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
Creating your Path Through Leadership
Assessment by Oguche Anastasia 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 on how different graduates of the international institute for global leadership were able to navigate their paths through leadership studies. The book which is centre on various leaders’ biography exposed a lot to me on how taking leadership course can make one to relearn and unlearn to become a better version of myself. Creating your paths through leadership unlocked so many things and challenges that people take and go through to become a better version of themselves. When you are on your way to becoming a good leader there are so many obstacles and temptation that comes your way but we learn through them. Sometime those obstacles become an eye opener thereby allowing us to rediscover ourselves and creating our own paths to becoming a great leader.
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. Realize the power of mind
The universe operates in accordance with our individual and collective beliefs and attitudes, we have incredible creative powers to determine our future within the frame work of a collective belief system and sometimes outside of it, so as an individual I need to take charge of my mind as I am the first prophet of my life, I need to agree in my mind about great achievement and tell myself I can achieve some before it begins to even manifest on the outside. Realizing the power of the mind is one big step to actualizing our dreams, so far our mind can take it and digest it , then we can achieve it no matter the challenge.
ii. Be intentional
Being an intentional has helped me in several ways to actualized my goal and dreams. Since I discovered the international institute for global leadership and started reading some books I was able to take to practical some of what I learnt and I was able to achieve it , because being intentional about doing something has made me not to only make wishes but also write out ways in which I will be able to achieve all the goals, planned properly and in making sure that I achieve my goal. There was a time I wanted to learn how to make souvenir bags, and I felt it will be easy for me since I have good knowledge of sewing and that I can just be creative with various ideas and make the bags, but that wasn’t it. I gave it a try and watched some You Tube videos, but I still didn’t get the result I wanted. I decided one day to get apprenticeship with a bag maker to learn how to make the bag. I wrote out plans to pay the people I wanted to do apprentice with and to start the apprenticeship training. After starting the apprenticeship, my other ideas is to learn different sewing and other items apart of bag making. I was able to achieve so much within a space of one month into the apprenticeship.
iii. Embrace your uniqueness
Growing up as a teen was challenging for me as I had to battle with low self-esteem, but navigating my path through leadership has thought me to embrace my uniqueness and that there is no other as me. I am my own version. If I decided to be someone else it is going to be uncomfortable, so I have to embrace my own uniqueness.
iv. Clarify your values
Your values are the true essence that gives direction to your life. Having values have guided me to make right decisions about my life. I have always wanted to have a master degree in clinical and mental health and the first thing for me was to get my transcript from the school I graduated from. I had made several attempts to get my transcript from the school after many months that I had applied for it, but still yet to get it and it was becoming very frustrating. I had started the process earlier but had to reapply for it with additional cost of starting all over again. I believe that I should do what I love and its to help people with their mental health, and I believe getting more knowledge and the opportunity to practice will help me achieve my goal and living the values I cherish about life. I still believe in getting my transcript and securing a scholarship to further and I still believe that is possible. So, clarifying my values is part of being true to myself to set my priorities right.
v. Beyond dreams
Beyond dreams and wishes is not just about dreaming and making wishes .As a timid child while growing up I didn’t really understand how to go about achieving my dreams coming from a humble background, I always wish to be wealth in life, but I didn’t know how the rich make their wealth. It didn’t just happen, dreams are planned for and goals are mapped out on how to achieve them. So as an individual I no longer just dream, but after dreaming I also plan ways through which I can achieve my dream.
vi. Seek a mentor
As a person I have never believed in seeking for a mentor, but I have had a couple of them in the past. Recently my mentor has been my brother Philip Oguche. I have seen how he has navigated through life and made it to the top. All the steps he took and things he did to achieved what he had. I always want to take those steps through his guidance, and how he has been mentoring and rendering his assistance to me in order to achieve my goal. So having a mentor can be a source of strength when every other things seems to be failing, as this encourages and put one back on track.
vii. Power of effective communication
Effective communication teaches us to show positive body language, consider the opinion of others, be confident in our ideas, think before we speak and listen while a person is speaking . The power of effective communication has made me to become more of a listener, because in the past I have always that challenge of listening to others while they speak.
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?
Using the power of effective communication will in a practical way to be more accommodating and considerate in my work place, business and relationship
4. Quotes: are there any statements which the author made that particular got your attention? If so please quote and comment as to why they were important to you?
A quote by Les Brown: “Shoot for the moon even if you miss you will land among the start.”
This is important to me because it gives me the courage to start anyhow I can and there shall be a result even if I don’t get my expected outcome but a close one is better than none.
“You cannot start the next chapter if you keep rereading the last one.”
It is about me letting go of the past and beating around the bush about one’s current situation without making move toward alternative option of doing thing. It is important that I keep on acquiring knowledge of how things can be done by exploring new innovations.
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, I am currently doing some and practicing some of the ideas I learnt from the book
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous question? If so please comment.
No there is none.
Please rate the following questions on the scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 10
B. How helpful was the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to other? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10
Maximum Achievement
Assessment by Anastasia Oguche Elebiju (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea the author is trying to convey in this book
The main idea that the author is trying to convey in this book is on how an individual can reach his or her maximum potentials by following some principles of life, that will make them achieve, and reach their life fulfillment. Brian Tracy in this book explained vividly using his life experiences to explain the strategies and skills that we will use to unlock our hidden power to succeed, goal mapping, health and energy, relationships, self-knowledge, and also abiding to the laws of life (natural and man-made) will all aid and guide us to achieving our full potential in life.
2. What are the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you, use personal example from your life.
i. Peace of mind
This idea got my attention because peace is one thing that every human desire and want in our homes, work places, relationship with others and even in our countries. This idea made me to realize that I need to make myself very happy no matter the challenge or circumstances it has to be me first, let me have that happiness within me first before I will be able to give others. You cannot make someone happy when you yourself are sad. Even if you try it, it is only going to be for a short period, so it is a good idea that I should always work on my happiness every now and then so that I can have enough to share.
ii. Self-knowledge and self-awareness
This goes hand in hand with inner happiness and outer achievement “man know thyself.” This statement simply means to perform at your best you need to know who you are. This idea got my attention because sometime early this year, I did not know myself anymore, I could not dream or think. I was really helpless because of life challenges, if I want to do any meaningful thing, I get distracted and over think myself to sleep, but at a point I started reminding myself of who I am. Saying to myself who am i. saying to myself that my name is Anastasia meaning resurrection power of God that raises Jesus from the dead, lives inside of me. I kept on saying to myself and I felt better whenever I say this. I always feel like a lion that is roaring and I want to tear something apart. With this energy I put into my daily works and affair is on a different level.
iii. The law of control
The law of control says that you feel positive about yourself to the degree to which you tell yourself that you are in control of your own life and you feel negative when you feel others are in control of your life. This idea got my attention because as a person it has helped me in the past to be in charge of my life and even now. Whenever I had a negative dream at night, I don’t just jump up and start screaming, I will immediately close my eyes and go back to the dream. And I act it the way I want it to be and cancel every of the negative thing I had previously encountered in that same dream. I act it the way I want it to be, then I will wake up and say my prayers. For example, when I dreamt that someone was beating me in a dream, I will quickly short my eyes use another energy and climbed on that person, I will give him or her the beating of his or her life. So it is good to always be in control of our life and what happen round us.
iv. Law of attraction
This law is neutral as it can help you or hurt you. This is more like the law of what you sow is what you will reap. This law is helpful to me in that it reminded me that any hard work I put in to whatever I am doing today I will surely reap the fruit of my labour. Sow a thought you reap an act, sow a habit you reap a character, sow a character you reap a destiny.
v. Associating with positive people
Get around the right people and associate with winners. This idea helped me to realize that people around us affect the way we think. It is good to deliberately select great minds and successful people to be around me. There is a colleague of mine I always avoid having conversation with, because her talk is always about politics and pouring of insults on the president or the citizen that voted the president. I have tried several approached to talking out of using such language falls on deaf ear. I had to avoid such company and hope to get a better job and lace where I can get such great mind which my soul needs for improvement.
vi. Courage and honesty
You need courage to be your own psychotherapist. Courage is needed basically in all areas of our life. I can relate to this because life has offered me a couple of challenges that the option I had was to be courageous and to face my fears to be able to defeat the giant in front of me.
vii. Feeding your mind
Cabbage in cabbage out. Our mind like a computer, whatever we feed it is what it will produce. If I continue to think about greatness and how to become great on life, I will start seeing myself doing things that will lead me to greatness, from my mind I will start figuring how to achieve it. So it is good to feed our mind with positive things. I say to myself: I am great; I am the best of my version; There is non like me; I am beautiful
I can do it; I am the apple of Gods eye; God loves me dearly
3. How will this idea help me in a practical way both in your daily life and in helping you to create a better world, if so how?
The law of habit- everything we do or become as a human is from a habit, the way I talk, walk, work, drive, think and interact with others. So practically I have decided to work on some habit to always appraise people like if someone looks good or made new hair to compliment the person and say to her that she is beautiful, your hair look good on you, you are beautiful. This I believe make them happy and fulfilled, and makes me have friends instead of enemies.
4. Quotes: Are there any statement which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so please quotes as to why they are important to you.
“Success is just failure turned inside out.”
This is important to me because it will help me to prepare for success having failure in mind and believing that failure is part of the process to succeeding.
“If necessity is the father of invention, then pain is the mother of learning.”
This is important to me because it helps me to think of learning as the giving birth of new thing I want to have in my life, as I long as I want it I have to give birth to it through pain
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?
I don’t have anything in the book that I disagreed with
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
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.
No there is 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 was the content? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the over all rating you would give it? 10
Goal Mapping
Assessment by Anastasia Oguche Elebiju
1. What is the main idea the author is trying to convey in this book
The main idea that the author convey in this book is about mapping goals and working to achieve them. He talked about things that are physical and a combination of words and pictures. When refers to left brain and right brain. Our left brain thinks in words while our right brain thinks in pictures. The book is an eye opener as it vividly guided me to setting my goals in life, whether I have the resources yet or not let it be on my list. let me dream it first, have the idea of what it looks like to write them down, from there my answer will come. Mapping out goals directs our paths to greatness.
2. What are the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you, use personal example from your life.
i. Dream
What do I want: dream is a succession of images, ideas, emotions and sensations that usually occur involuntary in the mind during certain stages of sleep. Dream energizes our mind and gives us hope, so dreaming is one of those steps that leads to success. Before one begin to create things, it first sprung up from their mind or from their subconscious. Ideas are gotten sometimes when we shot our eyes we dream and an idea comes up, what do we make out of it. What do I really want to achieve in this dream, what I do I really want? Everything begins in the mind, think big and do not allow any negative thought discourage you. It is good to be well focused so that you will always see the possibility of achieving your dream. Although your dream could be bigger than your present capability, but dream it anyway, so far as is believable a d realistic, I will definitely achieve them once my mind is set on achieve it to work toward it.
ii. What is my priority.
This particular idea got my attention because it thought me that in goal mapping my goals should start with the most important goal, marking and setting our priorities right goes a long way to show how we make impact with our lives and the lives of others often depends on what we decide to prioritize. Once I am cleared on my goal am able to make better informed decisions that will guide my life choices. Priorities are those areas of my life that meaningful and very important, so I should always put those things that are important first on my list. When I prioritize I will be able to manage my time properly as everything I do will be channel towards things that matters most.
iii. Draw
What does it look like: drawing our dream gives vivid illustration on how its going to look like, even if we cannot draw, just a little stretch of it gives us the zeal to work toward achieving our goals. With the picture I can say this is what I want and this is how it is going to look like. Felix pointed out that now is the time to power up goals by turning our written words into pictures. Our subconscious mind works with pictures and thinks with pictures, so drawing them helps one to always be connected to his or her dream. Our right brain plays a major role here as it is the side of the brain that interprets in pictures, so drawing my goals no matter how the picture looks will give me that feeling and desire will give me an edge to make my dream colorful.
iv. Why
Why do I want it: in this step, it deals with our emotional reasoning of why we desire to achieve our goals, this particular idea got my attention because lately I decided to take some steps that will help me get a better life in the future. I have been frustrated for some time now about the economy of my country and how things has become, it is difficult for an average man to survive, this situation made me to start taking bold steps for the future of my children. I decided to move to a new environment and have started saving towards it, we decided to leave because the new environment will allow us to grow and have a better life with the high chance of getting a good job. So setting ones goals and having a reason to why you set such goals helps to achieve it even faster.
v. When
When do I want it: in this idea, felix pointed out that this is the time to choose a date, to set a deadline when you would like to achieve the goal. Here we are to set time on our goals not just any goal of ours, but the main goal. So setting an achievable timeline will help me to achieve my goal without procrastination and also in helping me to be serious and hardworking.
vi. How
How will I achieve it: this is the step I started asking myself about what are the three main actions can I take or things I can do that will help me move forwards achieving my goals. This helps me to think and ask myself these three questions below
Are there new skills or talents that I will need to develop?
Are there new qualifications or teachings that I will need to gain?
Are there new resources or income that I need to secure?
These particular steps made me to search within me talents and skills that I may need to acquire to achieve my goals, even my qualification needs an upgrade and I have decided to register to further a course in clinical and mental health in the coming months. This I decided because it will help me I n pursing my future and achieving my goals.
vii. Who
Whose help will I require? Here is to determine the people whose help I will need, whose cooperation and assistant I will need to achieve my goal. Relationships are everything. To achieve anything of consequence you will need the help of lots of people. The more and better relationship I develop, the faster I will be able to achieve my goals and the better they will be part of my life. Here I need to note the key people in my life, and do things that will make me gain their assistant in my professional life
3. How will this idea help me in a practical way both in your daily life and in helping you to create a better world, if so how?
These ideas will in a practical way help me in my daily life and in helping me create a better world by drawing, writing and achieving my goals. The step by steps ideas in this book made me to be able to figure out how to achieve my dream and it has motivated me to pick up myself and never give up, because the whole world is awaiting for my impact to be felt in the world of mental health campaign.
4. Quotes: Are there any statement which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so please quotes as to why they are important to you.
None.
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about or are there ideas which you disagree with? If so why?
I don’t have anything in the book that I disagreed with.
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.
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
No there is 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? 9
B. How helpful was the content? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the over all rating you would give it? 9
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
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 Steven Covey in his book- the seven habits of highly effective people is that; let me quickly define the meaning of the word effective. To be effective means to be successful in producing a desired or intended result. So covey in his book talked about how we as individual perceive, understand and interprets the world around us, he talked about working on the mind, as most of the things displayed on the outside starts from the inside. The book really place emphasis on the importance of personal responsibility, goal setting, prioritization, effective communication, collaboration and self care in achieving success and fulfillment in life. Covey guided us through each habit explaining how to apply them in our personal and professional life and how to create the shift from a mind-set of dependence and independence to one of interdependence and collaboration.
2. What are the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you, use personal example from your life.
i. Be proactive
Our is basically a composite of our habit, so proactivity simply means taking responsibility for our lives, our behaviors is a function of our decision, so whatever we decide to put out there sprung up from our own personal doings from the way we take ourselves that is the same way others will, no one can hurt you without your control and no one can take away ourselves respect if we do not give it to them. Our language matters in all of these whether we choose to be reactive or proactive is a matter of choice, reactive people are always bitter people because their environment controls them and they are affected by it. Reactive language : there is nothing I can do, that’s just the way I am, he make me so sad, I cant, I must. But being proactive allows us to speak language of lets look at our alternative, I can choose a different approach, I can create an effective presentation, I can, I will, I prefer. So being proactive allows us to create and manage.
ii. Begin with the end in mind
We detect rather than invent our mission in life. This particular idea got my attention because it really made me to think deep toward my life dream and aspirations, and I asked myself this question? How will my story end? I have always pictured this sweet and loving life for myself and I know that very soon I will get there, so convey on this particular habit emphasize the need to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve as this will help you stay focused and motivated, having clear mission statement will reflect that uniqueness of mind both in content and in form. This mission statement is like a fuel that keeps me going on my journey to success.
iii. Put first things first
Things that matter most must not be at the mercy of things which matters least. This particular idea got my attention as the third habits to be an effective person, because it talked about prioritizing our task and focusing on the most important ones. The power of independent will which makes self-management possible, as it guides to make it possible for one to make decisions and choices and to act in accordance to them. Quandrant One talked about urgent issues and how it require urgent attention, of which it can burn us up because of its urgency, but Quadrant Two on the other hand is the heart of effective personal management. It deals with things that are not urgent but very important. It deals with things like building relationship, writing a personal mission statement, long range planning and preparation. So putting first thing first requires us to also do a critical calculation of how we will be able to manage all our affairs in a long run, building a lasting relationship with family, business partners and friends and be intentional about them all these will make us to become highly effective in the society.
iv. Think win-win
A win for one is a win for all. This habit by convey talked about a win-win as a frame of mind and heart that constantly seek mutual benefit in all human interactions. Win-win means that our agreements or solutions are mutually beneficial and mutually satisfying. Win-win sees life as a cooperative not a competition arena, win-win exist on the paradigm that is plenty for everyone. That one persons success not achieved at the expense or exclusion of the success of others. This habit is one in which I felt the whole world knows about it and live by it because what is the fight for , what is the hate for, if only we can love and live peacefully and accommodate ourselves to coexist appropriately and enjoy the wonders that God Almighty has bestowed upon us. Also relate to this win win habit as also being happy for others even when they are doing better than us, celebrate them because one day you will also be celebrated as a win for one is also a win for all.
v. Seek first to understand and then to be understood
This habit talked about listening to others first carefully, before you share your own point of view. The principle of empathetic communication. The way we communicate and pass on information to others be over emphasize as it is the root of human living and being able to coexist appropriately peacefully requires communicating well. Allow people to express themselves concerning a situation first, even if you know they are wrong, correct them with love and point out where you know they did wrong, correct them with love and point out where you know they did wrong. Listening to others is a great skills that I personally need to acquire as an individual. Do not listen with the intend to reply rather listen with the intent to understand what the person is trying to say
vi. Synergy
Synergy a word which simply means the interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substance, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects. Convey talked about this habit to synergize as a creative cooperation. That is to create something that is greater than the sum of its parts. Convey connected synergy with the habits and how it focuses on the four unique human endowment, the motive of win-win and the skills of empathetic communication. Synergy is everywhere in nature, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. How two different individual can cooperate and achieve greater goals in life. I have seen two different individual achieve greater thing than one. One had the money but no business idea, and the other has idea and very intelligent and skilful. And when they both agree to partner together, what they both achieved was mind blowing, and they both become two successful men, because they synergized and at the end is a win-win for both.
vii. Sharpen the saw
This habit talked about preserving and enhancing the greatest asset that I have. Renewing the four dimensions of my nature, physical, spiritual, mental, and social or emotional. So I have to express all four of this and take care of them. consistently and regularly in wise and balanced manners. So I must be proactive in any approach. The most valuable investment one can ever make is to invest in oneself, taking proper care of my body. Checking up on my mental health, keeping good relationships with others and taking out time to enjoy myself and be with family
3. How will this ideas 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 and habits will I a practical way help me in my daily life and in helping me create a better world by changing and working on my self first to create this habit of win win situation around me, and also educate those around me with this habits so that the world will be a peaceful place for all to live and be happy.
