that is preventing one from attracting is desire. I find these idea important in the sense that the purpose of allowing statement is to lessen or remove any doubt that is preventing me from receiving what I really wants.
2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Explain.
In relating these ideas or concepts in my relationships is when I put my energy, I focus to what my friends are doing and put more attention to see that the law of attraction is achieved. What attract me in relationship is that when people around me are encouraging me that is using positive vibration. Sometimes when I meet friends for an advice, not all I meet will give me positive feelings, some will bring negative vibration, thereby making me feel disappointed, get confuse, be lonely, get hurt, anger, we as human can get all the negative feelings mention in page 11 of these book. I have stood to understand that in my relationship it is important to be in touch with and be aware of my vibration because whatever am vibrating the law of attraction will give me more of it.
My Beliefs, sometimes what I believed on I do not get them because of my negative declarative statements, when I believed on something am going to get, when I do not get it, its hurts, so now whatever I believed to get or I have a negative declarative statement on I will now have to rephrase it to positive declarative statements. Sometimes what I believed disappoints me, now I have to be cleared with what I really believe I wants.
My Goals, my goals are to make sure that things are working fine with me, what I have set to achieved, the way I want to achieve it and the purpose of achieving it. There has to be a clarity of achieving these goals and the positive declarative statement has to be used to achieved it, using the law of attraction. The allowing game has also taught me sense of achieving my goals, there should not be Doubt in what I desires.
My Values, what I value are my desires, that is what I want in life, most times what I desire to get I do not get them but now I have read these book, I now know that whatever my desires are, once I have identified them it will be easier for me to vibrate more of what I really want by using the law of attraction. I have also understand how to use the three steps formula for deliberate attraction to what I value. Step 1 identifying my Desire, Step 2 Raise my vibration, Step 3 Allow it.
3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Please Explain.
The important new ideas I learnt from this book is the Formula for Creating Allowing Statements. It is important to me because it makes me to know that when am writing my allowing statements, I will know what to do, what to say, how to remove doubt in whatever I want to say or do. The tools are also the important new ideas I learned from these book, that is tool 1 to 12.from page 81 to 100. Another concepts is that using my affirmations may not raise my vibration.
4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how?
Yes, the book has challenged me, in the sense that whatever I want I have to use the law of attraction to get them, by helping to attract more of what I want and less of what I do not want. And the book has changed my thinking, because I have known that positive vibrations are best, I should put back the negative feelings, more so, the declarative statements also has really changed my thinking, making things I really want clear to me. Also it has challenged me in the sense that what I want I have to be cleared with it before going for it.
5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?
No, there are no ideas I disagree with.
6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?
What I find most helpful in the book is the case study of Janice and Greg, which made me to understand the contrast and clarity using the worksheet, then making my own worksheet and struck the contrast, for me to really define what I really want. What I find least helpful is in page 83, the book of evidence worked for Ivor, why I find these least helpful is that what may work for a person might not work for another person.
7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.
What these book is trying to convey is for one to stop attracting things they do not want, making what one wants in life cleared and the strategies that one will use to have these wants. How to get things you really want by defining your purpose of getting them.
Please Rate this book 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
The book is 100% ok.
Giant Steps
Assessment by Iziomoh Felix (Nigeria)
1. Discuss the main ideas that you found most important in this book and discuss why they were important to you.
To be honest each page in these book GIANT STEPS is very important to me, but there are some points which I will lay emphasis on and that are very more interesting to me. Firstly, the idea that is important to me is in page 18 and in section 1, sub-section 4, that is each of us as a human is endowed with inborn resources that enable us to achieve all we have ever dreamed of and more. I find these point important because it is true that we all are born and gifted with some innate resources which enable us to achieve what ever we dreamt of but most time we do not know these, because I know we as human have opportunities within us, but we do not know how to maximize these opportunities to yield a better result and to make us progress.
Another important points is in sub-section 6 still in section 1, that we cannot always control the events in our lives, we can always control our responses to them, why I find these important is that most times in our lives the events that occur be it good or bad we cannot control it because we get carried away, maybe it is as a result of what we hear or see, but our responses to these are what we can control because we have sit back and realize our mistakes and what has happened, so when these events has entered our memory we assimilate it and think of a better responses that we yield us a good results.
Another important point is that we should remember that there are no failures in life, they are only results, why this is important to me is that why we fail in life is that we fail to plan or if at all we plan we do not work towards our plans to get better results and these brings about failures to us. That we should always consider that we are born to succeed, we should not give failure chance.
Another point is in sub-section 13 page 27, that one should pick a goal that excites him most that is something that will make him get up early and keep him up late. This is important to me because am taking myself as an example with these program Global leadership, my goal towards these program is to reach the highest level at a stated period, which I have set, and give my self a deadline for it, and I have prayed to God almighty over it to give me the strength, wisdom, and knowledge to reach there. Reading these books and assessing them is what keeps me up early and go to bed late, because I have giving myself a stated time for it before going to bed.
Another important point is the Guidelines for Reticular Activating System (RAS) this is important to me because the mind is important to us which is involved in attracting information or opportunities that can help achieve my goals more rapidly. The success formula is also important because it explains to me how I can work towards achieving success.
Another point is in page 59 section 2 sub-section 42, that procrastination is one of the most common ways to avoid pain. I have known that procrastination brings pain, when postponing actions, the time we are suppose to do things, we do not and with these something else might come up and we keep pilling up the works by so doing these we will have pains when these work are too much for us. I find it deem important that I have to stop procrastinating.
Another point important is in page 84, that nothing in life has any meaning except the meaning we give it. These idea is important to me because life has no meaning to me, I do not know how to define life but it depends on the way I look at it and the meaning I give it due to what ever circumstances I find myself, I know that there are so much in life than what sees the eyes.
The best time to handle a “Negative” emotion is when you first begin to feel it, I find these important because when I first begin to feel a negative emotion it hurts but I tend to cool myself by so doing these am interrupting because once it is full blown I can not do anything about it.
The actions signal is also another point that are meaningful to me, because it explains more and give solution on how to face reality in life.
Another important concepts are the values and there Ranking in page 286 and 287, I find them important because I took my time to assess these values and I ranked them as I value these concepts.
Another point is in page 294, that nothing has to happen in order for one to feel good, one can feel good right now if he or she chooses to. After all when all this happens, it is our self that makes us feel good. This is very important to me because when am down emotionally or am disturb it is because I want to be down but I have learnt that I can feel good right any time if I choose to.
Another point is in page 295, that nothing has to happen for me to feel good! I feel good because I’m alive! Life is a gift, and I revel in it. Life is a gift which we all must cherish, I always tell people that life is a gift and we must enjoy life, because I asked God for all things so I might enjoy life, instead he gave me life to enjoy all things.
The questions in page 303, is also important to me, because they are useful questions which I have to think very well and build good responses to them.
Another point idea I find most important is in page 348, that which comes first? Health and Fitness? Well as student of Human kinetics and Health, Health comes before fitness, because if one has a good health there will be strength for him or her to go perform fitness. Good health here means that all the components of wellness are working in an optimal way so therefore fitness can be perform appropriately.
2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Explain.
The ideas or concepts in these book Giant steps can be related to my life, firstly my relationship. Well I have had series of relationship in the past so I have experienced being hurt by friends, both male or female relationship, the rules in relationship to me means that there are certain things which I do not like or preferably I do not want my friends to upset me, though I did not tell them the rules as in what I do not like and what I like but when I am upset I will let them know that am hurt and that I hate what they did and all that, I tell them sometimes the things I hate so they can avoid that to me, my rules are so important to me, and I believe everybody has his or her own rules, even a country or a state has there rules. So therefore we must keep to our rules. I agree to what the idea in page 270 is talking about, that even if one have clarified all his rules in advance, misunderstandings can still occur, no matter the rules you have laid down to your friends they will still peeved you.
My beliefs, what I belief is that life come and go, we all as human will die at the appointed time, so I enjoyed life to my fullest and make sure I achieve what I need to achieve and to be a successful human being, making people happy, make an impact in peoples life, speak to them about what I have learnt so far in my past. Also I believe that relationship is not a do or die thing, if a relationship didn’t work out, one can still be good friends and life goes on. I also belief God is taking me to some where and I have faith in him surely I will get there as long as I believe.
My Goals is to attain the highest to my level and reach my peak, I know to achieve my goals I have to work extra miles and use my positive mental attitude with critical thinking and be open minded to people. The way I should set my goals as I have come across in these book, the goals for each day, week, month, year and life goals. Well our goals comes up everyday and every minute so once each goal is achieve it will be erased and then another one comes after.
My values, what I value is my life, but under these my relationships with my friends is also what I value but most importantly my TIME is the most valuable in life and it’s precious to me. When I got to page 356, where it says, in your relationship what is the most valuable thing you give? I asked my friends, what they told me is that there valuable thing in relationship is there time. When a person is at the receiving end and he or she is not giving back the relationship would not work out. I have a friend who I took my time and strength to do things, all these while I was doing all these but the fact is that I was doing it for God, cos I know is only God that will reward me but at least the guy should show some kind of appreciation, he only wants to be receiving.
3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Please Explain.
The most important new ideas I learnt from these book are:
*The Value Ranking, why they are important to me is because it gives me more insight and make me do some brainstorming and assessing my emotions and work the hardest to avoid having to feel them.
*Another important new ideas is for me not to look for heroes, that I should be an hero, where people would look at me as a good role model. Well they are many new ideas which I have learnt from these book but the most important thing is for these ideas to transform my life positively.
4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how?
These book has challenged my thinking very well most especially the part where I have to do some brainstorming, the questions that was asked, and also the book has challenged me in terms of my relationships both in male and female. The book has also changed my thinking, with the way am thinking now about life am so happy, I tend to ignore things and I feel free about life, because the way I put meanings to things that affect me, so I have learnt how to take things right and accept it the way they comes.
5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?
There are no ideas I disagree with in these book, all the ideas are ok to me.
6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?
What I find most helpful in these book is the content, how to use your action signals, the questions and the answer also, and how to get what you really wants.
7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.
The idea the whole book is trying to convey is that one can work in life and achieve better response by using the Reticular Activating System. (RAS), The book is also talking about emotions, how you can put your relationship to get a better feelings with your friends, spouse, family, more so, how you can make decisions in life or getting your goals. What your beliefs are , how you see meanings to things in life.
Please Rate this book 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.
My comments about these book is that ANTHONY ROBBINS really did a good work in writing these book, and what he explains in the book are true and they are happening, my final rating is that the book is very superb, excellent job by the Author.
Unlimited Power
Assessment by Iziomoh Bidemi Felix (Nigeria)
1. Discuss the main ideas that you found most important in this book and discuss why they were important to you.
The first idea I find important in the book Unlimited Power is in page 25, That the only people without problems are those in the cemeteries. This is because those in cemeteries are dead and their cells are not functioning either. They do not think of what to do and they do not have anything to worry about compare to those that are still living. Why this is important to me is that, it makes me to understand that as human being and still living, their will definitely be problems that I will come across I have to be ready to face such problems that comes across me, because things do not change, we change them.
Another idea I find important is in page 37, that a state is defined as the sum of the millions of Neurological process happening within us, in other words the sum total of our experience at any moment in time. This is important to me because when I see something I respond to it by been a state, really these state might be resourceful and useful, or unresourceful and limiting. It all depends on me at that particular time, to direct my state and produce the results I desire in life, I have to learn to effectively run my brain to do these, I need to understand a little bit about how these brain works.
Another idea is in page 46, which states that ‘life is like a river. It’s moving and you can be at the mercy of the river if you do not take deliberate, conscious action to steer yourself in a direction you have predetermined. And if you do not plant the mental and physiological seeds of the results you want, weeds will grow automatically. This is important to me because I get to understand that as human being, we have to steer ourselves to the direction we are going, to stay focus in the direction we have predetermined, to direct the mind and states.
Another important idea is in page 55. One person with a belief is equal to a force of ninety-nine who have only interests. This is important to me in the sense that when you have belief it delivers a direct command to your nervous system. But the interests just show how interested you are on something, when you believe something is true, you literally go into the state of the thing been true. So it is different from having an interest over the thing.
Another idea is in chapter V. That is the Seven Lies of Success. Which are :
Belief 1. Everything happens for a reason and purpose and it serves us.
Belief 2. There is no such thing as failure, there are only results or outcomes. With the Abraham Lincoln history and Thomas Edison famous story.
Belief 3. Whatever happens, take responsibility.
Belief 4. It’s not necessary to understand everything to be able to use everything.
Belief 5.People are your greatest resource.
Belief 6. Work is play.
Belief 7. There is no abiding success without commitment.
These idea is important to me because I learnt so much from the sorry of Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Edison.
‘Take care of your stomach for the first-fifty years, and it will take care of you for the next fifty years, this is true and important to me because what we eat is very important, so we have to be careful of what we eat, and the meals should contain all the classes of food. Is true that when somebody woke up tired in the morning even after the normal hours of sleep, that is because one ate late at night or he or she ate an abnormal meal. This is important to me because it happens to me, I feel tired when I woke up in the morning, I know it is because I ate solid meal or I ate late at night before going to bed.
Another point is what Henry Ford which is in page 212, that ‘thinking is the hardest work there is, which is the probable reason why so few engage in it. You have to get a clear representation of what your idea day would be, so whatever one needs or want, there must be a direct signals. That the mind has the power to give you everything you want. But it can only do that if it’s getting clear, bright, intense, focused signals.
Another idea Is the five keys to wealth and happiness. Man is not the creature of circumstances, circumstances are the creatures of men, by Benjamin Disraeli.
The five keys are:
1. you must learn how to handle frustration.
2. you must learn how to handle rejection.
3. you must learn to handle financial pressure.
4. you must learn how to handle complacency,
5. Always give more than you expect to receive.
This is important to me because in achieving wealth and happiness these keys will guide me and give me more courage to face reality in life.
2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Explain.
In my relationships, the idea I will relate in the book is in page 47. That is been in the state that my girlfriend is cheating on me. This is true, there is no doubt about it, I have always derive the feelings that she is cheating on me but I should not see her doing it. I was chatting with a female friend who I told about it and she told me that is very bad, I should not assume or rather think like that, what if she is faithful and I have these negative feelings about her. Here in these book, I have realize is the state I want to be and by doing these I will find myself in a state of rage and anger.
These experience has happened to a friend, he used to accuse his girlfriend about cheating on him and these guy beats the girl a lot, I tell you this guy have to make these girl be with someone else. I have learnt from these book and am sure it will work for me. Whenever such things occur to my mind I have to change my thought. Because the ancestor of every action is a thought. By Ralph waldo Emerson.
My belief, the idea in the book which I can relate to my belief is the seven lies to success. That is Belief 1. Everything happens for a reason and a purpose, and it serves us. Belief 2. There is no such thing as failure, there are only results. Belief 3. Whatever happens, take responsibility. Belief 4. It’s not necessary to understand everything to be able to use everything. Belief 5. People are your greatest resource. Belief 6. Work is play. Belief 7. There’s no abiding success without commitment. I belief in these lies to success, because I know whatever happens is for reasons and for one to learn from it. Whenever I tried something and fail, I should regard it as results or outcome.
My goals, this is what I have set to achieved, in achieving these, I have to use my unlimited powers and resource because for every disciplined effort there is a multiple reward. My goal is to be a successful person in life, I know I would achieve these by predetermined and direct my mind to the right direction.
My values, these are my own private, personal and individual belief about what is most important to me. I value my private life, so the state I am most times matters a lot to me. Naturally some people came to our life to frustrate us, but as a person, in order to overcome frustration, you learn how to handle it and reject such. This is the reason I always be in a good state of mind, making myself happy. Thereby going out me people that will inspire me, watch TV, read about successful people and how they got to there peak of performance. I value my rapport with people, what I say to them, how I communicate to them.
3. what are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? please explain.
The most important new ideas I learnt from the book are the seven lies to success and the five keys to wealth and happiness. This is important to me because keys to wealth and happiness is about life and happiness how to tackle with life and face frustration and more. The lies to success, that belief one to seven, which illustrate with Abraham Lincoln life history and Thomas Edison story.
4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so explain why.
The book has changed my thinking and challenged me a lot, most of the story illustrated in it is one thing that can challenged person, how to run the mind is another thing that can changed one thinking. Another idea is the Living Excellence, the human challenge. I have come across a lot of thing in these book that has to do with relationship, these also challenged and changed my thinking.
5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?
The ideas I totally disagree in the book is in page 175, that eating meat and potatoes together, cheese and bread, milk and cereal, and fish and rice. Why I disagree with these is that, all these to me are good combinations while Anthony Robbins said is destructive to our internal system and rob our energy. This is what I have been eating for past years and there is no side effect on the other.
6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?
What I find most helpful are the ‘quote’ and the ‘saying’. There is nothing I find least helpful.
7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.
What the whole book is trying to convey is that, whatever one dreamed of a better life, The book will show you how to achieve the extraordinary quality of life you desire and deserve, and how to master your personal and professional life. More so, the book is trying to teach, how to find out what you really want, the seven lies of success, how to reprogram your mind in minutes to eliminate fears and phobias, the secret of creating instant rapport with anyone you meet, how to duplicate the success of others and finally the five keys to wealth and happiness.
Please Rate this book on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9
To me the book is ok, but the pages are much and I really took my time to read and understood the ideas and concepts. My finally rating is that, the book is okay and Anthony Robbins, is a very good motivator and he is good in inspiring someone, his two books I have come across are well okay and interesting.
The Power Of Intention
Assessment by Iziomoh Bidemi Felix (Nigeria)
1. What are the main ideas that you found most important in this book and discuss why they were important to you.
The first idea that is important to me is the Seven faces of intention in page 24. These seven faces are Creative, kind, loving, beautiful, ever expanding, endlessly abundant and receptivity. Why I find these idea important is that it allows me to decorate my visualization of the power of intention. It also allow me to connect to the field of intention. For example in terms of expecting beauty in my life, I have to love myself and my surroundings and show love and beauty in all of my life without these I will definitely feel hurt angry or offended.
Another Idea I find important is the seven steps for overcoming Ego’s hold on you. Why I find these ideas important is that it talks about stop being offended, let go of need to win, let go of your need to be right, let go of your need to be superior, let go of your need to have more, let go of identifying yourself on the basis of your achievements and let go of your reputation. These teaches me that sometimes, I should let go of something and stop being offended because what offends me only weakens me. I should let go of my need to be superior, we are not satisfy with what we have, we always want more of the things we have for example I am not satisfy sometimes when I have money, instead of managing with the little I have I still have to look out for more at these point I might fall sick or have headache. Let go of your reputation is another part that is important to me, I consider reputation to be something important, that is taking myself high and feeling important to people, I have learnt that I should let go of my reputation and let my reputation resides in the mind of others.
Another Idea I find important is the think of a drop of rain merging with a river at the moment it becomes the river. Think of the river merging with the ocean at the moment it becomes the ocean. I find these idea important because it allows me to see things positively and experience new things in life, for example when I want to do something instead of telling myself that I cannot do it, I should be positive by saying ‘YES’ and these yes allows me to extend outside of myself and attract more of the positive things into my own personal intending.
Another Idea I find important is in page 90, you receive what you desire for others. I find these important because it talks about how we receive what we desire from others, this is by how we present ourselves to others that is the way they will accept us. That is to say I can only give what I have. For example I cannot give or love somebody when I do not love myself. There will definitely be a problem along the line.
Another important concept or idea is the poem in page 120. This poem really inspired me about destiny and for me to know why I was born. I find this important because it states that I was born with potential, I was born with goodness and trust, I was born with ideals and dreams, I was born with greatness, I was born with wings, that I was not meant for crawling, I have wings and I should learn to use them to fly. What I understand in this poem is that I have opportunities and I should learn to use these opportunities. That I was not born for crawling I should walk or run.
Another idea I find important is in page 137 that says what you think of yourself is what you think of the world. How do we see the world we live in? What do you think people in general are really like? Do you believe that evil is triumphing over good? Is the world filled with egocentric, selfish people? Can the little guy ever get ahead? Are the government entities and all their representatives corrupt and untrustworthy? Is life unfair? Is it possible to get ahead if you do not have connections? To me all these questions depends on each individual and their personal experience to life. What will good for one person might be bad for another. For example there is saying that, one man’s food is another man’s poison. These idea is very important to me because it allows me to see and think of the kind of people that are living in these world.
Another idea I find important is in page 140, making your intention your reality. The ten steps are very helpful and it encourages me to extend more respect to others and to all of life. I find these important because I have to appreciate God. By always be in a state of gratitude, always remember the self in self respect, make amends with adversaries and respect my body.
2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Explain.
My relationships, when you wear the face of love, beauty, creativity, kindness, expansion, unlimited abundance and receptivity, you attract them. In my relationship I have to be creative or else nothing will come into existence for me. The face of love in my relationship is the most powerful and still the most unknown energy of the world. I called these powerful because it encourages, enhances and supports all of life. It is the prime moving power of the universal spirit of intent. I have been engage in something I know too well that I do not love, but I was fussing myself all for the fact that maybe I will develop the interest of love to it, I later realize that I was only attracting into my life more of the dissatisfaction that is not the face of love. There is these friend of mine that I do not love, but he keeps appearing to me all the time whenever I needed to be alone and happy, that is when I know that we see more of what we do not like.
My beliefs, this is the feeling purposeful, I believe in giving and serving others. I feel most on purpose when I give and serve people. I came to these life with nothing and I will leave with nothing. Serving people and giving makes me happy. I have engage in different community services where I give services to people, I really felt great all those period because everybody appreciated my services and I know I came to these world for a purpose, it was from that day I started going for community services, volunteering. I believe by giving I will also receive and I feel most on purpose when do these work.
My Goal is to impact people’s life, I like to these by showing love, kindness, beauty, unlimited abundance to people. My purpose to life is to show love give and serve people. And these goals can be achieve through the people I serve. Goals can be achieve one after the other. When my goals are achieve I feel great. For example I have set goals in affecting children’s life where I serve in a community, my goal was to make them feel worthy living in these world and that they are love making sure that they knows that are the future leaders of tomorrow. Before I left these children, they were crying that I should not go, but I promised them coming back to play with them. That was when I knew I have really affected their lives.
My values is my source. That is my God, for creating me and I have to appreciate and thank him for everything. Creating me is for a purpose and I have to fulfill these purpose before leaving earth. Most times I do not get what I wanted these weakens me but I sure knows is for a reason, things happen for reasons.
3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Please Explain.
The important new ideas I learnt from this book is the best thing to give. Your enemy is forgiveness, to an opponent is tolerance, to a friend is your heart, to your child is a good example, to your father is deference, to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you, to yourself respect and to all men charity. This is important because it makes me understand that giving is a way of life.
4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how?
