Olufisola Oladipo – Assessments

As A Man Thinketh
Assessment by Olufisola Oladipo (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 is “the power of thought”. As author rightly puts it, the book is meant to stimulate men and women to the discovery and perception of the truth that they themselves are the makers of themselves by virtue of the thoughts which they choose and encourage.

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 ‘Power of Thought’: The idea of our experiences being the total outcome of our thoughts really catches my interest very much. This is because I have also experienced this truth in my life. I have literally thought something up in my mind, more like deep imagination and that thing came to pass. As a result, I constantly put this power of thought (deep imagination/visualization) to use and I do get expected result.

ii. Man is made and unmade by himself: This statement is quite true especially in the light of the power of thought. However, what would one say about someone whose condition is spiritually orchestrated? Can one rightly say it is the outcome of thought? In as much as I quite agree with this statement, I also believe that things are first of all settled spiritually before they are manifested physically.

iii. Effects of thought on circumstances: It is said that circumstances do not make a man but they only reveal him to himself. As true as this statement is, it is quite a task to think uprightly all of the time. This is so if one leaves in a place like Nigeria where our social and basic amenities are always inadequate. Imagine a situation where a graduate find it difficult to get a job, no social security, no electricity to power your computers or other gadgets and there millions of people in this situation. Even when you cultivate right ‘thoughts’ and all other things around you are saying the opposite. My submission is that we can cultivate right thoughts and have right results however our environment must also be put into consideration.

iv. Beautiful thoughts of all kinds crystallize into habits of grace and kindliness which solidify into genial and sunny circumstances: I totally agree with this statement because even in my spiritual belief (Pentecostal Christianity), these kinds of thoughts are absolutely encouraged. Even as found in Holy Bible that whatsoever things are true and of good report, we should think on these things.

v. Let a man cease from his sinful thoughts, and the entire world will soften towards him, and be ready to help him. Let him put away his weakly and sickly thoughts, and the opportunities will spring up on every hand to aid his strong resolves. Let him encourage good thoughts and no hard fate shall bind him down to wretchedness and shame: I am in absolute agreement with these statements and I have seen worked in my life especially when I am desperately in need of something.

vi. The body is servant of the mind. It obeys the operations of the mind, whether they be deliberately chosen or automatically expressed. At the bidding of unlawful thoughts the body sinks rapidly into disuse and decay, at the command of glad and beautiful thoughts it becomes clothed with youthfulness and beauty: I cannot agree more with these statements. I believe in faith healing, more like having the thought that one will be alright in the face of any sickness even sometimes without taking any drug. By His grace, I do not or rarely fall sick.

vii. Until thought is linked with purpose there is no intelligent accomplishment: This statement makes a lot of sense. However, discovering one’s purpose must be the first step. It is after the discovery of one’s purpose in life that one can align one’s thought with the purpose. It is a privilege that I have discovered my purpose in life and it is what my thought is filled with daily.

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 living a purposeful and directed life. I have vision and goals (short, medium and long terms). They cannot be realized if I do not inculcate them into my thought on a daily basis. The power of thought is powerful when it is rightly directed. Although, I have not realized most of the things I am aiming at however I am rest assured that they will all come to manifestation one after the other with passage of time. It is my vision to be a source of blessing to my neighbours and society. I know when vision is fully realized I will serve my society better thereby creating a better world.

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.

….”that man’s vision can become reality, simply through the power of thought”: This statement really touches my heart because I have a vision that I want to see realized. It gladdens me that one day my vision will become reality through power of directed thought. I can’t wait for that day to come.

“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he”: This statement is originally from the Holy Bible. With this book carrying this statement as its title and with all the explanation and expatiation of the meaning of this statement as written in the book, I can only conclude that this statement is the truth and nothing but the truth.

“By the right choice and true application of thought man ascends to the divine perfection”: As true as this statement is, from my estimation, I think very few men are able to do attain this status. I wonder why.

“Circumstances do not make a man; it reveals him to himself”: Experience is the best teacher as the saying goes; circumstances help us to know ourselves better. I had been through both positive and negative circumstances especially in the course of following my vision. I have learnt to discover my strengths and weaknesses through experiencing both sides.

“Man are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves, they therefore remain bound.” “The man who does not shrink from self-crucifixion can never fail to accomplish the object upon which his heart is set.”: I agree with these statements. I am willing to undergo those pains that will improve my circumstances and make my vision a reality.

“Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results, bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results.”: I really like this statement. As I consciously continue to sow good thoughts in mind, good actions are bound to germinate even though it takes some time. It is good that I know this.

“The body is the servant of the mind. It obeys the operations of the mind, whether they be deliberately chosen or automatically expressed. At the bidding of unlawful thoughts the body sinks rapidly into disease and decay, at the command of glad and beautiful thoughts it become clothed with youthfulness and beauty.”: These statement can be likened to be this verse in the Holy Bible that says, “Guide your heart (mind) with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life.

