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Assessment by Diapah Ayo Quinisier ... Jonathan Livingston Seagull Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a book meant to encourage people in whatever they want to do in life. It touched parts of my life. There were times when I thought some things were beyond my reach. Those times I thought being myself was the best way out. Like Mr. Seagull, my friends and families told me I was trying to be someone else. Their advice was I should be myself and everything will be okay. Unlike Mr. Seagull, I give up on most of those things that seemed too hard for me. I give lame excuses like it wasn’t meant for me, I have not reach that level, or I just can’t make it. I must admit I was grappling with one such problem when this book came along. To say this book came on time would be an understatement. It touched me and will probably change the course of my life forever. The idea that I can be a Jonathan Livingston Seagull pop into my head when I got through reading the book. I could see that Mr. Seagull and I had a lot of things in common. The entire book can be summarized in these words. Choice, passion, determination and sacrifice. Mr. Seagull not only had a passion for flying, he wanted to fly fast, accurate, and with grace. The desire to fly was so strong that he was willing to make sacrifices. Sacrifices in terms of going days with out food and being ask to leave the flock. Despite the ridicule from his friends and family he was determined. He believed he could fly like any other bird. All he had to do was learn. Like Mr. Seagull we all have desires we want to fulfill. Mr. Seagull had all his cards on the table. His fate if he should continue flying was well known. Like Mr. Seagull we sometimes think our desires are just infatuation, and so we go back to being ourselves. Unlike Mr. Seagull, some of us never give it a second try. Most of all, Mr. Seagull made a choice. He chose to fly. For him flying was the only way. In fact he felt life was meaningless without flying. Jonathan went on to become a great sea gull, flying a million times faster and better than any of the gulls in his flock. But was that all? No. Mr. Seagull felt that if he could learn, he could teach. He saw his learning to fly only as a means of passing it to others. He saw himself as a leader, teaching others to fly. He thought that by driving him away, the flock had lost their chance of learning to fly. Proving that that decision was wrong spur him on to learn. He wanted them to know that they could move from that stage of waiting for beard crumbs and fish to being self-sufficient simply by learning to fly. But one can see that the flock lived by tradition. As I said, the book personally touched my life. I made a decision to do a course right after reading the book. That was a decision I had been struggling with for a long time. Like Jonathan, the results will not be immediate but they will come. I learn a whole lot about things like determination, choice, will power and perseverance. As I write this summery, these things are already taking root and I believe like Jonathan Livingston Seagull, the results will come. For me, it is just a matter of time. As A Man Thinketh One cannot summarize “As a man thinketh” without critically analyzing every chapter in the book. For in every chapter and line you are bound to find carefully hidden truths that require a skillful eye to spot. I am therefore going to dedicate my time to individual paragraphs so as to properly address all the points presented by the author. No other author could have so skillfully penned the words of “As a man thinketh”. In his words are his thoughts, his fears, his sorrows and his joys. His views are so well presented that you don’t need to study to understand what the book is all about. Many books have been written, but only few will ever be as touching as that of John Allen’s “As a man thinketh”. Before I continue, I would like to thank Mr. Michael Lightweaver for presenting this opportunity. I will always be indebted to you him. As a man thinketh, is about the one power we possess as humans to build as well as destroy ourselves. Our thoughts are the most powerful tool any human can ever get single-handedly. In the very first chapter we are told that man can improve and decline simply by the way he uses his thoughts. It states that our thoughts are a source of power that when properly harnessed, can determined who we will be. In simple words, destiny, the most sought after thing in human life, is controlled and manipulated by our thoughts. At first glance, many will disagree since merely dreaming cannot make a man rich. But after carefully examining the author’s choice of words and his ability to use them, the idea becomes clear. One would readily agree that the body is the servant of the mind. So true is the phrase “In the armory of thoughts he forges the weapons by which he destroys himself’, that it summarizes the book. Since man changes tend to influence his surroundings, all he has to do is think positive. But with our very own thoughts we fashion weapons to destroy ourselves. Note that the words patience, practice, and ceaseless opportunities are said to be the only way man can enter the door of the temple of knowledge. Our mind is said to be a like garden. Of course, the gardener determines the neatness as well as the types of vegetable he wants in his garden, just as we determine our thoughts and actions in the dark recess of our minds. These actions, whether good or bad, determines our circumstances and conditions. I am in total agreement with the phrase “thought and character are one”. Good thoughts do bear good fruits. The examples in the book explain it all. Had the author merely stop on chapter one, many would not have gotten the concept. The author not only reveals to us the power of our thoughts, he also told us how to harness those thoughts to get whatever results we desire. Since our thought can be molded and re-molded, we must never cease to use it. A man is only a man when he ceases to kick against those circumstances and start to use them as aids to his more rapid progress, thereby discovering those hidden powers and possibilities within himself. Our situations will only improve when we learn to make those circumstances work for us. This may sound impossible but note that we cannot directly choose circumstances, but we can chose our thoughts and so indirectly, yet surely, shape our circumstances. The body is servant of the mind. This being true, the body will respond to whatever comes from the mind. When the mind is not at peace, the body shrinks and deteriorates. Can diet pills work for a man who cannot control his appetite? Of course the answer is no. According to the author, in order to fully utilize our thoughts, we must possess certain characteristics that will aid us in getting the required results. Note the author’s emphasis on visions and ideals. Even the Bible says, “without vision my people perish”. In order to make something happen you must first envision that thing. You must nurture as well as mold that idea in your mind. For only than will we have something to work towards. You must desire to obtain and than aspire to achieve. Dreams spur the mind unto action. Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become. To fully utilize the art of dreaming, you must understand their importance. They are necessary only as a motivational force. You must work towards them if your intended goal is success. Your vision is the promise of what you shall one day become; your ideal the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil. In all human affairs there are efforts and there are results. The strength of the efforts is the measure of the results. As the saying goes, “nothing comes easy in life”. Gifts, powers, materials, intellectual as well as spiritual possessions are he fruits of efforts. They are thoughts completed, objectives accomplished, and visions realized. Finally, considering the many responsibilities of the mind, it must be at peace to produce good results. Calmness of the mind is said to be one of the jewels of wisdom. In order to fully utilize our thoughts, our minds must be at peace. One of my favorite saying is that I don’t like lose ends wandering in my orderly mind. Our minds must be in order at all times. Only he whose thoughts are controlled and purified makes the winds and storms of the soul obey him. From a calm and controlled mind come good ideals and visions. A calm mind is never in a hurry, never hasty and so seldom errs. Self-control is strength, right thought is mastery, and calmness is power. You can say unto your heart “peace. Be still”. In these few words of Allen Smith I have learned that there is no specific limit for a man, for with his thoughts he sets his own limits. Giant Steps 1. DISCUSS THE MAIN IDEAS THAT YOU FOUND MOST IMPORTANT IN THIS BOOK AND DISCUSS WHY THEY WERE IMPORTANT TO YOU. One destiny is indeed determined by one's decision. There have been instances where two or more people are faced with the same problems and all of them come out differently. I believe it's because their decisions vary from individual to individual or from one person to another. Sometimes the enormity of what we hope to achieve is so overwhelming it kill the passion or conviction which is the driving force behind every success. The task is so big and achievement so farfetched that you think your single action cant or wont matter. But I have learned that all it requires is sparking off a chain of reactions. It is true that the Floodgates can be opened by one decision, bringing us
joy or sorrow, prosperity or poverty, companionship or solitude, long life
or early death. But believe me, it is the fear of the negative things like
poverty, sorrow, solitude and early death that keep some people from making
that one decision which eventually keeps them stationary. Sometimes the commitment for a higher standard compels us to act. But the fear of the unknown prevents us from acting. It instead forces us to accept the status quo. Most times, the decision that sparks off the reaction or opens the floodgate is made on the spur of a moment. It is true we can always control our response to the events in our lives and act whatever way we think would improve the condition. It takes a lot of courage plus the believe that we run things and things don't run us. That courage is what most of us lack today. Practice they say makes perfect. The more you do a particular thing, the better you become at doing it. The same goes with making decisions. When you make decisions more often you will perfect the act of making them. 2. CAN YOU RELATE THE IDEAS OR CONCEPTS IN THIS BOOK TO YOUR PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES IN LIFE SUCH AS YOUR RELATIONSHIPS, YOUR BELIEFS, YOUR GOALS, YOUR VALUES, ETC.? EXPLAIN. My fiancée and I planned to start a small business. We agree to borrow from both our parents and pay back with interest. We researched the particular business and calculated how long it would take to pay the loan back. At the last moment when everything seemed in place, I changed my mind and postponed borrowing the money. Two weeks later, when I went to collect the money I was told the money had been used for something else. I lost that opportunity. Very typical of those who changed their minds frequently. “It is only a fool who falls on the same hill twice”. There will never be experience if there isn't bad judgment. I always tell my self that when I fail at something, let it be because I tried and couldn't do it, and not because I didn't tried hard enough. I have therefore learned not to expect too much of others in taking me to where I want to be, because being a failure is a decision they cant make for me. Making excuses for one's failures is something we do repeatedly. I am one of those who used to say if only God had sent me to a family in Europe or America I would have fare better. The I started saying that if only God had made me a Nigerian instead of a Liberian I wouldn't have experienced the trauma, suffering and destruction the just ended war brought. I thought maybe I wouldn't be where I am today. Little did I know that even the Nigeria I prayed to be a part of went through a similar civil war called the biafra war, and had it not been for the decisions some level headed and responsible people took years back, (something I am capable of doing) they wouldn't have been where they are today. When doing science in school, I was told the five scientific method of study was the basis to arriving at the answer to any given problem. I learned that the first step is to state clearly the problem to be solved. The truth is, you cannot begin to solve a problem you do not know. Defining with precision your desire therefore will determine or rather set the limit to what you can achieve. I have always seen myself as an advocator. Someone who will one day stand up for others. What I have yet to do is decide in which capacity I will represent the people. I remember talking to my mom about returning to Nigeria by January of
this year if my financial condition did not improve. I had written several
applications and sat several interviews all without success. I was fed up.