Yes, the book has challenged me in the sense that, there are something’s that I have never known before, it really challenged me to make me sit tight and improve in my giving attitude and to have more power of intention. And the book has also changed my thinking in a broader sense that staying connected to God and make me have feelings for others, more so appreciating God’s work.
5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?
No.
6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?
What I find most helpful in the book is in page 120. That is the 13th century poem. And what I find least helpful in the book is in the same page that is the poem Rumi composed from the inactive side of infinity.
7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.
What these book is trying to convey is that when one change the way he or she looks at things and the things will also changed. That one must match intention’s attributes with his own in order to capitalize on those powers in life. More so one can not solve a problem by condemning it.
Please Rate this book on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10
Goal Mapping
Assessment by Iziomoh Bidemi Felix (Nigeria)
1. Discuss the main ideas that you found most important in this book and discuss why they were important to you.
The first idea I find important is the success is on purpose in page 4. I find these important because it explains to me that lasting success is never an accident, its on purpose. It is the natural result of taking successful actions and thinking successful thoughts. More so it explain to me that Abraham Lincoln was born into absolute poverty, Thomas Edison and Anita Roddick and more of them are born into poverty, this is why it is important to me.
Another important idea is the laws of success, why this is important is that I get to understand some fundamental laws, such as law of gravity, law of motion and the law of cause and effect. The law of cause and effect is the most important fundamental laws which states that there are no accidents, things that happens in the world are the effects which are created or triggered by specific causes, for example the situations we are experiencing in life is the effects and are most often caused or influenced by our actions and behavior.
Another idea I find important is the why Goal setting works? That is to say when you are pursuing something great, it draws out your own personal greatness. I find these important because it explains to me things that contained with the character of each person is the equivalent of a high self and a low self. That is our high self represent all of the positive qualities such as , self-motivation, inspiration, responsibility, self belief, and confidence. These qualities produce successful results in our selves and our lives and even in the face of failure, while the low self has negative character traits such as procrastination, apathy, blame, defeatism, self doubt and insecurity.
For example when I am presented a positive opportunity which I know too well that I can do the work but unable to gather the confidence or motivation to seize it.
Another point I find important is why doesn’t everyone set goals? I find these important because before I come across these book goal mapping, I do not know how to set or map out goals, but now I have identified four reasons why people do not set goals;
1. people do not realize the importance of goals,
2. people do not know how to set goals,
3. people fear rejection,
4. people fear failure.
In using myself as an example I do not know how to set goals, and even putting them down by placing according to the priorities. when setting or mapping out my goals i have to put rejection and fear away.
Another idea I find important is the seven principles of LIFT. According to Brian Wayne LIFT stands for Life, Information, for Transcendence. I find these important because of the seven principles which explain how our goals are important to us, the first principle is the principle of raising your awareness, develop possibility consciousness, find balance, be on purpose, become fully response-able, maintain a positive focus and involve to evolve. For example the self actualization cycle helps to change the way I think about things and the things about me will change. The cycle begins with a thought and we are totally free to choose.
Another idea or concepts I find important is the seven natural laws of manifestation. These seven laws of manifestation are like seven signposts pointing the way to success.
1. Belief in yourself and your goal,
2. Balance your goals,
3. Live in the moment,
4. State your goals in present tense,
5. State your goals in positive tense,
6. State your goals in personal tense,
7. Allow for lag-time.
Why I find these laws important is that it explains how one can arrive at his desired destination to success.
Another Idea I find important is the seven steps of goal mapping. Which are Dream, order, draw, why, when, how, and who. These idea is important to me because it gives me the guidelines on how to map out my goals by knowing what I want? what is my priority? what does it looks like? why do I want it? when do I want it? How I want to achieve it and whose help will I require to achieve the goal? Goal mapping is difficult especially if one does not know or have the steps to make, for example when I map out my goal, I do not use these seven steps, that is why most time I do not accomplish the goals I need.
Another important idea is the living your goal map that is following the goal mapping ritual. I find these point important because it explains the follow up to goal map everyday, first thing in the morning, say it that is speak your goals aloud as affirmations when you visualize, feel it that is sense how it would feel to achieve your goals and dreams, believe it that is repeat this process everyday to build belief in yourself.
Lastly, the idea I find important is the left brain goal map template and the right brain goal map template. I find these important because the left brain template is a writing statements while the right brain are pictures or symbols. These shows how strong the right brain is and how conscious we have to be when mapping out goals to view pictures and symbols that will help us achieve the goals.
2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Explain.
My relationships: There are goals I have set in my relationships, that is the kind of friends I need to keep, these goals are friends that will contribute in my life and the friend that will assist me to achieve my dreams. There are some issues that have to be met by friends and relatives. In my relationships I have set out a goal that I do not want to keep more friends, and the new ones I will meet I will not create room for them and any one that I will keep will be the ones that will impact my life. I wrote down the names of the ones I want to be my friends and those are the ones that I can go visiting them, then the ones that I do not want to see, or associate with both male and female. I said to myself what is the need of keeping too many friends? Some are to disorganize you while some are to assist me, in terms of difficulty. I do these by ignoring the calls and avoiding those I do not want to see at the end I was happy because I achieve the goal.
My beliefs: I believe in goals most time I find it difficult to jot my goals down, I called these laziness, I also believe that people do help in accomplishing ones goal. But most time I do not tell my friends my plans or the goals I have set. I have come to realize that, there are some plans or goals we need to let out to enable us to see or visualize beyond what we have already set. I believe in dreams because in these dreams I see what I want, also what I can do and become responsibility to choose what I want and how I intend to achieve it. Sometimes it is difficult to believe some dreams to come true but it is writing that what the mind can conceive and believe the mind can achieve. I believe that life is worth living and I want to create that fact.
My goals, are very important and i need to be very specific and accurate when setting or mapping out my goals. My goals are much but after achieving the specific ones, another one comes next, our goals are never ending. I have set goals for my future but I did not conclude on these because there are things I still dream of to be included in my future. My goals helps me to direct and see life at its best, it makes me to focus and follow the right track, these can be done with the way I have map them out.
My values, are my goals in life, all these includes my personal goals such as new skills or qualities I need to gain or learn. Career goals that is focusing on my professional ability and success, financial goals that is my income, savings and investments, these are very important to me and my health and fitness goals, this is another area in which I value that is cleansing and exercise on these I have a log book where I put down the activities and exercise I do, the time and the type of exercise that is down and I check my weight, my adventure goals these include the place I have visited and where I want to visit and experience I need to gather. Lastly is the quality of life I want to live with my family the way we live and how I make sure they are all happy.
3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Please Explain.
The most important new ideas I learnt from the book is how to draw or map out goals in the template, that is through the left brain and right brain goal mapping template. Another Idea is the synaptic gap, that is the positive and negative thought. More so, how to turn actions into goals and goals into action.
4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how?
The book has really challenge me because I did not know how to map out goals, and also the story about Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Edison and Anita Roddick how they made it despite with the poverty. The book has also changed my thinking on how to look and get the right people to achieve my goals, and how to place my goals.
5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?
No.
6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?
What I find most helpful is the saying that are in the boxes in each page by successful men and women. And the goal mapping template. The pictures and diagram in the middle of the book are also what I find helpful.
7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.
What the book is trying to convey is that is to teach how to set goals and achieve goals and master the skill for life, it teaches some technique and shows how to apply objective and goals. Also how to be positive about your goals.
Please Rate this book 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 Iziomoh Bidemi Felix
1. Discuss the main ideas that you found most important in this book and discuss why they were important to you.
The first idea I find important in the book NVC is the four components which is observation, feelings, needs, and request. Why these idea are important to me is that nonviolent communication is to express these four pieces of information very clearly, whether we are speaking verbally or by other means, while the other aspect consists of receiving the same components of information from others. We connect with people we communicate with, by first sensing what they are observing, feeling and needing from us and we later discover what would enrich their lives by receiving their request. For example, a friend told me when he sees me, he feels like giving me money because I need money to meet my school needs. He then asked me if he could give me the little money that was with him that day? It was when I read these book I realize the four components of Nonviolent communication, I now know he used the NVC process.
Another idea I find important is the building a vocabulary for feelings. That is how we are likely to feel when our needs are being met and how we are likely to feel to when our needs are not being met. This is important to me because it helps me increase my power to articulate feelings and clearly describe my whole range of emotional status.
Another idea is the four options for receiving negative messages. That is the blaming ourselves, blaming others, sensing our own feelings and needs and sensing other feelings and needs. I find these idea important because it makes me understand that when things goes wrong, I should not blame myself or others, by doing these am receiving a negative message. I should always accept responsibility rather than blaming other people for my feelings by acknowledging my own needs, desire, expectations, values or thoughts.
Another idea I find important is the request Vs. demands. I find these important because I do not know when I make demand and when I make request. At least I have known when it is demand or request, it is demand if the speaker then criticizes or judges. If I criticize or judge someone I am demanding from that person. An example is the two variations of a situation between jack and jane in page 79. And it is request if I then shows empathy toward the other person’s needs.
Another Idea I find important is the four steps to expressing Anger. These are stop. Breathe, identify our judgmental thoughts, connect with your needs, express your feelings and unmet needs. This is important to me because when am angry I become judgmental, for example when I applied for my NIV in the US embassy, the lady concluded without perusing my document that I will not comeback to my country, I firstly breathe, identify my judgmental thoughts, connect with my needs which is the visa and I express my feelings and I told her that is unfair, I was really angry to an extent that I do not know how to express my anger.
Another idea I find important is the three components of appreciation in page 186. NVC clearly distinguishes the three components in the expression of appreciation. That is the actions that have contributed to our well-being, the particular needs of ours that have been fulfilled and the pleasurable feelings engendered by the fulfillment of those needs. This Idea is important to me because it can be conveyed by a smile or a simple thank you. Say thank you express how you feel or how appreciated you are. For example, when I do something good for someone I do not expect that person to thank me because I expect less from people.
Another idea I find important is when pain blocks our ability to empathize in page 103. This is important to me because I need empathy to give empathy, I do not give something to another if I do not have it myself. I find myself unable or unwilling to empathize despite my efforts, it is usually a sign that I am too starved for empathy to be able to offer it to others.
Connecting compassionately with others is another idea I find important because when I am internally violent towards myself it is difficult to be genuinely compassionate towards others. This is as a result of when I do something that I did not get a favorable result I get angry and when someone come to me I say violent words to him or her. Here I have learnt how to be nonviolent.
2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Explain.
My relationships, I have been in a relationships where I first observe the attitude and behavior of the person then I develop feelings of likeness for the person then my needs was if the guy can be my friend after my needs has been met it will then follow by a result. NVC is to express the four components I know am communicating nonviolently. But sometimes when I get angry I do not control myself the way I speaks will be violent in such a way that any decision I made then will result to negative and I will damage so many things. I watch the way I communicate to people be it young or old people.
My beliefs, I believe in the way I speak in public, because people judge you by what comes out of your mouth, I also believe in asking directly what I want, that am been specific and these book has also made to know the difference between request and demand, when to make a request and when to demand for something. The way I should make these demands and request should be nonviolent in such a way that if the person do not want to give or do what I ask for but the way I communicate will make the person changed his or her minds towards that which I requested or demanded for.
My Goals, is to communicate Nonviolently, by achieving my goals, I have to watch the way I speak to people, sometimes we say words that hurts people feelings, but words that might not hurt one person may hurt another. This is because the way we see things are different from each other. My goal also is to use NVC in developing self-compassion, this is done by remembering the specialness of what I am. Making request in a clear, positive, concrete action language reveals what I really want in my goals.
My values, I value Nonviolent communication, that is the way people communicate to me is very important, I listen to the words that people speaks and the way they talks to me. There are ways and manner I receive communication both verbally and non verbally, when someone used vague language to me it contributes internal confusion to me. Vague languages brings about querrel between me and the speaker. I respect people a lot and I want them to respect me as well. I always watch what I say to people and I want them to give me back respect by talking to me Nonviolently.
3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Please Explain.
The important new idea I learnt from the book is the NVC Process, that is the concrete actions we are observing that are affecting our well being, how we feel in relation to whet we are observing, the needs, values, desires etc, that are creating our feelings, the concrete actions we request in order to enrich our lives. These has to do with our communication process, how we feel when we communicate to others, and the values we place in communication.
4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how?
Yes, these book has challenge me in the way I communicate to people, I have known the difference since I read these book, my communication people has changed. And also the book has changed my thinking with the way I demand and request for things. My thinking in the way I speak is also different.
5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?
No.
6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?
What I find most helpful is the four options for receiving negative messages. Which are Blaming ourselves, Blaming others, sensing our feelings and needs and Sensing others feelings and needs.
7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.
What these book is trying to convey is for us to free ourselves from effects of past experiences, break those patterns of thinking that will lead to arguments, anger and depression, create social structures and help people and making sure there needs are being met, and to develop relationship with respect, compassion and cooperation. To communicate with people with insulting each others feelings.
Please Rate this book on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10
The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership
Assessment by Iziomoh Bidemi Felix (Nigeria)
1. What Ideas were personally most important to you in this book? Do not simply list the ideas, but explain or discuss why they were important to you, using personal examples.
The ideas in these book, every bit of the book are most important to me and I will just select few of the ideas and explain why they are important to me, first of all is the idea of Diana’s story, in page 12 and 13 which uses the Law of Influence, which states that, the true measure of leadership is influence – Nothing more, nothing less. This chapter brings out the definition of leadership, which is to influence the behaviour of group of people or individual. Diana’s story was so interesting to the extent that when she died people were still influenced. I am so fascinated by her story, because the total numbered of audience that listen to the radio all over the world were more than twice the number of people who watched her wedding.
Another important points is the five myths about leadership, this is important because so many people have different misconceptions and myths about leadership and leaders, so the five myth are : 1. The management myth, 2. The entrepreneur myth, 3. The knowledge myth, 4. The pioneer myth and 5. The position myth. These misconceptions also made me to believe that not all leaders are manager, and not all leaders are entrepreneur, not leaders are knowledgeable, not all leaders are pioneer and lastly not all leadership is based on position.
Another important point is in page 23, that leadership has many facets which are respect, experience, emotional strength, people skills, discipline, vision, momentum, timing and so on. This is to say in order for one to be effective leader one has to follow such face, and try as much as possible to develop on such skills.
Another important idea is the four phases of leadership growth, in page 24, that says whether one has great natural ability for leadership, our development and progress will probably occur according to the phases. These phases are, 1. I don’t know what I don’t know, 2. I know what I don’t know, 3. I grow and know and it starts to show, 4. I simply go because of what I know. This is important to me because it makes me understand a leader that is ineffective and effective.
Another important idea is in page 33, which is the Law of Navigation, which states that anyone can steer the ship, but it takes a leader to cheer the course. This is important because it explains the two group of explorer who set off on incredible mission. These two explorer used different strategies and routes, but they had the same goal which is suppose to be the first history to reach the south pole. The two explorer were Amundsen and Scott, amundsen uses the law of Navigation while Scott violated the law which made him loose his men and his life. These chapter taught me how to really plan when leading group of people and making decision, there should be proper planning in everything one is embarking. Also, the strategy which is PLAN AHEAD. This is important to me because I have it pasted in front of my reading table typed, so I can always look at it daily, these motivate me and it makes me really plan ahead. The important points again are the barriers to successful planning which are fear of change, ignorance, uncertainty about the future, and lack of imagination, it is important to me because I have to do everything possible to prevent these factors to hinder me.
Another important point is in page 50, which is how people become real leaders? The seven steps reveals how people step forward as a leaders, these are: 1. Character – who they are. 2. Relationships – who they know. 3. Knowledge – what they know. 4. Intuition – what they feel. 5. Experience – where they have been. 6. Past success – what they have done. 7. Ability – what they can do. This is important to me because as an up coming leader I have to take not of these steps.
Another point is in page 58, which states trust is the foundation of leadership. That is to build trust, a leader must exemplify these qualities: they are competence, connection, and character. I have to be trusted as a leader, my competence matters a lot, also my connections and characters.
Another important point is in page 85, the three levels of leadership intuition which are Those who naturally see it, Those who are nurtured to see it, and Those who will never see it. This is important to me because it explains how some people are born with leadership gifts, they easily understand people and know how to move them from point A to point B. Also not everyone can starts off with great instincts, but whatever abilities people have can be nurtured and developed.
Also, the five types of people into inner circle, all these can add tremendous value to one life and organization, these values are :
1. Potential Value – those who raise up themselves.
2. Positive Value – those who raise morale in the organization.
3. Personal Value – those who raise up the leader
4. Production Value – those who raise up others
5. Proven Value – those who raise up people who raise up other people.
These point are important to me because they make me understand what value leadership are made off.
Another point is in page 119, which Lee Lacocca said, that success comes not from what you know, but from who you know and how you present yourself to each of those people. This is important to me because it a broad explanation of the law if inner circle, that who you know can make you to be what you can be, because who one know gives the right connection and more so, the experience those people has and where they are can make one be where he can be or can give one the leadership position one needs.
Another point is in page 126, which is the law of empowerment, the barriers to empowerment, they are: Desire for job security, Resistance to change, Lack of self worth. This is important to me because I have understood the barriers that can hinders empowerment.
2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Please use personal examples in your explanation.
The ideas in the book that can be related to my personal circumstances in life such as my relationships is that, I have had an argument about leadership, that is my belief about it to my friends, we were saying that leadership and management are the same, I always tell them that they are not, because we did leadership as a course in our second year and now in our last year first semester we did Management, so I now saw the different and show to them and make them understood the difference and now in these book the difference is there and very clear, which states that leadership is about influencing people to follow, while management focuses on maintaining systems and process.
My beliefs, is that leadership as a process, takes time and one has to follow the process before he or she can become a leader. Also I believe in most of the stories in the chapters, they really help me a lot and they have change my belief in leadership. I also believe in respect, trust and character, they are the common facts one can never miss as a leader. Another believe I have is the law of sacrifice, which states that a leader must give up to go up, sacrifice is one vital thing one needs to do, in everything there must be sacrifice.
My goal is to achieve what I have stated to achieve in life as a leader. Also, to be a good leader and have all these qualities and follow these law in the book.
My values, I value the life of people, so as a leader I have to put their needs above mine, and take them as important and corporate with them, also as a leader, I have to value my team, and carry them along, be friendly with them , I also value the laws in the book.
3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Please Explain
The most important new ideas and concepts I learnt from the book are the story’s of the leaders that were mentioned in the book, there is a story that follows every laws in each chapter.
4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how?
Yes, the book has changed and challenged my thinking in so many ways, the story’s mentioned is a thing that can give me a bold step in anything I want to do, also each law changed my thinking and gives me enough insight about leadership.
5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?
No, there is no ideas I disagree with.
6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?
What I find most helpful are the content, from 1 to 21, why they are helpful to me is because they help me figure out the chapters easily, when I started the book, I first of all read the content and the meanings. Lastly the conclusion is helpful to me. It is also helpful because the words are encouraging.
7.In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.
The book is trying to convey, how most leaders in the world succeed using the laws of leadership. And more so, the ideas in the book were also followed by most prominent leaders in the world. More so, the book is trying to convey how coaches uses the laws and win in competitions, it provides a wealth of practical insights on what it takes to be a successful leader.
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
My comments is that the book is absolutely inspiring, it gives hope, direction and procedures one can use to achieve is best as a leader.
Educating For Human Greatness
Assessment by Isiomoh Bidemi Felix (Nigeria
1. What Ideas were personally most important to you in this book? Do not simply list the ideas, but explain or discuss why they were important to you, using personal examples
The first idea that is important to me in this is the Six Pivotal Principles, the principles are:
• Value Positive Human Diversity.
• Draw Forth Potential
• Respect Autonomy
• Invite Inquiry
• Support Professionalism
• Unite As Partners
These principles are important to me because they further explain what they mean in the educational sector, and as a teacher in public schools one can really use these principles to get a positive result and try to build the potentials of the children in public schools. These principles when properly studied one can use them to teach effectively and efficiently.
The other idea I find important is in page 6 and 7, that is the question the author asked, concerning public schools, these questions are really challenging.
Another idea, is the idea of parents supporting the public schools with tax money and help as a volunteer whenever they can, these idea is in page 14, in public schools here in Nigeria, is hardly you find parents coming to school to interfere or volunteer or even come and see how there children are doing the school, maybe they are performing well or not they do not care, for example, the school I did my teaching practice is a public school, is hardly you find parents coming to check their children performances, even when are they are called for an open day session, open day session means that all children should come with their parents and they are expected to bring all their notes book to their class teachers for the parents to see how they are performing and the parents can then lay emphasis on how the child behaves at home, but this is not so, the parents do not come and when you ask the kids, they say, their parents went to work and some went to trade so they do not care about the children at all. But come to private school, you will see differences, here the parents has stake in the school, I once volunteered in a private school I know what it takes to be in private school, the parents also volunteer their services, parents come inside the school to check their kids, see how they are performing, even help in working with other kids.
Another Idea is in page 20, My mental metamorphosis, that he is intrigued with the process which an ugly worm becomes a beautiful butterfly, why this is important to me is that, through our mental metamorphosis a child an become great, by training the kid and bring out the potentialities in him he or she then can become great in life.
Another important point is in page 27, that is the drive to recognized ‘somebody’ (identity), these drive is much more than the need to merely survive or exist. It is an intense need of the human spirit to fulfill one’s unique potential as a special contributor to the world. It is a need to count for something, to have a sense of self worth. It is a drive to answer the questions, who am I? Why do I exist? What is the purpose of my life. This is a never ending question for identity. Why these point is important to me is that, we are on these earth for a purpose, so it is compulsory to develop and see reasons why I am on these earth, by following the questions, it is also my duty to fulfill my unique potential as a contributor to the world, so the manner I contribute to people’s life matters most to me.
Another important idea is in page 37, that is Challenge Education, that is a vision that invited student growth in five challenge areas. They are: Adventure, Creativity, Service, Practical skill, Logical Inquiry. This is important to me because they explain the challenges one needs to over come in Education, and also a vision that will invite personal growth.
Another point is the Unity in page 41, that if you have penny and I have a penny and we exchanged pennies, you still have one cent and I still have one cent. But if have an idea and you have an idea and we exchange ideas, you now have two ideas and I have two ideas. This is the value of unity, that is value people and ideas that are different from mine. When two or more people value one another, they can learn from each other and blend their unique gifts, ideas and knowledge, and make the total greater than sum of their parts. This is important to me because it makes me value people and their ideas.
Another point is in page 45, which happen to be the definition of Education, Education is the drawing out the potentialities of an individual. But by the definition, this is not what the teachers are doing in public schools, instead they are pouring facts into the heads of youngsters. This is important to me because it is a shame to our public schools and higher institutions, they are just pouring in the facts instead to develop the potentials of the individual.
Another point is in page 47, that it is through development of a person’s own assets that deficits can be overcome. This is true, when we draw forth a person’s assets, and nurture them, we automatically honor positive human diversity, we validate a person’s self and give permission for or her to exist as an individual. Why this is important to me is that I relate to the fact that through development of a person’s strength that weakness can be overcome.