“Spiritual achievements are the consummation of holy aspirations. He who live constantly in the conception of noble and lofty thoughts, who dwell upon all that is pure and selfless, will surely as the sun reaches its zenith and the moon its full become wise and noble in character and rise into a position of influence and blessedness.”: I strongly agree with this statement because I have seen it happened in the life of a renowned Pastor in Nigeria.

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?

Generally, the book is well understood by me and there are very few, if any areas I am unclear about. I also agree with most of the ideas in the book. However, I would like to ask the question, “judging from the contents of the book, does it mean that a man’s life solely revolves round his thoughts? I asked this question on two points. First as an African and a Nigerian, I know that there are wicked spirits who through devilish means affect people negatively or alter their destinies? As a Believer, I understand from the Scriptures that man is not fighting against flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Second as a Nigerian whose country is still largely developing, basic amenities such as potable water, electricity, good roads and other infrastructure are grossly lacking and issues of corruption, poverty, mismanagement, armed robbery and so on abound. These factors one way or the other affects people’s destinies negatively even if their thoughts are right.

In the light of the statements above, how can power of thought take care of these issues?

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

The book did not contain specific exercises for the readers to complete. However, the book serves as a reference for issues of life. I will make it a point of duty to read the book regularly until the great ideas therein are literally imprinted on my mind.

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

The book is a great book and a great read. I love the ideas in the book because they point me in the direction of my vision and stand as a good reference point if I ever find myself lowly state or feel discouraged.

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

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

 

 

Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Olufisola Oladipo (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 is that, “Thought makes a being”. In this book the author had used Seagulls (mostly white aquatic bird having long pointed wings and short legs) as characters that can think like humans. In addition to that, the author tried to convey that we are what we think we are. We have freedom of choice to be anything we want to be through the power of thought.

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. Existence versus Living: At the beginning of the book, the author made mentioned that food mattered most for gulls while Jonathan Seagull found delight in flying. I have always thought to myself that living which can be likened to ‘flying’ is far more important than existence.

ii. “We can list ourselves out of ignorance, we can find ourselves as creatures of excellence and intelligence and skill. We can be free. We can learn to fly”: This excerpt from part one of the book reminds me of the word ‘can’. This is a powerful word that has helped in a lot in my life. There is a release of energy for me to accomplish anything I set my heart on when I use this word.

iii. “They refused to open their eyes and see”. When I was younger (say about 8 years old), I used to ponder on a lot of things. One is ‘where is the end of the earth/world’? I saw beyond my immediate environment and was yearning for answers. Now that I am older, I am beginning to get the picture.

iv. Perfection: How I love to be perfect in every way. I want to be perfect in my speech, dressing, academics, relationship, family, housing and profession. I am still working hard to achieve these qualities in my life.

v. To know what you are doing: Presently in my life, I know what I am doing or I believe I know. All I want is to see my vision realized.

vi. Giving back: It is good to give back to your neighbours or society that which you have the capability to give. I try my best to give to my neighbours or society however, I am looking forward to when I can as I really want to give.

vii. Thought: Some thoughts can be overwhelming. Ordinarily, my tradition, belief, society and environment fashioned me to think in a particular way but with new consciousness on ‘thought’, I try my possible best to discard negative thoughts and encourage positive thoughts.

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

The ideas and lessons have further strengthened my resolve never to give up. I will continually keep on trying until perfection and subsequently give back that which I am capable of giving to create a better world. Perfection to me means attaining my God-given vision, purpose and plans for my life. Meanwhile, at every stage of my life I am either perfecting one aspect of the whole vision or the other. I remain focused looking ahead at the to the end of the race (vision).

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.

“I say you are free”: This was an answer to Maynard Seagull’s question. This statement is passing across a message that whatever we set our minds (thoughts) to we can do irrespective of our feelings. The mind can override the feelings and with consistency and determination, we can be whatever we want to be.

“Look with your understanding”: Our eyes are limited. However, looking with the eyes of understanding is not something everybody practices. One needs to be conscious of it all the time. The physical eyes are quick to see limitations, weakness and defeat. But the eyes of understanding are will see hope, faith, love, strength, trust and accomplishment.

“An unlimited idea of freedom, an image of the Great Gull”: Fletcher Gull addressing a new set of gulls and told them that their whole body is nothing more than thought itself. This is an inspirational statement that could lift the spirit of any being. It is energizes the ‘can do spirit’ in a being and sets the being to become whatever it chooses to through a process of thought.

“I just want to know what I can do in the air and what I cannot, that’s all. I just want to know”: Jonathan Livingstone Seagull made these statements in answer to his mother’s barrage of questions. Most of the times I seek to acquire knowledge not just for the sake of it but because of curiousity and knowing that I can benefit some good from it. It is good to want to know, it is good to satisfy that curiousity even if the good in it cannot be perceived at the moment.

