Thomas Shereni – Assessments – International Institute for Global Leadership

As A Man Thinketh

Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

1. What is the main idea the author is trying to convey in the book?

The main idea the author is trying to convey in the book is the need for us to understand that our thinking is what makes us the people we are. Every person is a product of his or her own thinking system. What we imagine and focus our mind on will surely come to pass exactly as how we imagine it. Thoughts shape our destiny and bring the desired results whether good or bad. If one’s thinking is not properly aligned then he/she faces the risk of not being able to reach for the best in his/her life. Thoughts are seeds and they should be sowed and cared for if they are to produce fruits that are pleasing; they have to be attended to the way the Gardner looks after the garden. We need to ensure that they are properly cultivated and that all negative emotions are dealt with. If we desire to experience vibrant living we have to sow good thoughts everyday of our life. The truth can never be changed that “what we sow is what we reap”; whatever that we cherish in our minds we will reap it because results will always follow what we envision in our minds. What we treasure and value in our minds is what will prevail at the end of the day. If we desire to experience the best in our lives and be in a position to attract what we need, then our thinking has to be constantly renewed everyday. We should continue to feed our minds with the thoughts of what we desire. If I esteem thoughts of fear, jealous and hatred; then fear, jealous and hatred is what I get. The mind can be a centre of our progress or destruction if it is not properly re-oriented. Thoughts can empower us to live the life we intend to live whether good or bad. Right thinking is the source of all lasting joy. We need to bear in mind that it takes a lot of concentrated effort to extract precious stones from the ground, so is thoughts; they can only get refined as we take time to train our minds to think better; changing the way we think can empower us to live the way we desire. If our thoughts are nursed properly, they will bring the best out of us and when the best comes out, we discover fulfillment. I have to ensure that my thoughts are health if I am to live an effective life. Man is a true reflection of his or her thoughts. Good health thoughts will go a long way to boost my enthusiasm in the journey of life and help to build the lives of other people around me.

2. What were the seven most important ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas followed by an explanation why it was important to you? Use personal examples from your own personal life.

a: Thinking is the most valuable prayer: while I take a lot of time to deal and equip my physical body and to ensure that it is properly presented but in most cases I ignore to renew my mind and constantly clothe it with sound and health thoughts of success; I have discovered that taking time to think positive thoughts will brighten my life and give me a balanced advantage in my personal pursuits. It is my thinking that can shape me. So I have learnt everyday to tell myself how great I am and to remind myself that I am a true product of a living God who has made me in his own image.

b: All that has happened to me is not a coincidence but a result of what I constantly dwell my mind on. So if I continue to cherish good thoughts even my own life will change for the better; it is entirely up to me to decide what I want in my own life. So everyday I struggle to clear all negative emotions from my mind and to concentrate on things that bring positive results. None but me reserves the right to decide my own destiny.

c: Thoughts are life and powerful:Thoughts are fruits that bear after their kind; it is thoughts that shape up the real me. If my thoughts are ugly and boring, then what comes out is undesirable. The truth remains the same and acceptable to everyone that no good tree can produce sour fruits or a bad tree that can produce sweet fruits. Whatever a person sows is what the person will reap. I have refused negative emotions to rule my life or darken my hope for a better tomorrow; so I have adopted a system of feeding my mind with thoughts of hope and great expectations.

d: Thoughts influences the way I act: My actions and behavior are greatly influenced by what is in my mind; every action is a response to the kind of thought in my mind. My behavior is molded by my thoughts; if I think well about myself; even the decisions I make are quality decisions.

e: Fairness is the basis of a prosperous life: I am the author of my condition; if by any means I desire to be of service to mankind then I should be in a position to cherish balanced thoughts that are more health and positive. My failure is only a result of my thoughts; it is up to me to decide what I want. If I continuously inject thoughts of greatness in my mind then what comes out is greatness.

f: Thoughts are magnetic: They will always attract what they want; if my thoughts are negative and hopeless; what I will attract is failure and boredom. My mind has the power to attract what it desires; my mind holds the power to bring into effect what it desires. I have taught myself to cherish thoughts of a better tomorrow for myself and the people around me.

g: Poor thoughts can cause me to be out of tune with myself: I am a total product of my thoughts; if my thoughts about myself are not properly aligned then failure is automatic. The book of life clearly advises that “as a man thinks in his heart so is he”. Whatever that I desire I can become because my thoughts have the power to shape my destiny but I need to strike a balance that keeps my mind in harmony.

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

These ideas remain the central focus of my life in that without a sound mind it is practically impossible to shape my future because my future is in my mind. Poor thoughts of myself creates disharmony in me leading to poor performance. If I desire to experience the greatness of life then I should learn to constantly plant great thoughts in my mind. If my thinking is sound and progressive I can help to shape a better world for everyone. The world can be the reflection of all that I wish it to be. I wish to create a world of people who cherish and care for each other; a people who are supportive and available for each other; People who are not like the Biblical Cain who told God the almighty that I am not my brother’s keeper after he killed his own brother. To achieve the goal of building a better world, I need to renew and at the same time transform the way I think. I need to believe in the goodness of mankind and be determined to pursue my purpose on this planet.

4. 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?

Yes! “Good thoughts or action can not produce bad results; bad thoughts and action can never produce good results”

Results will always follow what is in my mind; nothing on this planet can defeat the power of thought. Thought is a force that can help me to reach the maximum results in life. Thoughts can also bring me sorrows and regrets if not properly cultivated. If I cherish what is good and constantly meditate on it, what follows is true success. Good health thoughts will go a long way in shaping my tomorrow. There is magic in cultivating my mind and getting rid of all the tired and sick thoughts that drain unnecessary energy from me.

“A man is not rightly conditioned until he is a happy, health and prosperous being”. All these good virtues are a result of good and forward thinking. Good thoughts condition my mind to experience health, happiness and prosperity. If I fail to tune my mind to a level of positive focus then these great virtues will be elusive leading to a life of boredom, lethargy, failure and regrets; if I want to scale the heights of a prosperous life, I have to train my mind to see things through the eye of an optimist.

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

No! The book is very loud and clear and the author’s commentary and articulation is comprehensible. I am impressed.

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

NO; no exercises to complete.

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

Yes! The book’s relevancy to leadership; good leaders believe in themselves and the validity of their vision and mission; to achieve this one has to fine tune his or her mind. Good thoughts have the potential to attract excellent opportunities for leaders. They will help leaders to lead effectively and spells out the clear purpose of the leader. If leaders want to win over the challenge of doubt and failure they should first conquer fear. They have to maintain an “I can win attitude”. If leaders alter the way they think they can easily influence the destiny of their people. Leaders need to understand their purpose and at the same time maintain a progressive attitude. If leaders get stuck in the rut that’s a derailment of progress and can lead to the total disintegration of a vision. All effective leaders cherish their cause and they work tirelessly to make sure that it is achieved.

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

Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The central theme of the book is about the undiscovered power that lies within each of us; that power can only function to our advantage the moment we begin to discover who we are. There are hidden capacities and powers in us but these powers can only be accessed the moment we take time and employ effort to unleash them. Success does not come from without but it is resident in each of us; what we only need to do is to discover our true purpose in life and then go for it. Without trying and commitment to details it is very difficult to reach the best of me; potential that is constantly developed and discovered will enable me to become the person I am supposed to be. If potential remains dormant life becomes a routine and boring, I will be tempted to blame anything for my failures. Sometimes in life I am bound to face discouragements, frustrations, resistance and negative people who are out to let me down but this is not the reason that I should throw in the towel, people who succeed in their endeavors are people who persist in everything they do. Even in the midst of possible defeat or in the darkest hour of my life I should always learn to see light at the end of the tunnel and keep moving forward towards my dream. Man is a goal striving being and without a goal there is no reason to exist. I have personally learnt never to allow circumstances to dictate my tomorrow; failing to develop myself will lead to a life of drudgery and eternal boredom that constantly bring a sense of condemnation in me. If my potential remains dormant and undiscovered it inhibits my success. This is the best lesson to me that all people who have made it to the top are people who strive for excellence and don’t allow stupid excuses to derail their progress. They are people who are not confined to routine procedures and traditional mindsets. They break the cocoon of human limitations and imposed opinions and to rise up and stand for their convictions. I will never allow tradition to be a handicap to my potential; I have learned to break imposed limitations. When you discover yourself you live a life of personal fulfillment. Success is not a mystery but only depends on my hunger to want to succeed. All successful people help others to succeed. They are not jealous or threatened by other people who seem to excel ahead of them; to them learning is an everyday experience. It is my mandate and duty to help others to discover their true potential.

2. What are the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why?

a. No matter the disagreements; I ahould persist:

It doesn’t matter the challenges I confront in life; I should not give in, even if it means going on a limp. As an entrepreneur I have encountered moments in life that I have lost potential business but I have always kept my confidence and moral that one day I will see the sun shine and experience my breakthrough.

b. I should derive success from personal motivation:

I don’t need to wait for anyone to take me out of the rut but I should always tell myself that I am better than what people think I am. I have trained my life to work up everyday and tell myself that “I am created in the image of God and no one has the right to tell me who I am except myself”. The one who created me will always be my reference point. I should not spend my time worried about what people think I am but what my maker say I am.

c. Taking the extra mile:

Even in the midst of failure and defeat, I have to do my best. The moment I feel discouraged that is the time I should feel empowered to reach for the best. When our local currency lost value I lost all my savings and business capital due to hyper inflation but I soldiered on until today without giving in to the emotion of desperation.

d. Challenging the status-quo:

I should not put limits around my life; neither should I stick to the rules of the book; if I want to discover the world then I should be ready to break the cocoon of personal limitations. There are no rules that are written on stone tablets; all rules can be broken to be redefined.

e. Never say die!

It is not over until it is over. To discover myself I should persist against all odds; I have to understand that failure is not final but a simple way to discover what works and what does not work. Several times I have encountered discouraging moments in my life , I have confronted stumbling blocks that could have disheartened even the most bold person but I have learnt to live with one philosophy that “Even if things go tough I will get the tough going”

f. I should keep replenishing my energy levels:

It takes a lot of energy to reach the best in my life. So if I wish to rise above mediocrity, I have to constantly keep replenishing my energy bank. Every day of my life I need to exercise my body to ensure that my energy levels are replenished for unexpected challenges.

g. I should not follow the crowd:

People who rise to be counted among the great of human existence are man and women who have defined their destiny and are ready to pay the price to realize their dreams. My greatest calling as a leader is to bring transformation in human lives and influence people to realize their true potential. It is in the power of my hand to shape the destiny of mankind and help to build a better world. My last 23 years of being a Christian leader has made me to realize that; I am on this planet not to hoard wealth but to make the world a better place for everyone.

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 concepts are fundamental in that they assist me to execute my mandate as a leadership development consultant for the past 23 years, I feel empowered to realize that, there is a lot to learn and a lot to give. The greatest calling of my life is to work for the good and benefit of mankind; I should ensure that people have come to a level of realizing who they are and what they are capable of achieving. These principles should form the basis of my entire calling and are the best ingredients I need to exert influence of permanent value in human lives. A great leader is one who is always concerned about the wellbeing of his/her people and associates. Greatness is not in exercising authority but in serving! People who give service always find fulfillment in anything they do. I should spend most of my time developing the talents and potentials of the people around me and make them to see the possibilities in their life. There is need for me to cultivate an atmosphere of possibilities and an environment of success. If the world is to be a habitable place for everyone then people need to be motivated to reach for the best in life; everyone should contribute for the success of everyone. Love remains the balancing pivot for a great world because if people are loved, they bring the best out of them and they build a society that is devoid of selfishness and greedy; a world that is ready to share and help each other for the betterment of everyone.

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

Yes! “I don’t mind being bone and feathers mom, I just want to know what I can do in the air and what I can’t do, that’s all what I want to know”. Commitment to a cause is what produces outstanding leaders; no matter the opinions of the people around me they should not influence my decision. True leaders stand for what they believe, they refuse to be molded according to human opinions; they always strive to understand their abilities. They keep enlarging their territories and scouting for better ways of doing things. I should stand and defend my personal convictions even if it means losing friends and popularity. When I fight for noble purposes I am bound to face resistance and opposition from within the camp but it is the same opposition that will propel me to greatness. Opposition is a furnace of refining noble ideas that will stand the taste of time. The more I am opposed the more I should be determined to stand for truth.

“For the next day he tried to behave like the other gulls; he really tried!” I should never try to mold my life to be like someone. Leaders are outstanding people they shine wherever they are. They discover who they are and work towards their perfection; I will never allow circumstances to dictate to me what I will become in life. People who achieve greatness don’t waste energy and time trying to be like others but they define their destiny and work towards personal fulfillment. I should be ready to pay the price of what it takes to achieve my life’s dream.

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

NO! The narration of the book is clear, straight forward, audible and sequential and very simple to follow the line of thought. I think this is one of the best master pieces of all time!

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?

No exercises 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.

Yes! There is always a level of illumination that comes when I reach the maximum level of my potential; this is the level when I can build a legacy. When I reach perfection my foot prints can not be rubbed off on the sands of time and my existence will be cherished in all generations that come after me. When potential is fulfilled, illumination comes that will make me greater than life and my life will influence the world. A better world can only be established by men and women who make ceaseless attempts to unleash the sleeping giant in them and who are ready to pay the price in any form!

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

ü How interesting was it to read? 10

ü How helpful were the contents? 10

ü How easy was it to understand? 10

ü Would you recommend it to others? 10

Keys to Success
Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

1. What are the main ideas the author is trying to convey in the book?

The main idea the author is trying to convey in the book is the effective keys that are necessary for every human being to unlock his or her potential in life. These principles are important in the sense that anyone who took them seriously can reach unlimited heights in life. In any endeavor that you attempt to do in life these listed principles can be a catapult to release you to your life appointed destiny. Anything that you commit your mind to do there is no barrier that can stop you except your own mind; our failure lies in our thoughts; if we can condition our minds then we can achieve anything in the present life. Purpose will remain at the centre of our beings because it is purpose that can motivate us to become what the creator intended us to be. The reason why we are born is what spells the reason why we live; following your life purpose will bring fulfillment in anything that we commit our minds to do. Without whole hearted commitment to a purpose then we have no choice but to live our lives in drudgery; no dream can successfully be reached unless purpose is first defined. Our minds contributes a lot to our success; before you think you can do anything we have to deal with what has been programmed in our minds; our childhood up-bringing and associations can be a negative force in our attempt to move forward. So we have to first deal with some of these destructions and forces because they can militate against us in the future. It is purpose that can help us to attract opportunities that can catapult us to reach our intended destine; Human progress is not just adapting to good environment but to be able to shape our minds and help to develop our societies for the best of everyone; Our minds should be tuned to look outside ourselves and answer to the cry of mankind; meet the needs of humanity and bring amicable solutions to grieving people. Our victory and achievement will always be determined by the strength of our minds; if we are positive about our contributions then we will shape a better society that is good and fulfilling for everyone; all worthwhile goals are a result of strong determined minds that are human oriented. In the process of following our dreams in life we should also consider the input and contributions of our friends; associates; pals and all the people around us because these thoughts and ideas will help us to become better people; we should be open to paradigm shifts and learn to embrace the wisdom of our brothers and sisters; this will enable us to maintain our cutting edge; we should cultivate qualities that are fundamental to drive us to achieve our life dream and reach for our best in life; these qualities should drive our personalities and monitor our attitudes; We need a positive mental attitude; a good mind to make sound life decisions; humor to fuel life; love to flame the torch of progress; sincerity in our day to day dealings; tolerance to maintain sound relationships; emotional control to balance our focus; faith in the universe and the creator of all mankind and enthusiasm to drive our noble ambitions. Action will allow us to experience the effective powers of these indispensible forces; we should apply them day in and day out without restriction. No matter the obstacles and destructions that we are going to face we should not give up but to soldier on until we achieve the dream of our life. We should keep our focus sharp and never open room for negative forces to underplay our endeavors. We need persistence to stabilize our valid emotions knowing that all our efforts will benefit mankind. We should not lose sight of our goals but to maintain our zest and gusto as we sail towards our life objective; a disciplined life will enable us to maintain our integrity and reputation within our societies and spheres of influence; it will keep a good name for us and help draw people to invest there ideas and resources into our dreams; we need to keep our minds focused and never to be puffed up; and also believing in the abilities and contributions of other people to help us achieve our noble ambitions; Even if we fail we should not be deterred but to continue looking for better ways to advance the cause of mankind. We should move forward knowing that failure is no fatal but a refinery of noble causes. We should not lose sight of the vision that we pursuing.

2. What are the seven ideas which were personally important to you and why? List the seven ideas, followed by an example each one to why it is important to you; use personal examples from your own life.

i. Having a purpose!

This is what defines a man and empowers someone to reach for his /she destine in life. Every time I wake up I have learnt to ask my self this question; what on earth am I doing? This has enabled me to live a healthy life full of great expectations.

ii. Attractive personality!

This is what makes me important and gives me a sense of wellbeing; what I think of myself is what I will become; my outward appearance is a reflection of my thoughts. Every morning I take a meditation exercise to empty all unworthy thoughts from my mind and feed it with positive thoughts. I make it a sure case that my appearance is acceptable to the people.

iii. Faith!

Faith will be the magnet that will help me attract anything that I need; although it is invisible but the results are tangible and motivational. This force will propel me to greatness. Faith has become my daily motto whenever I am doing my daily chores; Nothing is impossible to those who believe and all things are possible to those who believe and faith has the potential to move even mountains. Without faith in me, no one can risk to believe in me.

iv. Going the extra mile!

Giving up is not part of my life and I have come to believe that if I am down that does not mean that I am out. Life is a continuous challenge and every day has its own challenges to meet. No matter what I confront I will strive until I reach my destiny. In every experiences that I am going through everyday, I have maintained a never die attitude by handling a problem at a time.

v. Enthusiasm!

This is the force that shapes my personality; things may be unpleasant in life; the going might get tough but with enthusiasm and a positive mental attitude I can sail through. Enthusiasm is my fuel to drive to my destiny; Everyday I wake up I look into the mirror and speak to the person in the mirror that today is a good day that the Almighty has designed and I’m going to rejoice and be glad in it.

vi. Discipline!

Without this I can achieve lasting success; this is what maintains my integrity and preserves my reputation; I have taught myself to live my word and walk my talk, every decision that I make is above board.

vii. Building teamwork!

I am not an island and I have no monopoly of wisdom; other people can help me to be a better person; I have learn to depend on others for effective guidance and advice to help me make sound and acceptable decisions. I have cherished dependency above independency; iron sharpens iron so do one man to another; the more I rely on others the easier it is for me to reach my ultimate destiny.

3. How will the ideas and 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 invaluable ideas and lessons have helped me to go deeper in into myself and reconcile my personal ambitions and emotions and balance them with my life vision; and in the process I have discovered that there is so much to be done in the world for the progress and betterment of humanity. Life is not worth living as long as there are people with needs that are crying for fulfillment; we as human beings are predestined to bring solution and at the same time solve human problems. We are not creatures for prosperity; personal glory and personal ego for celebrity; but our great creator has purposed that we each contribute to bring a better acceptable world for everyone. If I happen to be privileged to access resources let me use them for the best of everyone so that together we can make the world a better inhabitable planet that is free of selfishness; poverty; hunger; hate; killing; ego; lack as we strive each to fulfill his/her destiny.

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

“Tell me how you use your time and how you spend your money and I will tell you where you will be in ten years.”

The composition of the se two ingredients; time and money can produce a successful life that is if they are wisely mixed; time is what determines what we are suppose to do and achieve before we die and money is the resource that can assist us to reach for our intended our purpose; If the two important qualities are abused they spell disaster to both us and people around us; If time is abused our world will never progress; and if money is not wisely channeled it becomes a lethal weapon that can destroy all the good in the world.

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

The clarity of the book is awesome and the description goes beyond just mere words; I am glad to lay my hand on such a clear and informative writing and I am confident that these lessons will help to improve the standards of my belief and life passion.

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 valuable exercises that helped me to re-capture all the lessons that I learned throughout my reading time; the lessons were practical and easy to follow.

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

Eating Habits! I found this an informative and a valuable lesson that I should practice without fail because I’m who I am because of what I eat; if my eating is not good enough then even my life will not endure long enough; food makes the men and the better I develop good habits for a good diet the better for me; the recommendation is eye opening because without sound health you are not able to complete you tasks. Energy is a vital component in all human beings and without it we lose the taste of life completely.

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? 10

Psycho-Cybernetics 2000
Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

1. What are the main ideas the author is trying to convey in the book?

The main idea that the writer is trying to portray in the book is the central role our minds play in achieving our life goals. Our minds are so powerful that they can attract whatever that we desire in our own lives. When we focus our minds on something, nothing can stop us to reach for it; our limitation to succeed lies in our understanding of who we are; the image that we carry everyday is what makes us achieve success or failure. The mind is the most powerful resource in the success of any individual; with a strong positive mind you can touch the sky. It is the condition of our mind that determines your day; if we spend a lot of our time thinking about failure then we are likely to miss it. But a positive and affirmative approach can alter our poor imaging and give us the advantage of the day. A life of fulfillment and joy can be brought about by a positive and affirmative mind. What we imagine is what will always come to pass; my mind is what shapes the world and the goodness in it but if my mind has a wrong world view then the world becomes a difficult place to live in. Clear imaging of my self will go a long way to help other people to discover their God given potential.

The seven ideas that I got from this lesson is that this book deals extensively with the principles of success that are strongly engraved on the word “SUCCESS” as defined in the acronym;

i. I need a sense of direction to map my way in life; no matter what I do or attempt there must be clarity of intention; what is it that I want to do? When, who should assist me? How should it be done? When should it be finished?

When the intention is clear, even the results are distinct. Where there is no clarity of intention effort is wasted through useless complaining and procrastination. A sense of direction can make livelier any dream and it has the power to lift a person from being just ordinary to being super ordinary.

ii. Understanding

This will provide me with the leverage to be able to mix up with people from varied backgrounds and be able to meet them on a common ground without preconceived notions. Understanding will improve my personal relationships with my contemporaries and also allow me to add value in their pursuits. If I have a clear understanding of who I am, then I can also be in a position to help other people to shape their destiny.

iii. Courage

This is the force that can catapult me to any height of personal achievement; because with courage I can bulldoze any obstacles that confronts me in my journey of life; courage deflates fear. And no fear can stand in the presence of a courageous heart; with courage I can live my dream without being a counterfeit of another person. I will gather the boldness to write my own script and be the leading actor. I can watch my own movie that I direct on the big screen without feeling any sense of being in the wrong.

iv. Charity

Charity will make me understand the divine cause that I am in the world not for myself but for other people; there are people that also depend on me and my abilities to survive. When I learn to exercise charity I put other people first and at the same time be in a position to be there for them if they need me. Without the ingredient of charity the world will be a rough place to live in. This quality will act as a magnet in my life to attract people who share the same dream with me.

v. Esteem

This will keep me going even in the presence of insurmountable obstacles. A good regard of my self is fuel to outpace my temporal obstacles. I need to build a good opinion of myself if I am to follow through my life dream.

vi. Self confidence

This will re-enforce a belief in myself; without the quality of self confidence in me then it will be very tough for me to confront any of the challenges that I will come across; self confidence will enable me to look at life with an optimistic mind knowing that I am able to accomplish anything that I set my mind on; even if I am at the bottom of things I should be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Even if I am in the gallows I should be able to reach for the stars;

vii. Self acceptance

Is to do with me in accepting who I am and why I am on this planet. When I accept who I am, I am able to accept other people in my life. Self realization is the key to self acceptance; who I am will never be changed by any ideology; I can run away from anything but never from myself. So the challenge remains on me to accept myself and move on to live my dream.

3. How will the ideas and 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 are going to help me to live an effective life that is compliant to my personal image. I have been a victim of fear for a long time but self realization, self confidence, courage, understanding and a good personal image have changed me drastically; I am now able to live life that is based on my own written script. I will also strive to make charity a virtue in my life and live a life that will always bubble with confidence and enthusiasm. I would love to assist other people to realize that our attitude towards life is what will determine our altitude in life. So self imaging is the key to reach our best in life. The more time and resources we spend in building our images, the more advantage we have to move towards our life dream.

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

These statements got my attention;

“Focus on the destination.”

Life is always moving in the forward then there is no point to regret about the past or cry over spilt milk; if you fail, better fail your way forward; if you happen to fall stand up and go, don’t waste time meditating on the past failures. Failure is part of life and can only be overcome by a resolute and determined person; without the element of failure then we will not be able to learn anything. All people who made it in life had to deal with their failures and shortcomings to reach the top of the situation.

“Turn your mistakes into the road to success.”

Every mistake can be a good lesson in itself because it will drive us near to our destiny. Mistakes are not fatal but are part of life and they can help to bring out the best in us. They are a learning process and can be used as a refinery to purify our ideas and consciences. I should not at any level in my life allow my mistakes to instill in me a loser mentality but I should use them to map the way forward in my long term pursuits.

5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about/ are there any ideas that you disagree with and if so why?
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I am convinced that what ever the writer has written deserves credibility and are true lessons of life and who ever abides by these principles can meet his/her destiny without any delay.

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 are some exercises that I did and have completed them to ensure that I grasp the imagination of the writer.

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

I was struck particularly with the subject that deals with the sub-conscious mind and its ability to store and recount information that has been deposited into the mind for generations; I am pleased to also understand the simple techniques to reprogram my mind and do away with long established mind-sets that fight against my progress in life. This is the part of my life that I should use regularly to reach for my desired goals in life; so as a rule I should feed it with the right information that is constructive everyday; positive and affirmative. Without a strong positive imagination it becomes difficult to access my goals. I should deal with the mind-sets that my parents, school teachers, peers, friends has deposited in me which are not consistent with my image. All the negative voices that have been ringing in my mind should be cancelled by feeding positive and affirmative voices that are progressive and enlightening. I should learn to restrain my tongue and think before I make a statement; every statement I make about my self should lead to accomplishing my dream. Positive affirmations will assist me in building my image for the better; my mind can be an excellent instrument in helping other people to see the good that lies in them. If I am to be a contributor to the betterment of the world and its people then I should always be positive about tomorrow because without doing that then I can not help to change my world for the better. I need to ensure that all the people I am privileged to meet in my lifetime will live to remember my legacy and to me this is what I call success.

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

Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude

Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

1. What is the main idea the author is trying to convey in the book?

The main idea the author is trying to convey in the book is that, success is no secret at all and any person who has discipline and a stick-to-it attitude can accomplish anything he or she set his or her mind on. This unhindered commitment can shape the destiny of any individual and produces the desired results. The magic to success is how you as an individual decide; the strength of your resolutions and the degree of your determination to want to succeed will win at the end of the day. One needs to be positive that whatever he or she set his or her mind to accomplish will always come to pass; This positive frame of mind is what will determine our health, happiness, wealth and any other desires of our life. Our mind is the key secret to achieve success; if we are positive we will always be on the winning side but if we are negative we will always attract the wrong things.

A positive mental attitude has the power to attract the best in our lives, while at the same time a negative mental attitude will always bring a sense of failure in us. Anyone can decide at any time what he or she want to become in life; if he or she is positive he or she will attract the desired end. Our failure is not designed by our maker or creator, it is in the way we think and believe; even Jesus said, “So as you think so you are; and if you only believe all things are possible.” Man is the creator of his or her happiness. The best solution to live an effective life is to keep your mind off the things you don’t like and focus on the things you like. We can at the same time use negative experiences as a way to help us reach our goals in life. If we approach our negative experiences with a positive mind to come up with a working prescription then we can benefit a lot. Even if the situation seems to be drowning us we need to keep moving on until we achieve the ultimate objective. We need to keep believing and believing and building on our will to succeed.

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. We are poor not because of God!

