As A Man Thinketh
Assessment by Joseph Philip Abue (Nigeria)

Part I - Contents

Every point in the book, “As a man thinketh,” is a striking point that is hard to dispute and create a balance between what is, what is needed to get what is required in the life of every man from start to finish of the book.

I find certain points striking as it relate to my present situation. In the book I noticed that man‚ as life and vision can become a reality through the power of thinking. The thoughts are the wholeness of every of every human either consciously or not, when thoughts are chosen and encouraged they represent the person in the inner garment as character and outer as circumstance.

In what ever a man do or agitate, a man is what he thinks he is with his character representing the sum of his thoughts. This in turn produce result which may be good or bad, which is determined by his act and the blossom of his thoughts.

The mind is compared or viewed as a garden. A garden that is well cultivated, the plant or flower well watered and protected against invaders represent a model of admiration and that which is not taken care of will only be explored by weed which will invite pest and other harmful or unnecessary plants which represent failure and evil conception, a pure minded man can never fall suddenly into crime by stress of any mere extreme forces.

The hour of opportunity reveals the gathered power of a man‚ as thoughts, where success is the outcome, his thoughts are considered as pure and where he fails, his thoughts are seen as impure. The wishes and prayers of a man for his desire are only gratified and answered when they harmonize with his thoughts and actions.

Men are anxious to change or improve their circumstance but are not willing to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound to what they are. A man may be honest in certain direction yet remain or suffer privation while a man may be dishonest in certain direction yet enjoy or acquire wealth. Good thoughts and action can never produce bad results while bad thoughts and action can never produce good results. Men in margin that thoughts can be kept secret, but it cannot because his action will reveal his thoughts.

Whether rich or poor, a man's thought will always have a lasting impression on his action because the body is the servant of the mind. Disease and health like circumstance are rooted in thoughts. The thoughts of malice, envy and disappointment rob the body of its health and grace. Doubt and fear are the greatest enemies of knowledge. A man who has conquered doubt and fear has conquered failure because the visible world is served by the invisible. In the ocean of life the isles of blessedness are smiling and the sunny shore of your ideal awaits your coming.

Part II - Personal Impact

Prior to reading the book as a man thinketh it has always been a problem to deducing what my thoughts are and what my actions are as well. I've fought myself again and again over what is practicable in life thoughts or actions?

I don't have a particular character with which I could be easily identified with because a lot of people that I have gone up, close and personal with often conclude that they don't understand my intentions albeit most of these people are female friends that I admire and in the end, I end up not doing or being what I have rehashed a thousand time owing to fact that I get discouraged about what I eventually find in this people, because I hold people in high esteem.

I think about money and how to get it and I'm challenged a great deal when I consider my action toward this dream. Practically I can't get what I want by being gentle and sincere owing to the society because I see myself as a person without drive if I don't get dirty to have my needs met.

I believe in hard work, commitment both spiritual and moral to be the key to success in life but I find it frustrating when I retire each day to record my loses, waste of time and chance when I did no lie to somebody to get what I want because it doesn't come by truth and openness. I wonder why people will settle for a lie and give no chance for the truth for a moment. I sometimes go all out to get what I want at all cost but I have a heart that will never let me be each time I lie or do something that is not morally acceptable by my style in life.

I was writing my exam toward the end of the semester and there was a formula I had to memorize in statistics because the question was a sure one, I couldn't because the course note came late. I was tempted to put down the formula on my palm since the topic was a sure short, my mind would not let rest as it kept on telling me 'you will be caught.' Meanwhile, during the exam I noticed a lady who sat by me with an entire script and was writing confidently and nothing happened to her and I asked myself isn't she just a lady? Thank God I escaped the question because it was not compulsory.

I pray and ask for what I need but each time I don't notice my prayers being answered because I feel after each request I should move to another level but it seems to me that I am rather going back to another level and I laugh about the crazy thought of the backwardness (another level).