My mom ask me if I had a job and accommodation awaiting me in Nigeria. When
I said no, she ask me why I wanted to spend money to go to Nigeria and start
looking for a job when I could start looking right here. She also pointed
out the fact that the resources I needed to get me to Nigeria could set me
up if I use my creativity and ingenuity. I sat down, drew up a plan, set a
goal and even came up with a deadline. All it took was the question from my
mom. What we believe affects almost all of our decisions in life. Be it a decision to progress or retrogress, negative expectations resulting from our beliefs affect our level of success. Beliefs are so powerful in my part of the world that people's lives were changed on the spur of a moment because of it. For instance, it is believed among a certain ethnic group in my country that anyone who joins the “poro society” and then tells what happened there would die. Though it is rumored that people who joined have written books about the rites performed in the “Poro Bush”, I have yet to read or meet someone who actually broke that belief. In fact it is considered sacred. This is a belief that has existed for centuries. Long before the free slaves who founded my country landed there in 1822. Talking about generalizations, there are people who believe that certain people are destined to be poor. While others are either born great or is destine to be great. So when they don't work hard and they become failures, they comfort themselves by saying “I wasn't destine to achieve this etc”. Some even think it is plain luck. I have learned and come to believe that success is one percent inspiration and ninety nine percent perspiration. Most of the things we believe that impede our success have no basis. Our decision to believe them was made unconsciously and most times we believe simply because someone we know or trust believes and is convicted to that particular thing. It is also true that once we adopt a belief, it becomes law and gospel. To break it is consider a taboo or an abomination. Finally on beliefs, for something to be a belief, it must have enough reference experiences. What most people fail to realize is that the source of certainty does not necessarily have to come from the past. Like Roger Bannister, we can use our imagination to create any reference for and certainty about those things we have not even attempted. I have also learned that our unshakable sense of certainty blinds us towards the very information that should propel us. Right now, I am in the process of identifying those beliefs that will move me in the direction of my dreams, discarding the disempowering ones and creating convictions out of the empowering ones. 3. WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT NEW IDEAS OR CONCEPTS YOU LEARNED FROM THIS BOOK? PLEASE EXPLAIN. I was especially inspired when I read that the conscience of an entire nation received a wake up call through the simple yet courageous action of one man, Sam LaBudde. With a little creativity and courage, his efforts restore some measure of balance to an incredible delicate ecosystem. Like him, I believe can do the same. Questions are indeed the laser of human consciousness, and if properly used, can cut through any obstacle of challenge. Questions result from curiosity so if you are curious about how people all around you are getting to the top while you remain stationary, then maybe you have not been asking the right questions and so you haven't gotten the right answers. The storage capacity of our brain is enough to tell me the answers are there and they have always been there. But have we been asking the right questions? Are the questions bringing negative or positive answers? Note that it is not only the questions you ask, but the ones you fail to ask that shape your destiny. When I discovered the power behind asking the right questions, one the first questions I ask myself were “who determines my happiness”? Who determines when I will be happy and why? Those questions helped me to focus. It also enabled me to tap into my inner reserve and discover that I am responsible for my own happiness. Today I am asking myself where I will be ten years from today. By asking a question either of yourself or of someone else, you can instantly change focus. Though the morning power question appear new to me, the three power questions are questions I have been asking myself since I was about 15. I feel I must contribute something to society everyday I live and that is because I learn daily and what I learn is continuously enhancing my life. I have always believed that improvement lies in our ability to change. I have even tried on several occasions to change some things I felt was holding me or rather standing between me and some of my goals. Unconsciously, I would drift right back to my old habit. Little did I know that it wasn't that I didn't try hard enough to change, I was using the wrong approach. I was using what Anthony Robbins called “addressing the symptoms of the problems” instead of applying what he called “Neuro-Associative Conditioning”. I agree with Mr. Robbins when he said change is delay or sometimes never take place because the people who are trying to change derive a secondary benefit from the very painful behavior or emotion they are trying to change. Secondary gain is what delays the change that should be taking place right now in the life of someone. We could save ourselves lots of efforts if we address the cause of a problem rather then its effect. Understanding the components of our decision making system can help you not only understand your own behavior, but anticipate what you will be repelled from and pulled toward. Most people are not their behaviors. A cousin of mine told me how a course mate met her once and said “I always thought you were arrogant, but that was because I didn't know you. Now that I do, I can see people mistake your being blunt for arrogance.” To know someone, you must know what drives the person. Having read Anthony Robbins “Giant Steps” from page 1 through 407, I can't help but want to read it again. Every word on the 407 pages inspired me one way or the other. 