Our creator has not designed us to be victims of circumstances but be rulers of our destiny. God has deposited the seed of success in anyone of us and it is up to us to use it; anyone can change his world provided he has got the will and determination to do so. There is no limitation to reach to the top; for every failure we face in life it is because we believe it so.

B. You have success born in you!

This is appealing especially to me because every time I am confronted with challenges I have learnt to harness my inner resources to stand up to the task; I have build a positive mental attitude that tells me that; “no matter the circumstance I am still the master of my destiny.”

C. Seeing is a learned process!

Wise people say that “some people look while other people see.” Seeing is an art that I need to develop in order to enhance my chances of success in every undertaking; I need to learn to look to things with an eye that is not ordinary. Seeing is an eye into the world of possibilities.

D. The secret of getting things done!

Action is the key component in seeing your dreams come true. Without action nothing will ever come to pass; I need to attempt my dream in order to come true. Nothing can defeat the power of a person who is ready and willing to take the first step. Without action our dreams will remain pipe dreams but action will turn them from just a figment of imagination into reality. Attempt your dreams and see them come true.

E. The magic power of “other people’s money!”

To succeed I need to take advantage of other people. I might have the most brilliant ideas since Albert Einstein but without resources I am nothing; for me to succeed I need to take advantage of the people around me and utilize them to help me reach for my most desired dream, Wealthy is easy to build by simply recognizing the role other people can play in your life. All the world’s most reputable businesses were not a result of great and strong financial balance sheets in the accounts of the dreamers but what they had was simple faith in there ideas and a belief in the goodness of mankind.

F. Handicaps are no barrier to success!

No matter your condition; no matter the limitation of your physical abilities you can overcome them as long as you have faith in yourself.

G. The magic power of my personal biography!

It is only me who can write my own story; I don’t need to let anyone tell the world about me but myself to tell my story.

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 help me to be in charge of my own life and be responsible for every decision that I make and that when I apply PMA in every situation that I confront in life I will be able to break through any barrier that life imposes on me. I am a person created in the image of a divine God who is all powerful and sufficient in everything. I should not doubt myself but always believe that who I am, is important than what people think. When I learn to acknowledge myself I learn to welcome other people in my life and by doing so I make the world a better place for everyone.These ideas help me to build a better image that can propel me to my life dreams. When my mind is healthy and strong then I can be able to stand against anything that militates against my progress in life. When I am positive and strong mentally then everyone around me will feel the same.

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

Yes! These statements remain the foundation and cornerstone of my life:

“Every adversity has the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit.”

I don’t need to take every opposition as an enemy but be in a position to evaluate why I am going through what I am going through. Enemies are not always there to pull me down but sometimes to help my resolve to achieve my dreams. The more enemies I face the more strength I have to move on.

“Don’t make your mental attitude make you a has-been!”

Sometimes our minds make us the people we are; our mental conditioning will determine what we become in life, if our thoughts are weak and negative that is what we become. If our mental conditioning is strong and positive we can withstand any negative emotion in our lives.

“Day by day in every way I am getting better and better!”

This is the foundation philosophy of my life; every day I make this confession before I begin my day and it has kept me going. As long as I tell myself that I am improving, the more focused I become and fear run away.

“Ignorance is a result of inertia!”

If I am to achieve anything in life I should learn to act; action gives birth to results and inaction is a de-motivation force, the more I act the more I move towards my goals. You can not wait for opportunities to come to you; you have to go for them. Great opportunities come to those who give it a trial.

5. Is there anything in this book you don’t understand and are unclear about? Or are there any ideas that you disagree with and if so why?

No! Everything is expressed in clear and readable language and has proved beneficial to my life. All the statements registered in this book are helpful and can not be ignored.

6. Did the book have exercises for the reader to complete? Did you complete the exercises? Did you find them helpful?

Yes! The book contained some review exercises and I have completed them and have been helpful in creating awareness in me about the need to build my positive mental attitude as a way to boost my chances of reaching for my life dream and at the same time building a better world for everyone. These insights have also altered my perception about my attitudes in life.

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

Yes! The ultimate purpose of man is to be able to understand yourself and be in a position to fulfill your destiny; but for you to understand yourself you have to build an image that is strong enough to endure all the challenges of life. For a person to sail through the storms of life you need to nurse a positive mental attitude that does not give in to negative perception; No person ever made it to the top who does not wholly believe in himself.

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

Giant Steps

Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

1. What is the main idea the author is trying to convey in the book?

The author is trying to express the power of positive mental programming and how it can help an individual to live an active life, which is above the petty uncertainties of this world. When you are strong in the mind and capable of thinking straight then you are able to navigate through without giving in to challenges and anxieties of everyday life. When problems threatens you; you can stand up and square up. When your mental programming is robust; it doesn’t matter what life tosses your way; you can cruise through without sinking; because your strength to overcome the odds is unyielding.

One needs to build strong inner values that can help him or her to regulate his or her destine. Strong inner values become the food that nurtures your body in the absence of physical strength. These values assist you to construct an image that is tolerable to the culture around you and even the imprint you make to the people who come in contact with you for the first time. When you live in a positive world; you build your own personal way of life that becomes your symbol during the course of your life. These valuable nuggets are the backbone of daily living and if absorbed with a willing heart can give anyone 365 days of joy and peace of mind. The best picture the author is interpreting is the need of level-headedness, optimism and focus in the journey of life and never to allow the downfalls of life to permanently destroy our hope of building a better world. Mental imaging activates the internal system to align with the outside image; so as to make known the real you. Encounters that we meet in everyday living demands that we be prepared mentally to confront them and still maintain our pose.

i. Decision and Goal Setting

In the life that we live; it is not what happens to us that matters but what happens in us. What we do with what happens in us is what is important. Everyday we are confronted with situations that demand us to make decisions; whether popular or unpopular. It is the total sum of the decisions that I make everyday that determines where I end up. These decisions profile my destiny. My decisions need to be accompanied with a goals plan that leads me to where I want to be. It is goals that will keep my life on track. Goal setting will help me to eliminate non essential issues and concentrate with issues that have a future impact for me. With good goals I can prioritize my time and be able to know whether what I am spending my time on is in line with my life dream. Goal setting can enable me to make decisions that will propel me to reach for the maximum best and utilize all my potential.

ii. Pain, Pleasure and Mental State

In life we all go through difficult times; troubles; and challenges and all these problems bring with them unbearable discomforts and misgivings that sometimes leave us with wounds that will take time to heal. Sometimes these scars will never be cured or wiped away in our thoughts, forcing us to live with bitterness and hatred that distance us from the rest of the world. But because of these lessons; I have learnt to accept the truth that; there are things that l can not change in life; no matter my status, position in the society or level of education. There are moments in life that I have to accept that; even bad things happen to good people as good as good things happen to bad people. The pain that I go through in life helps me to be stronger and built a character in me that is resistant to defeat. While I go through these difficult times I should also learn to take time to enjoy the pleasure moments that I encounter. The bible instructs us to accept circumstances of life with joy and hope; that one day the Lord almighty will reward us for our struggles. I should teach myself to adapt to challenges of life with joy and excitement. This state can only be achieved if I learn to discipline my mind and nourish it on a daily basis with positive thoughts. My mental state can bridge the gap between pain and pleasure; if I learn to think positively, I can enjoy life in its fullness. Mental stability determines my victory.

iii. Belief

What I believe in can help me to experience a step forward in life; this can also help me to shape my personal ethics; belief remains the only power that can help me to build a self-reliant life. When I am confident then I am resourceful and expressive. Societies are made resilient with the foundation of beliefs.

iv. The Science of Success Conditioning

Our mental programming is crucial on helping us to reach for our best in life. By mental programming I feel my mind with positive thoughts and at the same time do away with negative issues that retard my progress; if I feel my mind with success possibilities; then the possibility is high that I attract success. It is this conditioning that can determine how far I can go in life. Good mental conditioning is the fuel that keeps my mind on the going mode. When my mind is health then I can achieve health results. Self mental programming is the diet that nourishes the power of the mind and can sustain me in difficult times.

v. Emotions

Emotions have much to do with what happens in me and how I react to what happens to me. It is the state of my inner being; when my inner conditioning is not in a balanced state; I will derail my progress. It is how I program my inner self that will determine my ability to deal with external challenges and also conquer life’s difficulties. The only best way to keep my emotions productive is to first harmonise them; when my feelings are under control, even my reaction to outside challenges are driven by calmness. Emotional stability is the solution to mental stableness. This state will strike a balance between failure and success and between advancing and inaction.

vi. My personal compass: Values and Rules

Values are what I cherish; they determine who I am in reality; my values are what consolidate my beliefs and viewpoint for life. Thy are the beckon light that illuminates my behavior; If life is built on the right values then I don’t need to struggle for success because my ethics become my compass to direct me to where I want to be. Good morals are a total guarantee for a successful living. These values will also help me to fashion a philosophy to live by; Values are indispensable to treasure because they lay a good foundation for a better world in which people can network and share successes without being resentful of each other. A Society that is found on good moral values reverence the civil liberties of others and share resources impartially. If people establish their lives on good sound values that accept other people and willing to share; then the world becomes a better place for everyone. But if the foundation of a society is built on the ground of self-centredness; animosity, resentment, cold-bloodedness and many other vices become the order of the day. Poor value system can lead to the crumbling of development in any civilisation.

vi. Key to an Expanded Life: Identity and References

Personal identity is what will regulate my importance and strength in society; if I know who I am and am confident with that; then I am able to sail through life without misgivings and hatred. Personality power is built on the basis of self recognition and acceptance. Who I am will determine my failure and success. When my identity is real; I don’t waste time struggling with the opinions of other people on who I am. Self realisation is character empowerment and can enable you to squarely fit into the social order and interact with all people without pre-conceived notions; the idea is simple in that; when you accept yourself; the people around you will also accept and support you; when they support you they can endorse you. This is how dependability and legacies are built.

3. How will these ideas help you in a practical way; both in daily and personal life and in helping you to create a better world; if so how?

These ideas will help me to create a compact life that is grounded on sound ideologies; and this can enrich my character; life is characterized by troubles and challenges but these ideas can help me to strengthen my resolve to deal with these barriers. If my inner state is calm and my personality is blooming; I am able to face life without giving in. In life I am bound to face problems and challenges but it is how I package myself that will determine my strength and ability to overcome these difficulties. When I confront hostilities I can remain composed because inside of me peace is prevailing. The peace in me will always create an atmosphere that is beneficial to communicate with other people without triggering confrontation. A strong foundation of inner values will assist me to relate to the society that I live in and at the same time to create an acceptable atmosphere of friendship. This friendship will result in a common ground that will lead us to find each other. Societies can be better places to live if all of us put some effort to create an enabling environment that is ready to support each other and listen to the voice of reason.

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

“No matter her intent, her commitment to a higher standard compelled her to act.”

This is a statement of commitment that can only be associated with a person who is totally married to a vision of the highest order. It is commitment to higher standards that can enable me to achieve my life’s dream. Sometimes I become vulnerable to destructive forces around me but that won’t stop me to reach for the best.

“What usually drives our behavior is gut reaction not intellectual calculations.”

Inside of me is a feeling that is not visible to human eyes; but this is the same feeling that helps me to face the challenges of life without shrinking. Guts are powerful emotions in my daily life because they help me to make decisions that have a strong bearing on my future.

5. Is there anything that the author said that you don’t understand and are not clear about or are there any other ideas that you disagree with and if so say why?

Everything is clear and enlightening; the author’s chronicle and simplicity of account is beyond grasp.

6: Did the book contain exercises for the reader? And if so did you do them? And did you find them helpful?

Yes and they were a source of real-world empowerment

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 lessons I have learned from this book are immense particularly when you aim at building a better world that is satisfactory to every citizen. Every person is assigned by the all-mighty God to be a contributor to bringing the divine plan to realization; a better world for everyone.

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

How to Win Friends and Influence People

Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

1. What is the main idea the author is trying to convey in the book?

He is trying to convey the art of getting along with people without arousing hostility; how to make people like you and how you can get what you want from someone without using manipulative tactics. There are skills in everyday conduct that are necessary to be implemented if you want to get along well with people; these skills can be learned and practised in our daily conversation. The most complicated thing in life is to deal with people because by nature people are difficult creatures and because of that they are sometimes fragile. It takes skill and understanding to be able to deal with people; people react differently to what happens around them; so human relationship skills are crucial in establishing lasting relationships. These skills make the society conducive to live in. The only person who can impact and influence society is the one who is able to cultivate lasting relationships. Friends make us rich and the more we return them the richer we are in every area of our lives.

The author has highlighted the need to develop leadership skills in human relationships in order for me to progress in my line of pursuit. The ability to deal with people can turn me into an indispensible person. People are the most valuable commodity on the market; so as such; they need to be given the highest consideration every time we have the opportunity to relate to them; they are highly fragile and hence the need to handle them with extra care. People who have developed their human relationship skills have the whole world in the palm of their hands because they possess one great quality that is rare among human beings; which is listening. People who take their time to listen before they speak are in demand everywhere; this ability to listen is the key to effective human relationships. When you have good ears people are ready to sacrifice anything to relate to you; people love to be listened to; they enjoy talking to someone who is attentive to them. Our progress in making our society a better place to live in will to a larger extent depend on our ability to relate to each other in our daily living.

2. What are then seven most important ideas which are important to you? And why? List the seven ideas and followed by an explanation why it was important to you? Use personal examples from your own personal life.

If you want to gather honey don’t kick over the bee-hive.”

This is an excellent principle in public relationships; honey is sweet but it can only be extracted by sacrifice. It takes risk to gather honey. For you to be able to gather honey; you have to be friendly to the bees; otherwise you trigger consequences that are very unpleasant. This is the same in business; long lasting relationship are a result of good customer care. If you want to make money and live longer in business; then take time to build your customers and at the same time be in a position to help them in the best possible way. Lasting organisations have laid their foundation on the ground of good customer care. In my sales business I ensure that all my client’s needs are satisfied. I have come to a point of acknowledging that all businesses that are driven by profit mentality don’t last longer but all businesses that are more focused on client satisfaction will always have an edge above the rest. Repeated sales in business is a sure sign that a customer is happy; I have dealt with the most difficulty buyers who have given me good business by simply applying some of these principles. I have learnt not to criticise; I don’t speak when a customer is speaking and I don’t take offence even if a customer have something against my products. When you take time to listen to people they give you the respect that is due to you. People love to be listened to and they enjoy the company of those that take their time to attend to their needs.

b. A simple way to make a good first impression.

The power of a smiling face; this is the key to make yourself being liked; smile is a simple expression to tell someone that I love you without using words. A smile is a magnetic force to attract people to you even the most difficult ones. People who smile don’t have a problem in dealing with people. When you smile towards a person you easily engage the person into a conversation; a smile is a clear reflection of a deep inner feeling of appreciation; it is welcoming and receptive. Even the most difficult person can not resist then power of a smiling face. This is one of my personal strength in dealing with my clients everyday; I have taught myself that no matter how gloomy the day might seem but I have to smile; This has managed to build customers that are welcoming and responsive to my needs. Smiling has influenced my good health for the past 27 years since I learned the secret.

You can’t win an argument

People love to talk; they love to give instructions; they love to get their opinions heard without criticism. Arguments arise when listening skills are abused. In daily relationships always create an environment that is welcoming to other people’s opinions. You can easily disagree to agree; try to find a common ground. I have cultivated this technical over the years and have witnessed fruitful results. I have made listening a part of my life; this has bought me respect among my peers.

d. The secret of Socrates

The truth is established that always find a common ground with the other person for you not to arouse hostility; when a common ground is found; you agree on common issues and differ amicably. When people are in agreement, they harness the power of mutual understanding. When you are engaged in a conversation; never try to prove that someone is wrong; always appreciate other people’s views without criticising. My sales responsibilities require me to accept any form of criticism that might be said by the customer without argument. I have come to realise that it takes more time and energy to defend a “no” than to support a “yes.” Even in training my personnel I also prepare them for a yes answer.

e) “What everybody wants?”

People don’t need to be told that they are wrong even if they are; People cherish their ideas and actions and they are entitled for them. So the best way to relate to them is not look over their shoulder and dictate to them what to do and how it should be done. In everything learn to give a positive complement and you will see the miracle of commitment. People can do anything and can go beyond the call of duty in order to compensate for a complement.

“If you were wrong admit.”

There is nothing more humiliating than to admit a failure but at the same time there is nothing more empowering and comforting than to say; I am sorry I was wrong. People love to associate with humble people; when you admit your wrong; you kill you self pride that can block the flow of a genuine relationship. People who are quick at admitting their wrongs easily heals a situation; they are in demand in resolving conflicts. I have had a lot of explosive encounters that I won by the power of admitting that I am sorry I was wrong; I have defused potentially explosive encounters by employing this principle.

g. “No one likes to take orders.”

People don’t want to be told what to do because they feel they are entitled to their ideas. They feel being told what to do and how to do it is a mockery to common sense; People cherish their ideas and they feel strongly that they are part of them and should be rewarded and be complemented for them. This is why they resist any attempt by any authority to try to devalue them. If you want to witness the potential and ability of human being then exercise the principle of giving them the liberty of using their brains freely without ordering them around. People can transform the environment of an organisation as long as their contributions are accepted without conditions. This is how I conduct my sales training; I have always maintained the stance that; every thought is valuable to improve our sales and everyone is capable of thinking. Communication requires some level of diplomacy; you have to hear what you are saying from the ears of your listeners and are able to accept it. This is why it is not properly advised to order people around without first feeling what they are feeling. I have always exercised restrain in my profession when dealing with people’s emotions; this I do by paying attention to every contribution that my members of staff suggest.

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

They are fundamental to me in the sense that these are the key to sound human relationship. Every society revolves around good and sound relationships. If people can learn to live amicably then they learn to appreciate each other and hence create a better world. A better world can only be experienced when people begin to value one another without prejudgements clouding their minds. When a society is build on the foundation of mutual acceptance; people believe in each other; they contribute to the success of each other; they eliminate greedy and they work towards a common goal. The common goal will result in elimination of poverty, hatred, diseases and unnecessary wars and wastages of recourses that are being channelled towards evil. In a society of mutual acceptance people learn the power of love and compassion. They demonstrate this love by actions that are directed to uplift each other. The current problem that our world is facing today is of selfish minds that are busy manipulating natural resources for personal advantages not for the good of every citizen. The almighty God has given us all that we need to make this place a better place but because of our greedy; we have turned this world into a war zone because each person is fighting to dominate the other person. I have found the principles laid in this great writings a corner stone to create a better world by learning to value divine principles of love and sharing. I have started to instil these great values in my own children as a foundation of a stable home. I feel if these principles are properly taught and spread, they can heal our sick world that is suffering from the infectious disease of selfishness; pride; greedy; intolerance and unforgiveness.

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

“Don’t criticise.”

This is a tried and tested principle that has passed the test of life and has helped to build sound relationships. People who don’t criticise are like a magnet because they attract everyone. People who don’t criticise create friends than enemies. They have developed a unique attitude of accepting anyone.

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 I did complete them and were refreshing and complimentary.

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.

Everything was covered in an orderly fashion that is clear and eye opening; the book is a masterpiece and is timeless; it has helped to influence my thinking and vision about life and the crucial role I should play in building a better world for everyone; this is the major reason why God the creator of the universe has allowed me to be part of this planet.

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

Real Magic

Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The main idea the author is trying to convey in the book is the possibility that the human mind is capable of producing any desired miracle as long as it is properly programmed. It takes believing to be able to witness a miracle in one’s life. As long as we have faith we are able to talk anything into existence from the invisible world. It is faith that brings the things that are not to be real in our life. The human mind is capable of anything provided that it is fed with the right data. All that we are today is the total sum of what we have programmed in our minds since childhood; our fathers; mothers; mentors and influential people have been feeding us with information since our birth; this information is what is producing the results of all our experiences today. We revolve around the power of the sub-conscious mind; this is the force that connects us to the divine power. Human beings are a series of programming that started during childhood. People are capable of creating their own miracles as long as they have the right faith. Living a life of miracles is very easy as long as you train your subconscious mind to stay in the right state of believing; the mind needs to accept the possibility that all things are possible. The author highlighted significant points that are necessary to create a conducive environment that can bring about a miracle in your own life; for example; you need to have a level of enlightenment that comes through suffering. It is not all that happens to us that is bad; some experiences help us to climb the ladder of life. All bad things that have happened to us are not necessarily bad but they happen to make us realise some other important lessons and these lessons have helped us to grow and become better people. The Holy book teaches us that; we should count it all joy when we fall into diverse temptations knowing that the trial of our faith produces patience and that patience will bring us hope. When we go through difficult times we learn the art of believing; so suffering molds us to be perfect people who are ready to tackle any challenge without fear. When you go through difficult times and come out victorious; you build a level of confidence in you that will enable you to face the next challenge with a sense of boldness; all things happen to us for a good purpose. When we embrace the suffering that comes through enlightenment; we can then rejoice with the outcomes. The outcomes are what come through endurance; these are trophies of persistence and unshakeable faith. When you endure a lot; you need to be rewarded to be happy. Sometimes the reward might not be material or tangible; it can come as a sense of joy or a new level of excitement in you. When the outcome is honestly appreciated then you are able to build your life purpose; purpose is why we live; this is the major reason of our creation. When God made us; he intended us to fulfil a certain assignment on this planet. This assignment is the reason why we live. When you have a grasp of your purpose your life begins to take a meaningful direction; you then can direct your potentials and kinetic energy to useful things. Purpose is what gives you the reason to live; without a clear purpose you live your life in a cloud of mist; disappointments; hopelessness; negative thinking and doubts. Purpose energises you to take extra responsibilities not as a sense of duty but for the good of everyone. When you have a reason to live for; you can not be districted by temporal setbacks; you fight until you win. People with purpose don’t struggle to reach their best in life because they don’t get their motivation from outside but within them. They don’t waste time competing or fighting to be the best; they just do what they are suppose to do. All what they do is for the benefit of all. Purpose is divine and it enables us to fulfil divine assignments; this is what King Solomon said; “many are the purposes in a man’s life but it is the Lord that brings them to pass.” When we follow our purpose; we finally reach for our full potential.

a. Enlightenment through suffering

People don’t want to suffer; they can pay anything that can help them to take away the pain of suffering; if given a choice; people can choose to live in abundance than to suffer to be better. What I have realised in my journey of life is that; anyone who have never gone through the baptism of suffering will never appreciate and value the benefits that comes with suffering. We are products of what we go through in life whether good or bad. All great people who are recorded in the pages of history had to go through impossible challenges to reach their full potential. It is through challenges that we build the will to reach our maximum potential;

b. Enlightenment through outcomes

At this level you don’t worry of what happens to you; you don’t blame people for your failures. You don’t question the integrity of God. You are entirely convinced that all that happens to you only happens to give you strength to overcome. Despite the fact that I have gone through a lot of challenges in my 45 years of being on this planet; there is one thing that life has taught me; if you want to be a conqueror learn to count it a joy when you face trials. Trials help me to built a spirit of endurance and when I endure; I learn to believe in the reality of life that; there is a higher power to depend upon which I can call anytime; in all my trials and tribulations I have seen the invisible divine hand guiding me to my victory. When God is on my side nothing can be against me.

c. Becoming a spiritual being

While man is a physical being; more than anything else he is spiritual and it is this spiritual part that has the connection to the divine; it is this spiritual part that always want us to communicate with divine. When we pass through the level of sense knowledge; we begin to appreciate and acknowledge the divine and its relevancy to our existence. The more we live in the spiritual the easier it becomes for us to create our own miracles.

d. Creating a miracle mindset

Understanding the role of the subconscious will help us to appreciate what it can do to produce a miracle in our life; the subconscious is a bank that has been deposited all the events that have happened in our life; and these events can easily be triggered by circumstance for them to manifest into the physical realm. So how we program our subconscious mind is critical in creating a miracle life. If our mind is positively programmed; then we can cause anything that we desire to be physically manifested. Wrong thinking can easily attract wrong results and sound thinking can bring our desires into realisation. Every time I ensure that I clean my mind of all the negative thoughts that I accumulate during the day; before I go to sleep I take some few moments of deep thinking. I use this exercise to flash out some toxic thoughts that I could have stored in my mind during the process of the day and I replace them with some thoughts of hope and courage to face tomorrow. This exercise has helped me to realise that men was created to have a good fellowship with his creator; I have learnt the principle of living a day at a time.

e. The real magic and my prosperity

Jesus made a very stunning revelation that still remains the biggest influence in creating personal miracles; “if only you believe; all things are possible to those that believe.”In believing you have the greatest assurance that the one who has promised will be faithful to fulfil the promise. If you think you are health then that is what you are. If you think the opposite that’s what you will get. Miracles can only start to manifest in our lives as long as the level of our faith is increased.

f. Real magic and my personal identity.

Knowing who I am is the key to empower myself because self realisation create a sense of personal pride in me; this personal pride is what instils in me the confidence to face life’s taught situations without blaming anyone even if I fail; in self identity I build the confidence to stand up to any challenge without finding fault or doing the witch hunting exercise to find out who made me to fail. If I can appreciate myself that means that I can appreciate anyone.

g. The real magic and my physical health

Health is what I am and it is the force that keeps motivating me to appreciate the beauty of life and its surroundings; when I am in good health then everything around will respond to that emotion. So there is great need to keep my body in the best shape by exercising; eating well; living well and taking in the right deity. When you are health that means your mind is very strong and you don’t waste your time trying to prove your worth; you don’t take corners to succeed. When you fail; you fail honourably and you don’t waste time blaming yourself; you are able to pick up the scattered pieces of your life and move on.

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

These ideas are more helpful in the sense that they remain the backbone of miracle living; they are more practical than fiction. If these ideas are correctly grasped they can change a nobody into a somebody. They are of solid truth that can not be disputed with a sane mind. The ideas have instilled in me a sense of destiny; with these solid ideas you can live above frustration and defeat. The ideas are wings for anyone who has the ambition to soar the skies and discover the beauty of creation; we are created to live a miracle life and it is up to us to decide the role we should play to build a better world. As long as these ideas are cherished; then anyone who believes and take time to appreciate the greatness of our creator will be rewarded.

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

Lots of great statements were said but they are clearly covered in the questions.

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

No.

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 some exercises to do and I did 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.

The lessons where enlightening and powerful

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

The New Dynamics of Winning

Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

1. What is the main idea the author is trying to convey in the book?

The most important ideas the author is trying to covey in his book is the need to have an open mind that accepts possibilities. A mind that is not enclosed but willing to explore and get results at any cost. The human mind is a powerful weapon that can drastically change our lives as long as we believe in it.

a. What makes a winner?

I have noted the three basic components that are essential to produce a winner in any field of calling. Common sense: this is the inborn ability to interpret complex issues and round them down to basics. common sense is required in any pursuit in life. The more things are made simple the easier it becomes to achieve them. This is an indispensable gift given by the Almighty to his people to help them reach out for their best in life. Knowing your field: this is what makes you an expert in your field of Endeavour. This is what gives you authority to attract a followership who buys into your vision. people love to follow people who are sure of where they are going and confident that they are reaching there.

Self reliance: This is the true quality of effective leaders; they are dependable and trusted. They don’t seek for approval from other people but they are confident to reach their goals even if the situation says never. Leaders who believe in themselves don’t betray the trust invested in them by the people who follow them. They have inner conviction that whatsoever they set their minds to do; nothing will stop them.

b. Paying the price

Achievers don’t just wait for a lucky break; they give it all what they have. They are always on the forefront of the battle. They are prepared to put on an overall and get their hands dirty. Sacrifice is what makes champions and brings about wonderful results. Life demands that in whatever I set my heart to do; I should do it with all my heart without bothering wither I fail. Sacrifice is what turns my obstacles into advantages. Because nothing can stand in the way of a person who is ready to give it a trial.

c. It begins with a dream

Dream is the foundation of all breakthroughs in life. Dream is what I set my mind to achieve in life. without a sound dream life becomes a boring adventure; it lacks excitement. dreams ignite our passion to build a world that is habitable and conducive for human exploration. Life can be very interesting if every person plays his part by living out his or her dream. Dream is what defines a true person and those who are just living for the sake of breathing.

d. Fame; fortune and integrity.