I had a girl I loved a great deal because she was bountifully endowed she had style, class and taste and intelligence, I would steal to win her if it mattered or threaten our togetherness. I noticed each time she came around that she was always after sex. I told her that I respected her values as a woman but don't fancy a relationship that is sexually driven, she got annoyed and told some friends of ours who knew us and I got the shocker of my life when one of them asked me if I was impotent or eunuch. My discussion with her was that sex should be a thing that is respected and should come naturally and there should be the fear of God attached to it, only then did I realized that most relationships in Nigeria are tied to sex and money and where these are absent, forget it. Where is the spirit of friendship that is tie to love, sharing, learning together, etc. I am tempted to blame it on poverty but like the point in the book which says 'A pure minded man does not fall suddenly into crime by stress of any mere external forces‚ also, to me it is but what the heart desire in a society entangle in corruption and greed.

I have realized that acceptance or rejection is the outcome of one's thoughts and actions. I have a feeling that reminds me each time to whom do I owe my apologies or appreciation if I fail or succeed, to my thoughts or actions in my quest in life and what are the standard.? I consider myself a special and unique sample who's result should not be used to conclude on others in my population because even though we are the same people we share different ideas and values about life, what is right, moral etc. I noticed that even within my nuclear family I am considered special by what I give and receive.

I read the bible for knowledge so I don't find the moral in the book entirely new but consider it another version of the bible that seek to directly address some the basics I need.

The materials I have read relates to the issues of my life in every way because the human existence is built on thoughts and actions, beliefs and practices, my approach to life at different point in time as well as my conclusion about life. The well from which human thoughts and actions are drawn is very deep (vast) meaning that some things may not be right even though they agree with what we are doing and do not challenge our decision about what is accepted. No one man is an embodiment of knowledge I need those around me to move and to help me know where I am going to with what I have, my understanding alone will not get me far.

In conclusion on this part I am grateful to have come across this book as it has added immensely to my knowledge on thoughts and actions and to hold responsible or thank if I fail or succeed.

Part III - Summary

Personally I think the book as a man thinketh is very educative, entertaining as well as enlightening on how to focus thoughts and action to achieve results. I see the book also as an inspirational article with thoughts provoking points which makes the book a difficult one to drop and forget, It equally consider the factor responsible for failure and progress in any venture and how to address them.

I use to have this fear in me about what people feel about me and why they consider my opinion on issues. The book has help me in this regard that what I think of myself is what people see and take me to be, because my thoughts are revealed in my character. I have to convince my judge that I have what it takes to be chosen. My wish now is if only I had a hard copy of the book so I could carry it with me wherever I go to remind my self of what is next

While reading this book, my conscience was seriously probed by my thoughts and actions or may be my thoughts and actions were probed by my character for misleading, claiming that character has only been what my thoughts and actions are.

Again, I find the book very interesting because it challenges my awareness and serves as a guide to counseling my thoughts and actions on what my expectations should be at every point in time because no sound mind could suddenly fall into crime by means of mere extreme factor unless it has first been conceive in his heart and revealed by his character.

On interest, so far it has been the most sensational book I've read lately. The practical values of the book as a man thinketh are achievable in every sense. Although life in most parts of Africa can not be compared with what our counterpart in Europe and America are facing, here it so difficult that some of this point will only make somebody look stupid when too much is said education and not money, we are confronted by a lot of factor ranging from political, economical, social, etc.

I consider the book as a man thinketh a tool to combat fear, depression and poverty which is one of deadliest disease facing the developing nations of the earth. Every point in the book as a man thinketh gives a unique approach to the problem in life we face today. I would recommend the book to most of my people and advice them to give it a try, like the bible, if I have my way I would translate the book into a native languages of most of my Nigeria people.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Joseph Philip Abue (Nigeria)

Part 1 - Content

As a seagull, it was not normal or accepted among the flock to see flight and altitude attained as a thing of pride or honour owing to the size and nature of a gull. The gulls considered as what mattered, flying to eat and nothing more. But to Jonathan Livingston Seagull, flying was what mattered to him and he loved to fly, to attain a height that is yet considered possible for a seagull with no instructor, support or any experience in his adventure.