Another point is in page 51, that Prof. Calvin Taylor, introduced the six creative talents that we all have in varying degrees of atrophy : Academic, Productive thinking, Planning, Communicating, Forecasting and Decision making. Which only the Academic talent can be nurtured in Schools, the others can be nurtured by developing oneself with the skills. This is important to me because I want to develop myself with these skills and from the mindtools.com I learnt some of these skills in my level three studies in IIGL.
Another point is in page 62, that is the principle of freedom connected to responsibility. Which a kite was used to illustrate these principle, that a kite flies best when it is held in check by a cord in the hands of a skillful owner. This is true because if the owner is not skillful the direction he wants to the kite to go it will not go to that direction instead the kite will just drop. This is a way of developing the potentials of an individual through education, if you are not skillful, you can not do it, the kite is giving much freedom that is by extending the cord it begins to descent.
Another point is the power of purpose, in page 101, that, the purpose of education is to develop great human beings who are contributors to the society. This is one of the objective of the Universal Basic Education in Nigeria. Educate a child to be useful in the society and the world.
2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Please use personal examples in your explanation.
The ideas in these book as relate to my personal circumstances in life such as my relationships, Is during my teaching practice in public, I have set my goals to go there and impart the life of those children in the school, but sometimes, the school curriculum will not allow you to because what you intend to teach and how you intend to teach is different from the school scheme of work which you have to follow, but I tried my best to see that I develop them they way I have set aside for. When I was also a student in high school, we have to develop ourselves instead of waiting the teachers to come and teach, we try and be creative, do things on our own.
My beliefs, what I believe is teaching the basic skills, which are Reading, Writing and Solving Mathematics, I also believe in teaching the and developing the skills of individual that is using the three Domains, which are the Cognitive, Affective and Psychomotor, the Cognitive as to do with the Mental or Intellect, while the Affective has to do with the Attitudes or emotions and the Psychomotor has to do with the Manipulative skills. With all these gathered the child can develop himself or herself.
My Goal, is to see that a child achieve what I really want, I love to impart knowledge to young kids, my greatest joy is to see a growing child learn and achieve, and make sure they become useful to the society and the world.
My value, I value my identity, interaction, which the book is trying to convey, I the life of children, when I was teaching, I got series of complaining from children, but as I have a stated goal, I try to solve there problem to the extent that when I was leaving they were crying, but there is nothing I can do I have to leave, to the level that some of the students was telling me to apply and come and teach in there school. I also value unity, because it brings us the idea of nurturing diversity.
3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Please Explain.
The important ideas I learnt from these book is the three dimensions of Greatness, that is Identity- I know who I am and can sense my unlimited potential.
Interaction – I love every member of the human family, as well as myself.
Inquiry – I am in charge and responsible for my own learning and behavior. This is important because it makes me know my existence in these world, the gifts I have the compassion and love, and the zeal for learning, ability to acquire process and use information.
4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how?
Yes, the book has challenged my thinking because it makes me understood what public schools are made and as a teacher in public schools what I need to do to bring out the potentialities of the young one’s. And how to use the three dimensions of human greatness.
5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?
No, there is no idea I disagree with.
6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?
What I find most helpful is the three dimension of human greatness, and the Appendices from appendix A to D. in the book.
7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.
What the book is trying to convey is how to develop the potentials of an individual so that he or she can be useful to the society and the world at large, also the six principles of human greatness which is cherish every person as a unique individual, help learners discover and develop their latent talents, restore freedom and responsibility to every learner, help students develop an insatiable curiosity and hunger for knowledge, encourage teachers who live by these principles, parents and teachers should join and help children grow in human greatness.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 10
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? \10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10
The Leadership Pill
Assessment by Iziomoh Bidemi Felix (Nigeria)
1. What Ideas were personally most important to you in this book? Do not simply list the ideas, but explain or discuss why they were important to you, using personal examples.
The idea that are important to me are too numerous to mention, but am going to be brief on the most important ones. The first point is in page 27, that is leadership is not just what happens when you are there, it is what happens when you are not there. To me this is important because, it is clear that as a leader one has to influence the behavior of other people and carry his team along, so that when s/he is not there around or not there for a particular task or to meet a particular stated goal, the team can achieve the goal even if the leader is not there. So what happens when you are not there determine how the leader has led the team. For example when I was working in a superstore, as a supervisor, when ever am around I always talk to the boys, I tell them what to do, the right thing to do at the right time, so when am not there or am not around, they should be able to do the task perfect and effectively.
Another important idea is in page 46, that is Affirmation. Lets people know that what they do is important . These idea is important to me, because as a leader one have to carry or take his team or group needs above his and letting them know what they do is very important . These happen to me when we were in a leadership training course, where I happen to be a watch leader for my watch for that day because it was a routine, when It got to our turn for that day task, most of my team mate were feeling very unwilling to do their duty, but I made them to understand that what they are doing is very important, because other watches did theirs and there was no complain so we have to do ours and make sure it is better than theirs so we can achieve the school stated objective.
Another idea that is important to me is in page 69, that is the Key to effective leadership is the Relationship you build with your team. This is true about leadership, if one has to be an effective leader, there must be a good relationship with the team. Without building a good relationship with the team, the effective leader and the team will not achieve their stated objectives. In building such relationship the leader must be friendly and be able to tolerate, be open-minded and always carry his team along.
Another point is in page 75, that is where the effective leader said to the team that ‘I want to work in partnership with you to help you win. And when you win I win, this is the win-win strategy as I know it to be. That is when the team win their stated goal, the effective leader automatically wins. In doing these, there must be an agreement that will enable each team member partake effectively to there task.
Another important idea is in page 80, that is ‘it is Easier to Get up the Hill when you climb it together. Why this is important to me is because, it is necessary to work as a team, and as a leader, it is always good to carry your team or group along, when you are climbing or rising it is easier since everybody in the team are actively involve in the task. It happens to me during our leadership course when we were doing the obstacle climbing, as a group it is easier for us to climb because we tend to encourage, support and help each other but supposing we did it individually, it would have been difficult, because each person would be scared to climb. So it is easier to get up the hill when you climb with the team.
Another point is in page 87, where the Effective leader called Mo Zellinger one of the member of his team, Mo Zellinger taught the effective leader wanted to lay him off, but it was not that, he called Mo Zellinger to compliment him, these same idea has happen to me when my boss called me, but the calling was different because he was not in his office, he was in the Human resources manager’s office that is the personal manager, I was so scared then, I taught he wanted to lay me off, maybe I did something wrong that I need to be downsize. But when I got to the office, he gave me an envelope which I opened it immediately to know what the contents was all about, I saw money first so I was thinking maybe it was my pay off, not until I read the letter in the envelope that it was a letter of compliment for a job well done.
Another point is in page 88, that is Praise is the Easiest way to let people know they are appreciated. When people do the right thing, when you praise the person it gives the person courage to do more, is just like using a pep talk to an athlete who perform very well in athletics, when people are working if you give them praise, it makes them be more focus and it gladdens their heart to do the task perfectly.
Finally, which I find most important because, I asked friends what they understood about it. It is in page 93 which states that ‘you will go a lot further if you stop to Refuel’ they all have different meaning, but to my own understanding, what is means is that, you one should think very well you will go a lot further or if you use your mind very well you will be great or successful.
2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Please use personal examples in your explanation.
In my relationships, these has to do with me and my boss, when I was working, sometimes he purposely gave me task for him to test my ability, and with all that he made me to be responsible. He will just called me aside, and tell me what to do then it is left to me to do my best as a leader. Even when we were in the camp, as a leader I made my team to understand that what they do are so much important and we should try and be the best.
My beliefs, what I believe in effective leadership, is that, as a leader one should always be the best and encourage his team, make a leadership pill, and give dosage directions. I also believe in working together as a team because it will help to make work easier. That is work as partner. I also believe in the win-win strategy, that is coming into agreement, because if your team wins you as the leader automatically wins. Sharing ideas together with your team. The most important one is building a strong relationship with you team. I believe in letting people know what they do is important no matter how small the task might be.
My goals, here is achieving the stated goal or objectives. My greatest goal as a leader would be for me to win and meet the goal I have set, and it will be okay for me to win the interest of my team, making them to understand that what ever they do is very important and we should climb the hill together, more so, tell them what is to be done so that when am not around with them they can do the same task as if am there.
My values, what I value most are people, their needs also, and the task they do. I value the place people are, no matter how small or big. Another thing I value is time, so when ever there is a task I make sure that there is a stipulated time and we have to meet the time. Or if there is a meeting, everybody has to be in the meeting at the right time. And also individual ideas are valued as well, because no idea is valueless, every little idea is important when it comes to team work. No idea or point should be left out.
3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Please Explain
The most important new ideas I learnt from the book are the words the effective leader wrote on the whiteboard. And also, the discussion he laid to other member of the meetings, he also made every member involve and responsibility was been shared to them. Also the testimonies from satisfied customers that was posted which is in page 13.
4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how?
Yes, these book has challenged and also changed my thinking about leadership, to be an effective leader one needs to be real effective and it takes a lot of seriousness, and try to respect people and share task, so that one can achieve the company’s goal and objectives.
5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?
NO.
6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?
What I find most helpful are the secret blend for effective leadership. Leadership is not something you do to people it is something you do with people.
The Integrity.
Partnership
Affirmation
Perfecting the blend.
In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.
What these book is trying to convey is that, it is to help build effective leadership, also to help a leader to be creative and entertaining, it uses a pill to describe how it will be taking everyday for 90 days in every six hours. which the effective did, he made a compulsory meetings every morning in order for him to achieve the company’s objective. The leadership pill is an ingredient in motivating people.
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? 9
The 9 Steps To Financial Freedom
Assessment by Iziomoh Bidemi Felix
1. What Ideas were personally most important to you in this book? Do not simply list the ideas, but explain or discuss why they were important to you, using personal examples.
The first idea that is important to me was Catherine’s story in page 13, the story reminds me of when I was a little boy, Catherine needed a bike for her birthday because all her friends had a bike, when her parents told her that bike was too expensive but she was so selfish, she wanted a bike at all cost. Not until when she fell flat on the ground and for the six weeks she was having a big cast on her arm, she remember saying that, this is what happens when you get something you are not supposed to have. The was what happened to me, but mine was not on a bike, it was a toy, that is a working toy, that was not mine, but it is meant for my friend when we were still in childhood, we were playing together with the toy, until he wanted to leave with his toy, then I was crying, I started fighting with my little friend for the toy that does not belongs to me. I did not stop crying for that day, all I wanted was my own toy, then the next day my dad bought a toy for me which I was so excited with it the day he gave me the toy, that same day I fell with the toy from a staircase, this is where I got to understand that, this is same thing that happened to me when you get something that you are suppose to have.
Another important idea was Mark’s story in page 25 about his sister that stole his money which as a result made him not to trust in those he love. These was the same problem am having, then I kept money in my bag when I was working, it was a wrap of money but when I came back from work, I noticed that the bag was not the same way I left it when I left for work, so I now got to the bag, I saw that the wrapper of the money had removed and the money was short, I cried because I have been saving the money for something I needed to buy, I fought my sister that day, but she denied the fact that she did not take the money, this is why it is difficult to trust someone you love.
Another important idea is the idea of credit card companies seducing one. That Is credit card companies are very smart and seductive, and they know exactly what to do to get one deeper and deeper into trouble. This is in page 182. This is true about banks here in Nigeria. They introduced the ATM machine which is meant to be used by the card. To me they are really smart in the sense that by the time one withdrew money with the card the amount they will deduct will be different from the amount they will charge if one should go to the bank direct, and more so, if one is withdrawing from another ATM machine with his card, the money they will charge will be more compare to the one that you will withdrew with your bank. This is real Debt.
Another important point was the story of suze orman, the author and her mum in page 255, that they bought stocks at the price of $1.50 a share and she and her mum bought stocks for $5.000, that is when the stock was $1.50 per share and it reduces drastically to twelve cents which her mum inner voice was telling her they should buy more stocks but suze the author was so surprise with what they are loosing, the mum still ask her that, they should buy more not until later the stocks begin to appreciate up to a stage, the mum now ask her that they should sell but was kind of putting the faith that, if they should leave it for some time the stocks will still increase ten times the money she and her mum bought. These story has happen to me and my friend, there is these stocks that was sold for N9.80k a share, so we both bought 1000units which was N9,800, not until when the stock dropped to N6.80k a share, that means we were loosing at that time, I called my friend because he was the one that persuade me to buy it then, so I told him what is happening because I was following the stock market, when I told him he said I should not worry because my inner voice was telling me that I should sell it, I still keep hold on to my faith because my friend said I should relax up till now the stock is rising gradually to N7 and some kobo, so am still waiting till when the stock will get to the amount that is okay to me then I will decide if to sell or not, but one good thing about the stock is that my dividend is forth coming every year.
Another point is in page 311, that is ‘where do I make my offering? These page taught me that the action of giving money is different from giving anything else. That is giving money as a present for birthday, wedding ceremony or graduation is not right but it applies only to gifts inspired by a pure impulse to give. What I understood in these idea is that money should not be giving as a gift instead one should buy gifts with money and present.
Lastly, the idea of ‘giving money to parents’ in same page, it has been writing that honour thy father and thy mother so that our days shall be long. Our parents has labour and train us to some certain stage, so we ought to pay them back in returns, these means there should be an offering every month been sent to them.
2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Please use personal examples in your explanation.
The ideas in relation to my personal circumstances in life such as my relationships. These has to do with the relationship with my elder sister, I and my elder sister are very close up till now, but the idea of me accusing her of stealing my money, which led us to fighting then, was one thing I will never forget, in fact I regretted the action I took then, I tried to change my attitude towards her but now I have really put that at the back of my mind, she has changed and she has been assisting me financially, so what I believe is for her paying me back with what has happen in the past.
My beliefs, these has to go along with my stocks and shares, what I believe about stocks is that, when you invest more capital into it you dividend will be more, but when the market is dropping one tend to loose, and when you cannot monitor the stock market to know what is happening if the stocks is appreciating or depreciating then it becomes a problem. I believe with time things will grow and one should have a stockbroker or financial planner that can advice and help monitor and counsel so that one can have a financial freedom.
My goals, first is to have a financial freedom, be a financial manager myself, be able to monitor and control my finances. A lifetime goal is to make sure I give offering to my parents as long as they still live. Another goal is to make sure that I changed my thinking concerning money.
My values, what I value is seeing my capital growing, how they grow matters, nobody wants to lack money, everybody needs money, I value my finances and I do not want anything to make me keep worrying or thinking about money. I also value my parents so I have to send them an offering every month. I also value my stocks and shares so I need a financial planner or stockbroker to advice me more.
3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Please Explain.
The most important new ideas or concepts I learned from the book are the story’s been told by the author both for her clients, herself, her mum and her dad. I learnt some practical and spiritual steps that will make me stop worrying about money. I also learnt about being honest with myself, being responsible to those I love, being respectful of myself and my money. To trust myself more than I trust others, being open to receive all that I am meant to have, finally to recognize true wealth.
4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how?
Yes, the book has challenged and my changed my thinking in so many ways, firstly, was all about trusting who I love, also how to invest in stocks and shares, an how to calculate my money to see it appreciating, more so, how to plan for the future, how to free myself from worrying financially, it has also changed my thinking about credit card.
5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?
No.
6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?
What I find most helpful are the story’s in the book and what I find least helpful are the IRS, the Mortgage system and the 401(k) why they are not helpful is because we are not using them out here though I read them to understood what it means and for a clear understanding.
7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.
What the whole book is trying to convey is that, the book provide a guide to financial freedom, that is seeing how one past holds the key to his future, the book is also talking about facing fears and creating new truths, also to trust oneself more than trusting others. The book is also conveying that being open to receive all that are meant to have and lastly understanding the lessons of money cycle.
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
The Relationship Cure
By Iziomoh Bidemi Felix
1. What Ideas were personally most important to you in this book? Do not simply list the ideas, but explain or discuss why they were important to you, using personal examples.
The first idea that is most important to me in the book is in page 16 and 17. That is the turning towards, turning against, and turning away. The turning toward is a way of resting positively to another’s bid for connection, when one person make a statement or connect and the other person who is a receiver response positively. For example when a man points to an impressive car as it passes by, and his friend nods his head, that is to say’ I agree’ that is turning toward.
Turning against is a way of argument or waging war, been aggressive to another person. These also involves ridicule. For example, if a man fantasized about owning a passing sports car. His friend might reply, ‘on your salary? Dream on! I remember o once told a friend of having one of the best car, in the world, he told me that on how much salary would I get to buy the best car in the world. That I should continue dreaming.
Turning away is a way of ignoring another’s bid or acting negatively. A person in these regards might comment and point to an impressive car but his friend wouldn’t bother to look up, or probably he might look up and say something negative or unrelated. I also remember telling a friend that we should buy a stock he shunned me, he did not look at my face.
Another idea I find important is in page 31, where it shows how bids look like. Bids include questions statements or comments which involve. Thoughts, feelings, observations, opinions, invitations. But the ones that are most interesting and meaningful to me in the bids which are non verbal. The affectionate touching, facial expressions, playful touching, affiliating gestures, vocalizing, they are important to me because it makes me understand more of communication skills, all these has to do with communication.
Another point is in page 173, that talks about the face among the parts of the body, which says that the face is the most uniquely suited for the function of expressing emotion. The face gives information and it tells if one is in good mood, or shows if one is responding effectively in communication, information is exchanged via rapid changes in the shape of the forehead, the brows, the eyelids, the cheeks, the nose, the lips and the chin. The face also express certain emotions. When one is sad , happy, disgust, angry, surprise, contempt or in fear. The pictures in page 175 shows more light on facial expressions which can be blended to express a wide range of emotion.
Another important point is the language of touch in page 184, which talks about touch which is an important tool in bidding and responding to others bids for connections. To me, touch expresses more meaning than talking, there are times where one would not want to talk, but touch can be used in replace of these. For example, shaking hands with the person who offered you job, it might be a way of saying thank you, also sharing a high five with teammates after a big win, these also indicate a well done job, patting your best friend’s back on his wedding day also shows a congratulations, so touch really expresses emotions. There was a time I met a friend who is older than me, immediately we finish chatting, instead of me to say goodbye, I shook him and leave, to me I have said goodbye by shaking hands with him.
Another point I find important but funny is in page 185 that Early In heterosexual dating relationships, men touch more than women, later, when relationships become more serious, the amount of touching is equal and in early marriage, women touch more than men. These part is funny and it is true, it demonstrate power and control, how one felt to the other partner. These can be related when you newly find a woman and take her to your house what she will say is your house is beautiful and after marriage, she will say our house is better than theirs ad after giving birth to 1 or 2 kids, she will say, when next your mother is coming to my house tell her to inform us first before coming.
Another point is the look for commonalities, in page 199, where is states that people are attracted to those with whom they have things in common, it also says, sharing too much personal information too early can be harmful to relationships. This is important to me and I find it advisable, it is not always good to meet someone for the first time and one start disclosing every information about oneself. It has to be gradually, like the day I went out with a female friend, she was asking all sort of questions, that she wants to know everything that same day, I told her she should relax, that she is not supposed to know everything in a day.
Also, the turn off the Television in page 202, where it says for your family relationships, limit TV watching, TV serves as a distraction, to me most time when I want to do something with myself that is when I would want to do something with myself that is when I would want to see a program in the TV, now as am writing these assessment there is no TV in my room, so it makes me focus on my reading and assessing, I can only listen to radio and I write.
Another important idea is in page 231, that is things to do for your spouse, this is important to me because it expresses how important my spouse is and how it makes the relationship smooth and allow her to feel loved. Also the things to do together. All these are important in every relationship because it makes the spouse feel wanting and value.
Another idea I find important is the Rituals of Connection in marriage. They are suggestions about rituals that pertain to family relationships and marriage. They are morning rituals, leave-taking, affectionate greetings and partings, calling or sending e-mail, mealtimes, after – dinner coffee, Eating out, Bedtime, Dates and when one spouse is sick, all these are very important to me and I find them more meaningful in terms on relationship.
2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Please use personal examples in your explanation.
The idea that I will relate to my personal circumstances in life such as my relationship is the idea of meeting someone for the first time and disclosing facts to him or her. Another idea is when relationship is new it tends to be sweet, that is when the other person will be all over you, but when it gets to sometime that the relationship is becoming old that is when you will see the opposite sex, start running away because he or she has seen that, these relationship will not bring out anything good, ladies are impatient. When the friendship is new they will be all over you.
My Beliefs, what I belief in, is the idea of Rituals of connection, why I believe in these idea is that, it suggest about rituals that pertain to family relationships, and marriage, they entails the components that will make a fruitful relationships and marriage. Another Idea I believe in is, the language of touch, touch really entails so much and it conveys messages that when you do not want to talk you can use touch as a way of conveying messages. The other idea I believe is the turning points, I like these because it is the choices we make in responding to bids.
My goals, my goal in these book is the idea of turning points, that is when am talking people should always turn towards me , because if you turn against or turn away it makes me feel neglected. Another goal, I have is the idea of my relationship and marriage, that is the rituals of connection, I want to make my spouse feel loved and that she is always in safe hands.
My Values, I so much value my communication with friends and family, and I value my relationships be it with male or female. Whatever that will make me loose my value, am trying to work them hard, because when you loose your value it becomes a problem.
3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Please Explain.
The most important new ideas I learnt from this book, is the Turning points, that is the turning towards, turning against and the turning away, why they are important to me is because I learnt when I talk to people when they respond negatively or arguing and positively I know it is the idea of Turning points that is working, it also makes me communicate and respond positively to friends when they talk to me. Another idea I learnt from the book is the Rituals of connection, what I have to do to make my spouse feel loved and values.
4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how?
The book has really changed and challenged my thinking, in the aspect of the turning points, I have changed my thinking on how I respond to people when they communicate to me. Also it has challenged me in the sense that I can now relate well with my family and when I have my own family and my spouse I can treat them well as they ought to be treated. How to cope with my immediately family is also another fact that I have changed my thinking. It has also changed my thinking because it has giving me guide to strengthening my marriage, family and friendships.
5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?
No, There is no idea I disagree with.
6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?
What I find most helpful are the exercise in the book, also the conversation that how each other responded to are helpful to me, there is nothing that I find least helpful because every point in the book are useful.
7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.
The main idea the book is describing is that, it gives guide to strengthening one’s marriage, family and friendships, also Is a groundbreaking, practical program for transforming troubled relationships into positive ones. The book is also conveying the skills one need to communicate emotionally with family, friends and spouse.
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
The Best Democracy Money can Buy
Assessment by Iziomoh Bidemi Felix (Nigeria)
1. What Ideas were personally most important to you in this book? Do not simply list the ideas, but explain or discuss why they were important to you, using personal examples.