While it is noble and a worthy goal to achieve fortune and fame; there is need for any person to live a life of honor. Integrity is the pillar of honest achievement in today’s society. When men of integrity speak, they are worth listening. Without integrity no one will risk following me. in everyday of my life I continue to cultivate this trait. This is what will make me live with a free conscience, knowing that all my labors and contribution are not in vain. Integrity will help me to leave being a legacy that can benefit mankind.

e. Visualization of victory

A true leader keeps his eye ahead; he is not limited by the shortness of his followers sights. I have to constantly keep the pictures of where I want to be in the next few years. Visualization enables me to deal with the challenge of failure because I live my dream in advance. I see things before they come to pass. This is the key to reach my destine.

f. Self- confidence and self-transformation; this is the assurance that I have; that my dream will materialize.

Without these two attributes my dream is doomed. As I pursue my dream, confidence will make me stand in times of opposition. Self-transformation will continuously energize me to clean my mind and focus on things that matter most in life. I off-load unnecessary burdens that weigh me down and incorporate things that add value to my dream.

g. The quality of leadership

Everything depends on how I want it done; what I visualize is what will come to happen. So my leadership plays an important role to bring my dream to fruition. There things that I should cherish as a leader to enable me to achieve my goals in life. People enjoy following good leaders. people are ready to invest anything in any dream as long as the person proves that he/she is a worthy leader. People invest in dependable leaders. I long to be a leader who is reliable and bankable.

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 to build a strong foundation that is laid on a solid ground of sound ethics and ethos. These ideas are fundamental in the sense that they represent everything that every leader in every sector should cherish. In building a better world I need to involve lots of qualities that are proven and tested by time; this will help me to enhance my ability and stay on track. If I am to succeed in building a reputation that people will emulate in the future then I need to follow in the foot steps of men and women who have walked the talk and have managed to model society to move forward. Our society is in desperate need of men and women of integrity, who don’t compromise their principles in order to win popularity. The world is desperately crying for men and women who live what they teach and stand for.

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

Yes there are notable statements of value that the author has stated:

“If we are going to satisfy customers and win in the market place then we have got to simplify more; delegate more and simply trust more.”

No leader is a champion on his own; we also have to trust the insight of other people. Without people who take orders leadership is a nullity. When people are given the opportunity to contribute they feel they are appreciated; they can go out of their way to bring value into the system. People are creative as long as their efforts and contributions are rewarded fairly. Customers are the biggest contributors to the lifespan of a product or service. Without outspoken customers products or services don’t survive the test of time. So it is practically important for any person or service provider to treat their customers with respect. This is the adage that customers are kings come in.

5. Is there anything that the author said that you don’t understand and are not clear about or are there any other ideas that you disagree with and if so say why?

The author’s writing was clear and to the point; my opinion is that the entire narration was orderly presented in a convincing way that could make anyone want to read the book again and again; the commitment to details is edifying and stimulating.

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 I did them and they were exciting and motivating in the sense that they had a personal application to my life. the lessons were life transforming and appealing.

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 lessons that I have learned in this book are that; as a person I have to continuously reform myself and keep up to date with developments on the ground. I need to continue renewing my mind and at the same time working on my confidence levels. I have to cherish and value things that add more value to my pursuits. There is a big need for me to also consult with other people who have been in the game before me. I have to also build a network of reliable men and women who will be my think tank. The most practical lesson I have learned is the 21days program or workout that I exercise every day as a way to imprint these principles in me. The exercises have been very helpful because it is practical and easily followed and timely targeted to bring outstanding results.

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

Goals
Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

1. What is the main idea the author is trying to covey in the book?

The author is trying to convey the simple massage about the power of goal setting. What goal setting can do to improve our lives and help us to appreciate the journey of life? A good goal’s program is an easy road map to success. Without a sound goal’s plan you are likely to hit an ice bag along the way. By losing your goal you have lost your way. Goals enable you to achieve success in a simple way. When you have sound goals in place nothing can stop you to achieve your intentions. Goals that are strategically put in place can lead you to your destination safely than goals that are random and vague. When you have goals in place you are assured of a safe journey free of hustles. People who set goals are stress free and can enjoy life to the maximum. They don’t waste time on trivial issues. They are focused and know what they want in life. Goal setting gives you the assurance of achieving your life desires. When you have goals you have a map and it will give you clear directions to where you are going. People without goals live life in circles and they are confined to the here and now. Lack of goals force you to settle for anything less than your expectations. When you have goals in place it is easy to project the future and make your dreams come true. The author’s encouragement is to build life on sound goals and to use goals as a road map to achieve our desires. Nothing can go in the way of a person who is determined to succeed and goals motivate us to deal with any unexpected obstacles that may move stealthily into our path. When a person has put his mind on something and is determined to reach for it then he or she should draw a plan that will enable him or her to achieve it. People who set goals are focused on things that matter and are not side tracked by people’s opinions. The reason why most people live without goals is because sometimes they fear what people will say if they fail to achieve the goals. They are not sure what they will do if they fail. The fear to set goals is what is limiting a lot of people to achieve their dreams. It is forcing people to settle for anything even if it is not what they want. Lack of goals has forced a lot of people to live in the dark corridors of hopelessness. Goal setting can catapult anyone to unbelievable levels of success. You don’t live your life under a mist but a clear sky. Goals can tone up your mental health and can coordinate your internal forces to rise above any form of discouragement or tension. When you have clear goals it is easy to scale the ladder of success in any field of your pursuit.

i. Take charge of your life!

The power to take charge of my life is the key to live effectively. When I am in control of myself everything I say goes, nothing can stop me to reach the pinnacle of success. Control is when I decide to give direction to my life and refuse to be enslaved by human opinion. The only way I can take charge of my life is when I start to set goals that can drive me towards my desires. Goal setting is the only key that can empower me to deal with trivial things that waste my precious time. As long as I don’t have charge over my life outside forces will dictate the pace on how I run my life.

ii. Clarify your values!

My values are what makes the person I am and what I stand for on this planet. This is what I cherish in life and the legacy that I wish to live behind. My values are integrity; faithfulness and sincerity. This is what I live for in life. Values cannot be compromised because they represent me. This is the platform I lay the foundation of my life.

iii. Determine your goals!

My goals need to be specific so that I won’t spend time chasing after shadows. When my goals are haze then I will be forced to spend a lot of time playing a merry go round game. My progress is limited and all my endeavors are a wasted energy. The first thing I have to do is to be very sure of what I want to do then I have to come up with a workable plan on how I want to get there; being specific will enable me to have the assurance that it can be achieved.

iv. Become an expert in your field!

I have to develop the habit of studying my area of expertise up until I know all the nitty-gritty’s. A good leader is the one who can do his or her job without much effort. He or she is an expert in her field of pursuit. When people are convinced that you know what you are doing then it becomes much easy for them to follow you. Followers love to be associated with leaders who are confident of where they are going and are convinced that they will arrive. Knowing everything about my field is what breeds confidence in me to make decisions that will have a long term bearing on the life of the organization.

v. Measure your progress!

It is essential for me to understand where I am in relationship to where I want to be. I should constantly be in a position where I measure my successes and at the same time be able to gauge if those successes are in line with set targets. A wise leader will always have a yardstick to measure his achievements.

vi. Make a plan of action!

I should plan the necessary actions I have to follow to arrive at my intended destiny. Without a clear plan it is easy for me to give up. Lack of planning can render a vision useless. Planning is the key to reach for what I desire in life; if I fail to plan I am planning to fail. A clear plan can lead me to success. When I approach life with well-planned goals, I am assured of victory. Planning breeds confidence.

vii. Visualize your goals
I have to constantly see my goals as achieved. This will give me an assurance that what I am expecting will come to pass because seeing is believing. If I don’t see it in my mind first then it is not possible to achieve it.

3. How will the ideas help you in a practical way both in daily and personal life and in helping you create a better world? If so how?

These ideas will help me to put my life on the right track and build the much needed confidence in me. A sound life is laid on the foundation of sound principles. When I follow good ideas progress is certain even the people who follow me are confident of victory. The world is looking for men and women who are willing to sacrifice anything in order to bring out the best for everyone. Goal setting will enable me to pursue things that will benefit mankind and sustain my legacy long after I am no longer there. Goals can help me to build a health society.

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

“I am better than I know!”

This is the statement that touched my life and has had a great impact on me. I am more than what I think I am and I am capable of achieving anything in life. Knowing me is what I need to boost my confidence. I have the potential to achieve anything in life as long as my goals are clear.

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 book is crystal clear and the ideas are expressed in a simple and easy to follow manner. The concepts are motivating and refreshing.

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 easy to follow analysis at the end of every chapter; it was helpful in reminding me of the most important points.

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.

One needs goals to succeed. Without a goals plan you are doomed to fail. Goals are designed to simplify my desire to achieve my dreams and that I can’t lead in the absence of concrete sound goals. When I have goals I have a map and with that map I am assured to reach my destiny.

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

Leadership for Dummies
Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

1. What is the main idea the author is trying to convey in the book?

The author is trying to convey the idea that leadership is the key to the success of any establishment and in personal living. He is highlighting the importance of abiding by leadership principles and what leadership can do to make the world a better place for everyone. Anyone can be a leader as long as the desire is there. Leaders are not born; they are made. While there could be some people who are born with some dose of leadership ability but that ability can only be effective through training. There is no leader or manager who fell from heaven; genuine leaders are made. They are made out of commitment; discipline; hard work; study and abiding by every principle that guides leadership. If one wants to lead effectively then he or she must make sure that personal development is a requirement. Every leader need to continuously improve himself or herself. Leaders are good students they keep learning and improving. If the graph of growth flattens in the life of a leader then the leader should give up leading. Leaders manage their time productively; they don’t waste time on non-essentials. They understand the value of setting priorities and follow them through. They are great team builders and they are aware that great results come out of team effort. Leaders concentrate on issues that bring value to the organization. They keep the moral of the organization high by ensuring that the needs of the people are met both at corporate and personal level. Good leaders interact with people at all levels and they pay attention to details. They listen to the input and advise that come from people and ensure that the ideas are implemented. They make checks and balances to determine the exact position of the organization in relationship to the vision. Leaders are visionaries; they rely on the vision to lead. They have the ability to bring the future into the present. When leaders lack vision then the organization’s ability to achieve results is compromised. Leaders don’t command, they make suggestions and invite people to contribute because they believe in the growth of others. Leaders need to be good communicators. This will help them to articulate the vision of the organization and relate positively to group members. Communication can help leaders to resolve conflict situations and misunderstandings that arise among group members as they carry on their tasks. While leaders develop others they should also ensure that their personal growth is important in sustain the life of the organization. Effective leaders read widely and they are capable of interpreting and analyzing complex challenges that confronts the organization. Leaders solve problems and they bring solutions. Integrity is the hallmark of effective leadership; without integrity people cannot risk following you. People love to support leaders whose reputation is not stained. When wealth is lost nothing is lost; when health is lost something is lost but when integrity is lost everything is lost. It takes a lifetime to build a reputation but just a few seconds to spoil it. So leaders should live a life that is blameless. People hate leaders who betray their trust. People love leaders who are bankable. Leaders should strive to protect their reputation even in situations that demand a compromise. They should uphold their word and deliver their promises. Leaders are good listeners; their ears are always attentive to the problems and challenges within the organization. Leaders lead because they know where they are going and they are able to read the signs along the way.

i. Leadership is a process.

Leadership evolves and it is not something that happens overnight. It is a continuous process that takes endurance and courage to achieve. This evolving requires me to take personal assessment of myself to ensure that I am qualified to handle the challenges that comes with the position that I am taking. I need to understand my potential and be in a position to measure it against the task at hand. This is why personal development is critical to me. I have to do a personal inventory to be sure that I am ready to take the responsibilities of leading the group to achieve the intended objectives. Knowing me is the key to lead effectively.

ii. What are my skills as a leader?

What I know is what I can give out; my trainings contribute a lot in making my leadership effective so I have to keep abreast of time.

iii. What is my vision?

I have to develop an eye that is capable to attract the future and bring it into the present. I have to be sure of what exactly that I intend to do. Vision is what validates my leadership.

iv. I am a team builder

To be a good leader I have the task to build a team of people to help me achieve the vision. I am not an island. I need the input and contribution of other people. What determine my effectiveness are the people around me.

v. What is my mission?

My mission is that which I want to achieve; but my mission can only be realized if I take the first step into the journey of a thousand miles.

vi. I am a coach

My business is to motivate and help other people to grow. I have to keep the moral of the group high by inspiring them to keep moving towards the direction of the vision.

vii. I should grow myself
I need to continuously develop myself and keep my mind open to facts. I have to acquire more knowledge in line with my vision.

3. How will the ideas help you in a practical way both in daily and personal life and in helping you create a better world? If so how?

The ideas will help me to take charge of my personal life and they influence me to lead people in a more honorable way. The ideas related in this book are practical and feasible. They help me to relate to people in a closer way that creates a lasting bond. If I take these ideas and implement them I will be able to contribute meaningfully towards building a better world.

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

Great statements were made that are important and key to leading effectively, which were:

“Leadership begins with the willingness to take responsibility.”

This is the first step towards leadership. A leader must take responsibility; he or she must be able to shoulder blame when things don’t go the planned way. Leaders believe that all failures are leadership failures not the followers.

“Leaders may rise only in response to a situation”. Leadership is situational and leaders rise in response to a situation. Without the right situation no leaders will emerge.

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 book is clear and practical; everything is well articulated.

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! Very interesting and practical exercises are inside the pages and I enjoyed 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.

I have learned great lessons in the art of leadership and the reasons why so many of us are failing to impact our world. It takes a vision to lead and that vision need to be properly related to the people. Leaders are people on a mission and they take things serious. I have to be a person of integrity who is bankable and trustworthy. I must take my personal growth very serious and ensure that I have all the resources that are necessary to help me grow. People are the greatest resource that I have and I should treat them with the respect they deserve. I have to develop team members who will help me to realize the vision and I should also ensure that in the process of realizing organizational goals their needs are also met. I should keep their morals high and make sure that the environment is conducive for good results. I have to work on my communication skills and at the same time develop a listening ear. People love to relate to leaders who pay attention to them. People identify with leaders who are concerned about their personal lives. Integrity is what I need to help build a better world. So I have to work out on my character as a leader.

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

Nonviolent Communication
Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

1. What is the main idea the author is trying to convey in the book?

The author is highlighting what NVC can do if used in a constructive way. This theory can help us to connect with other people in a way that brings positive results and personal fulfillment. It helps us to be aware of the way we communicate with other people on a daily basis. NVC is a guide to effective conversation and can lead to respectable relationships. NVC enriches our lives in way that allows natural compassion to flourish. Compassion is love in action and by being compassionate you show empathy to other people. The deep feeling of compassion will result in you building lasting relationships because everything you do you will do it out of your heart. When something is done wholeheartedly you leave behind a lasting impression in the minds of people around you. NVC is the only tool that can enrich relationships and foster a mutual feeling of love; respect and tolerance. The greatest emphasis of NVC is to develop a kind of language that empowers other people to respond positively towards our suggestions without creating tension. We should desist from judging other people but create a situation where we show gratitude and appreciation of other people’s points of view. Criticism only helps to destroy relationships and should not be allowed to have a place in a society of sane people.

i. A way to focus attention!

I should develop communication skills that focus my attention in remaining human even in the midst of trying times. I should do things with honest; clarity and truthfulness.

ii. Certain ways of communication alienates us from our natural state of compassion.

There is need for me to learn the proper language that builds lasting relationships. The language should be full of compassion and empathy. It should encourage the other person to express his or her views without fear of being criticized. When communication is done positively a bond is developed and relationships will flourish.

iii. Use positive language when making requests!

I should express myself in a clear and understandable way if ever I need to get the response I am expecting. I should learn to properly phrase my language and also be in a position to say it to the other person. My language should not be off putting but empowering. It should encourage the other person to act. When we take time to listen to people we get to learn what they want. So if I am to foster lasting and fruitful relationships then I have to sharpen my ears and learn to pay attention. Understanding people is all what I need to contribute positively in this world.

iv. Vague language contributes to internal confusion!

Clarity is all what I need to build healthy relationships. When I am understood then I am connected to the other person. So by developing my communication skills I am also building my capacity to relate well to others. A good glossary of vocabulary is important for me to be able to express my thoughts clearly. So I need to work out on my expressions to be able to communicate clearly.

v. We say a lot by listening for other people’s feelings and needs.

I have to be considerate in my association with people. A long lasting bond is built on the foundation of compassionate feelings. When I take time to listen I get the attention of the other person. People will cooperate with me as long as they trust me. Trust is a mutual feeling you cannot exaggerate it. People feel safe when they know that you are passionate about what they are feeling; but they can easily distance themselves should they learn that you don’t care.

vi. With every choice you make be conscious of what need it serves!

This is principle that will remain the bedrock of a solid society. Whatever I do should positively contribute to the building of a world that I desire to see. Whatever I desire to do should reflect my inner values; it should not compromise my integrity and moral worthiness. Before I take a decision I should be convinced that it will not backfire on me or take away my humanity.

vii. Creating a connection between people is the most important thing!

I have to be a link that promotes NVC by adhering to the principles of NVC. I have to use NVC to connect people and bring solutions in conflict environments.

3. How will the ideas help you in a practical way both in daily and personal life and in helping you create a better world? If so how?

By mastering these ideas I will be able to create an environment of peace. People are in desperate need of peacemakers. In all my conversation I should ensure that I don’t use the language that promotes conflict and hatred. The biggest change in life starts with me. I cannot influence other people as long as I am not changed. True change can only take place when the change first happens in me. I should see the change I desire to see in the world first in me. I should promote the language of peace that seeks to understand the feelings of other people. In promoting peace I need to tolerate other people’s opinions even if I don’t agree with them and then find a way that is agreeable to make my points clear. In promoting peace I have to make sure that I avoid any conversation that will result in tension. I should always keep in mind that my duty on earth is to love and respect the other person even if I don’t agree with the person.

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

Yes! There are statements that the author made that was so appealing to me:

“Do not judge and you will not be judged. For as you judge others, so you yourselves will be judged.”

The moral lesson is that as long as we are on this planet there is no one who is superior to others and we stand equal in the eyes of our creator. So there is no need to put judgment on other people. If God is the judge then we have to listen and respect other people. Our conversation should be punctuated with words of love and compassion that reflects our inner feelings. We should not allow animosity to go in the way of sound judgment or to allow hatred to block us from building sound relationships. When we grasp the philosophy of NVC we empower ourselves with the knowledge and know-how of effective communication. We lean to sympathize with others and also take their feelings into consideration.

5. Is there anything that the author said that you don’t understand and are not clear about and are there any other ideas that you disagree with and if so, why?

I agreed with the author’s theories and I have found them realistic and practical. These theories can build a sound and habitable society if followed with great intend. The greatest need of this world is peacemakers. Even the greatest teacher of all times Jesus Christ made a stunning statement when addressing the multitudes on the mountain: “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will inherit the kingdom.”

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 a lot of practical exercises that were encouraging and refreshing. In actual fact they simplified the techniques of peace building.

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 best lessons I have learned in this book are; the need for me to understand other people so as to avoid unnecessary conflicts that result in misunderstandings and tensions. I have to learn the language of peace that promotes mutual friendship. My relationships and conversation should encourage tolerance and respect of other people’s opinions. I should ensure that in any engagements that I make; I should respect other people’s preferences and ideas even if I don’t agree with them. There is need to create a common ground to allow positive ideas to flow. The best lesson I have learned is how to avoid tensions that results in conflicts; I have to master the art of peaceful language in all conversations. The language of peace will help me to build a world of tolerance and respect. What comes out of my mouth can rebuild or destroy this world. The more tolerant I am the better the world becomes. I have one mission and that mission is contributing my best in shaping the world into a habitable state.

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

Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

1. What is the main idea the author is trying to convey in the book?

The main idea the author is trying to convey in the book is what the mind can do for any person if properly used. We are products of our thinking system. Our minds need to be properly conditioned in order for us to be able to reach success. How we interpret ourselves as individuals is how we will interpret the world that we are living in. If our views are distorted then the results we get are poor. Mind conditioning is the best tool we need to build a better world. Our world is defined by the state of our mind. People who reached success levels did so not because of education; connections; affiliation or luck but because their minds were geared for success. They had conditioned their minds and convinced them that they will achieve what they wanted. They had built their own definition of success that was based on the lenses they used to view the world. Success is within us; we don’t need to waste time looking for it from the outside. We have everything we need from within. Sometimes we waste a lot of time and resources looking for answers that are within us. We have to maintain a proactive approach to life that derives its strength from our world view. No matter what we face in life; what is important is how we react to the circumstances. What happens to us is not the issue but what we do with what happens to us. If the world offers us lemon fruits it is up to us to complain about how bitter they are or for us to utilize lemons and make lemonade. Everything will depend on us.

i. Be Proactive!

I choose to be who I want to be; I should not allow my environment to determine who I am or to influence my behavior. All what I do is based on my values. It is not what happens to me that matters but my response to what happens to me.

ii. Begin with the end in mind!
I need to have a clear picture of the road before I embark on the journey. For me to understand where I am then I have to know exactly what I intend to be.

iii. Put first things first!
Things that matters most should always be considered first. I have to have an attitude that values essential things first because it is the most important things that brings high production output. When I deal with things that matters first then I am able to manage my time effectively.

iv. Think win/win!
This is the rule that should govern my life; in everything that I do I should first make sure that my integrity is secured. Without integrity I am bound to fail. When I get involved in any kind of a deal I should consider the feelings of other people. It is not always about me but about what other people feel about me. When everyone is happy then a long lasting bond is build. People will always come back to you if you treat them with respect.

v. Seek first to understand then to be understood!

I should develop a listening ear that is attentive to the voice of other people. Before I say anything I should first hear what the other person is saying; listening should be my greatest asset to build lasting friendship with people. I should always be considerate and accommodate the feeling of other people.

vi. Synergize!

I have to do things with other people. Great results come from asking the input of others. I cannot achieve meaningful results on my own. I have to trust that other people can do a better than me. We are what we are because of other people. When people come together and strategize they can come out with results that you cannot think of. The power of a team is greater than the power of one.

vii. Sharpen the Saw!

I have to always be in good shape. I have to resemble a constant flow of energy to achieve my goals. Renewing myself everyday will always propel me to reach for my intentions. I need energy to be able to achieve my life goals. There is nothing I can do as long as my energy is not active.

3. How will the ideas help you in a practical way both in daily and personal life and in helping you create a better world? If so how?

The ideas are practical and actionable and can be easily transferred to other people. They are going to help me to build a sound philosophy on which I will base my life. The ideas will enable me to have a better view of the world and will assist me to find the proper lenses that I will use to view situations that I will confront in life. I have to adjust my lenses so that they are in line with what I expect. I have to maintain a proactive approach to situations in life and not to react to them. With a proactive approach I am able to define my life outside the influence of other people. This approach will ensure that my opinion is the best and it will help me to also value other people’s opinions.

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

A good number of statements were made by the author and were so appealing to me.

“We must look at the lenses through which we see the world.”

Because the lenses I use to view the world will determine the results that I will get. If the lenses that I am using are not good enough; then the results that I will get will not be good. It is important for me to make sure that I adjust my lenses so that I get the results that I want.

“No one can persuade another to change”

True change begins within me; I cannot force change in another person that is not resembled in me. Change starts with me and it is within me. No argument or level of persuasion can make a person change; unless the person just wants to change. I have to look deep within me for the change that I want.

“It is not what happens to us but our response to what happens to us that hurts us”

It is in the how we respond to what happens to us that will determine the results that we get. If our response to what happens to us is reactive then we are bound to get negative results. We have to be thermostats rather than being thermometers. We have to regulate the temperatures of our environment than to absorb it. We have the power to control what happens to us. We only need a proactive mind conditioning that doesn’t give in to environmental demands.

5. Is there anything that the author said that you don’t understand and are not clear about and are there any other ideas that you disagree with and if so, why?

The book was readable and to the point. The author expressed his points in a very simple and straight forward way that even a layman can understand without struggle. The words used to explain the views were brilliant.

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 lots of practical suggestions and it was a joy to follow them. They were helpful to me in the sense that I had to exercise my mind to do things that I had never done before and at the same time feel a sense of achievement.

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 biggest lesson I have learned in the book is that the mind is a very powerful resource and if utilized properly it can bring happiness in my life. I can use my mind to create anything that I want in life. The mind is capable of bringing anything into existence as long as it is properly programmed. How I see things or define the world will depend on what I program in my mind. Every success I make in life is first visualized in me. I should not blame outside forces for my failures but myself. My mind will help me to create a world that is habitable as long as my self-programming is focused towards that goal. Before I try to change someone I have to first change myself; the way I see things and how I interpret what I see. As long as my world view is right then success is definite.

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

Unlimited Power
Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

1. What is the main idea the author is trying to convey in the book?

The main idea the author is trying to highlight in the book is the power of the mind and what the mind is capable of achieving as long as it is modeled in the right direction. My success will always depend on what my mind feeds on. The mind is a resource I need to coordinate all my efforts towards achieving my target. The stronger I model my mind the easier it becomes for me to reach for success. I shape my environment by the thoughts that I constantly cherish. The author is definite and convinced that as long as I build the right frame of mind anything is possible and I can live in the world of miracles.

i. Success is an ongoing process;

Success is not static but constant. I need to continue moving and improving myself. I have to grow in every area; economically; financially; spiritually and otherwise. If I don’t grow in the area of my pursuit then I will be forced to model my life to the desires of other people. My biggest achievement in life is when I come to the realization of who I am and what I represent.

ii. You shape your perceptions or someone shapes it for you;

It is me who is responsible to define things the way I see them. I am not an extended shadow of other people’s thinking. Who I am will depend on what I think of me. I am responsible for who I am. How I see myself will help me to define the world that I live in. If I don’t believe in myself then it is difficult for me to believe in anyone. My world view can only be defined by the spectacles I use. If the spectacles I use are dark and dull that is the same results that I will get.

iii. Nothing has any power over me except the one I give it through my thoughts;

It is me who decide what I want to control me. My body is subject to what goes on in my mind. If I constantly dwell on sick thoughts my body will be sold to that; the same if I do the opposite. This is why I have to control my state by feeding it with health stimuli. When I surrender to outside forces then I have lost control over my life.

iv. “There is only one success- to be able to spend your life in your own way.”

There is nothing more exciting than to know that you are in charge and you can chart your own course. When I am in charge it is easy for me to project the energy that can propel me to accomplish my life goals. When you are in control you decide what you want and how to get what you want.

v. Words are most powerful drug used by mankind.

Societies are shaped by words. Words are the clear expression of our minds. Without words societies will stagnant and progress will come to a standstill. So I have to develop my word power in order to improve my public relations. Words create life time relationships for me.

vi. How to handle resistance and solve problems.

I have to always create an environment that is welcoming and appreciative. Before I criticize I should ensure that the other person’s view is respected. I should ensure that even if I don’t agree with the other person’s view but I have heard it and it is worthy to consider; by doing that, I put the other person in a neutral mode to be able to listen to my argument.

vii. My Values

This is what mirrors me. My values are my best anchor in life. Where ever I go and whatever I do depends on the things that I cherish in life. My world view can only be interpreted based on my values. People can only relate to me based on my values.

3. How will the ideas help you in a practical way both in daily and personal life and in helping you create a better world? If so how?