“The subject was speed, and in a week’s practice he learned more about speed than the fastest gull alive”: This statement literally tells me that practice makes perfect as the saying goes. One can learn a lot within the shortest possible time with practice. I cherish practicing in order to gain a skill even as other engagements or circumstances may dictate otherwise.

“Jonathan Seagull discovered that boredom and fear and anger are the reasons that a gull’s life is so short, and with these gone from his thought he lived a long and fine life indeed”: This statement is very true. Boredom, fear, anger, laziness and other vices kill faster than real disease and illness. I know this from experience that in my state of low activity which I sometimes feel, several negative thoughts run across my mind and tend to make me give up on lofty ideas and goals I have set for myself.

“The same rule hold for us now, of course; we choose our next world through what we learn in this one. Learn nothing and the next world is the same as this one, all the same limitations and lead weights to overcome.”: This statement is as true as saying what you do today determines what happens to you tomorrow. In other words, I strive to be all I have set out to be having in mind that each day I am moving closer to my goals. My actions today birth my reality tomorrow.

“To fly as fast as thought to anywhere that is,” he said, you must begin by knowing that you have arrived.”: This statement made by Chiang reminds me of dreams. Our dreams of the future are our visions. I see my vision and goals as I have already achieved them.

“Maynard Gull, you have the freedom to be yourself, your true self, here and now, and nothing can stand in your way. It is the Law of the Great Gull, the Law that is.”: This statement reiterates that everyone can choose to be free, to be one true self. That is, what one has naturally being endowed to be. This becomes possible if one is so interested as to choose to become it. I have discovered my calling and nothing can stand in my way.

“You have to practice and see the real gull, the good in everyone of them, and to help them see it in themselves. That’s what I mean by love. It’s fun, when you get the knack of it”: In this statement, I learned that to be of help to others I have to see them in a different light. A light of love. I have to make every effort to help them discover themselves, the unique gifts inherent everyone.

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?

In part two of the book, it was stated “there is no place like heaven”. And that heaven is not a place and it is not a time. In as much as I agree to strive to attain perfection, I beg to disagree that there is no place like heaven. In reference to my faith (Pentecostal Christian), heaven is real and hell is real according to the Holy Bible. May be I am missing out on something, but I will not encourage the school of thought that heaven is plainly being perfect.

I would be glad if I could get more explanation on ‘Space and Time’ meaning and ‘Here and Now’.

“Because any number is a limit and perfection doesn’t have limits. Perfect speed, is being there.” I am unclear about the clause ‘being there’. Where is ‘there?’ Does it mean where one aspires to get to or what?

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

The book did not contain specific exercises for the reader to complete however it will be imprinted on my mind and thought what I have read and learned from the pages of the book. For instance, the statement that one’s body being nothing more than thought itself. Also the idea of continuous practice and never to give up will remain a life-long exercise for me in order to attain perfection.

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

The book was a great and inspiring read. However, maybe it would have been much easier to understand if human being had been used to narrate the story in the book instead of Seagull. I think the author of the book must have a creative and thoughtful mind even though nothing is said him.

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

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

 

 

Psycho Cybernetics
Assessment by Olufisola Oladipo (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 is that a person has the power of self-improvement if he/she can follow the principles of positive self-growth as laid down by Dr. Maxwell Maltz. This power permeates every aspect of life and constitutes practical steps to attaining it. The author emphasized that self-image sets the limits for what one can and cannot achieve.

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-image – a mental blueprint or picture of self. Just as written in the book “every one of us always acts, feels, and behaves in a way that is consistent with our self-image-regardless of the reality of that image”.

This idea is very important to me, because I grew up as a child in a not-so-good environment compared to the environment I lived as a teenager/adult. The childhood experiences affected my self-image negatively so much so that I wondered why my peers always appear better than me. Then I used to believe they had better chances economically, environmentally and socially than me.

However, I was also exposed to education early enough that gradually liberated me from these false beliefs. In fact, presently as I study and read books, I am still detoxifying myself from this inhibiting self-image.

ii. How to Change Habits of Failure into Habits of Success – I loved this idea for the fact it presented a mechanism for reconditioning a negative self-image to a positive one. This is what I have always tried to do in my adult life. For instance, somebody said that I am a reserved person and always carry a long face. By giving so much thought, it appeared it was a true judgment, however, I do not see myself much of reserved person but someone who cherishes a quiet environment and pragmatic discussions.