He got discouraged after a bad experience and resolved to return to what his nature has made him to be, what his parent have always wanted him to be, their true son and a respectable and law abiding one with no challenge(s) about doing something different, a seagull with limits, no freedom and without a sense of heaven.

Within him was the desire to go beyond his limits, to break and overcome his fear, nature and fulfill his quest for speed and success which in his own thoughts, his nature would not respect.

Considering what he is and what he want to do and eventually become, he realized what he has and what he need and what he needed to do, to bring the two together to get the third. A seagull with the spirit of an Eagle and the swing of a Falcon the pain of his decision, rejection and the result, his dream a seagull with the appearance of his flock but a nature of heaven (perfection).

His quest would make him an outcast which he felt was worth the price for personal fulfillment. A fulfillment which made him to realized that his desire is just a tip of what he should know. This time with an instructor, a support and experience which makes this part of life a painless pleasure.

Jonathan Livingston was not a self minded seagull who felt he had learnt a lot to remain alone without the flock when he realized that boredom and fear and anger are the reasons that a seagull's life is so short. At this point he realized he was fit to be an instructor, a supporter with experience this time to those who are ready to accept and embrace change and become instructor(s) themselves. It meant to return to the flock and share his findings in heaven with the flock on earth.

I find this points meaningful because it deals with the movement from being led to being to a leader. The factors and nitty- gritty that are involved, the reception by those around on the proposed adventure especially if it involves what is generally considered not attainable to a particular race, clan or geographical region. Again, the points also help me to be open with what ever I'm doing and my ability to share with those who are around me.

Part II - Personal Impact

Prior to reading the book Jonathan Livingston Seagull, I have my opinion about life. I believe in education as a tool for promoting unity and peaceful co-existence in a nation with vast geographical land area. I am not the only child of my parent but the first of six children who are looking at me.

I've always considered education as the strongest and surest means by which I could be heard and my values respected as and so I do my best to ensure that I keep myself well informed about things around me. Like Jonathan, sometimes I feel I should quit school and work to finance my education and support my family because as it stand I don't have support for my education owing to the fact that I have no father now and my mum is taking care of the rest of my brothers and a sister.

I want to lead a normal life of doing one thing at a time, It's hard to find a job that will accommodate schooling. It is not funny working Monday - Friday and schooling Saturday and Sunday on a part time basis. Albeit there are people who are comfortable with such a system. I do not consider it the option because the system we operate in do not see such people as competitive students.

I am in a society where people are regarded according to their financial stand. I am from a family that holds such a believe also. A lot of times I get scolded by the level of importance I attach to education, reference is sometimes made on the countless number of graduate we have on the street who have nothing doing or nothing to show that they are well read. I may not be able to change the situation but I strongly believe that there's more to education than being paid.

I have a girlfriend who scolded me sometime ago that I always wanted things to be perfect. I won't discuss this program with some people as well as some friends because it doesn't involve money but books.

As a student I'm fond of testing my friends about certain reaction using scenario. I do this not to much them but to equate their responds to their educational qualification to deduce their level of reason now and what if without school and the response I get sometime makes me very surprised. There was this day I asked a friend what he would do if he returned from work and find his mother who was there on a visit crying and claiming to have been beaten by his wife? The respond he gave me was that, “he was going to beat the wife seriously and send her back to her parent on the ground that if she could do that to his mum she would do the same to him”.

Like Jonathan Livingston Seagull who love to fly, I love to read to expand my knowledge about people, places, culture, etc, but I'm limited and trap because I can't get the support I need to achieve my aim.