These ideas will empower me to be able to see the world in the right frame of mind. They will change the way I view the world. It is fundamental to me in the sense that if I can change the way I see things and how I react to daily challenges, I will be able to also influence the people around me. As long as I am on this planet, I am a light bearer; people look to me for support and empathy. My being on this planet is not a coincident but a well-planned move by the almighty God to fulfill a purpose. Every effort that I put in developing myself will mark a big step in lifting the standard of mankind. My mind is the only tool that I have to change the course of my journey. I have to keep it moving in the right direction. I have to develop a strong mind that is positive and believing. I have to be in a frame of mind that will always attract the results that I want. For me to acquire this state of mind I need to cultivate my belief system; I have to continue building a state of mind that is aligned to what I believe in; who I am and my values. My values will always determine my influence.

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

Yes the author made so many stunning statements that were so refreshing and appealing.
“One can stand still in a flowing stream, but not in the world of men.”

The world of human beings is a moving world and you can’t afford to be stationary. People have a dynamic nature to grow; they are not static. A wise person needs to constantly develop in order to keep abreast of the challenges. The moment you stagnant then get ready for deterioration. People don’t like to associate with things that are not improving.

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”

This is the best formula I can use to build a better world. I have to do the best I can with what is at my disposal to build the best of the world that I desire. We are on this planet to make a difference and make this planet a habitable place for everyone.

5. Is there anything that the author said that you don’t understand and are not clear about and are there any other ideas that you disagree with and if so, why?

The author was right on point and the facts are laid down with precise clarity that is simple to motivate any person who is willing to take an extra mile to see his or her dream come true. Everything mentioned in this book are worth trying.

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; I did follow them with keen interest and much zeal because of the consuming nature of the subject. I have greater interest to harness the power of the mind and what belief can do to catapult me to great heights of personal success.

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.

I have learned great lessons about the power of the mind and how best I can transform my world by utilizing my mind. I am responsible to formulate my own belief system that can help me to achieve anything that I desire in life. The only limitations that I face in life are based on how I condition my mind as an individual. I am responsible for my success. It is me who has the power to decide my fate. Action is the only springboard that I can use to reach my dream. Without action then I will be forced to live in the world of limitations. If I want to succeed then I have to model the right environment that is conducive to produce the result. I am what I eat and what I eat have a greater influence in what I become. I have to build my communication skills because good communication is the pillar of a successful society. Societies depend on communication otherwise progress will come to a standstill. Problem solving skills are very important because as long as there are human beings then problems are bound to be there. This is why it is necessary for me to develop the skills to solve problems.

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

The Law of Attraction

Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

1. What is the main idea the author is trying to convey in the book?

The main idea the author is trying to portray is what our thoughts can create for us. If we constantly think over something for a long time then we are likely to experience it. It does not matter what kind of thoughts; the thoughts can be good or bad but the results will always reflect the feelings. If I take time to think about sickness then I am likely to end up on a hospital bed; this is the same with prosperity I still end up rich. What I take time meditating on is what I will bring into existence. The mind of men is so powerful that it can create things from a simple thought. We can create our own circumstances by spending more time thinking about the circumstance. What the mind of men can conceive it can bring it to pass. We are a total sum of the dominating thoughts in our lives. As long as we train our minds to think properly then we are destined to experience joy in everything that we do. We need to develop a positive attitude towards life and have a firm belief that everything that we want is for the good of us. Negative belief about us will always lead us to disaster. If the attitude of positive expectations is cultured in us and spread to everyone then we will build a healthy society. We can overcome negativity by injecting a health thought of what we are expecting. We can replace a negative feeling by thinking something positive that brings out a positive feeling. Many people that we see today in hospital beds are victims of the most dominating feelings in their lives.

i. We are teachers

It is not words that we speak that describes who we are but the experiences that we go through. Experience is my best teacher. I learn and grow from what I go through.

ii. Giving thought

Giving thought to it is inviting it; anything that I spend time thinking about will manifest in my life. Thinking has a magnetic power that attracts its likes. So I have to protect myself by constantly thinking about good feelings.

iii. Being myself

Never to allow people to tell me who I can be; People’s opinions should not rule my life. I should always be on guard and never to allow what people think about me to shape my life.

iv. Desire

If you want it and expect it; it will be yours; a strong desire is what I want to reach for my vision. As long as what I want is strong in me; nothing can stop me to experience it. I should not doubt myself but should always believe that what I want to become is possible.

v. Appreciation

Appreciation of it attracts it to me; appreciation is a strong desire to have; it attracts that which I want. Thinking that induces enjoyable feelings will always attract the feeling.

vi. This civilized society seems short of joy.

I live in a society that is confused and directionless and needs a constant injection of positive thoughts. The burden is upon me to inject these feeling to people around me. It is important to think positive thoughts that affect other people and help them to live life to the maximum. Societies can only be transformed only when the transformation begins in me.

vii. These times are the best times.

I am living in the best time ever lived on this planet; so I should utilize every opportunity that I have to make a positive and lasting influence. I should not undermine myself by fulfilling the image that other people want me to be. I should be enthusiastic and inspired to spread the virus of joy to my environment. I have to be myself and live to my true worthy.

3. How will the ideas help you in a practical way both in daily and personal life and in helping you create a better world? If so how?

These ideas will help me in a practical way by training my mind to think in a rational manner that is healthy for my life; it will assist me in dealing with negative feelings that can bring unexpected outcomes. By positively conditioning my life I can live the life that I create and will not follow the dictates of other people. I will create anything that I want and experience it because I am a creator of that which I want. I have the power to bring joy to my life. I am responsible of bringing joy to the people around by spreading positive feelings. What I conceive in my mind for a long time I have the creative ability to bring it into being. If I take time to think well of other people; then the result will be obvious; they will experience the transmutation of the feeling. The world would be better if all of us develop good feelings for each other but that will only start with me.

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

“Develop your own creative workshop; this is the time I will allocate myself to deal with issues that are important to me.”

This time will help me to create my life vision and at the same time help me to feed my mind with positive feelings. It is in deep meditation that I can only focus my mind to create what I want to be. I have to ensure that whatever that I focus on is in line with who

“I am.”

It mirrors my values. If I want to become what I want then I have to develop moments of deep meditation.

“I attract what dominates mind; my mind is the workshop that processes the thoughts that rules my life, if I am to reach out and become what I want then I have to make sure that what goes into my mind is designed to achieve that kind of result. It is also easy to change negative feelings by replacing it with a positive one.”

“All things are invited by me; whatever comes into my life; it is me who invite it.”

Nothing happens to me that I don’t invite. Everything starts inside of me. So I should not downplay what goes into my mind.

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 authors were clear and conclusive in their presentation. They tackled the topic in an authoritative way that even a layman can appreciate and follow. The book is written in an easy to follow manner that is straight forward.

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 lots of suggestions were made that demanded some attention and practical steps.

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 best lessons that I have learned in this book is the need to learn to be positive and expectant. I should learn to regulate what I think and make sure that negativity is not allowed to dominate my mind. If I need to feel good I have to keep thinking what is good. I should not allow feelings that are depressing to dominate me. I should also learn to deal with negative feelings and always replace them with pleasant ones. I am a creator and anything that I purpose can come to pass. Nothing can stop me to experience what I desire in life. What I need to do is to condition my mind and use the most dominant positive feelings that can trigger good outcomes. To help build a healthy society I have to spread this massage of the law of attraction and encourage people to think positive thoughts that bring out good feelings. If I feel good about myself it is easy for me to spread the same feeling to people around me. I should guard my life against the intrusion of unpleasant feelings that bring about negative outcomes. My intuition is the only policeman that can lead me to realize who I am. This inner voice is my strength and I should learn to depend on it. This is the sixth sense that I have and is the recorder that has kept my life history since birth. By trusting my intuition I can make sound judgments in everyday challenges.

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

The Power of Intention

Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

1. What is the main idea the author is trying to convey in the book?

The main idea the author is trying to communicate in this book is the creative power that is within me; the hidden potential that I can tap into and live my dream. There is power that is deposited in me that is capable of creating anything that I envision in this life. This power makes me a co-creator with the divine. To understand this power and be able to tap into it I have to follow the required laid down procedures that are necessary to attract this power. I have to be a disciplined person who follows through whatever I do. Discipline will enable me to focus on the things that matter. Wisdom will keep me on track by applying the practical principles of life. Love will build relationships for me with the people I interact with. Surrender is what makes me have trust in the divine power; I relax and leave it all to God. There is a power that is high above all of us and this power is available to assist us in realizing our purpose in this world; as long as we are attached to this power nothing is impossible. We can create anything and do anything as long as we are depended on God.

i. I do not create anything alone.

I am a creature with God. There is nothing I can do outside God. I am connected to the divine. I am a coworker with God in creating my dream. I have freewill to connect to the spirit.

ii. Relationship

The way to establish a relationship with and access the power of this creating spirit is to contemplate yourself as being surrounded by the conditions you wish to produce. I have to always think and meditate on things that I want to see. I should always think straight. Results follow my thoughts. If I think of failure then failure is what I will get. Like will always attract like. My mind must dwell on things that attract what I intend.

iii. Be creative.

This means I should trust my own purpose and I should not allow doubt to destroy my intent. I should hold on to thoughts that attract the results that I desire to see. Being creative is to give substance to my personal intentions. I have to put my intents in writing in order for me to action them. Writing makes the exact man. It keeps me reminded of my purpose. Things that are written are half accomplished.

iv. As a Man Thinketh, so is he.

I am a product of my thoughts. What I think will always come to pass. By training my mind to think right, I am attracting my purpose. Good thinking will create an atmosphere of success around me. If my thoughts are health it is easy for me to attract what I desire.

v. Meditation Practice

Make meditation a regular practice in your life. This is the secret I can use to harness the power of intention. Meditation allows me to focus on the most important things that bring the most needed results. I have to maintain a deep level of concentration if ever I wish to attract what I intent. It is meditation that allows me to have fellowship with spirit. It takes me out of the sense level and connects me to the infinity and omnipresent creative force. I need to create time that allows me to make meditation a habit in my life.

vi. Let go of your need to win.

I am not ego driven. All what I do should align with my purpose. I am not designed to be no 1 but my purpose is to live my assignment. Life is not a contest; it is about understanding who I am.

vii. Let Go.

Let go of your need to be superior. I am not better than anyone but everyone makes me a better person. I am what I am because of the people around. They put color in me.

3. How will the ideas help you in a practical way both in daily and personal life and in helping you create a better world? If so how?

These ideas are important to me because they help me to get connected to the original source of power. God created everything and is the originator of all that we see in this life; so by being connected to the divine creative power that means I also have in me the same power to create anything that I desire. I am a co-creator with God. But for me to tap into this creative ability I have to understand how the divine works by following the required steps that leads to creativity. I need to exercise discipline, wisdom, love and surrender. These qualities will help me to relate to people with no strings attached. When I practice these principles I make myself relevant to the world I live in. People need to be treated with respect and love for them to feel important. It is my duty on this planet to make other people feel better and welcome.

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

Yes the author made some remarkable statements that I treasured.

“Discipline: I need to have discipline in following my dream. Discipline will enable me to focus and concentrate on things that matter.”

“Wisdom: I need the ability to translate facts and opinions into reality. The combination of discipline and wisdom will help me to think on important issues.”

“Love: I should see people through the divine eye. All people are equal and I am not better than the next person. I need to develop a sense of passion that attracts people to me with no condition attached.”

“Surrender: This is the level where I am connected to the divine nature of God. At this point I don’t struggle or do anything but I only rely on a higher power to do everything. I simply relax and let things happen on their own.”

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 author was clear and vivid in his approach to the subject and he used simple statements to make his points audible. I agreed with everything that the writer said and the points mentioned are concrete and feasible.

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 was punctuated with beneficial exercises that were designed for me to create an enabling environment to reach my destiny.

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 lessons I have learned is this book are that; intention is a field of energy that I can use to co-create my life. It is a power that exists in the universe and the power is available for me to live my dream. It is up to me to create the necessary environment that intention can thrive on. Intention is a field of force that has transcended time and has been instrumental in laying the foundation of the universe. Without the power of intention it is difficult for me to achieve- my purpose. I am a total sum of intention; my body; senses; my soul; my feelings and entire being are part of this field called intention. Intention is an omnipresent force that is found everywhere. It has no limitations or boundaries. The only limitation it can have is me; that is if I refuse to be in harmony with the steps that lead to intention; discipline; wisdom; love and surrender. I have to know that for me to be effective in utilizing and experiencing the field of intention I have to be attached to the divine nature of God. My relationship with this divine force is what will help me to understand my purpose. I should also use the power of meditation to help me contact spirit. I am two ways; the human and the spirit. I live in the body but I am connected to an infinity power that is omnipresent and this is the same power that I can take advantage of to create my world. I have to follow the steps that lead to a deeper experience; discipline; wisdom; love and surrender. I should also deal with my egos because they can block my path to experience the divine. In pursuing my dream; I have to show acceptance of other people because they will help me to reach for my success.

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

Crucial Conversations
Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

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 the role that crucial conversations play in building proper human relationships. He is very audible in his narration the great benefits that can be accrued by individuals, corporations and societies if they can grasp the power of crucial conversations. The author is highlighting how societies have been robbed the joy and cementing of relationships through premature communication that lacks the level of deep thought. If people learn how to handle crucial conversations then they can avoid lots of family breakups, unnecessary grudges, work place disputes and marriage breakdowns. The author has highlighted a crucial point in regards to the failure of consensus between people in different environments facing different challenges; all because of people’s poor exposure in handling crucial conversations. While crucial conversations are not easy but the truth is that they cannot be avoided and no one can run away from them because crucial conversations help us to build an atmosphere of trust. In an environment where crucial conversations are encourage, harmony prevails and people coordinate very well to achieve their goals. If leaders and managers fail to encourage crucial conversations it becomes a heavy toll for teams to achieve the task. Crucial conversations will motivate subordinates to move out of their small boxes and join a bigger family. Crucial conversations encourage the spirit of sincerity, truthfulness and dependability. Once truth is spoken in sincerity without fear or favor it cultivates inter-dependence. People become woven together like a spider’s web. In the business arena crucial conversations steer productivity because people are free to engage into a conversation without fearing reprisal. If management fails to appreciate and encourage crucial conversations then people are forced to stay in their little boxes; quality suffers and production slumps. People love to show their best where their opinions are valued and they are given free space to express them. Crucial conversations affect human life in every area; be it family, spouses, community organizations and sports fields.

The author is clear that changing structures and systems sometimes have minimum effect to improve the performance of an organization. The only critical component is how the people handle crucial conversations. In great businesses everyone is accountable to everyone and problems are discussed and dealt with without restrictions. A company that promotes crucial conversations allows people to speak up and immediately addresses the problem and move on.
The same with relationships; difference of opinions can lead to a total marriage breakdown; but in the event of allowing crucial conversation to take over; healing can take place within the shortest time because crucial conversation gives room to people to speak their minds openly and freely. In crucial conversations you don’t use your brain but your heart. You deal with the depth of the problem in frankness. You don’t waste time throwing mud to each other or hitting about the bush but you tackle the real issue.
How we deal with problems as they come our way will always determine the outcomes we get.
The author said it plain and clear that crucial conversations can tone up your mental capacities and at the same time allows you to enjoy a good health. And stress free life. You stay calm and relaxed; you have no anxieties. The author highlighted the most effective practice to deal with crucial conversations and that is a pool of shared meaning; when people brainstorm together they can reach effective conclusions that an average mind cannot achieve; the shared group opinions can increase the capacity to come up with sound decisions. When people are given the opportunity to share their views, they can change the environment of a business in a short space of time. People like to be felt and when they feel that their views are welcome; they can surprise anyone. Deeper dialogues create health atmospheres. When people get into serious dialogue they create a free atmosphere that allows a free flow of information that can help to defuse a potentially explosive situation.

2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you? List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal example from your own life.

i. How do we change

In crucial conversations I have to believe that other people have better ideas than what I have; so the onus is upon me to request the input of other people when I heat a brick wall. I have to live by the truth that l don’t have a monopoly of wisdom. Iron sharpens iron so do one person to another. I have trained myself to ask for opinions from close people to help me with ideas every time I reach a cross road.

ii. Explore others’ paths

This is important to me in the sense that; it is the best way to open up people to become active participants in the pool of ideas. The indication that their ideas can be put into practice encourages the participants to dig deeper in their knowledge bank and come up with solutions to a challenge. Every time I have a board meeting I always make it a point to the participants to feel free to make contributions and feasible plans to implement the ideas and every time I indicate that I raise the bar of participation and enthusiasm. No one wants to be left out and everyone becomes alive.

iii. Start with heart and get ready to listen

As a leader I need to be sincere with people whom I lead. For people to trust me then they should first see my genuineness. People are motivated when they see the one ahead of them demonstrating what he teaches. A leader must walk the talk. I should mean every word that comes out of my mouth. When people lose trust in me then things are likely to fall apart and they can easily sabotage the system. I am grateful that every day I am constantly cultivating the quality of sincerity in me. I try by all means to make sure that I follow through what I promise people.

iv. Prime when you are getting nowhere
I have to keep encouraging the other person to express his or her views especially when there is an indication that he or she still has more points. As leader I should train myself to be attentive when people make suggestions and at the same time be able to show interest in the proceedings. I am drilling this principle every time in my conversations with people. Listening encourages people to keep saying more and encouragement adds more steam to keep the momentum going.

v. Agree

In all my crucial conversations I should always seek a common ground. I have learnt that argument never produce a winner but only help to frustrate a good process. I should agree if I have to agree to allow progress.

vi. Build

You don’t argue for the sake of arguing but as a leader learn to build on what the other person is saying. Never train yourself to hear the wrong thing; always be attentive and suggestive. In my daily contact with my peers I try by all means to make sure that I don’t arouse feelings of resentment during the course of our discussions. I always make sure that even if I disagree on what is being said but I should conceal my emotions. I should always be on the lookout of areas of agreement.

vii. Putting decisions into action.

This is the greatest challenge for any leader but it is also a blessing in the sense that when a pool of information is overflowing it is also a good chance to implement the ideas. So a wise leader must be able to prove his wisdom by knowing who to incorporate in the process. Leaders have a full knowledge of the resources at their disposal and must have the best know how on utilizing them to the best of the organization. I keeping studying the strength and weaknesses of the people I work with. I keep confidential reports of assessments that I do in private so as to keep abreast of the facts.

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 are important to me because they equip me with the right tools to be able to deal with crucial conversations in my pursuit of training leaders. I am confronted with these kinds of challenges every day and this pool of information will enable me to relate to people that I will be meeting and talking to. This pool of ideas is valuable and empowering especially to me and my vision of imparting leadership skill to people. When people learn crucial conversations they build a mutual society. Crucial conversations create harmony and trust that will lead to oneness. Crucial conversations are the pillars of any business, society or gathering. I intend to use this information among the youth in my society to help them to deal with family challenges they are confronting with their parents.
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.

“Document your memory! Never leave anything to chance. A leader is an information bank and to bank information you have to store it somewhere.”

It is a virtue in my life to make sure that whatever valuable information I get must be written and filed.

“A leader is a reservoir of information and information is powerful to anyone who has 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 and if so why?

I enjoyed the simplicity that was demonstrated by the author in presenting his facts. The examples are great and illustrative.

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! They were helpful indeed ad I have attempted them practically

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.

Yes! I have learned one good thing about crucial conversations that I never knew before; I have to have a good grasp of facts before I engage in any serious conversation; to be an effective leader I have to tap from the wisdom of other people and to do that I have to open my heart and have good listening skills. Leaders don’t argue but they build on what others are saying; Great wisdom indeed.

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

Full Steam Ahead
Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The main idea that the author is portraying is the need of a clear vision to drive the organization to achieve its mission or purpose. Organizations exist because of purpose and it is purpose that can help the organization to achieve its aims and goals. Failure to understand purpose can bring conflict of interests. Purpose enables an organization to justify its mandate. Lack of clear vision renders managers ineffective. People want to know where they are going before the journey commences. Lack of clear purpose causes problems for leaders because leadership begins when a vision emerges. Without a clear cut vision leadership becomes useless. The author highlights significant issues that can transform an organization to go full steam ahead; Issues that can put a company or a business ahead of the rest. In everything we do we should strive for greatness; we don’t need to settle for easy things. Leaders are simple people they make their subordinates to feel comfortable around them. They give room for the people they lead to exercise sound judgment. They don’t force things down people’s throats. Good leaders operate with an open door policy; they are available when they are needed. Leaders don’t get stuck in the rut; they are always improvising things to meet the demanding situation. They are miles ahead of the game plan. Vision is what distinguishes a leader from a power holder. A visionary leader injects life in an organization. When vision is not clear the sparkle disappears and when the sparkle evaporates boredom takes over and when boredom takes over the people lose interest. When people lose interest quality is compromised. Focus is lost and the company starts sinking. Vision is the pivot of an organization; it is vision alone that can change the fortunes of an organization. Lack of vision takes away the excitement to pursue your life purpose. It is a clear vision that powers the organization to move full steam ahead. When a vision is clear people are ready to go. The concept of full steam-ahead demands that you be clear about your purpose and commitment and be sure about your ability to achieve the task. If a business is to succeed then people should have a shared vision. Leadership is about going someplace; but you have to be clear which place. Never leave things to guess work you need to be in control. If vision is not clear people work in a haze; so everything is left for luck to decide. When vision is blended with purpose; everything becomes possible. You don’t waste time engaged in useless activities. Purpose spells out the reason of the existence of the organization; why the organization is existing. So many people dangle in life without an idea of their purpose. Purpose helps us to focus and concentrate with matters of importance. Purpose brings the future into clear perspective. When a vision is built around a clear purpose progress is certain. Everybody is confident and ready to give his/her best shot. A clear purpose enable teams to work together to achieve dignified goals. Where purpose is not clear; teams collide and waste a lot of time and effort focusing on wrong things.

i. What is vision?

This is the fuel that drives an organization to reach the zenith of success. Without vision companies stagnant. People do things in a chaotic environment. Vision makes the road clear and with a clear vision it is easy to spot the roadblocks. When a leader lacks a clear vision it becomes difficult to coordinate human effort. A leader without a vision robs his/her organization the spackle to success. Vision is the bottom line to measure the future of any organization. I am vision driven and I feel the push to focus on achieving my life purpose. I am grateful that all my dream of training and equipping leaders to reach for their best is coming true. Vision illuminates the path and it makes the road to success clear. King Solomon said without a vision people die. Vision brings life into team work; everyone is clear of where they are going. The danger only strikes when the vision is not clear. Lack of clarity will spell the doom of the team.

ii. Significant purpose

I am convinced that understanding my purpose is the first thing I have to do. It is in the why I was created that is the most significant thing. Purpose will define what I am capable and what I am not. Many times I spend a lot of energy and time chasing wrong things; but since I started to understand who I am; I am moving towards the road of success. The reason why I am born is what is important to me now. Every step of my life should be defined by my purpose. Without a clear purpose then there is no reason for me to live. It is purpose that strengthens my values. It is purpose that defines my limitations. Purpose will spur me to my dream world.

iii. Picture of the future

People of purpose can define the future in the present. Purpose enables anyone to visualize the future. Organizations that lack a clear purpose have a short life-span because lack of purpose de-motivates teams; it takes away the steam to propel the engine to its destination. Lack of purpose creates a puncture in the organization. My organizations collapse because of lacking purpose; their pursuits are divorced from their purpose. A clear purpose will enable me to drive the organization to where I want it to be. It will also give me the energy to see it through.

iv. Clear values

I can’t separate purpose from my values. My values are who I am; what makes up the person called me. My values are sincerity, honesty and integrity. I have to be sincere in everything that I do. I have to be transparent and trusted; I have to be bankable. I have to be honest with myself and live a life of integrity. I should walk the talk; integrity is who I am when nobody is watching me. I have to be disciplined in following my dream. I am who I say I am.

v. You can’t get there if you are not here!
I have to give a true analysis of the situation that is if I want to be in the future because problems not dealt with today can cause havoc tomorrow. I have to be sincere about how things are; to get to the future I need to be in the present. I have to be honest about the current realities. Focusing on the future ignoring the present realities can grind the wheels of progress in the organization. Everybody has to be positive and contribute to the common goal.

vi. Staying the course

As a leader my people need to be convinced that I meant every bit of word that I say. People need to be convinced beyond doubt that what is being said today will not turn to be a scheme in the future; so the onus is upon me to convince the entire team to bank on my word. The danger comes when people discover that I didn’t mean what I said. If I am to multiply the moral of the team I have to live my word. My word should be my bond.

vii. When you are sailing on the lake, you have to keep your eyes on your destination.

While it is important to be focused but I should also make provision for sudden change of winds. So I have to make sure that my map to my destination is ready to deal with any kind of eventuality that might arise during the course of my journey. It is crucial for a leader to anticipate short-term set-backs because they help to strengthen your resolve. They help you to re-strategize.

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?

These ideas are important to me in the sense that they help to clarify the future. They enable me to face the future with confidence. When your vision is clear and your purpose is aligned to your vision then nothing will stop you to stretch for the best. Clear vision and purpose gives you the confidence to deal with the future.

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.

“When you are sailing on the lake you keep your eyes on the destination.”

“Life is meaningful when you are sure of what you want and how to get it. You will never miss the target as long as your focus is not disturbed. A concentrated focus is enough to fulfill a dream.”

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?

Everything has been made simple and clear. The book is vivid and clear.

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 and I did it. The exercise was very helpful in testing the team vision.

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 game plan: Every leader must have a game plan on how you intend to achieve the purpose of the organization. Having a game plan requires you to map up a sound strategy accompanied by clear goals on how you want to achieve your vision.

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

How Successful People Think
Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

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 portray is the power of the mind; what the mind can do for those who can tap from it. Successful people use their imagination to attain whatever they demand from life. The author is very audible that success is a commitment of imagination. There is no limit to what you can achieve as long as your plan is well thought out. What the world is today is a result of people who have taken enough time to think and bring lasting solutions to human problems. The author is very clear that a good and sound mind is all that one needs to reach out for your dream. If you mix a dream with good thinking you can arrive early at your destination. A well thought out plan is a seed bed of success; so every dreamer is required to continuously sharpen his or her thinking capability. Thinking is a very valuable prayer and if done wisely it can unlock vast opportunities to anyone who dares to attempt. Thinking can open vast doors that can lead you into the presence of people of high honor. Good thinking can lift you from the dust of the ground or from the muddy and create a seat for you among rulers. People who can think and do are in great demand and are always abundant in resources. To change the way you think is not an overnight success story you have to work on it; you have to continue researching and finding options. If a leader stops thinking he or she should stop leading because effective leadership revolves around the ability to think and implementing. A leader need to keep sharpening his thinking ability by reading, researching and connecting to people who have travelled the road. A good thinker will also tap from other people’s experiences. While it is painful and taxing to think; the truth is that the benefits outweigh the Pain. The world is in great need of people who have a strong mind; people who can chart the course of world events. Good thinking brings us wealth, respect, command and relevancy. Anyone who is able to use his or her head can attract any following. A leader must be a nest of ideas; people need to bank on a leader. A Leader must always have the big picture; he or she needs to see the end from the beginning. Leaders have a broad understanding of issues. They are capable of defining a problem and come up with its pros and cons and at the same time determine the course of action and be able to reach out for the desired results. They are good at putting down the necessary resources to achieve the task. Leaders think out issues before they delegate responsibilities and they are able to assess the potential of people within their mandate who are capable to execute the plan. The demand for great thinkers cannot be understated, because they can bring the future into the present; capable thinkers operate like sculptures they unlock dormant potential in human beings and channel it wisely to achieve goals of beneficial permanency. Good thinkers are life time students; they keep learning; reading and doing researches that constantly improve their perception of issues. They have a broad mind and a sound grasp of information that is relevant to their line of pursuit; like what the great thinkers say that “the value of life is not measured by the number of years that we have lived but what we have done with our lives in making the world a better place”. A fulfilled somebody is the one who have taken time to maximize his or her mental powers in helping to shape a better world for everyone. Thinking big helps to strengthen mental powers; you get to focus on issues that bring high returns. A good thinker is a seed bed of great ideas that can unlock great fortunes. Big thinkers don’t need to cross the bridge when they get there; they first cross the bridge in their minds.

i. You should change your thinking

I am challenged to alter the way I think that is if I want to change the results I have been getting for the last years. The way I think easily influences the outcome that I get. Changing my pattern of thinking can enhance my worldview; it influences the way I perceive the world that I live in. I am happy that now I can positively see my world in the right light instead of always being negative and blaming other people. I have taught my tongue to always say the right thing.

ii. Expose yourself to good input

I have now trained myself to associate with the right people. Wrong people will always feed you with wrong ideas. If you want to assess the power of a great leader; you look at people who surround him. A leader is as strong as his team. So every time I am starting on something I look for people who can complement my weaknesses; people who can add value in me. I love to be around people who see things from a positive side; I enjoy a companionship of highly enthusiastic people.

iii. Act on your good thoughts.

