As a Man Thinketh
Assessment by Anastasia Oguche Elebiju (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
This book established that we are what we think. That is to say that the effects and results we see are caused by us. This book made it clear that we don’t just get what we want that our circumstance are determined by our thinking and actions, this simply implies that we are the cause of the kind of life we are seeing and that we can always change our thoughts to the right direction, to only think positive.
Human beings as a whole is housing something special which is the mind which controls everything the body does, so the body is the servant of the mind and that if one wants to perfect his/her body the mind must be guided, this book also pointed out that the human mind is powerful, that our minds are out power they are the original house and since they are our house, we must guide it with utmost consciousness our mind is like a computer, garbage in, garbage out, as a person there is always a space in the room for improvement. What you think you do the body and the mind are in relationship.
As human we are what we think, we see our real self-manifest in circumstances that prompted it so, we tend to read our innate characteristics that truly display our true selves, as a man it is what you think that you will attract, you think positive you will get positive, you will act positive there is no image about that. The author in this book pointed out clearly on how we attract what we truly are which fakes place in our thought, actions, the soul attracts that which is secretly harbors both good and bad thoughts because man learn both in suffering and bliss. This shows that when a man is passing thoughts is a tough time he learns his mistakes and become a better person and during the happy time he also learns to appreciate the good thinks of life comes in the pleasurable moment
2. What were the seven ideas which we are personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas follow by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.
i. Circumstances does not make a man it reveals him to himself
This idea is so important to me because it opened my eyes to see things on a lighter way, it makes me to know as one grows and his been faced with different life circumstances so does the real him come to life, it just like a new face [of self-discovery, personally I have been faced with situation were by I was supposed to give up and settle for less but no I have a strong zeal to succeed in life and that dreams keep me going despite all the challenges it only reveal me to me and made me stronger. I could remember some year back in my university days, my finial to be specific, my hostel water was poisoned so many of the student had diarrheal including myself, it was so severe that I cloud barely walk talk more of reading my books for the exams, it was two days to the said exams although I have read my books before but at the moment my brain was blank I couldn’t comprehend anything and I couldn’t remember so I beckoned on my friend to stay close to me so she could at least tell me some answers; here I was relying on her completely. The day of the exams came we have already made our arrangements, but when the invigilator for the exams came they separated us and she was moved to my front instead of sitting beside me, I panicked a little but I had to put myself together and in my little mind I felt I cloud still get answers from her, during the course of this I still excused myself from the hall to go and case myself, it was so severe, I was losing strength and I was also in pains after I returned to the hall, I asked my friend for answer but she refused taking rather she was telling me how simple they were; I looked around there was no option for me but to write whatever I know, this was a four credit unit course the highest of them all, if I fail this course my results will be very poor, and I may have an extra year, were is the money for another school fees those were my thoughts, I took a deep break and said I was going to write whatever I know, I took my pen and answer sheets I started writing and I never stopped until I finished answering the questions. Behold the results came out and I got an A and my friend got a C and she started asking me how I did it. This particular situation brought out the best in me, my strength and my ability to do whatever and achieve whatever it only I can believe and trust in myself no matter the obstacle or situation I am in.
ii. Living through suffering and bliss
Living through suffering and bliss to me it means being happy in good times and bad times, if you appreciate the bad times that is the only way you will realize that you are growing and you are being shaped. Just like Gold, when it is gotten from the mold it is dirty and shapeless, but when it goes through the fire it comes out beautiful and it is being designed into different forms coming from a family of 10, think in have seen suffering of different shapes and size ha ha but it brought us so many bliss also. Life in general it not all sweet it also has it sour side that shapes and moulds us. I have been in situation that I lose hope but I have to overcome my fears and raise my head up high, I had two operations before getting married a hernia and ovarian cyst then I thought that was the end, I had not even meet my husband yet, I was depressed but I never knew God has his plans for me, I actually got married after going under the knife twice and to think I was going to deliver through C S, my delivery was the most simply and easy, I never imagine it to be so I labor less than an hour for my two boundless of Joy, I had a way blissful and easy delivery so that is life there is always a moment of suffering, just line through it because the joy that comes after it is endless.
iii. To cherish my vision
This idea is important to me because it made me to realize that I have to cherish my vision s, before these I just had them but I never cherished them. It made me realized that my vision is a marrow to my success, it cherish them I will definitely bring them to life. I have on so many occasion of being a count planner but I never cherished that I can do count decoration this book has brought so many light to me.
iv. Accepting responsibility
This particular idea is important to me because it made e accepting responsibility means growth. It brings about discipline and self-control. It made me to understand I should not blame anybody for my flaws; I should be responsible for my world and action.
v. Purpose as a supreme duty
This particular idea is important to me because it made me to have a guide time to really ask myself what my purpose in life really was is it to just marry, have kids and train them? It made me to realize that if I don’t have a purpose I will settle for less, and people will treat me as such. My purpose should be concealed in my heart and I should set out to accomplish it. I had a plan of helping young girls achieve their dreams at an early stage and expose them to a lot of things, like organizing a seminar were I will counsel them quaintly but this is yet to come to time light because of financially constraints, but I know as I have had my heart until I bring this to reality, I know I can achieve this because of my background in psychology.