I have also adopted the Cancel-Replace-Affirm-Focus-Train (CRAFT) mechanism to change negative statements to positive ones.

iii. Fake it till you Make it – The importance of this idea lies in the fact that one can use his/her imagination to create reality. I could remember that I have used this logic in the past, I got the idea from a book I read. I planned to go and meet someone for favour, and then I imagined that I went to the person, put across my case and without hesitation my request was granted. Having rehearsed in my imagination, when I eventually did meet the person, everything turned out as I have imagined.

Imagination – that which is seen – really works. I believe whatever I want happened in my life I can imagine it to bring to reality. This is actually another definition for faith.

iv. How you can free yourself from false belief – This idea of false belief could stem from several experience of life, namely the status of family into which one is born, environment, childhood and societal experiences. From reading books, my faith and educational exposure such as I am gaining from this training, I have come to realize that I could successfully deal with false belief. Through affirmations and visualization, my false beliefs can be eradicated and replaced with positive thoughts and expressions. I still practice my affirmations and visualization daily.

v. Goal – your set point for success – This idea is very important to me, because it is what I do virtually every day. Goal is defined as the state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve and that (when achieved) terminates behaviour intended to achieve it. Personally, I have short, medium and long term goals. My short term goals are the ones I set daily to achieve short-term objectives. Goal setting has really helped me in life, as the mere act of setting goals alone has helped me to achieve most of them. As I still work on perfecting my goal setting, I know that this is a habit that will always be part of me.

vi. How to Overcome Procrastination – The idea of procrastination is very important to me. This is because I tend to put off till the next day what I can achieve today. Personally, what makes me to procrastinate as I sometimes do are; stressful condition/fatigue, deep thought about an action, distraction from other people/not conducive environment e.g. for reading/study, trying to satisfy other needs and circumstances beyond my control. However, in all of these I am made to understand I still have power over what I choose to do at a particular time or not. Also applying the SMART strategy to my goals could help a great deal. This I have put to practice.

vii. Drawing your own picture of success – “I want to grow in my own direction, and I am capable of making competent and responsible progress as I learn”. I am one of the privileged ones that has discovered the purpose and plan of God my life. This discovery also helped me to know what I want from life – my definition of success. I believe I already possess the elements of success-type personality: sense of direction, understanding, courage, charity, esteem, self-confidence and self-acceptance. Although some of these elements still require improving upon.

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 tremendously both in my personal life and in helping to create a better world as I imbibe them and put into practical use. By improving my self-image, develop success habits, employment of imaginative powers, set SMART goals, overcome procrastination and successfully move towards my goal, it is obvious and definite that my life will be affected positively and that of those at my sphere of influence.

I must also make it a habit to refer to the book when planning and setting goals and when facing challenging situations or issues.

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.

i. “Self-esteem is the likeliest candidate for a social vaccine, something that empowers us to live responsibly and that inoculates us against the lure of crime, violence, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, child abuse, chronic welfare dependency and educational failure. The lack of self-esteem is central to most personal and social ills plaguing our state and nation as we approach the end of the twentieth century” – I have never seen self-esteem in this light before now.

ii. “You always act, feel and behave in a way that is consistent with your self-image – regardless of the reality of that image” – This statement is important to me because it teaches me that my self-image is a mental of picture myself. Consequently, I realized I need to improve on my self-image.

iii. “Procrastination may result from fear of success and fear of failure” – I cannot imagine someone procrastinating for fear of success. I always thing that success should make one to be eager, cheerful and joyous.

iv. “No one is immune to negative feelings and attitudes. The important thing is to recognize them for what they are, and take positive action to correct them” – I agree with this statement because it is the reality. All humans have been born with one negative trait or the other and needs to be taken care of.

v. “The creative mechanism within you is impersonal. It will work automatically and impersonally to achieve goals of success and happiness, or unhappiness and failure, depending on the goals which you yourself set for it” – It is good to know that man is the architect of his own destiny. Man becomes his most dominant thoughts. In this light, I have learnt to be optimistic.

vi. “A man or woman without a goal is like a ship without a rudder. Each will drift and not drive. Each will end up on the beaches of despair, defeat, and despondency” – This statement strongly explains the importance of goal-setting to all human beings. Memorizing this statement should imprint on my mind the importance of goal setting.

vii. “We are not on earth to live up to some else’s expectations. To make our unique contribution to the world, we each need to prize our individual worth and pursue our dreams” – This is so true for those that have discovered their dreams. Unfortunately/fortunately some people still wonder why they are here in the first place while others are inhibited by fears of success and failure.

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

“The most exciting breakthroughs of the twenty-first century will occur not because of technology but because of an expanding concept of what it means to be human” – Inasmuch as I agree with this statement, I would really appreciate it if “what-it-is-to-be-human” means in this context can be expatiated.

“What you believe conditions what you can do” – Some of these beliefs were imprinted in early childhood, how one can totally eradicate these hidden and not so conscious beliefs.