Action brings great results; nothing will ever materialize in this world until you take action; I have taught myself never to wait for the best conditions to start something; the best way is to fail your way forward. I learnt that I will never amount to any think as long as I procrastinate; I have to take action. All dreams became possible through action. I set a goal to finish my level 3 studies within a space of 2 weeks and I managed to achieve the goal within 10 days. When I took action the forces of progress were activated and I felt energized that I can do it within the shortest time and I did it.

iv. The portrait of a good thinker.

As a good thinker I see things using the right goggles; I get my mind in shape by training it to focus. Good thinking has brought a lot of joy in my life and has awarded me with a relaxed mind. I am now a possibility thinker and I have trained my ears to hear the right things; I no longer waste time with people who say the wrong things; I now associate with people who are ready to tackle challenges.

v. I can do everything.

I come to believe that a jack of all trades will always be a master of none; now I leave other things for other people to do and I concentrate with what brings more returns in my life. This has managed to help me in harnessing my true potential and be more fruitful.

vi. Creative thinkers value ideas.

I am so happy that I have come to a realization that some other people can make you better. I now believe of what other people can do to help me sharpen my vision. So I am in the process of sharpening my listening skills so that I talk less and listen more.

vii. Reality check

This is the most important part of the whole process of creative thinking; to be able to have a proper yard stick to measure your potential. In life never over-estimate who you are; be honest with yourself and your weaknesses then look for people who can complete you. Every time I get to do something there are questions that I have to ask myself; first if it is a project:
How much do I know about the project?
Is there someone who has a better knowledge than mine?
Do I have what it takes to complete the task?
Do I have the required resources to complete the task?
If not where can I get the other resources?
Who will do what?
This checkup will always put me in the right picture before I start the project. Reality check will help me to deal with my doubts and the fear of the unknown. This process will enable me to concentrate with my strength rather than wasting time doing things that can be done better by someone. I now value the input of my coworkers now because they help to sharpen my focus.

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 are more important to me in the sense that they allow me to view the world in a different set up. My world view has changed ever since I have learnt practically about these ideas. I have witnessed a tremendous change in my life since I started to implement these ideas. The idea of creative thinking has also brought a new insight in my associating with my co-workers. It has helped me to value people and their thoughts. It has developed in me the discipline to listen to other people and at the same time learning from them. I feel that as I continue to practice these valuable lessons I will continue to influence my friends and workmates to value other people. I envision a world where people have the freedom to express their thoughts and views without fear or favor.

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

“The value of a good idea is in using it.”
“As long as ideas remain in your head then your dream will remain a pipe dream. All the people who have achieved their dreams had to act on them. Action is the only fuel that keeps the momentum going. Without action ideas will never be realized. By not acting you are proving that your idea has no steam. Ideas that are not acted upon suffer a still birth. Dreamers act on their ideas.”

“The power of strategic thinking.”

The great part of this idea is to enable me to plan effectively; when you don’t think strategically you attempt things in a chaotic environment. Strategic thinking sharpens your focus because you spent your time doing things that brings high returns and you don’t waste time dealing with none essential issues.”

“Possibility thinking increases others possibilities.”

When I see things with the right eye, I help other people to use the same lenses. Possibility thinking motivates others to tackle their issues without fearing to fail.

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

No; everything is sound and clear, readable and practical. The ideas are a masterpiece.

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?

Not really excerpt the thinking questions which I did practically.

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 masterpiece and if followed it can help me to live an honorable life. The principles enshrined in this work of genius if followed enthusiastically can bring about a better world for everyone.

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

100 Great Business Ideas
Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The main idea that the author is exposing in the book are smart principles to do business and how to outdo your rivals. Great businesses survive on using strategies that are well thought out. If you want to have an edge over your competitors then you have to think hard. A great company will always renew itself so as to remain relevant to its market and customers. For a business to reach profitability you need to build a team that constantly do researches and keep abreast of the challenges. People need to be well informed and updated of the goings on in the day-to-day running of the operations. Constant feedback will guarantee quality and an upsurge in sells. Customers are the key component that drives business success and every business should ensure that they are returned for long term business. A great business will ensure that customer concerns are addressed time sensitively and with great care. When a business don’t care about its customers then it is difficult to be effective and survive. The onus is upon the business to make sure that their customers are well informed and systems are well organized to meet their demands. When you create a customer loyalty scheme you are assured for repeat business. People prefer to be loyal to a business that cares about them. It is a good idea to make sure that the services and products that the business is offering are tailor-made to meet the demands of the customer. Constant investment in renewing your products can go a long way to attract customer loyalty. How do businesses renew their products effectively? Only by staying in touch with their customers; listening to criticism; especially the one given by the people who use the product or service. When you add value to a product you help to eliminate competition and at the same time increase your market share. A good business should be concerned about what the customer is saying.

One key component to business success is to create a social networking system that keeps customers informed about the business. While profit is the major reason why businesses exits; the critical issue is about the people who will keep the business going and the money coming in. So, wise leaders or managers will make it a point that the workers who help the business are happy and satisfied. The workers need to be equipped with the relevant skills and knowledge so as to help them to be creative. When workers are properly equipped they are ready to meet any challenge. They can save resources by improvising methods and techniques to keep the costs low. Machines can be repaired or replaced, methods can be altered, plans can be changed but human capital is indispensable. Great businesses are driven by well-trained staffs who are fully equipped to confront daily challenges. Businesses must partner with other businesses that may be in the similar trade. By partnering you multiply resources and create a formidable structure that is difficult to challenge. When a business is partnered; that means the product base also increases and your market share balloons. The growth of a business will require a well thought out strategy to reach to the customer. A good advertising strategy will help the people to know about the existence of the business and the products and services that you are offering on the market. Leaders or managers have to create awareness and this can be done in many ways depending on the type of business you are in. Great companies prioritize their image and they sacrifice a lot to keep the image intact. Companies continue to reinvent themselves. They keep adding flavor to the existing services and products. This will help to meet customer expectations. Re-invention can breathe a new life in an organization. It steers the level of enthusiasm among the workforce and the desire to continue doing more. It is not all about money and profits but transforming people and societies. A great company must have social responsibility as a key component in returning customer loyalty. Companies must help to advance the communities they operate in; this will enable the community to keep supporting them. Corporate social responsibility is a good tool to use to expand your client base. You build people who are loyal to the business and who are ready to stand with you no matter the challenges you are facing.

2: What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you? List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal example from your own life.

i. Corporate social responsibility

I think this is a brilliant idea to make your presence be felt in a community; this is important in the sense that it spreads a massage not only to people who support your business but to the entire community. When people discover that you are a caring somebody and you have a heart for progress; they are willing to give you maximum support. I feel I have to incorporate this principle in my operations.

ii. Outsourcing

This will enable me to deal with key issues that bring good returns other than spending more time doing things that can be done by other people at a cheaper cost. Outsourcing can enhance my profit margins because I spent more time concentrating on my core business. It is sometimes more cheaper to sub-contract other businesses than to do it yourself. For your business to grow then grow other businesses. They will help to bring more business to you.

iii. Flexible working

People need the independence on how to utilize the time at their disposal for the best of the business. Flexibility will help me to motivate people to bring their best into production. When I give people the liberty to manage their time then I am empowering them to be responsible; and when people become responsible they release their potential to reach for the targets. So I have to employ the right tools that can make flexibility a part and parcel of the company. I should make sure that I cope with time by employing the right technology that is in line with current demands.

iv. Redefining my audience

I should reach out to other segments of the market for me to increase my sells. A stagnant business will sooner than later get stuck in the rut. So I have to ensure that I am reaching out to my customers with renewed zeal. The only way is to look out for more potential clients that can buy my products. I should also ensure that my products meet customer satisfaction. There is need to keep adding more products to my product range to suit customer demands. Discovering what customers need is important for any business. This will help the business to improve the quality of its products. I have to always be on the discovery path.

v. Lifestyle brands

Branding is the key to create quick product awareness especially if the brand is designed to appeal to certain aspects of community lifestyle. Proper branding influences buying power and increase sells.

vi. Being honest with customers

I should focus more on customer needs than worried about what my competitors are doing. Before I alter the originality of a product it is best for me to first consult with my customers first.

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 are important to me in the sense that they are the key to effective business practices. They are important to me because they draw me closer to my clients. They guarantee business success. They help me to increase my profits and at the same time focus on customer satisfaction. They sharpen my competitiveness in the business world. These ideas bring satisfaction to my customers. When people are happy and satisfied they contribute for the common good.

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.

“Diversity: I have to be different and create a different market that is distinct from my competitors. I should discover my own path that leads to my prosperity.”

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 book is clear and straight forward; if followed the principles can bring a lot of benefits to the company.

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?

No exercises but some suggestions to follow practically.

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 way people think individually or collectively have a long term bearing on the decisions they make. It is the quality of our thoughts that determine what comes out. If our thoughts are weak and ambiguous then even the outcome is weak. So it is important to develop a staff that is mentally strong to ensure concrete results.

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

This Child will be Great
Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The great massage that the author of the book is conveying is the attitude of never give up. When life throws lemons to you at least make lemonade drink. Stop complaining that you are not qualified to do this or I am what I am because of my poor upbringing; just get up and do the right thing. No matter the circumstances that surrounded her in her early life; mother Salif had to map her way to the most coveted seat in the world to break the record of becoming the first woman President in Africa. She was not there by circumstance but by sheer determination and strength of resolve. She clearly highlighted in her narration that nothing is for free; you have to struggle to achieve your dream. Despite the negative forces militating against her resolution to be the president of Liberia; she had to forge her way in a chauvinistic dominated world to get to the top seat. She made it clear that gender should not be the yardstick to determine one’s ability to achieve success. She is a testimony of success against all odds. Leaders are made out of the materials of courage, determination, persistence and never give up attitude. She withstood all the forces of doom and proved the world that she was capable to rise from the ashes of abuse, rejection and ignorance and become the most celebrated woman President in Africa. Our background should not determine our destiny. You are free to become anything that you aspire in life as long as you have the drive to pursue it. She also highlighted the weakness of African leadership; their failure to upgrade the living standards of the masses through lavish lifestyles coupled with corruption. She emphasized the need to have responsible leadership in the high offices of the land. Leadership is not about self-enrichment but meeting and satisfying the needs of the people. Africa is abundant in natural resources and a sound intelligent people but the problem is that we have accepted corruption as a normal way of life. We create celebrities out of corrupt leaders. The author is clear that to lead effectively one need to continue upgrading his or her knowledge. There is no end to learning; the more information you have the better you can lead people. Good leaders lead from their hearts and they don’t waste time accumulating wealth to the expense of their citizens. Great leaders create structures that are favorable to serve the interests of the people. Leaders are responsible people they take into account the concerns of their followers and address them in a way that meet their demands. Leaders know how to select the right people for the right job. Africa is a victim of nepotism and this attitude is what is spelling the doom of the giant continent. This spirit has reduced Africa to penury. While we cherish the strong family fiber that has kept us together; we need to use this same fiber to rise and fight corruption in our society. The author encourages the demise of autocratic rule and the establishment of democratic institutions that brings leadership to account for what they are doing with public finances. Good leaders hold the future of Africa; we need to speed up our systems and remove them from dependency syndrome and drive them to self-sufficiency. For us to create a better world then our criteria of selecting leaders should not be based on popularity; great speeches or fame but integrity. This is the virtue that can build sustainable wealth. Leaders work to upgrade the living standards of the masses; they don’t seek their own but to make sure that the people who follow them are happy. Great leaders respect the laws they help to create. Leaders have wisdom and foresight to interpret the future and be able to build a road map to get there. They navigate the troubled waters then chant the way forward. When a country is under the management of responsible leadership people are certain of the future and enthusiasm is felt all over. The onus is upon us to chat the way forward and bring Africa to its best but that is only possible by electing the right people with the right mind in high offices.

i. Dealing with corruption

Corruption needs to be confined in the bud to allow the nation to prosper; No nation can prosper as long as corruption is widespread and accepted. The author highlighted the weakness of African electorate; that we vote through our stomach not out of wisdom. We don’t care about the future this is why we celebrate corruption and make corrupt people celebrities.

ii. Need for effective leadership that delivers results:

Leaders are in office to deliver results. If leaders don’t deliver results then they have to be changed. When leaders understand their mission they can bring sustainable development because they work focused. Leaders who have no vision are a liability to their people.

iii. Leaders develop themselves

I have to constantly up-grade myself to keep abreast of the challenges ahead of me. As a leader I should be able to help the people placed under my charge. Good leaders develop the habit of learning. Information help leaders to process sound strategies to implement vision. It gives you the edge to lead effectively; leaders who know the way are respected by their followers.

iv. Integrity

This is the key to effectiveness. Integrity is the hallmark of leading effectively. A leader without integrity is just taking a walk. Without integrity no one will risk following you. This is the path I designed to follow in my quest to train leaders. When people of integrity speak people pay heed. When money is lost nothing is lost; when health is lost something is lost but when integrity is lost; all is lost. Integrity lost will never be recovered; it takes a life time to build integrity but it takes a few seconds to lose it.

v. Leaders enable people to achieve success
I have to be diligent in my relationships with people to ensure that I help them to achieve their goals. I don’t need to be selfish but be in a position to lift other people. It is my responsibility to mentor young people so as to reach their full potential.

vi. Leaders see tomorrow

Leaders have the ability to attract the future in the present; the business of leadership is to point to the future. Leaders enable people to enjoy the future in the present. It is my responsibility as a leader to give people the hope of a better tomorrow.

vii. Self reliance

I have developed a habit to trust in my abilities regardless of the limitations. People who are self-dependent are respected. They are not forced to act against their conscience.

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 enable me to face the future with confidence and build a better world for everyone. They instill in me the discipline that is required to lead effectively. These are principles that are purified, tested and tried and have been found worthy of praise. Following these principles has changed the course of my life and I am happy that they will help me to fulfill my destiny. I am happy that I can now see my vision unfolding every day. I can now see confidence in the people that I am leading.

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.

“Our struggles will help us to be better people and that we should embrace them with gratitude. If it was not what we went through it will be difficult to appreciate where we are. Struggles refine our vision; they give us the staying power to reach for our vision.”

“Struggles give us determination.”

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 book is clear and the narration is vivid. It is motivational and empowering.

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?

No exercises but some excellent practical advice which can be easily applied in day to day 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 issue of poor leadership in Africa that is breeding the spirit of poverty; Africa is suffering from a leadership crisis. We are led by people who have a culture of corruption and who are drunk in power. So it is time for positive minded people to initiate a revolution of changing the mind-sets of our people.

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

Ageless Body, Timeless Mind
Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The author demystifies the traditional beliefs that were entrenched in us by our parents, teachers, mentors and peers concerning life and getting old. It is possible to live a full life, health and vibrant as long as your mind is conditioned properly. A victorious life depends on a health mind. You have the power to resist anything that is out to enslave you to settle for a compromise. You are what you believe you are. Our minds have the power to change our status. A health mind that is properly conditioned can resist any suggestion that is meant to weaken its conviction. Every day our bodies are aging due to poor mind programming and a set of wrong beliefs that were transmitted to us by our lineages. We have to deal with this vice as soon as possible before it destroys us. We have to break our chain of traditional beliefs to be able to outgrow this predicament that we are in. we have to alter the way we see the world by wearing a different set of goggles that will make us see things in a different perspective. We have to understand the hidden secrets of effective living. It is us who can change our situation and make it look the way we want it to be. Our mental state influences what we are aware of; despair and hopelessness about our aging is likely to increase the risk of heart attacks, cancer and other related diseases thereby shortening our life span. Our lives influences things that happens in us; we are responsible for the outcome. It is up to us to speed up, slow down or stop for a moment our aging process. We can reverse our aging because aging is much more dependable on the individual than was ever dreamt of in the past. Most of the things happening in our bodies are an invention of our minds which we have accepted as normal. Now, for us to challenge what is happening in us we have to alter our world view because beliefs hold more power over our bodies. We need to have an extended version of the truth and that version must be divorced from our traditional convictions. Every world view creates its own world and what we think influences what we become. Man has no limitations. Our bodies are ageless and our minds are timeless and this is the reality we need to identify with and create our own world views. This reality can influence our aging. We seem to be in favor of things that are reported to us by our 5 senses; sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell. As long as we accept what is suggested to us without question then we will be forced to accept the limitation of our environment. In order for me to stay vibrant my body should live on the wings of constant change. It is me who should decide what the world should like. It is me who should give meaning the world around me. The world awaits me to give it a meaning and interpret it. I can change my own word that also includes my body. The fallacy of retirement has caused a lot of premature death to people who could have lived longer if only they had not given up what they were doing; retirement reduces people to dependency and dependency instill in us a sense of uselessness; hence opening a fast exit for us from this world. How we perceive ourselves can cause changes in our system and make-up. What retirement simply means is that your days of usefulness are over and that alone can be a prescription of attracting a host of diseases like cancer, stress, ulcers and many more unscrupulous disorders. Our mental conditioning is important for our wellbeing. We need to deal with issues that happened in the past and that are still lingering in our sub-conscious mind. These issues surfaces every day and triggers adverse reactions in our bodies. They send in wrong signals that clog our thinking and bring in toxic deposits of anger, fatigue, anxieties and disappointments. These toxic substances will find residence in us and become part of us. But if we are able to turn these load of burdens into orderly reality; we can open enormous creative possibilities. A lot of us are victims of a lifetime of unconscious living and that has led to our deterioration and speedy aging but as long as we consciously participate in our world we can renew and prevent our fast deteriorating bodies. We have to change our old pattern of perceptions and replace them with new patterns; we can influence our living by recreating our worldview. Life is awareness and awareness is life. With the right mental programming we can out-grow the fears that are associated with growing old. Our brains have the stamina to withstand the ravages of time. It is time for us to awaken the power of intention in us and hit a strong blow to this aging challenge that has imprisoned us in the prison cell of deterioration. For me to remain youthful I need a set of strong beliefs; that will constantly invigorate my thoughts. It is very easy for our minds to create thoughts that can put us in a prison cell; but it takes a strong sense of purpose to block this old age syndrome. Accepting growing old will make you to grow old gracefully but resisting it will increase your rate of aging. You only as old as you think you are.

i. We are not stuck in our life circles.

We are participants in every reaction that takes place in us; man is not like nature that has a fixed life circle. We have the power to change anything that happens in us.

ii. Perception is a learned phenomenon

Learning is a very active use of the mind .how you see things cannot be the same as how I see them. We all have different perceptions.

iii. People grow old and die because they see other people grow old and die

This is the misleading notion that our minds were fed by our experiences of life that we grow, get old then wait to die because this is how it is designed. We have accepted this fable as true; this is why we are fast deteriorating and giving up on life. We never had time to question the honest reality in this programming.

iv. Belief creates biology

Life is awareness in action and the belief that we should grow old and then die makes us victims of life. Awareness will always find new ways to flow as long as we have a strong belief about our existence. The positive side of awareness and its ability to heal is always available.
v. Our reactions fit our expectations

What happens to us is what is in us. Thoughts profiles who we are. This is why it is important to deal with any programming that is harmful to us.

vi. Old age is a grace if you reach it with joy, creativity and curiosity.

Today is the youth of your longevity so you should live it with enthusiasm. We only improve with age. Age does not sentence us to settle for the worst in life but it opens up a can of possibilities for us.

vii. Live in the present:

You can’t control your past but you can control today. Don’t wear yourself out by things that you cannot change but rather dwell in the now. Live today and enjoy your life.

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?

These ideas will help me to model my life as I want it to be. They will assist me in dealing with things that was planted in me by tradition unconsciously and I accepted them as a fact of life. These concepts will help me to de-program the negative toxic thoughts that have been accelerating my aging and help me to live longer than I expected. The decision is mine to make,

4. Quotes: Are there brief quotes from the book that which really got your attention? If so, please list and comment on them.

“Live in the present for it is the only moment you have.”

“This will help me to preserve my energy for the best that is coming.”

Take time to be silent, to meditate, to quite the internal dialogue.

“Silence is power. Silence is refection. In silence you can tap from the deep reservoirs of wisdom.”

“Relinquish your need for external approval; Don’t waste your time in seeking people’s approval in whatever you are doing; do it for the best of mankind. Make it a point that in all that you are doing you are improving the welfare of humanity.”

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 book is clear and straight forward.

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?

No exercises.

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.

Shade the burden of judgment; this will lighten your weight. Judging others will reflect a lack of acceptance on your part.

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

Attitude is Everything
Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

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 the power of the thoughts that we entertain every day; what thoughts can do to influence what we become. We are what we think every day. The truth is; so as a man thinks in his mind, so is he. We are products of our thinking pattern. Our thoughts are magnetic and they attract what we feed them. If we feed our minds with negativity, negativity is what we will get. If we feed our minds constantly with our dreams; we will definitely achieve our dreams. It is all in attitude; how we respond to what happens to us. A positive attitude is a person’s passport to a better tomorrow. It is important to deconstruct our minds and rebuild them. There are things that we have to delete in order for us to take a new path. There are things we have to lose to win. There mindsets forced on us by tradition and educators that have subjected us to bondage and we have to deal with them for us to move forward. Success is a state of mind; if you are dreaming of success then start thinking of yourself as successful. Success begins in the mind. My attitude is my window to the world. So I have to keep it clean. If my window is dirty I will not see clearly; the images I will see will be poor. My attitude is my mental filter through which I view the world. I have to view the world through a filter of optimism (the glass being half full); not the filter of pessimism (the glass being half empty). Stop thinking I can’t; have the attitude of I can. I can’t control circumstances but I can control my mind. So many things and situations in life throw some dirty on our windows; dirty like criticism, ridicule, rejection, disappointments and doubt and all these dirty easily cloud our thinking. It will take a strong positive thought to clean these windows for us to be able to see clearly. So you have to constantly wash your window to get a clear view of the world. Wants your view is clear you can achieve anything that you desire. Shakespeare wants made this remark; “there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” Even under the worst circumstance I still have the power to choose my attitude. It might not be easy but the truth remains; the choice is mine. Happiness is not found in a certain state of circumstance but rather in a person with a certain state of attitude. Attitude is everything; without a positive attitude then it becomes difficult to activate other principle. My success in life begins and ends with attitude. As long as my attitude window is clean then light will always continue to shine visibly in me; but if my attitude window is tarnished with dirty my vision will be limited; my success is blocked and my progress is restricted. If I combine a positive attitude and other success principles I become unstoppable. “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you are right” Said Henry Ford. If you deal with the dirty on your window and use a sponge, your life will be brighter and sunnier. Your dreams will be rekindled and come alive once again. We become what we think about. Our thoughts determine our action. Napoleon Hill said “what the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve”. You must always cultivate your mind with thoughts of greatness. You can achieve your dream when you believe in yourself and keep focused on the positive. Choose your thoughts wisely and turn around your life for the best. Keep on drinking from the fountain of positivity and experience the abundant supply of inspiration that will catapult you to your dreams. Even when you hit a glass ceiling keep on knocking until it melts.

i. You are a human magnet.

Your mind has the power to attract whatever is stored in it. If what is in your mind is dirty then failure is the result. This is why it is very important to take a close guard to what goes in our minds every day. What is in our mind is what we attract. The book of life is clear that so as a man thinks so is he. Jesus said “if you can believe all things are possible” and “according to your faith be it unto you”. Anyone can achieve his/her goals as long as commitment is there. You don’t get results without action because thoughts precede action.

ii. Picture your way to success.

You have to clearly see the success in your mind before you can do it. See things using your imagination. Learn to tape from holding a vivid picture; Learn to picture the kind of person you want to be. This will help to reinforce your belief in yourself. This concept of visualization has been part and parcel of our journey since childhood. Visualization will enable you to live your dream in advance. You and only you are in control of your life. So you have control over the pictures that infiltrate your dream in an attempt to discourage you. Start making your own movies and be sure that you are the script writer, producer, director and manager of the movie called you.

iii. Make a commitment and you will move mountains.

Commitment is the key to achieving your goals. Once you have the right frame of mind then commit yourself to following through your plans. Commitment will open doors of opportunity that will bring a flow of resources towards you. Effort will only yield positive results when you refuse to quit. When you have the willingness to do whatever it takes; then you are likely to reach your dream earlier than anticipated. You will meet people that you never had planned to meet; new doors of opportunity will unexpectedly open for you. Even with commitment everything won’t be rosy for you. Life will always test you to see how committed and serious you are about achieving your dreams are. With the right attitude you can sail through the storms of life.

iv. Refuse to quit

Success is not for the faint hearted; but for those who are ready to fight one more round. Dreams don’t come true by a stroke of chance in life; you have to prepare yourself to endure all the dangers and obstacle associated with your dream.

v. Turn problems into opportunity

Many people when they are faced with problems in life the most obvious thing to do is to quit, complain or curse the day they were born; not all problem are problems some are opportunities to sharpen our thinking. Always maintain gratitude even in the most unlikely situations. Committed people hang on even if things are not looking good. Attitude is everything and everything is attitude. Commitment is what separates winners from loser. Without pressure there is no diamonds; without problems there is no success. It is a rough road that leads to the heights of greatness. Adversity will always bring the best out of us. Without pressure there is no change. Learn to find benefit in every problem; this is all about attitude.

vi. Watch the words that come out of your mouth.

If you repeat anything often enough and it will start to become you. Words govern the world and words are powerful and have the power to create any situation. Whatever you say will come to pass. Words can build and at the same time destroy.

vii. How are you?

Always learn to be in the right frame of mind; control your moods. Make sure that your day is great. Don’t complain always find a reason to be grateful.

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?

These ideas will help me to live a health and creative life. They will enable me to live a sound and vibrant life. They help me to build associations. These ideas are a ticket to personal empowerment.

4. Quotes: Are there brief quotes from the book that which really got your attention? If so, please list and comment on them.

“Your day goes the way the corners of your mouth turn.”

“What we say is what will happen; the right attitude is to control what comes out of our mouth because it can build or destroy us.”

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?

Everything was clear and straight forward.

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 I did them and they even helped me shape my world view.

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.

Troubles like babies grow larger by nursing them. Let’s stop them before they steal our dreams. Attitude is everything is attitude.

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

Be All you can Be
Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

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 portray is the possible you and what you can do to become an accomplished leader. We are not what people think we are. Leadership is not a sacred territory that only a few gifted people can tread on but that anyone who is willing to become a leader can be part of the club. The only thing that one has to do is to abide by the principles that guide leadership. One has to ensure that these principles are developed and followed enthusiastically. There is no such thing as born leaders. Effective leaders are products of a systematic training. There are so many ways leadership abilities can be developed. You can attend lectures from professionals; attend seminars; get a coach who can help you understand and implement the principles and also learning to take challenges.

i. The power of a vision.