The first idea that was personally important to me in the book The best democracy money can buy is in the introduction page, That is who gives a shit. It gives an example of how the Governor of Florida Jeb Bush moved to purge 57,700 people from the voter rolls, that supposedly criminals not allowed to vote. Most were innocent of crimes, but the majority were guilty of being black. This is important to me, because it made me understand how elections can be rigged, it is not only by adding more of the ballot papers that the voters had thumb print on, that the election can rig, they can also deprive people by voting that is when they are found guilty.
Another idea that is important to me is in page 35, Florida’s Disappeared Voters, that the author said, in latin America they might have called them votantes desaparecidos, ‘disappeared voters’. That on November 7,2000, tens of thousands of eligible Florida voters were wrongly prevented from casting their ballots – some purge from the voters registers and others blocked from registering in the first instance. Nearly all were Democrats, nearly half of them African – American. The systematic program that disfranchised these legal voters, directed by the offices of Florida’s Governor Jeb Bush and the secretary of state Katherine Harris, was so quite subtle and intricate that if not for George W. Bush’s 500-vote eyelash margin of victory, certified by Harris, the chance of the purge’s discovery would have been vanishingly small.
The group prevented from voting – felons – has few defenders in either party. It has been well reported that Florida denies its nearly half a million former convicts that right to vote. However, the media have completely missed the fact that Florida’s own courts have repeatedly told the Governor he may not take away the civil rights of Florida citizens who have committed crimes in other states, served their time and had their rights restored by those states. People from other states who have arrived in Florida with a felony conviction in their past number ‘clearly over 55,000 and likely over 100,000,’ says criminal demographics expert Jeffrey Manza of Northwestern University. This is important to me because it narrates how over 50,000 and 100,000 felons convicted.
Another point is in page 83, The Bushes and the Billionaires who love them? Who owns America? How much did it cost? Was the transaction cash, check or credit card? Was it donation to my son who’s running for president? Or Consulting contract to my wife’s former law partner to comfort him on his way to the federal penitentiary? And what do you give a billionaire who has everything? That gold mine in Nevada they so coveted? Immunity from prosecution? Then there’s the practical difficulty of gift wrapping the U.S. Congress. George W. Bush may have lost at the ballot box but he won where it counts, at the piggy bank. The fortunate son rode right into the white House on a snorting porker stuffed with nearly half a billion dollars. This is important to me because it shows how the Bush family took American as an inheritance, that is they are using money to buy the president post and the cabinet.
Another point is in page 87, that Governor Bush set up a committee with Alcoa, headed by Exxon, which met in secret to push a law to replace hard rules with voluntary standards. Texas state anticorruption law made it illegal to donate money to bush as governor while such legislation was under consideration, but within a month of Bush’s shepherding the bill through the state legislature, he declared his run for the presidency, making the $150,000 in donations from committee representatives completely legal. This is important to me because it clearly stated how they set up committees to make them donate money for campaign fund. Also to place men that will head the committee and when they won the election they will now fix the head of the committee to their cabinet.
Another important idea is in page 98, the FBI Document 1991. That the FBI agents had wanted to check into two members of the bin laden family, Abdullah and Omar, but were told to stay away by superiors – until September 13, 2001. why no investigation of the brothers Bin Laden? This is important to me because it give facts about Osama’s family. And how they long gone from the USA.
Another point is in page 166, the IMF and world Bank issue, learned from the Argentina horror. They learn the way a pig learns to sing: They can’t and they won’t, and if they try, the resulting noise is unbearable. This is important to me because the author uses a pig to demonstrate how the IMF and World Bank had demanded that Argentina pay a whopping 16 percent risk premium above U.S Treasure lending rates for the dollars needed to back the scheme.
2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Please use personal examples in your explanation.
My Relationships is that, I have experienced the Election process in Nigeria, and I do not know how it is been manipulated, even if it can be, but I do not think is going to be like the USA, where about 57,000 felon were disenfranchise. Which they said, they were felons. So in relating such to my personal life is going to be another different aspect entirely,
My beliefs, what I believe about the whole ideas, is that, since it is said that everybody has the “right to vote and be voted for” I think the states of that country should have aloud those felons to vote but on one condition that the votes should be in a tendered ballot paper, but I do not know the constitution of the USA, Denying a person who has been convicted right to vote is not the best option, they should have allow them to be happy and for them to know that it is there right to vote since it is said that it is Democracy.
But what will happen now is that, the blacks in that state would say, it is because they are black that is the reason they are been treated like that, this is where something like racist will come into play. If supposing the number of felonies are not much it would have been a different ball game, but they are much about 57,000 to 100,000. that’s too much for a state. What I always want people to understand and consider is that, suppose they happen to be the other fellow that, the voters were deprive of voting for them, what would happen? They should always consider themselves the other person. Before taking any drastic decisions.
My Goals, in life my goals is to reach where am suppose to in terms of politics, and I also have the goal of reaching my heights, and have the rights to vote and be voted for, I never can tell where I would be someday, that I will need support of the people to vote for me. Another goal, I love to achieve is not deprive someone of his right to vote, if I happen to be in a position where the voters card or voters registration is with me. It will be my greatest goal to see that if an election is conducted the result should be announced for the winner instead of some people will now think because they have power and they have money they can do what they feel like.
My value, I value people’s life, I look at things as if I were the one, I also value people emotion and attitudes. I do not believe because I have money or power I would now use It to terrorize others. The right of the citizens must be considered, no matter if they are convict or not, most convict, one does not know what led them to be in the prison.
3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Please Explain.
The new ideas I learnt from the book is concerning the denying of voters in the Florida state, these voters are African Americans. It is annoying. Also the Dr Dre and Eminem issue, I learnt the real names of these two artist, which is Endre Young and Marshall Mathers. I also learnt how Osama started and his family where they are from, how he started with the World Assembly of Muslims youth.
4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how?
The book has really challenged and change my thinking is the sense that, it has made me understood how an Election can be maneuvered, and how people can be disenfranchise because they are convicts. Also how people can be influence to raise fund for campaigning.
5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?
No, because I do not have a solid facts to disagree.
6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?
What I find most helpful is the pictures in the book and the footnote, the picture explains more of the facts and more so, the fax papers the author uses to fully back up his facts. What I find least helpful are the names of some of the people in the footnote.
In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.
What the book is trying to convey is how Bush killed the FBI’s Investigation of the Financing of terrorist organization by Saudi Arabia, how the Bush Family stole the election in Florida and How Enron cheated, lied and swindled its way into an energy monopoly. It is also trying to investigate and expose the truth about Globalization, Corporate Cons and High Finance Fraudsters.
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? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 7
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8
21st Century Leadership
Assessment by Iziomoh Bidemi Felix
1. What Ideas were personally most important to you in this book? Do not simply list the ideas, but explain or discuss why they were important to you, using personal examples.
The first idea that is important to me in the book is in the forward in page 10 &11. which happens to be the thoughts by John Sculley. which states that empowerment is often seen as something one can ‘do’ to another person. That people are empowered by an environment that gives them freedom to express themselves as openly as they can. That leadership is about providing such an environment and enabling others to become creative leaders in their own right. That in this new world, individuals are asked to pour a part of themselves into the success of the enterprise with which they are associated. He also stated that the availability and accessibility of information is making it possible for individuals to have a clear understanding of an organization’s vision and what they must do to make it happen. This is important to me because I see it as understanding the empowerment which I can use to empower another person to do something.
In chapter 1, the idea that was important to me, is in page 39, where it states why are companies, in unprecedented numbers working in empowerment, quality, vision, customer service, shared values, culture, self – directed teams, re-engineering, downsizing, benchmarking, and global strategies? This is important because companies nowadays are working to see that they grow every each day, and more so, they tend to have more branches all over the places and to reach out to there customers needs and making sure they meet there target.
Another point is in page 42, where John Sculley the Chairman and CEO of Apple Computer, Inc said that the 1990s is the decade of the three E’s which are the Education, Environment and the Economy. He said that’s where our leadership focus must be. That the economy used to be defined in terms of what was happening in our country. But today what we see are the dynamic, global economic system. That we are seeing our nation go, almost overnight, from being resource – rich to resource – poor.
Another idea is in page 52, that leaders are becoming divorced from formal authority because organizations are becoming decentralized webs instead of hierarchical entities, and from power because fewer people can coerce or control much of anything. One reason for this major shift is the change in the way people are willing to be managed and led. Today’s employees want to have a voice and make difference – they no longer want to follow blindly what the ‘Boss’ directs them to do. People are less impressed and intimidated by leaders just because those leaders may have built-in authority and position. In business, we see this as a shift from the old ‘work ethic’ to a new ‘worth ethic’- where people know and believe in their own worth, and the worthiness of what they are doing is the basis for their contribution. We also see a new generation of leaders who better operate on ‘relationship power’ and who believe that each and every individual counts and needs to be valued and treated as a unique person. We see more personal and professional relationships that are forged irrespective of positions. The power to accomplish now comes from the ability to develop trust and honesty, to build collaborative teams, and to empower every team member to participate fully.
Another important idea is in page 73 chapter 2. which gives the definition of leadership, that leadership is empowering a group of people to successfully tap achieve a common goal. That in order to do that, one have got to tap their full potential. That the most important thing for a leader to remember – that the people who are part of the team are very much like he or she is. The fundamental imperative for a leader is to treat other people the way he or she would like to be treated. That’s the Golden Rule, and it works. When a leader thinks along these lines, people trust that person. There is nothing more fragile than another person’s trust. There is no short cut, you have to earn it. You have to deserve it, day after day for years. You can lose it in an instant. If you lose it, day after day, for years. You can lose it in an instant. If you lose it, you will probably never get it back. How do you get and keep people’s trust and respect? Simply by doing what you say you will do. By not playing games with them. By not using them for your benefit.
Another idea that is important to me is in page 79 what Thomas T. Tierney says, that the most important assets of an organization are indeed the people. That they truly are the business. That leadership is to let people become empowered and know who they are.
Another idea that is important to me is the diagram illustrated in page 82 and 83, The classic Hierarchical Bureaucracy that is Figure 2.3 and Empowered Cross – Functional Teams Figure 2.4. The diagram help me to understands the hierarchy of positions and how to empowered one team mates.
Another point is the diagram in page 95, in chapter 3 which talks about vision, Empowered employees but no clear vision. And another one which is Empowered employees, clear, powerful vision. I understand that a clear vision for an organization unifies and inspires. Employees become motivated to be part of the vision and move in that direction. People laboring under the weight of cumbersome hierarchy and ponderous procedures find their efforts often frustrated and their personal initiative crushed. In contrast, it quickly becomes apparent that people have much more to offer when they are self driven and produce within the context of a powerful vision.
Another point is in page 111, is what Bill Gates said, that his vision is to put a PC on everyone ‘s desk. This vision, when achieved, will make people more effective and improve their lives.
2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Please use personal examples in your explanation.
In relating the ideas to my personal circumstances in life such as my relationships, is the kind of vision I had when I was a watch leader, the vision I had and how I carry my team along to achieve an optimal result. These vision was clear in such a way that every member of the watch have a clear and concise vision, because they are been empowered.
My belief is that, I believe in empowerment, having powerful vision, in the sense that everyone will focus on the same vision. Vision in every organizations make it more clear for the organization to have the best and achieve a lot.
My goal is that to be the best leader when leading in any organization and with clear and powerful vision I can achieve the best. Also carrying my team member along and let them understand the direction am facing or focusing.
My values, I so much value people, that is why as a leader one have to consider people and take them as they are no matter who they are, and not turning down on them, accept every point or idea from them and make it see how it works.
3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Please Explain.
The most important new ideas I learnt from the book is that education is the foundation of leadership, this is true because without education we could not even have an idea of what leadership is, leadership starts from when we are in nursery schools, and education comes from when we are born, which we started from home, before we started schooling which is known as informal education then before the formal education.
Also the Empowered employees, but no clear vision diagram, these really illustrates or shows how people can be and be facing different directions because they do not have a clear vision even if they are empowered. And Empowered employees, clear and powerful vision, when people are different background are facing the same direction with clear vision.
I also learnt that vision is to an organization what purpose is to an individual. Because an individual who has a strong life purpose is naturally motivated and moved to action.
Also what I learnt from the book is the Empowerment Leadership Model. In page 64.
4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how?
Yes, the book has changed and challenged my thinking because the leaders been interviewed share their own thoughts and reasoning. Also it talks about the changing game, leadership tools, power of vision, leadership vs management and many more.
5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?
No. I totally agree because I feel the leaders who shared there ideas have learnt a lot and they have experienced life than me.
6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?
What I find most helpful is the diagram that was use to illustrate some of the point. And the exploratory questions designed to involve and assist in facing challenges which each chapter ends with. But what I find least helpful are what some of the leaders said but I can not really figure them put.
7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.
What the book is trying to convey is that, to assist in facing one own organizational challenges and in planning one own personal leadership development. The book is also talking about change, which is a road map for developing the leadership skills and values that will be needed to successfully lead in the coming decades.
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? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 7
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8
The book is rich with wisdom, shared knowledge, inspiration and possibilities for the future.
Guide to Starting Your Own Business
Assessment by Iziomoh Bidemi Felix (Nigeria)
1. Discuss the main ideas that you found most important in this book and discuss why they were important to you.
The first idea that is important to me is in the preliminary page which is the Lessons for Starting Your Own Business, in the page we have the first lesson which is Opportunity waits for no one, do your homework, be persistent and don’t give up, have a plan – but be flexible, be positive and have fun. This idea is important to me because opportunity are afforded as one begin planning for opening a business, that opportunity waits for no one, so one have to take a step and then follow to achieve the goal. Do your homework, meaning do the research and look at all the aspects of the business one wants to own. Talking to others who share the same dream as you or who are operating a similar business. That one should not give up in business, there will always be obstacles in the path of business, one of the key to success is how to handle it. Having a plan – but be flexible, be positive and have fun, that is trying and trying until you got it right.
Another idea I find important in the book is in page 7, which is under can you beat the odds, the two questions that the author asked which is ‘Do I have what it takes to be successful and Am I starting a business where a real and lasting opportunity exists. This is important to me because the questions are challenging and they prepare my mind in starting business.
Also how a founder enter a market that was already crowded with competition, the founder did not offer exactly what prospective customers wanted to buy, the founder failed to make the appropriate changes in business operations to meet a changing marketplace, the founder started the business with insufficient funds, the founder lacked sufficient knowledge about legal, financial, purchasing, accounting, employee relations, or marketing matters for that type of business. This is lack of knowledge resulted in the inability to come up with the right answers when faced with pressing business decisions.
This is important to me because as a founder of business there are things that are expected to be done, and which the founder must look in for, mostly is the capital, and to know if the market is crowded, thereby looking at the SWOT analysis of the business that is the Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats. Business fails as a result of lack of managerial experience and knowledge.
Another point is Don’t be one of the Losers, what makes successful business have a lot in common, is that they were prepared to start their businesses, they usually had experience in that business or a similar type of business. That anyone who wants to start a business should get a job in a business of that type. There is no substitute for experience; experience provides insight into the nature of products, services, customer needs, employees, suppliers, seasonality. This is important to me because there is a saying that says experience is the best teacher, before starting a business one should have the experience of that kind of business he or she wants to enter or go into, if there is no experience in any of these that is nature of products, customer needs, employees, suppliers, seasonality, that means the business will collapse.
Another idea is the proverb in page 9, that A business is like a forest, if you do not have a good understanding of each tree, (accounting, marketing, employee relations etc), and how the trees are interrelated. This is important to me because a tree has a lot of branches, while in business, if one do not have the understanding of accounting, marketing and employee relations, the business will not flourish.
Another idea is the Key Entrepreneurial Qualities which are they are opportunity seekers, they are future oriented, they are committed to being the best, they are market driven and customer oriented, they value their employees, they are realistic, they are tolerant of the tedium, they are resilient, they are focused and decisive. This is important to me because in knowing the qualities of an entrepreneur, the business will be well organize and the there will be no lack of managerial success. The qualities also serves as the abilities and skills.
Another idea is the starting a business is survival of the fittest, starting a business is not a casual undertaking, the deck is staked against the individual, if the person is going to take the challenge he or she must do everything to improve the business chances for success. The individual needs to have identified a solid business opportunity, the necessary skills and abilities, the right approach to doing business and sufficient funds to start and operate the business until it can stand on its own. This is important to me because it helps me identify some of the personal qualities that may give me an edge in the competitive arena.
Another important idea is the law of entrepreneurship which is ‘you need to offer what people want to buy, not what you want to sell’. This is important to me because in knowing what the people is buying then the business will blossom, this is like the law of demand and supply. The higher the demand the higher the supply. When you know what the people wants to buy, then you will have a lot of customers you need your products.
Another idea is the six- step process which can be used in deciding what type of business to start,
Step 1: List problems in the marketplace
Step 2: Identify corresponding business opportunities
Step 3: Determine the needed capabilities and resources
Step 4: Project the financial dimensions
Step 5: Rate the opportunities in terms of personal preferences, financial worthiness, and perceived risk.
Step 6: Select the business opportunity to pursue.
This idea is important to me because it enable me to know the type of business to start, and also having identified the opportunities, evaluated the capabilities, and determined the potential profitability of each potential business venture that is where I will be in position to consider staring my own business.
Another idea is the Product and Price Strategy in page 92,that is the marketing mix which is made up of four components which are the four Ps, these components are the products-service strategy , the price strategy, the promotional strategy and the physical distribution strategy. In marketing these mix as I was taught is Product, Price, Promotion and Place, this is important to me because as an entrepreneur who have to get your product package, then the price allocated for the product, and what kind of promotion am I using in advertising and finally the place, that is where am I going to market my product.
2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Explain.
In relating the ideas to my personal circumstances in life such as my relationship, it has helped me to be more cordial and more friendly with people around me including those i have worked with. I now cope with people’s character no matter how bad because a hot-tempered person can’t make it in business.
For instance, when i was working, I had to tell my boss that we have to do what is known as suggestions box, that is for customers to drop there request, what they want and we do not have in the store, we did that and sometimes I meet these customers and talked to them greet them ask them do they want anything and how can I help them, if there is something they want we do not have, there and then we now have the request and get the products and that really help us in that supermarket.
My beliefs, I believe in making business with the right people, and trust people when it comes to business, I believe that in doing business one have to be smart and have the potential in meeting the people’s needs, I also believe in doing research to find out what people wants how to meet there supply, having experience in the business level is also important, because experience matters in any field, I also believe in the marketing mix, that is the four components, which are the product, price, promotion and place, also the six step of process to be used in deciding what kind of business to start. I believe what makes business fails is because there is lack of managerial experience and knowledge.
My goals, my goal is to be a successful entrepreneur, learn the principles of marketing, knowing what the people wants, and thereby meeting there demands.
My values, I values customers relations, and I also value what am giving out to people and the kind of business I want to venture in.
3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Please Explain.
The most important new ideas I learnt from the book is what the founder is faced in starting a business, which is in page 7, also the six step of process to be used in deciding what kind of business to start. Why these is important to me is because it allows me to know that I have to know the problems in the marketplace, identify business opportunities, determine the needed capabilities and resources, project the financial dimensions and to select the business opportunity to pursue.
4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how?
The book has challenged and changed my thinking in the sense that I can know how to create a new business opportunity, it has also changed my thinking with the key entrepreneur qualities, those qualities are what a business man need to have. I can also locate an opportunity in business, before I want to start a business there are things I have to look out for.
5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?
No, there are no ideas I disagree with.
6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?
What I find most helpful in the book is the lessons for starting your own business, the product and price strategy, the entrepreneur qualities, and creating a new business.
7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.
What these book is trying to convey is that, it helps a new and a beginner who want to start a business to have an idea of it, the qualities he or she must have in starting a business, what to do to create a new business, also the book is giving insight on the product strategy, price, promotion and place.
Rating
1. 1. How interesting was it to read? 8
2. How helpful were the contents? 8
3. How easy was it to understand? 9
4. Would you recommend it to others? 10
5. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10
The Power of Failure
Assessment by Iziomoh Bidemi Felix (Nigeria)
1. Discuss the main ideas that you found most important in this book and discuss why they were important to you.
The first idea I find most important is in the introduction page that is the French proverb which says only those who do nothing make no mistakes, why such idea is important to me is because when one does nothing that is when is not expected to make mistakes but when he does anything he or she is bound to make mistakes.
Another idea that is important to me is in page 4, that is when we as human beings come to see that;
* Challenges are disguised opportunities.
* Differences are a gift
* Mistakes are learning opportunities
* When we try our best and are willing to learn, we always succeed, even if we don’t achieve the results we hoped for.
Why this is important to me is because when we as human come across challenges it becomes opportunities to us and we have to grab it. Differences are a gift in the sense that our differences are what make us unique, we see mistakes learning opportunities lastly when we try our best to learn, we always succeed even if we don’t achieve what we hope for but we still have results.
Another point is in page 5, that is A New View of Failure: Some Primary Themes.
1. Redefine Failure, Failure is a natural part of life that can impact us positively or negatively depending on how we define failure.
2. Redefine Success, the more important measure of success is based on our own deeper knowing of what’s right for us rather than approval or disapproval from others.
3. Learn from Failure, failure presents an opportunity for continued learning and growth while success can lead to complacency and stagnation.
4. View Failures as stepping stones to success, Success and failure are not incompatible – most failures are simply challenges in progress that can provide a foundation for success.
5. Find the opportunities of Failure, Setbacks or short term failures can contribute to future success if we focus on the opportunities they contain rather than the obstacles.
6. Use Negative Feedback to your Advantage, Current negative feedback can provide positive information for improvement or may even suggest that you are onto something new and different – a sign of a pending breakthrough success.
7. Look Beyond Yourself, As one learn to focus outward, on helping others succeed rather than oneself, one become less vulnerable to what otherwise might appear to be personal failures.
8. Persist, Keep on trying and trying, that is the key to success which is Sustained Effort + the Lessons of Failures is a powerful formula for success. This is important to me because they me better insight on how to go about success and how to see failures as negative and one should provide positive information for success. As one help others to achieve that is focusing outward for others rather than his/herself, the individual becomes less vulnerable.
Another idea is in page 25, that is chapter 4, which is learn the challenging secret to successful failure…patience, what I really like in that page is what Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, who emphasized the importance of patience for succeeding in business, he explained that products and business go through three phases which are: Vision, Patience, and Execution. He said the patience stage is the toughest and most uncomfortable, while the Vision stage generates a great deal of excitement and energy and the future looks promising, and the final stage which is the execution stage which is the time of fine-tuning and figuring out how to be even more successful. This is important to me because I feel the important of patience for succeeding in any business there must be Vision, patience and execution. This will enable the business to flourish.