I personally don't have a lot of striking experience in life so far but in line with what I respect, in the area where my brother is staying I noticed when I paid him a visit is that the children in that neighborhood are not encouraged to go to school rather to go hawking in the street and funny enough the entire family depends on what this little child will bring back as sales for survival.

Part III - Summary

Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a good book. The book from the beginning was about having dreams and knowing the boundaries with which one is operating, at a point in the book I got confused from the point when Jonathan flew and met with the new Seagulls, the moral behind his encounter with them if it means that along the line of success I will meet people who will want me to be like them and forget about my family and his eventual return to the pack or flock. The book is an encouraging one that puts together the force of having a dream and knowing how to use what you have to get what you want. It deals with courage and the will power to succeed in one's dream. It is also a book that handle one's nature and teaches about coping with challenges, challenges in everyday life, what we set to achieve and considering the procedure we adopt to meet this aim. In the book I also noted that we as humans have been created specially with everything we need to excel in whatever we are doing because our weapon is in us (inbuilt).

I personally would give thousands of Naira to have this book, although money cannot buy knowledge. It is a book I will like to have as a part of my collection on a hard copy so I would meditate on some of the points at my free period.

While reading the book, I noticed I could still pause and do something else but the last line would not let go of my memory, I was moved to knowing what the next sentence is about.

The practical values of in the book in my opinion can only be imagined rather than the physical aspect. This I feel is because of the harsh weather we operate in. In Nigeria most people want money, the situation is so depressing such that most people don't respect working anymore. Sometimes when I want to follow my plans of honesty I get the most tempting challenges that give me little or nothing to work with.

I find the book theoretically useful but practically difficult to follow. I would recommend the book to all my friends and family after this assessment.

The New Dynamics of Winning
Assessment by Joseph Philip Abue (Nigeria)

1. What Ideas were personally most important to you in this book?

The entire book ‘the new dynamics of winning’ is a code of success formula. However, there are ideas in the book that strike a balance between my goals and that which the book is all about.

‘Don’t Rush Success’. I think this idea is the most important when it involves striving for success. Most times when I read books or materials that deal with success, the instant urge to grab wealth creeps in or something is stirred up in me. But as the example of Bill Toomey suggest, success should be like a plant, it must be allowed to grow first by having root, there must be a starting point, the drive can come from anywhere sometimes in article we consider to be of less value. Preparation is very vital; each part of the success journey must be genuine. Again, success to me should not be a point where I’ll reach and look back only to feel good about how far I have come but a process that continues no matter how much I have gain. ‘If the ladder of success leads to an unknown destination, at what point would I say am successful?’ That is why I consider success to be a process and not a point.

On page 72 of the book, Spartan Motor I read is run as a family business where no matter the level of depression or circumstance, there are no lay-offs. In Nigeria the reverse is the case. During my Industrial Training (IT) at a five star hotel, I notice that those who where working on contract bases were told to go home when sales drop only to be called back when sales improved. At that point so many things and questions came that I couldn’t find answers to. One thing I thought was, what were they going to be doing at the period in between? Of course some have family who depend on them for their survival. What baffled me most was that those on top got more pay for working overtime. Some people prefer to have a fat pay by working overtime rather than suggesting a pay cut and accommodating others.

There’s one idea in the book that quotes ‘No matter how much wealth or recognition the world lays at your feet, don’t allow your integrity to be contradicted by your behavior in any area of your life’. This is one idea I don’t think I’ll forget in just a while. When something is hard to forget it must be something that occurs on either a daily bases or at an interval that is too quick to forget. The opposite has registered so hard on the minds of people I know very well some of whom are family members.

There’s no one person that is not driven towards wealth no matter the occupation. How many people are born with the advantage of knowing it, using the position to help those in need, formulating policies that would better the life of the people around them or in their constituency? Sometimes it is easier for those who are born with riches but it is a blessing to those who turn their opportunity, talent, etc to create happiness for themselves and those around them. At the moment I school on a part time bases because I need to work to fund my education. In what I do, I sale goods to people and they make payment over a period of time. The post dated cheque I get from my client 60% of them bounce on due date.