This is the key; the driving force, the energy that makes visions come true. Without a vision people cast away restraint advises King Solomon. Vision is what drives an organization to the dismal heights of success. Vision is what makes the way clear. Leaders are vision driven. It is the anchor of our purpose. What I will achieve in life will be determined by the bigness of my vision. So I have taught myself to live with the big picture. I have a strong urge in me to see a society that is leadership oriented because I am convinced that any nation that is not driven by the spirit of leadership will never realize its potential.

ii. I have to stretch to success.

No matter the obstacles and criticism I have to move on. It is up to me to succumb to pressure and give up or use pressure as a mounting board to reach my destiny. I have come to a realization that without pressure there is no change. Pressure is what makes me to move forward. The more pressure is exerted on me the more I build energy to move. Whether it is a football team, an organization or a government without pressure it becomes impossible to change. Pressure brings change. I now embrace the force of pressure to help me accelerate my pace to reach for my vision.

iii. See it, say it and seize it.

Life is action; life is vision and life is confession. What we envision will always come to pass. What we confess is what becomes of us; our actions will always determine the results we get. I have to keep my vision before me and I have to act on it and I have to utilize every opportunity that comes my way. Life is full of ceaseless opportunities only waiting to be utilized. So it is up to me to take advantage of them or let them to slip away.

iv. Failure is not final.

Failure is just an easy way to tell me that the method I am using is not working. Failure should not deflate me. Failure should energize me to find other better way of doing things. I have failed on countless times in pursuing my vision but every time I pump my motivation I am rejuvenated to go another mile.

v. I don’t have to survive.

In all what I do I do it to help create a better world not to survive. My intention is to see a habitable world that is conducive and supportive to anything that has life. I envision a world that is free from greed, selfishness and xenophobia; a world that accepts the equality of creation and acknowledges God as the source of life.

vi. Commitment is the key.

No matter what I face I should not give up. I have to be committed; I have to take the extra mile. Failures are part of life and I have learnt to live by them. Rejection will always be my companion in my journey of life so I should learn to travel with it.

vii. My decisions will determine what I will become.

All the decision I have made whether small or big have resulted in who I am today. So I have developed a habit of making decisions that promote my vision and have a life time bearing on my plans.

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?

These ideas are brilliant in the sense that they equip me with the knowledge of self. They motivate me to understand my potential. These ideas will equip me with the possibilities that are underutilized in me. The world that we are living in is dangerous to any person who lacks knowledge of self because it is easy to become a victim of peer pressure; you need to forge your own footsteps that you follow in order for you to reach your maximum best. These ideas are so practical and easy to help me develop my leadership abilities.

4. Quotes: Are there brief quotes from the book that which really got your attention? If so, please list and comment on them.

“The only person who can stop me to become what God has intended me to become is me; nobody can shortchange me except myself.”

I have the power to decide who I want to be. My limitations are based on my self-assessment. The only yardstick to measure my potential is me. Everything to become who I want to be is deposited inside of me. Many times I have relied on human assessment of who I am and many times I have been disappointed. If you don’t know who you are it becomes difficult to understand your purpose; you struggle all your life with identity crisis.

“Self-knowledge is the key to understanding your intended reason of existence. Everything that I need to succeed in all I do is deposited in me by my creator so it is up to me to discover it. Men know thyself will always be a statement of truth and if believed can do wonders for anyone. Self-knowledge transcends all successes in life.”

I have been using meditation skills in an effort to have a deep understanding of myself. The secret in mediation is that I empty all the trash that has been fed on me about whom I am and then focus on the real truth of who exactly I am; never under-estimate your ability to become yourself.

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 principles are made clear and simple to grasp.

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 the book contained helpful exercises to build leadership principles. I did follow them enthusiastically.

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.

Leadership is a strong desire that one nurtures to advance the cause of mankind. With desire you can be an effective leader. Anyone can be a leader as long as the desire is in him. Apostle Paul once gave an advice that whoever desires to lead has chosen a noble cause and should be treated with respect. Desire is a great urge to better human standards and champion noble causes. Leaders are not born as what most people are made to believe by tradition but effective leaders are trained. They are made by following and practicing principles that guides leadership. By exercising leadership principles one can transform himself into a leader. Even if some people are born with a natural dosage of leadership in them but to make it effective one has to be trained. The edges of leadership can only be sharpened through rigorous training. The saying is true that iron can only sharpen iron and leaders sharpen each other. This is why I am training through IIGL to enhance my leadership capabilities; I can be honest that I have witnessed tremendous improvement in my life ever since I started my studies with IIGL. I can safely say now I am a better leader; better equipped to influence my contemporaries.

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

Creating your Path through Leadership
Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

What the authors are passing on is the great instructions they have learnt through their trainings with IIGL. The great revolution they have experienced and the benefits they are now enjoying because of the discoveries they have made in following the principles of effective living. Leadership is not confined to the gifted orators or famous individuals but to everyone who is willing to put up with the principles. Effective leadership is a craving that one cherishes to create a world that is favorable and habitable; a world that promotes fairness and fair play for all its inhabitants. The authors have proven beyond doubt that it takes commitment and a willing heart to transform your life from drudgery to usefulness once you connect with the right people who are flowing in the same wavelength. The challenges that we face in life help to shape our future; it doesn’t matter whether they are negative or positive, the important thing is the lessons they are teaching us. Leaders are refined products who have passed through the furnace of weaknesses and discrimination; they are people who have outgrown human opinions and judgments. Leaders are students all the way through; they learn and they apply the knowledge to the benefit of every Tom, Dick, and Harry. Leaders are not sloppy; they are observant and they are always scouting for prospects that advance the cause of humanity. This is what makes IIGL a unique establishment because the vision is larger than life; it spreads out further than human limitations. It embraces cultures, opinions and civilizations of all societies. All graduates of IIGL are independent leaders and thinkers who are free to pursue their dreams. The graduates are not forced to wear the “made in America label.” This is resembled by the superiority of the program of study that the students are exposed to, the range of the collected works and the mixture of authors. Success in studying with IIGL rest on with the student; It is your own speed and desire that will regulate how far you will go. I have had the opportunity to be part of this exciting program and I am fully indebted to this remarkable organization which has transformed my life within a short space of time. Let me rush to say this; ever since I associated with this institution I have experienced an unmatched development level that has opened tremendous doors of opportunity for my life. The writings I have soaked my life in have boosted my morale and revitalized my dream to train leaders. This is why I am of the conviction that no nation can succeed unless the spirit of leadership is cherished among its citizens. Good leadership is the answer to this sick world. I am praying for responsible leaders who are willing to risk everything to create a better world.

i. The Timeless Secrets of Effective Leadership! Impacting the world around you.

One of the set of laws of transformational philosophy is that any person can do or form anything that he/she wishes. Nothing can come to pass on the outside until you start to see it within. Ignoring internal projections is giving up the right to nurture your future. All flourishing athletes first imagine and see in their mind’s eye winning before the contest begins. They first imagine winning the contest inside themselves before the actual race. The starting point for every conquest is within you.

ii. Understanding a vision

Vision is a clear picture of what lies ahead of you. What you see yourself being or doing. It is the ability to attract the future into the present. For example: It could be a vision of building a health institution in surroundings where people are being destroyed by diseases. It can be an idea of bringing freedom to people who are under domination. Knowledge where there is unawareness. The moment your idea or picture becomes clear in your mind then start setting up how this vision is going to be reached. Action is the only force that can transform a vision into reality. When action is taken a vision becomes a mission.

iii. Causes why visions from time to time fail

When a leader start to doubt who He/She is! The problem of identity crisis is destroying many would-be leaders today. When a leader loses self-belief in him/her or begins to doubt who he/she is then the likelihood of weakening is high. The moment you start to question the legitimacy of your vision then get ready to fall by the wayside. Self-distrust can spell disaster to your ideas. When you can’t believe in yourself, no one can risk believing in you. How you see yourself goes a long way to influence people to buy into your dream.

iv. The dynamics of goal setting!

For a vision to be booming it has to be transformed into an assignment. You have to do something about it. Goals are a necessary element to make a vision come true. Without sound goals in place a vision becomes Complex to realize. It will remain just like any other thought. Goals provide us with a road map to reach our destiny. They steer and direct us. For a vision to be triumphant a leader need to put into practice a sound goals program. Goals simplify a vision. With goals you are able to see your successes and failures. Without an adequate goals program, it becomes difficult to achieve a vision.

v. You can manage your time effectively.

“Wasting time is wasting life because life is measured by time. Born in 1926, died in 1980” (Shereni). Success in any challenge depends absolutely on effective use of time.
Time which is wasted is time lost and time lost can never be recovered.
Effective use of time is key to organizational success. Every minute put to good use can produce excellent results. Killing time is destroying the future.

vi. Then do what it takes to win
Every successful leader must make his plan work. This is the key to achieving dreams. You must put forth effort, force and all it takes to reach for your vision. There is nothing that can stop anyone who wants to succeed. It takes commitment and steely devotion to bring dreams into reality. While others are resting and playing games, successful people will be obsessive in their dreams. All successful leaders continue even in the face of much resistance. Some leaders are eloquent when articulating their vision but when it comes time to put it into practice they run short of courage.

vii. You have to remain adaptable to change

A leader has to be flexible and adaptable to change. You have to be like a rubber band that stretch with challenges. You don’t need to give in but to learn to adjust. Learn to welcome challenges instead of you fighting them. Change is not an incident; it is continuous and on-going. It doesn’t matter; it is a company, an organization, an individual or a football team. Any structure that is unbending will never achieve success; it will be swept away sooner or later. An organization that becomes accustomed to change can easily blossom and continue to stay alive. A leader needs to be alert to new opportunities, have an open mind to accept new shifts of things around him/her. Chinese believe that madness “is keeping doing what you have always been doing, in exactly the same way and expecting a different outcome.” The decision is always yours, either to change with changing times or remain behind and perish in your status quo. For any organization to remain abreast of times and renew itself, it has to keep pace with changing times. It has to continually redefine itself. Visionary leadership is needed in any set up because when an organization accepts a status quo it cannot adjust to any meaningful change.

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?

They will help me to sharpen my focus and follow my dream. They are key reminders of what is needed to reach the summit of success.

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.

“Leaders take risks. As you pursue goals in life, risk taking will be part of you, whether you are at ease with it or not. Risk taking can be used as a positive attribute to drive you to greatness. Without risk taking, there is no advancement.”

“Dynamic things happen in an environment where people are given the opportunity to try things. If you don’t take chances get ready to accept mediocrity. Risk creates rewards and open up avenues of opportunities.”

“All leaders who have learnt to take risks don’t waste time hoping for a perfect opportunity. They don’t worry about survival because they are confident of the future. Every leader must learn to take risks.”

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?

Please note that these are some of the extracts from my works which I thought to share with you since IIGL edited book is about testimonials and transformation of human lives. I have also experienced this wave of improvement; I thought it wise to use the same opportunity to express my boundless joy for what the institution has done for my life.

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?

Not really.

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.

Make clear objectives: Making your objectives clear will help you to allocate your time with care. You are able to decide where a job should go and who is supposed to do it. Before you attempt any job ask yourself the following questions:
Is this task contributing to my goal?
What would happen if I don’t do it?
How do the jobs listed relate to my long term goals?
Are these tasks relevant to my long term vision?
Who can I delegate this task?
Is the person experienced enough to carry out the assignment?
When you concentrate on tasks that have a high importance you generate more time to deal with issues that can move the organization forward. All leaders have the discernment to decide when activities are no longer important. Instead, they concentrate their energies on jobs of high importance. This increases the value of their investment of time.

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? 5
B. How helpful were the contents? 5
C. How easy was it to understand? 5
D. Would you recommend it to others? 5
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 5

Goal Setting
Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

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 what goals can do to help you achieve your life vision. Without a goals program it is very difficult to realize your potential. Goals bring the best out of you. For a vision to be realized it has to be turned into an assignment. You have to do something about it. Goals are a necessary element to make a vision come true. Without sound goals in place a vision becomes difficult to capture. It will remain just like any other thought in your head. Goals provide us with a road map to reach for our dreams. Goals motivate and direct us. For a vision to come to pass a leader needs to put into exercise a comprehensive goals program. Goals make things easier. With goals you are able to measure your achievements and frustrations. Without an adequate goals program, it becomes challenging to achieve a vision. A strategic goals program will keep you on track. It will provide you with a point of reference to assess your growth. When you have goals in place you can breakdown a vision into appropriate size. Goals sharpen the focus of a vision; you don’t work under a mist but a clear sky. Goal setting can eliminate confusion and do away with gloominess. Goals are the lights of a vision. Because of lack of goals most leaders live under dark shadows preoccupied by procrastination. A leader without a goal’s program makes no difference to a captain of a ship without a compass. Because any wind can blow you anywhere. It is the art of goal setting that can help you to do away with procrastination and open up the avenues of possibilities. Most failures are credited to lack of goal setting. When a vision is broken down into segments, it makes the task to reach it simple. Goals uncap the pool of buried potential in you. They put challenges and demands on you to release these powers. What you need is to draw together courage and take the needed steps and go for what you believe in. You can hit many barricades along the way but don’t be sidetracked, it is part of life. It has been proven that nothing happens without taking the necessary steps. Take that first, sometimes difficult step. Hit an obstacle, it is not something to spend time worrying about because it is a simple test of steering you correctly and help you to purify your favored course. Goal setting can turn frustration into valuable learning. You prepare yourself for any out of the blues incidence. Goal setting helps you to embark upon life with bravado and eagerness. Now that you know what you stand for in life, sharpen the focus of your vision by setting sound goals to help you achieve your ultimate mission. Without balanced goals it is difficult to reach for the most wanted results. You are forced to waste time dealing with non-essential matters. Lack of goals destroys the progress of a vision. Every leader needs a vision and for that vision to be realized, goals must be put in place. This will help you to commit your time to better use.

i. Goals break open the pool of buried potential in you.

They put challenges and demands on you to release these powers. What you need is to draw together courage and take the needed steps and go for what 19 you believe in. You can hit many barricades along the way but don’t be sidetracked, it is part of life. It has been proven that nothing happens without taking the necessary steps. Take that first, sometimes difficult step. Hit an obstacle, it is not something to spend time worrying about because it is a simple test of steering you correctly and help you to purify your favored course. Goal setting can turn frustration into valuable learning. You prepare yourself for any out of the blues incidence. Goal setting helps you to embark upon life with bravado and eagerness.

ii. Sound Goals

Now that you know what you stand for in life, sharpen the focus of your vision by setting sound goals to help you achieve your ultimate mission. Without balanced goals it is tricky to reach for the most wanted results. You are forced to waste time dealing with non-essential matters. Lack of goals destroys the progress of a vision.

iii. Vision is the foundation of all leadership, there is also a need of devotion to act.

This commitment is what is referred to as a mission and a mission can only be accomplished through a strategic goals plan. Where goals are missing it’s easy to experience a crisis of purpose. To avoid this there is need for a leader to continue sharpening the focus of his/her vision. Effective goal setting spells out in clear terms, what steps the leader should take to complete the vision. Lack of sound goals can de-motivate you and limit your influence. Your approach to work is easily compromised.

iv. Determine what you want more than anything else in life.

Write down the means by which you intend to attain it, and permit nothing to deter you from pursuing it. “Real confidence in you is always demonstrated by action,” said P.J Meyer. When you set goals it is the same thing you do when programming a computer. It takes some bit of know-how. For instance, if you want to set up a training workshop for managers, there are things you have to resolve first before the beginning of the workshop:
What is the objective of the workshop?
Who is going to carry out the training?
What criteria are you going to use to choose the participants?
Where are you going to hold the workshop?
How are you going to fund the workshop?
For how long is it going to take?
All these details are required in place before you go on board.
While vision is necessary but it cannot be successful before you iron out some of these details. These fine points will help you to polish up the smooth running of the workshop prior to its commencement.

v. Goals need to be constantly monitored regularly in order to adjust them to changing times and situations.

While your mission remains the same, goals will always change depending with the situation on the ground. Every individual, manager or leader who rises above the rest, will not do so because of the advantage of a vision, as important as vision may be, but because of successful carrying out of an effective goals program. Without a sound goals program a vision will never come to pass. Goals enable you to deal with real issues and not waste time dealing with issues of secondary importance.

vi. The principle of S-M-A-R-T goals!

Setting goals involves writing out steps it will take to accomplish a vision. It doesn’t matter how long it will take, whether 10 or 20 years but the vision needs to be broken down into steps. A good goals program will be S-M-A-R-T, Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and tangible. Goals need to be specific! It is not specific to say that you want to start a business. This goal does not tell in exact terms how you want to achieve your desire, When, How and Where. You cannot achieve a dream in an empty space but being precise of what you want is a powerful motivational factor. It creates passion and oils your internal forces to synchronize for action. Ambiguity throws a dark shadow on any plan. You attempt your plan in an atmosphere clouded by mist.

vii. Goals must be measurable!

A goal of becoming a millionaire business person overnight is not measurable. But a goal of becoming a millionaire business person in one year is able to be measured. You can put down a plan to start saving, say, a hundred thousand dollars a month from your daily sales, for the next 12 months. You may make nine hundred thousand dollars by year end but you are guaranteed that you are not far from reaching your objective. 23
Goals must be within reach! Set big and high goals but ensure that you can achieve them. You can’t waste time trying to teach a dog to fly or a horse to shout. It is not possible. It doesn’t matter that you are intelligent or a genius you cannot arrive at such a goal.
Goals need to be practical! Be sure of the results you can reasonably achieve given the supplies and capital at your disposal. Take for instance a sweeper aspiring to be a chief executive officer of a corporation in one year. This is not possible by any standards. But that dream can be practical maybe in five years if the person set goals within the next five years to advance his/her schooling. Attend an institution of higher education and learn everything required to run a company.
Goals need to be tangible!
If you want to stay fit, you need to set concrete goals. It is not real to say I want to improve my physical condition. The question is how do you want to get better your physical condition? The only way to reach for hard to pin down goals is when you set tangible goals. If you want to stay robust and in shape, the tangible goals you can set is to watch what you eat, fix a time table to do body fitness movements, do some jogging once in a while. Attend a fitness center, say twice a week. This program can push you on a sound footing that can change your health condition within the shortest period of time. All goals need to be based on things under your control, things that you and other people can do.

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?

These principles and measures will simplify my approach to reach for my life dream. Goals are necessary to clarify where I am going. If I lack sound goals then I am likely to lose direction. Goals are good for me because they keep me informed of where I am on the map. These simple steps help me to break a vision into small manageable steps rather than wasting time trying to conquer Mount Everest in the spur of a moment. Goals tell me what I can do and can’t do at a time.

4. Quotes: Are there brief quotes from the book that which really got your attention? If so, please list and comment on them.

“Know where you want to go; then draw the map that will help you to go there. Lack of goals is what is destroying many visionaries.”

“Goals bring clarity in a vision. When things are clear your confidence scale goes up. Goals refresh you. They will renew your energy; you don’t waste time on issues of less importance. Goals concentrate your efforts.”

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?

Everything is simple and straight forward.

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 and very 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 only power to unlock vision is when I start to implement a goals program. This will enable me to act within specific time frames. Without sound goals in place my vision will remain a pipe dream.

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

How to Sell Yourself
Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The author is trying to convey a clear message on the need to communicate effectively; great societies are built on the foundation of good communication; this is what makes nations great. Poor communication destroys the foundations of human relationships. The better we learn to communicate the more interesting it becomes to associate. When Moses was given the mandate to set free the children of Israel from the repression of Pharaoh, Moses disputed and proved how impossible it was for him because of his lack of ability to communicate. No matter your situation or status in life, failure to communicate efficiently can be a handicap to your mission for success. People will not pay attention to you or accept as true your legitimacy. The skill to express yourself clearly can build new opportunities for you. It can make you stand before men and women of honor. The ability to communicate can elevate you from the dust of the ground and sits you on the golden chair to reign with kings. Poor communication has triggered conflicts, fuelled extreme dislike, led to the fall down of businesses, created mistrust and loss of business to many enterprises.

“I would still be President if I had communicated better,” grieved George Bush on leaving Whitehouse. Communication begins with the need to share a thought. It is the transmission of thoughts; the means by which they pass from one mind to another. If there is no distortion or very little during this course of action, communication is perfect and successful. Communication is exchange of ideas. As you speak, you should also be aware of the impressions forming in the mind of your listener; become skilled at communicating to people where they are. When you hear what you are saying through the other person’s ear, then you have attained the level of diplomacy or international relations. It is doubtful that you can persuade anyone except a connection of some kind is created. A relationship must be formed. If your objective is to get others to do what you want them to do, they will react negatively. There must be connection and trust. Communication is not simply verbal skills. It is not a matter of saying something well but has to do with the fundamental nature of the person called “You,” the person who is saying the words. In communication, you don’t control but you inspire. When you encourage people, you add their enthusiasm to your own, but if you control them you will provoke unfriendliness. It is a well-known truth that high-quality business deals are based on the shared advantage of the bargain hunter and the trader. When you control you are attempting to use people, but when you inspire you are seeking to be of use to people. If you take advantage of people, you will sooner or later be unable to find them. Motivate them and both sides will do well to each other.

i. Leadership and communication
Effective communication is the solution to successful leadership. Without good communication, thoughts will not be understood. Every person in charge needs to sharpen his/her communication skills. If strategies are to be carried out efficiently, they need to be communicated convincingly; they have to be grasped by the people. A great number of business deals have been lost because of poor communication on the part of sales personnel. Communication is a skill that needs to be continuously enhanced and widened. Every leader who desires to have an edge in his or her field needs to gain knowledge of communicating effectively; without this very important skill, he or she cannot achieve the end. A leader or manager might have the most excellent thoughts since Albert Einstein or Galileo but unless he or she can get them into the heads of other people, he or she will be unsuccessful. His or her ideas will remain without support. For thoughts to be appreciated, they must be shared and at the same time be accepted by the one receiving them. I am also working on improving my communication skills so as to enhance my training effectiveness.

ii. Success and failure

Every day we communicate in different ways e.g. dreams, expectations, opinions, feelings, needs etc.; if you do it well life turn out to be more worthwhile and less nerve-racking; If you do it unpredictably and the wrong way, your years will be overcrowded with misunderstanding, disappointments and wasted moments. In business, well-organized communication is the difference between failure and success. The ability to communicate can improve your personal effectiveness if done skillfully. Inability to communicate can reduce you to mediocrity.

iii. Be sure of what you are saying

We have observed people in our lives, be it on television, on radio, in board rooms and public arenas making mess of things. If you can communicate unmistakably with good judgment and passion, your listeners or audience no matter the size, whether one or a thousand will take time to pay attention to you.
Some people have natural gifts of persuading other people to pay attention to them. They can speak with confidence, hassle-free and caringly. But others can open their mouth and straight away goes blank; their minds, on the spur of the moment switches off. In ordinary chat and in speaking to gatherings you can easily estimate your impact by simply interpreting the signs of how others understand you. This will also establish your acceptance rating. This is what I am working on to ensure that my leadership trainings become lively.

iv. Understand the principles of communication:

In every fine art, there are few principles and many methods. Great causes have been lost not because the ideas were necessarily bad or the strategy was difficult but because of bad timing and poor presentation. Effective communication is more than verbal statements or saying few expressions to a massive number of people. It is the expression of your individuality; who you are! Every action of your life is communicating something to someone. Through verbal communication, you can prove your individuality from any other living species. Through the force of speech, you can best express your uniqueness and your deep-seated nature. You can easily increase your influence and worth by being distinct and expressing clearly what you mean. The same can easily prop up your personality.

v. Train yourself the art of communication

Business success and approval completely depends upon your ability to communicate clearly, who you are, what your desire is and what you believe in. Channels of communication need to remain clear and open to dispel pressure, fear and lack of confidence that breeds mistrust and rumors; some challenges and problems people face in their quest to relate in everyday living.
“I am so frightened that I can’t think clearly.”
“I can’t concentrate; I can’t remember what I wanted to say.”
“I need to gain poise, confidence and the ability to think on my feet.”
“I can’t put my thoughts in logical order.”
“Whenever I speak before a group of people I can’t talk clearly and convincingly.”

All these reasons included are some of the challenges that a lot of us confront when faced with the prospect to address people. These common mind-sets of insufficiency face us every time we are invited to speak.

vi. Enjoy the pleasure of communication

The ability to communicate clearly is a quality on demand in many areas of life. This ability can push you to the climax of the ladder and allow you to soar the skies. There is pleasure, self-fulfillment and personal satisfaction to those people who are able to stand up and confidently share their thoughts and feelings to other people. Satisfaction will always come to men and women who can hold their audience spell-bound by the influence of the spoken word. This will bring a sense of strength, a feeling of power and joy of achievement in their life. Only public speaking training can built a highway of self-confidence in your life. Once you become conscious to this, you can build your own testimonial of a success story. You can easily let loose your personality. You can make an impact on others, family members, social groups, workmates, business associates, customers and clients. This ability will make it easy for you to unlock extensive doors to network with other people. All effective speakers attach importance to the will to succeed and if you care enough for results, you will certainly get them.

vii. Be hearty in your speech:

The way you say what you want to say is very crucial and how the people who are listening are going to act in response. What you are going to say will for all time spell your success or failure because if people don’t agree to it, you switch them off. Important! When you get up to speak or you want to talk to someone; be aware of what you want to say. This can help you to deal with the challenge of not being misunderstood. History has confirmed that some of the world’s greatest speeches were plain points jotted at the back of an envelope just to help the speaker to stick to the list of items. A speech coming from the heart is worth a thousand pages of a written manuscript.

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?

These ideas will enable me to build sound relationships with people. They will create great opportunities for me. People who are capable of communicating clearly are on demand and the world is ready to offer anything to them as reward to teach them the skill.

4. Quotes: Are there brief quotes from the book that which really got your attention? If so, please list and comment on them.

“In anything you do the greater your confidence in yourself and your abilities; the stronger your impact. Every communicator needs to have confidence in his or her abilities.”

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

No all is clear.

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 and I followed them and it was good for me.

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.

Communication is important because this is what makes me to be heard without struggling. Communication open channels of friendship; people enjoy to be around people they understand.

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

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living
Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The author deals with the most proven techniques that can eliminate worry and ignite your dream. The principles that the author highlights can be applied on a daily basis to deal with the contagious but yet destructive disease of worry. Worry has claimed more victims than any of the threatening disease recorded in human history. People who worry don’t live long; they don’t enjoy the beauty of life. The author explains in clear terms the destructive power of worry and how it can be conquered. He suggests a series of practical theories that are feasible for anyone to emulate and adapt. Positivity can erode worry. We should refuse to be victims of our past and future. We should learn to live a day at a time. No one has achieved anything in this world by worrying. The author advises me to learn to enjoy my day every day without worrying about the distant tomorrow. If I live today I can harness the power to deal with tomorrow. My victory is in today. Today is the day I should focus on because I have control over it. I will not be able to control the unknown tomorrow; because it comes with its own surprises. Today is the day so I should gladly accept it and concentrate all my energies.

i. Today well lived makes yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of happiness.

The best lesson I have learned is to shut down the iron doors of the past and future and simply live today. I don’t live in the past and I don’t live in the future but I live today. In my leadership experience I have trained myself to focus on what I can control and not to waste time on things that I have no power over.

ii. Worry will never get you anywhere.

Worry will never take me any distance but can only destroy my ambition to reach for the best in life. Worry feeds on my vision and as a result it eats on my energy. As a leader I should be able to take charge of myself and deal with my worries by focusing on what I should achieve today. Success is reached by doing small things every day. Worry will affect my ability to concentrate and it will never get me anywhere. Every time I worry my mind becomes agitated and loses concentration.