Another idea is in chapter 6 page 33, that what Ed Land, the inventor of instant photography and founder of Polaroid, who kept a plaque on his wall which read ‘A mistake is an event, the full benefit of which has not yet been turned to your advantage. This is important to me because mistakes are always event, it is not an advantage yet until we acknowledge and make success out of it.
Another point is what Elbert Hubbard said in page 35, that the greatest mistake one can make in life is to continually fearing that you will make mistakes, this is important to me because as an individual, if you have the fear that you are going to make mistakes in anything you want to do, it will definitely come, I have had an experience like these when I wanted to attempt something very important to me, though I was scared to attempt what I intend doing, for that purpose I did not do it not realizing that I am making the greatest mistakes in life.
Another point is in page 43, which is the chapter 8, which says Sometimes when you win, you Lose, the story of Jon Bowen, an Athlete who runs a 10k that is (6.2miles) race, the story goes thus, Bowen had trained very hard for the race and was on target for a personal best time as he neared the halfway point, the person in front of him twisted his ankle in a pothole and fell to the cement. The fallen runner grasped his ankle as he rolled onto his back. Bowen was faced with the decision whether to stop and help or run on past. This is important to me because it is very bad, Bowen was so selfish, and ego centric, he did not even consider if the runner who survive the race, instead of him to assist the runner despite all odds, he was looking at the moral dichotomy, that duty to fellow man or every man for himself. He was not his brother’s keeper as the saying goes. By so doing these it shows that despite wining the race he still lose.
Another point is in the part four that is the Collaborating with Failure, which says Successful failure can become an important part of living a full and successful life. That every significant new venture, new skill learned, or exciting opportunity pursued will bring with it the likelihood of experiencing short-term failures along the way. These setbacks can become important building blocks of success. Learn to be on the lookout for ways to use The Power of Failure everyday to live a more prosperous, productive and peaceful life. This is important to me because if I fail successfully it can become part of my living a full and successful life and I should learn to be on the lookout for ways to use the Power of Failure everyday In my life to live a more prosperous, productive, and peaceful life.
2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Explain.
In relating the ideas in this book to my personal circumstances in life such as my relationships, I would say that I have come across many challenges in terms of my relationships with sexes, but challenges differ, and we perceived challenges in different ways, challenges that I come across with my female friends is also different from the ones I see with my male friends so also with people around me, but these challenges are disguised opportunities, so I come to realize that such challenges are opportunities and challenges makes us strong, my big friend once told me that, there are every new thing to challenge the day, there is true because opportunity is everywhere , also when we make mistakes in our relationships we are learning opportunities. Another Idea in the book I will relate is what Ed Land said, that a mistake is an event, the full benefit of which has not yet been turned to your advantage. Whenever there is mistake in my relationship I just believe is an event, I use to tell my friends that when there is no event there is no history, a Chinese guy once said the past is history, the future is misery and now is the gift, the kind of thinking is at the heart of harnessing the power of failure.
Another idea in the book I can relate to my personal circumstances in life such as my relationships is in page 63, which is Lose a Disagreement to Build a Relationship, this is as a result of arguing with friends, I have agued a lot both with male and female sometimes I win sometimes I lose, whenever I lose a disagreement I will shake hands with the friend despite the fact we disagree but what am doing am trying to build a relationship.
My beliefs, I believe in overcoming challenges, I see challenges as part of life, and when they comes it becomes opportunities, I believe in making mistakes because we learn from mistakes and when mistakes is done it makes one prepare for success and to be strong. Mistakes are learning opportunities. I believe in Redefine Failure because is a natural part of life which can impact us positively and negatively. Also Redefine Success which is an important measure of success. Also I believe in Learning from Failure which because it presents an opportunity for continued learning and growth. Viewing failure as stepping stones to success, success and failure are not incompatible, most time failures are simple challenges in progress that can provide a foundation for success. Finding opportunities of failure. Looking beyond me is something I strongly believe on, I learn to focus outward, because I find it joyous in helping others to succeed rather than myself.
My goals, my goal is to see myself as a success, and being a success really means that the challenges I have overcome, or setbacks which makes me strong, my goal also is to keep looking beyond myself, and to always see challenges as a disguised opportunities. Also to accept failures as part of life.
Values, what I value in life is success, the kind of challenges we see, we have to value it and see it as an opportunity, I value people that is the reason why I tried to look beyond myself. I value my relationship that is the reasons why when I disagree with them I try to build the relationship, and I make them feel valued, and important.
3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Please Explain.
The most important new ideas I learnt from the book are the stories, and the proverbs, why is because the stories made me understand how failures can be turned to success, and the proverb gives me more insight to enable me understand the pages.
4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how?
This book has changed and challenge my thinking in the sense that, the ideas are very significant, and it took me to another dimension in accepting failures whenever it comes. Also the story in the book has also challenge me, because it is illustrated and there is reasons to these, also it has changed my thinking in the sense of redefine success and failure, wining through losing, coping with failure and collaborating with failures.
5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?
No, There are no ideas in the book I disagree.
6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?
What I find most helpful in the book is in page 5, which says A New View of Failure; Some Primary Themes. They are helpful to me because I got to understand what the words are really telling us, how to see such and relate them and to be strong by seeing failures as stepping stones. Also the poems in the book is helpful to me. The Anecdote that is the words in the boxes and the proverbs.
7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey
What the book is trying to convey is that the fear of failure is enough to stop many people in their tracks and lead them to give up without even trying. It is also conveying that failure is essential component of personal and professional success. Also how failure can provide us with foundation for long term success.
1. 1. How interesting was it to read? 10
2. How helpful were the contents? 10
3. How easy was it to understand? 10
4. Would you recommend it to others? 10
5. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10
Rich Dad Poor Dad
Assessment by Iziomoh Bidemi Felix
1. What Ideas were personally most important to you in this book? Do not simply list the ideas, but explain or discuss why they were important to you, using personal examples.”
The first idea that is most important to me is in the introduction, that is where it says there is a Need. Where I like most was the place where it says does school prepare children for the real world? This is very important to me because it talks about studying hard and getting good grades, then with that one can get a good job with great benefits. That was what Robert Kiyosaki Dad said, which Robert totally disagree with, but here in Nigeria it is what is regarded, but again with that one still need to have the connection to get better job despite with good grades. Why it is important to me is because that is what am working on right now, go to school and get a good grades so I get a better job offer. These idea is in page 1.
Robert, was proving that It is not until one go to school and get good grades that he or she can become rich, he gave examples like Bill Gates, Michael Jordan and Madonna. That despite the fact they did not go to higher institution or drop out from school, they are still rich. What Robert was trying to say that, those days of our father was gone that now things have change and there is no job security which is true.
The second idea that is most important to me is the poem, which is the road not taken, there is something in particular I try to understand in the poem.
Another idea was the learning Robert and his friend got from his friend Dad, who is the rich dad, the rich dad made Robert and his Friend realize the basis of life, learn how to earn money even without going to school, or having the formal education. The rich dad taught them that, money can work for him, even with his money he can have professionals work for him and he can pay them also he can control them. The rich dad also taught them that, they should not always put there mind on money as in they should not have the fear and greed of money, they should learn to volunteer that is do something for free out of there own will and get experienced. That the fear of being without money is what motivates us to work hard, this is true, because sometimes when I do not have money I will want to do something that will fetch me money because of what I need to buy.
Another point is in page 45, which says that a job is really a short term solution to a long term problem, this is true, because when you get a job and salary starts coming In one can pay for things he desire and such long term problem will gradually solve till the end, also in the same page the rich dad said explain to Robert and his friend that if they do not first handle the fear and desire, and they get rich, they will be a high paid slave. Also, in explaining the main cause of poverty or financial struggle is fear and ignorance, not economy or the government or the rich. The rich dad also explain to them that it is self afflicted fear and ignorance that keeps people trapped. This is true, when I have the fear that something is going to happen financially if I do not have money, then I will be disturb and that is when greed comes in because the little money I have I would not want to give it out, and as a result of these it causes ignorance.
Another important idea I learnt is in page 48, that we do not learn from history, we only memorize historical dates and names, not the lesson, well to me would I say that history has to do with past experiences, and we learn from experience, because of the saying that goes, experience is the best teacher, though we memorize past dates and names, but sometimes not the lesson in it.
Another idea is in page 56, the page where it says the richest businessmen. What I find most important is the place where he said, intelligence solves problems and produces money. Money without financial intelligence is money soon gone. This is true to me, because if one does not have financial management skills, that is how to manage money, it will go. So it takes and intelligent person to have money and handle it very well, financial intelligence is a skill one need to have, I call it financial freedom according to Suze Orman, in her book Steps to financial freedom.
Another important idea is the cash flow pattern of an asset, which has to do with the Income, Expense, Assets and Liabilities, the income statement which is often called Profit and Loss statement, measures income and expenses, money in and money out, while the Assets and Liabilities is the balance sheet, which is supposed to be balancing the assets and liabilities. Also the cash flow pattern of a liability, I got to understand that an Asset is something that puts money in my pocket while a liability is something that takes money out of my pocket. Furthermore, the first diagram in page 62 illustrate a poor person and a young person that is still at home, while that in page 63 is a cash flow pattern of a person in the middle class, and lastly, the cash flow in page 64 is for wealthy person, which carries, Dividends, interest, rental income and royalties under income, then stocks, bonds, notes, real estate and intellectual property under Asset.
Another important idea is where the author said, that we go to school to gain scholastic skills and professional skills, both are very important to us as individual, because we learn to make money with our professional skills. Being a professional covers all aspect of life and the skills we derived as a professional cut across the financial management skills.
Another idea I find important, is in page 139, which is about Robert Kiyosaki’s friend who is in Hawaii, when he received a call from his mum attorney that his mum had left him with the sum of $35,000 as an inheritance. He was suppose to do what is known as delay gratification, that holding on for a while, then think on what to do with the money, he went further to place an advert in a magazine company, which for two months all the inheritance went. He now want to sue the magazine for misrepresentation.
2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Please use personal examples in your explanation.
In relating the ideas in the book to my personal life as in my relationships, I would say that, I have been discoursing these with my friends about finances, that one has to learn the principles of leaving financial freedom life or debt free life, more so, how to invest in stocks and shares, though we have been doing it but the idea in these book gave me more insight and changed my thinking about the cash and the cash flow pattern, also help me, for example, I have been making frivolous phone calls, which does not have to do with business, they are just for pleasure, I got to understand that I have been spending more money where as I do not have any income, such are really expenses.
My beliefs, I believe in living a financial freedom life, and not having the fear and greed for money if not I will work harder as a slave. I also believe in having a cash flow pattern for myself so I can know how to run my finances.
My goals is to have a good grades and get a better job, but sometimes that does not tell, but with what is happening our country, my parents are not rich, so I have to work and use my intelligence to be rich and live a successful life. My goal also is to attain the highest peak and be able to control my finances. Make money work for me not me working for money. Set my own cash flow pattern.
Values, I so much value my finances, my stocks and investment. So I would not want to interfere or jeopardize with it, I want to have time so I can be able to control my finances.
3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Please Explain.
The most important new idea learnt from the book is the cash flow pattern and the principles the rich dad taught Robert and his friend mike, also I went to the website in order to learn more of Robert Kiyosaki”s teachings, which I learn more about the cash flow pattern. The cash flow pattern helps me to understand how to position my expenses what to invest on and how to manage money, by using the diagram, which are different from poor to middle class and for the wealthy person.
4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how?
I must confess and to be honest the book has really changed my thinking and challenge me, because I spend more money which I do not understand how, and I volunteer to participate in some work, but now I have get to understand that I am doing it for a purpose which is not for money, and I have get to understand that I should keep fear and greed of money out of my life if I have to make it in life.
5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?
No, I totally agree with the ideas.
6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?
What I find most helpful is the cash flow pattern and the principles the rich dad taught mike his son and Robert.
7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.
What the book is trying to convey is that, is teaching one to be a millionaire, and how to develop some skills professionally so that he can be rich, and riches is not by going to school and having good grades. It also teaches one how to invest and use money wisely.
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
What I would say, if I have more chance I would I have to write the whole book as the ideas and points that are important to me. I so much enjoy the book to the extent that I have to go to the internet to search for the author’s teachings and more principles.
10 Days to more Confident Public Speaking
Assessment by Iziomoh Bidemi Felix (Nigeria)
What Ideas were personally most important to you in this book? Do not simply list the ideas, but explain or discuss why they were important to you, using personal examples.
The first idea that was personally important to me in the book in chapter one is in page 3 that is the Confident Builder: Public Speaking Improves Every Area of Your Life. The First Bullet point is Build success in your professional life, why this is important to me is that, as a professional in any field one need to have the public speaking confidence, so that he or she can speak anytime and any where in public and they can communicate very well.
Another bullet is Communicate with others more clearly.
This is where ideas and good communication comes in, when there is mistakes or misinterpretations not clearly or properly communicated, for the listener or public to understand. Build overall confidence. This is the confidence one builds as he or she becomes better at organizing and communicating ideas or speech.
Increase your comfort level in social situations.
This is the one that amused me when I was reading these book, when in a social gathering one can not speak out of fear or shyness, I have been to a party and they said everybody has to speak or rather give a word to the celebrant, when it was about my turn I was having some kind of fear in me, not that I do not know what to say or I do not have anything to say but the fear is that because it was in a public, but I had to over come it and speak without looking at anyone face.
Speak more confidently on the phone.
This is the one I like to do best, when am speaking on the phone I use to have a god confidence, be it in an interview conversation or discussion, I speak on the phone with my voice clearly, because I know I have a good and deep voice which when speaking you can listen to me clearly, there was a time I was meant to be interviewed for 30 minutes, I have really prepared for that interviewed that night at about 12.30am our time because it was an international call, I have prepared myself because I knew my voice will be recorded. Even when I called to drop message I make my voice clear so the listener can get the message clearly.
Run meetings or present new ideas more confidently.
This is when I was conducting a meeting in the school I taught, that is sport club I had to be speaking to the young boys and girls there in the school.
Become an effective member or volunteer.
I am a member of so many organizations, and I do volunteer services where I speak to my group and also I have volunteer to lead where I give orders and command but my ability to speak to them is what matters to me, how effectively I talk to them so that they can understand me and how best we can achieve same goals and objectives.
Establish trust and respect from others with greater ease.
Trust and respect is the ultimate in life when speaking to group of people or individual. The way and manner you talk to them give s you the speaker a kind of respect and the trust the people will give to you. I have in conversation with some people where I was the leader, the way I talked to them give them the opportunity to trust me and respect me despite the fact some of them were older than me but the way I talked with respect to them they really trust me and they come to me for more talks.
Another idea that is important to me is the Quick Tips You Can Use in Everyday Speaking Situations. This is important to me because it stated how one can develop speaking skills in everyday speaking situations. There was four situations which one can polish his speaking skills, they are Running into Someone at the Store, Parties, Leaving a Telephone Message and lastly Creating a Voice Mail.
Another idea is the Speech Anxiety in page 10, which gives the seven symptoms of fear expressed that is;
• Sweaty Palms
• Accelerated heart rate
• Nausea
• Shortness of Breath
• Chest pains
• Tingling or numbness
• Anxiety or Uneasiness
These symptoms are true, I have experienced such when I was about to do my micro teachings and presentation in school.
Another point is in chapter 2 Create a Great Presentation, this is important to me because it gives me insights to how I can arrange my presentation before presenting in any presentation. That is if I am using a Laptop to present I have to copy it in the system or in the flash drive to have a copy incase any disappointment may arise.
Another important idea is in page 29, the Quick tips to start organizing information about yourself. This is important to me because it gives me tips on how to get prepared in case I want to present a speech in public or any gathering, the tips are very helpful in giving speech in any where at any point in time. The speech preparation as a process.
Another point is the Five Steps Approach to Developing Speech Content, these five steps are;
* Gathering all the information possible on the subject.
* Analyze the information you have grouped or categorized to determine what information you want.
* Organize the information you want to present in coherent sequence.
* Prioritize the most important points in your speech.
* Fine – tune the organization of your presentation content with the following approach.
Another idea in the book that is important to me is the Types of Speeches in page 64, which are,
* The informative speech
* The demonstration speech
* The persuasive speech
* The ceremonial speech or tribute speech
* The impromptu or extemporaneous speech.
2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Please use personal examples in your explanation.
The ideas in this book can be related to my personal circumstances in life such as my relationships, public speaking is one of my people skill and communication skills I so much put interest in, public speaking be it with a group or individual is very important and it is good to communicate effectively so that the listener can hear and understood what one is trying to say.
In my relationships with friends or my female friends the way I talked to them matters to me, I tried to develop my people skills and communication skills, as a professional the way I connect to people and the way I speak to them is significant, more so, if I am talking on the phone I tried not to be aggressive or use abusive words, and one thing I learnt is that I do not quarrel on the phone, when am leaving message I tried as much as possible to give a better message so that the listener can get a better and clear word. There was a time I was talking to a friend on the phone, he was trying to shun me on the phone, but with the way I was talking to me, when he saw that the tune of my voice is calm, he now had to reduce his voice on the phone.
My beliefs is that, I strongly believe in good communication, clearer voice and good presentation, get prepared whenever am giving speech be in public or when leading group of people. I also believe in timing when ever am talking, if there is specific time in presentation or teachings, I will have to be specific and be accurate in time, for example when I was doing my micro teachings, we were giving 5 minutes each, I had already prepare my presentation for about 7 to 8 minutes incase I omitted some words, for that time, so when that day came for my presenting, that very day I was told that, my lecturer has changed the time to 3 minutes to I have little time with my presentation so I had to deliver everything for that 3 minutes though I left some points because of time.
My goals in public speaking is to deliver a better speech that can catch the audience, another goal is to have confident whenever am going to speak in public, make the audience lively and make them listen to me, not when am talking they should be sleeping or get bored.
My values, what I value in public speaking is, first of all is timing, that is be time conscious, getting prepared before the presentation day, know what I want to talk about, I also value the audience because they are the people am going to present to, I value myself be the speaker and make sure I deliver. My content too has to be presentable.
3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Please Explain.
The important new ideas I learnt from the book is the over coming of fears before, and during public speaking. Why these idea is important is because fear before or during speaking is what makes most people not to present very well, when one is having the symptoms mentioned in page 10. Also the Confidence Builder, that is how to improve every area of my life.
4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how?
Yes, this book has challenged and changed my thinking tremendously, in terms of public speaking, giving me some tips about presentation, getting prepared for public speaking, and how to manage my time when presenting, taking away the fear of speaking in the public both with group and individual.
5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?
No. I agree with the ideas in the book.
6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?
What I find most helpful in the book is the tips to help overcome speaking anxiety and the step to develop speech content. There is nothing I find least helpful.
7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.
What the book is trying to convey is Overcoming nervousness and discover one own natural style, establish an immediate rapport with audience, practice new technique daily in conversations, write speech that builds to an unforgettable conclusion ,use proven techniques to memorize speech and lastly saying good bye to stage fright forever.
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
Failing Forward
Assessment by Iziomoh Bidemi Felix (Nigeria)
1. Discuss the main ideas that you found most important in this book and discuss why they were important to you.
The first idea that is most important to me is in the preface, Becoming a REAL success. Why this is important to me is because the author has indicated his willingness to add value to people, to see people achieve and to see each person become a REAL success. This is what a person needs to succeed, they are;
Relationships: That is the greatest skill needed for success is the ability to get along with other people. It impacts every aspect of a person’s life. One relationship make in or break him.
Equipping: One of the most significant lessons I’ve learned is that those closest to you determine the level of your success. If your dreams are great, you achieve them only with a team.
Attitude: People’s attitudes determine how they approach life day to day. Your attitude, more than your aptitude, will determine your altitude.
Leadership: Everything rises and falls on leadership. If you desire to lift the lid on your personal effectiveness, the only way to do it is to increase your leadership skills.
Another idea that is important to me is in page 2, that is WHAT’S THE ROOT OF ACHIEVEMENT? The question goes like why do some people achieve so much? Is it Family Background, Wealth, Opportunity, High morals, The absence of Hardship. This idea is so important to me because it explains why some people do not fail, that is why they achieve what they achieve, some get what they want because of their family background, that is if the family is good, more so wealth, is not an indicator of high achievement, because some wealthy people come from average households. Opportunity is a peculiar thing, two people with similar gifts, talents and resources can look at a situation and one will see tremendous opportunity while the other sees nothing. High morals is not the key to achievement, at least there are people with high integrity that achieve little and there are scoundrels who are high producers. The absence of hardship does not really mean one will not achieve, there are achiever who has avoided tragedy.
Another idea I find most important is in page 13, that is what Failure is Not….. this concept is important to me because it makes me understand that Failure is not avoidable, here I learnt some rules, Under rule 1. You will learn lessons, Rule 2. There are no mistakes – only lessons, Rule 3. A lesson is repeated until it is learned, Rule 4. If you don’t learn the easy lessons, they get harder, Rule 5. You will know you have learned a lesson when your actions change. Then the second is that Failure is not an event, Failure is not objective, Failure is not the enemy, Failure is not Irreversible, Failure is not a Stigma, Failure is not final. All these let me understand what failure is not.
Another idea I find important is in page 27, that is Seven Abilities Needed to Fail Forward. Here I find seven abilities of achievers that enable them to fail, and not to take it personally, and to keep moving forward.
* Achievers Reject Rejection
* Achievers See Failure As Temporary
* Achievers See Failures As Isolated Incidents
* Achievers Keep Expectations Realistic
* Achievers Focus on Strengths
* Achievers Vary Approaches to Achievement
* Achievers Bounce Back
Why this is important to me is because as an achiever I have to adopt these seven abilities, by Failing Forward.
Another idea is in page 38, that is the Cycle you don’t want to ride. The FEAR CYCLE, from Fear to Inaction, to Inexperience and to Inability. I find this important because from when an individual have fear in him/ her, the person will not have action to do what is suppose to be done, and from there, it becomes inexperience and when there is inexperience the person will not have ability to do what he or she wants to do that is where we have inability.
Another idea that is important to me is the FEAR OF FAILURE STOPS FORWARD PROGRESS in page 39. This is important to me because the inaction that results when people are stuck in the fear cycle takes many forms. And the author gave the three most common ones he observed.
1) Paralysis: for some people, fear of failure brings about absolute paralysis. They stop trying to do anything that might lead to failure.
2) Procrastination: other people maintain the hope of progress but never get around to following through. Someone can call procrastination the fertilizer that makes difficulties grow. Procrastination steals a person’s time, productivity, and potential.
3) Purposelessness: Rather for someone to pursue worthy objectives, they avoid the pain of making mistakes.
Another important concept is in page 53, the acronym the author created to help keep mistakes in perspective.
Mistakes are …
* Messages that give us feedback about life.
* Interruptions that should cause us to reflect and think.
* Signposts that direct us to the right path.
* Tests that push us toward greater maturity.
* Awakening that keep us in the game mentally.
* Keys that we can use to unlock the next door of opportunity.