I find the book quite absorbing and fascinating all through my reading experience, I also find the exercises engaging. I must say that it should serve as a reference book that one consults from time to time.

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

Yes, the book contains exercises and self-assessment checklists for the readers to complete. I completed some of the exercises and self-assessment checklists and left the others. I find the exercises interesting and helpful.

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

No. However I would like to know if the teachings on Psych-cybernetics end with this book.

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

 

 

Success through a Positive Mental Attitude

Assessment By Olufisola Olumbiyi Oladipo (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 is that, “Whatever the mind of man can conceive, it can achieve”. The author went on to detail how one can use his/her mind to change his/her world positively. The author posits that through self discovery, determination and the use of positive mental attitude (PMA) one can attain whatever heights he/she dears to attain 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 own life.

i. “Positive Mental Attitude (PMA)”: I believe in PMA because it works. What is carried on the mind eventually becomes the reality. So it is important that one thinks positively all the time and makes it a habit.

ii. “The most important living person”: To discover that I am the most important living person is mind boggling. That I possess two mental attitudes – positive and negative is eye opening for me. I learnt both reside on my mind. It is gratifying to know that I can choose one that will change my life forever.

iii. “If you are right, your world will be right”. If I have to change my world, I have to start with myself. With positive mental attitude, my problems are solved and I can move towards my goals.

iv. “Definiteness of purpose”: This is one aspect of my life that has always propelled me to do more. What is my goal and what to do I really want from life. I have learnt to define my goals long ago however, this book has shed more light on this topic.

v. “You are what you think”: It is good to know that I am what I think and that my thoughts are evaluated by whether my attitude is positive or negative. My experiences most of the time are as a result of my thoughts.

vi. “You are a mind with a body”: The subject of ‘mind’ is something that never ceases to catch my interest. Especially the conscious and the subconscious parts give me the idea that I can influence my mind positively and in the direction that I want to go. This power alone motivates me even in times of difficulty.

vii. “Problem”: Naturally I am not the type that is given to problems of any sort. I have learnt that problems are good and that with PMA, equivalent or greater benefits can be gained. I have also learnt that I am practically on this earth to solve problems – personal, family and societal – which I have taken pains to ask for God’s guidance, think, state and analyze and lately adopting the PMA 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?

The ideas and lessons have further strengthened my resolve never to give up. I know that I am in this world to solve problems that can make my world and that of others around me better. The path to achieving my goals and success is through the positive mental attitude (PMA). I must be determined and focused and believe that with PMA success will be mine.

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.

“God is always a good God”: I particularly like this statement because God is involved. God is our creator and He has influence on us the creature. As written in the Holy Bible,” with God all things are possible”, gives the insight that the basis of all worthy achievement is God, then follows the requirement of PMA.

“Day by day in every respect I am getting better and better”: I am quite familiar with this statement from one of Brian Tracy’s books I read, Maximum Positive Achievement”. But the author added a phrase ‘through the grace of God’ which I found a wonderful addition, just like I wrote above that God is important to all of man’s achievement and success.

“You don’t need to be ashamed to be a failure like Christopher Columbus”: This statement supports the fact that I do need to be afraid of starting a worthwhile course be it business or some other good because I may never know what fortune I might discover on the way. Sometimes it may even be a failed venture but the experience or discovery along the line can bring unimagined positive change into my life.

“Anything in life worth working for is worth praying for”: This statement is true because I believe in the power of prayers. Diligence and prayers work together for a successful outcome of a worthwhile venture. Therefore, in my plans, goals and life generally I take prayers seriously.

“Other people’s money (OPM)”: I strongly agree that OPM can be used to attain wealth. I have practiced myself by offering for sale products that I do not off hand, but as soon as I get a request for it, I quickly make contacts to get it from others who have it on display for sale, so I take it on credit and trust, sell to the customer, remove my profit and hand the balance to the one I collected the product from. I have just served as a seller who does not really stock any goods but make sales by getting customers for the goods I do not possess.

“Your own mental attitude is the one thing you possess over which you alone have complete control”: Whenever I am faced with a challenge or just wanting to have a good day, I usually feed my mind with positive confessions/affirmations and prayers. This works for me all the time. On the other hand, whenever I neglect to do this when faced with challenges the status quo is likely to remain.

“When you share with others a part of what you have, that which remains will multiply and grow. The more you share, the more you will have”: These statements remind me of a saying that goes, “what you make happen for others God will make happen for you”. These are true statements.

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”: This a prayer point. To me it only points to one thing which is to know the will of God for one’s life and situations through prayer.

“The test of your faith is whether you apply it when you are not in difficulty, as well as at the time of your greatest need.”: The subject of faith never ceases to interest me. This is because so much is attach to faith even PMA. Faith is required in all circumstances one may himself. I have several examples of how having faith helped me triumph in face of seeming challenges. Not giving up easily on difficult situations is also a habit I possess.