Leaders who do not know how to fight worry die young: Anyone who conquers worry lives longer and enjoys his grace on this planet. Worry takes away our hopes and frustrates our dreams. I have developed a plan to deal with my worries by always having positive and inspirational quotes posted in strategic positions in my house that I read every day and every hour.
iii. The formula that kills worry.

The most relaxing and recreational forces are healthy, religion, sleep, music and the power of laughter. Have faith in God, learn to sleep well, Love Good and classic music, see the funny side of life and you will attract happiness and joy. Most of the diseases that we suffer are cousins of worry; unless we deal with worry they will always pay us a visit and when they visit us they are expensive to entertain. They drain our wealth. I am always on guard to deal with everything that might want to infiltrate me and cause me to worry.

iv. Keep busy.

The worried person must lose himself in action; I believe and exercise mind occupational therapy through meditation. Every day for 15 minutes I empty my mind of every toxic thoughts and I tell myself that this day is my day and I should expect the best.

v. Life is too short to be little.

I will never allow myself to be upset with little things. I always despise and forget about them. I am now focused and in control of my destiny.

vi. Think and act cheerfully and you will feel cheerful.

Joy comes to people who have trained themselves to act joyful. King David once said that mourning might endure for a night but joy comes in the morning; learn to rejoice and have funny. This will build your enthusiasm about life.

vii. Let us fill our minds with thoughts of peace.

Peace is what I want and peace is what I should strive for; peace is what will keep my mind calm in the face of a raging storm. Peace of mind is what will help me to conquer mountains. So I should always cherish peace.

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?

These ideas are so important to me in the sense that they will help me to deal with issues that drains strength out of me. I need tones of energy to be able to reach for my dream so the onus is on me to deal with all forces that leak my energy bank and worry is the number 1 force. The ideas have equipped me to come up with a plan of action that will help me to deal with worry issues. The plan of action is to always have inspirational posts on strategic positions in my house that will always remind me about the consequences of worry.

4. Quotes: Are there brief quotes from the book that which really got your attention? If so, please list and comment on them.

“Every day is a new day to Wiseman.”

“Even King David understood the principle of living a day at a time when he said, this is the day that the lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it. Even in his splendor and glamour David never bothered about the future but he learnt the secret to effective living; to learn to thank God for the day he was allowed to live. I cannot change yesterday and I cannot change tomorrow but I can change now because I live in now. I have control over now. Worry kills energy and has a potential to kill dreams. So I have to live a stress free life by focusing on today.”

“Life is change; and everything changes; it is the law of change that does not change. You cannot step in the same river twice. The river changes every second and so does the person who steps in it. Life is a never-ending change but the only certainty is today. So don’t destroy the beauty of today by trying to solve the problems of tomorrow that is hidden in continual change and uncertainty that no one can predict.”

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

Everything was explained in simple and clear manner and it was simple to follow. It is a great book.

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 the book had some exercises to do and I benefited much in following them. The exercises were practical.

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.

Learn to live a worry free life; This is the only solution to a health life; Leaders should be worry free. This will enable them to pursue their vision with a concentrated effort. Worry drains energy. Yes! Worry is the number one killer of most people and can be controlled by living for today. The best life I can enjoy is in the now because that is what I can control. The greatest teacher of all time Jesus Christ taught his followers to ask only bread enough for a day. “Give us today our daily bread.” Worrying about tomorrow cannot change my situation but only adds to my misery. The greatest challenge I have faced for the last 20 years in pursuit of my dream is the worry about my tomorrow but after reading this book I feel that I have the ability to reach the best in life. The only thing I have to do is to deal with my fears. Worry has drained a lot of energy in me and has frustrated much of my plans but as of now I think I have the enthusiasm that can push me towards my dream. I have to concentrate and focus on what is to be done today and I have to do it with all my energy.

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

IACOCCA
Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The author is conveying a strong massage on transformational leadership and what leadership can do to improve the life and welfare of the greater majority. Great leaders work for the benefit of people. The author has proven beyond any shadow of doubt that it is possible to change an organization from failure to success; this can only be done through a sound strategy that is backed by a sound goals plan. He is clear about what vision can do to boost the morale of the workforce. If people trust their leaders they are ready to sacrifice anything. Leaders are visionaries and they know what to do in times of crisis. Leaders are bankable they live what they teach people. Leaders are people who are change driven; they transform organizations and at the same time build human lives. Leaders are selfless and they lead from their hearts. Leaders always focus on the big plan and delegate responsibilities to those under their charge. They are good at appointing the right people for the right jobs. They build teams and mobilize them to see the big picture. Leaders are great managers; they know how to convert the resources at their disposal to achieve the intended results. They understand the need to mobilize resources to implement the vision. I feel if these principles are followed well they can help me to achieve success in implementing my vision.

i. Preparation

This is a requirement for anyone who aspires to lead. Without preparation then you are not ready to lead. This is the reason why I had to enroll with IIGL to undertake this challenging assignment of analyzing almost 40 books on leadership. It takes commitment and never-give-up attitude to be able to complete this comprehensive schedule. I am glad that this has taught me what commitment can achieve for anyone who is serious. Preparation makes the man; leaders have to be ready to take an assignment.

ii. The key to management

Managers play a key role in mobilizing teams to achieve results and at the same time ensure that resources are utilized to the advantage of the vision. I have also enrolled with different trainers to spruce up my managerial skills. Management is a good background to help me understand the principles of leadership and how to put them to use.

iii. Trouble in paradise

I don’t need to be contented with my situation. Troubled waters help me to realize the dormant potential that lies in me. I have to be on guard against stagnation and at the same time I have to keep abreast of the challenges. When things seem to be against me then that is when I should exercise leadership. I am happy that the last 2 months have imposed so much pressure on me in my attempt to complete my studies; but the good news is that I have witnessed a lot of change and progress in me.

iv. Building the team:

Teams help me to reach for results without losing much energy. A team is my pillar to help me implement a successful vision. I have learnt the secret that other people can do a better job than me. There are things that I should let other people do. It is not all about me but we; any success that I will achieve in the future will depend on the people that I will pick to help me implement my goals. Teams are the think tank of an organization because they bring a diversity of thoughts to fuel the organization to success. Teams remain the power of vision; without them goals will be difficult to realize. I am a team builder.

v. Dealing with the past scars:

Things that we go through in life should not deter us to pursue our vision; some things are meant to happen as a way of opening doors that are a distant away from us. I have learnt that in the battle of leadership sometimes we get hurt or wounded; sometimes we become victims of ill-treatment but that should not daunt my spirit to fight for what is right. I have to have the courage to stand up for what I believe in. Leadership can be a lonely walk but in that loneliness I should persevere up until my ideals are realized and at the same time infused in the minds of the people.

vi. Leaders should expect the waste scene scenario.

It is not all times when things go my way; in some cases I have to swallow the bitter pill. I have learnt to build shock absorbers to deal with unpredictable outcomes. Rejection does not mean failure. I should have the guts to excel.

vii. Be innovative

I have to keep advancing things and not waste time doing things the same way and thinking that it will change. I have to invent methods and systems that will advance the vision. I am in the position of leadership to show the way so I have to be ahead of my subordinates. Every day I have to make sure that I do things in a different 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?

These ideas are so amazing and powerful because they are the key to achieving organizational results. Commitment to vision brings teams together and harnesses the power to focus on results. I am so excited that in the last few months I have seen a drastic change in me especially in the area of commitment; all the goals and timeframes I have set in my IIGL studies have come true. I am bubbling with energy to reach my completion of studies within the next one month. I have targeted to start youth trainings and writing developmental manuals for young people and so far I have written 15 manuals focusing on leadership. The principles espoused in the autobiography are feasible and can be modeled by any person who is aiming to transform human lives and if followed enthusiastically can help me to transform my society. I am glad that the author narrates events that are life transforming and motivating. A lot of the principles are engineered to help me to see the advantage of working to improve human lives; which is the goal of leadership.

4. Quotes: Are there brief quotes from the book that which really got your attention? If so, please list and comment on them.

“Our backgrounds don’t determine our destiny. Every person has the seed of success born in him. Who we are is what we believe. Our struggles only help us to shape our successes in life. It does not matter the furnace of fire that we pass through; it is only helping to purify our victories. The biggest favor I can do for myself is to have the self-belief that I am destined for greatness. I am an unstoppable force. I have the ability to accomplish anything that I set my mind on. Obstacles are part of life and should not deter me to reach for my best; instead they should serve as a motivational factor to spur me to the top of the mountain.”

When I am down, I am not out but I am simply recuperating to come back with a bang. Leadership is all about sacrifices; a candid commitment to vision and the enthusiasm to reach for results. I should not be discouraged by opposition and crafty plans by people who have no progressive minds because leadership is innovation. I have to be ahead of the group in planning and implementation.

“Leaders see ahead of the rest and they are not confined to the here and now.”

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 autobiography is a clear narrative and is simple and readable.

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?

No! This is an autobiography

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.

Yes; the amazing results of a committed leadership to bring transformation. Leadership is transformation and can only be demonstrated by great results. If leaders don’t change then they have to be changed. Commitment to vision and its values can turn an organization from bankruptcy to profitability. Leadership demands agility and the ability to organize teams that are result oriented. Leaders are committed to vision; they can interpret the future in the present. Leaders are like eagles, they see things from a point of advantage and they have a vision that can overcome obstacles before they even encounter them. I am glad because these are the lessons I am now putting into practice to solidify my vision of training young people. There is nothing much I can accomplish as long as my commitment is second class. I have to be serious in every undertaking that I make in life. People love to follow leaders who are committed to what they are doing and who are confident of where they are going. Success in pursuing a vision can only be realized by staying power; what you do in times of crisis and how you tackle issues when things are down. Leaders are dealers in hope; they fire the confidence of their teams when morale is at the lowest ebb. They keep their sight on the big price.

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

Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun
Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

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 is the need for leadership skills that are necessary to use in times of need. He is portraying an image of employing sound leadership skills and their relevancy to the generation that we are living in. Leadership is required at any given moment. It does not matter the type of people but they need someone to give them direction. The whole purpose of leadership is to organize and bring a sense of direction to a group of people. This is an imaginative way to relating leadership principles to suit the current times. Leadership principles are universal and they can be applied to any given situation. Leadership is an opportunity to have the burden to direct the activities of other people in carrying out the purposes of the organization. Leadership is more necessary in a situation where people have lost direction. Leaders are called to achieve sometimes very difficult tasks. Some of the tasks might call for the leader to relinquish certain luxuries. You have to be robust, determined, tough and intriguing for you to accomplish certain tasks. Leaders work on the face of impossible odds. There are no short cuts to effective leadership. Leadership skills are acquired over a period of time. There is no magical formula for developing leadership traits except to learn them little by little. You build along previously learned precepts. Leaders learn lessons in every situation. They are students to the very end. Negative experiences don’t change leaders but can only help them to refine their ideas. Great leaders can turn misery into learning lessons. Leaders understand the impact of relationships. They build friendship and trust among the people. The author has emphases on the need for leaders to grow other people. They are faithful to their calling. Leaders are focused to their mission and purpose. Leaders rule by integrity. They live by what they tell people; they have bankable promises. They know their responsibilities and how to execute them. Leaders promote morale and discipline among their subjects. Leaders lead for change; they promote change and they are not impressed by the status quo. They understand that change is the essence of life and without change an organization is trapped in the prison of stagnation. Once an organization is stagnant then the process of decomposition begins. Leaders keep investigating new ways and methods of doing things. They are not captured by yesterday; they refuse to fit in the definition of insanity; doing the same things the same way and expecting different results. They keep inventing efficient ways of achieving great results. They focus on what matters instead of wasting time contemplating on failures. Leaders plan for success; they are always on the drawing body analyzing issues; dealing with pros and cons; looking for solutions on how to improve the welfare of their people. They live and make decisions with the people in mind. The writer is also clear on the need to tap vital energies through developing leadership qualities, like loyalty, courage, desire, emotional stamina, empathy, decisiveness and many more. These qualities will bring out the best from any leader if they are promoted. A leader needs self confidence in order for him to inspire others. He has to be confident of his mission and calling. Without self-confidence it becomes difficult to convince the people behind you to follow your lead.
2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you? List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal example from your own life.

i. Loyalty

Above all things a leader must be loyal to his cause; but they should also know that disagreement is not necessarily translated to disloyalty as long as the disagreement is promoting the vision to go forward. Leaders should be tolerant to opposing view and they should find ways to utilize the views to the advantage of the organization.

ii. Courage

All leaders need to be courageous; Leaders must show fortitude in carrying out the assignments that they are in charge. Leaders need to be fearless and should show some amount of bravery to accept the risks that are associated with leading people. Leaders should not shrink at the sight of obstacles. They should not show signs of panicky when opposed. Leaders have moments of low spirits and loneliness, despair, ridicule and rejection. Leaders exercise long suffering in their duties. They must have the courage to act with confidence and excel in times of uncertainty.

iii. Desire

Leaders have a forceful personal yearning to be in control; they need an inborn assurance to influence people, procedures and results. Never put anyone in the position of leadership who does not feel it in him to lead. We have to be on watch not to put people in influential positions when they are not ready to shoulder the responsibilities.

iv. Emotional stamina

The more you climb the ladder of leadership the more demands are placed on you. These responsibilities are emotionally taxing. So a wise leader ensures that he has all the stamina that is essential for him to recover from disappointments; to bounce back from discouragement and at the same time be in a position to carry out his obligations without his views distorted by the happenings. Emotional stamina helps leaders to view things in a clear perspective.

v. Tenacity

This is the quality of unyielding drive to accomplish a vision without giving in to obstacles. Tenacity requires a leader to be resolute and steadfast. Weak leaders persist only when things are in their favor. The strong persist and pursue through discouragement. This is the key for leaders who are willing to discover the best in them and are geared for results.

vi. Stewardship

Leaders need the essential quality of stewardship; they have to serve in a way that promotes confidence, trust and loyalty. Leaders don’t abuse those who are under their control; instead they treat them with respect and dignity of the highest order. Punishment should be considered as an option of last resort that is when all other methods have failed. But let us also bear in mind that without a flock there is no Shepherd. Without the people they can be no leaders; this is why it is important to be good stewards. Leaders are simply caretakers of the wellbeing and health of the people that are under them.

vii. Physical Well Being

Physical stamina is required from leaders to be able to carry out their tasks without getting tired. Leaders need to exercise to keep their bodies fit. Poor health is a result of not exercising. Leaders should put a plan of exercise to keep their bodies energetic.

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?

These ideas are essential to me because they help me to sharpen my leadership skills. They are important in the sense that they can be practiced and followed in an orderly fashion. They have created a strong desire in me to want to lead. When you put these ideas into practice they can realize greater results.

4. Quotes: Are there brief quotes from the book that which really got your attention? If so, please list and comment on them.

“Timing is very essential to all acts of leadership. While there is no magic formula to develop this quality but it is essential for any leader to have it.”

One way to gain this essential quality is by applying the lessons taught in this book.

“Accountability; leaders account for personal responsibilities and those placed on people below them. Leaders don’t lay blame on others when they fail to carry out their duties, they hold themselves responsible. They don’t blame circumstances or people.”

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

Everything was made clear and straightforward.

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?

The exercises were practical

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;

Committed leaders who have a lust for leadership and willingness to serve are distinguished by their wisdom, sincerity, compassion and courage. These are the best qualities that make a leader to stand out in a crowd.

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

Make the Most of your Time
Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The author is trying to convey an important massage about maximizing on opportunities that comes our way. People should learn to appreciate the gift of life and at the same time enjoy life a day at a time. Time well spent is a life well lived. With time passing fast and most of us not able to catch up with it; then we can’t just sit and ignore; we have to do something about it. The author gives a sound counseling on how best we can utilize the time that is at our disposal. We need to take time to live today because it is the only time in our hands and this is what spells our success. We have to be masters of our actions and take hold of opportunities. We need to take time to study ourselves because it is the first step to treasure our life. How many hours a day do you spend on yourself? “Men know thyself”, says the philosophy. Keeping taking a stock of your life and always see the big picture. Take time to educate yourself. It is the trait of true manhood. Education does not get over by graduating from high school or acquiring a diploma it is a life-time job. The more I learn the more I realize how much more there is to learn. Take time to think because is a source of power. A man’s life is what his thoughts make of it; a man is what he thinks about all day long. If you want victory over depression, fear, anxiety and worry then learn to control your thoughts. Think positively. Take time to work because it is the price of success. Success is due to hard work not luck. It is not luck but labor that makes men. Keep improving yourself and looking for better methods to do your work. Take time to love because it is a God given privilege. Albert Einstein once said; “I do not fear the explosive power of the atom bomb. What I fear is the explosive power of evil in human hearts.” Let the love of God and men dominate your life. Take time to thank because it is the source of more benefits. Gratitude means that we do not take for granted things that are done for us; we appreciate them and one way or another we reciprocate for them. Take time to lead; it is the key to influence people. Anyone who educates leads or gives good example works for eternity. Happiness and success comes to the man who gives service; who dedicate himself to others and helps the other people in a way that pleases them. Mahatma Gandhi had one idea and he put all his energies to realize it. He had one thought; one passion; one purpose in life and he realized it. Take time to laugh because it is the music of the soul. Laughter induces a mental exhilaration. It is contagious; it sends the blood bounding through the body. Take time to rest because it is the sweet source of labor. There is nothing like rest to recharge your energy. “What a delightful thing rest is”, said Napoleon. “The bed has become a place of luxury for me. I would not exchange it for all the thrones in the world”. Take time to meditate because it is the lifting of your heart. Meditating directs your actions; softens your manners; enhances yourself confidence and put you face to face with the realities of life. Take time to die because it is the golden door to eternity. Death is real and we will never avoid it. It is part of our journey in this life. So when the time calls we should embrace it.

You are not going to do anything if you remain inactive now. Hoarding up your energies for some day to come; you will learn to your regret that that day never seems to come. There is only one time to do your best and that is now. The way to get ahead is to start now; don’t waste time waiting for the perfect time.

ii. The only greatness is the enlightenment of the mind.

You are great when you learn to take full responsibility of your actions and show ability of distinguishing between good and bad. Many have failed in life and business because of blaming others for their shortcomings. Don’t blame economic conditions; your friends; your health or parents. Know your limits and work in agreement with those limits.

iii. A habit is a chain that grows stronger and stronger every day.

A bad habit will grow stronger just as a good habit. If you want to have good habits when you are old start practicing them now. When you practice good actions now they become easy and when they are easy you then can take pleasure in them.

iv. Men and nations move towards progress or destruction because of their dominant thoughts.

War and peace starts first in the minds of men. Allen James wants said; “by thoughts we rise and by thoughts we fall”. Failure is the only red signal pointing to the culprit negative thinking. Apostle Paul had to advise the Philippians “brothers fill your minds with everything that is true, everything that is noble, everything that is good and pure, everything we love and honor and everything that can be thought virtuous or worth of praise”. Look for the positive in every situation be it work, people or environment.

v. One tick at a time

We can avoid boredom, exhaustion only if we learn to do the immediate task well. This will prevent wasting our energies. The reason why we fail dismally is that we waste today in dreaming of what we will do tomorrow.

vi. Books are truly treasures that every man should look for.

Good books are the lighthouse that enlightens our homes, schools and societies. They soothe the spirit, educate the heart, improve characters and lead us to explore the unknown. With the increase of knowledge there is no end, remarked King Solomon.

vii. The benefits which you have enjoyed for which you had no right or claims must be acknowledged.

Gratitude is the source of happiness. We should learn to appreciate all the small things that happen in our day to day living. Gratitude keeps our inner being in a state of peace and tranquility and teaches us how to make friends; be interested in other people, do things for other people, learn to speak to people. Smile to people and call them by their names. Learn to be friendly and cordial and be generous with praise. Understand their feelings and thoughts and always be on the alert to offer service.

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?

These ideas will help me to live an effective life that will bring more people around me. The ideas are well meant for living the best part of my life without the regrets of the past. They help me to put yesterday behind me and concentrate with today. These ideas if cherished can help me make friends and influence people to build a sound and health society that benefits all.

4. Quotes: Are there brief quotes from the book that which really got your attention? If so, please list and comment on them.

“Be cheerful and make everybody around you happy, harmonious and healthful.”

“Use laughter as your table sauce, it sets the organs to dancing and stimulates the digestive process. Laughter keeps the heart and the face young and enhances the physical beauty. It is the nature’s device to exercise internal organs and giving us pleasure. It cures diseases and heals our souls. It takes away the pains imposed on us by the challenges of life.”

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

Nothing and the book is a must read.

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 and they were very 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.

Keep cool, life is warfare. In waging this war we sometimes lose our peace and harmony. We become victims of our temper. We become angry with our friends and family. You have to know that anger is a hot emotion so you have to cool it down. Anyone who angers you conquers you. We become lesser people every time we lose our temper.

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

The 5 Second Rule
Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The massage that the author is hammering on is “trusts your own instincts and what intuition can do to transform your life.” Many times we are victims of our own make-up; we lack a strong belief in our own selves. We spend a lot of valuable time looking for solutions to our life problem yet the solutions are within us; the only solution is to kick start ourselves and move on. The 5 second rule is a clear motivational massage to turn to when all hope is gone and things seems not to be working the way you want it; just count yourself down to one and take the action. The 5 second rule is life transforming and inspires you to achieve your life desires. It gives you the courage to disregard your limitations and shoot your life to great achievement. It can challenge your comfort zones and give you a new lease of life. Boredom is a result of routine processes that build mental sludge in us and end up clogging our dreams. The good thing about 5 seconds rule is that; it gives you the courage to stand for what you believe in. You have the motivation to rise above obstructions, human limitations, peer pressure and judgmental attitudes and stand for what is right for you. The 5 second rule inspires you to take action and prove that nothing can stop you to reach for the stars. You can achieve whatever you desire but what you need is the courage to defy the odds. The 5 seconds rule is great in the sense that you count backwards and the moment you reach one then you will be packed with the energy enough to propel you to your dreams. You take off like a rocket and nothing will stop you to reach the pinnacle of your dreams. One has to trust in himself to be able to realize the results of the 5 second rule. You have to have unshakable confidence in yourself; the assurance that whatever you set your mind on you will achieve it. Don’t hold yourself back; unless you give it a trial you will never realize your full potential. The 5 second rule unleashes the dormant capacities in you and gives you the edge to pursue your most cherished dreams. You have to push yourself to take action if you are to create a chain reaction that will attract positive results for you. The author is very clear that no matter your challenges or your poor background; the 5 second rule can transform the way you do things; it is self-empowerment; it is an energizer; it is a dynamite ready to explode; it is power packed. When you face the biggest mountains in your life use the 5 seconds rule to climb them; even if you are crossing the valleys of disappointment apply the 5 seconds rule to reinvigorate yourself. The rule is an emotional booster it will restore your zeal. We all need the power of push to move forward. Motivation doesn’t take us far but push will give us the momentum that is needed to breakthrough. This is why the 5 seconds rule is important; to push us to go for our dreams. The 5 second rule is about action, action and more action. Action breeds possibilities and eliminates doubts. Action empowers self-confidence and wants self-confidence is boosted there is no going back. Action is what increases productivity; nothing can change as long as you are stagnant. The 5 second rule can rescue us from the debris of self-satisfaction and steers us to great accomplishment. The 5 second rule doesn’t just simplify life but it makes things to happen; it alters our beliefs and removes blockages in our minds. It is a ticket to possibilities. The 5 second rule is the way to go if you have a dream or vision that you intend to achieve. Just count 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 and go for it. You will never be disappointed. All forces of success will come to your aid.

i. Believe in yourself

Trust your instincts don’t ignore them because they can be your next breakthrough. I am training myself to always tap from the inner voice. The inner voice doesn’t lie; whatever it says will come to pass. Trusting the inner voice has built confidence in me.

ii. The 5 second rule is the frame work, the courage and the method for how to push yourself to change.

If you operate within the 5 second rule then you are guaranteed success in anything you do. The 5 second rule is transformational because it can energize you. It develops the courage to dare within you. You attempt the impossible. The 5 second rule seems to have a magic touch in me because I am already sensing the bubbling energy within. When things seem not to be working out I go for the 5 second rule.

iii. “You can choose courage or you can choose comfort but you cannot have both.”

The decision is all mine to decide who I want to be in life. It is up to me to determine who I want to be. No one can force me to be who I don’t want to be. I have the liberty to be who I want to be; this is the reason I am now practicing the 5 seconds rule because it empowers me to be independent. I rely on no one but myself. This rule empowers anyone to have control of his/her life. When you have control over your life then you have power over everything around you. You control your environment.

iv. I can use the 5 second rule to control my mind

This rule will empower me to guard everything that goes into my mind. The rule gives me the power to reject any form of negativity that invades my mind. I have to see things in the light of the rule. The rule enables me to clear out all thoughts that are not healthy and at the same time incorporate progressive thoughts.

v. The rule sounds like Nike label; “Just do it.”

The rule is an act of faith; you don’t need to waste time thinking too much but to act based on instinct. Action is the basis of the 5 seconds rule. I have to persistently act on my dream until I win. It is not easy but it is possible. Too much reasoning cast a shadow of doubt in our struggles to achieve our dreams. Sometimes we have to act based on intuition. We need to respect the inner voice.

vi. If you have the courage to start then you have the courage to succeed.

Starting is the first step towards the journey of a thousand miles. What counts is the courage to take the first step; without this step it is difficult to realize dreams. All people who have achieved their dreams in life started by taking the first step.

vii. Courage changes behavior

If you act courageous you alter your behavior you begin to do things boldly. You are not scared; you have the guts to face all your challenges. You are not timid or scared of climbing mountains of opposition. You have the guts to endure all forms of negativity. I need to harness this form of courage through my practice of 5 seconds rule.

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?

The 5 second rule can alter my previous beliefs that have kept me at the bottom of things and catapult me to great success. These ideas are more important to me because they motivate me to take action against odds. I am impressed with the ideas because they are more action oriented; now I am confident to step into my destiny. If this rule is spread to the greater majority it can revolutionize human perception and help many people to achieve great things. The idea is simple and effective and can be utilized in any environment. It goes beyond race barriers. It is applicable in the life of all people who are ready to take the challenge.

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.

“We need courage to face our challenges. Without courage then we cannot change our sorry state. We keep living by the regrets of the past. Courage motivates us to take bold steps that can bring our dreams to fulfillment. The 5 second rule is total empowerment; it is life changing. It is rewarding. It guarantees results immediately.”

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 book is simple and the rule is clear. Action based on intuition. Courage to alter our lives.

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; it contained practical exercises that were easy to follow.

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 5 second principle is a magic touch and has transformed so many people across the globe. You only need to exercise it and boom things starts to move.