4. HAS THIS BOOK CHALLENGED OR CHANGED YOUR THINKING IN ANY WAY? IF SO, EXPLAIN HOW? Though I read that the ten day mental challenge is not for the weak at heart, I decided to do it because I wanted to attain a higher level of success and if it require conditioning my nervous system for new empowering emotional patterns, then weak at heart or not, I will do whatever it takes. I have had to start over about two times, the last being after I went for about six days. I am determined and I am beginning to get used to it. Of the six steps in NAC, the one that appeals to me the most is step four. “Creating a new empowering alternative” To opt for change is not enough. Eliminating old pattern without replacing it with new ones is a waste of time or only temporary. Having replaced most of my old patterns with new ones, I started conditioning it until it is now consistent. In fact I do it without thinking. Change is constant and change brings results, be it negative or positive. People who say I am contented with what I have or I have everything I will ever need are people who fear change. Being an adventurous person, I have not only learned that change is necessary, I have also learned that there are strategies that when employed, makes it more effective. The words we use habitually do have an effect on us. Our choice of words most time determines our state of mind. A few months ago I received words that my mom was involved in a tragic motor accident and suffered a broken leg. You can imagine how I felt. Later that evening, I spoke with her on the phone and learned that what was described as tragic was in fact a minor slip and the so called broken leg was a dislocated ankle. The words “tragic” and “broken” changed the entire story. The quantity of our vocabulary is to a large extent responsible for us using negative metaphors. The words we know are words we learn from other people. We don't bother to find for ourselves related words that could be used in place of those ones we already know. People with impoverished vocabularies do live emotionally impoverished lives. Because of my passion for books, I have built for myself a rich vocabulary base. Now I know I can use that vocabulary base to propel myself towards achieving my goals simply by employing the tool “Transformational vocabulary” to replace my habitually disempowering words with more inspiring ones. The use of metaphors to describe painful or frustrating experiences is a very brilliant idea. Using metaphor for comparison is perhaps the best way to reduce anxiety when describing an experience. Also ensure different metaphors are used for different experiences. That is because most times the metaphors we use in one context are inappropriate for another context. The metaphors we use must be compatible with our situation. I always tell myself that whether I am happy or sad depends on me. I am responsible for creating my emotions and changing them if I so desire. Most times we choose to ignore negative emotions by occupying ourselves with something else. Sometimes we indulge in other things to suspend whatever negative emotions we have. Those methods are only temporary. 5. ARE THERE IDEAS IN THE BOOK THAT YOU TOTALLY DISAGREE WITH? IF SO, WHY? All the ideas in this book are superb and the book itself it a success. if there are ideas in Giant Steps that I cant reconcile with then I have yet to see it. 6. WHAT DID YOU FIND MOST HELPFUL AND LEAST HELPFUL IN THIS BOOK? One could accomplish a lot of things if our focus remains on what is value most in our life. People have problem setting up their value system because they keep changing those values or compromising them. It is common in my part of the world for a prominent person who is a role model to change or compromise his value for financial gain or other wise. For them, Success must be attained at all cost even if they sacrifice the values they have chosen for themselves. A friend of mine after breaking up with his fiancée felt he could escape by drinking. When he became sober, he realized he still felt bad. Everybody hates negative emotions but it can be a gift when used effectively. Negative emotions are a call for action to either change your focus or perception or your procedures. The best time to handle a negative emotion is when you first begin to feel it. Having read and digested the ten action signal and the ten emotion of power, I am especially drawn to emotion of power number 3 which talks about cultivating curiosity. It talks about learning to be inquisitive as a child if one wants to grow in their life-time. I believe and agree that curious people are never bored and for them life becomes an unending study of joy. Knowing what to do is not enough; you must do what you know what to do as many times as you can. That, scholars say, is the mark of a true champion. To accomplish that, you must make it your habit. If you agree that a particular line of thought is responsible for where you are today, then a change in that line of thought will bring a change in your life. The time you spend on the solution should be more then the time you spend on the problem, because to misperceive the garden as overrun by weeds is as bad as refusing to see the weeds take root. 7. IN 50 WORDS OR LESS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE MAIN IDEA THE WHOLE BOOK IS TRYING TO CONVEY. Success and failure are definitely not the result of a single event. But since there is no fix recipe for success; since it varies from one person to another, people get lost in the process or simply stop believing in themselves. The hurdles are plenty and enormous, the result near impossible. Pain, pleasure and our mental state are indeed important in influencing how we get what we want. One of the miracles of being a human is that we can decide what causes us pain and pleasure. What we do to avoid pain and induce pleasure influences our mental state. I have learned in simple terms that the secret of our success is learning how to use pain and pleasure to my advantage. It is true that in the right state of mind, ideas and abilities flow in a seemingly effortless fashion. So being in the right state of mind most of the time is necessary to being an achiever. To sum up this assessment, I would like to quote this” Money has no value unless we share its positive impact with the people we care about and as we discover ways to contribute in proportion to our incomes……” Rating A. How interesting was it to read? 9 The New Dynamics of Winning 1. DISCUSS THE MAIN IDEAS THAT YOU FOUND MOST IMPORTANT IN THIS BOOK AND DISCUSS WHY THEY WERE IMPORTANT TO YOU. There are so many ideas that I found most important but because of time I will limit it to just three. Commitment is number one. Since most of what is taught is psychological, commitment is the first sign that one has to put in a little bit of physical exercise to be a winner. I was especially moved by the simplicity with which a bike ride explained commitment. In order to be committed to something, you must believe in that thing. A lot of people find it difficult to be committed. To be a winner, one must go beyond the mere training of our minds and take the next step. Lack of commitment impedes success. To plan and think big is not enough. When you identify your goal, you must be committed to achieving what ever goal you've set. I also discovered that instant gratification in most cases is responsible