* Explorations that let us journey where we’ve never been before.
* Statements about our development and progress.
Another idea is in page 63, that is WEIGHING THE DAMAGE, it says, ‘ it’s not what happens to me, it’s what happens in me. It’s not the size of the problem, but how I handle the problem.
Another idea is in page 78, the Signs of Past Breakdown, they are Comparison, Rationalization, Isolation, Regret, and Bitterness. This is important to me because is not good to compare, and in rationalization there is a good reason to get over the past difficulties. Isolation, not isolating oneself because of past. Regret, whenever any mistakes occur is good for one never to regret. Bitterness, is always good to put on a sweet face and sweet smile, no matter how sad you are is not good to be better.
Another idea is the Moving Forward or Sideways process, in page 93, they are 1. See yourself Clearly, 2. Admit your Flaws Honestly. 3. Discover your Strengths Joyfully. 4. Build on those Strengths Passionately.
2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Explain.
In relating the ideas in this book to my personal circumstances in life such as my relationship is that, I have tried many times to succeed in relationship be it with male friends and female friends. Most time whenever I needed something, from them I get scared or the fear of failure will struck my mind, instead of me to try and see what comes out of it, I will end up not taking any step. I have always try to fail forward, and in failing forward I have to take away fear in me, for example I have once experience setback, in trying to achieve a lot with friends, but I got to understand that all these are outcomes and lessons which I have to learn in life. Whenever I fail, I should take it as part of life.
My beliefs, I so much believe that failure is a result or lessons we learnt from the steps we took, I also believe in seeing myself making mistakes, whenever I made mistakes well to be honest, I will first of get angry but later I will try and see myself as someone who has taking a bold step, and tell myself is a try and error process. Anytime I want to take risk, I will develop that giant step, not even care if I will fail or not, actually since I became a student of IIGL I do not take failure as hard as it were before. Whenever I fail now I get happy.
My goals, well as human, we will continue making mistakes, and continue failing, whenever there is no failure then we as human have not try anything. My goals is to achieve what I want to at all time, but sometimes is not so, and the most important goal is to fail forward at all time. And move forward or sideways.
My values, I value people, and I also value the books I read, because they make me strong and have confidence in myself. I also value failing forward, moving forward and sideways.
3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Please Explain.
The most important new ideas and concept I learned from the book is the acronym of Mistakes, why is because it makes me understood what mistakes is all about and it makes me strong and be more confidence. Also is the becoming a REAL success. Also I learnt of what failure is not, because I use to think that failure is avoidable, failure is an event, failure is the enemy and failure is irreversible. There are more I learnt from these book, but let me stop here.
4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how?
Yes, the book has really challenged my thinking, with the notion I used to have about failure, these book has changed such notion. And it has giving me confidence and steps to continue trying in life, and assist me to achieve success in life.
5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?
No. there are no ideas I disagree with.
6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?
What I find most helpful is the Quote of different people after the title at each chapter. And more so the sayings in the boxes. And the evident weaknesses or flaws to be listed and the strengths I should list. Then what I think in my life that I considered to be greatest source of frustration and failure. I should write them down. And lastly, the references use in the notes.
7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.
What these book is trying to convey is that, the difference between average people and achieving people is their perception of and response to failure. Also to help one learn how to confidently look the prospect of failure in the eye and move forward anyway. Also the book is trying to convey Turning Mistakes into Stepping Stones for Success. Taking about the reasons for people success, is it the family background, wealth, greater opportunities, high morals and an easy childhood.
Please Rate this book on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 10
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10
The Winning Attitude
Assessment by Iziomoh Bidemi Felix (Nigeria)
1. What Ideas were personally most important to you in this book? Do not simply list the ideas, but explain or discuss why they were important to you, using personal examples.
The first idea that is important to me is in page 22, which reminds me of when I was still attending Catholic church, that is the hymn by James H. Sammis, which points to the importance of our obedient attitude to our spiritual growth. The hymn is as follow:
When we walk with the Lord in the light of his word,
What a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will he abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way,
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
This is important to me because as a catholic it is a must you have to know the hymn, and we sang it most time as a responsorial psalm.
Another Idea that is important to me is still in page 22, is the words of Mary, the mother of Jesus, who said, “whatever he (Jesus) says to you, do it” why it is important to me is because one of my lecturer in school used the word often, when he asked us to buy his books, all the class will complain, so he will now come about the word, remember what Mary, Jesus mother said to the people that whatever he says to you, do it. That was the way he will put it and we will all kept mute, and obey, because we never knew what is going to happen next.
Another important idea is in page 23, which James Allen states, that a person cannot travel within and stand still without. That what is happening within us will affect what is happening without. That a hardened attitude is a dreaded disease, it causes a closed mind and a dark future, when the attitude is positive and conducive to growth, the mind expands and the progress begins. He further explains what attitude is:
It is the ‘advance man’ of our true selves.
Its roots are inward but its fruit is outward.
It is our best friend or our worst enemy.
It is more honest and more consistent than our words.
It is an outward look based on past experiences.
It is a thing which draws people to us or repels them.
It is never content until it is expressed.
It is the librarian of our past.
It is the speaker of our present.
It is the prophet of our future.
This is important to me because our attitude tells the kind of person we are as human beings. If an individual attitude is not 100% then the person is not complete, a friend once gave me these calculation about attitude.
A + T + T + I + T + U + D + E = 100%
1 +20 + 20 + 9 + 20 + 21 + 4 + 5 = 100%
Our attitude must be exact if not we are not our true selves.
Another idea that is important to me is in page 38, the story of two shoe salesman who were sent to an island to sell shoes. That the first salesman, upon arrival, was shocked to realize that no one wore shoes. He sent a telegram to his home office that he will return home the next day that no one wears shoes. The second salesman was thrilled by the same realization, immediately he grab the opportunity and wired the home office in Chicago that they should please send him 10,000 pairs of shoes. That everyone on the island needs a pair of shoe. Why this is important to me is because the first one sees it that if he should stayed there maybe he will discontinue putting on shoes, he never saw the opportunity while the second one saw the opportunity to make money and grab it. This is a way of introducing to us as human that there are opportunity every where is just for us to open our eyes and think fast.
Another idea I find important is in page 40, which states that when God wants to educate a man, He does not send him to the school of graces but to the school of necessities. This is true about life, God gives us knowledge and it is not by grace we are educated, it is by necessities which are bond in every where.
Another idea is in page 80, we should remember that others can stop us temporarily, but we are the only one that can do it permanently, this is true, when we tried to do some thing and somebody says no, but the fact that we still wants to go ahead, we move and partake in it, that thing will be permanently but the person just tried to stop it temporarily. I once tried to engage in a project, I asked my friend to assist me on that, he tried but he did not do the way I wanted it to be and to my satisfaction, when he was doing it a friend told me that, these project these guy his doing that is temporary and that it is me alone that can do it and it will be permanent that it will suit my satisfaction.
Another important point is in page 90, in the Rule 2: Realize that the rough weather will not last forever, there it says that rough weather, wears us down. Many times it is not the size of the problem but the length of it that weighs heavily on us. This is true to me, when problem comes in different sizes, it is not how heavy or small it is but the length the problem will last, sometimes little problem takes a long time while large just take a short while and also the reverse is the case.
Another point is in page 101, the words of William Arthur, which encourages me to lose the fear of failure. it says: If you are wise, you will forget yourself unto greatness. Forget your rights, but remember your responsibilities. Forget your inconveniences, but remember your blessings. Forget your own accomplishments, but remember your debts to others. Forget your privileges, but remember your obligations. This is important to me because it encourages me to know the fact of life. There is these saying that, there is no security on this earth, there is only opportunity. So we have to open our eyes to see them, take risks and see for your self. Another person affirm that,
To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for another is to risk involvement.
To expose feeling is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas, your dreams, before the crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying
To hope is to risk despair.
To try is to risk failure.
I really like these saying, I want to have it where I can be seeing it always.
2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Please use personal examples in your explanation.
In relating the concepts in the book to my personal circumstances in life such as my relationships, is the saying that what we do ourselves is permanent and what a person do for us is temporary. I mentioned it in the first place that when I was to do a project that I asked my friend to do it for me, I also had to write an assignment in school, because I was not around the day they were to do it, so I asked my friend to do it for me, then I later realize that, my friend will not do it the way I would, because he will want his own to be the best, that is better than mine, so later I called him that he should not worry that I will be in school the next day, and that I will write it myself, because I will do it the way I want it so that I can a better marks.
My beliefs, what I belief is that, opportunities are bound everywhere, there is opportunities around us is just for us to look and hold on to it fast. There is a way my friend use to tell me that people see opportunity before they become obvious. This is true, when people see opportunity they tend to hold it tight, while others sees it and they jeopardize with it and it just leave as it comes, there are so many opportunities I would say I have come across but I never grab them and it just flew like that. It is hard to think of something and another come across to you because you will never know which is real and which is not. Opportunities comes in different forms, it depends on the angle we looked at it, and how we see it, people see different meaning to things so it all depends on how we view and it is always good to see beyond the wall.
My goals is that, I have tried to make my attitude a 100%, so that I will live life to a maximum. Attitudes determine the kind of person we are, my goal is to make sure that I relate to people well and politely. More so, I have a goal of achieving the best in life and see opportunity and grab it fast. Though I have missed so many opportunity but I still stand to correct myself, that the best is still ahead.
My values, I value my attitudes, I also value opportunity, like the story of the Two salesman, who went to an island that there was no body with a foot wear. One sees opportunity and the other sees it as a problem on that island. I so much value that story and I learn from it.
3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Please Explain.
The most important new ideas I learnt from the book is that story of the Two salesman, about shoes. And more so what attitudes is all about, some of the story mentioned by the author, I learnt from them.
4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how?
The book has challenged and changed my thinking in so many ways, for example the story about the salesmen, and more so, the bible verses mentioned, there are some things I have not heard before, but reading the book I have come across them and I have to reflect to the bible. What attitude is all about is another way the book has changed my thinking.
5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?
No, there are no ideas I disagree with.
6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?
What I find most helpful is the story of two shoe salesman who were went to an island to sell shoes. Also, what attitude is in page 23. What I find least helpful is the notes in the book.
7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.
Somehow the book winning attitude is more of spiritual thing, because the author John Maxwell, quoted many bibles verses, also that attitude is everything. That attitudes can keep us feeling defeated or make us settle for second best. It also shows me how to change my attitude and maintain a mind – set that leads to success. With the right attitude, one can overcome life’s difficulties, gain influence with people, and turn problems into opportunities.
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
Though the book is three books in one volume but I had to read the winning attitude because it was the one I ordered for, I never knew it is like these.
I really enjoyed reading the other two books.
The Complete Idiot’s Guide To Grant Writing
Assessment by Iziomoh Bidemi Felix, Nigeria
1. Discuss the main ideas that you found most important in this book and discuss why they were important to you.
The ideas I found most important in this book Grant Writing are too many, why this is so is because it teaches me and provide me insight on how to write a proposal for grant, and also how to appreciate if the proposal has been granted.
First of all is the Philanthropy insider, which is in page xviii, they are in the box, one is the How to say it, then the philanthropy facts, Definition and Words to the wise. These are important to me because it helps me understand what the page is talking about.
Although, grant writing is too difficult to write, because one has to convince the organization, company or individual giving out the money what the money is going to meant for. So there has to be a clear overview on how the proposal and the money is going to be spent.
Another part that is important to me is in chapter 1, the practice of grant writing, in this chapter we have the definition of grant writing, why grant writing is right for me, how the economy effects the grants, what it means to be a grant writer and time line for success.
What I understand about grant writing is that, grant writing is the skill or practice of asking for money in the form of a grant from a foundation, corporation, or government agency by crafting a well-considered document (the proposal) that outlines how the money will be used, what receiving the money will accomplish, and who will undertake the tasks described in the proposal.
Another idea that is important to me is the sample letter in page 6 to 7. The letter indicated that the writer is saying thank you to the founder, and also she is also requesting for more that the previous one giving is not enough, they are asking the corporation to renew their gift.
Another point I find important is the definition of fiscal sponsorship, which is a formal relationship between a nonprofit organization and an organization that is unicorporated, in the process of seeking nonprofit status, or an individual. The relationship is formed so that the organization or person without nonprofit status has access to contributions, individuals, and government agencies. This is important to me because having understood the meaning of fiscal sponsorship there are some agencies which is inside the book that offers fiscal sponsorship.
Another important idea is the word to the wise, in page 19, that, sometimes the difference between a project and a capital grant lies in how one say it. A small capital project can easily be pitched as a project. That is one should avoid using the word ‘capital’ in the proposal if the funder doesn’t fund capital projects. That is one should emphasize on the short-term rather that the long term benefits of the project.
Another point that I find important is definition box, in page 20, that says Grants that increase earned income, that is income not dependent on grants, are popular with funders because more earned income means less dependence on grants. Earned income can come from service fees, products sold, or even interest income. This is important to me because I get to understand that grants that increased earned income is income not dependent on grants, this is popular with the funder.
Another point idea is the words to the wise, which says never underestimate the value of naming something anything, for a donor. One do not have to put up a building to cash in on naming opportunities. I find these important because I should never underestimate the value of anything, anything is important and it should be value.
Another important point is the types of foundations in page 28, from small foundations to large foundations. We have typical foundation which is the foundation that has been founded for years by a single wealthy individual, making it legally a private foundation. The individual’s name or that of a close relative is probably also the name of the foundation. This person might or might not still be living, but even if he or she is, some people not related to the founder will partly compose the board of trustees. That, the longer the founder is deceased, the greater the number of non relatives on the board.
Another type of foundation is the family foundations, this is one in which the majority of trustees (frequently all) are related to the foundation’s founder. Most foundation begin as family foundations, but here they are talking about those that are still governed by the family that founded them.
Another type of foundation is the community foundations, this is considered public foundations because they actively solicit support from a wide range of the public. This is in contrast to the private foundations. Community foundations bring philanthropy within the grasp of those who are comfortably well off but unable to put millions into a private foundation. This is not to say that immensely wealthy people do not contribute to community foundations; many do, establishing funds at a community foundation in addition to their private foundations. Community foundations also have a general fund made up of contributions from a large number of donors.
Another point is the Operating Foundations, an operating foundation may make grants, but grant making is a small part of what it does. An operating foundation can be private or public. It usually runs one or more research or service programs that are its primary reason for existing.
Another point is the Commercial Foundations, these has to do with the wealthy people who had access to manage their philanthropy through the trust department at their banks. The assistance, however, came from only those with seven figure.
2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Please use personal examples in your explanation.
The ideas or concepts in this book can be related to my personal circumstances in life such as my relationships, idea of grant writing is too broaden such that, one need to have an insider that would help facilitate the proposal, Nigeria, has always been a country that before you can get what you want, you have to be connected so that whatever you ask for can be approved. The relationship has to do with the grant writer that is seeking fund should have a relationship with somebody inside the organization that he or she is seeking the fund. For example I once wrote a proposal seeking a laptop, but because I have someone that knows the Director of the organization it was easy and they answered her quickly, but there was a financial proposal I wrote seeking for fund to pay for my trip, but because there was no relationship with anybody that can assist me to facilitate the fund I was not giving the funds not that they did not give me the fund, they did not even reply me to ask for my genuity.
My beliefs, what I believe is that, when it comes to grant writing or seeking fund from corporate individual or organization, it is not easy, sometimes it takes the grace of God, some you have to use someone that has well known reputable to get fund. I also believe that you have to know somebody inside the organization before they can grant the proposal. I believe that people and organization have the money to give but they want to be sure of where there money is going to or how the money is been used. When you ask for fund some organization will want to search if your organization is existing or they will ask you what project have you carried out, what is your previous work?
My goals, my goal is that, when I ask for fund, definitely I have my reasons for asking, I need it to carry out a project, it will be my goals to see that, things asked for are met, I have also said that, my goal is that I will give to charity home when I have to give no matter how small it may be. A goal is achieved when what you ask for is been giving.
My values, I value writing a proposal, but sometimes is not all the proposal that is writing will be granted. I also value a situation whereby when a project is to carried out, there should be enough funds to execute the project, and more so, everybody in the project must contribute. Grant writing is not what you just write asking for fund, it has to convince the funder of what you want to do with the money.
3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Please Explain.
The most important new idea or concepts I learnt from the book is the format, on how to write a proposal, also the CD Rom assisted, such that it guides me how to make a reply after which grant has been approved. Another idea I learnt from the book is the philanthropy facts, the word to the wise, definition. Also, how to raise money, looking for the right source that will fund the kind of project one is carrying out.
4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how?
Yes, the book has challenged me and also changed my thinking about grant writing and seeking for fund. This is such that, I have to write to a particular organization or individual convincing them on the kind of project I want to do, also been straight forward when asking for funds, and making the write words so that it will convince the funder.
5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?
No, I agree with the ideas in the book.
6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?
What I find most helpful is the CD ROM, words to the wise, the definition , the philanthropy facts, the address of funders in the book, the samples of grant writing and proposal.
7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.
What the book is trying to convey is that, it will show an individual the exact way to create fund, winning proposals, and where to submit them. It also shows key information on the qualifications for grant eligibility, advice on how to find government, corporate, and foundation donors, the book gives profiles of the organization who offer grants, from family and community foundations to corporate sponsorships and federal grants, also research tips and tricks for attracting the right donor, then budget plans to draft in advance so your funders know where their money is going.
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? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9
Ask and it is Given
Iziomoh Bidemi Felix (Lagos, Nigeria)
1. What Ideas were personally most important to you in this book? Do not simply list the ideas, but explain or discuss why they were important to you, using personal examples.
The first idea that is important to me in the book is in page 11, chapter three which says you do create your reality, that the basis of your life is Absolute freedom, this is important to me because I was born with an innate knowledge that I do create my own reality. And, in fact, that knowledge is so basic within you that when someone attempts to thwart my creation, I feel an immediate discord within myself. I was born knowing that I am the creator of my own reality, and although that desire to do so pulsed within me in a powerful way. Freedom is what we need as human, there is nothing as freedom, I could remember when I was in china, the second day I woke up and decided to visit the café with some friends, when we got there immediately we heard that the police are looking for foreigners, that day I was not with my passport, I left it inside my bag in the house, we started running, that was when I realize that I can never do that in my country, running for police when I did not do wrong. So since that day wherever am going I always go with my passport.
Another point is in page 15, How can I get there from here? Why is it taking me so long to get what I want? The questions, It is not because you do not want it enough, it is not because you are not intelligent enough, it is not because you are not worthy enough, it is not because fate is against you, it is not because someone else has already won your prize. This is important to me because I understand that, the reason I have not gotten what I desire is because I am holding myself in a vibrational holding pattern that does not match with the vibration of my desire.
Another important idea is in chapter 6 page 25, that is the law of attraction, which is the most powerful law in the Universe. These law process says that every thought vibrates, every thought radiates a signal, and every thought attracts a matching signal back. This is important to me because that which is like unto itself is drawn, the more I get attracted to things the more It is drawn to me.
Another point is in page 26, How can I know what I am attracting? The key to bringing something into my experience that I desire is to achieve vibrational harmony with what I desire. And the easiest way for me to achieve vibrational harmony with it is to imagine having it, pretend that it is already in my experience, I flow my thoughts toward the enjoyment of the experience, and as I practice those thoughts and begin to consistently offer that vibration, I will then be in the place of allowing that into my experience.
Another idea is You get what you think about, whether you want it or not in page 27. by drawing to myself the essence of whatever I am predominantly thinking about. If I am thinking about the things I desire my life experience reflects those things and the same way, if I am thinking about what I do not want, my life experience reflects those things.
Another idea is in page 35, which says without asking, you will receive no answer, it has happen to me, I have a friend then who came from the states, when I went to her I welcomed her and ask her what did she bring for me from the states, she responded saying that I never asked her to bring me anything. So since then I have learnt the principle of ask and it shall be given.
Another point is the three steps to whatever you want to be, do, or have. Step 1: You ask, Step 2: The answer is given and Step 3: The answer which has been given must be received or allowed (have to let it in). Step 1, comes easily and automatically for this is how my natural preferences are born. Step 2, The universe answers, is a simple step for me, for it is not my work at all, these step is the work of the Non – physical, the work of the GOD force. All things I asked for, be it large and small, are immediately understood and fully offered, without exception. Step 3, You allow it in, this is the application of the Art of Allowing. It is really the reason my guidance system exists. It is the step whereby I tune the vibrational frequency of my being to match the vibrational frequency of my desire.
Another idea is in page 51, when I am appreciating something, I am a vibrational match to who I am really are, when I love someone, or myself, I am a vibrational match to who I really am. But if I am finding fault with myself or another, I am in that moment, offering a vibration that does not match who I am really am, and the negative emotion I feel is an indicator that I have introduced a vibration of resistence and that I am no longer in the state of allowing my pure connection between the physical me and the Non – physical part of me. This is important to me because, I have had such experience finding fault with people around me, whatever they do for me, I do not get satisfy, and I am understanding it now that, it means I am finding fault with myself.
Another point is in page 86, which says, if someone is not receiving what they are asking for, it is not because there is a shortage of resources, it can only be that the person holding the desire is out of alignment with their own request. There is not shortage. There is no lack. There is no competition for resources. There is only the allowing or the disallowing of that which you are asking for. This is important to me because when I am not receiving what I am asking for, I get to understand that the person holding the desire is out of alignment with his own request.
2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Please use personal examples in your explanation.
In relating the concepts in the book to my personal circumstances in life such as my Relationships, first of all, I was in a relationship then I used to find fault on whatever she does, several times she complained to me that why is it that I do not appreciate whatever she does for me, I always find fault and talk to her rudely. Also, whenever I ask for something from my friend if am not given the stuff, I feel bad, I do not know why it is like that, I use to tell them that I always get whatever I want, that is when I pressurize more for the thing. From these book I have understood that, there is a vibration that is working for one to ask and it shall be given.
My beliefs, I belief in ask and it shall be given, it is even in the Holy Bible, so these principle is a very strong one, and more so, these book has explained further what the principle is. And it also gives some insight on the law of attraction, is just like the book, The law of Attraction, that is the science of attracting more of what one wants and less of what one does not want.
My goals, is that, I always want to have whatever I ask for, so in achieving these goals, I have to apply the law of attraction, also never to find fault in any ways, because in finding fault from other people I am finding fault in myself. My goal also is to give if am been ask for something, even if I wasn’t ask for, I should give to the needy.
My values, I so much value the principle of ask and it shall be given, if such principled is applied one will be no where far from achieving whatever he or she needs in life. I also value my greatest gift to give which is happiness, some people say you can not give whatever you do not have.
3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Please Explain.