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

A. How interesting was it to read? 10
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10

The Art of War (Sun Tzu)
Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

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 is great leadership in a time of conflict. The author is outlining principles of effective warfare; which principles can be useful to many leadership situations; e.g. management or social leadership. Leadership is situational and the type of leadership required at any given time is determined by the situation on the ground. Military leadership requires discipline of the highest order for a commander to draw the attention and respect of the battalion. Leaders need to have a good strategy in place for the team to achieve its goals. It is the duty of commanders to ensure that all the necessary provisions are put in place before the commencement of the project. Leaders are also good managers because they are also in charge of the management of resources. If resources are managed carefully; vision can be achieved without pushing production costs up. Poor management of resources can lead to high cost input that can impact negatively to the total value of the product. When costs are high the ordinary people are affected terribly. The author emphasized on the need to understand the enemy before you engages him. Clear understanding of the strategy of the enemy is half victory won. You can never win unless you are in the clear picture of who you are fighting; the type and strength of the weapons he is using and the fitness of the soldiers that you are fighting. Leaders do a thorough homework by accumulating all the information that is necessary to come up with an informed decision. Leaders are required to have some form of knowledge and wisdom to direct the potential of the group. People pay respect to leaders who see and anticipate the future; leaders who can predict the obstacles that are lying ahead of them. If leaders are short-sighted then the possibility of defeat is unavoidable. All great leaders are good planners; they see the future in the present. Great leaders have foresight and they are always ahead of their contemporaries. People are safe in the hands of leaders who know and understand the dynamics of vision and the power of execution. Short sighted leaders are a burden to their organization. They can easily run down an organization. Leaders are good resource mobilizers and sharp mentally to estimate the needs of the organization and to ensure that the resources are enough to meet the challenges of executing the vision. Leaders promote team spirit and they build teams that are focused on winning. They also boost the morale of the team through creating appropriate incentives that keep the moral of the group at peak performance. Leaders have an extensive knowledge about human relationships and they are good in picking the right candidates for the task at hand. Leaders don’t waste time pursuing things that don’t bring value to the organization; instead they delegate responsibilities according to the level of understanding of the person to be delegated. Leaders ‘discern when to withdraw before wastage is done. They take responsibility of the outcome of any commitment. Leaders don’t waste time blaming people or circumstance for their failure; they look for better ways of doing things; Great leaders keep renewing themselves and they continuously define themselves. Great leaders always take a break to replenish their mental stamina. They don’t allow burnout to have a toll on them. The author emphasizes on building a strong strategy before you challenge your enemy; your strategy has to be superior to your enemy. Great leaders are strategists; they plan victory before they attack; they are quick to withdraw if things are not going as per plan. Leaders are problem solvers and this is the tool they use to keep the group in a sound harmony. Good leaders are sensitive to the needs of the group and the population at large and they don’t participate in scandalous deals that impact negatively on their integrity. They value their reputation and this is the reason why they live by ethics. Great leaders cherish fairness; win-win and the best for everyone. They are not selfish and greedy; they share with others and they don’t seek their own. They live by compassion; always looking for opportunities to help others succeed. They don’t crush the enemy when he is down but they extend a hand of friendship. They are always winning their enemies to their side.

i. Great battles are won with integrity

Learn to avoid what can be avoided. Learn to quickly withdraw before great damages are done. Save what can be saved for the benefit of people.

ii. Plan for what is difficult while it is still easy.

Leaders plan in advance; great battles are first won in planning before the battle begins; leaders have that natural instinct to see events that might transpire in advance and the wisdom to solve them before they become an emergence. When plans are done in advance it makes the task simple when it comes to the execution part. You cannot plan and at the same time execute; you create confusion for your teammates. It is a demoralizing factor. Deep knowledge is to be aware of disturbances before disturbances; to be aware of danger before danger.

iii. Great leaders stay in the future even though living in the present.

Their minds are focused on the completion of the task. They plan for results; they are not discouraged by opposition, instead opposition is a great stimulant to push them to the top of the mountain. Leaders are products of the challenges that they go through in the process of pursuing their dreams.

iv. Leaders first analyze possibilities before executing their plans.

Information is important to leaders. You need to have proper information before plans are carried out. Always have good people around you who can provide you with honest information about your enemy or competitor so that you can be able to judge your chances of succeeding. By no means; don’t under-estimate your enemy unless you are certain of his strategy and your ability to respond to his challenge.

v. Discipline means that regulations are strict and clear.
Leaders should enforce discipline wherever regulations and statutes are violated. Discipline need to be carried out with no trace of favoritism. This will make the other people to trust you. Leaders need the trust of the people under them to carry out plans successfully. If people don’t trust you they sabotage the process.

vi. Be a good leader.

Don’t be selfish; always do the best to everyone and never show partiality. Give honest praise where it is due.

vii. Leadership is a matter of intelligence; trustworthiness; humanness; courage and sternness.

These are the qualities that distinguish a great leader from a failure. Leaders are wise and they are mentally up to date; Leaders deserve to be trusted by their people. Leaders have compassion for people and they help people to realize their potential. Leaders have the courage to follow their dreams. Leaders are resolute; they don’t give in to external pressures.

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?

These ideas will strengthen my resolve to pursue my dream. They will keep motivating me to continue in the struggle to build a habitable world. Mastering these principles will help me to stand for what is right and denounce what is wrong. The ideas will give me the necessary courage to fight for the rights of the oppressed in our societies. When people live in harmony they learn to share and encourage each other. They fight as a united front and at the same time avoid unnecessary confrontations.

4. Quotes: Are there brief quotes from the book that which really got your attention? If so, please list and comment on them.

“The one who treat me well is my leader.”

“Leaders respect others. They treat people as persons not objects of manipulations. Great leaders don’t use intimidation as an instrument to attract attention but they use compassion. Leaders demonstrate love; they lead from their hearts. They don’t compel people to follow them but they point the way and people follow willingly. They allow people to discover their potential and at the same time give them room to exercise it. They don’t show partiality; they encourage everyone to reach their best. They are patient and tolerant; Leaders go the extra mile to motivate their people to keep focused on the goal.”

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

I feel it is clear and straight forward and very easy to follow. While most of the principles in this book are related to combat battle; it is up to the reader to assimilate them to his or her situation. The greatest part of the book is that you come up with your own interpretation of the book based on your dream and how you want to achieve it.

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?

No exercises.

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.

Leadership is foresight and demands a wise and intelligent person to understand it and be in the position to apply the principles. Leaders live by ethics. They don’t follow popular opinions.

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

The Leader who had No Title
Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The massage that the author is emphasizing is the need to take self-leadership in a more positive way. If we are to build a sustainable world then leadership must begin with you and me. Before anyone can take charge of anything then he or she must first learn to be in self-control. Learn to lead where you are. Leadership has nothing to do with a title or what people call you or your workmates; it is unleashing the power of personal responsibility. Do the best that you can do wherever you are; take charge of your environment. Leaders maximize on available opportunities. Leaders create the environment that they dream of. Titles always suppress the steam of creativity. They make us to think methodically. They force us to spend a lot of time trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. Great leaders don’t matter about titles because they can lead without a title. They love what they do; they don’t work for the paycheck but they are happy to do what they love to do. Leaders who have no title are not bothered about what people think about them; they are consumed in their work. They are innovators; they are the engine of the business. They keep inventing better methods that are time consuming and cost effective for the business. Leaders without a title are positive about their work; they work with passion and extra zeal to fulfill their goals. They live by highest standards; they are ethical; they don’t claim credits that are not due to them. They treat others with respect. They are men and women of integrity; they live their word and walk the talk. They will never ask anyone to do a task they can’t do. Leading without a title is fun and exciting. It is a good tonic for a health life. If you want to witness an organization reaching a peak performance then hire leaders who are not worried about titles but are ready to do their job passionately. Leading without a title can create massive opportunities for anyone who is married to it. It might take time and much sacrifice but at the end it will pay sound dividends. It brings happiness and fulfillment; you will enjoy what you are doing. This is the only way to create a better world; when people no longer bother about whom they are called but what they can do to make the world a better place to live in. When everybody brings in their best without paying attention to whom get the credits then we can eliminate jealousy, hatred and segregation. We will be able to live in oneness and unison. We learn to trust each other and at best we will be able to build a better society. Leading without a title is one key element that can help a business to increase their productive capacity because people are given the chance to think outside the box. Workers easily become innovators and have enough room to exercise their thoughts. When people are given the liberty to become themselves; they can change the status-quo of any business. They can raise a business from failure to success. The author is clear that managing without a title is the way to go in these uncertain times that we are living in. It is only leaders without a title who can bring hope to this terrified world. These are the only leaders who will restore confidence to this scared generation. These leaders will rebirth the expectations of the masses.

i. Leadership is for everyone;

No one is born a leader. Anyone can become a leader as long as the desire is there. Leaders are not born but they are made. Every day I struggle to make sure that I have learnt something new that is beneficial to my leadership dream. Leaders make themselves by following certain disciplines that grow an acceptable character in them.

ii. Leaders do things that failures are not willing to do.

Leaders take challenges; they don’t shrink when faced with a challenge. Leaders embrace challenges and look for solutions to deal with them. I have taught myself to go the extra mile if need calls.

iii. Leadership is the most important skill today to succeed in business.

Without good leaders the springs of living waters quickly dry up; Leaders supply the business with ideas so leaders are required to always sharpen their mental capacities. To make it in business; leaders should aim to keep improving things within the business.

iv. Remember the shortness of life.

Life is precious and should be treated as such. We need to remember that every minute counts and we should do the best we can to live life to the fullest. We don’t need to live life with regrets. I have to maximize on time to be able to finish my task. Death is real and I should live my life knowing that one day I will not be around.

v. Mastery is to be all about making this day better than yesterday.

I have to keep improving; I have to master my technique of doing my job. Improving my performance is a guarantee of productivity. I should be better than yesterday.

vi. Everything in my past was necessary preparation.

I should not blame my past experience because they made me to be what I am today. They helped to shape my career and purify my dreams. Experience remains the best educator of my life; without it I wouldn’t be what I am today. I am a total mass of what I have gone through be it good or bad. Hard times help us to sharpen our thinking and concentrate in doing the right thing. I do appreciate all the difficulties that I have gone through because they helped to organize my life to function efficiently.

vii. Complacency has become the primary enemy of victory.

Complacency leads to stagnation; when waters stagnant they stink. I should not be comfortable with my situation. I have to keep challenging any form of limitation that comes my way. I have to rise above human opinion that is struggling to keep me in the comfort zone.

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?

These ideas are fundamental to me because they are the cornerstone to effective leadership. Every effective leadership is molded around a set of clear values. Leading without a title helps me to focus on my strength rather than my weaknesses. It gives me the chance to take an introspection of my life and be able to judge if my values and pursuits are in alignment. These ideas will help to change the course of my life in the sense that; I will learn to respect and value other people’s opinions. I will learn to expand my life by accommodating other people who might not have the same aptitude as me. If followed they can rejuvenate my dream to train leaders and equip young people to realize their potential. It is also valuable to me in that I should not allow people to dictate to me my limitations. I have the capacity within me to exceed the boundaries of limitations. I have to destroy all comfort zones that have been erected for me by my associates, friends and school teachers

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.

“Be the best in the world.”

I don’t need to be a copycat of other people. There is only one me. Whatever I do I should do it to the best of my ability. I have to invest commitment of imagination. I don’t need to follow a tired road of other people’s footsteps but to teach myself to discover my own path.

“People who achieve their best have a self-made identity that cannot be duplicated or swapped.”

I have to be the best in what I do. I have to believe that I am the best in this business.

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?

Everything has been made simple and clear. The book is vivid and vibrant. This is a must-read-copy to any person who has set his eyes to succeed and it is one of the best books that I have read so far. It is stimulating and inspiring to take action and reach the peak of success.

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?

Definitely and I did them enthusiastically and the exercises were of immense help.

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.

Never be discouraged by failure; it is only designed to make you think better. Don’t throw in the towel so easily keep fighting you never know when victory beckons. Don’t waste precious time meditating on things that you can’t change; instead invest time in things that you can do and do it with all your heart. Never ignore the smallest decisions that you make every day because one day they will accumulate to something great. Those small decisions are what turns around our life.

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

The Magic of Thinking Big
Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The author is conveying a massage on how to gain the secrets of success and how to achieve everything that you have visualized in your life. Things like financial stability, power and influence, appreciating relationships and living a worthwhile life. When you train your mind to think big you will always get big results. Great opportunities await those who believe in their thoughts; those who have trained their minds to think big. The reason why we fail most of the time is that we accept things without questioning the truth behind the statement; sometimes we accept traditional concepts without verifying them with the truth. So much has been said about us and we have accepted it and believed that it is what is said it is. Things like; “your destiny is outside your control, forget about your dreams. This is not for you and you will never make it, your father died poor so are you.” Success has nothing to do with all this; it is simply a state of mind. If you condition your mind to eliminate negative thoughts definitely you will achieve your goals. “As a man thinks in his mind so is he”. “Great men are those who see that thoughts rule the world” said Emerson. The mind is its own place and in itself can make a heaven of hell or a hell of heaven. Shakespeare observed that “there is nothing either good or bad except that thinking makes it so”. Thinking does work magic as long as it is controlled by positive thinking. You can enjoy great success, peace of mind and happiness all your life. Good thoughts can help you to fulfill your desires, improve your standard of living and deliver all that you want. The mind is the only tool that was given to us to fulfill our destiny. If we ignore it then it is to our peril. If you train your mind to think big then you will live big. You will enjoy big income, big achievements and big relationships. In most of the chapters in this book the author present dozens of great and inspirational ideas that are practical; great techniques and wonderful principles that can propel any enthusiast to success; principles that can enable anyone to harness the power of thinking big. Success means many wonderful things; it means prosperity; a fine home, great vacations, new things, happy family, being looked up to in your society and winning admiration. Success is freedom, freedom from worries, fears, frustrations and failure. Success means being able to assist people to achieve their dream and at the same time being able to do more for those people who depend on you. Success and achievement is the aim of life. Every one of us likes to succeed. Everybody likes the best that life can offer; nobody likes to crawl in this life; nobody enjoys mediocrity and none of us want to live a second rated life where our opinions don’t matter. Believe that anything is possible and witness amazing results. Strong belief triggers the mind to find means and ways on how to accomplish your dream. You need to nurture; the-I can-do-it mind. If you believe in the I-can-do-it then the how-to-do-it will develop. The how-to-do-it always comes to the people who believe they can. Positive belief is a faith booster. It triggers the power to take action. If you believe in great results then not even the sky can limit you. All the great discoveries and achievements that we celebrate today were a result of people who believed and took positive action to accomplish their dreams. They believed in success and they took positive steps to accomplish their dreams. If you lack positive belief in yourself then you are likely to remain in the tunnel and never enjoy the benefits that success can bring. Disbelief attracts doubts, failures, self-condemnation and rejection. You settle for less than who you are. Strong belief is a thermostat that regulates what we accomplish in life.

i. Build your thought factory:

Our minds are our factory and we are the supervisors; our minds specialize in manufacturing thoughts. Our minds produces countless thoughts in a day and these thoughts goes a long way to determine the quality of life that we live. Production that goes on in the thought factory is under your charge. It is up to you to manufacture positive thoughts or negative thoughts. If you manufacture positive thoughts they will attract; faith, positivity, success, respect and joy. But if you manufacture negative thoughts they will attract failure, doubt, depression, rejection and stress.

ii. Get the action habit:

Don’t let yourself down by failing to implement your plans; Action gives birth to success. Nothing comes true unless it is acted upon. Every thought must be followed by an action.

iii. Use goals to help you grow.

Goals enable you to attempt your vision. Goals are your road map; they give you direction to where you want to go. Goals reduce a huge vision to small and affordable steps.

iv. Think like a leader.

Always be in charge; think ahead and be able to see what lies in the future. Leaders are sensitive and they plan and at the same time action their plans. Leaders are respected members of the community and their business is to help change communities. Leaders think positively and they move with confidence.

v. Destroy the weakness of making excuses.

The great majority fails because they have given in to the disease of giving excuse in everything. Learn to see things with a positive eye. Failure is part of life and it helps us to strengthen our resolve. Failure is a good way to begin more intelligently. Without failure then success is difficult to achieve. Failure stretches us to reach for the best in us.

vi. Manage your environment.

Every one needs to be able to control things that goes on around us; you cannot have a strong belief as long as you are not able to regulate your environment. The thermostat to regulate this is your mind. If you program your mind with the right thoughts then even your environment will be full of joy. Great leaders are masters in controlling their minds.

vii. Think right towards people.

If you believe in people; they will also believe in you. People will make our dreams come true. Love people and be in a position to help them if the situation calls for that. Always be on the positive.

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?

These ideas are so important to me because they are the foundation of success. They help me to deal with me first. The biggest failure to reach for my dreams is me; as long as I lack a strong belief then I will struggle to become who I want to be. I have to constantly nurture a positive mind so as to regulate things that happens around me. Life is too short to be little. They will help me to manage my mind factory well and be able to produce quality goods that can push me to success. The ideas are thought provoking and needs to be put in action. They will help me to think success not failure. They will always remind me that I am better than what I think I am. They will strengthen me to deal with the disease of always making excuses for my failures.

4. Quotes: Are there brief quotes from the book that which really got your attention? If so, please list and comment on them.

“Think success and don’t think failure; this is the only way to condition our minds to reach for great results. Success thinking will always attract success for our lives and failure is a result of poor programming.”

I have to make sure that I am in charge of my thoughts.

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

Everything was made clear and to the point.

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 I did them and was so 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.
At most human beings are products of their minds. What we think is what comes back to us.

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

The Monk who Sold his Ferrari
Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

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 is the peace that any person can enjoy as soon as you have control of your mind. Every person has personal responsibility to guard what goes into his or her mind. Success is not measured by material possessions or connections but by the peace we enjoy in every day pursuits. Sometimes we push ourselves so hard to achieve our goals in life and at the same time forget that without inner peace we can suffer a breakdown. Life is not that complicated; what is important is to enjoy it to the fullest. In life learn to appreciate even the smallest things that happens to you; they will add to your joy and health. Working hard is good but must not be done to the expense of our health. It is important for every person to learn the secrets to effective living; which is inner healing and tranquility. In the journey of life don’t waste your time hunting for wealth but instead look for inner peace; inner peace adds happiness. Real wealth is when you have peace of mind. Don’t spend your life focusing on improving the outer person but in harnessing more of your inner strength. When you are strong within then you are able to erode all Tidal waves that might come your way. Inner peace is the rock that you need to build your foundation of effective living. In life learn to love yourself because you cannot love other people if you hate yourself. Self-love will help you to embrace other people. The author is very articulate that; the door of the mind is the gateway to our happiness and well-being so we should guard the door vigilantly against everything unhealthy that tries to pass through this door. So the only way is to ensure that you have to screen all the thoughts that come to you and do away with thoughts that are negative. The habit of constantly thinking healthy thoughts will add to long life.

i. We need to view challenges in the light of progress not harsh conditions.

We should learn to appreciate all the experiences that we go through in life. It does not matter whether the experience is good or bad. It is said that every person is a total sum of what he or she has gone through in life. Bad experiences help to strengthen us to face the unknown. They build character in us. When you cultivate inner peace; it does not matter what confronts you in life you will be able to withstand it. People who enjoy inner peace are stress-free. Their strength is always renewed. They are bubbling with creative energy and their enthusiasm is contagious.

ii. You can be a winner in what you are currently doing but a great loser in the game of life.

This is illustrated by this story trending on social media. We need to put some humanity in everything that we do. Life is not about breaking records or being on the Forbes list of the rich and the famous but in doing small acts of mercy. Those small acts will attract the joy that can lubricate our inner being to live a glorious life. We spend a lot of extra energy laboring to achieve success but in the process destroying our well- being. We should learn to do introspection every day to ensure that our acts and aims are in line with our vision and values. My focus should always be the inner man; once the inner man is health then everything I do will reflect who I am.

iii. The mind is a wonderful servant but a terrible master.

What we always think about will always come to pass. I should not be controlled by my thought but instead I should be controlled by my heart. The heart is passionate and compassionate. It demonstrates love in action. Leadership is about others not me. It is to do with lifting the standards of humanity; in constantly thinking about how best you can help to make the world a better place. Great leaders lead from their heart. If we allow our minds to control us then we are making ourselves victims of the vices that have destroyed the lives of so many human beings. The mind is greedy, covetous, selfish and at worst insensitive. The mind is always seeking for its own. We can build a better world if we allow ourselves to be directed by our hearts which is the inner man.

iv. Words are the verbal embodiment of power.

Words are powerful and forceful. Whatever we say will come to pass. Words are creative and they have the potential to produce after its own kind. Death and life are in the power of words. I should always be mindful of what comes out of my mouth. Nations were build and at the same time destroyed by the power of words. People have lived and died because of words. Leaders are mindful of what they say and the implication it brings. Leaders build and encourage; leaders motivate and inspire their followers to reach for the best.

v. Stop spending your time making a living and start spending more time creating a life.

Greediness is the vice that is destroying our world. People are struggling to be the first in everything; yet we forget that we are all created to fulfill a specific purpose. The reason why our world is sick is because we no longer have the conscience to restrain ourselves from what is not right; mankind has become so twisted that we now celebrate and cherish things that are not moral. We have departed from being caring and forgiving and have become selfish and intolerant. “The price of greatness is responsibility over each of your own thoughts,” said Winston Churchill. If we all cherish the good thought of a better world then we are likely to achieve that dream. It is good to learn to enjoy the benefits of life because they bring health and satisfaction.

vi. From struggle comes strength
What we face in life inspires us to get closer to our vision. Every challenge inspires us to move forward. I should not be intimidated by what happens to me; no matter the pain it might cause but I should use that pain to create a meaningful life. Sometimes the pains we go through in life help to refine our purpose.

vii. The Chinese character for crisis is comprised of 2 sub characters, “one that spells danger and one that spells opportunity.”

There is always a bright side to the darkest hour in your life; that is if you have the courage to look for it. There are no mistakes in life only lessons. There is no such thing as negative experience only opportunities to grow.

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 lessons will help me to pursue my dream with the zeal that is unshakable. These lessons are motivational in the sense that they encourage you to move on even if things seem not to be working to your favor. Life is about sacrifices and it is in those sacrifices that you can enjoy the benefits. To make the world better each of us should learn to contribute the best of what you have. We have to cherish the best for everyone.

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.

“Living a purposeful and more rewarding life.”

“Do what you are created to do; seek to know your true purpose in life and struggle to see it fulfilled. I am an artist at living; my work of art is my life.”

“Stop wasting precious time focusing on the outer person look for the best from the inside person. Your best is inside of you.”

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 book was quite clear and very inspiring.

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?

Practical ones yes!

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.
All success in life starts with the mind; whether material or spiritual. It is the thoughts you put in your mind every second and every minute of every day. The outer world is simply a reflection of the state of our mind.

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

Time Power
Assessment by Thomas Shereni (Zimbabwe)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The author is conveying a straight massage on the dynamics of time management. What time can do for you if it is properly used. Good time management can change your life. Time is of the essence and once it is lost it cannot be recovered. Good use of time increases production and at the same time enhances the quality of your products or services. Where time is properly used people focus on results. Successful leaders know how to utilize time at their disposal to ensure maximum benefit is derived. For goals to be achieved they need to be time bound. Leadership experts concur that setting priorities is the first step in excellent time management, although it is the trickiest thing to do, it is the most significant skill and the most satisfying. Setting priorities is not a choice but a necessity in leadership. Setting priorities have need of a balance between urgent and important tasks and the time necessary to do and complete the everyday jobs. The Pareto Principle! (80/20 Rule).

Named after Vilfredo Pareto, a nineteenth century Italian economist and sociologist; this principle aid to provide explanation to the importance of setting priorities for effective results. The Pareto principle states that 80 percent of the value of a group of items generally concentrates in only 20 percent of the items; Examples on the Pareto Principle:
80 percent of all sales volume comes from 20 percent of your customers.
80 percent of sales in a drug manufacturing company come from 20 percent of the brands or product list. 80 percent of television viewers only watch 20 percent of the programs.
In relationship to time management this means that 80 percent of results come after completing 20 percent of the things-to-do list.

For example, if manager Dick’s daily list of Things-To-Do averages 20 items per day he can be 80 percent effective by only completing 4 of the most important tasks.
Leaders need to give attention to the most imperative tasks first. That means the 20 percent most essential. As a result your time is not measured by hours and minutes, but invested effort in an assignment and the importance of the assignment which you invest effort. Principle of effective time management requires a leader to do the most important things now, to concentrate in getting the job done correctly and within specified time. In setting priorities you also deal with the syndrome of wasting time with non-essentials (those things that don’t add value to your job). Never undermine the significance of priorities in starting your day. Planning your day means thinking about your time in a more orderly and systematic progression. The few minutes you spend in planning your day will save you hours that could have been spent on trivial issues. If time is given up to chance, then disorder and commotion becomes the order of the day. Pressure and nervousness reign supreme.

i. Important Issues to note about “Things-To-Do-List”

It is the road map of life; develop a habit of doing one every day. Decide on a method that is right for you and make the method very simple to follow. Have the list within your reach and always make use of it. Make this list your work schedule; make sure that all details pertaining to your day’s work is entered. E.g. reports, meetings, appointments, plans, activities, projects etc.

ii. Dealing with Time Wasters

Don’t blame other people for your poor use of time. Successful time Management is self-management. Ineffectiveness is an end result of poor management of personal time. As a result one is tempted to complain and hold responsible external causes and events. This blame game only brings misgivings and pains. Personal achievement is a result of efficient time management and this call for discipline of the highest standards. If you want to supervise yourself better then deal with your time prudently. Discipline in time management can pay you high dividends within a short period of time.

iii. Time Wasters for Leaders!

Lack of order; poor preparation, poor prioritizing, petty commitments;
Negative approach; disappointments, pressure, nervousness, failures, poor image;
Lack of confidence; always on the defensive, trying to impress others, building personal egos; Over commitment (perfectionism); spending too much time on projects that have outlived deadlines and value returns; 8 Undecided (indecisiveness); victim of procrastination, failing to take action now waiting for a perfect day;
Excuses; dealing with past failures, fear of the unknown “What if;”
Dealing with time wasters is an individual issue but time wasters are the same in any country or organization.

iv. Time distribution depends on the significance of the items or tasks.

It reminds you of what engagements are to be fulfilled on time e.g. Board Meeting etc. Find a system to highlight which tasks are of High Importance, which are of Moderate Importance and which ones are of Low Importance. This principle affords you to get maximum results because you deal with essential issues first, then the rest later.

v. Things-to-do list awards you most favorable returns on time invested.

It soundly organizes your day and brings huge rewards and fulfillment. The advantage of Things-to-do list is that you will always have the list with you and can refer to it anytime to stick to your agenda. This inventory is your road map that spells out everything. It simplifies your day, by breaking your priorities into simple and achievable tasks.

vi. Learn to prioritize issues according to the order of their importance.

And ensure that the order is followed. Don’t waste your time doing a dollar worthy of assignment to the expense of a 500 dollars’ worth of returns. Prioritizing time will help me to distinguish what is important at any given time.

vii. Time management can influence your day and inspire you to take action progressively.

Poor time management can increase the burden of work and likely to force you to live behind schedule. My time should be my priority. Vision is time bound so every leader needs to be sensitive to things that are not relevant to his pursuits and invest time in things that add value to his dream.

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?

These ideas will help me to make the best out of my time. Time wasted is time lost and will never be recovered. Good time management will always refresh me and allow me to think straight during my long day. Time management conserves energy and will keep my energy bank replenished. I will never suffer depletion of moral in pursuit of my dream to make the world a better place. Good time management will assist me to execute my vision with conviction and resolve. Vision demand energy and steam to be achieved; so good time management will help me to keep my life stress free; hence protecting my health. A diary is an important tool for any leader because it helps to organize your day. It keeps reminding you of tasks that you should complete to maximize your day. Failure to plan your day is a sign of poor leadership and can easily impact negatively on your energy. Wise leaders always consult their diary so as to make sure that they are within the plan.

4. Quotes: Are there brief quotes from the book that which really got your attention? If so, please list and comment on them.

“Time management is the key to productivity. Wasting time is dealing a blow to your future. All great leaders plan their day well and continue to follow their schedule throughout the day.”

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?

Everything was made clear and simple.

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 and I followed them enthusiastically.

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.

Leaders are good managers of their time. Leaders live by the Things-to-do-list. Leaders replenish themselves by learning to plan their day. Failure to manage time is a disaster to any leader. Leaders avoid chaos by teaching their subordinates to have their own time charts. Leaders understand the value of time this is why they use a things-to-do-list as a guideline to make their day productive.

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