In Nigeria integrity is nothing if it stands in between wealth and poverty. I have witness where people go all out regardless of age, statue, and position to lie if it has to be to claim what’s not theirs. Sometimes I wonder may be I have not had my chances. I still find it hard to believe that honesty, handwork and integrity have a place in my country. I ask myself maybe I’m the one with the problem of worrying about what should be done right. The world is perfect as it should be; one man’s lost is for another’s profit. If you need honesty don’t talk to anybody who works for the government in Nigeria the only man that can tell you the truth is yourself. There’s one thing I hold close to heart that ‘No matter how gloomy the cloud maybe it will always have a silver lining’.

2. Can you relate the ideas or concept of the book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationship, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc.?

Every good book should have a striking point or concept that at a point, one should agree with. In viewing my life over the pages of the book, I have come to terms with the fact that I’m a champion but maybe in a field I’m yet to fully understand. Maybe unconsciously but my goals and dreams are not far from that which the book is for. I was assessing myself the other day on things I can develop myself on and build a career around it, this is what came to mind to be honest, ‘playing smart on people; then of course like every serious minded person, I was trying to review my talent on the move but had nothing to hold on to. I kept on telling myself that, I was better than the thing I had set my mind on and that is not the way of a champion.

Champions don’t think about making other people feel bad but rather they help people discover happiness which is being at peace with oneself. So I came up with my vision; I’m an athlete on the race track, I stumble and fall and at this point I think to myself that I’ve lost. All my preparation and perspiration have come to a sudden end and I have to live with it for the rest of my life, but determine as I am, the race must continue. I will not allow the fear or shame of defeat to deter me from finishing the race. It may be won, but I’m determined to see the finish line. I stood up from the point I fell, courageously and relentlessly I must finish the race at a point along I realized I could see the finish line but it doesn’t seem anybody has got there yet. Then in bewilderment I stopped and look back to see the other athlete I had stated the race together but saw no one but the crowd was still cheering as though I was winning. Then the desire to go across the finish line emerges again but this time propelled by determination, upon crossing the finish line I realized that it is a race that has no winner or loser, we all crossed the finish line at the same time everyone got the ultimate price, what seemed like a competitive race was just a test of faith, skill and above all courage. For everyone who started the race have a price. The desire to start the race and the wiliness to finish no matter the time, there’s a price for all’.

3. What are the most important new ideas you learned from the book?

An idea becomes important only if I put it into practice. There’s nothing that is new in life, if there’s something the book as help me reaffirm is the firmness of my decision concerning life and some of the challenges of change. Of course there are some things that I cannot change no matter what I do but I can develop an attitude that would help me come out on top of every situation I find myself in. Like in my relationship, my goal, my objective, etc.

4. Has the book challenged or changed your thinking in any way?

One of the greatest problems I have is ‘fear of failure’. The question the book has asked me in return to this is ‘ at what point have we not fail?’. Every great person I can think of fell only to learn how to stand or appreciate the beauty of standing. Greg LeMond if he’s still alive can testify to this. Again I should not look for excuses why I can’t be successful because I have everything it takes to get to where ever I want to go only if I combine the dynamics of winning.

5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with?

No. Because what the mind of a man can conceive the mind of a man can achieve.

6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?

The most helpful thing I find in the book is the twenty-one (21) day plan in the book which is helping me in discovering my daily activities. Before this book I have never had any serious day planner. There’s nothing I find least helpful in the book.

7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.

The idea the book is conveying is first, as an individual I most love myself no matter what happen. I must be aware of myself worth and self trust. Secondly, I must be able to identify what my priority is and what require how much attention and most importantly I must see myself as someone to serve and not to be served as always the case when I’m position.