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
“The way we see the problem is the problem.”
“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual being having a human experience.”
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 and it involve daily practices of what I learnt
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.
No there is 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 was the content? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the over all rating you would give it? 10
Goals
Assessment by Anastasia Elebiju (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The book GOALS by Brian Tracy is centred on the ways things we need to do to achieve our goals in life, how to set them and achieve them. Brian showed us how to unleash the power of goal setting to help me get or become what ever I want, identifying ways to set goals that will lead me to being successful in life to be specific, challenging myself thinking positively, preparing, adjusting my timeline on big goals to reach greater satisfaction in every aspect of my life. Brian also talked about how goals fuels motivation and define our road maps to realising our dreams and also helps us to accelerate our success and personal growth.
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. Accept yourself the way you are.
This idea got my attention as Brian rightly said in the book that first things first, discover your strength, we are born with certain natural skills, abilities, tendencies, strength, weakness and talents which emerge in early life and usually crystallise in our late teens, they do not change very much over the course of your life time. This idea got me, because right from childhood, I have always live a life of service to others, anywhere I found myself I always serve people and try to make every one around happy. When I was about 10 years old in my church, I was born a catholic, so there is this group I belonged to call legion of Mary, we gathered together to pray and thereafter activities were assigned to us to carryout, like sweeping of the church premises, praying for specific people, assisting in church decorations. Most times when I was assigned prayers or to sweep but I was not satisfied with it, and my friends on the other side were always ask to go and decorate the church altar, oh how I loved to do this, so decided to follow my friends to do this on a Saturday, and that was how I started finding joy. I also anticipate Saturday to always come so I can do some decorations; I was so good at this that I grew into doing this for my church for almost 15 years. I have seen myself as someone who wants to live a life of service to others, I have a dream of furthering my education and giving back to the society in the aspect of medical care, especially in mental health, helping women live a better life and create a better society with a good sound mind. This point really made me to identify what I really want in life. Mary Baker Follet once wrote “the very best direction to ride a horse is in the direction it is going.” The very best way to develop myself is in the direction of my natural talents and interest, this means to nurture my nature. Brian encouraged me here to embrace my talents that make me unique and different from others.
ii. Born to excel
Natural talents are inborn, they are programmed in the subconscious mind, they are what we put on this earth to achieve. This idea got me because it talked about how to discover the area of natural talents. Here our natural talents come to play. Every human being is blessed with a gift by the almighty God, it is left for us to discover it from within ourself. God is so big and mighty for him to create a thing without his or her own talent, it is for us to just discover it. It sad how people talk about only two types of intelligence, but there are several of them in which an individual will at least have one, be it spatial intelligence, bodily kinesthetics intelligence, musical intelligence, social, emotional or logical intelligence one can excel in life. Once we discover ourselves and make good use of this talent. God has created everyone of us to excel, so its left for us His creation to search within us to bring out that innate ability of ours outside for the world to see. We most put our mind to work and search, because whoever seek will find, and whoever knocks the door will be open unto him.
iii. Associate with the right people
Here Brian talked about our relationship with customers. Identifying with them whose help we are going to be needing or requiring. Who are they?. In setting goals for our business and in other to achieve those goals we need the right people around us, because birds of feathers flocks together. It talked about which organisations help will I need to grow my own business, what are their flaws and how can hey help me to avoid making mistakes that might ruin my business. It is good to associate with like minds to be able to excel well in my business.
iv. Manage your time
Choices and decisions get you time under control. Sense of control is like a feeling of happiness, confidence, power and personal well being and a sense of control is only possible when you practice excellent time management skills. Time management is a skill and like any other skill is learnable no matter how disorganised you have been. You can also learn to be organise if you choose to, whether you always procrastinate you can learn to do things at the right time, one thing I am good at is having my day planned, how and when to do some certain things and these requires determination and self-discipline. Brian also talked about applying our 80/20 rule or practicing my ABCDE method to manage my task and keep my feet on track. ABCDE method is putting your major goal as that means start with the most important things first, set your priority right.
v. Your past is not your future
“It doesn’t matter where you are coming from, it is where you are going to. How much do you like yourself. In psychology, your level of self esteem determines your level of happiness. This idea got me, because it make me to understand that I should never allow people to determine my happiness at any time. There are some people who derives joy in seeing you sad, never let them. They always have the habit of reminding you of your past especially if they see that you are happy at the moment. They are just there to steal your joy, don’t let them. My past is my past I am not living there anymore, I am now in my future and that is what matters most and I will make the most of it.
vi. Clarify your values
Know how you are. Life is lived from the inside out, one of my personalities is my values and my values are what makes me who I am. Anything I do on the outside is dictated and determined by my values on the inside, whether clear or fuzzy. The greater clarity I have regarding my values on the inside the more precise and effective will be my actions on the outside. It is good for me to know the things that are of importance to me, if possible rank them so I will know which one is very important and how I will work to achieve them. It is good to also possesses positive values such as love, compassion and generosity and it will make me belief that people in my world are deserving of these values and I will treat them accordingly. One of the best understood language in the world is the language of love, so it is good to give out other whether they deserved it or not.
vii. Unlock your potential
The potentials of n average person is like a huge ocean unsailed. A new continent unexplored, a world of possibilities waiting to be released and channelled toward some great good. Our ability to set goals is in the matter skills of success. Goals unlock our positive mind and release ideas and energy for goal attainment. Do not hide your side, explore and set goals as sales trainer Tom Hopkins says goals are the fuel in the furnace of achievement. This idea encouraged me to always think about what I want and how I will become what I think about most of the time.
3. How will this ideas 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 personal life and help me create a better world by putting all what I have learned and acquired from this book into action. Sitting down to think critically about my goals, setting them and writing out plans on how to achieve them. Goals fuels the motivation and define the road maps to realising my dream, goals helps me to assess where I am in currently in my personal and professional life. So I need to set my goals because this world is waiting for me. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time, so step by step and little by little I will achieve my big goals and I have decided to start it now by writing them down.
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.
“The person interested in success has to learn to view failure as a healthy inevitable part of the process getting to the top.”
Temporary failures always proceeds success. This quote means that one is expected to fail and fall short many times before achieving success. Failure is merely an opportunity to be more intelligently begin again. If you fail at some thing, there is always a new thing you will learn whenever you fail at something. It is either you didn’t do it well or followed the right step or may be you don’t even have the full knowledge of doing that. So imagine doing something over and over again you become perfect in it, be it business or trying to create something, we become better at the thing when we repeat the process.
.
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 and it involved daily practices of what I learned.
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.
No there is 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? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9
Leadership for Dummies
Assessment by Anastasia Elebiju (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to explain in this book?
John Mairin in his book, Leadership for Dummies explore the fine line between managing and leading and the book is full of tips for making the most of my leadership experiences and how to cope with the dilemmas and discomfort all leaders at some point experience. He also talked about how to lead our friends while still remaining their friend, how to lead change in a way that people accept and understand, when and where to draw the line and how to reflect on your experiences to becoming a better and more effective leader. He also talked about the meaning of leadership, types of leadership, leading myself and others, singing my leadership songs, being my best critic, and he also talked about clarifying how I add value to my life and also creating a sense of purpose in 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 life.
i. Pinning down the meaning of leadership.
This idea got my attention because the author vividly explained the meaning of leading, he talked about understanding the difference between leadership leading and being a leader. Knowing what it takes to be an engaging leader and also deciding personally what leadership truly means to me. Here we are asked to pin the meaning of leadership down so that by doing so one can be able to really know and understand what is expected of us as a leader. That is what you expect of yourself and others may expect from you. By so doing I will be able to work progressively on becoming the great leader that I inspire to be. Leadership is a process; we grow in doing it and understand things better as we do so while leading is more of an activity. In leading my team, you need to involve them in contributing to the teams’ objective like contributing to decision making and taking actions to implement those decisions.
ii. Leading yourself
This idea got my attention because it talked about leading from the inside out, knowing myself from within and become a good and better leader on the outside. This idea made me to ask myself some questions, if I don’t really know myself, how can I lead others, if I don’t know my strengths and weakness, how can I manage other people at their lowest ? the people I am leading is just like a reflection of myself in a group and in a different body. So I need to know myself very well in order to become an authentic leader. I need to develop myself confident , be my best critic, criticize myself even though it is me, and also harnessing the power of reflection and discover how to lead from my own personal experience believing in myself, setting my goals and working towards achieving them, believe! Believe ! and leave doubting Thomas to doubt him self.
iii. Singing your leadership song.
This idea got my attention because the author talked about; knowing when you are out of tone with your values; appreciating the value of your values; getting in tune with others. Leadership in this phrase is just like singing a song and when you are out of tune people tend not to enjoy your music anymore, so as a leader it is good to always know when you are out of tune and work towards fine tuning your music to the one that is pleasant to the ears, and acknowledge that it is not good and it doesn’t feel right. One has to be an authentic leader, authentic leader knows themselves and they are genuine and they know what is important and what’s not there by making them to know the values and their actions and behavior are always aligned or congruent with those values.
iv. Leading others.
This idea got my attention because it talked about having the knowledge, skills, competence and understanding of how to engage, motivate and manage people. This idea also means how we can understand how to be a great leader, what is expected of us, how to motivate my dream to accomplish it. My company’s and this implies becoming a visionary leader, valuing having a vision. My vision for my company serves as a drive that leads me towards achieving the goals that I have set to achieve.
v. Discovering that you have more influence than you think.
Your success is influencing people and situations in as much down to your mindset as to you having a particular skill. You can either be a victim of change or an agent of change. Accepting to being an agent of change means you are likely to look for opportunity to improve the performance of your organization and bring in new innovations and creativity. Discovering that you have more influence than you think is an idea that got my attention, because last Sunday in my church, I was surprised when a member of leadership team walked up to me and asked me If I will accept to be part of the leadership team, that if I accept to join that she will be glad to nominate me into the leadership team of the church. I was so surprised, because I didn’t see that coming, so most times we don’t even know the impact we create by the little things we do, people see it and they use it to judge us whether good or bad.
vi. Becoming an engaging leader.
This idea implies how we enhance our relationship with people. Working with and not for people and recognizing our existing skills in performing in an organization. Having a genuine interest in others, building strong connections, being non judgmental, developing the courage to speak my mind at all time, standing out from the crowd, coping with embarrassment and threat, seeing what others missed, listening for meanings, being brilliant at building commitment, focusing on winning together and avoiding meaningless language
vii. Celebrating peoples’ contribution
Celebrate the contribution that people made and are making to the success of your team. When an individual is not recognized on appraised for the contributions he or she has made to the organization, they tend to be demoralized when their past contribution to the success of the company is over looked. Appraising and recognizing individual contribution can even make others to seat up, like those who are hardly noticed will like to do something or bring ideas that will take the company to another level. So keeping appraisals causes harm and reduce creativity but when recognized or even awarded for such efforts will improve performance. There is a particular hotel my church uses for Sunday service, and for like almost every month the company have their employee of the month celebrated, they have a laminated photo of the employee of the month laminated and placed at the reception. I think with this every employee will like to be at their best always so that they too will also be celebrated.
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?
These ideas will in a practical way help me to now prepare myself very well for my future career as by Gods’ grace I will be working in a bigger organization, and I will be looking up to myself to be a leader in every area of my life taking responsibility and also teaching my co-worker about leadership.
4. Quotes: are there any statements which the author made that particular got your attention? If so please quote and comment as to why they were important to you.
None.
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about or are there ideas which you disagree with? 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 and it involves daily practices of what I learned.
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
No, there is 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? 8
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 8
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8
Nonviolent Communication
Assessment by Anastasia 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 this book is on how we can communicate in a non-violent way; he talked about non-violent communication is a trait of healthy , loving relationships; communicating without passing judgement on others; listening to others and showing empathy to others and creating a happy environment for all. It entails that each person communicate in a way that maintain the dignity of the other person. Not name calling, no ridicule or mockery, no comparison, no threats. It is a choice we create on how we translate judgement or blames and speak and listen in a way that boosted the heart to connect. Non violent communication is the key and it is also a lifeline of any relationship. The way we express ourselves and listen to others by focusing our consciousness.
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. Giving from the heart
Believing that it is our nature to enjoy giving and receiving in a compassionate manner. This idea got my attention because it reminds me ones again that as humans we should be always ready and willing to give at all times. It is not good to exploit others, but rather give so that you can receive, give people your attention. Someone who can listen to them without judging them. Non violent communication guides in refraining how we express ourselves and hear others. Instead of being habitual automatic reactions, our world become conscious response based firmly or an awareness of what we are perceiving , feeling and writing. We are led to express ourselves with clarity, honesty and while paying other a respectful and empathic attention.
ii. Observing without evaluating.
Here the idea is talking about separating of observation from evaluation. We need to clearly observe what we are seeing, hearing or touching that is affecting our sense of well being without mixing in am evaluation. This idea talk about how we wish to clearly and honestly express ourselves how we are to another person. So this idea make me to understand that I should not mix my observation with my evaluation , when one does that it decreases the likelihood that others will hear our intended messages; so we need to be careful when speaking as individual tends to pick those negative words that we say to them. In conclusion this idea pointed out that when observing, don’t blame your party as people are apt to hear criticism that thus resist what we are saying. Rosenberg also pointed out that this idea doesn’t entails that we completely remain objective and refrain from evaluating. Nonviolent communication is a process language t hat discourages static generalisation, instead evaluation made based on observation specifies to time and context.
iii. Observing without evaluating is the highest form of human intelligence.
identifying and expressing feeling
Expressing our vulnerability can help resolve conflicts. We use our feelings to express ourselves in different ways. In this idea our emotions comes to play , we can connect more easily with one another, allowing ourselves to be vulnerable by expressing our feelings can help resolve conflicts feelings. This idea got my attention because the author guided us into how we can express our feelings without hiding them. And the right choice of words to use in expressing them. Most time I feel it difficult to express myself to others, maybe an incident happen and it is not my fault, the person tend to blame me always remain silent most especially if the person is using a higher tone of voice to communicate, but reading this book has opened my mind on how to communicate well and express my self. Most time if I don’t get to express the way I intended I always feel bad always. If I can take back the hands of time to do that to do that. So it is always pleasurable to express our feelings.
iv. Taking responsibility for our feelings
What others do might be the stimulus for our feelings but not the cause. We see that our feelings result from how we choose to receive what others say and do as well as our particular needs and expectation in that particular moment, here that response to people in a way that will make you angry and speak in a violent manner, even if someone should approach you in a violent manner, try to choose your word constructively, do not listen to response. This idea got my attention because I just pictured a scenario where someone who has been longing to pick a fight with you tries to do so by saying words that are hurting to you and you also replied bitterly. It is going to be a disaster, a war, but if you choose your word properly you will win. Be responsible for your own feeling, do not let another person control your emotions and how you react to things, so it is good to always be in charge of how other make you feel.
v. The power of empathy:
According to Carl Rogers, empathy means when someone really hears you without passing judgement on you, without trying to take responsibility away from you, without trying to mould you. Empathy allows us to re perceive our world in a new way and move on. The more empathise with others the safer we feel. The power of empathy helps one to regain himself from what ever we have lost, especially if there is an open arm ready to accommodate such person and give a listening ears. The power of empathy can be seen in our ability to offer empathy to people in stressful situations which in a way can diffuse potential violence whenever we listen to their feelings and needs, we no longer see people as monster. No matter what that person is saying to you, if you listen with empathy in your heart, there will be a peaceful environment and you will be able to co-exist well without fight
vi. Liberating ourselves and counselling others
Freeing ourselves from old programming. This idea got my attention as it talked about freeing ourselves from the old us, to relearn and unlearn. Be a better version of ourselves and impact us positively. We should be readily available to get in touch with ourselves. This idea got my attention because it is my dream to become a mental health practitioner, so of late I have always imagine how I will be able to achieve this when I am still struggling with managing my ownself , so I have decided that life is a process, start with yourself first, then you can help others. I can not be mentally down and at the same time trying to help someone who is battling the same thing as me. I have to relieve my own healing first before prescribing the cure for others. once I have liberated myself then I can counsel others.
vii. Expressing appreciation in nonviolent communication
This idea got my attention because it made me realised how appraising someone can make them improve on their performance. Rendering compliments makes people in the work place to even work harder. My second son for instance has been struggling in writing his numbers, correcting him most times I see myself threatening him with stuffs like- if you don’t write no candies for you or you will not follow me to the park if you don’t write. Most time he became angry and does it and sometime he won’t. But when I tried another method of appreciating his little efforts and promising to get him candies, there is a positive change in his behaviour and a drastic improvement in his academic. Using non violent communication helps both at work place, business, families and in community to have a loving and peaceful environment for all.
3. How will this ideas 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 to curb the amount and level of violent communication around me by first telling those around me to register in IIGL or better still get this book -non violent communication so as to read for themselves and have a first hand information on communicating in a non violent way. I will also in the coming days teach my pupils in class on how to communicate in a non violent way basically by telling them about how expressing appreciation and in also expressing their feeling.
4. Quotes: are there any statements which the author made that particular got your attention? If so please quote and comment as to why they were important to you
“Empathise instead of putting your butt in the face of an angry person.” This quote simply means that when someone is angry is better we show empathy rather than making them more angry.
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.
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.
No there is 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? 8
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
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? 9
The Law of Attraction
Assessment by Anastasia Elebiju (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in this book?
The main idea which the author is trying to convey in this book is centered on practical terms on how to create financial abundance and anything else you desire in life. Each and every component that makes up our life experience is drawn to us by a powerful law of attraction, response to thoughts you think and the story you tell about your life. When you are in total control of your life, we attract to ourselves positive things and it starts within us, from our thoughts. The book also talked about how when we start blaming things for our lack of success or health that what is wrong is not that injustice has occurred or that the gods of good fortune are not focusing on us, that someone else has received the success that should have been yours, but what is wrong is that you are not in harmony with your own being. This book basically place emphasis on positive thinking, if you think abundance, abundance will find you. Money and everything else come to you because of what you think and not because of how you feel.