“If you know your specific destination and take the first step, you are on your way.”: This statement is true in my life. I know what I want and I have since started to pursue it by taking the first step. The path is rather rough at the beginning however, it is gradually becoming clearer.

“There is something infinitely better than making a living, it is a noble life.”: I strongly agree with this statement. It is not only good to be blessed but also to be a blessing to others and make the world a better place.

“A letter can change a life for the better.”: Over the years I have seen that a well written letter can influence the receiver mind in thinking positively to the one who wrote it. I have experienced where a simple letter backed up with changed the life of a man successfully forever.

“Sow an action and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.”: As true as this statement is, it appears it easier to develop a negative habit than a positive ones. Similarly, it is also difficult to drop a bad habit for a good one. However, this book has revealed to me principles of how to eliminate undesirable habits.

“The secret of getting things done is, DO IT NOW.”: Procrastination is the thief of time as the saying goes. A strong determination to do things immediately is the cure to procrastination. I am developing this habit the more so it becomes part of me. Nowadays a number of things could be very distracting – the media, family, and communication technologies.

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?

Success through a positive mental attitude is my type of self-help book. For now I do not have any unclear parts or ideas that I disagree with. It is a perfect book for me that I will continue to read and read again until its contents become part of me.

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

The book contained exercise in its Part Five. I completed the Success Quotient Analysis based on the 17 principles of success. Upon completion of the exercise, I could observe the areas of my life that needs attention if I really want achieve my goals through the PMA. I also find them extremely helpful.

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

The book was a great and inspiring read. It is my reference book for success in the pursuit of my God-giving goals.

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

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

 

 

Keys to Success

Assessment by Olufisola Olubiyi Oladipo (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 is the means to achieve success through the 17 principles of personal achievement. The author pointed out that success is not by luck but rather by adhering to certain principles that guarantee success. These principles are conscious efforts which anyone with a burning desire to succeed can learn.

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. “Definiteness of purpose”: This is an understanding of what a man wants and the desire to get it. In my opinion, I see it as way of asking the question, ‘why am I here?’ or ‘what difference can I make in this world’. For instance, my higher purpose is to be a blessing to God, my family and my society. Since I know this, I have gone to work on achieving my purpose. As a matter of fact, being a student of IIGL is one the things I am doing to achieve my higher purpose.

ii. “Positive Mental Attitude (PMA)”: It has been proved beyond reasonable doubt that PMA is central to all successful achievements. Sometimes like other people, I find it difficult to be positive in some difficult situations; however I tried my possible best to be positive. I have learnt that PMA is indispensable for me to achieve my goals.

iii. “Mastermind Alliance”. Two or more minds working together actively together in perfect harmony toward a common definite objective. When it comes choosing an alliance, I usually think critically about and choose someone of like minds – someone that shares the same agreement level with me. I have had to invite friends (people of like minds) to work with me on projects. The projects always succeed not because there are no issues but when there are issues we have found ways of settling them reasonably.

iv. “Attractive personality”: I would equally call them success habits. An attractive personality is also relative in definition to some extent. I am a quiet, calm and easy going person and there are habits I am not naturally inclined to. I am still working at imbibing some of these habits.

v. “The power of your faith”: Faith is seeing what is yet to manifest. I am a Christian and the subject of faith is one that I relish the most. I do not like doubting people around me. I strongly believe that the power of faith can do the miraculous and it has worked for me. In fact, having faith in myself and the Word of God has helped both in spiritual and physical life.

vi. “Creating personal initiative”: Living up ones responsibilities is so important in order for one to achieve its goal. Being proactive is also going the extra mile. Personally I like to work at my own pace, however, the necessity of timelines and being proactive have helped in creating personal initiative.

vii. “Adversity and defeat”: Naturally I am not the type that is given to problems of any sort. This is because over the years as a growing young man I have had to face challenges. These challenges could be so disheartening. For instance, the challenges of lacking basic necessities of life, not sure of having regular meal, lack of funding for a laudable project like schooling/training and so on. In all of these, I have learnt to trust God and accept what I cannot change and moved one with my life believing God better opportunities are coming my way.

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

The ideas and lessons from the book ‘Keys to Success’ will help me to tread on the path to success. As I apply the 17 principles of personal achievement to my life, there will be a positive transformation for me which enables creation of a better world.

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

“Your progress toward success begins with a fundamental question: Where are you going?”: This statement reminds of the saying, ‘ a man that does not know where he is going will end up nowhere’. Definiteness of purpose is important to any worthwhile achievement. I have known my purpose back in secondary school days, I just kept refining it. It has kept me on the right path toward my goals.