vi. Calmness
Calmness of the mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom, personally this is one thing I lacked but this book has brought so many lights to me. I have been through life situation and my impatient caused me a lot to either lose part of something or the whole of it. I know with this book I will be a better person.
vii. Thought and character
This book has made me to understand that whatever we reflect is what we have harbor in our mind, a man with a good character is one with a healthy thought thinking right makes me to do things in the right way, if every time in your thought is how to fight then what ever situation that your find yourself in, you will always want to fight. Every thought seed sown or allowed to fall into the mind and to take root there produces its own. Good thoughts bear good fruit and bad thoughts bad fruits. I could remember in the early 2000’s a childhood friend and neighbor of mine always bad mouth mw and my brother whenever she is in her house but and when she is out of her compound she is well behaved so I saw that as an opportunity to always bully her whenever we are going to church together or going to get water I use that opportunity to initiate a fight and ended up always beating her, in my mind I wanted her to be afraid of me and to stop always speaking to me and my brother the manner she always do. This bullying continued until she reported me to her elder sister who gave me a stern warning never to touch her again and that was the end of me ever bullying her. We grew into loving each other and we had a great relationship thereafter and today we are best of friends so our thoughts shape our characters to who and whatever we are today.
3. How will this ideas or lessons help you in a practical way both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world?
These ideas will help me in a practical way both in my daily personal life and helping me create a better life in thinking positive and trying to uplift those who I know are in their trying moments, and most especially the youths and adolescent who may be going through adolescent crisis, I now have a better chance of counseling them to be master and lord over their thoughts letting the know they have the key to every situation and can transform themselves to whoever they want to be. This idea also thought me to be disciplined and this will apply to my kids too, a disciplined mind is a great mind. This idea also make me to learn how to accommodate people around me, neighbors, people I do business with and also people I meet on everyday tussles that environment affect how person think and reason.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so please quote them and comment as for why there were important to you.
“Good thought and action can never produce bad result.”
This particular quote is important to me because it made me to work harder, to see things on a higher way , that I should not just have good thought alone but action should also be taken to have a glorious result good thinking good product.
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about or are there ideas which you disagree with and if so why?
I understand the book every well, the message is clear and easy to comprehend.
6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
There were no exercises for the reader to complete
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.
Nothing else.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 10
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Anastasia Oguche Elebiju (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea the author is trying to convey in this book is that in living our daily life it should not be about norms (eating, sleeping, getting married, raise children, go to a party and die) but it should be about bringing out the best in ourselves through discovering the purpose of life, empting oneself totally out to humanity in offering selfless services, practicing love and aiming for perfection in ones calling to the good of humanity of which is the act of living heaven on earth, self-realization and spiritual transformation.
2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List the seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal example from your own life.
i. Getting to know the usefulness of being alive
This idea brought to meaning and more understanding to me. When the Bible says “that on should not worry about what to eat, or wear, that we should seek after the kingdom of God” from this idea I understand that the kingdom of God is about obeying the commandments and the summary of it is to love. Reading this book made me realize and understand that the true purpose of being is giving who and what you are to humanity. I always thought that discovering are purpose in life is about find a career and excelling in it, but I now realize that real purpose is love. I realize there is more to the love I get bullied as a teenager, intimidated with a low self-esteem and did not love myself for who I am can you imagine that feeling of not loving oneself let alone of loving others? This idea got me meditating as what love is as a purpose of living and evangelizing it to others and the needs of wanting others to feel the way you are and more.
ii. Prioritizing learning
This idea is important to me, because I have never thought of the idea of prioritizing learning. I just taught on can just learn skills however the opportunity comes mostly for monetary purpose. Before i gained admission to the University I learned many skills like catering and baking, tailoring and interior decoration. I had passion for humanitarian work and ministering to teenager, but never have I taught of learning and developing skills toward such passion. The reason I believed that this is very important is that I will learn what it takes to become a teenage advocate and humanitarian prioritize what I need to learn in order of importance.
iii. Never be content with impossibility
As a young couple, it was very difficult for me coping with my husband faith of “you can do anything you set your mind to” my husband is a fisheries technologist and own a fish farm, and he always insist that he cannot operation his farm like any other people in the field. I was not comfortable, because we were not financially buoyant and the little, we have had to go into his believe while we suffer financially with his belief of getting it hundred percent right, accurate and consistent regardless of the circumstance. We suffered, but he had his way of making me to belief, but now the result has started coming up. He wanted a perfect result and that it is very possible.
iv. Breaking promises, vow or covenant that prevent learning
This idea is important to me, because am use to making vows mostly out of anger, at times due to per care feeling of ill treatment, being used or cheated, for instant, enrolled my first kid in a particular school. Then later my neighbor enrolled her kid too into the same school, because of the writing skill that was impacted on a particular day, I discovered that they were giving preferential treatment to some kids of rich head mistress but the issue was not address, so I enrolled my kids into another school. And I vowed not to step my legs into the school premise when the school discovered that I withdrew my kids from their school, they apologized and made amendment. i accepted the apology and said my second kid will likely enroll in the school if they don’t keep up with the sentiment.
v. Don’t be swift to review what you know instead let them see by showing it.