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. I am here as a joyful creator.
We are not here on this earth as accumulators or regurgitate, but rather we are placed on this earth by the almighty creator to also be able to create things out of what he has created. Whenever we look at the ending place of a thing, we tend to exaggerate the feeling of lack between where we are now and the ending place, and this habit or thought can slow us down in the process of creation and can also hold us apart indefinitely. We are the attractors of our own experience, so as we look for positive aspects and make efforts to find good feeling thoughts, we hold ourselves in a place of positive attraction. So let us always focus and enjoy the process of creating something as its us to have a marvelous and fulfilling end results.
ii. Attracting money and manifesting abundance
While money is not absolutely essential to your experience, to most people money and freedom are synonymous. You get what you think about, even as the phrase is arguable, the point is that one needs to think right and be sure you mean what you say from the inside, instead of doubting the possibility of having such money, you have to fix your mind right before things will be able to start flowing in that direction. If you want to effect substantial change in your life experience, you have to offer substantially different vibrations, which means you must think thoughts that feel different as you think them.
iii. Creating a book of positive aspect
This idea got my attention because it is all about writing things, I already feel positive about, just to get in the habit of good feeling thoughts and for the pleasure of good feeling thought it is a nice way to live. I personally named this idea as my positive affirmation book where I write out things I want to see in myself, like I am courageous, I am healthy, I have life in abundance, I am rich, I will live a fulfilling life. All these positive affirmations attract good fortune and set our minds on the right track.
iv. Focus on the solution not the problem
When you consider why you want something, your vibration usually shifts or pivots in the direction of your desire. Whenever you consider how it will happen or when or who will bring it, your vibration usually then shift back toward the problem. This idea got my attention because in life we tend to worry so much about a particular problem which often times leave us moody and unhappy, but if will decide to put on that energy into finding solutions to that problem, we begin to feel better and in most cases we no longer even see that things as a problem any more, it becomes a normal life happening that broadens our knowledge more or most times, we even discover new ideas of doing things and produce best results and become better humans.
v. Living abundantly is not magic
It is our life experiences that brings knowledge to us, often times it feels like magic as your life begins to transform right before your eyes, but it is not by magic, its by the power of the law of the universe and your deliberate alignment with those laws. It means you have to sow so that you will harvest, you have to do the necessary things in life to achieve success, you cannot graduate as a first-class student when you don’t study your books. You have to read to pass your exam or do you have a magic word that you will just shout abracadabra and knowledge will fall from the sky? The world operates on a principle and one must follow it to achieve success in life.
vi. My thought creates my physical experience
Every part of your life is experienced through the perspective of your physical body and when you feel good everything you see looks better. Certainly, it is possible to maintain a good attitude even when your physical is diminished in some way, but a good feeling body is a powerful basis for ongoing good attitude. It is quite interesting to note that not only does a good feeling body promote positive thoughts, but that also positive thoughts promote a good feeling body.
vii. The law of attraction expands my every thought.
The law of attraction says that which like unto itself is drawn in others words, that which you think in any moment attracts unto itself other thoughts that are like it. That is why whenever you are thinking about a subject that is not pleasant more unpleasant thoughts regarding that subject are quickly drawn. As your negative thoughts expand proportionately, soon you find yourself discussing those unpleasant subjects with others. So, it is good to mostly tell a different story that is of great values. Tell a solution-oriented story. The law of attractions is responding to your thoughts not to your current reality. When I change my thoughts about myself, about my body and about the things that matters to me in a different direction from only what is happening right now.
3. How will these ideas help you in your in a practical way in your daily life and in creating a better world, if so how?
These ideas will in a practical way help me to become a better version of myself as it will help me to find my vibrations in life, and I have also decided to write 30 affirmations that I will be declaring on myself on a daily basis. This will comprise of positive affirmation for my husband, myself, my children and my country. I will be saying it on a daily basis. I will also get some quotations to support them from the bible. I have decided to live a positive life and be intentional about It. This will help me in creating a better world by impacting my environment with every positive change that comes out of my vibration to bring about positive and good atmosphere of empowerment.
4. Quotes are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so please quote and comment to as why they were important to you.
“Money and everything else comes to you because of what you think and not because of how you feel.”
This quote implies that our feeling does not bring money, but rather what you think, if you think a positive thought about money you will attract it because your whole body has aligned to it which make the universe to favor you. If some percentage of your thoughts on a daily basis reside around the topic of money, as soon as you are deliberately guide your thoughts, not only is it certain that your financial success must improve, but evidence of that success will prepare you for deliberate improvement in every aspect of your life experience intelligent. He who controls may be powerful but he who had mastered himself is mightier still.
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 and it involves daily practices of what I learned.
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.
No there is 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? 8
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10
Unlimited Power
Assessment by Anastasia Elebiju (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The book unlimited power by Anthony Robbins is centered on our unlimited power to create and to love that will make the biggest difference in the quality of life that we have the book empowered me to take charge and total control of my life and achieve my goals. The book talked about taking actions that will unite us great success .Action is what produces great results and that knowledge is just a potential until its to the hand of someone who know her self to take effective action .what ever we can be or want to achieve in life has no limits, therefore little by little the actions we take we will achieve our goals.
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. The power of belief:
Man is what he believes; One person with a belief is equal to a force of ninety-nine with interest. believe opens doors to excellence, believe directs commands to our nervous system and if handled effectively beliefs can be the most powerful force for creating good in our lives. beliefs helps us to tap from the deepest resources from within .this idea got my attention because what ever you are doing and you do not believe in it’s the first step to failure .My mind should always play a vital role in me before taking any action in life everything within me should always be in agreement with all the positive actions that I take because “a life without belief is just like a train without an engine,” by Anastasia. It will not function ,it will not move it will be useless. So when I believe in something it helps me to tap from the deepest resources from within. This idea got my attention because, whatever you are doing and you do not belief it is the first step to failure. My mind should have played a vital role in me before taking any action in life. Everything within me should always be in agreement with all the positive actions that I take because a life without belief is just like a train without an engine. It would not function, it will not move neither it will be useless. So when I belief in something it helps me to tap from the deepest resources which is my brain. Ideas begin to flow and creativity begins to take place which there after will make me to achieve my desired goals in life.
ii. The importance of physiology
Our physical state affects our mental state by consciously controlling our body language, breathing and posture can influence our emotion and increase our confidence and energy levels. Physiology is the biggest leverage we have any situation because it works so fast when you feel physically tired or your muscles are weak or you have pain some where you perceive the world differently from when you feel rested alive and vital. Physiology manipulation is a power for controlling my own brain or when my physiology runs down my state of mind runs down. I could remember vividly in 2021 when I lost my mum. The whole world became blank, I was numb and I began to see things in black and white like a vintage sort of, I began to see people differently, the sky looks different and everything about my existence looked different and so unreal at that moment. My whole body was completely shut down, because of my loss. It came as a rude shock, and this affected the way I did things then, but after some months I felt relief and the sky became blue again and every other thing around me also received life, even my facial looks became brightened. So physiology is a very important tool in our lives. If you say you have the resources to be alert and on top of things, if you consciously adopt that physiology, your body will make it so. Change your physiology and your change your state.
iii. Mastering emotions
This idea is one which emphasis on how to manage our feeling by understanding and managing our emotions effectively we can make better decisions and maintain a positive state of mind. There are always highs and low in life but good to understand them, why it happens and how to overcome them in any situations. Emotion is a powerful force that can either propel us forward or hold us back. When ever we are down it is good to know how to manage ourselves and how we feel at any given time. Showing empathy, helping others and living with a positive mental attitude makes the world go round emotions can also be powerless it is the amount of life that we give it that makes it powerful
iv. Taking massive actions
Success comes from taking consistent and massive actions towards our goals. This idea got my attention, because in the past I have always had ideas and lots of wish list, but it keeps staring at me most time as everything still remained the same. It is good to have ideas, anybody can be bestowed with idea to do things but it is the actions taken that makes the difference. I once had an idea of selling a local drink in my area called “kunu aya (tiger nut milk)” I was harboring this idea for so long but never took action in starting it or better still I didn’t have enough resources at that time to start. It is a diary product and requires a lot of ice to keep it cool, but couldn’t afford a refrigerator that can power such business, since there was no action but only ideas, someone else was able to start same business because he didn’t just had the idea but also put in action to bring it to life. So going the extra mile to taking actions is very important in our lives. By breaking down our goals into smaller, manageable steps and consistently taking action, we can make progress and achieve extraordinary results.
v. Building rapport
No one does it alone. Building strong connections with other is very essential for success by developing strong effective communication skills. There is no one that has attained success alone. We all need each other at some point or someone who has gone on that journey before we rapport with them to get a guide and be shown the way instead of us struggling to do that. Like when I wanted to do my kunu aya business and I had no refrigerator, imagine that I know someone who could at least loaned me that money the story would have been different for me. Building rapport and creating long lasting relationship is one way to have an unlimited power in life.
vi. Continuous learning
Continuous learning and growth is a personal development in life that is a life long journey by continuing to continuously learning and seeking new experience we grow and evolve into a new thing. There is always room to learn relearn and unlearn. Just like our believe we can always change it if it is no longer working for us. There are some things I used to do before but no longer do them because they are no more relevant but choose to do things in more different ways.
vii. Taking responsibility
This idea got my attention because it talked about taking full responsibility for our future. We have power to shape our life through the choices we make. By taking full responsibility for our actions, decisions and outcomes. Whether I ended rich or poor it is as a result of each action I take in my life, so I am supposed to sit up ad the right decisions and choices that will better my life and those around me and have a better society.
3. How will these ideas help me in a practical way both in your daily life and in helping me to create a better world, if so how?
These ideas will help me in a better way and n helping me create a better world by believing in myself that my goal to become a mental health practitioner and advocate comes to life. And also that my dream of running an NGO that will help the Africa child have good healthy meals and shelter come to reality
4. Quotes are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so please quote and comment to as why they were important to you.
He who knows much about others may be learned, but he who understands himself is more intelligent. He who controls may be powerful but he who had mastered himself is mightier still.
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 and it involved daily practices of what I learned.
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.
No there is 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? 8
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10
Crucial Conversations
Assessment by Anastasia Elebiju (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in this book?
The main idea that the author is trying to convey in this book is that relationship are the priority of life and conversations are the crucial element in profound caring of relationships. This book exposed me to learning how to handle difficult discussions effectively, to ensure that productive conversations can happen even when emotions and feelings are high. The author of this book tried to in a practical way provide strategies for navigating high stakes conversations in both personal and professional settings. The book emphasized the importance of creating a safe environment for dialogue, fostering mutual understanding, managing emotions and reaching productive outcomes.
2. What are the seven ideas that are most important to you? Give example has of why they are important to you using your personal experience. The seven ideas that are important to me are listed below:
i. Learn to spot crucial conversations
This idea got my attention because it clearly shows how one can spot a crucial conversation. It is true that there are conversations, but how do we spot one that is crucial and need to be handled well or better still in a professional way. A crucial conversation is a discussion between two or more people where one stakes are high. Two opinions vary and three emotion runs strong. So spotting a crucial conversation is the number one way to find a solution to handle it properly so that it will not resolve into violent issues. This idea also caught my attention because it broaden my knowledge to immediately figure out what I want to do if I am in a crucial conversation
I can avoid them. I can fake them and handle them poorly or I can face them and handle them well. With this knowledge I should be able to face them and handle them well, because any conversation that is not treated and resolved can escalate into a serious matter be it on a professional level, with families and friends.
ii. Mastering dialogue
This particular idea caught my attention because it made me know and understand how to stay in dialogue when I am angry, scared or hurt. Personally when I am in a crucial conversation I always keep silent in such conversation, because when am unable to dialogue and explain my points in a situation that the person am talking to raises his/her voice and my opinion is ignored and I had to wait for the person to finish speaking for me to explain myself to the third party present for clarification. This book has taught me to gain absolute control over my crucial conversations by having control over my emotions, by learning to exert influence over my own feelings, so that one will not allow others to dictate how I feel. For example, telling someone that he or she made me mad, and this should not be so as no one has the right to control my life to the extent of making me mad. This help me to always be in charge of my life and conversation. I am sole creator of my emotion and that is a good reason to always be in charge of ones emotion in a dialogue and be able to be calm enough to pass ones message and get issue resolved.
iii. Fostering mutual respect
When in a crucial conversation, one must foster a mutual respect for the person you are in conversation with and respect yourself. You can always say your points without insults or bartering, you can always make your points clear without tempering on the persons personal space or physical assaults. Most times when I am in a crucial conversation, although I always try to avoid one but has a human and things can happen in a flash no matter how you try to avoid certain conversation because of our individual difference. This make me to be very conscious of myself and my environment to make sure I end that crucial conversation peacefully and respectfully
iv. Clarify and align
When in a crucial conversation, encourage clarifying intentions. It is good to clarify your intentions on that conversation that you want to have, make it plain, ensure alignment on the objective, and define common goals to drive a productive conversation. This idea got my attention because every conversation have purpose or aim, why is there a conversation, what you will achieve at the end of the conversation-it is good to make it clear. For example, my colleague has the habit of using the toilet and leaving particles around the toilet vicinity and this keep repeating itself no matter how many corrections from almost all the colleagues at work. I have to remain focus on the issue at hand that I want to resolve not to bring in other unnecessary things that would result into something else.
v. Explore others paths
This idea got my attention, because it encourages me to put myself in other persons shoe and see where it hurts most. If you always feel it all about, then you will get it wrong and miss the other persons point. Therefore, it is good to explore their paths, look at their points of view and make amend if you are the one at fault. Someone could have misunderstood your intent, use contrasting to explain what you do and do not intend as this will make the person feel better about themselves.
vi. Start with the heart
Start with the heart and get ready to listen. The idea got my attention because it talked about listening to others, be sincere to get at others fact and stories. Once you have shown interest to listen to them, be sincere and caring in your approach, because at some point in life what we need is listening ear. Be compassionate and show empathy, with this truth will come to light and the best way to get at the truth is by making it safe for them to express the stories that are moving them to either silence or violence, this means the moment that the people become furious, we need to become curious. This has helped me with my kids. My little boy is the one that always cries first and reports things to me most times. I ignore the senior one stories thinking he is the one at fault. I now study their actions and ask them to explain what really transpired between them. You know kids, most times I get a contrasting respond with different stories and evidence, but wisdom also pushes me to discern in the story they tell and come to a conclusion. So listening is a great tool in handling a crucial conversation.
vii. Learn to look
Learn to look, pay attention to verbal non-cues to understand others perspectives and emotions. When both stakes and emotions are high, we get caught up in what we are saying that it can be nearly impossible to pull ourselves out of the argument in other to see what is happening to ourselves and to others. So it is very necessary to stay at alert so that you can catch the sign that the conversation is starting to turn crucial and know what to watch out for. This idea taught me to watch out for my environment and stay safe.
3. How will this ideas 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 personal life and help me create a better world by showing mutual respect at my work place, ask questions where I am confused and be transparent as much as possible. I will also make out time to write out this lessons I learned down and make a slide to present it to my colleagues or better still recommend this book to them.
4. Quotes: are there any statements which the author made that particular got your attention? If so please quote and comment as to why they were important to you
“One of the best ways to persuade others is with your ears-by listening to them.”
This quote got my attention and is very important to me, because it made me realize how precious others feel when you give them a listening ears. Listen to people and give them a big hug instead of speaking and blaming them, this also made me realized how listening to others will make you yourself realize how wrong you were the whole time.
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 and it involve daily practices of what I learnt
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.
No there is 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? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10
The 360 Degree Leader
Assessment by Anastatia Elebiju (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The book 360 leader by John Maxwell is about a leadership style that involve leading up, across, and down in an organization. This leadership style allow a person or leader to lead in every direction.
2. What were the seven main ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas and follow by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.
i. The less familiar the work, the greater the tension.
This idea got my attention and it is important to me. When I got my first professional job working with special need children, I was not confident with the role and was very scared of being seen not capable of handling the role. I needed the job badly that I became afraid of be noticed. I had to continually say to myself that am capable. The tension on the job became high each and every day, and I had to face it and accept that I am new on the job and that I will see it through, that its ok to feel a little bit on easy. Because of my unfamiliarity with job, I was stressed and I had to be courageous to say to myself that this job is my profession as a psychology graduate and it is necessary I became familiar with it and learn more.
ii. Maintain dialogue concerning expectation with your superior.
I am glad I learned a little of this lesson earlier immediately I resumed at my new job. At first, I was a little bit confused on what to do, and suddenly I just realized that am a leader an IIGL student and it is my duty to know what to do in a situation like this, where I am to know what is expected of me. I realized quickly that I needed to ask my superior and not my colleague about my expectation. I did and it helped me better than relying on colleague for guidance. I almost got caught up in a blame game situation had I ask my colleague that day for what the expectation of the work is like on my first day at work.
iii. 80 percent of the time- work where you are strong
15 percent of the time- work where you are learning
5 percent of the time- work in other necessary areas
When I came across this idea, it got my attention as I have been trying to schedule my time towards maximum utilization at my new place of work. I don’t want to confuse productivity with been busy. What I did was to identify with my duty and expectation, then also with what I need to learn on the job and finally on other necessary areas that will help my work and development. This idea got my attention as it help me to acclimatize very well and be confident on my job and in my time management and daily plan.
iv. If you have something worthwhile to say, say it briefly and well
This idea got my attention, because I don’t like been a loquacious person and I feel been a social person needs me to be able to speak a lot, and this also gives me difficulty in expressing myself precisely most time. While I read through this page, I got to realize that been able to communicate effectively require you to be able to say what you want to in brief and well. Doing this enable will enable me to resist from forcing myself to speak when not necessary and from speaking jargon.
v. You can’t wait for life to come to you, you need to initiate it
This idea got my attention and it serve as motivation and a guide for me when I feel am not getting what I want. It serve as a push to think of this idea to be able to ask and not to be discourage with a no or yes answer. The idea that you cannot wait for life to come to you, you need to initiate, invest, and do what is right when you do not feel like really got my heart and I just had to put it down and paste on the wall of my room. This is to remind me always of the need to continually push for my heart desire and my vision no matter how it may look unfeasible. To always ask for help when I needed to. I remember when my husband and I always fantasize about our chance of moving to the city to get a better opportunity especially for me to be able to get a job and practice. It was not an easy initiation to start saving every week to attend church service in the city an over one-hour drive with my children, this is just to associate with the right people and connect with better opportunities. We had to save even when we don’t enough to eat during the weeks. I remember my husband telling me that getting a better life is more important than this little sacrifice of saving this weekly token to get connected. When I finally got the present job at spring hall British school as a special needs instructor, it was a recommendation from a member of the church I attended. This means the sacrifice payoff and it was good that we initiated it. When I look back and I see people with good qualification struggling with the same situation as will did, I saw the different in our struggle and that not everybody will consider 30% of their weekly income just to go to church in the city to be linkup.
vi. Until you value yourself, you won’t value your time
This idea about valuing your time as it relate to one self-worth really got my attention. I now have good understanding of the real value of time to my growth. Until you value yourself, you will not value your time, until you value your time, you will not do anything with it. This idea awaken my understanding of what my life value will be if I don’t value what I do with my time. It enlighten me to know that what I do with my time is a reflection of who I am. I now have better understanding of what time is, instead of me thinking about what I do and what I buy in terms of money, I will think about them in terms of time and with whom I spend it.
vii. Resist the temptation to fight for your idea
The book made me to realized that whether I work in an organization or own my business I should resist the temptation to fight for my idea when its not the best idea. This idea got my attention and it’s going to help me to manage my composure and confident, to be open minded and listen to other people point of view and not to be defensive or reactive. It will help me to feel at easy with myself by acknowledging other people thought or opinion that is or maybe superior to mine at any given period in a conversation or dialogue
3. How will these ideas 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 personal life and help me create a better world by becoming a 360 leader which give me a good understanding of how to lead and participate in an organisation to contribute in the growth of individuals and the organisation, and also to be a good team player while placing importance in serving others. This will help me to create a better world because the growth of my team is the growth of everyone which make the world a better place.