for our failures. Finally recognizing your moment of truth is very essential if you want to succeed. I have had my own fair share of experience and those rare times I lacked commitment, I failed. After reading the book, “The New Dynamics of Wining” I discovered that instant gratification is the reason why most find it hard to be committed. My moment of truth came a couple of years back when I was in Nigeria. I saw people of my age working on their second degree while I was just a high school graduate. That woke me up from my academic slumber. It also prompted me to make decisions that have affected my life greatly. I realize then that if I were to succeed, I would need some form of education, be it formal or informal. 2. CAN YOU RELATE THE IDEAS OR CONCEPTS IN THIS BOOK TO YOUR PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES IN LIFE SUCH AS YOUR RELATIONSHIPS, YOUR BELIEFS, YOUR GOALS, YOUR VALUES, ETC.? EXPLAIN. Fifty or more percent of the ideas in this book is one way or the other related to me. Needing a success quote is just one of them. Since I was about nine years old, I chose several quotes that I used as motivators. “When you stand for nothing you will fall for anything” has become my favorite. I find myself using it whenever I do things I wouldn't normally do. I remember this guy in my neighborhood who had been trying very hard to fuss with me. There were times when he would annoy me so much I felt like lashing back at him. One particular night, it got so bad I had to make a decision. I decided to confront him about his behavior and to my utmost surprised we talked it over and became friends. Today, he too has s success quote that he uses it all the time. Maintaining my integrity despite external and eternal pressures has been a constant challenge. Some years back, I worked for an ISP company where money laundering and credit card fraud was so common that resisting it was almost considered a miracle. All around me, people were making money faster then they could spend it. I was caught between the scissors. Should I indulge in stealing or should I preserve my hard earned character? Greed and money were competing seriously with honesty and integrity for my consciousness. But honesty and integrity prevailed because of my level of mental toughness. 3. WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT NEW IDEAS OR CONCEPTS YOU LEARNED FROM THIS BOOK? PLEASE EXPLAIN. The most important idea I learned form this book can be found in the last two paragraphs on page 74. The term used to describe the state of mind of an individual whose actions contradicts his or her own principles of right or wrong “COGNITIVE DISSONANCE” it's called. It's very easy to imagine an orchestra that's trying to play two different compositions at once. It goes on to say that when your actions are out of sync with your principles, you are making yourself the harried conductor of that very unfortunate orchestra. Where I come from, people ranging from ministers of the Gospel, scholars etc don't practice what they preach. They tell us “Do what I say but don't do what I do”. Those are people who are given positions of trust. They are most often charged with the responsibility of managing the welfare of the people. Now that I know that respect for authority does not mean blind submission and robotlike conformity, I can deduce their motives and grade them. Armed with these truths I can now stand up to them. 4. HAS THIS BOOK CHALLENGED OR CHANGED YOUR THINKING IN ANY WAY? IF SO, EXPLAIN HOW? The New Dynamics of winning has not only challenged my thoughts, it has greatly enhanced it. My major problem has been fear of failure. I turn down lots of opportunities because people expected a lot from me and my fear of what might happen and not what will happen weaken me mentally. Negative simulations kept me in the BATH TUB instead of in the Winners Circle. The New Dynamics of winning has taught me to expect the best Plan for the worst, and prepare to be surprise. Most important of all, I am becoming a winner by putting into practice the things I learned from reading the New Dynamics of Winning 5. ARE THERE IDEAS IN THE BOOK THAT YOU TOTALLY DISAGREE WITH? IF SO, WHY? Absolutely not. All the ideas and concepts in this book are thought-provoking and essential. My only qualm though, is that most of the author's example is based in the United States, which makes it a little difficult to draw a mental picture. 6. WHAT DID YOU FIND MOST HELPFUL AND LEAST HELPFUL IN THIS BOOK? Dennis Waitly couldn't have written a better book on winning. His simple style of writing has made understanding and comprehending the book very easy. His twenty one day plan has proven to be the most helpful. He it he has outlined the basic that is required to make me start thinking acting and doing things like a champion. In chapter eight of the book we are introduce to the coachability factor. The third quality of a coachable person is a high tolerance for order and organization. Training schedules, practice routines and sometimes other bothersome daily requirements are taken in strides, if not actually welcome. I cant seem to find anything that is less helpful to me in this book. 7. IN 50 WORDS OR LESS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE MAIN IDEA THE WHOLE BOOK IS TRYING TO CONVEY. The New Dynamics of Winning is the best book I have read on winning so far. It teaches us how to be winners. You cannot win without having the mindset of a champion. No one is born with such a mindset, it requires mental toughness. You must posses the fundamental of mental toughness. That ability to thrive in pain and adversity. Visualization is very important. In short, before you can see it, you must believe it. This premise holds that our belief system is so powerful that thoughts can cause things to happen. You must visualize yourself winning before actually living the vision. Ovel started winning because he became a believer. Finally, winning is taking the talents and success you are born with, developing it and using it fully toward a purpose that makes you feel worthwhile. You