This idea is important to me, because I have the habit of quickly reviewing my thought, feeling or what I know about something or situation. I end up most times feeling angry and depressed from the feedback I get. Being a very vocal daughter in the family of ten, five girls and five boys. My mother always confined in me because of this I end up getting hurt hard or beaten by the way I go about things in the house. I learnt from this idea and I put it into practice recently, I live in an apartment where gossip is the other of the day. One day I heard my neighbor mocking me my kids, saying my son is wearing a purple slippers and that the slippers was supposed to be for female child. Another neighbor responded that her child would like to have it since things was hard on them that period. The next day I jovially gave the slippers to my neighbor’s kid.
vi. Finding perfection in life and showing it forth
My understanding of reading this book is that love is the basis of all things and in loving people to the fullness lies perfection. This idea very important to me because it redefined what perfection is all about. I as a person have not in a lifetime imagine a life of perfection, but with this understanding, I should endeavor to find it in life and showing it forth.
vii. Being there, showing love and kindness
This idea is important to me because it define perfection as being there, showing love and kindness, that it not about until you have money that you can be there. A man lost his life due to lack of fund to treat himself of appended. I remember the man said how life is unfair to him, but I didn’t know it was that bad. Two days after I heard he died, he died of appendix disease of something he could have been treated with money that could be raise by family and friends. It was painful, but I learned never to take people words for granted however little it may be, but always be there.
3. How will this ideas or lessons help you in a practical way both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world if so how?
These ideas will help me in practical way both in my dairy personal life and helping me create a better life by getting to know the importance of situation around me and creating positive impact, prioritizing learning skills accordingly and putting them in practice, digging deep into what love is all about. Learning more of it, to always give in kind action and any form of giving. This idea will also help me in raising my kids to practice kindness and teaching them about the main purpose of living in love. This idea will also help me in teaching people around me and also kids and family members that any chosen career should be about giving to humanity and loving as the main objective of one’s gift
4. Quotes: Are there any statement the author made that particularly got your attention, if so please quote them and comment as to why were important to you.
“It didn’t need faith to fly, it needed to understand flying.”
My husband told me that he once prayed to God to giving the secret of getting 100% result in his fish breeding exercise. I needed to understand everything about making it work he kept on trying different approach, reading books and visiting all other professionals’ farms but he felt other professionals were contented with the result they were getting which he was not contented with, he kept on trying different approaches and when it fails several times I became tagging it spiritual attack most times he will laugh about it but I was worried. He will Say he is not bothered as long as he understand why it fails that he will adjust and not do it the same way. He finally got it and he said to me “with understanding anything needed to be done is done”.
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about or are there ideas which you disagree with and if so why?
I understand the book every well, the message is clear and easy to comprehend.
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all the exercise and did you find them helpful?
There were no exercises for the reader to complete.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 10
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10
Keys to Success
Assessment by Anastasia Oguche Elebiju (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
In Keys to Success the author is trying to convey to us how to grow into a successful person in life most especially business wise and creativity aspect, one should have a burning desire to succeed, to succeed should not just be about wishes it should be a burning desire that you will work to accomplish, plant ideas that you can be able to nature and bring to reality. A definite purpose will make you know why you want to succeed in life. An attractive personality will make you believe in yourself and what will make you go an extra mile is that drive to be successful. As one who strives for success you should be fearless, tolerate people and accommodate them and also to have a disciplined mind at times.
The author also pointed out that to be a successful person in life I must encounter ups and downs so I should be ready to learn from my adversities and defeat. Failure is another road that leads to success if only you don’t give up. The author also conveyed that success comes with a price, am I ready to pay for it?
2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.
i. Have a driving motive
In whatever I want to do, I should have a reason why I want to do it, what is your motive for learning a trade? Why am I an IIGL student, its question should always come to mind whenever you want to do something new. Towards the end of 2020, I realized that I have been blessed for too long and getting a job will be difficult at that time because of COVID 19 coupled with caring for my kids without earning, so I decided to learn a trade. Tailoring is one trade I admire so much though I had a little knowledge about it before I wanted to upgrade myself in it and learn more new styles. Sometimes I ask myself why am I doing this, why do I still need this knowledge, why stressing myself up and down; but I realized that no knowledge is wasted, even if I don’t make it a business in sewing for people, I can make dresses for myself and my kids and save some cash for myself.
ii. Learning from adversities and defeat
Show me a man who is afraid of failure and I will show a man who is not ready to be successful, as we grow in life we learn new things every day. It is only God that is perfect so we as his creatures we learn to create these things through repeated process or effort. It is inside of us, because part of God’s spirit lives in us, so it is left for us to bring it through consistency, determination, discipline and dedication. Edison did it for 10,000 times before he got it right he never gave up. Sometimes in 2018, hubby was not always around then due to the nature of his job then. My socket always goes bad often because of the bad electrician we had in the neighborhood. One day I said to myself why I call someone who cannot render good services and still spend so much in doing so, can’t I do this myself, at least I know negative and positive charges. I summoned courage. I got a screwdriver, I went to the socket without putting off the light from the meter, so when I started I had a shock from the light and I ran outside the room. I gave up immediately, life is precious you know smiles, but then something stroke my mind, why don’t you just off the light from meter this come like a spark and I hid to that little voice inside, I had my socket fixed perfectly well that it took me more than a year to do a replacement on like the precious ones of 2 months or one month.