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

A. How interesting was it to read? 8
B. How helpful were the contents? 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? 9

Psycho Cybernetics 2000
Assessment by Joseph Philip Abue (Nigeria)

1. What ideas were personally most important to you in the book?

Before I read this book 'Psycho Cybernetics 2000', I have never thought that each part of the brain has specific (addition and thinking) functions both of which need to synchronize to reach a positive conclusion. The part of the book that I was held spell bound was the part which deals with building confidence which is chapter 2 of the book. I always find myself drifting from my real self sometimes because of the people I meet. I was invited to attend an interview, on my way to the venue of the interview, I was very positive I would delight the panel. When I got to the venue, I was offered a seat close to the door of the hall so I could hear some of the questions that the guys who had gone in before me were asked. I was not scared but I noticed I had started sweating on my palms and was no longer comfortable. The entire 'room' became hot and I lost my composure. At that point I told myself I was not going to be able to scale the hurdle of an interview anymore, but I only realized that I became my own witch doctor. Though after that incident, I have improved a lot on my presentation I think.

Another idea in the book I admire is that which advices for the appreciation of oneself. I met a guy who was really feeling bad because he lost three of his right fingers in an accident; he told me how bad he felt and was not ready to loose any part of his body for anything. The first question I asked him was what he is going to do about it. He said 'nothing; because he could do nothing about it. He even told me that he would have prefer dead than being incomplete in a world were perfection is paramount, his argument was that he won't be employed by any organization because of his deficiency, he would be considered a cripple. Of course he's right when those who have everything are finding it hard how much more the person that doesn't have fingers? I told him that he was better even without his fingers, then I started citing examples of people with even more serious issues who are using their present condition to define and create happiness for themselves. I sometimes wonder why it's so hard for people to work with what they have. We often feel it's all about making it big with little swings.

I asked myself this question 'is there something or any part of me I don't like?' Then I took a look at my fingers, I view myself in a mirror and I didn't see anything I did myself. Everything I carry physically is not my design and to the best of knowledge I am not what is physical but what is very not visible to the physical eye. I am a soul with a body. The expression of what is inside is the reflexion outside. If I want to smile then, I must first smile inside before it can be seen on the outside. I followed a friend who wanted to travel to the embassy when he went to submit his visa application form; it was my first time at any embassy and the crowd my eyes saw my mind could not believe they were all hoping to travel. The kind of treatment they were given I can not imagine. Everybody there had the same complain, 'Nigeria is bad'.

2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life?

In a book I read the' new dynamics of winning', a part of the book asks us to make friendship a fine art. In the area I live, it’s quite difficult for you to make friends if you don't anything remarkable to present to the fold. I wanted to ask a girl out in the area I'm staying but something kept telling me she was not my type, and that I was more poised than she was so why should I think of hanging out with her. She had started coming close but when she noticed I was not enjoying her present she had to back off. I now know she's not the one with the problem but me. On my beliefs, according to the bible which is my standard as a Christian, I believe I was created by God for a special and unique purpose. I have come to appreciate my whole self as a great design of God. If am feeling any pain, it's not because someone somewhere is wishing me evil as often made to think. My body has the right to respond to changes as it deems it fit. Stress is one of the biggest problems we as people face today and only those with the right attitude can over come. In the book it is pointed out how to overcome stress. The methods are so easy such that at first they seem not real.
In achieving my goals, it is clearly stated that every activity should be broken down such that each part is treated as a whole. In ideas, the book is very much like the new dynamics of winning. I want to make in buying and selling. The market in my country is so large that it can accommodate any number of people but only very few people see this opportunity, some people always brag 'I'll make it' meanwhile they are doing nothing to improve their condition. In my own case, I'm learning new things on how to make it through hard work.

3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book?