will only get the full out of life when you do those things that are satisfying. Those things that make you enjoy your life. Every One is born with a talent, a gift etc. It's left with you to identify your talent and work towards developing it to achieve your goals. True happiness cannot be attain if you don't live a worthwhile life. Wealth and power may provide temporary happiness, but in time you will start feeling depress, and life will become dull. True happiness lies in achieving those goals you set for yourself. Happiness is not a goal to be chased, instead, it's a by product of living a worthwhile life. Rating A. How interesting was it to read? 8 Keys To Success 1. What ideas were personally most important to you in this book? Do not simply list the ideas, but explain or discuss why they were important to you, using our personal examples. Although the entire book can be likened to a rare gem, there are some ideas that were outstanding and require mentioning. Definiteness of purpose: No one can attain success without definiteness of purpose or what I simply called “sense of direction”. If I were to chase every opportunity that came my way with all the available resources I had, I would be running around in circles and would never get anything accomplished. I can only make progress if I dedicate or rather concentrate my time, energy and resources in one direction. Up until the time I left high school, I did not know what I wanted to do for a career. My mom was in the health sector and watching her treat people convinced me that I would be a medical doctor. Then a little interaction with the media made me consider being a journalist. By the time I graduated from high school, I had about four areas I wanted to venture into. It took some time before I discovered my area and that was after I had wasted a lot of time, energy and resources. The power of control attention is another factor that is very important in achieving your goal. Even though many people would suggest all your eggs in one basket, it pays to have most if not all of your time, energy and resources directed at achieving whatever you have set as your goal. That does not in any way suggest that you shouldn’t be open and willing to accept other ideas, instead it means you should do things one at the time. Firstly, things get done faster when you are focus and it saves your precious time. When I fail at something, I always like to be comforted with the fact that I tried and couldn’t get it done and not that I didn’t try hard enough. I was especially moved by chapter 13 which talked about learning from adversity and defeat. I have always believe that there is no harm in making mistakes. Failure to learn from your mistakes is where the problem is. Chapters 13 only reinforced my belief and properly define the role of failure and defeat in my life 2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances such as your relationship, your goals, your beliefs, you values, etc? Please use personal examples in your explanation. When reading through the many advantages of definiteness of purpose, I was quick to note the “power of the subconscious”, something that limited me for well over twenty years. Sometimes during my primary school days, I got promoted to the next class the first semester of the school year and sat in the same class with my elder brother from then through out high school. I became dependent on him to do mathematical sums since he was good at figures while he depended on me for composition and geography since I was a bookworm. That created a negative impact for me because I built in my subconscious mind that I could not pass math without the help of my brother, something I paid dearly for when writing the placement exams for college. I have always known my subconscious mind possess the power. I only did not know how to harness that power to work for me. Now I am beginning to use my conscious mind to slowly but painstakingly release and direct that power to work for me. When I first started reading books by authors like Napoleon Hill and others, I got bored reading other people success stories. I didn't grasp the essence or what the book was trying to portray. I had to read “Think and Grow Rich” about five times before I got the message. Now I understand that the concept is what I am supposed to make use of. 3. What are the most important ideas or concepts you learned from the book? Please explain. Forming and maintaining a mastermind alliance are two very important things that can aid you in overcoming obstacle no matter your level of education, talents etc. As I read through the various steps of forming mastermind alliances, I couldn't help but noticed the four main areas one should consider in maintaining mastermind alliance with oneself. You cannot succeed if you are not at peace with yourself. You must always look at the positive side of whatever happens during the course of achieving your goal. Spending time dwelling in the negative will only waste time, energy and resources. I constantly remind my fiancée that no knowledge acquired is a waste. I believe time should be devoted daily digesting one educational material or the other. That way you will always be prepare for the unexpected. Courtesy is the foundation upon which relationships are built. I agree with Mr. Hill when he said some people mistake high flown manners for courtesy. Controlling your selfishness and respecting other people's feelings under all circumstances are the bedrock of being courteous. Tone of voice, facial expression and smiles are all passkeys to people's hearts. Learning from adversity and defeat is something I have come face to face with. Sometimes it is so over whelming you can get drown in it. The truth is it is never the same as failure unless and until you have accepted it as such. The fear of failure most if not all of the time discourage people from trying. Such people use defeat as an excuse never to try again. It is true that every adversity carries with it the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit for anyone who has PMA and is willing to apply it. The catch is that you must be willing to apply it. Your mental attitude in respect to defeat is the factor of major importance which determines whether you ride with tides of fortune is misfortune. If you mental attitude in respect to defeat is negative, all you need is one defeat to keep you from trying. 