I was glad I was able to do this and I ended up saving some cash for myself. I also taught my hubby how to fix it too even though he was claiming he knew how to do it before. So one should not accept defeat but learn from it because adversity can become a blessing to you.
iii. Let you definite goal be more than just a wish it should be a burning desire.
This idea shows that one needs to be obsessed about your goals in life; this burning desire is my observation about them. I should be able to think it through every now and then, my thoughts and action should be geared toward how I will achieve this thing that I want if I want to be a billionaire in the next 3years how am I moving towards it? What am I depriving myself of to attain this height. I should be able to think of excellent ideas that will enable me to achieve with hard work and dedication.
iv. Use Comic Habit Force
You are where you are, and what you are because of your established habits, his idea established that my personal habits have a whole lot to play in my attainment of success and it made me realize that many habits have a lot to do in my journey of being a successful person in life. These ideas make me realize that if I can control my thoughts I can control my habits, because habits are formed in the mind nurtured and brought out in the open.
vi. Seize Every Moment of time
Seize every opportunity in life is one of the greatest things to do because you never tell if you may still have another. January 2010, just a few months after completing my secondary school, a neighbor came to our home to seek permission from my mum to come manage her in-laws interior declaration (curtains, blinds and duvet) shop. It was just a street opposite ours the pay was so little, but I was glad because I could also learn the trade when I resumed the CEO of the shop was surprised when she saw me on the machine, from then she knew I had interest in learning to sew this blinds and curtains, she started giving me task and being a fast learner with two weeks of resumption I was already saving after a month my salary of 3000 was doodled, I started receiving 6000. I seized that opportunity and saw where it landed me. Even though I was naive I seized that opportunity not knowing how it would end but it sure did end well, the knowledge and skill I gained is still with me for over ten years now and nobody can take it from me.
vi. Increase intensity of thought and imagination.
Just as my hubby will always tell me, the world is big so always think big it causes no harm to you but it makes you aim for a better life. There is a saying that goes “ good thinking, good product what you think it will manifest, this idea struck my heart because I am a victim and I am working towards making my mind to have great and positive thought; I should always imagine good and not negative thoughts. Whatever I picture in my mind’s eyes should always be a good thing.
vii. Learn to Love Others the Way they are
Love is kind, it does no wrong and does not hurt. So instead of demanding that they be just as I want them to be is rude I should love them the way they are, this is one way to success. Love changes the entire chemistry of our body and it condition it for the expression of a positive mental attitude.
3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?
These ideas will help me in a practical way both in my daily life and in helping others by trusting in myself first, yes I can do it so go for it with this also I can help the youths who are trying to start up a business by training their minds on these 17 keys to success. I am in a youth called peniel, we normally meet on Sunday for prayers, I can use this avenue to organize a seminar to teach and enlighten them about this.
4. Quotes: Are they any statement which the author made that particularly got your attention, if so please quote and comment as to why they were important to you?
“Be a doer not a sayer.”
This idea got my attention because it made me realize not to just say things because I wish for it but I should act on it and bring it to limelight, doors always recharge their positive mental attitude.
“Time is precise and it is now.”
Time waits for no one, as you think it acts on it immediately because time is money and it is only when you use it judiciously that you can attain that level that you want, if you don’t act on your ideas now somebody else will.
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about or are there ideas which you disagree with and why?
No there isn’t anything.
6. Did the book contain any exercise for the reader to compute? If so did you compute all the exercises and did you find them helpful?
Yes the book gave some exercise to be computed and indeed they were very helpful.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on, that was not conveyed in the previous questions if so please comment.
No there isn’t anything else.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 10
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10
Psychocybernetics
Assessment by Anastasia Oguche Elebiju (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book
Psychocybernetics is telling us how to discover ourselves, that self-discovering comes both in our failure and in our success. To really live we must find life reasonably satisfying. I should have an adequate and realistic self-image that I can live with, and one should have a wholesome self-esteem having a self-esteem that correspond to reality so that you can function effectively, the book thought me that I should know myself both my strength and weakness and be honest with myself-concerning the both. There is a life instinct inside of us which makes us crave for health, happiness and all that makes life for the individual. This life instincts works through a creative mechanism or success mechanism built in each and every one of us. Cybernetics entails that our subconscious mind is not a mind at all but a mechanism consistent of a fore brain and nervous system which is used by and directed by the mind. Sometimes you need to relax and let your success mechanism work for you. The book is centered on self. How to bring out the beauty that lies within my imagination into reality
2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you? Use personal examples from your life.
i. Keep your eyes on the Ball
Here this idea is telling us about focus, to be successful I need to focus and not to be distracted either by my fear or worries. There are a lot of business I wanted venturing into in the past but distraction came from different angles and I was discouraged, so many people who invested in it are successful and making their own cash now, so to be focused always makes one to keep the ball rolling. Distractions always causes delays and slow down a lot of things we want to achieve so being focused and enthusiastic about our achievement eliminates some unwanted situations that may be an obstacle for us in our quest for success.