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.
No, there is none
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about or are there ideas which you disagree with? 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 and it involve daily practices of what I learnt
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.
No, there is none
Please rate the following questions on a scale from one to ten. Ten is good and is poor.
How interesting was it to read? 9
How helpful were the content? 10
How easy was it to understand? 10
Would you recommend it to others?10
What is the over all rating you would give it? 10
The Power of Self Confidence
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 about self-development, setting great and mighty goal without thinking of any limitations. This book thought me how to develop unshakable self-confidence in every area of my life. The book also asked great question for the reader to pounder on. It talk about what great thing on would dare to dream if you know you could not fail. What one great goal would you set if you knew you could not fail what wonderful things would you want to do with your life if you were guaranteed success in anything you attempted? With all of these questions, the book made me to realize that my level of self-confidence determines the size of the goals that I will set the energy, the determination that I focus on achieving them and the amount of persistence. I apply to our coming every obstacle, the book also talked about clarifying ones values, and that values are non-negotiable and it is very important to organize our values.
2. What were the seven main ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas and follow by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.
i. You become what you think about
This idea got my attention so much because it explained vividly how my thoughts and feelings about myself and what I can and cannot do, are the sum total result of a lifetime of experience and conditioning. It also talked about the law of concentration, which says that, anything you dwell upon grows in your reality. Anything that you think about long enough and hard enough eventually becomes a part of your mental processed. My thoughts is who I really am, and my entire reality. Gradually my life will start moving in the direction of my thoughts. I remember how early last year of 2023, I and my husband always prayed and wish we could move to a better location in the capital city in order to meet up with better opportunities for myself. It seems all impossible as we do not have the means, but because I have always thought about it and wished for it somehow God worked his miracles in our lives and it happened in December. The thought about it alone was a direction to guide my actions toward achieving this and to the glory of God, it came to pass.
ii. Fears hold you back
This idea got my attention as it explained fear, that everything we do is the result of either fear or desire. If you desire something so much you will always want to achieve it so much, but if you desire it so much and you begin to think of the possibilities of it happening or you begin to doubt yourself- that is fear knocking at your door and it brings limitations which holds you back from achieving the thing you desired. In some cases, I have seen fear as a drive that pushes me to achieve something, I am in no way countering the author’s view, but sharing a part of me on how fear of poverty has made me take some mighty steps in life. So just as what the author explained every action of a man is as a result of fear or desire.
iii. Follow your heart
It is very important to follow your heart and do that which you were uniquely qualified to do. This Idea got my attention because on so many occasions I have found myself doing things that naturally are not in my line of career and at the end of the day I feel irritated and frustrated as I could barely give in my best, but this idea has encouraged me to follow my heart as this is a sure way to a successful life.
iv. First, convince yourself
This idea got my attention because the author made me to understand that the world will largely accept you at your own estimation, it myself that I have to convince, before I can convince anyone else. And once I am absolutely sure that I have what it takes to master my situation, I will definitely act in such a way that my beliefs will become my reality. Mentally I need to possess an unshakable self-confidence that I really desire. I can do and more than enough should be my watchword at all time.
v. Access your strength and weakness
This idea got my attention, because it exposed me to really knowing fully importance of self-assessment with regard to my strength. When I know my weakness it helps me better to know what I can do , and what I cannot do. It even helps me to know if what I am about to do will actually bring me success or failure, because I know myself, I know what I can do. So whenever I see any opportunity is good I do a little bit of self-assessment before embarking on any project, when I know within me that a project will be a success the level of energy I will put in to achieve that will be on another level, because I know truly within me that it is something that I can do. So, self-assessment is key to achieving ones desires and goals in life.
vi. Persistence is essential
Napoleon hill wrote that persistent is to the character of man, as carbon is to steel. He also said that before success comes in any man’s life he is sure to meet with temporary defeat and perhaps, some failures. When defeat overtakes a man the easiest and most logical thing to is quit, but winners never quits. In reality my persistence is my measure of belief in myself and my ability to succeed. In my view, persistence and perseverance is the key to achieving ones goals because life throws difficult situations at us that may make us to quit, but if we persevere, we will at the end realize that it is just a phase and it will pass.
The four D’s of success and self confidence. This idea got my attention because it talked about ways I can infuse in me the kind of self-confidence that makes everything possible for me. These are place in the four D’s of success
Desire: This point shows that I must really want to become a totally self-confident human being, I must build up my desire by thinking about it and talking about it and working on it all the time, my desire become so intense such that it over powers my fears of failure, rejection and inferiority and becomes the dominant emotion governing my behavior.
Decision: I must make a do or die decision that will go to work or my self and keep at it until we achieve the kind of self-confidence that enables me to be, to do, and say whatever I want
Determination: sometime progress will be slow and often times you will see no progress, but nonetheless, I must persist on the positive. My determination should be as unshakeable as the self-confidence that I desire.
Discipline: underlying and surrounding all great achievement in life is the quality of self-discipline. This is the ability to make yourself do what you should do, when you should do, whether you feel it or not. Discipline is key to achieving success in life. During this period of the year that is very cold, I had to wake up As early as 4:30am. and make necessary preparation for the day, take my children to school and get to work before 7:30am. I had to discipline myself to do this despite it inconveniency.
3. How will these ideas 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 personal life and in helping me to create a better world by achieving competence and personal mastery in impacting people around my knowledge. I will make sure people around me feel my impact positively by teaching them the knowledge that I have gained from this book. My friend, family and colleague will also notice a great change in me.
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 qualities of a person’s life is in proportion to their commitment to excellent no matter their chosen field.”
The quote got my attention, because it made to be more aware about success, not being associated with a particular profession, but by commitment to whatever you choose to do. Whatever it is, be it a trader, a hairstylist, a doctor or a psychologist, success only comes because you are committed to your duty and giving in an excellent approach to carrying out those duties.
5. Is there anything in the book that you did not understand or unclear about or are there ideas which you disagree with? If so why?
There is none.
6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
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.
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? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10
This Child will be Great
Assessment by Anastasia Elebiju (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
In this book the child must be great is the biography of a legend and a former president of the Republic of Liberia. The story is one of greatness, never giving up, and always pushing for the best no matter the circumstances. Ms Ellen was faced with many challenges growing up but all this never stopped her from dreaming, from marrying early to a toxic man, pursing her dreams against all odds, to being wrongly accused of planning and having a hand in a coup against her country to being divorced. All this didn’t stop her even going to prison. The book is centred on never giving up, what will be will be, just sow the right seeds and you reap a great harvest.
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. Education is the key, so put it first
Education they say is the key to success. Education is to be put first in our lives as it enables us to soar high to any level we want in life, the absence of education can bring limitation in the future, this was what made Ellen to go back to school after getting married and having four children, she was motivated when she saw her peers doing well in their various profession. She didn’t saw her limitation, she didn’t have the certificate because she didn’t go to school. What was she going to contribute to her family that would help her children if she does go to school , this were her thought. This idea got my attention because it made me realise that as a girl child, you should always complete your schooling before getting married and having kids.
ii. The simplest step can be the greatest step
Ellen was just concerned of how she was left out among her peers as the only uneducated one, each of them returning as a graduate with nice jobs while she on the other hand was just a house wife nursing babies. She took step furthering her education and she got a scholarship to study in the U.S.A. she complete her studies and got a job in the bank, she later got involved in politics and represented Africa at the international level becoming the president of her country. Therefore, some little steps that we take can be big steps in disguise.
iii. Learn how to accept help
This idea got my attention because it made me to realise how to acknowledge my limitation and understand how people’s contribution could maximise the potentials of my vision and talent. I will never hesitant to ask for help when the needs arise. I remember sometime when I was about to go to the university, I had a priest friend who was like a guide to me, I was so young and didn’t value the help he wanted to render to me at that time. I thought he was bothering me, but my other friend kept the friendship with the priest and got sponsored through school, graduated and secured a good job. Sometimes when I look back I felt I should have let that help in my and it would have helped with all the choices I made in my life and things would have been better, but as the saying goes we learn everyday. Ellen didn’t take all the help she needed for granted, she asked for help from different world leaders in other to make her country a great nation and they all did help her the best they can. Liberia is what it is today because other nations intervened and by Gods’ grace they are a better nation today.
iv. Difference is strength
Don’t doubt your value, don’t run from who you are, your difference is something to embrace. Ellens’ story inspired me a lot. She struggled even with the colour of her skin. Her mother is a mixed race of German and Liberia ancestry. Therefore she got the fair skin from them and this sold her out as an outcast even though she is not. Even when the accusation came that she was not the true daughter of the soil because of her political ambition, she fought through it. Our different is what makes us unique and stand out. This idea got my attention because on so many occasion that I tried doing something different from others and they start pointing fingers to bring me down, but I have realised now to just be good at whatever I do even if I am the only one doing it; I should be focused and be a master of it.
v. Rise above fear and failure
While growing up, we have a definition for fear as false evidence appearing real. Fear is just something to limit you from achieving that thing that you so desire even if faced with those bad situations, one must rise up just like Ellen. Losing her first trial for presidency didn’t stop her from coming out to campaign again, she did and she later won. Imagine if she didn’t run for president again after her first attempt?. Even as a president she survived and escaped a murderous coup. She was resilient and never gave up on her dream to make her country a better place.
vi. Never weaver
Unwavering courage and resilience are necessary to reach ones height. Be it anything you want to be, so far as you are courageous and resilient you will succeed. Even after going on exile, going to prison, got divorced, all this didn’t stop Ellen from dreaming and pursuing her dreams. Life come with its own ups and down, but we must never give up sometimes. I used to wonder if I should get scholarship to study abroad how will my children fend, how will the absence of a mother look like in their life as this kids have never been away for a day without me, but with the story of Ellen and her leaving her four kids behind with the youngest being just a year. I told myself I can do it and everything will be fine, they will be with their grandma and dad and the angels will watch over them. She was resilient, and determined. I also have to be determined, resilient and courageous to fight for my future.
vii. Believe
In anything you want to achieve in life, just first believe that it is possible. Remove fear, remove doubts and watch how things unfolds itself for your own good. Believing in yourself means that sometime you may not have anyone supporting you in your dreams simply because they feel it is too big or unachievable, but have to believe in your own self. Just like Ellen when she announced to her family when they went on cruise that she was going to Liberia to run for the presidential election. She received a total silent and not a single one of her family supported that dream. Despite the no answer from her family she pursue that dream believing in herself and trust that she can, knowing that nothing is impossible under the sun. it is just to take that step, then you will see yourself riding on the journey where success is the end. Even I sometimes have fears and doubt, should I apply as an intern in the USA in a clinical hospital or should I just apply for a scholarship to study clinical and mental health. I thought of which option will I be able to achieve, but one thing is sure is believing and sowing the right seed and the answer will be a thing of the past. No backing out, no giving up, with God by my side and hard work and dedication. I know I will achieve that which I have set out to achieve.
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 personal life and help me create a better world as it will guide me to be a more patriotic citizen of my country, no matter what my country is facing now, the love I have for it will make me a conqueror. I will also recommend this book to a friend of mine to read.
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.
“If your dreams do not scare you, then it is not big enough.”
I could remember when I was writing assessment in Level Three and I write out my dreams and goals, I was really scared because I imagined I was going to achieve that, but just like this quote “the world is so big, and my God is a big God, whatever my brain imagine can. Come to reality so all I need do is to work towards it.
.
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 and it involve daily practices of what I learnt
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.
No, there is 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? 9
B. How helpful were the content? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the over all rating you would give it? 10
How to Sell Yourself
Assessment by Anastasia Elebiju (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea in this book is about selling yourself, your ideas, your skills using your face, your body and your voice to win, because in the end likability wins. The emphasis of the book is being honest with your audience. Arch presents that people are often honest when talking to immediate family member and friends, however when in front of audience; they fake who they are to be the person they think the audience believe they should be. However being yourself is the secret to communicating with the audience. Arch made us to understand that when you are yourself, you are relaxed and opened about what you are talking about, this influence the audience to like you and likeability is what sells you to the audience.
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. We need three things to sell ourselves and they are competence, likeability and luck.
Arch pointed out that likeability is the most important, because the perceptive of others on who we are is what influences their decision on you. You have to be honest and a natural person, be yourself and no faking it. Be honest, be welcoming and accommodating and people will always find their way towards you, I am not really a peoples’ person, but I always don’t lack people as they always needs my help or assistance in one way or the other. I am very much accessible and kind towards others which makes them to always want to be around me and they are always comfortable, because I make them feel so, with the kind of jokes I crack which make them more relax around me. This make me to even sell my ideas to them easily and they buy them.
ii. Selling your competence
Competence is about showing my audience that I know what I am talking about. It entails believing that I have the information I am sharing with them. This enlighten me not to use competence defeating words like “ummm or uh” in the middle of my speech, because the audience might starts thinking that I don’t know what I am talking about. According to Arch, he said that it is better to go straight to the point, make my message short and straight to the point. Giving unnecessary stories make the audience lose focus point of my message and when I have finished talking, stop.
iii. Selling your likability
In this point Arch makes us to understand that in other to make yourself likeable before men you need to get rid of artificial person you think are supposed to be. Become the person you really are. Sometimes you may have a mentor that you will always want to imitate, it may be the way he /she talks or walk, but sometimes when we want to do this, it is not really comfortable for us because that is not who we really are. It will be hard to be comfortable in that skin and even so, at the end it will look so fake because that is not who we are. So I I want to sell my likeability to my audience it is better to be natural and be myself, be my usual self around my audience. This can be achieved by ensuring an open face and smiling appropriately.
iv. Selling with confidence
Confidence comes from how relaxed you are with your audience; use the breathing technique to relax before you give a talk. The audience perceives my message based on how confident I present myself. There is a Nigeria saying that goes like this “I want to do this with my full chest” this simply means that I want to do it with the whole me, like being gallant in performing my duties. Being confident is the awareness that being audience friendly is how I can sell myself. Confidence is key in one’s life as it have a way of telling people that you are good at what you do with mixing words.
v. Selling with the right signals
This idea got my attention, as Arch tells about how important body language is when selling ourselves, using the right signals and keeping the amount of eye contact, standing in the right position are important. It good to always have a good body posture when communicating, my body language goes along way to sell me even before I start speaking, so I have to be coordinated and maintain a good body posture with addressing an audience.
vi. Selling your negotiations
This idea got my attention because it is about conferring with other party and not arguing to get my points across. In negotiations, both sides should get a fair time to express their ideas and exchange information, and remember to allow my opponent to get their points across fully before interfering.
vii. Selling yourself in a job interview
Whatever you do, do not panic. In this case, imagine me going for an interview, likability wins. Therefore, I have to ensure that the person conducting the interview perceives me positively. I have to take control of the interview and make sure I present myself as I want and not in how the interviewer structures their questions, and I will always remember my worth and value; and not in how much you are paid or what you are doing.
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?
These ideas will help me in my daily personal life and in creating a better world by becoming nice and more accommodating.
Being nice and accommodating: in a word where no man is an island, where we rely on each other. I have learnt that I have to be very accommodating, that next door neighbor might be one of my audience in the future , and what if I was rude to them in the past and they now became my audience. This will definitely affect the way I relate my presentation to the audience and make me feel a little uncomfortable.
These ideas has made me realize that I am a leader and must show confidence in her people. I have to be confident in whatever I do for people to believe and trust me to take my words serious
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 .
“Tell me and I will forget; Show me and I may remember involved me and I will understand.”
This quote got my attention because as it me with understanding of how to carry people along In any activities toward achieving a designed purpose. This means that I should not just tell or show people what to do, they should partake in it and they will understand it better.
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about or are there ideas which you disagree with? 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 and it involves daily practices of what I learned.
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
No, there is 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? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9
Critical Thinking
Assessment by Anastasia Elebiju (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The book is about how court jury deliberation as an example of how critical thinking is been used for making decision based on fact rather from speculation and assumption. It shows how critical thinking is an important skill to possess for everyday reasoning and deliberation.