4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain why? Yes, the book has challenged and even affected my thoughts. I was especially touched by the importance of PMA. It is true that PMA influences the way we speak, our tone of voice, facial expression and posture. With PMA, you can control your mood, your emotional state etc. I realized that the decision to wake up unhappy or “On the wrong side of the bed” as many refer to it is mine to make. It is unnecessary then, to spend hours feeling depressed and nursing negative thoughts about myself when I could be working towards improving whatever cause that foul mood. That has changed my whole line of thought. I always pride myself in the fact that I am always relaxed under pressure. After reading about flexibility, I realized that without knowing it, I had been applying some of the principles of PMA. I have come to realized that hasty decisions usually result into costly and irreparable mistakes. Napoleon Hill’s description of enthusiasm is so far the most helpful. I was especially drawn to the story of his step mother who it appears almost always saw people and situations from the positive side. She seemed to have that Midas touch. Everything she touched turn to gold. I have never encountered such enthusiasm before. People who believe and are convicted to something even though the odds are stacked up against them are said to be dreamers. Here is a woman whose enthusiasm changed the life of an entire family. That is just what I need. Not just to be told I am an achiever, but to also be assured that whatever I am doing will work. 5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why? Ideas in Key to Success that I totally disagree with? Well, if there are such ideas, I fail to see them. Napoleon Hill Keys to Success is flawless and to the point. If I had the opportunity to offer a praise for Keys to Success, the word SUPERB would be the most befitting. 6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book? As I read about creative vision, I couldn't help but compare my life with creative vision to that of others. In the entire book, creative vision is what appeals to me the most, though it is the least helpful. It is also the most difficult to comprehend, especially when I consider the example of Dr. Elmer Gates. Since I read about Dr. Gates, I have tried his method of exercising creative vision a couple of times with no progress. I have sat alone in the dark for hours, hoping some brand new idea would flow through my mind; hoping the answer to some of my many questions would pop-up, but all my efforts have proven futile. As I read about clock watchers or the nine to five people, I understood a little about creative vision and the difference between it and mere imagination. I know I need to go the extra mile in order to transcend from mere daydreaming to finding answers from creative vision. I noticed that even though I imagine myself financially potent, respected in society, with a good job and income, I still couldn't find the path to my dreams. At the end of each session, I found myself coming back from wonderland to face reality and then the whole process seemed like a waste of time. As I read about balancing my emotions with my faculty of reason, and it’s relationship with the only two kinds of problems; those I can solve and those I cant solve, I thought of a quote I always recite to myself when I am faced with problems. My mind is very orderly and I don’t like loose ends wondering in my orderly mind. Problems I can solve is normally dealt with immediately by the most practical means available. Those I can’t solve, I immediately discard. What I detest most, is finding temporary solutions to permanent problems. I detest it because it encourages procrastination and is an enemy of progress. Like Mr. Hill said, self discipline cannot permit lurking memories……..Doing so destroys your creative force, undermines your initiative disturb your faculty of reason and just plain confuses all the departments of your mind. 7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey. When writing the introduction for Keys to Success, W. Clement Stone promised that Napoleon Hill would show me that I can achieve success in anything I do. After reading the book, I realized that Mr. Hill did more then show me. He motivated and literally propelled me to action. I also must command Mr. Hill for the true stories and examples that proved that the principles in the book has been tried and tested and they worked. People who are so slippery that they cannot be pinned down to clear cut
direct statements cannot and should not be depended on. Such people are like
chameleon; always changing to fit the situation. Finally to end this
assessment, I will like to quote Mr. Hill’s exact words when talking about
creative vision. “Creative vision belongs only to people who have the habit
of going the extra mile, for it recognizes no nine to five working hours or
isn’t concerned with monetary rewards. Its aim is doing the impossible”. The
paragraph describes with clarity the life most people live today. People who
fear failure, people who have refused to go the extra mile or exercise
creative vision. Real Magic 1. What ideas were personally most important to you in this book? Do not simply list the ideas, but explain or discuss why they were important to you, using our personal examples. As I read Real Magic, I couldn't help but wonder how easy it is to work for peace instead of fighting to eliminate war. The phrase “they work on what they are for rather then fighting what they are against” explains how people spend their lives championing a cause using the wrong approach. I have always believe it require more energy to hate then to love. Dr. Dyer proved that when he wrote “Most of his energy, both mental and physical, is devoted to what he perceives to be bad or evil”. It's like trying to wipe the water instead of repairing the burst pipe which is the cause of the spilled water. Like he said, “instead of fighting starvation and hunger, it would be more empowering to work for a well fed populace”. When you fight evil by employing the methods of hatred and violence, you then become a part of the hatred and violence itself. 