ii. Relax and let your success mechanism work for you
To be successful is one thing that every human crave for, to acquire wealth and live the kind of life we want to live, we as humans all have a built in success mechanism that triggers us to crave for more we have all ignored it. But this book has thought me how to connect to it. William James made it clear in one of his lectures that the way to success is by surrender let go of your worries. That creative instinct is one channel that leads us to our success. anxiety most times always leave us with no choice but to be afraid of the unknown so it is better to relax and let it flow, things will fall in place just as you have thought and imagined it to be ,so it is better to relax.
iii. Victory by Surrender
Here Williams James in his lectures brought to lime light how making conscious effort will only but stress us into having chronic anxiety but we should rather submit and surrender the care of our Destiny to a higher power (God) this has been me for sometimes now in all my struggles to be successful most times when I try and I fail, I can only but pray and draw strength from my maker and whenever I do so, I see and do things in a more different and better ways. My husband is into fisheries and hatches, for so long hatching of fingerling has always given him challenges the knowledge he gained from school he has used most of the approaches but it’s not working for him, but one day he began praying that God should reveal the secrets of the work to him, that God should give him a particular approach that he will use and get a massive breeding’s, he surrendered to God and his request was granted he is good at what he does now, he even knows so many things that even some professors don’t know. So surrendering to a higher authority who is the creator of the universe can be solution to your problems, because in him lies all the power and knowledge.
iv. Acquire the Habit of Happiness
Happiness is native to human mind and its physical machinery we think better, feel better and healthier when we are happy. Even our physical sense organ work better. Happiness comes from within and to be happy is a choice only you can make. As a human being you must have one or two things you worry about, but you can always choose to be happy amidst all your problems and it is a choice I personally made in recent times, in all I choose to be happy some days, I go without money on me but instead of wailing, I put on music and dance out my worries. There is a saying in Nigeria “Wahala no day finish” meaning problems never ends, so tackle one at a time and just breath. For there is light at the end of the tunnel. Happiness is that which is earned or desired, it is a state of mind in which our thinking is pleasant a good share of time. Let that that problem not blind me to see my other blessing because as a human being except on a death bed there is something to always be thankful for and happy about.
v. Turning Crisis to Creative Opportunity
Have you been in messy situation and you think that is the end, you can turn that into another opportunity most times it is in that crisis that you rediscover yourself, so never sit down and see light in that situation.
vi. Imagination
Imagination is the first key to your success, imagination plays a very vital role in our lives we all act, feel and perform in accordance with what we have thought about ourselves in our heads to be successful starts from the mind what we have imagined and I picture is what I will bring to reality I will rather imagine beautiful things so that I can create heaven for myself.
vii. Be Courageous
To be courageous you must have courage to act on the ideas in which you have established, you should desire to act courageously on these ideas for actions speak louder than words. It is one thing to have an idea, and it is another thing to bring them into reality. I have been meaning to start up a shopping for people platform were we help you shop for food items I have been nurturing the idea for a while now but lack the courage to start it, but reading this book has now make me bold to act on this ideas as soon as possible.
3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping to create a better world? If so, how?
This idea will help me in my daily personal life and in helping others by practicing the new knowledge that I have gained in such a way that it will create a hug impact on people around me sharing a daily doses of what I have learnt on my Whatsapp status and Facebook platforms for friends and families to learn and to those I can meet one on one I will gladly conceal them using these ideas.
4. Quotes: Are there any statement which the Author made that particularly got your attention? Is so pause quote and comment as to why they were important to you?
The author a made a statement that let the sleeping dog lie. Here they went on to say that once an error has been made and recognized as an error and correction made, it is equally important the error be consciously forgotten here I was remember sometime s I find myself digging it back which makes me feel bad, but with this I will surely let the sleeping dog lie,
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about or their ideas which you disagree with? If so why?
None.
6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all the exercise and did you find them helpful?
Yes there were exercise for me to do, I carried out the exercise though there were a handful of them and they are really helpful to me.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous question? It so please comment.
No there is none.
Please rate the following question on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 8
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10
Success through a Positive Mental Attitude
Assessment by Anastasia Oguche Elebiju (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea that the author was trying to convey in this book is that whatever goal, objective, plans or dreams a person have positive mental attitude is the main ingredient that bring out the good test of all the ingredients combined to make it a good and palatable food, that is positive mental attitude is the catalyst which makes any combination of success principle having a definiteness of purpose combined with all or any other success principle to yield expected end.
2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your life.
i. Identify yourself with successful image.
It is difficult for me when it came to identifying myself with a successful image of a person I want to be but haven’t seen or met physically. My goal is to become an humanitarian and a philanthropist helping teenagers, vulnerable youths and single mothers. It was difficult meeting such person as a mentor, I realized that I don’t necessary need to meet any successful person I want to identify myself with physically, but that I can through other means especially through reading autobiography.
ii. Definiteness of purpose make you become alerted to opportunities that will help you achieve your objectives they present themselves in your everyday experience because you know what you want.