2. What were the seven main ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas and follow by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.
i. How to analyze argument
This idea got my attention as it help me to understand what to look for in an argument, to have an unbiased view but to reflects on what the argument is about and what it claim to prove. It help me to understand that when analyzing an argument I should begin with the conclusion that I want to establish. For me this is a very important idea as I see it as adding to my IQ in term of reasoning and becoming precise in decision making when evaluating any situation.
ii. How to analyze assumption
This idea is important to me because it help me to understand the need to analyze assumption, as it is very important to having a good critical thinking skill. It make me understand the need to reflects on the origin behind people action and my reaction to their assumption as well as mind. To reflects on the nature of my assumption and that of others as to how it affects ones reaction and judgment. To reflects on consequences of assumption as to why it affects my decisions and that of others. I learnt a lot why reading through this idea and I came to understand why having a critical thinking skill can improve ones relationship with people, and also help in making the world a better place by being patient with people and not being judgment with proving all thing before tagging people with unproved accusation. In addition, to understand that individual difference made us to developed various assumption about how seem to be what and what not to be. This critical thinking as helped me at my place of work, although I may not fully aware is a skill I possess until I read this book. I remember several severally I was able to solve an issue between the chef at my work place and student with Down syndrome, who the chef refused to give food twice as it has been her usual attempts. The chef was to give every student food once, why the student with the Down syndrome always have the habit of coming twice for food. The chef decided to stop giving her twice as it was not supposed to be. This situation made this individual to be very angry and always stay by the corner of the room anytime a refuser for the second meal occurred. I had to rescue this situation has I had found out this scenario has distracted this fellow from concentrating in the class. I intervene with the solution that the food should be divided into two portion; the bigger portion should be given first and the smaller one when she come for the second time. The chef accepted this and this individual was happy from the decision outcome. I was glad that I was able to explore critical thinking in this situation.
iii. Repeating an experience
The book me to understand the reason why is not possible for a person to exactly repeat an experience, because she is a different person when she revisits that experience. This made me to understand how assumption about a particular solution or understanding about something can be wrong, or turn out to be different. Therefore the taught of revisiting an experience is a perfect example of how things could or would have been done better and a correction to ones assumption. If an experience is not pleasant to me, I will not want to let it repeat itself when I found myself in such a situation. The next thing I will do if I perceive am about to be in an unpleasant situation that had happen before, I will quickly reflects on it and make necessary amendment for it not to repeat itself. But if the experience is a good one, then I will modify it to be a better repeated experience to derive the additional feeling I wish I had experienced in the past in that particular situation. This remind me of the first time my husband and I came to the city and was living in a small farm where we didn’t have to pay for accommodation in 2018. We didn’t have the a plan then that would have allow us to stay through the difficulty we were experience then, so we had to move back to where are coming from. When I look back to that time, I regretted our action of coming to the city without a plan and going back after just few months. I realized now that we got it very wrong, because the decision we took now that has brought us this far is what we had opportunity to take then but didn’t.
iv. Newness
This idea talked about how newness can aide ones understanding of assumption and that is why the idea is important to me. Newness in the sense that to have a critical understanding one need to empty one’s mind to be able to assimilate new things or ideas. Whenever I now see a situation that require my input, I make effort to see it as an innovation that needs to be understood from every possible perspectives. This idea will really help me in the field of psychology and rehabilitation services as I deal with individuals with disabilities and mental health.
v. Community dialogue
This idea is important to me because it will help me to get exposed to ideas at the community level and also having the possibility of discovery new perspectives and assumptions. As it is my intention to establish a community rehabilitation centre in the future. Therefore been able to use critical thinking to understand how people at the local community level perceive things due to their believe and superstition will help me to analyze and understand assumption that can aid my program and projects success, and in implanting my ideas at the community level. I learnt some of the way certain certain tribe in Benue community of Nigeria sees the use of condom ass odd and taboo, and not something to embrace. It was understandable why the use of condom is not embraced by the tribe, because during my research work with RMS research company on HIV sensitization I understand that the culture is about “eat, sex and death”. Therefore getting them to embrace the use of condom as AIDS transmission and preventive measure was a difficult task. Reading how initiating community dialogue and it use can be helpful in understanding other people perspective and how idea can be introduce through this process is very important to me.
vi. Dialogue with others
This idea is important to me as it bring my attention how my assumptions are often invincible to me until I am made aware of them through dialogue with others. It takes patient and courage for me to truly accept this when I became aware that actually behave or have certain believe. Some of this statement may be true and some partly not true, but it could mix up at times. This is where asking myself question and confirming such assumption with my husband who sometime sound affirmative about it. My husband has developed the habit of engaging in dialogue to find out about his attitude toward certain things or people he needed clarification about. After which he engaged himself in self-questioning before asking me about my opinion. He will end up embracing the positive and the fact from the as r dialogue for his choice of behaviour. This approach has also help me as I have pick up the habit, and reading through this book about dialoguing with others will further help me in my assumption and to be open minded to make necessary adjustment required.
vii. Understanding ones experience
This idea is very important to me as I became aware of the need to identify with my experience as it is a process that is sometimes enabled by other humans. It help me to understand that I need to take control of an experience outcome as interaction with other fellow human need to be considered as interaction of assumptions, and not to consider it as social interaction.
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 application of critical thinking will help me in a practical way both in my daily life and in creating a better world by making use of these ideas to create better relationship with people and in my career, as these ideas has help me to understand people’s perspective and how assumption can influence people thinking. These ideas will help me to be more professional in relating with people and having a career full of understanding. Creating a better world required a good use of critical thinking, not only for relationship purpose but also for good decision-making as it affects ones performance and other people’s lives.
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.
None.
5. If there anything in this book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or their ideas which you disagree with and if so why?
None.
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all the exercises and did you find them helpful?
None.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment?
None.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it 9
Go Pro
Assessment by Anastasia Elebiju (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
In this book, Go pro by Eric Worre is a book on networking. Eric taught in this book how to become a successful network marketing professional. The step-by-step guide, his prowess in teaching networking and the in-depth expertise is considered the bible of networking. Eric talked about the three levels of marketing, the posers, who want quick profit without time and effort and investment. The amateurs, they have some talent and will but lack total commitment. The pros, who have total commitment and drive to becoming the best they can possibly be. Worre also talked about multilevel marketing to be very important and a way to break out of one stream of business or getting so old before achieving ones dream, but a good networker will not live such life as they put in great efforts and abide by the rules of marketing therefore having breakthrough in their career. One must qualify, learn, invest and embrace the cause. Multi-level marketing has all the benefit of a traditional business without the high risks inherent in a new venture, as it requires professionalism and eagerness to learn.
2. What were the seven main ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas and follow by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.
i. Finding prospects
This idea got my attention because it talked about the ways and methods of getting customers or investors for your company. First of all one must write down all the names of people that I know, secondly you must write down the names of who they know and there after add twelve persons every day and whenever one is networking, he must have recruitment goals in mind. Finding prospect means finding and meeting with potential customer, which is the chain to which networking is formed and made to create business links and potential customers. This idea remind me some time ago when I was introduced to a networking business involving sales of beauty products. I was met to register for the business with some cash and there after get the products that is worth the price, while selling with interest for profit making purposes. It is a multilevel marketing where profit is usually made through referrers. I could remember how I introduced this business to my sister and her friend while they also refer other and I was able to make some profit within this chain. Therefore finding prospects simply means anybody can be your potential customer.
ii. Inviting prospect
Think like a farmer, more than like a hunter. Build trust and relationships, educate more than sell, invite them for a presentation or to a seminar and invite prospects in a way that is easy to replicate, so that you can invite a large number of people. Eric Worre in this idea talked about building relationship, building trust with our potential customers is not about hunting for them but making them believe in us. Eric also gave us some power moves tips to be focused for phone and phase invites which are listed below:
Be in a hurry: people are attracted to those who have lots going on
Compliment: compliment people and show that you care: Make the invitation. If I where, would you? Ask if the would try the product if you gave them one Confirmation: confirm continue commitment schedule, then follow up
iii. Present your product
This particular idea got my attention because it says that it is never about me. It is about the presentation. Here are four steps to a captivating story:
Your story
What you didn’t like about your story
How does your product/company rescue you
Your results and your feelings
A quick win is simply model your presentation on the successful people in your up line.
iv. Follow up
Worre says the only reason for exposure is to set up the next one. It takes an average of 4-6 exposures for people to join, but can take more than 10 to be patient….but persistent. Some people won’t believe enough in themselves in network marketing but be empathetic, explain without getting defensive. The author proposed you use the feel found strategy. The feel, felt strategy involves expressing that you understand how your prospect feels and that their objection is valid, sharing a story or an example of how someone else (preferably a customer) felt the same way before they tried your product or services, and revealing how that person found a benefit or solution. This technique really help you to relate to your prospects objection and relate to their situation and present a positive outcome.
v. Sign them up
Assume they will join, reassure them you will be there to help, and always have the document ready. Here are some questions:
How much would you like to earn
How much time can you commit to that goal
For how long would you do it to get that outcome
If I can show to do just that are you ready to stand
vi. Help them start
This idea got my attention because it involve helping our potential customers start their business and help supply the products. Make sure they know all the best practices and that they know where to get all the information and products. For a great start , you need to set the right expectation and give them some early wins and here is what you should make clear to them;
You are there as a guide, but success is up to them
Your task is to let them be independent of you as soon as possible.
vii. Attending events
Do attend your company s destination events. They are huge learning and networking opportunities and being around. Those who made it will give you all the motivation. Your company events might be an avenue for you to grow your audiences and learn more. It also increases your networking span and create more connections to meet people, connect, interact and grow.
In conclusion when starting a networking business don’t start with your family and friends, they are obliged to listen to you but you will annoy them, start with those you don’t know and your family and friends will come to you once they see success.
3. How will these ideas help you in a practical way both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so how?
These ideas have in a practical way helped me to realised how to view everyone as a unique and always have something to offer. It may be their time, resources, energy or money and as a business person anybody at a particular point in your life can be a potential customer. In events you can find them, in your friends of friends they are there, we are all connect to each other somehow.
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 .
“Facing your fears is and living a life that is free is easy. Spending the rest of your days living half a life is hard.”
“You must accept a temporary loss of social esteem from ignorant people.”
These quotes simply means that the period you decided to do something different, someone who does not understand the concept may talk you down or backlash you for trying such new ideas, but it is good to ignore them because with time they will come around.
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 and it involve daily practices of what I learnt
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.
No 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? 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
How Successful People Think
Assessment by Anastasia Elebiju (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in this book?
In this book how successful people think by John Maxwell is basically about success and how you perceive it,John teaches in this book on how to be more creative and when to question popular thinking. in the book I learn t how to capture the big picture while focusing on my thinking. The book also made me to understand how to tap into my creative potentials and developed shared ideas and to also derive lessons from the past to understand the future , good thinkers solve problems they never lack ideas for building an organization and they always have hope for a better future .the book talked about changing ones thinking and how it is not easy to do that but one must be determined and ready to embark on this journey to change ,changing ones thinking is an investment .it doesn’t happen automatically but gradually with dedication you will achieve it. Its hard to overstate the value of changing thinking ,good thinking can do many things for you .generate revenue .solve problems and create opportunity .how successful people think can be learned if you change your thinking ,you can change your life .
2. What were the seven main ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas and follow by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.
i. Big picture thinking
This idea got my attention because it made me understand that successful thinkers or individuals see beyond their immediate needs and understands how their actions fit into the bigger context .they consider the impact of their decisions on others and the world around them leading to more informed and insightful choices. Of late I have been faced with some challenges and I struggled to solve my immediate problems but when I look back at my dreams and what I intend to achieve in the nearest future I close my eyes to my present struggles remain focused ,this I have learn t to consider every struggle in life as just a phase that will surely come to pass by bringing in another pleasurable moment to behold.
ii. Focused thinking
This idea got my attention because it made me realized the importance of focused thinking ,prioritizing and eliminating distractions to be able to live up to a life of success ,one must live a well focused life free from distraction and unwanted elements that can contribute lead to unfulfilled purpose .this idea got my attention because it made me realized my self and the things I normally do wrongly like trying to solve different problems at the same time, but Maxwell laid emphasis here on being focused in Oder to achieve ones heart desires and well focused in tackling a particular issue at a particular time,it makes one more productive.
iii. Creative thinking successful individuals don’t shy away from away from unconventional approaches.
They actively seek new perspectives and challenges. This idea got my attention because it made me to realize how thinking outside the box is very important. Creative thinking is all about developing innovative solutions to solve problems. Creative thinkers brainstorm not only a large number of ideas but also a variety and range of them. Maxwell talked about when one thinks about all this ideas it is good to experiment them and see how these ideas come alive. This also entails having and keeping a journal handy at all times; reading books outside my comfort zone; engaging in brainstorming sessions; learn something new and ask more questions; be inquisitive to learn and seek out new perspectives.
iv. Shared thinking.
Collaboration is key. Successful people leverage the diverse strengths and perspectives of others to achieve more than they could alone. They build strong relationships and actively seek out opportunities to learn from and contribute to a team environment. This ideas really got my attention as it most times makes me realize how important to share ideas really is. Most times when ideas come at a point you may get stocked, but when a third party should hear about it they may also have a better or more unique way to improve on that idea. Just like I and my husband, sometimes I will come up with a particular idea I will be thinking is the best but when my husband comes up with another approach to solve that problem I am like, oh la la! That is it and vice versa. So it is good to collaborate and create relationship ,in other to be successful we all need each other at some point in life.
v. Question thinking:
The question thinkers don’t blindly accept the status quo,they ask probing questions challenge assumptions and constantly seek to understand the why behind things. This inquisitive nature seek new growth and development ,there is a saying that he who asks questions can never go wrong ,asking questions makes one to be knowledgeable and have versatile understanding about things asking questions shows that you are intelligent and you know what you what you are doing its not about accepting things the way the are been presented but it is good to ask questions about it of which it saves one from future disaster and failures ,its best to always ask why before how .
vi. Reflective thinking
Successful thinkers learn from their experiences, both success and failures they take for introspection and analysis extracting valuable lessons to guide their future actions and improve their decision making .reflective thinking requires that one reflect and think first before taking action .most people have found themselves in this mix of taking regrettable actions before taking a deep thought about about the situation .reflective thinking is very important in becoming a successful person .it makes one to be a more detailed individual and take rightful decisions that will yield great results because it was not done hastily so all efforts and intelligence was put in place to acquire that thought and idea.
vii. Positive thinkers
The positive outlook shapes their reality. Nothing is so as watching someone do something that you said could not be done. People who engage in possibility thinking are capable of accomplishing tasks that seems impossible because they believe in solution .when you succeed. Many doors will be opened for you. John Maxwell said that when one opens himself up for possibility thinking ,that person has opened himself up for many other possibilities ,positive thinking attracts and draws opportunities and towards you, it also allows you to dream big and move above the average life. Possibility thinking also energizes one and keeps you from ever giving up in life despite all the challenges.
3. How will these ideas help you in a practical way both in your daily life and in helping you create a better world? If so how?
These ideas will in a practical way help me in my daily life and in helping me create a better world by having a focused thinking when ever I have a great idea I will be focused and work out ways to achieve it without being distracted ,question thinking will also help me in public places especially where I see injustice I will use my dynamic leadership skills to ask questions and make sure that the right things are done correctly and at the right time. These ideas will also help me to teach my students the act of thinking like successful people making sure that they always have a positive attitude to things of life and make sure that they display a high level of creative thinking in areas of their studies.
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.
“Ideas have a short shelf life, you must act on them before the expiration date.”
This quote got my attention because it me made me realized the importance of taking immediate actions on implementing ones ideas; its not all about just dreaming but what you do with the dreams you have watering and nurturing them will make them come to reality because if you don’t with time you may even forget that you ones had such dreams even dreams die if you fail to nature it.
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?
No there is none.
6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete, if so did you complete all the exercises and did you find them helpful?
Yes there are exercises to complete and I did practice them and some I am still on them.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions if so please comment.
No 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
Full Steam Ahead
Assessment by Anastasia Elebiju (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
In the book full steam ahead by Ken Blanchard and Jesse Stoner is a book about vision, according to them vision does not have to be magical or tangible bestowed only by great leaders, everyone is capable of creating a vision and bringing it to reality. This book showed us different ways and how, the practical and inspiring guide using an entertaining story about two people who are struggling with the need for vision. The book shares elements of a compelling vision and the guidelines to create a shared vision that unleashes energy and potential. The book was easy to read as it clarifies the differences between an enduring vision and a time bound goal, the authors also talked about how to create a sustaining vision that will provide focus, energy and direction over time, and presents a full proof plan for engaging people in organizations to become involved in shaping a vision that resonates with their own hopes and dreams.
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. Be a visionary
As a human we need a clear and concise vision to keep us guided in the right direction of chasing our dreams during times of growth, change, opportunity or uncertainty, a vision points us in the right direction, collectively and individually we need a significant purpose. Clear value and a picture that shows us what these look like when we start living them consistently, vision gives meaning to our lives and provides direction. It helps us get focused, energized and get great results. This idea really got my attention because it encouraged me to never give up and continue to focus on my vision. I had plans for the year, although some things are beginning to take shape, but I still have fears of the possibilities of them happening this year, like getting a job abroad or a scholarship for study. All these give me mood swings and anxiety sometimes, coupled with me finding myself in special education right now, but with this book, my vision is energized and I believe that I will definitely achieve my goals.
ii. Sustaining your vision
This idea got my attention and Ken and Jesse shared the element of sustaining a compelling vision which is a significant purpose, a picture of the future and clear values. His idea really got my attention, because with these three elements in use in my re-strategizing, I will not give up on my dreams. It made me always remember the purpose of having that dream in the first place. I should never forget to water that purpose and how do I picture my future, is it brilliant? Is it bright? Is the picture of my future worth fighting for? If it is, then I shouldn’t give up, but always be energized, be refueled to pursue that dream and again I need to clarify my values, clear vision, well spelt out and have good understanding of what I am doing. Knowing what to do and what not to. Therefore, my vision must be sustainable and there is no giving up.
iii. Commitment to my vision
Yet it is good to have a vision, but are you committed to it, or do you just have this vision today and today you say no, this particular vision is not working out let me try out another one. This idea got my attention, because when you have a clear vision you must stay on course and achieve that vision despite obstacles. Whenever you see any obstacle coming your way you must put a spark back into your vision or your company’s vision. You have to become a servant of your vision, be committed to serving it, fuel it and do the things that can bring the vision to reality and better your life or your organization.
iv. Vision empowers
This idea got my attention as it talked about how visions empower us and at the same time limit conflicts and increase team work. Basically in the work environment conflict may arise sometimes because of individuals difference and goals, but if there is clear vision for that organization very single employee will comply to the standards, the vision of a particular organizations guides her members about their roles and how they are to take it seriously and be creative in what they do and offer to the organization for growth, building synergy, increasing commitment, maximizing results and experiencing incredible joy.
v. Being fully powered
Full steam ahead simply means to be fully powered, energized and being a goal getter. This idea got my attention because it made me realize how important it is to equip myself with tools necessary to make things in life, strategizing gives me the power to conquer all the obstacles that come my way. I need to know where I am going and moving ahead in full force, it also means being so clear about my purpose. So committed to it, and so sure about my ability to accomplish it that I always find myself moving ahead decisively despite any obstacles.
vi. Picture the future
A clear vision has to talk about going somewhere. A picture of the future shows where you are going. This idea got my attention, because it shared a story about NASA how they pictured themselves into the future by telling themselves that they were going to land a man on the moon in 1960. They had that picture in mind even though the necessary equipment was not yet available, but with such a picture at heart they were able to build something that led to the actualization of what seems to be just a dream. It came to reality and saw how the world has evolved into today’s world and the whole world is enjoying their technology. In my daily life, you have also pictured out how my future would look like and I am working toward it by God’s grace. In m y level three, some of the assessments I did talked about giving a pictorial illustration about my future, and I still have them hung in my room, because it is my greatest motivation.
vii. Create expression
This idea got my attention, because I know I am living by its value when the expression of what I create touches others in a deep and meaningful way, helping them to discover what they are ready to learn and to appreciate our commonalities as human beings. I have come to realize that when I help myself and others bring our hopes and dreams to a conscious level in order to understand and express them. The expression of what I create touches others in a deep and meaningful way, helping them to discover what they are ready to learn and to appreciate our commonalities as human beings.