2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances such as your relationship, your goals, your beliefs, you values, etc? Please use personal examples in your explanation. When I read Dr. Dyer's advice to stay open and willing to learn from anyone and everyone, I thought on the last ten years of my life and realized that I have been doing just that. I have always believed that my life is a giant puzzle and that every success, failure, and disappointments are pieces to the giant puzzle that is my life. It is therefore necessary for those things to happen so that the pieces will fall into place. Dr. Dyer couldn't have said it better when he said “when you are green you grow, when you are ripe you rot. By staying green, you will avoid the curse of being an expert.” I sincerely believed that everything I have achieved in my life is as a result of my staying green. Two years ago, I knew nothing about running a media institution. Today I am managing a youth media project for children under 18, the first of its kind in my country. Besides managing, I am creating, planning and producing programs I never thought I could do. That would have been impossible if I had not stayed green. 3. What are the most important ideas or concepts you learned from the book? Please explain. The idea of viewing man from two perspective: Spiritual and non spiritual being is the most fascinating. It points out two different ways of viewing yourself and life. One is from the spiritual and physical perspective and the other is from the physical only. There have been times when I have asked myself why I don't get as many breaks as the others even though I worked harder everyday? The answer manifested itself in the attributes of the non spiritual being. I have come to realized that I have not been in touch with my spiritual self. My outlook of my sojourn, my dreams and aspirations has been limited to the physical realm. I now know that I have relied mostly on the physical domain while failing to tap into the invisible dimension. Meditation is something that is totally new to me. The truth is, I have always associated meditation with atheism. Little did I know that the prayer I recite every night before going to bed is a form of meditation. From what I have learned from this book, meditation is a passage to entering the invisible dimension and tapping the numerous resources available for my growth and development. If the phrase “As you think so shall you be” is true, then you will be nothing if you think nothing. Nowadays, whenever I am faced with a problem that is overwhelming, I always refer to the words of the brilliant French philosopher Blaise Pascal. “All men miseries derive from not being able to sit quietly in a room alone”. 4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain why? Yes, Real Magic has challenged and changed a couple of beliefs I had
prior to reading it. I now meditate 30 minutes everyday, something I
wouldn't have done three months back. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why? Even though there are some things that I don't fully understand in Real Magic, I don't disagree with any of Dr. Dyer teachings as penned in the book. Real Magic in fact was an eye opener for me in the area of creating real magic. All along, I believed the gift of magic was a gift bestow on special people who were chosen. Now I know anyone can create magic, and I mean real magic. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book? My understanding of the cause and effect theory has proven to be the most helpful. It is with the power of our minds that miracles originate. One can never expect to create miracles when one live by the law of cause and effect. The cause and effect theory will bar you from entering the world of real magic, for our thoughts are beliefs and miracles unto themselves. It is evident and glaring how our thoughts and beliefs have helped shaped the world we know today. Think for example about the Wright brothers and their belief that one day air travel would be possible? Their thoughts and belief, couple with conviction created the magic we know today as airplane. I am in total agreement with Dr. Dyer when he says to become a spiritual being, one simply must know that there is much more to life then achievement, performance and acquisitions and that the measure of a life is not in what is accumulated , but in what is given to others. This is where people make mistakes. They think their life should be characterized by amassing wealth and power and living glamorous and expensive lives in comfort and style. Research has shown that such people end up feeling unfulfilled and leading unhappy lives. The very few who understand and accept change end up being philanthropist with the hope that it will make them fulfilled. Love is indeed expressed in giving. The least helpful is what Dr. Dyer refer to as “your relationship to your own death” I have also met people, most of them new converts, who explained their own version of near death experience or NDE. What I have observed is that the stories vary from one individual to another. Coma, whose victims are mostly people with NDE experiences is just a prolong form of the sleep and dreams we experience almost every night. So anyone who has slept and dream should have an idea of what NDE is all about. Unfortunately, not every dream is good so the fear of dying and transcending to another world that is unpleasant and terrifying is always there. Death would never be a mystery if we knew for a fact what happens on the other side. For if we knew, how then will we reconcile this Biblical teaching that says thoughts are non-existent in the grave? Considering that our soul houses our conscious and subconscious minds which process all out thoughts , how then can our soul leave our body and then lost its ability to house our conscious and subconscious minds which serve as the processor of our thoughts, both negative and positive? That is where, in my opinion, the mystery surrounding death lies. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey. Dr. Wayne Dyer's Real Magic is not just about magic as we know it, but real magic from an angle we've never consider before. He shows us that anyone can be a magician if the power of both the subconscious and the conscious minds are harnessed properly. He taught us to turn to our inner selves rather then dwell on the limitations of our physical self. Before reading Real Magic, I always mistook real magic for luck. There were countless times when I said I was lucky when in fact it was plain simple magic. The entire book is propelling us to what he calls a unified field of limitless possibilities. Though he uses different words like place of higher awareness etc, the idea remains the same. Creating that higher level of awareness, and then applying it to every aspect of our lives. Wayne Dyer's Real magic is indeed a masterpiece Rating What To Say When You Talk To Yourself Assessment of Psycho Cybernetics 2000 |
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