One of the reason I enrolled in this global institute for leadership is to discover more about myself. It was really difficult for me to be specific about what I really wanted, although I was obsessed about doing business but always applying for all NGO Jobs online related to humanitarian and community services. The NGO Jobs I always apply for was not available in the state I reside, so I made up my mind to give up the idea of doing business and face what I really wanted, while still applying for the job outside the state I live, my husband got a farm at the Federal Capital Territory state and the relocation was possible and brought me closer to the area where I can get an NGO Job in the humanitarian sector.
iii. To achieve anything worthwhile in life, it is necessary to set high goal for yourself and want to achieve it.
This idea is important to me, because I have not taught that it is necessary to set a high goal for myself I have always taught setting a small goal at a time, before one take another towards a higher one on a step by step basis.
iv. Cobwebs prevent accurate thinking when we start with premise, thinking inaccurate when we allowed all-embracing word symbols to cluster up our minds with false premise.
This idea is important to me because of the real life experience of eating catfish. My fiancé was working on a farm as a manager before we got married, he always bring catfish to our house anytime he carried out breeding or after sales when his visiting. He didn’t like eating catfish so was I then. When ask why he didn’t like eating it, “ he said the first time he tasted it in a restaurant he vomited and such was my experience when the fish was prepared at home. We continue giving out fish after we married, because both of us didn’t like eating catfish due to its taste. One day while watching a program on Television on how to prepare catfish, I decided to give it a try. I was surprise at the taste so was my husband, since then eating catfish became an addiction that we have wanted to recover those days we have avoided eating catfish. I realized that it is not the catfish taste that was the problem but in its preparation. I learnt a lesson from this idea that I should think different way by which a single thing can be done or made and not to neglect the thing because of a previous negative outcome. A lot of food my husband and I eat today are food we didn’t like eating in the past, but the realization that wrong information is a cobweb that has prevented us from accurate thinking about something base on circumstances. Our mental attitude changes towards a lot of things and not only food.
v. Select environment that will develop you best towards objectives.
My husband and I plan for relocation to another state. It was difficult for us making the decision, we had to pray about it, think and ask ourselves questions of the importance of the decision leaving our established farm behind to start over in another place. We came up a lot of very important reasons that is to the best interest for our children character development, my husbands’ business expansion and me getting a good job. We got the apartment in a low costing house estate to start with. Sine we cannot afford the rent in the area we wanted to live for now. We decided to start attending church service on Sunday outside the area we live at the environment where we planned to live. I didn’t buy the idea of going such along distance to worship on Sunday in a church outside the area we live when there is so much churches around, and my husband said to me that the place matters because that was the main reason for our relocation. I have always wanted my kids to grow in godly environment and I also need it for my spiritual growth. I didn’t understand this idea when my husband always make reference to the idea of recognizing a godly church in an environment we desire to live until he explained it to me and I also came across it while reading this book P.P.M.A.
vi. Sow an action and you reap a habit: sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.
What knowing how to acquire desirable habits and eliminate the undesirable: there was a time in my life when it was difficult for me to sleep at night, it was difficult for me because my husband had travelled for a job. I will be awake by 3 or 4am every night and will be unable to sleep till morning. This situation continued for some months, and I said to myself to turn this time of sleepless to praying time. So I made it a habit of praying at that hour am awake. when my husband came back I became very relax and the sleepless night went away, but no longer was I praying at such hour again, even when I consciously woke up between the hour of 3 to 4 am I just fell asleep immediately I close my eye. I felt emptiness, because I was no longer doing the prayer at this hour or any other time as I use to. I asked myself of the benefit I got from the time of waking up at night and pray, the different it made in my life, family and I realized the need to develop the habit intentionally to get back on track to a fruitful prayer life. I now made it a habit of waking up by 5am and pray. Some time when my husband or the alarm failed to wake me up, I find myself awake at exactly 5am or four minute late or early. This idea became more important to me because it makes me realize that forming any fruitful habit can be sow and reap, and there is a principle to actually make it work.
vii. Keep a smile in your voice: thus talking loudly and rapidly, you eliminate gruffness, you can put a smile in your voice by putting a smile on your face, a smile in your eyes.
This particular idea or exercise came to mind when I was to make thirty minutes presentation in church to people to come to the youth organized vintage charity program. I thought of a way to make this presentation as lively as possible considering I was not a very bold person but a shy one too. I had to think of a way to go about the presentation and I came up with a comic way of speaking English language using igala language intonation. It was fun, I became very excited, their was a smile in my voice, face and I was able to speak actively in any direction when making presentation with so much laughter coming out from the congregation. People were surprise that I was the one with such jovial character. It really changed my personality knowing what putting a smile in your face, eyes and mind can really bring out in you.
3. How will these ideas and lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping to create a better world? If so, how?
In becoming a better person, setting higher goals and achieving it through thinking and acting positive. I will only become a better person through the use of positive mental attitude and being a better person means better world. I believed you can only give what you have and have learnt a lot reading how to transform one’s life using P.M.A and if my life can be transformed positively, then I can apply same principle
4. Quotes: are there any statement which the author made that particular got your attention? If so please quote and comment as to why they were important to you
“Save one dime out of every dollar you earn. Each six months invest your savings and the interest or divided returns from these saving and investments. Before you invest, seek expert advice on safe investments.”