3. How will these ideas 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 in a practical way help me to understand my vision in life, and how to prioritize them, place my values and picture the future. This particular idea will enable me not to ever give up, because anytime I picture the future no matter how rough the present moment is, the picture of the future in my mind will keep me going and to remain focused on achieving that dream no matter what. Committing to my vision, this idea will energize me to always show commitment to my future to always take the right step at all times and do the necessary things required to actualize my dream.
4. Quotes: are there any statements, which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so please quote and comment as to why they were important to you
“Refuel your vision.”
This phrase got my attention because it made me realize the importance of vision and how refueling it will keep it burning, I also gave it a deep taught to the fact that there is a possibility of our fuel can get finished, maybe the energy we used at the beginning of the vision it’s not the same anymore, and we begin to lose focus, so it is very important to re-strategize and refuel that vision in order to keep the vision alive
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about or are there ideas which you disagree with? If so why?
None.
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all the exercises and did you find them helpful?
Yes, there were exercises for me and it involve daily practices of what I learned.
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.
No there is 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? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is your overall rating you would give it? 10
The Leader who had no Title
Assessment by Anastasia Elebiju (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The book emphasizes the importance of taking responsibility for one’s actions and striving to excel in every aspect of life, regardless of one’s position or circumstances. It promotes a proactive mind-set where leadership is not defined by a title but by a commitment to making a positive impact wherever you are. The author encourages readers to embrace leadership by taking initiative and being accountable for their decisions and actions. Whether at work, in relationships, or within oneself, the book advocates for a proactive approach to life, where personal growth and making a difference are paramount. It underscores the idea that leadership begins with self-leadership and extends to influencing others positively through consistent effort and dedication to continuous improvement.
2. What are the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.
i. Embrace uncertainty
This idea caught my attention because it taught me the value of seeing uncertainty as a valuable opportunity. I now understand that uncertainty is a natural part of life, and how we perceive and respond to it shapes our
journey. Embracing uncertainty means accepting that some things are beyond our control, which empowers us to take charge of our future. Through maturity and experience, I’ve learned the importance of staying open-minded to all possibilities. I’ve seen how negative perceptions can lead to positive outcomes and contribute to a purposeful life and growth. This perspective shift has helped me appreciate uncertainty as a tool for personal development and resilience, rather than something to fear or avoid.
ii. Learning is repetition
This idea that learning comes through repetition caught my attention because it highlights the importance of ongoing learning to grasp concepts fully. Whether I’m studying from a book or training to develop a skill, I’ve realized that revisiting and relearning are crucial. It’s not just about understanding something once; continuous learning deepens my knowledge and widens my perspective on a subject or skill.
This concept is significant to me because it emphasizes that becoming a leader involves constantly approaching familiar ideas in new ways. Each revisit offers fresh insights and a deeper understanding, which is essential for growth. It’s like uncovering layers of knowledge that contribute to becoming more proficient and insightful in my learning journey. Embracing this idea has taught me the value of persistence and curiosity in expanding my skills and leadership capabilities over time.
iii. The way we do anything is the way we do everything.
This idea caught my attention because it made me realize how I prioritize things in my life, both consciously and unconsciously. Reflecting on this idea, I understood its truth that I often give different levels of importance to different tasks. It’s important to be consistent in how I approach tasks and give them attention.
This awareness has shown me that I need to be more disciplined and fair in how I handle responsibilities, as this can impact my performance and productivity. By recognizing this, I can improve my habits and ensure I give appropriate attention to each task, leading to better outcomes overall. This idea encourages me to strive for consistency and fairness in my actions, ultimately helping me become more effective in managing my responsibilities and achieving my goals.
iv. Be ferociously humble
This idea caught my attention because it highlighted the importance of humility in my workplace. It’s been crucial for me to adjust to working with pupils from wealthy backgrounds and colleagues with extensive experience and qualifications, which can be intimidating. As I read through this idea, it reminded me of my husband’s advice to approach such environments with humility. Being humble allows me to understand and respond to each person’s personality effectively. This lesson has taught me valuable skills in interacting and building relationships while advancing in my career and leadership roles. It’s helped me navigate challenges at work and establish positive connections with others. Embracing humility has been instrumental in my journey to becoming a leader and maintaining productive and respectful interactions in the workplace.
v. Make using world-class language a top goal
Making world-class language a top priority is one of the best ideas I’ve come across in a book recently. What caught my attention first was the importance of embracing world-class language and finding the right resources to achieve it. It’s fascinating because it encourages me to actively seek out those resources and be mindful of my choice of words when communicating as a leader.
This idea has taught me that leadership involves developing a strong vocabulary and using it effectively. I’ve learned the significance of refining my language skills to enhance my leadership abilities. Embracing world class language not only improves communication but also strengthens my influence and credibility as a leader. It’s an idea that has inspired me to prioritize continuous learning and refinement of language to excel in leadership roles.
vi. Leveraging hard times
This idea taught me that leadership involves turning difficult situations into opportunities for growth. It caught my attention because it encourages me to develop a mind-set of rising to challenges and thinking like a leader during tough times. Understanding that leadership means using hardships to your advantage tests your ability to think critically and provide solutions. I’ve experienced moments where colleagues recognized me as a leader because I offered solutions or advice to address communication issues or work challenges effectively. This idea reinforces the notion that true leadership involves not just managing but also thriving amidst adversity. It’s taught me valuable lessons in leadership, showing me the importance of resilience and problem-solving skills in navigating turbulent times and contributing positively to the workplace.
vii. The deeper your relationship, the stronger your leadership.
I agree with this idea because it has boosted my confidence in my growth as a leader. Building good relationships with colleagues and friends has made me more confident and capable of understanding situations and offering advice and contributions peacefully. I feel secure enough to ask important questions, knowing that nobody will criticize me for seeking clarity or providing helpful input. These relationships have made it easier for me to develop this confidence. I aim to build similar connections with others to keep growing in confidence. This has been crucial for my leadership development and will remain so as I continue to progress. Building trust and rapport with others has not only enhanced my leadership skills but also made me more comfortable in contributing positively to my team and workplace.
3. How will this ideas 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 positively impact my daily life and contribute to creating a better world by encouraging me to take leadership wherever I am. They emphasize that it’s my responsibility to influence positive change, whether I have a formal title or not. I’ve learned that I can make a difference in any situation without waiting for someone to assign me a role.
By internalizing these concepts, I feel empowered to lead by example and strive for improvement in my surroundings. This will encourages me to be proactive and take initiative, knowing that even small actions can contribute to a bigger positive impact. Embracing this philosophy helps me understand that leadership starts with personal responsibility and the willingness to contribute positively to the world around me.
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.
None.
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about or are there ideas which you disagree with? 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 and it involves daily practices of what I learned.
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.
No there is 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? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is your overall rating you would give it? 10
Good Leaders ask Great Questions
Assessment by Anastasia Elebiju (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
In the book Good leaders ask Great questions that is basically centered on how to attain a great leadership skills one need to always ask questions. As a successful leader, one needs to always ask her team key questions in order to learn, grow and develop better ideas. In this book, the writer John C. Maxwell shared leadership questions he has gathered from others and his own personal life experiences that will inspire any leader or anyone who is intending to become a leader someday and be able to ask questions that will improve their leadership skills and career.
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. Questions unlock and open doors that otherwise remain closed
This idea got my attention because asking questions gives one an opportunity to learn new ideas. When questions are asked you begin to see a new dimension to that ideas and whatever you were unclear and unsure about receive clarification. This idea suggests that new doors might be open if only we ask questions, it could be in the work place or even our daily personal lives including family affairs. I remember sometime ago how I was unclear about certain things about my career. A friend of mine in church reached out to me about an opportunity to teach and work in some certain countries including the U.S.A. when she told me of the opportunity, I immediately turn it down that I didn’t have my first degree in education. This she later explaind to me about the possibilities that I do stand a chance with my experience and my field of study. I further asked her some certain questions which gave me more insight and my worries was clarified. This as help me to take more decision to increase my chance by taking a postgraduate diploma in education. Sometimes when we are faced with certain situations, it is very important that we ask questions in other to receive clarification.
ii. Question cultivate humility
Humility is not denying your strength, but being honest about your weakness. This idea got my attention because I have been opportune to be in the midst of those who think they know it all and they never ask you any questions until they have made a terrible mistake or caused damage. Asking question can be one of the harmless things to do, there is a saying in Nigeria that “anyone who ask questions never loses his paths or misses it” it will rather lead you on to accomplishing the journey you started. Asking questions shows that you are a humble person and you are willing to learn it, as it doesn’t matter who you are learning from.
iii. Question allows us to build better ideas
This idea got my attention because it really made me realize the importance of asking question. Questions exposes us to seeing and understanding better ways of doing something. There are some situations where by you taught your idea was the best, but if you give someone an avenue to talk about that idea you will discover that the other persons idea was the best approach to that thing. There are some situation or instances whereby I want to take decisions and I tell my husband about it, sometimes when he disagree I get a little upset, but when he begins to explain to me the reason why, I get to understand his point as the better approach or together we analyze and agree on something using both ideas to produce a better idea.
iv. Question gives you a different perspective
This idea got my attention because from the book good leaders ask great questions which suggest that in order to be regarded as a good leader one must ask questions. Imagine you as a boss, you into the office and asked your employee to tell you what they felt about a particular thing and you just opened up to realizing 1000 ways to doing that which is really good for growth in the organization. I remember back in my previous workplace where I used to teach, the head teacher normally give rules and the ways she was running the school was making some parent to withdraw their kids from the school. When the owner of the school hear about it, she summoned all the teacher and told each and everyone of use to suggest ways in which she can better the school, or better still what can done better and differently. We all gave our suggestions and she was amazed how we had all this in mind and nobody has ever suggested it to her, and I guess that was because she never asked. The next term, a lot changed and the parents association commended her efforts and more pupils enrolled into the school. So question gives us different perspective and approaches to doing things.
v. Questions are the most effective means of connecting with people
Questions are the basics of learning, but they are also a foundation for better leadership. When we ask questions we open doors of great opportunity, by engaging in conversations with others which will thereby yield a great relationship. I remember how one of my best friend today resulted from asking for direction while at university during our first year. Mercy walked up to me to ask how to go about her school registration on campus, I gave her direction and we exchanged contact and to say it had been more than ten years already of friendship. So, Maxwell pointed out clearly here of how asking questions could connect us with individuals that we never expected.
vi. You only get answers to questions that you ask
This idea got my attention because it made me remember a saying that “a closed mouth, is a closed destiny” whenever you don’t express yourself and say something. It means you are holding yourself and you will not grow, and your ideas will be limited, but if you ask questions it means you have just opened up yourself for a great opportunities. The bible also says that we should ask and we shall receive. So only get a delivery if only you place an order so asking questions is very important in our daily lives as it gives us opportunity to continually grow and not be limited to only our own ideas.
vii. When you are stocked as yourself these questions
Why do we have these problems: knowing why can lead you knowing how. So it is very important to know the root cause of before trying to find solution to the problem, because if you did not trace the root cause, that same problems have the tendency of occurring again.
How do we solve it: Here you need to find solution to find solution to that problem. Derive means by which you can attend to that situation and save the day
What step should we take to solve it: Here list down all you need to do by which you will be able to solve the problem. By following this steps diligently you will arrive at a great answers.
3. How will this ideas 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 me help me in my daily life and in helping me create a better world by making sure I ask questions whenever I am confused; always sharing my ideas at any point in time. With this ideas I have planned to remove fear from my life, because sometimes I will want to hold back thinking what if I am wrong, but it doesn’t matter because at the end of the day I will only be enlightened more and get better ideas; and be able to contribute to the growth of the society.
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.
“Each of us is responsible for managing the seasons of our own lives, we have all been given seeds.”
This quote got my attention because Maxwell explained about how life is seasonal and each decade of our lives comes with different expectations, but one must seize each season and plant the seeds accordingly. There is a season of watering and also a season of harvest, but in all of this do make sure that you have plant your seeds. In a way in life there so many things that I am sacrificing for the sake of my future and I know when the time is right I will enjoy the fruits of my labor because I have sewn my seeds.
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 and it involves daily practices of what I learned.
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.
No there is 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 content? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the over all rating you would give it? 10
The Laws of Success
Assessment by Anastasia Elebiju (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
In the book, The Laws of Success by Napolean Hill is a book about the guidelines and rules on how to attain in a successful life, Napoleon in this book thought that our subconscious mind creates our life experiences and according to him this thoughts we have in our subconscious state either train our subconscious mind to work in alignment with my goals or in opposition to them. According to him our subconscious mind creates expiriences that reflect my habitual thoughts and my subconscious mind has the potential and ability to connect to and attract any ideas, person, or circumstances into my life. This also explains that my subconscious mind receives all my thoughts and ideas through its connection to higher consciousness which is the source of all knowledge and contains the collective thoughts of all humanity. If you limit your thoughts ,you limit your potentials of attracting things to yourself, in a way is all about your thoughts. Success first starts from within before it begins to manifest outside. The book also contains the law of laws to mention but a few, a definite chief aim, self confidence and habit saving. Napoleon explained vividly using real life illustration in his book which really captivated me.
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 definite chief aim
This idea got my attention as it talked about how I am supposed to be focused and really know what I want in my work life and work towards, I won’t lie as this year has been like a mix for me, sometimes I ask myself if am at the filed of work I want to be or am I just doing this for the money? But one thing I have come to realize is that life is a journey and I am on it. According to napoleon in this book, our thoughts attract what we have imagined. Now I have found myself in special needs and I ask myself if this where I want to be, but hey, there is a link, I want to be a mental health practitioner, but here are I am in a field that have a link with want I want to do, so at the time end of the day life is a growth and it follows a process, and I think I am on a journey to achieving my definite aim of being mental health practitioner or a special needs educator.
ii. Self confidence
This idea got my attention because of the way Napoleon presented this idea, about self confidence, he talked about how self confidence will help me master the six basic fears with which every person is cursed. The fear of poverty, the fear of ill health, the fear of old age, the fear of criticism, the fear of loss of love one and death. This ideas got me because I know how all these fears affected my self confidence. Sometimes I feel I am not good enough, or sometimes I am shy of the kind of dress I put on to a particular place which will sometimes reduce myself esteem, but this idea thought me how to master them and live above them. However, I carry myself in my mind that is how others will see me and even if they don’t-does it really matter? You can do it if only you believe you can.
iii. Habit of saving
Any habit may be discontinued by building in its place. Some other and more desirable habit. The spending habit must be replaced by saving habit. This idea got my attention on how well it talked about cultivating the habit of saving even if it is a penny, because very soon that habit will lay hold of my mind and I will actually get by of saving. Whenever I get an opportunity to save money, it makes me feel like the richest person in the world. My face begin with glow with peace and happiness, but sometimes it is difficult a s the funds coming in are not even enough for family up keep and sooner than later the savings are gone, but this idea got my attention because it made me realized that this can only be achieved by a strong disciplinary act and a strong determination. Some less important things have to be put on hold and do a proper plan. According to Napoleon when a man have saved up and accumulated some amount of money, that can be known as the greatest source of k2power that any man can have.
iv. Imagination
Imagination will stimulate my mind so that I will conceive new ideas and develop new plans which will help in attaining the object of my definite chief aim. This idea got my attention because it thought me how to build new houses out of old stones, so to speak getting new ideas out of old concept basically there is nothing new under the sun right now. People have just learnt how to do things differently. This idea has made me realized how to use my imagination about a concept to add more spice to it and come up with something better than the old fashioned. This too need to be courageous a courage is the standing army of the soul which keeps it from conquest and slavery, I remember how one of my students used to draw a lot, which always distracts him from learning, all his diaries are filled up with meaningless drawing, and most time the teachers seized those books from him to keep him focused. One day, I had a conversation with him, and asked him if he could relate with those drawings and turn them into stories, like draw something and write a story about the things he draw. He was excited that he had never thought about it that way. I told him to write it and that I was going to be the first to read the story, but he can only do it by break time or at home. This I thought of because he will not just be sketching aimlessly but since he is writing a story, he will need to think before he indulges in it. This made him to concentrate during class time and by the end of the summer term he had a diary full of interesting stories to read and his mum was really glad we made him do that which has increased his attention in class.
v. Self control
Self-control is the balance wheel with which you control your enthusiasm and direct it where you wish it to carry you. These ideas got my attention, because it teaches me to be the captain of my soul. Being in charge at all times by guiding my heart, my emotions and my actions will really help me in achieving and attaining a successful in life a s one is seek a successful life. Self-control is my watch word and it will always gives me balance no matter how the situation presents itself to me, I need to prove that I am in charge.
vi. Concentration
This idea got my attention; it taught me how to be focus. It teaches how to focus my attention on one subject at a time until I have worked out a practical plan for mastering the subject. This idea got me, because not all about doing everything, but becoming a master at one. Asking if someone really knows it. There is a saying that Jack of all trade is a master to none, but not in this world right now have to be master of what everything you think you want to be, be the best at it, concentrate and stay focus. That is how to achieve ones goal. Sometimes our mind might be divided because we feel that particular idea isn’t working, so we want to try out another one, but it doesn’t work that way. This does not means that it is bad to try out new ideas, but that time you want to use to start another can be put into the one at hand to perfect and master it to become a pro.
vii. Tolerance
This idea got my attention, because it teaches that to become a successful person you must learn to accommodate and tolerate everybody from all the works of life, it doesn’t matter their tribe, religion and country in which they are from, they are human and so treat them as one. No tagging them to anything. Napoleon in this book said that if we find ourselves engaging in arguments over these subjects (religion or tribe) thereby poisoning our own minds and closing the door to reason and investigate. So as a person who want to be successful, my thoughts and action must be neutral and be solely connected to the universe at all times. Intolerance closes the book of knowledge, intolerance create enemies of those of which would have been my business partners. Intolerance destroys opportunity and fills the mind with doubt, mistrust and prejudice.