“The greatest benefit of definiteness of purpose is that it opens your mind to the quality known as faith”: Faith is fundamental to what one has and becomes. The subject of faith when it comes to purpose cannot over be emphasized. Nothing works without faith. Faith produces the action that makes things work. This is what I believe and practice.

“No one’s education is ever complete”: The fact that one cannot learn everything and one being a perpetual student in the school of life makes continuous learning inevitable. I like to team up with people with specialized knowledge. I also enjoy continuous learning, reading the things that matter to me. Furthermore, I believe in team work.

“Flexibility also means that in every negotiation you understand that the other party’s needs and demands are ways in which you can better render the service you are offering in exchange”: As a businessman, I know flexibility is one of the virtues I need to stay ahead of my competitors. I am adequately flexible with my services and fees depending on the situation at hand. It has really helped my business going.

“Render more and better service than you are paid for, and sooner or later you will receive compound interest from your investment”: As the author puts it, ‘the best recommendation is the one you give yourself by rendering superior service in the right mental attitude’. This also one of my business secrets and I plan to look for more means of going the extra mile.

“The overwhelming majority of people never recognize the difference between wishing and believing”: This statement is true. I have long moved from wishing into believing. I believe I can be all that God wants me to be even as I strive to be among the 2 percent that apply their faith with positive mental attitudes.

“Most people act first and think about the consequences later”: Being a phlegmatic personality, I usually think first before I act. This is not always the case. I am glad that this subject of self-discipline is brought up in this book. Controlling my emotions could be such a task and learning it in this book has given me opportunity to know what it takes to be in charge.

“There are many travelers on the road that leads to happiness. You will need their cooperation, and they will yours.”: Nobody succeeds alone. The success must have come through the efforts of other people. Teamwork is in high demand in most corporations because it is one of the secrets of success. I can relate most of my successes to teamwork.

“Creative imagination has its base in the subconscious”: It is true that this is the medium through which you recognize new ideas and learned facts. Imagining through issues/challenges create avenue to solve those challenges. I have used creative imagination to solve various issues in my life.

“If you know your specific destination and take the first step, you are on your way”: This statement is true in my life. I know what I want and I have since started to pursue it by taking the first step. The path is rather rough at the beginning however, it is gradually becoming clearer. I strongly believe that I will fulfill destiny.

“There is something infinitely better than making a living, it is a noble life”: I strongly agree with this statement. It is not only good to be blessed but also to be a blessing to others and make the world a better place. This is my ultimate goal in life. Every other thing I do or desire is help me achieve this ultimate in life.

“Nothing will happen in your life that you do not inspire by your own initiative”: I am in total agreement with this statement. Creative vision is indeed the power which inspires the development of personal initiative. I am self-employed, a child of creative vision inspired by personal initiative.

“Your attitude toward life determines your attitude toward time”: Time is life as the saying goes. Effective time management on worthwhile goals is essential to success. Several activities demand for my time especially now that I am no more single. I take the subject of time seriously however I still fall short of managing it effectively in certain situations.

“Every day read your goal aloud to yourself until you have it memorized”: I practice this daily but I sometimes miss it. I am actually working on a plan that enables me carry it around and to always remember to memorize it especially when going to bed at night.

“Any worthless, superfluous, or harmful habit can be broken and replaced with a more desirable one if you want it to be so”: It is helpful to know that harmful habits can be broken especially the ones that can stand in the way of my plan, purpose and desire.

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

‘Keys to Success’ is my type of self-help book. For now I do not have any unclear parts or ideas that I disagree with. It is a perfect book for me that I will continue to read and read again until its contents become part of me.

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

The book contained exercise in its Chapter Eighteen. It is actually a fast review of the 17 principles of success. The purpose of the exercise is to give commitment to these principles and apply them to my daily life.

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

The book was a great and inspiring read. It is my reference book for success in the pursuit of my God-giving goals.

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

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

 

 

How To Win Friends and Influence People

Assessment by Olufisola Olubiyi Oladipo (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 is that, there are ways to win friends and influence people through human relations techniques. These techniques are skills in dealing with people positively.

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.

a. “Don’t criticize, condemn and complain”: It is natural for all human beings to criticize, condemn and complain especially when the person in question has done something bad or negative. Yet, I have learnt early in life through books including this one, that criticizing, condemning and complaining never foster good human relations.

b. “To know all is to forgive all”: The difficult part of this statement is “knowing all”. Ordinarily, forgiving can be easy but trying to understand other people is another thing. There are things people do and one wonders how they come about attitudes like that. In all I think it takes some patience to understand other people and after that forgiveness can be wholesome.

c. “The desire to be great or a feeling of importance”: Until I read this book, I never knew anything about these cravings for compliments or appreciation from people. I tried my possible best to appreciate or offer a compliment, however it could be difficult sometimes especially if the person in question possesses some attitudes that I do not agree with. Because this desire is so important to be neglected, I take it upon myself as something that must be done.