The most important new ideas I learnt from the book, is in page 18, that I ask through my attention, through my wanting, through my desire, maybe it will come or not. I just have to feel it in my being, I desire this, I adore this, I appreciate this all are the law of attraction. Also in page 28, that, my desire for an improved financial condition cannot come to me if I often feel jealous of my neighbor’s good fortune, for the vibration of my desire and the vibration of my jealous feelings are different vibrations. This is important to me because, as human beings, we need to appreciate and give thanks whenever we see people making progress, so that it will come to us, when we attract that to our neighbor’s it will definitely come to us. Another idea is the Hidden Value Behind your Emotional Reactions in page 43, that your sense of sight is different from your sense of hearing, and your sense of smell is different from your sense of touch, but even they are different, they are all vibrational interpretations.
4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how?
Yes, the book has really challenged and changed my thinking in so many ways, because I now no that, if I ask for something and I am not given, there is a vibration that I am suppose to use to attract it, or maybe I do not ask in a manner I am suppose to. It has also changed my thinking with the ideas in the chapters. I got challenged by using the law of attraction, that is attracting whatever I want.
5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?
No, there are no ideas I disagree with.
6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?
What I find most helpful are the headings in the book, and more so the contents that is each bullets point after the chapters. And I do not find any least helpful.
7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.
The book is trying to convey the principle of learning to manifest one desires. Also it is trying to convey some of the important teachings of Abraham, helping one to apply the law of attraction in getting what he or she ask for, also the 22 different powerful processes to achieve our goals, no matter where we are, there’s a process that can make our lives better.
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
The 21 Indispensable qualities of a leader
Iziomoh Bidemi Felix (Lagos, Nigeria)
1. What Ideas were personally most important to you in this book? Do not simply list the ideas, but explain or discuss why they were important to you, using personal examples.
The ideas that I find most important in the book are the 21 qualities which are Character, Charisma, Commitment, Communication, Competence, Courage, Discernment, Focus, Generosity, Initiative, Listening, Passion, Positive Attitude, Problem Solving, Relationships, Responsibility, Security, Self-Discipline, Servanthood, Teachability and Vision.
This is important to me because we as human beings we can not do without any of these qualities, like the popular saying that, ‘Everything rises and fall on leadership’ we all need these qualities to survive, the first quality which is character which Bernard Montgomery, says Leadership is the capacity and will to rally men and women to a common purpose and the character which inspires confidence, character tells who a person is, every person should know that character is more than talk, talent is a gift but character is a choice, one chooses how to live his or her life, either you behave good or bad, depends on the individual, character brings lasting success with people, and leaders cannot rise above the limitations of their character. And to improve on the character, an individual should search for the cracks, that is spend time looking at the major areas of life and identify anywhere one might have cut corners, compromised, or let people down, also look for patterns, face the music, because the beginning of character repair comes when you face your flaws, apologize, and deal with the consequences of one actions, and rebuilding, that knowing your past actions and build a new future.
Another point is the Charisma, Dan Reiland stated that, How can you have charisma? Be more concerned about making others feel good about themselves than you are making them feel good about you, charisma is the ability to draw people to you, in order to make yourself attracted to others, one needs to personify these points, Love life, people enjoy individual who enjoy life, Put a ‘10’ on every person’s head, that is expect the best of people, these helps others think more of themselves, another is give people hope and lastly share yourself, people love individuals who share themselves and their life journeys.
Another point is Commitment, these separates doers from dreamers, people do not follow uncommitted leaders. Commitment can be displayed in a full range of matters to include the work hours you choose to maintain, how you work to improve your abilities, or what you do for your fellow workers at personal sacrifice. The true nature of commitment is that, Commitment starts in the heart, Commitment is tested by action and Commitment opens the door to achievement. In order to improve on commitment one should Measure it, sometimes I think I am committed to something, yet my actions indicate otherwise, know what’s worth dying for, I should know what is worth dying for, also the Thomas Edison method he got committed by making his plans public.
Another point is Communication, without communication one travels alone, Developing excellent communication skills is absolutely essential to effective leadership. The leader must be able to share knowledge and ideas to transmit a sense of urgency and enthusiasm to others, if a leader can not get a message across clearly and motivate others to act on it, then having a message doesn’t even matter, John Maxwell stated that, Educators take something simple and make it complicated. Communicators take something complicated and make it simple. I understand that by making communication effective, I have to simplify my message, see the person, that is by focusing on the people with whom I am communicating to, show the truth because credibility precedes great communication and seek a response.
Another point is Competence, John Maxwell said competence goes beyond words. It’s the leader’s ability to say it, plan it, and do it in such a way that others know that you know how and know that they want to follow you, in page 33, it says the person who knows HOW will always have a job, but the person who knows WHY will always be the boss.
Another point is Courage in page 37, one person with courage is a majority, courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities, because it is the quality which guarantees all others. When one approaches the rough decisions that challenge him or her, he or she has to recognize these truths about courage: Courage begins with an inward battle, Courage is making things right, not just smoothing them over, Courage in a leader inspires commitment, your life expands in proportion to your courage.
Another idea is Discernment, smart people believe only half of what they hear, while discerning people know which half to believe.
Another idea is Focus, the sharper focus is the sharper I am, I have had the experience that if you chase two rabbits, both will escape, and that it is not possible to sit on two chairs, I find these important because it says I should focus 70 percent on my strengths, focus 25 percent on new things and focus 5 percent on areas of weakness.
Another idea is generosity, this is important to me because it is said that givers never lack, one should always be generous, your candle loses nothing when it lights another. No person was ever honored for what he received. Honored has been the reward for what he gave. John Maxwell says giving is the highest level of living.
Another point is the initiative, one cannot live home without initiative.
Another idea is the Listening in page 74, that to connect with people’s heart use your ears. The ear of the leaders must ring with the voices of the people.
Positive Attitude is another point I find most important, that if one believe that he can make it, he can. This is important to me because a successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him. To know what it means to be positive, these should be in place. Attitude is a choice. Attitudes determines my actions, people are my mirror of my attitude, maintaining a good attitude is easier than regaining it.
Another point is the problem solving in page 95, this is important to me because I cannot allow my problems to be a problem, as a leader I know that I should always anticipate problems, accept the truth, always see the big picture, handle one thing at a time and do not give up a major goal when they are down.
Another point is the Relationship in page 103, According to Theodore Roosevelt, former American President, said The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people. This is important to me because as a leader one has to manage and cultivate good relationships. Before I can do these I have to have a leader’s head – Understand people, Have a leader’s heart – love people, and extend a leader’s hand – help people.
2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Please use personal examples in your explanation.
In relating the ideas or concepts in the book to my personal circumstances in life such as my relationships, first of all the character wise is one prominent thing I consider the ultimate, I have had a relationship with the opposite sex, she was complaining bitterly about my character, that I have to change my character, that the way I talk and respond to her she doesn’t like it, that was when I have not became IIGL student, so when I join these great institute my character changed drastically, especially during my level two, she was asking me what happen? Have I born again. Another way is getting close to my lecturer who happen to be my project supervisor, she had to take me close because of my character, another way with my male friends, is that sometimes I behave rude to them so that they do not take me for granted. But character is the ultimate thing in life.
Another idea is the responsibility, in my relationship I tried to be responsible, accept challenges, whatever it is be it a job or tasks I tried to get it done.
My beliefs, I belief in all these qualities, as a leader there is no way I can not do without any of such 21 qualities. Why I belief on those qualities is that, Character can take me from no where to somewhere, Charisma also can also help me to seal a deal with my good impression, Commitment also can help me to get things done accurately, when I am committed to a job or task it is hard for me to procrastinate. Communication, is another idea that when one did not put his or her communication properly it will be misunderstood, there should be communication skills within every individual.
My Goals, my greatest goal in life is to see that I build up more in all the 21 qualities mention in the book and some of the qualities a leader should posses. Why? Is that so I can lead effectively and to be the peoples choice.
My Value, I so much value all the qualities mention, because they I learnt more from it and more so there are some points I have come across and some I have not come across, so they are of more valuable to me.
3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Please Explain.
The most important new ideas I learnt from the book is in page 92, where it says that Most unhappiness in life is due to the fact that one is listening to himself rather than talking to himself. This is important because as a leader one have to be more positive that is not allowing the words that one hears to come into his life, one should always say positive things so that things can be done.
Another point is in page 62, where it says if you focus on making it, you are materialistic, if you try to but don’t make any, you are a loser, if you make a lot and keep it, you are a miser, if you make it and spend it, you are a spendthrift, if you don’t care about making any, you are unambitious, if you make a lot and still have it when you die, you are a fool for trying to take it with you. This is important to me because it explains how one can hustle in life and still make it but never try to assist people, whatever it is, one just need to invest in human beings rather than keeping it or try to take it along with it.
4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how?
The book has really challenged and changed my thinking in so many ways, with all the qualities mentioned though I have come across them but the illustrations in the book are different. I have learnt many principles and stories in the book.
5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?
No, there are no ideas I totally disagree with.
6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?
What I find most helpful are the quotes under the chapters, and what I find least helpful?
None.
7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.
The book is trying to convey good messages to we as individual what we need to be a good leader, that is when studied the history of great leaders, one will find out that they all shared certain qualities: Competence, Initiative, Vision, Commitment, Passion. When one follow such qualities he or she becomes the kind of person others want to follow.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 10
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10
The Secret, What great leaders know – and do
Iziomoh Bidemi Felix (Lagos, Nigeria)
1. What Ideas were personally most important to you in this book? Do not simply list the ideas, but explain or discuss why they were important to you, using personal examples.
The first idea that is important to me in the book is in page 9, What is a Leader?
They said a leader is the person in charge, A leader is the person in the position that other report to and lastly, A leader is a person who makes things happen. This is important to me because all the above definition are okay, a leader can be seen in different way, and he or she is in position to lead and to influence the behaviour of his followers to achieve stated goals. Although Debbie, in the book believe there was truth in each of these, she was not satisfied. She had an uneasy feeling that there was a correct answer, but she did not have a clue what it was. She then define a leader as a person in a position of authority who is responsible for the results of those under his or her direction.
Another important point is in page 15, where Debbie was to meet with Mr. Brown, because she did not know him she now requested for a background information on Mr. Brown, this Is important because In meeting a person for an appointment for the first time it is always good to have known some background information about the person. I met with a man, and he wanted to get familiar with me so he did not how so he now requested some information from somehow that since the person is sometimes with me he wants to share background information about me, now how I know how important this is.
Another point is in page 25, the explanation Mr. Jeff gave to Debbie about Leadership, he gave a picture explanation, that leadership is like an iceberg, there are two components, what you can see above the waterline and what you can not see, below the water. These same principle applies to leadership, leadership is more about what others do not see than what they can see. The diagram is clearly stated, below the water is the character of a leader, and above the water are the skills of a leader, another way to think of these is that leadership has two components – Being and Doing. The Being is the Character and the Doing is the Skills. This is important to me because as a leader I have to build more on my character and develop my skills.
Another idea is the question Debbie asked Mr. Jeff, that what is the secret of great leaders? Mr. Jeff respond by telling her that, the secret is, great leaders SERVE, as a leader one has to serve his or her followers or team.
Another important point is in page 34, the same diagram on Skills and Character is also as Serve and Character, the serve is still under doing, as a leader one has to do these to achieve his or her goals. The SERVE is an acronym of
S – See the future
E – Engage and develop others
R – Reinvent continuously
V – Value results and relationships
E – Embody the values
This is important to me because it help to understand the meaning of serve in any leadership position.
Another important point is the mail, Mr. Jeff had written about the company’s values, is on How do we ensure our future success? Customers First, Serve others, Stewardship, and Creativity. This is important to me because in ensuring our future success I believe we will do this by incorporating and living by a number of core values. Customers first, they are the reason each of us has a job, our thoughts and actions should always be focused on answering the question. Serve others, as we serve others we reap the rewards. Stewardship, a steward is someone who is enlisted by an owner and charged with the management of the owner’s possessions. This is important to me because I believe that all the things we have at our disposal are on loan. We cannot take them with us, but we can use them while we are on earth, I also believed that we are accountable for all that has been entrusted to us – our time, talents, financial resources, and relationships. Creativity, this has been and will always be a hallmark or our organization.
Another point is in page 89, where Debbie said, someone told her that, People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care, this is important to me because I see it in almost every book I read, is it very important to care about people, find out what they know and what is happening to them and then they will feel loved and they will know that you care.
Another point is in page 96, it says Embody the values is a leadership practice that certainly transcends our company, just like the other practices in the SERVE model. For a leader to be successful, he or she must embody the values of their organization. This is important to me because It taught me that when leading I should embody the values of that particular organization. The power is in the trust and credibility I build, not a specific set of values that represent the right ones.
2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Please use personal examples in your explanation.
In relating the concepts in the book to my personal circumstances in life such as my relationships. These was when I was working six to seven years ago, I tried to lead my team with all passion and I served them ultimately, we were two guys leading but I happen to be the most superior, so when I am not around these other guy will talked to the guys rudely and give them task that was not meant to be, the most thing that annoys me most is the way he talks to them, whenever I quarrel with him he will fight me that am the one is corrupting the guys, but I told him this is not the way to lead, you have to take these guys needs serious and make them feel you and you will achieve the job you gave to them. I did serve these guys, I play with them, they respect me and this is how I do to achieve my objectives. Whenever I am been put in a group in school, I serve the team and do the job and make them feel relax, whenever there is a group work, most people wants to be in my group.
My beliefs, I beliefs in serving people, putting there needs above mine, I also belief in seeing the future, that is be futuristic in all one is doing, engaging with others and develop others, we all need a mentor, one you have reach where we desire to so that he or she can guide us to our destination, value results and build good relationships. I also believe in willingness to serve, have a warm personality, a sharp mind and a good communication skills.
My goals, they are the things I need to build and develop, like my skills and character, because these are the doing and being, I need to develop my skills by doing the right things and I need to have a good character which is my being, to lead effectively. My greatest goal will be serving people, putting smile on there face, it will be my joy so see that at least I put a smile on somebody’s face in a day.
My values, I value people, most especially when am working with group of people, my values is to make sure that they are satisfy and been taking care of, is always good to be happy when working, I value the character and skills of people, when I see that, they do not have the particular skills, is always good to value them and help them build it. Value listening to people, because I do not know how I can help, sometimes, what I need to learn might come from the person I am working with.
3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Please Explain.
The most important new ideas I learnt from the book is the diagram illustration, illustrated by Mr. Jeff the President of the organization, I learnt much about these because it talks about character and skills, which as a leader in order to lead effectively one has to develop his or her character, I would say character has about 80% and skills has 20% using the Pareto’s principle, that is the 80 – 20. That is what leadership is all about. Another idea is the question, Debbie asked? That ‘what makes a great leader’? Serve makes a great leader, willingness to serve. Another point is the Acronym of SERVE, it helps in giving a direction which one can follow as a leader or when leading.
4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how?
The book has really challenged and changed my thinking in the sense that I now know what to do as a leader so that my team or the organization do not fall, also I now know what to build more on and develop personally, also it is necessary to always prepare an IDP known as Individual Development Plans. I now know what great leaders know and do to lead well.
5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?
No, there are no ideas I disagree with in the book.
6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?
What I find most helpful is the diagram, and the acronym of SERVE, I also find the story helpful. The most important ideas I find helpful are the questions Mr. Jeff keep asking Debbie at the end of there meeting, which is just like an assignments.
7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.
The book is trying to convey what one need to do to truly inspire and motivate others, why great leaders are preoccupied with the future, what three arenas in our life require continuous improvement, how leadership credibility can be knowing strengthened or unwittingly destroyed and what two components are essential for true success in leadership.
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
Thinking for a Change
Assessment by Iziomoh Bidemi Felix (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea the author is trying to convey in the book is that we as individual should use our most precious possessions which is our mind to think, because to do well in life, we must first think well. The book is also conveying some mental strategies that can change our life, including:
* BIG–PICTURE THINKING
* FOCUSED THINKING
* CREATIVE THINKING
* SHARED THINKING
* REFLECTIVE THINKING
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 seven ideas that were personally important to me are;
Firstly, is in page 6, it says don’t you know highly educated people are highly unsuccessful, or college professors with Ph.Ds who cannot manage their lives effectively. This is important to me because, most of the guys that are successful today did not attend the four wall of School, when I check some of their profile I feel marvel, even in United States, most dropouts are successful, talking about Bill Gates, Thomas Edison, Federico Fellini, Steve Jobs and many more. I looked around my school and see most of the Professors who read and have won a lot of research who are not doing okay compare to others that did not even attend school or who are dropouts. But the fact still remain the same that we have to go to school, because it is said that education is the key.
Secondly, it is in page 14, that Ninety-five percent of achieving anything is knowing what you want and paying the price to get it. This is important to me because in life generally, there is a price tag in virtually everything, there is no shortcuts to success, we pay a price to win a price, as we grow in life, each stage we pay the price, for example going to school I paid the price and I got the price which is my certificate. Also, becoming a student of IIGL am paying the price by reading and assessing the books and am receiving the price with the knowledge and certificates.
Thirdly, is in page 29, which says Change is Personal – I need to change, Change is Possible – I ‘m able to change and Change is Profitable – I’ll be rewarded by change. This is important to me because we experience change every time, it is common in our life, since change is personal, I definitely need to change, since change is possible, I know I am able to change and since change is profitable, I will be rewarded by change at any time.
Fourthly, another Idea that is important to me is in page 51, which says if you wait until you feel like doing something, you will likely never accomplish it, this is important to me because waiting until I feel like will never come, I have to put in the interest to do what I need to do, is just like procrastinating something that I have to do when I have to, I will then be waiting for the time I feel like doing which I know that I will never likely to accomplish it.
Fifth, another idea is in page 83, where it says where should you focus your thinking? Identify your Priorities, Discover your Gifts, Develop your Dream. These are important to me because in order for me to focus my thinking, I have to do the above mentioned. By identifying my priorities I take into account for myself, my family, and other things. Discovering my gifts, not all people are self aware and have a good handle on their own skills, gifts, and talents, and Developing my dream, in the sense that if I want to achieve great things, I need to have a great dream.
Sixth, another idea is How can I stay focus in page 86? By staying focus I have to first Remove Distractions in my life, that is keeping my mind off the things I do not want by keeping it on the things I do want, also making time for focused thinking, this is important because I have to make time out for thinking or preferably have a place where I can go and have a quite time, there should be specific time for thinking in the day, keeping items of focus before me, Ralph Waldo Emerson, said Concentration is the secret of strength in politics, in war, in trade, in short in all management of human affairs. This is important to me because I have to keep important items before me, also setting goals, personally I do not have the idea of goal settings, but as time goes on when I started reading books and also stating my priorities, I get to understand which will come first and which is important and give a timeline for it.
Lastly, the idea that is important to me is in page 103, that is where the author said unconnected ideas get connected when you have a plan. This is important to me because when an idea is not connected there is no plan, but as the plan begins to come in, the ideas start getting connected, this is where creative ideas become more creative when there is a plan.
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 mentioned above will help me practically in the sense that, since there are people who are not educated or who are dropouts and they are successful, it gives me the impression that, I have to be creative and do the thinking for me to be successful, I fell encouraged hearing something like these, these idea has really help me and more so it will help me create a better life, I share these idea with friends, because looking at the world now, everybody is trying to be creative, before we were told go to school and have a better grades so we can have a good jobs, even with the better grades there is no jobs, so what we tend to do now is think of something to do that will make us successful. Say for instance, as an educated person with my first degree, I do not have to wait for someone to think for me, I have to be creative and build a better career in order to be successful.
The idea of knowing what I want by paying the price, this is another lesson that help me and as I grow in life it helps me create a better world. There is a price for everything, practically, before I can accomplish a price I have to pay for it.
Another lessons is the Change, this is one thing that will be constant in our life, in my personal life I need change and by changing it will help me create a better life, change in attitude, change in my thinking.
Another idea that will help me is the idea of doing something for me to accomplish, waiting until I feel like doing a particular task will not help me in anyway, in order for me to build my life I have to keep away procrastination, that is do the things I need to at the time I ought to do them.
This is another lesson that is helpful in the book, which will help me create a better world, By identifying my priorities I take into account what is important to me and which is going to come first in my life, what I need and how I will put them according to there importance. Discovering my gifts, we all have some specific gifts, not all people are self aware and have a good handle on their own skills, gifts, and talents, and this is helping me to create a good thinking, Developing my dream, in the sense that if I want to achieve great things, I need to have a great dream and to build myself in everyday life.
4. Quotes: Are there brief quotes from the book which really got your attention? If so, please list and comment on them.
Yes, there are a lot of quotes from the book which got my attention, and they are listed below:
‘Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results; bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results by James Allen, this is true about good thinking which creates the foundation for good results, and I would agree that, Poor thinking produces negative progress, Average thinking produces no progress, Good thinking produces some progress and Great thinking produces great progress. One of the reasons people do not achieve their dreams is that they desire to change their results without changing their thinking.
Another quotes from the book is in page 24, ‘ Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself by Leo Tolstoy, in the book Karen changed herself from inside out, she began attracting different kinds of individuals – people who could think and lead as she.
Another is in page 28, ‘ People will never attain what they cannot see themselves doing by Karen Ford, one has to see his/her self doing something before he/she can attain it, one skills can make them believe in themselves. A belief in personal abilities is what changed first.
Another quotes, is in page 37, ‘ For a flower to blossom, you need the right soil as well as the right seed. The same is true to cultivate good thinking by William Bernbach, Good thinking can produce good results, by cultivating good thinking, good results will always be achieve.
Another quotes is in page 86, ‘Keep your mind off the things you don’t want by keeping it on the things you do want by W. Clement Stone, that is removing distractions from your mind, using the mind to think of something great instead the things you do not want, insulate from distractions, that using one’s time to thing of the things one is attracted to.
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 is no idea I disagree with in the book, basically, the only idea that is unclear to me is in page 120, the solution to exercise for thinking outside the lines, that is the diagram of dotted lines.
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 contain exercises for reader to complete, I actually did not complete all the exercises because I have to take some time to do a creative thinking because it is all about thinking for a change, and I find them helpful a lot.
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 comment.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 10
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 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 Iziomoh Bbidemi Felix (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea the author is trying to convey in the book is that, making collaboration work for people to solve problems and make decisions, the author also introduces five principles of collaboration that have been proven successfully in nearly every conceivable setting. The author also shows how these principles have been applied by organizations as diverse, how to make collaboration work shows how collaboration can become a joy rather than a chore – a kind of chemical reaction that releases far more energy that it consumes.
The process of Human Problem Solving is another idea the author is trying to convey, that is giving the definition of collaborative problem solving as the process people employ when working together in a group, organization, or company to plan, create, solve problems, and make decisions.