3. How will this ideas 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 me help me in my daily life and in helping me create a better world by : Tolerance, making sure that I see potential in every situation or person that comes my way, making sure that my imaginations blesses the world and those around me positively bringing good ideas at my work place to improve on my students and making sure that I am focused and energized at all time fulfilling my definite chief aim as this will prove that I have self control, and that I am in charge at all times.
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
“Don’t be afraid of a little opposition. Remember that the kite of success generally rises against the wind of adversity, not with it”. This quote got my attention because it simply means that goodwill prevail over evil, and that no matter the challenges that life throws at me, it is just a phase I will definitely overcome it. Success comes with a price, so no matter what I face in my journey of life, I should never give up because since there is a will, there is always a way.
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 and it involve daily practices of what I learnt
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? 9
B. How helpful was the content? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the over all rating you would give it? 10
The Monk who Sold his Ferrari
Assessment by Anastasia Elebiju (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
In the book titled; “The Monk who Sold his Ferrari by Sharma, is a book that was written in parable, and a story which teaches us about different methods in which we can manage our thoughts, time and the circumstances that surrounds our lives; how to master ourselves and take control of our life by engaging ourselves in meditation which helps us to take charge of our lives; he also talked about how our lives can be a paradise and the need we have to work to make it one. The book also serves as a guide which Sharma’s teaching about inner peace and fulfillment with other spiritual traditions and self-literature; the book talked about living in the moment- the power of now, explaining how to live in the moment. This book narrates how to build a life that guarantee long lasting happiness and fulfillment. It enlightens me that building on my inner life is more important than building my outer 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.
The seven ideas that are most important to me are:
i. Embrace the present
This particular idea got my attention because it talked about embracing our present reality and leaving the past behind us. It talked about how I need to stop being a prisoner of my past and become the architect of my future. This idea also made it clear how enjoying one’s life as with a free spirit will help me enjoy and embrace the joy of the moment. So, while having big dreams and ambitions. It is very important to celebrate the journey that will take you there. Love the little successes and the failures along the way. By practicing gratitude and avoid putting off my happiness for the sake of achievement.
ii. Do the things you fear most
This idea got my attention because it challenged and dared me to try out the things that I thought were impossible to achieve; this idea opened my eyes to the fact that there is no word as impossible, so far as I am able to think it, that means there is always a way out. Doing things that I fear most is a way of building the foundation of success and leadership within myself. And leading myself first gives other people the vote of confidence that I am capable of leading them too. The story about the monk who sold his Ferrari is that success on the outside begins within when you identify the things that are holding you back, that I should always face them. The author made me to realize that I need to always act with the integrity and be guided by my heart always.
iii. Enjoy the little things of life
You don’t need too many material possessions for you to enjoy life. Life is full of so many ups and down. There are good times and bad times, so it’s good to enjoy every moment of life. This book made me appreciate nature the more, how natural things are the best and it brings one inner peace. Juhan Mantle a successful lawyer was bold enough to sell all his material possessions when he discovered that he could enjoy life by meditating on beauty of the little things of life such as a spider web and flowers. Most times, we get in our pursuit for success when we get overwhelmed without appreciating and enjoying the little things around us that brings us inner peace and happiness. This idea made me realize that if we don’t appreciate and enjoy the present moment. We will not be able to appreciate the big one ones when they come.
iv. Live with discipline
This idea got my attention because it made me to realize the power of discipline and how to enhances and speed up the chances of attaining success in life. We are tempted and distracted today by the noises our devices make and the people we interact with on a daily basis. It takes courage to nurture self-discipline, because it’s not easy. But once you give yourself the power to be more than your environment, you will ultimately win and unshaken yourself from a mental prison. I have come to realize that the difference between the rich and the poor most times falls back to discipline and strategizing and never giving up, because to not give up on something when it seems tough and hard, requires inner discipline to keep up and scale through that phase. So, embracing self-discipline and living it in every phase of life is very important for growth.
v. Cultivate your mind
This idea caught my attention because the quality of my life is determined by the quality of my thoughts. Ironically, under the ground laws of nature our mind can only hold one thought at a time. By making negative thoughts your focus will embody it or worst manifest it, of which this mentality could only hinder my personal growth, mastery your mind means seeing setbacks as opportunity, by envisioning your dreams you give your mind the power to cultivate it and make it a reality. So it is very important to occupy my mind at all time with uplifting thoughts.
vi. Respects your time
The only way to experience more is to push yourself to do more. Because only 20% of your time is dedicated to the day-to-day activities, yielding lasting results that could influence the quality of your life. You have to have the courage to say no. saying no to the unnecessary things of life that eats our time away and focus more on the things that matters most. It is very important to start small; by showing how much you value your time, others will learn to recognize it and as a consequence respect you for it. This idea got my attention, because time is precious, so every second count. We need to make proper use of every opportunity that comes our way. Time waits for no one so; it is very important that I make very moment and time count in my everyday life and in making life’s decision.
vii. Your outer life improves if you build your inner world
This idea got my attention because working on factors such as discipline and optimism enable you to achieve whatever you want and besides this building your inner world through the cultivation of faith is a strong spirit and self-mastery makes you unstoppable in your outer world. That being said, it is very necessary and important to focus on building a strong character because doing so will enable you to easily succeed in your outer world. It is very good to watch what we listen to and the things we also watch, and this plays significant role in shaping our life and mind set, and it is also good to spend our precious time with the right people. How he sold everything to gain inner peace took a lot of self-discipline and self-mastery. At that point he knew that, that is what he wanted, he wanted to build on his inner self, having peace of mind and connecting to nature brought him inner peace and total healing.
3. How will these ideas 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 in a better way help me in my daily life and in helping me create a better world by living daily with discipline and managing my time properly at my world space, time management will enable me to have a great plan for the children I teach. I teach kids with special needs, so I have to be up and doing and be able to provide them with the things they need in life. Those kids are already delayed by nature. So, we need to support them and no time to relax about their needs, to be dedicated and discipline and also have time planed out to assist them to excel in life with no delays. And also, this book thought me how to also meditate and it will help me reflect on myself and also be able to help others around me, especially my colleagues
4. Quotes: are there any statements, which the author made that particular got your attention? If so please quote and comment as to why they were important to you.
“The purpose of life is a life of purpose.”
This quote got my attention because a life without purpose means one will just be moving in circles without moving anywhere. A life without purpose means there is no direction. Purpose is what drives us to a well-focused and goal driven life. Most times when I remember my purpose in life and what I intended to achieve, it energizes me and encourage me in my journey of life. Purpose gives directions to where we are heading 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? 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 and it involve daily practices of what I learnt
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous question? If so please comment.
None.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9
The 21 Irrefutable Laws
Assessment by Anastasia Elebiju (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
In this book the 21 Irrefutable Laws by John C .Maxwell is a book that presents timeless principles for effective leadership. The book talked about how leadership is not about little positions or personal attributes but rather about developing skills and habits that enable you to influence and inspire others. The book placed emphasis on leadership and how it is about influence and not authority, how leaders are meant to develop their people to succeed. Leaders must be willing to take risks and take tough decisions. Character and integrity are very essential in leadership, about serving others and not for personal gain.
Leadership is about influencing others to inspire and motivate them to achieve
a common.
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 they are important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.
i. The law of the lead
This idea got my attention because it states that leadership ability determines a person’s level of effectiveness, this means that a person’s leadership ability is the ceiling or limit to their potential, impact, influence and success no matter how talented, educated or experience an individual is their leadership ability will ultimately determine how far they can go and what they can achieve. So having the spirit of leadership in our daily life will
guide us in achieving our goals. As a leader people look up to me, it could be my colleague, my children or my neighbors. So it is very important to take the lid and be very effective in what ever circumstance or position I find myself. Effective leadership is the key to unlocking and maximizing ones potential and without it a person’s abilities and talents may go unrealized. In other words, leadership ability is the lid that caps a persons’ effectiveness. If a person has a high leadership ability that can achieve great things and have a significant impact. At this point, I agree with Steve covey in his book
“The 7 habits of highly effective people.” When the 7th habit sharpen the saw comes to play, as a leader you must learn to continually sharpen your saw, improve on yourself continually and reflect on your abilities at all time.
ii. The law of connection
The law of connection is the 10th law in the 21 irrefutable law. This law got my attention because it states that leaders touch a heart before they ask for a hand. In essence the law of connection emphasize the importance of building relationships and establish trust with
others before trying to influence or lead them. Here Maxwell argues that leaders must first connect with people on an emotional level. Showing genuine interest and care, before asking for their commitment or support. There are also some principles he stated that clearly made me understood the important of connection which are;
People are more likely to follow a leader who connects with them.
Connecting with others requires effort and intentionality
Trust is built when leaders show genuine interest and care
Leaders should focus on the person not just the task.
By applying the law of connection, leaders can build stronger relationship,
establish, trust and increase their influence with others.
iii. The law of influence
The law of influence caught my attention as it is the 12th law in the 21 irirefutable laws. According to him the true measure of leadership is influence-Nothing more or less. In essence the law of influence emphasize that leadership is not about titles, positions or authority, but about the ability to influence others. Maxwell argues that true leaders have the power to shape the thoughts feelings and actions of others and that influence is
the ultimate test of leadership. Leadership is not about having a title but
about influence. It can be measured by the degree to which others follow
your lead. I remember when I started my current job, our phase lead was an
authoritarian and most of my colleague avoided him instead of talking
things out with him, the hatred grew so much that I have to call him aside
one day and discuss it with him on how his management style is affecting
the rest of us. From our discussion, I realized that his school of thought is
different from ours. He believes on adopting a strict and non negotiable style
of getting things done, saying people will not work well except they are
pushed or punished. I understand his point, but there is a better approach
toward dealing with fellow colleagues, handling and solving situation than
creating enmity for himself. I used this opportunity to tell him about IIGL,
and how this has been very helpful for me. So creating a healthy influence
will improve your leadership qualities and abilities.
iv. The law of process
This law caught my attention because life is in stages. Leadership develops daily and not in a day. In essence, the law of process emphasize that leadership is a journey not a destination. It requires consistent effort, dedication and growth over time. Maxwell in this book suggest that leaders must be patient persistent and committed to continuous learning and self-improvement. Leadership growth is a gradual process. Daily habits and routines sharpen leadership abilities. Small, consistent changes lead to significant growth. This really caught me, because my life journey has really been one of mixed feeling for me of late, but one thing I remember is that life is a process and whatever it may be my subconscious mind will definitely attract whatever I want in life to me. Here I am a special education needs teacher, even if I want to pursue a career in mental health this
here is one mile stone for me, life is a journey. Currently I was given an admission at the university of Sratheclyde in Scotland, an online program for M.SC in Rehabilitation studies. I applied for commonwealth scholarship for funding, I didn’t get respond for my
selection to fund this 5000 dollar tuition fees. Here I am with the unconditional admission with registration already began without knowing what to do on sourcing for another funding. This made me realise that this is just the beginning for me. Anastasia, I am not
giving up, life is a journey and I will surely arrive at my destination.
v. The law of solid ground
This idea got my attention because trust is the foundation of leadership. In essence the law of solid ground emphasizes that trust is the most essential element of leadership. Maxwell suggests that leaders must establish and maintain trust with their team, organization and stakeholder to build strong foundation for effective leadership.
Trust is built on character, competency and consistency
Leaders must be trust worthy before they can be trusted
Trust is the glue that holds teams and organization together.
Maxwell also went ahead to identify four key elements of trust. Which are:
Character- who you are
Competence- what you know
Consistency-how you act over time
Communication- how you interact with others.
So it is very important to build strong relationship to foster a positive work culture, open communication is very crucial. So leaders should always be ready to increase their loyalty and commitment.
vi. Law of intuition
This law caught my attention because leaders evaluate everything with a
leadership bias. In this regard, the law of intuition emphasizes that effective leaders develop a keen sense of intuition, which enables them to make informed decisions, navigate complex situations and sense opportunities. He suggested that leaders develop self-awareness, pays attention to their instincts, trusting them and also staying tuned to their environment. Intuition is not a substitute for thinking, but a supplement,
intuition also helps leaders read people and situations. Intuition is developed through life experience and reflection. So it is very important that one uses his intuition in handling issue as a leader.
vii. The law of respect
This idea got my attention because people naturally follow leaders who are stronger, more capable and more respected. When you gain respect you gain influence as people are more likely to follow you. This law emphasizes the important of earning respect of others through your actions, character and leadership. When a leader demonstrate competence, integrity and strong work ethic people are more likely to follow her lead.
3. How will this ideas 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 life and in creating a better society by being a trustworthy person, staying attuned to my environment and always trusting my instincts a leader. This will enable me create a great change in my environment especially at my work place. Developing my leadership ability daily will help me grow and master my art.
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
“Leaders don’t rise to the level of their expectations, they fall to level their training. This quote simply means that leadership is not just a throne you ascend into, you grow into it and mature in it. Leadership is a journey and a process that you mature into daily.”
.
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 and it involves daily practices of what I learned.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous question? If so please comment.
None.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9
Conversations with God
Assessment by Anastasia Elebiju (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
In this book conversation with God by Donald Walsch is a beautiful book centered on knowing about God personally, he challenged traditional religious believers and offered a fresh perspective on spirituality. The book explores the author’s conversations with God, encouraging readers to think deeply about their relationships with the Divine -Almighty God. He talked about having a personal encounter with God rather than relying solely on intermediaries like churches and clergy. He also stressed that God is all loving, all-forgiving and accepts us as we are without judgment or condition. He also distinguishes between spirituality (a personal connection with God) and religion (organized institutions with dogma and rituals). He also emphasized on the fact that as Christians we have the individual power, choice and free will, and encourages us to take responsibility for our lives and create our own reality. Overall this book invites us the readers to rethink our beliefs and cultivate a deeper more personal connection with Almighty God.
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. We are all one
This idea caught my attention because it explained vividly how unique the universe is, and we humans that are placed on the earth are all one. This suggests a sense of unity, interconnectedness, shared humanity. It’s a reminder that despite our differences. We are connected in ways that transcend our individual experiences. The ability to accept that we are all one can foster empathy compassion and understanding, and encourages us to work together towards achieving a common betterment of all. Accepting that we are all one is a lovely way to approach life and interact with others.
ii. There is no scarcity
This idea made me remember the abundance book by Randolph Price. Scarce is a mind-set, lack is a mind-set abundance is the reality in which we must get ourselves connected to all times. This idea that there is no scarcity suggest that there is enough resources, love and abundance to go round for everyone. Once you have this kind of mind-set you will begin to see a lot of things around you that you can appreciate. Most times, I tend to appreciate life the more when I stop fixing my eyes on problems, or how to sort out my bills. I just flow with life and there and then I begin to see peace, and before you know things will begin to work out just fine. Everything necessary for living was provided even before I was born, so as a person that converse with God and whenever I need something connecting with the source is what I do. The maker of the universe, He will surely direct my parts to achieving that which I want.
iii. There is nothing to fear
This book is so rich that it can make you rethink about a lot of things in your life. The idea that there is nothing to fear caught my attention because one it is the central theme in this book it suggest that fear is an illusion and that what we don’t need to be controlled by it. When we let go of fear, we can experience greater freedom, joy connection to ourselves, others and the universe. Fear is the energy that holds you back from experiencing the fullness of life by releasing fear, we can tap into love, trust and inner guidance leading to a more authentic and fulfilling life. The only thing to fear is fear itself,, sometimes we are afraid of death, but you shouldn’t be afraid of death, because you know that death is just a beginning. The only thing that can be feared is the absence of love. Ones there is no love, there will be no peace and the universe will be in chaos.
iv. Love everything and everyone.
This idea got my attention because loving yourself and others is a powerful way to cultivate happiness, inner peace and meaningful relationship. This is about the way you accept yourself and embracing everyone including yourself, with kindness, compassion and understanding. If you want to have a good conversation with God, you must be a loving person because God himself is all loving and it is in doing that that we can easily connect with the universe. I remember how I struggled to accommodate some people around me, simply because of their character, one thing I realized while I kept my distance is that I didn’t have peace and I always think about them, but when I decided to let go and accommodate them, although I marked out my boundaries then I realized how peaceful it felt to be at peace and loving to everyone and even to myself. God does not speak to a hard heart, my heart needs to be empty of every hatred so that God can take His place in my heart; and when God takes His place I will be able to live well with ideas and wisdom to walk through this world in success. It is very important to offer kindness, support and encouragement. Embracing diversity and individuality and most importantly cultivate gratitude for the people in my life.
v. There are no mistakes
According to the book Conversations with God this idea that there are no mistakes suggests that every experience, choice and event in life is an opportunity for growth, learning and evolution. This simply means that mistakes is not the end of life, or one is not good enough, mistakes rather means that every experience regardless of its outcome offers a chance to learn and gain insight. So whenever I fail at something I need to sit down and reflect to see what I didn’t do right and correct my errors making the necessary adjustment. Mistakes of ours can lead to new paths, opportunities and discoveries. One interesting thing about this book is a particular line that struck. “it is our responsibility to hear from God” so I linked this to this particular idea which ask the question; if I make a mistake do I go back to God for clarity and hear from him? The bible said that the holy spirit teaches us and guides us so as a child of God when mistakes happen, it is an opportunity to do thing differently and grow well.
vi. We are the creators of our reality
The idea got my attention because before man was created, God had already set everything needed for man to live and survived, so ours was just to come and make use of the resources to live our lives the best we can. So as individuals we have the power to shape our experiences, circumstances and outcomes through our thoughts, beliefs and choices. Our thoughts are our reality for “As a Man Thinketh so is he.” I remember how I often reject negative thoughts or dreams. Whenever I have a negative dream and wake up conscious of myself, I intentionally close my eyes in order to go back to sleep revisiting that particular dream with the intention of correcting it to what I want the outcome to be. God is the author of my life, so whatever negative energy the devil tries to bring to me, I have to rebuke him and tell him who I am; that is why from the abundance book, affirmation is key in our daily life, so that there will not be any space for negativity.
I am the best version of me
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me
I am strong
Gods purpose for my life will be fulfilled
I am more than enough
Lines are falling to me in pleasant places
Me and my husbands NGO is coming to reality
My working and studying abroad will come to pass
vii. You are not your body
This idea got my attention because it suggests that my true essence of living is not limited to my physical form. My body is a temporary vessel, a tool for experiencing life. Often times I have seen how I am not satisfied with the way I look, maybe I could have been taller or more slim, but this idea made me realized that all this physical appearance does not matter, it is what inside of it. My consciousness, thoughts and beliefs are the real drivers of my life experiences. So, realizing that I am not my body can free me from limitations, fears and attachment to my physical form. So it is good to always look beyond my physical form and explore my spiritual nature which will in turn help me understand and cultivate a deeper meaning understanding myself and the world. This idea made me realize how my body is just a house for my thoughts and God converses with me through my thoughts and mind. Therefore, my mind is a working engine which drives my body to achieve its goals, I need to be connected to the universe at all times and seek the face of God in all my doings. My body should never be in charge of my mind.