d. “Definiteness of purpose”: This is one aspect of my life that has always propelled me to do more. What is my goal and what to do I really want from life. I have learnt to define my goals long ago however; this book has shed more light on this topic.

e. “You are what you think”: It is good to know that I am what I think and that my thoughts are evaluated by whether my attitude is positive or negative. My experiences most of the time are as a result of my thoughts.

f. “The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it”: I like to argue for points or position I am quite knowledgeable at. Just like I have read in this book, experience has taught me that really nobody wins an argument. I have learnt to see things from the other person’s point of view and help them save face by not pointing out their wrongs or mistakes especially in situations that does not really affect me.

g. “Show respect for the other person’s opinions. Never say, “You’re wrong”: This is not a common attitude among people. Many people spontaneously reject other people’s opinion. It takes diplomacy to see things from other people’s point of view and show respect for their opinions. Naturally, I am a born diplomat, I have a habit of dealing with people in a way that will arouse their anger or misunderstanding most of the times.

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

The ideas gained from this book are tremendous. The science and art of human relations are laid bare in this timeless book. Already I have applied some of these ideas in the past in my relationship with friends, colleagues and clients. Whenever I noticed that my relationship with other people is beginning to suffer some setback, I usually refer to this book to regain ideas on how to deal with the situation effectively. I have practiced in my marital relationship and others and they are working for me.

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.

“By fighting you never get enough, but by yielding you get more than you expected”: Fighting or trying to proof better than the other person will always result to a conflict. I have learnt that fighting, argument and trying to proof better than the other person are totally wrong. However, the Holy Bible says, “a gentle answer turns away wrath”. This has been my principle to date.

“I am convinced now that nothing good is accomplished and a lot of damage can be done if you tell a person straight out that he or she wrong. You only succeed in stripping that person of self-dignity and making yourself an unwelcome part of any discussion”: This cannot be further from the truth. I have experienced this situation many times in my past relationships.

“When we are right, let’s try to win people gently and tactfully to our way of thinking, and when we are wrong – and that will be surprisingly often, if we are honest with ourselves – let’s admit our mistakes quickly and with enthusiasm. Not only will that technique produce astonishing results; but, believe it or not, it is a lot more fun, under the circumstances, than trying to defend oneself”: I strongly agree with this proposition and I try my best to make it habit.

“If a man’s heart is rankling with discord and ill feeling toward you, you can’t win him to your way of thinking with all the logic in Christendom. Scolding parents and domineering bosses and husbands and nagging wives ought to realize that people don’t want to change their minds. They can’t be forced or driven to agree with you or me. But they may possibly be led to, if we are gentle and friendly, ever so gentle and ever so friendly”: This is a great secret and it has worked for me.

“If I had tried to get the rent reduced by the methods the other tenants were using, I am positive I should have met with the same failure they encountered. It was the friendly, sympathetic, appreciative approach that won”: No matter how difficult a person is, a friendly approach will always win the person over.

“The royal road to a person’s heart is to talk about the things he or she treasures most”: This statement is a fact that needs further emphasis. I have had to learn to talk in agreeable manners even to people who upset me. Apart from respect I get, it enables me to maintain peace with everyone I come in contact with.

“Hearty in their approbation and lavish in their praise”: In as much as this statement is a fact of life, however it is somewhat difficult to do this all the time and to all people you come in contact with. Personally, being a quiet person, my mood gets in the way of praising or passing compliments to people. Though, I know it is good to appreciate people and praise them for the good they have done. I accept I am still learning.

“So let’s obey the Golden Rule, and give unto others what we would have others give unto us, How? When? Where? The answer is: All the time, everywhere”: I strongly agree with this statement. Even this rule is found in the Holy Bible. As I try to obey this rule in my life and situations, I believe it is a continuous learning point for me and should always be in my mind.

“An increased tendency to think always in terms of the other person’s point of view, and see things from that person’s angle as well as your own”: As a natural born diplomat, I usually find myself doing this so naturally without even realizing it. It is good for me, it has helped in my relationships, career and business dealings.

“Success in marriage is much more than a matter of finding the right person; it is also a matter of being the right person”: One way of being the right person is to study the other person’s character correctly. Although, I am married for four years now, my wife and I are still discovering ourselves. The more we discover, the more we discover, the more we move to being the right person for each other.

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?

How to win friends and influence people has been an agelong book of mine. The first time I read it was in my junior years in the secondary school and since then it has been my book of reference for human relations. I perfectly understand and agree strongly with all the ideas in it however the other thing is perfecting these ideas in reality.

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

The book did not contain any exercise for the reader to complete. The exercises/lessons are practical everyday living ways of dealing with people which can be applied almost immediately one read them in the book.

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

The book was a great and inspiring read. It is my reference book for human relations.

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