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 seven ideas that were personally important to me are :
Involve the Relevant Stakeholders
This is important to me because the author provides a clear definition who stakeholder or stakeholder group are, that a stakeholder is someone who has a stake in a given situation while stakeholder group is a group of people who may or may not be organized who have the same interests or concerns regarding situation. It is also important to me because the author provides four types of stakeholders;
1. Those with the formal power to make a decision
2. Those with the power to block a decision
3. Those affected by a decision
4. Those with relevant information or expertise.
For example, a formal decision maker may also have critical information and expertise, these classifications can be useful in helping me to figure out who to include in a problem solving effort. In those with power to block there is a saying that says and I quote ‘ it’s better to have your enemy inside the tent spitting out, than outside the tent spitting in’.
Build Consensus phase by phase
This is important to me because building consensus is not something that is as easy when it comes to cooperate settings, the definition and benefits of consensus, how consensus is built and what happens if I can not reach consensus, these are important ideas that meet our everyday activities. The concept of consensus building is particularly powerful because it connects with both our minds and our hearts. It speaks to both what is possible and what is right – what makes practical sense and what is the moral thing to do. Consensus building respects the intelligence and dignity of all individuals. The promise of building consensus in our organizations and communities speaks to both our minds and hearts. It provides us with a vision of how things should be, a direction to head in a goal, to achieve. How consensus is built following the six phase model of problem solving, each phase addresses a different objective or task, they are;
Phase 1. Perception: Is there a problem? How do you feel about it? Is it legitimate to discuss the problem openly?
Phase 2. Definition: What is the problem? What are its limits or boundaries?
Phase 3. Analysis: Why does the problem exist? What are its causes?
Phase 4. Generation of Alternatives: What are some possible solutions to the problem?
Phase 5. Evaluation: What criteria must a good solution meet? Which alternatives are better or more acceptable than others?
Phase 6. Decision Making: Which solution can we agree on? Which alternative can we commit to implementing? To build consensus, a group must make agreements one phase at a time. For example, a group needs to agree that it’s even legitimate to discuss an issue before it can agree on a definition of the problem. When a group is seeking consensus, it’s essential that it specify a fallback decision-making rule, in case consensus can not be reached. The fallback is generally a traditional win-lose decision making method.
Design a process Map
This is important to me because it gives a clear but flexible road map that will enable a leader and his fellow stakeholders to navigate with his own content and ultimately arrive at consensus. These part also gives how to understand the process design that can work for me with four elements, they are Pathways to Action, Agenda planning as a kind of simple process design, How to read and design process map and How stakeholders can be involved in process design.
The pathways to action, the problems that must be solved here are: How are we going to approach the larger problem? What sequence of steps will we take? Which spaces shall we move through, and in what order?
The Agenda planning as process design, agenda planning is one of the most powerful tools for ensuring the success of a meeting, especially one in which collaborative problem solving will take place. A process map is essentially a complex agenda, typically illustrating a series of meetings over time. The principle of stakeholder involvement applies to process design, as it does to all kinds of collaborative problem solving. These principles are important to me because each idea is powerful in and of itself and speaks to both my heart and mind. The idea behind process design is that it’s possible to plan a structured but flexible process of collaboration without knowing or predetermining the content of the decisions that will be made. The promise underlying these ideas is that it’s possible to build consensus among all stakeholders through a structured process of collaborative action.
Designate a process Facilitator
This idea is important to me because most collaborative processes involves face-to-face meetings, and the effectiveness of those meetings is critical to the success of the collaborative effort. The effectiveness of any single meeting is largely dependent on how well process issues are handled – issues such as developing an agenda, deciding which heuristic problem-solving strategy to use when, ensuring that everyone has a chance to speak, handling conflicts among participants. The best way to deal with these process issues is through the use of a dedicated, neutral process guide called a facilitator. For example I have had an experience with facilitators who do nothing more than call on people to speak, or who are clearly not impartial or neutral, or who use their position to manipulate the discussion. Under these part, another point that is important to me is the four functions of facilitator, the facilitator as process guide, the facilitator as tool giver, the facilitator as neutral third-party and the facilitator as process educator. In any conversation there is process ( how people are interacting and content (what they are talking about). It is difficult for one person to handle both process and content aspects of a discussion, it also allows one person – the person running the meeting – to easily manipulate the discussion to his or her own ends. For example, managers, leaders, and committee chairs who run their own meetings may be inclined (sometimes unconsciously) to promote their own ideas and to ignore, put off, or criticize group members with whom they disagree.
Harness the Power of Group Memory
This is important to me because, it explains the power of group memory, that group memory is a record of the ideas raised and decisions made at a meeting, written on large sheets of paper and posted in full view of group members. For example having the group of people becoming a mastermind group.
Facilitative Leadership
This is important to me because leaders have a profound effect on the cultures of their organizations and communities. The support of leadership is essential if an organization or community is to build a collaborative environment and implement the five principles of collaboration. These idea also focuses on four skill sets essential to facilitative leadership, they are : Choosing when and how much collaboration is appropriate, being consistent in your words and actions, supporting and promoting collaborative action and creating a collaborative culture.
Collaborative Organizations and Communities.
This idea is important to me because, it states the characteristics of an ideal collaborative organization and some evidence that these characteristics already exist in some organization. Research that support the effectiveness of collaborative organizations and how to build collaborative organizations. Under this idea, there is a sheet of rights and responsibilities for employees. This is what makes it important to me because as an employee I have to know my right and responsibilities, or preferably if am an employer, I have to know my employee rights and responsibilities.
3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?
These ideas will help me in my daily personal life and in helping me create a better world, that is with the Involvement of the Relevant Stakeholders in an organization. In having my own firm, I have to carry my employees along, and involve the stakeholders that those that have shares or the customers too. Stakeholders involvement in an organization is very important because it makes one to be aware of what is happening in the organization.
The idea of building consensus phase to phase will really help me practically because from the example of a manager named Bob, of a large car dealership, called his sales team to discuss a pressing issue, which what he said the team members did not agree to what he said, because he did not get there consent, he just went straight and conclude, so from there I have learnt how to build phase to phase consensus. Also the phases of how consensus is built is another point that will help in my daily life and in helping me create a better world.
Another point that will help me in my daily life is the designate a process facilitator, these process involves the face to face meetings, the four functions of the facilitator is another point that is practical oriented.
The other idea is the power of group memory, the story of Dan a senior manager at a large bank, is very helpful, the other points is how group memory prevents common meeting problems.
4. Quotes: Are there brief quotes from the book which really got your attention? If so, please list and comment on them.
No, there are no quotes in the book.
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?
Yes, what I do not understand is in page 103, that is the process map for the Newark Collaboration Group. Why, it is because of the diagram, from the table, which it has month from May to January . Also in page 95, the Generic process map, if I can get a better explanation on these, I guess it will be very helpful.
6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
No, there is no exercises for the reader to complete.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.
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
True Prosperity
Assessment by Iziomoh Bbidemi Felix (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
In true prosperity the main idea the author is trying to convey is that he showed the secret plan of abundance the universe has, he discusses Kabbalah, the world’s original wisdom, and how it reveals the purpose of life on earth, to become the cause, not the effect in one’s life. The author also describes what he calls the ultimate Competitor, an insidious Opponent living within us.
The author also convey that no boundaries to fulfillment, Money is spiritual, not material, and its attainment involves a set of spiritual strategies. The author shows how to use goals strategically and flexibly in order to vault yourself to prosperity. He explains that stress is not the malaise so many books try to teach us to avoid, but rather a surfboard we can ride to new levels of wealth and achievement. Using ancient secrets, the author explains how we can arm ourselves with certainty and by obeying the rules of the universe, find ourselves continually at the right place at the right time and making the right business decisions. He also convey that time is not only money and a nonrenewable resource, but is a rubber band, that we can shape rather than have it shape us.
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 seven ideas are:
The Rules of the Universe for Hard-Headed Business Plan
These idea is important to me because it explains that if we look at life as a Business, the original business plan can be said to have been written 4000 years ago by group of ancient business consultants known as Kabbalists. The wisdom Kabbalah unraveled the mysteries of life and of the universe. These idea explain in detail the spiritual and physical laws that govern the human soul. That if mysteries of life, and discussions of the soul sound like religion to me, I should bear in mind that numerous scientific giants throughout history would beg to differ. For example, the idea can help my business to soar and my life to soar along with it, it can also help me create a better world with the tools that I can apply now and every second of my life, not only in my financial life but in my personal life as well ( both of which are closely intertwined).
Enter your Ultimate Competitor
These idea is important to me because it gives some pictures of how some people made it with their competitor, that is inside them, that, when there is no opponent, there is no game. Without opponent, I have no opportunity to challenge myself and to become great – greater than who ever dreamed I could be, and certainly greater than you could possibly become just by hanging out by myself. Without an opponent, there is no challenge, no purpose, no fun, and there is no opportunity to earn fulfillment. For example, in order to have a game, there has to be an Opponent and in the game of life, we have a magnificent one indeed. Our insidiously powerful Opponent has been provided to us free of charge by the Commander of the Universe, better known as the Creator, or God. And the Opponent has been provided to us for one purpose only, to allow us to overcome him, thereby becoming the cause and not the effect in our lives. The idea is also important because the Kabbalist have a term for the ultimate competitor, they call him Satan. Well in the original Kabbalistic translation, the word Satan actually means Adversary. The competitor is a negative force in the universe that pushes us unceasingly toward chaos, the competitor is scheming 24/7 to devise ways to ruin us and to run us out of business. The competitor operates inside our skull. It says our true competitor dwells within us – and from this perch, he thinks our thoughts and speaks in our voice. He distracts us and forces us to lose focus. For example, when I want to do something good, there will a voice coming inside of me, that I should not do, or if I want to go to church, the inner voice would say I should not go, why not I stay back and do other things, that’s the competitor speaking. When one is an effect rather than a cause in life, fulfillment can never be. Instead one will labor for success but will sacrifice human assets for financial ones.
Stress is a Surfboard
These idea is important to me because, Stress is collision between what one is and what one could be, is a wave that rolls through one’s life. According to Kabbalah, there is a system for the light and the container for the light. Who are we? We are containers for the light. It is the light within us that sustains us and allows us to function. But there is yet another light in addition to our inner light, and the Kabbalah calls it surrounding light. This represents our potential. I now know that, the tension between inner light and surrounding light – between potential and actuality – is Stress. These idea is also important to me because it means that stress in essence, is light, we says stress kills, but in reality it is not stress that kills, it is our reaction to it. Sometimes we react to the light by finding various ways of shutting it out. But when we shut off the light, we are in fact killing ourselves – so the idea is not to turn stress away, but to let it in. for example, when we are down, like having headache, we say we are stressful, we need rest, never know it is the light, we are trying to shut down.
Fear, can you take the Heat
These idea is important to me because FEAR stands for ‘False Evidence Appearing Real’. Fear is an illusion. Fear operates much the way stress does in our life. It pinpoints exactly what we need to focus on. The secret of the universe is that it’s never a contest between one and his obstacles, or between one and his fears; it’s about one and God. It’s about one and the light one will reveal, the prosperity one will enjoy and share. For example, I can slowed by fear and stress, or I can recognize that they are there to help me move forward. Fear has always been what is hindering me sometimes, because when I want to do something, the inner voice will be saying why do you want to do these, if you do it something will happen, or I will be harmed, that is the fear that is working.
The Gap between Cause and Effect
These idea is important to me because according to the Kabbalah, the gap between cause and effect is called time, and the gap allows us freedom of choice. Because if cause and effect were instantly linked. For example, when something happens to me, instead of looking at the cause I will be looking at the effect the thing is causing, or if every time I think of hurting someone, if they think of hurting me back, I would quickly learn never to do anything wrong.
Fill your Jar with Rocks
These idea is important to me because, with the illustration giving that a master called his students together and showed them a large clay jar, ‘help me fill this jar with rocks’, he asked. So the students gathered up nearby rocks and filled the jar until not one more rock could fit. “is the jar filled now?” the master asked. The students all replied yes. But the master picked up some pebbles and asked, “do you think we can fit any of these inside?” so the students began filling the jar with pebbles, and though just a minute earlier they had considered the jar full, they were amazed at how many pebbles could fit inside the spaces between the rocks. The jar took hundreds of pebbles, and then finally no more could fit. Is the jar full now? The master asked, and again the students responded yes.
And the master replied, “very well, but perhaps some sand could fit inside,” and he started pouring sand into the jar. Once again the students were amazed at how much space there was for sand between the pebbles. Finally, every last inch of the jar was full. That lesson, taught me that, I should focus on what’s important, and not only will I accomplished those things, but somehow everything else on my list will get done as well. But if I focus on the small things, I will never get to the big ones. I should not waste my time on the things that are not important.
Tithing
These idea is important to me because it is more spiritual in nature, most religions speak of tithing and recommend it as a tool of sharing. The Bible itself states that we should give 10% of our income to charity through tithing. If we do not give, we can not get more, tithing is the ultimate paradox of the universe, because it means that the more i want to get, the more i have to give. The 10% we give cleanses the remaining 90%. For example, it’s like having ten oranges and one goes rotten; one need to get rid of the rotten one or risk spoiling all the rest. The 10% tithe erases guilt and obliterates obstacles to true prosperity. We think of money as security, and sometimes it seems as if no amount of evidence to the contrary can change our minds. Money is energy, and to get more, we have to share. For example, tithe is like sowing a seed, giving 10% of what is earned monthly, will help because some day I will reap it because of the seed that has been giving.
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 my daily life and helping me create a better world because if we have to look life as a business, it is worthy of it, because no business owner will want his / her business to collapse, that is how is it when looking life as business, because no one will want his body to collapse, life is a gift, the more we invest on it, the more we get rich about it.
Another idea is the ultimate competitor, that is knowing the opponent that is inside us, which is the competitor, is a negative force in the universe that pushes us to unceasingly toward chaos. These idea will help me to overcome some facts in life and it will help me create a better world to know myself, and to help in distracting me from forces that will make me lose focus.
The other point is the stress as a surfboard, I am aware that stress is the collision between what are and what I could be, is a wave that rolls through my life. The system for the light and the container for the light. To know who I am, as the containers for the light. It is the light within us that sustains us and allows us to function.
The tithe is another idea that is important and will help my daily life, because I believe in giving, and sowing my 10% monthly from my income, will help me grow spiritually.
4. Quotes: Are there brief quotes from the book which really got your attention? If so, please list and comment on them.
No, there is no quotes in the book.
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, I understood them, and the ideas where acceptable.
6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
No, there are no exercises for the reader to complete.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.
Well, I would like to lay emphasis on the Scale of Sharing, from Level One to Level Ten. In page 111 to 112.
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
Why People Don’t Heal And How They Can
Assessment by Iziomoh Bbidemi Felix (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea the author is trying to convey in the book is to offer we the readers a new perspective on health, specifically on why we don’t heal and how we can. She also convey why we fail to heal, the believe that many of us are almost as afraid of healing as we are of illness. By understanding how fear and other negative emotions adversely affect healing.
She also convey that illness can help us find our essential sacredness, our oneness with God, humanity, and all living creatures, we don’t have to become ill in order to begin to understand our spirit and heal our life. The book is conveying that we have seven energy centers in our bodies, which in the Hindu system are called chakras. Each chakra roughly corresponds to a location in the physical body.
She also opine that, our spirit grows into maturity and increasing self understanding through seven stages of spiritual development. The charkas and their counterparts in the sacraments and the tree of life mark an inner path of spiritual evolution.
The intention behind using energy medicine is to treat the body and the spirit equally. As we learn the language of the charkas, you will come to recognize the emotional, psychological, and spiritual stress factors that affect our health and that correspond to our physical symptoms. Our health is also affected is also affected by our self – esteem and relationship history, our response to profound or traumatic experiences or memories, and our energy management in everyday situations.
She also convey that, this book gives a shorter course in the language of the charkas, shorter than in her previous book, Anatomy of the Spirit, so that we will have an easy reference to the language of energy to begin your own course of healing. The book also convey how the chakras are vertically aligned from the base of the spine to the crown of the head, suggesting that we ascend toward the Divine by gradually mastering the seductive pull of the material world.
She convey the language of the chakras both at the beginning of the book and more extensively at the end, she also include ways to use the energy for healing, and techniques for developing symbolic sight, and she also present a larger symbolic context for healing.
Individual power, by contrast, is related to our emotional and psychological identity epitomized by the Piscean age, during which science and the arts flourished and the value of individual genius ascended. The weaknesses of individual power are excessive focus on the self, narcissism, and the tendency to polarize good and evil, male and female, east and west, knowledge and intuition, left brain and right brain.
Finally, symbolic power is that which allows us to see things in impersonal terms, to view both history and our own lives with the overarching, unifying vision characteristics of the Aquarian age, which is calling on us to discover the inner power of consciousness. The energy of this emergent astrological age pulls us to create a culture in which spirit and energy have higher priority than matter and the body, and to understand that the energy within our minds, bodies, and spirits is the same as that of God or greater divinity.
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 seven ideas that were personally important to me are:
The Turning Point
Why this is important to me is because faith and optimism are important factors in healing any life crisis, including illness. Faith and optimism can be a turning point in ones life because they are the factors which help us in terms of crisis and illness. For example I was in a crisis which I had lose hope and faith, that am not going to achieve what I wanted at that time, no later a friend came to me that, hope I am still expecting what I needed at that time, I told him that I have faith that I will get the stuff I needed, and I came to past my faith led me to where I wanted to be at that time, also in the case of infirmity, faith can ill, ones I can eat, and I can move, am these kind of person that do not believe in medicine to get ill, preferably I will take injection, once that is done I will be ill and continue my life.
The Seductive Power of Wounds
This is important to me because wounds here as to do with past experience or bad experience, the power of bad experience which really affect where one is going to. For example I use to tell friends that they should not allow what they have gone through affect where they are going to, people also use woundology to make powerful romantic connections. Because of loneliness which has become so rampant in our culture. So many people honour their wounds which means respecting these moods, not challenging them. Another example is that Many people describe their ‘soul mate’ as the person they have finally found who understands the emotional pain they had experienced as children. Such a bond can certainly feel romantic in the early stages of a relationship, but its foundation is actually injury, pain and fear. In these paradigm, pain becomes a prerequisite for remaining close to and needing one another, and healing can be seen as a positive threat to the bond. I know that we are not meant to stay wounded, we are supposed to move through tragedies and challenges and to help each other move through the many painful episodes of our lives. By remaining stuck in the power of our wounds, we block our own transformation. We overlook the greater gifts inherent in our wounds – the strength to overcome them and the lessons that we are meant to received through them. Wounds are the means through which we enter the hearts of other people, they are meant to teach us to become compassionate and wise. My friend use to tell me then that, there are every new thing to challenge the day.
Your Cellular Bank Account
This is important to because to understand the dangerous implications of woundology, we first need to look at the nature of the energy that powers our life on earth. Each of us has hundreds of circuits of energy connecting to us, energy that different cultures have named in different ways as the Divine breath of life that animates each of us. That is the Indians called prana and the Chinese cal ch’I, Christians refer to as grace or the Holy Spirit and secularists might call vitality or simply life force. This is also important to me because for example as God ‘ makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends his rain on the just and unjust’. I imagined this flow of energy as a financial allowance, my task is to learn how to invest the money wisely, because my investments will either earn me interest or put me in debt. Obviously, positive investments will earn me positive returns, not only increasing my energy but also creating an energetic surplus. Negative investments on the other hand, will create debt. And if the debt becomes more expensive than my allowance, then I have to borrow money, in energy terms I have to borrow energy.
The Social Wound
This is important to me because Woundology has become a widespread social phenomenon, representing a shift in global consciousness. our culture has become more aware of post – traumatic stress disorders, as well as the impact of emotional and sexual violations. Because emotional wounds are so powerful, cultural attitudes have now extended beyond appropriate healing measures to become hypersentitive to the claims and demands of victims.
The Five Myths about Healing
The first myth which is ‘My life is defined by my wound’ for example I have been into a pain where a friend was trying to cheer me up, my respond was, you don’t understand, I have never been the same since that pain, how can I change that now?
The second myth is ‘ being healthy means being alone’ this is important to me because it is a phrase commonly used to refer to a return to health which is to stand on one’s own two feet again. That is to take care of oneself, to be independent.
The third myth ‘feeling pain means being destroyed by pain’ this is important to me because it is the case that pain represents the presence of illness, either emotional or physical, and it is normal to believe that all pain is negative. For example pain is a teacher and a messenger directing us to pay attention to our bodies or to move away from behaviour and situations in which we are weak to those in which we practice integrity and strength.
The fourth myth ‘All illness is the result of negativity, and we are damaged at our core’ this is important to me because our thoughts powerfully influence the health of our minds and bodies, and delving into our inner selves is essential to the healing process. Negative patterns are not always at the root of illness, and a failure to heal should not always be blamed on negative past experiences or on negative beliefs buried deep in the unconscious mind.
The fifth myth ‘True change is impossible’ this is important to me because it has a great deal of clout within the psyche regardless of whether one is physically ill. The reason we believe change is impossible is simple: No one likes change, and no one likes to change.
Power Centers or Chakras of The Kundalini System diagram
This is important to me because it explains our body from the first chakra which is our feet to the seventh chakra which is our head. The chakras are depicted as lotuses.
The Human Energy System Correspondences.
Which explains the chakras from the feet which is from chakra one : Tribe, chakra two : Power, chakra three : Self, chakra four: Love, chakra five: Will, chakra six : Clarity, chakra seven : Sense of Oneness of All Transcendence, Higher Love.
3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?
These ideas will help me in practically both in my daily personal life and to help me create a better world, with faith and optimism, I know things can be done, it is said that if you have faith you can move mountain, this is true, and optimism can take me to any where I want to go and be. In preparing for my daily life, I have to develop faith and be optimistic so I can create a better world for myself and people in the world. The cellular bank account can also help me, in the sense that, I have to connect to my energy, that is using my savings and investment as a way, try to invest to things that I know that will yield me gain, instead of debt. Wounds are the means through which we enter the hearts of other people, they are meant to teach us to become compassionate and wise. This will help me to become more wise and to assist people.
4. Quotes: Are there brief quotes from the book which really got your attention? If so, please list and comment on them.
No, there is no quotes from the book. But there is a poem which says “ The way to Heaven is like the flexing of a bow. The high it presses down; the low it presses up. From those with a surplus it takes away; to those without enough it adds on. Therefore the way of Heaven – is to reduce the excessive and increase the insufficient.
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 only thing I do not understand is the chakra, this is because what I think about the chakra is really unclear to me, because the word chakra I think is an hindu word, I was talking to a friend about these he told me if I had to start thinking about the chakra that means I conncting into another spirit. But all other things are okay to me, and I agree with the ideas.
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?
Well no really exercise for the reader to complete, but there are questions for self examination, I actually read and answer the few questions there in, and I really find them helpful because I had to examine myself base on the questions.
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.
What I would like to comment is that, the Tribal Beliefs About Healing, these part has ten points that was mentioned and it gave me some things about healing. Another thing I would like to comment on is the Individual beliefs about healing, that is the negative and positive side of the individual mind.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 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