These statements are important to me, because it made me realized hour to save towards achieving ones set target through purposeful savings. The only reasons I have saved money in the past is for material needs and not for investment, but the way the author simplify how to save ones tenth income toward investment make it more easier to save toward higher purpose rather on material needs
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about or are there ideas which you disagree with? If so why?
None.
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all the exercise and did you find them helpful?
Yes, there were exercises for me to do and I did carried out some and currently on others that I have sent a target for.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous question? If so please comment.
None.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from one to ten. Ten is good and is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 10
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10
How to Win Friends and Influence People
Assessment by Anastasia Oguche Elebiju (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea that the author Is trying to convey in the book is on how to win people to ourselves, how to deal with people knowing so well that we all come from different background with diverse perspective ; people sees and perceive life differently. Thus in our daily dealing with people across all work of life we should avoid judging people at first contact, because they do not portray what we actually want them to look like; first impression matter but mood and other circumstances come to play, if we could allow people express themselves, appreciate the little effort they put in instead of condemning them. This book teaches one how to appraise people, accept their ideology and there after show them the possibilities of doing it the right way without creating communication war. The book also teaches couples how to communicate better in their marriage by understanding the use of word and body languages.
2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.
i. Give honest and sincere appreciation: In this book the author made it clear on clear on how one should be sincere in giving others appraisal, figure out their good points, forget flattery and appreciate them sincerely.
This idea ministered to me, because I have not been sincere in giving people appraisal. In the past whenever my friends did something which was not really good and I won’t want them to feel bad, I just flattered them and they get to be cautioned by someone else and I later get the face attitude from them as a bad friend. This idea will help me in been honest to everyone without remorse feeling and appreciate people in an honest manner.
ii. Do not fear being misunderstood and do not waste a minute thinking about enemies
In my life what I have always being afraid of is for people to misinterpret my intention even though they were good, am always afraid of keeping distance with friends because of misunderstanding that their thought of negativity being in my head. This book has broadened my knowledge of how to think of the positive only, and about the friends that want to remain in ones life will always stay and be there.
iii. Use praise instead of criticism
According to BF skinner’s teaching, the good things people do will always be reinforced; when someone make an effort it is better to praise the person than finding faults to bring the person down. This idea will help in my personal life when raising my children in particular and also influencing me in dealing with people around me and the world at large. Using praise instead of finding faults will really change a lot of things for me, especially in relating and making friends, no one will want to be look down on or criticized for their genuine efforts they made, so praising people first and appreciating them is one sure way of making friends instead of keeping enemies. I learnt criticism create boundaries and therefore it should be avoided as it deter good communication and make use of word not been place appropriately, I learnt that criticism is like bully word and can make you not been sensitive to the word one use on people. A neighbor who just learnt how to bake asked me about her work and I was thinking how awful it was, but I know it will sound rude and disrespectful even if she ask for honest opinion, but it occur to me that I say something more positive in correcting her baking error. I quickly responded by telling her that she did great with the baking but she didn’t add enough baking powder to make it rise and she needed to do this and that and it will be perfect. From my response, she said people at home told her of the resources wasted on the cake for such outcome and that she should go and do something else with her time. Although it’s was a joke from her people about how awful the cake was but she had to seek for genuine opinion.
iv. Call attention to peoples mistakes indirectly
In the past I have seen how direct I was in dealing with people attacking them directly on mistake they made on their face which made them withdraw from me or stopped talking to me, but this book thought me to praise someone first and use other instances or stories to correct them without making them feel bad. Correcting people directly means you are already tempering with their ego which will hardening them the more and may turn down your corrections , but this I now know can easily be corrected by indirect correction and with love.
v. Always believe in yourself
This idea thought me the very reason one need to believe in oneself above any other thing that one is a tabernacle of unseen marvels, when you discover you will be amazed how much potentials lives in there, if I do not believe in myself who else will?. I should be intentional in achieving my goals and be proud about it.
vi. Be a good listener
This idea is very important to me because, in some ways I have not being a good listener, I am always quick to bring in my own ideas without knowing that the other person’s own idea is good too, this is a selfish act I came to realized and am glad to know better now. As humans we grow everyday, when me listens it always give opportunity to learn from the other person’s thoughts and also read in between the lines.
vii. Welcome the disagreement
This idea is very important to me because, it has thought me that disagreement is an opportunity to also be corrected If am wrong , it is an avenue for me to avert future blunder, and as human we disagree to agree. Most disagreement is good to clear the air and listen to each other to attain a glorious height.
3. How will the ideas help you in a practical way both in your daily personal life and in helping you create a better world, if so, how?
This idea will help me in my daily personal life and in helping me create a better world by praticing the above ideas, living each day to be conscious about what I say to people, I will live to always put smiles on peoples face, love them despite their flaws and also spice my marriage up by showing true kindness Io my spouse.
4. Quotes: Are there any statement which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so please quote and comment as to why they were important to you
The statement that particularly got my attention is “believe in yourself, you are the Tabernacle of unseen marvels. The statement really got to me as it encourage me to believe in myself, trust in me and aim for greatness which can be achievable through my dedication and discipline. There are a lot which has been deposited in me and it can Only manifest if I believe in myself.
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand are unclear about or are there ideas which you disagree with if so why?