3. How will this ideas 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 life and in creating a better society by first of all starting with myself by applying these ideas making me a catalyst to positive change and inspiring others to do the same. In promoting unity and inclusiveness. These ideas will also help me personally to recognzse and create my own reality which can encourage someone out there to also take ownership of their action.
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?
“An ending is a limitation and Gods love have no ending.”
As a child of God, I am unlimited because the world is created by a sufficient God. Therefore, whenever I think something is ending and not forth coming I should always run back to my source who never runs dry.
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 and it involve daily practices of what I learnt
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.
No there are 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 was the content? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the over all rating you would give it? 10
Emotional Intelligence
Assessment by Anastasia Elebiju (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
In this book Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis and Jean is a book that both that provides a practical guide to increase emotional intelligence. The authors emphasized that emotional intelligence is not fixed and can be developed through practice and training. They provided a frame work for understanding emotional intelligence including understanding emotions and using awareness to guide thoughts and behaviors. They offered different strategies for improving emotion intelligent in which they summed into four different parts, self-awareness, self-management, social awareness and relationship management. They argued that emotional intelligent is not innate trait but rather a skill that can be developed and improved through practice, self-awareness and intentional effort. so by increasing your emotional intelligent you can improve your relationships and communication skills, to achieving greater success in your personal and professional lie, enhance your decision making and problem solving abilities. Finally it can improve your overall wellbeing.
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. Self awareness
This idea caught my attention because it is one of the principles of recognizing your own emotions and motivations. Self awareness is our ability to be able to have a clear and honest understanding of my own thoughts, feelings, motivations, values and behaviors. This is the capacity to observe myself from the outside and gain insight into my own mental and emotional process. This I can achieve by observing my strengths and weaknesses, my values and belief, my emotion and triggers, my motivations and desires, my thoughts patterns and habits. Self awareness is not just about knowing my new age, or my family history, its about understanding what makes me tick, what drives me to do something and what holds me back. This is about how to recognize how your emotions and thoughts impact behavior and how my behavior affects others. This idea came in handy because it will really help me in my work environment. One thing I have come to realize is that in working environment a lot of jealousy can spring up. Maybe simply because you know something more than some one else and you always speak up, people tend to return a negative energy but reading this book now has prepared my mind on how to manage my emotions by giving or engaging ideas with those who are willing, and always act as a good leader that you are.
ii. Self-management
This idea caught my attention because self-management is the ability to control and regulate my own emotions, thoughts and behaviors to achieve my goal and wellbeing. This idea involves being aware of my internal state and using strategies to manage my emotions, motivations and actions. Self-management includes emotional regulation whereby I learnt to manage stress, anxiety anger and other emotions to healthy mental state, motivation, driving yourself to achieve goals and take action towards success. Focus and concentration. This is maintaining attention and avoiding distractions to accomplish tasks. Managing my time, self-discipline and being accountable has major role t play in self management. So by mastering self-management skills. I can optimize my personal and professional life, make intentional decisions and cultivate a stronger sense of self.
iii. Social awareness
Social awareness is the ability to understand and interpret emotions. This idea got my attention because it involves being concerns for others, understanding social dynamics and relationship around me using this awareness to navigate interactions effectively. Social awareness includes:
Empathy: understanding and sharing the feelings of others
Perspective-taking: this is seeing things from another person’s point of view.
This is one big lesson in my study at IIGL, learning to listen to others why they speak and settings from their own perspective before drawing a conclusion.
Relationship dynamics: Understanding the power dynamics, roles and expectations in relationship. These are important in social awareness by recognizing and interpreting non-verbal signals like body language and tone of voice. By developing social awareness, you can become a more effective and improve yourself over all environments.
iv. Relationship management
This is the ability to effectively navigate and maintain healthy relationships, both personal and professional. This idea caught my attention because it involves using emotional intelligence to communicate, build trust and resolve conflicts. Communication is key in maintaining a healthy relationship, be it work, family or love relationship a clear empathetic and effective communication is key, building trust, conflict resolution, active listening boundary setting, adaptability and networking are all ingredient of maintaining and managing relationships. Relationship is key life as we need people around us, no man is an island, some situation in my life have made me value relationship a lot, my current job was through a church member that I have a close relationship with, she was the one that submitted my CV to the school. I am working in currently, imagine if I don’t have a good relationship with her, it would have been difficult for her to recommend me, or is that Deb that have gone out of your ways several times to write a recommendation letter for me and guiding me throughout my journey in my studies at the institute. So relationship is key in life and one must learn how to manage and sustain them no matter the difference we encounter amongst ourselves.
v. Emotional intelligence in professional setting
This idea got my attention as it talked about emotional intelligent in work environment and it helps them build strong relationship with colleagues, clients and managers. Communicating effectively and avoiding misunderstanding. In work environment emotional intelligence helps us manage stress and pressure, make informed decisions lead and motivate teams and resolve conflicts and negotiate effectively. If emotional intelligence is well developed in work place, it can lead to improved collaboration and team work enhance leadership management, improve employee engagement and retention and a positive and supportive work culture would be attained.
vi. Practice accurate self-assessment
This idea caught my attention because when practicing self-assessment one can reflect regularly and take time to examine my thoughts, feelings and actions by assessing myself. I should be honest, be truthful to myself and acknowledge my strengths and weakness and always try to evaluate myself the way an outside observer would.
vii. Develop a growth mind-set
There is a saying that anything that does not grow, means that things is dying. Growth should be something that we welcome into our life on a daily basis. Developing a growth habit involves cultivating a mind-set and routines that support continuous learning, self-improvement and progress. In other to be able to achieve growth, the following strategies will help to develop a growth habit:
Set goals that are very important to establish, clear, challenging and achievable goals for myself. I remember when I was writing about my goals in my Level Three assignments. There are some of my goals that I was a bit sceptical about, but when I began to analyse how I was going to achieve them, I was able to get a clear picture of how I will achieve them. Embrace challenges and view obstacles as opportunities for growth and learning. Practice self reflection regularly and always seeking feedbacks are one sure way of growing oneself.
3. How will this ideas 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 life and in creating a better society by using all these knowledge that I have acquired to better the lives of those around positively by showing understanding and compassion, open myself to growth and development and also to maintain a healthy relationship at all times.
4. Quotes: are there any statements, which the author made that particular got your attention? If so please quote and comment as to why they were important to you.
“Emotional Intelligence isn’t about recognizing emotions; it’s about managing them.”
This quote means that I should always know how to handle situations for a better environment is not just about me pointing it out but how to solve the situation
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 and it involve daily practices of what I learnt
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.
No there is 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 was the content? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the over all rating you would give it? 10
The Abundance Book
Assessment by Anastasia Elebiju (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
In this book, The Abundance Book by John Randolph Price is a book that is centered on a 40 days prosperity plan that helps readers shift their mindset and focus on abundance. The book is divided into two parts, the first part explains the concept of abundance, while the second part provides a 40 days plan with daily meditations and affirmations to help us apply the principles of gaining abundance in our lives. The book talked about how to free myself from limiting beliefs, and also knowing the importance of consciousness in manifesting abundance and financial independence. Abundance is a state of mind and a spiritual principle rather than just a physical reality. John conveys that by changing ones consciousness and focus, individuals can tap into the universal abundance and manifest prosperity in their lives. He argues that abundance is a natural state and scarcity is human made concept, so our reality so focusing on abundance rather than lack is very crucial by letting go of our limiting beliefs and embracing a mind-set of abundance. Individuals can overcome financial struggles and achieve prosperity.
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. The law of abundance
This idea caught my attention because the concept suggests that the universe is overflowing with abundance, and there is enough for everyone. It is a fundamental principle that governs the working of the universe, ensuring that every need is met and every desire is fulfilled. God is abundance himself and His omniscience and present. He created everything in abundance. Sometimes imagined how big this world is, and yet God knows each and every one of us he has created, He knows our thought, our beginning and our end. This I know because I have seen how he answers my prayers. There is a saying that money is the root of evil, but I disagree, money, good and a blessing if only we receive it from the creator Himself. We must for it from the source who will grant it to us to enable us live wholly in life without lacking only thing. So if you believe that you will have in abundance you will have in abundance you will surely attracts such gold things to yourself. The book suggested that lack is a feeling of how the world or our mind want us to believe, if you start believing and confessing with your mouth that you have you will surely begin to see them coming your ways.
ii. The power of thought
The power thought is a fundamental principle in the abundance book. This idea caught my attention because it states that your thoughts have the power to shape your reality, including your abundance. Our thoughts is who we are, it is very important that we monitor our thoughts and become aware of our thoughts especially those related to abundance, also by challenging negative thoughts. Negative thoughts will surely come but we must learn to replace it with the positive thoughts. There is some things that I usually do and it has helped me conquer a lot of trials, most times when I want to try out some thing new, I begin to receive negative thoughts of how impossible it is. So what I do is that I don’t just replace it with positive thought but also open my mouth and speak those things that I want, I affirm to them and reprogram my mind for abundance. So I visualize myself and begun to imagine myself in the possessions of the abundance.
iii. The importance of gratitude
This idea caught my attention because according to John, gratitude plays a crucial role in manifesting abundance and prosperity. He stated that by acknowledging what we already have abundance will come our way. Gratitude helps us focus on the good things in life, no matter how small they may seem. This recognition of existing abundance creates a positive mind set, and shift my focus from lack to abundance. Laying emphasis on what you are thankful for will make you realize what abundance of life’s goodies you already have. I remember how I used to be before, whenever I go to God in prayers all I do is ask and ask, I know there are a lot of things I really want in life of which is natural as a human being, but there are a lot that I have that money cannot buy, I have got good health of body, I don’t think throughout this year. I haven’t taken medicine even for a headache, I have got healthy children that are healthy, a job and the gift of a family. In all, practicing gratitude helps you feel connected to the universe and its infinite abundance, promoting a sense of trust and faith.
iv. Letting go of limiting belief
Limiting beliefs are thoughts and assumptions that hold you back from realizing your full potential and manifesting your desires. This idea got my attention because letting go of limiting beliefs helps me take action and pursue opportunities. It is very important to break free from negative patterns because doing so will enable me break free from negative patterns and habits that holds me back. According to John, releasing limiting beliefs allows you to tap into your inner potentials and ability. When you stop limiting yourself you will start to do things that you think were impossible.
v. The power of affirmation
This is a fundamental concept in the abundance book and a crucial tool for manifesting the abundance. Affirmations are positive statements that help reprogram your mind by replacing limiting beliefs with empowering ones. Affirmations reprograms your subconscious, it reaches the subconscious mind where they can replace negative thought patterns and beliefs.
Focuses the mind- affirmation help concentrate your thoughts on what you fear or lack
Boost confidence and faith- repeating affirmations can increase your confidence and faith in yourself and in your abilities. Attract abundance: this affirmation can attract abundance by aligning your thoughts and energy with your desires and finally consistency is key in doing affirmations, you have to consistently remind yourself of who you are and be stated in the present tense as if what you want already exist.
vi. The role of consciousness
Consciousness refers to your awareness, perception and state of being. Consciousness helps you manage and recognize your thoughts, replacing limiting beliefs with empowering ones. If as a person I am conscious of what to say to myself, it will help me build on my strength and conquer my fears. This is one thing I have learned from my husband, that no matter how impossible a situation seems, my husband can never use his mouth to say negative thing. He will always profess great and mighty things into the situation. Consciousness enables you set clear intentions and focus on what you want to achieve, consciousness also attract similar energies and experiences. Overall, consciousness provides inner guidance, helping you make decisions that aligned with your desires.
vii. The importance of giving
Giving is a key concept in the abundance book. Giving is essential for manifesting abundance following, allowing more to come into my life. Giving helps overcome scarcity mindset, replacing it with an abundance mentality and giving cultivates gratitude for what you already have. The habit of giving is something that one can learn because often times we think we don’t have enough to give, but which we decide to share that little we have. We begin to see how that little thing mean so much to the other person and the holy bible also makes us to understand that in giving we receive. So, giving make abundance thereby enlarging our coast.
3. How will these ideas 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 life and in creating a better society by always thinking abundance and speak it to every areas of my life. Making affirmations that will strengthen me and also by recommending this book to someone will really be a goo course.
4. Quotes: are there any statements, which the author made that particular got your attention? If so please quote and comment as to why they were important to you
“The universe is a vast inexhaustible ocean of abundance and we are all connected to it.”
This quote means that the world is very large and has a lot of things to offer us and every human being is connected to its abundance, all you need to do is connect to its endless blessing and you will see yourself flourishing.
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 and it involve daily practices of what I learned.
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.
No there is 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 was the content? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the over all rating you would give it? 10
The 5 Second Rule
Assessment by Anastasia Elebiju (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
In this book, The Five Second Rule by Mel Robbins; it’s centered using the rule of counting backwards from 5,4,3,2,1 to change our lives and speak up. The book suggested that we have the power to change our life by taking control of our thoughts, feelings, and actions. More specifically Robbins argues that our brain are wired to hold us back from taking risk and pursuing our goals due to fear, self-doubts and anxiety, but by using the 5 seconds rule we can override our difficult tendencies and take deliberate actions towards achieving our goals. Taking actions builds confidence, courage and momentum leading to personal growth, and transformation. In essence, the 5 second rule is simply yet a very power tool to help people overcome their inner obstacles and unlock the full potential.
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. The 5 second rule
This idea is the center of the book that we have 5 seconds to change our life. Robbins said that when you feel the urge to take action, speak up, or pursue an opportunity, you have 5 seconds window to act before your brain stops you with doubts, fears or excuses. Robbins suggested that in these 5 seconds you can override your fear and self-doubt, take control of your thoughts and emotions, build confidence and courage and take a deliberate action towards achieving your goals. In the book there are a lot of testimonies of people from the social media about how the rule changed things for them, one captivating one was a mans who battle anxiety about his divorce, he was so depressed that he contemplated suicide, on the day he decided to carry out the act, he had a rethink when he counted 5 to 1 and everything changed. The power of the 5 second rule is not just a technique, but a mindset shift that empowers you to take control of your life and unlock your full potential.
ii. The enemy within
This idea caught my attention because it says that our mind and our inner voice are the biggest obstacle to success and happiness. The Author said that our own thoughts doubt and fears are often the main things holding us back from achieving our goals and living a fulfilling life. This enemy within can manifest in various ways such as negative, doubt, fear of failure, procrastination and excuses, anxiety of worry, and self-sabotaging behaviors. These enemies live inside of us and can be very powerful and persuasive, but Robbins encourages readers to recognize it, and challenge it because by overcoming these obstacles we can build confidence and self-trust, take control of our thoughts and emotions, develop a growth mind-set and learn from failures and finally we will be able to take deliberate actions towards achieving our goals.
iii. Becoming the hero of your life
This idea caught my attention because it suggested that we have the power to take control of our life, choices and actions. You can become the hero of your story by making deliberate decisions and taking bold actions. This idea got me thinking that if I am to write a story about an adventure I want to embark on, encountering so many dangerous animal in the forest. I bet you and I will never write a story of how the lion ate me in the forest or how the bear caught me, I will write a story where on my adventure, despite encountering those deadly animals I was able to use my skills and intelligent to escape from those lions or I can even write the story portraying myself as Samson in the bible that was blessed with divine strength and I was able to tear the lions mouth into pieces and knocked it down. This simply means that if one should take charge and act as the hero of your destiny. You will always want to save every situation no matter how challenging they may seem. Use the 5 second rule to take effective and immediate action focusing on progress not perfection.
iv. The power of courage
This idea caught my attention because in anything we do in life we must be courageous. Courage is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to take action despite fear. Courage is a muscle that can be developed and strengthened through practice. Courage is necessary to build resilience and grit. Its very essential to practice courage in our everyday life. Focus on progress not perfection and take bold actions towards achieving our goals. During the summer break a teacher in my place of work recommended book for the house on my WhatsApp group and it was one of the book that I was studying at the time- the 21 irrefutable laws of leadership. It was shocking that nobody on the group acknowledge the message. I know nobody was going to read the book, so I thought to myself why not share a few lessons from the book, I was sceptical and discouraged, I felt they might not be interested, but on a second thought I decided to share ideas and lessons from the book and I got a lot of positive feedback from everyone in the group. My boss thank me and said it was so thoughtful of me to do so. Courage is necessary to overcome whatever obstacle that stands in our way that limits us from attaining success. Courage is not something you have or don’t have- it’s something you can develop and strengthened through practice.
v. Becoming more confident
This idea caught my attention because confident is not something you have or don’t have but something you can develop and strengthen. This is closely related to having courage, because taking small acts of courage and using the 5-seconds rule, you can build confidence and self-trust. To achieve confidence you have to use positive self-talk and affirmations and very importantly you take care of yourself and your well-being.
vi. Creating a life of purpose and meaning
This idea caught my attention because it says that I have the power to create a life that truly reflects my values, passions and goals by applying this 5 second rule. I can take deliberate action towards creating a life of purpose and meaning. Purpose and meaning comes from living a life that is true to who you are and taking actions towards achieving my goals and values. By creating a life of purpose and meaning, I can actually fill more fulfilled and satisfied, increase your motivation and direction to develop a sense of clarity and purpose.
vii. Maintaining momentum
This idea caught my attention because it states that once you start taking action towards your goals, it essential to maintain momentum to achieve success. Momentum is the driving force that helps you overcome obstacles, stay motivated and reach your goals. By using the 5 second rule, you can maintain momentum by taking consistent and deliberate action. To maintain momentum you must break down big goals into smaller manageable tasks, create an environment that supports your gaols, track your progress and celebrate small wins, surrounding yourself with supportive people and stay focused and avoid distraction using the 5 second rules always to overcome self-doubt and fear.
3. How will this ideas 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 life and in creating a better society by being courageous to defeat life obstacles or any situations that comes my way. I will also recommend this book to people to read as it can change people life.
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
“The only way to get what you want is to take action.”
This quote caught my attention because it simply means that procrastination is the killer of dreams. Once the idea is conceived it is best to take action immediately in other to achieve it.
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 and it involve daily practices of what I learnt
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.
No there are 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 was the content? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the over all rating you would give it? 10