No, the book is clear and well explained
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so did you complete all the exercise and did you find it helpful?
Yes the book contained exercises for me to complete. I did and will continue working on some, they were and are helpful and challenging.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.
There is none.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 10
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10
Awaken the Giant Within
Assessment by Anastasia Oguche Elebiju (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book is all about being focused driven, the author made me to understand that inside of us lies a great potential and we need to be intentional about making a great change. There is a giant sleeping inside of us that needs to be awakened, in me lies a great potential that needs to be brought to the limelight, how to have controlled focus and be able to command and master so many things in our lives. The book talked about how to know my values and how to also work on my belief system because it shapes my destiny and on how to also select my words because my words are a reflection of who I am and my words Carry life.
2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.
i. A controlled focus
This idea is personally important to me because it shows who I was before now, I am this kind of person that is easily moved by people of creativity, when I see people who are creative I admire them and I also would love to be like them or better still learn their art, but in a long run this has had a negative effect on me, it made me not to focus on what I really want to be because I have been distracted by a lot of other juicy opportunities but with this book awake the giant within has showed me how to be focus driven and be dedicated to a particular thing I intend to achieve and that I should be a master of it before I will be able to venture into another one.
ii. Raise your standards
In this book raising your standards is placing values on yourself, that is, how do I see myself? Do I allow low self-esteem overshadow me and trample on my self worth? This idea struck me because I am the type that always makes myself available for everyone body never gets same favors when I need same, I had a deep thought about this and decided to make myself a little bit scarce, that was when everybody then knew my value and began say if only Ana’s was here things would have gone better orderly and perfectly, my friends knew my value but only took advantage of it, so if I don’t put a good price tag on your goods it will be priced below it’s standards so it is good to Raise your standards and also do with a high shoulder.
iii. Change your limiting belief
If I raise my standards but don’t really believe I can meet them that means I have already sabotaged myself. I need to be certain about this new decisions I have made believing that nothing can stop me all things are possible and achievable. In the past I used to think that there is some particular age you will reach and you will not be able to achieve some certain things but that all changed after I watched a Chinese man at the age of 60+years decided to be a model and a run way model at that, after watching that, I told myself that I can be what ever I choose to or desire to be it doesn’t matter the age.
iv. Man is born to live and not prepare to live.
This particular idea means a lot to me because it helped me realize that I don’t need to have everything I wish to have before living my life. I can not deprive myself of enjoying the little things I have because the bigger ones are not yet ready, this idea makes me to know that life is a gift and should live and enjoy every moment.
v. Realize now the power your words command if you simply choose them wisely
The words that comes out of our mouths is a reflection of who we are ,word carry power and they sure guides our human behavior and it also reflects on our journey to being a successful person. This idea struck me because as a person working towards being a successful person I have to be guided by what I say because it is my motivation and my greatest drive to speak those positive words into my soul. when ever I speak those positive words into my soul I feel much more alive than being depressed and it helps me to achieve my goals faster, In the never watch my words I used words how ever I feel not minding if they have negative effect those words have on me, sometimes those negative words makes me to give up easily once I try some thing and it doesn’t come out the way I want I will just abandoned it and move on , but my husband really sharpened my thoughts as he would always encourage me to watch my words and be of a more positive person, my words Carry power, those positive words are destiny shapers and aids one to attain success. This book has also enlighten me in many ways on how much power my words command so I have realized it and I’m making necessary amends.
vi. If you don’t know your true value prepare for pain.
This idea is personally important to me because I personally don’t value my self ,on so many occasions I have been taken advantage of because I didn’t place value on myself this idea made me realize that over simplicity as humans open door for insults from people and in a way people think they can walk away freely even if they hurt you. so I have decided to only go to were I’m valued. For example,. A table water that goes for a dollar in a random super market can also be sold at a hotel or an airport for 5 dollars, it is same water same content, and same company who produced the water, but change in environment gave them all a different value so it is very important to stay in a place where you are valued.
vii. Harness the power of decision
This particular idea struck my attention because it made me to remember the true power of making decisions, this means that making decisions helps us to be a better person and allow us to know what we truly want, it also makes me to make a true commitment and be sure I keep to my promises of being committed, as a good leader one should always make decisions often and learning to play from the decisions which I have made, and also in as much as I am committed to my decisions it is also good that I stay flexible about it and be joyous in making decisions. It boosts ones confident.
3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?
This ideas will help me in a practical way both in my daily personal life and in helping me to create a better world by putting all this new ideas in to practice, this idea s will make me stay true to the decisions I have made and also to be committed. I have decided to learn new skills in order to build myself financially and I will make sure that I am dedicated to achieving this and not be distracted. I have also decided to use my social media platforms to encourage friends about commitment and decision making to better their life.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
“Goals take you beyond your limits of a world of unlimited power.”
This statement particularly got my attention because goals allows to focus well on what ever you have chosen to achieve, living a life without goals limits you because the world is a big place with a lot of things to explore and make a living out of it, but if you are not focused to succeed you might just give up and settle for less, this statement awaken the giant within me to set my goals and be focused on achieving it without distractions.
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and if so why?
There is nothing.
6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
Yes there were and it was all carried out.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.
No further comment.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 10
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10