The new idea in the book that I find very helpful is that which deals with stress. The idea is very important because it helped me in managing difficult moment or difficult clients. Recently I met a client and she promised me that her cheque will not bounce; she also assured me that I was not going to have any problem with her transaction. The first cheque she gave me did not fly and when I met her to regularize her cheque she started giving me stories of course, if it was the old me I would have made her feel real bad for the way she handled the issue. I was very calm with her and in the end she gave more lead. It is very hard to maintain a calm attitude always especially when your not used to it but with constant practice I'm sure I'll be able mind my reaction when issues that warrant annoyance occur.

I was talking to a friend the other day about the benefit of this program, he wanted to join the program earlier and told me to let him have one of my books, and I refused because he wanted to keep it. He said there's no money involved. I told him that he already had all the money he needed if he could use the right attitude. Attitude determines altitude.

4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way?

I have always told myself that a good will always add value to the life of the reader but the time it takes effect is what I'm not sure of. The book has challenged me a lot, the first being on the area of self worth and self trust. The greatest weapon of any individual is the feeling of the person. I cannot pretend to be happy with something if it is not from the inside of me. It takes a good feeling to have a good day. On page 241 of the book, the idea is 'strive for mutual understanding'. I live in a country where we have over two hundred and fifty (250) languages with different culture and background what in the name of peace could be keeping us together if not understanding. I have a lot of friends who are not from my own part of the country. Why? Because I always find myself associating with people of other tribe more than with people of my area. I have witness a lot of intertribal marriages working more now than it did in the last twenty years. People are finding values in other people in market, offices, etc.

5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with?

No

6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?

I find in this book every point that is helpful in career building, self worth and importance. I also find the ideas on stress relief very helpful. It is working for me and those around me who find true friendship a joy. The world can only be a better place if we show love no matter the color, creed, religion and more. During a clean up session in my place, I stumbled into some old 'times magazines', I realized that the guys that were wanted by the FBI for the terrorist attack on both the twin tower and the pentagon were single people who were born with one head, two eyes and who are like any body out there but they have done something that has gone down in the books of history. What I ask myself is that, what if all that time and effort has been put into something more useful. I find so many people with great talent but with no support that's why embassies are crowded with so many talented people.

7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.

Let me put it this way. A tree has branches, some of which leads to another branch while some lead to a dead end. However, before the plant became a tree, it took a process of growth. The best way I could describe the book with words can not be found but the book is very interesting.

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

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

Can I get a copy of the book for a friend who wants to read it and keep?

Success through a Positive Mental Attitude
Assessment by Joseph Philip Abue (Nigeria)

What Ideas were personally most important to you in this book?

‘We are poor not because of God’. These were the words S.B. Fuller’s mum told him. In the area where I grew up, it is a common practice to find parents or guardian attaching important to what ever field a child has chosen, so in my own case it is not different. Often times I hear people complaining about the way God has been unfair to them. People sometimes don’t use the name God, but use the word nature which in my case I conclude is God to give excuse for their situation. They see every disappointment as the hand work of an enemy. The greatest of this argument is that we have all not been created equally, why some people are blessed with so much when some can hardly get little. Success is only measured in monetary terms and whatever one is doing, if money is not the end product, it is considered a child’s play. I have not read any portion of the bible where it is written that God has blessed only but a few. Like S.B., I have come to agree that the only way to make money is to sell something and whatever is not against the law of God or the right of my fellow man, I’m bound to succeed at it.

I am moved by the story of George Campbell. Often times when I wake in the morning I feel I owe my health to some exercise I must have done the previous day that is, trying to take glory for what I know nothing about. It is very important to give thanks for our senses rather than chasing money without worrying about our health or not minding at what disadvantage are we existing. Some say ‘a living dog is better than a dead lion’, but then again, what if the lion died in glory? Of what good is it for me if I become very rich but without the health to enjoy my wealth? We Africans are in an environment where it is hard for us to make it. Because of this environmental factor, we care less about our health and centre our attention on what to eat. I see graduates been treated like it was a curse for them to have gone to school only because they don’t have a godfather in the firm they search for employment. But now I know it is better to have and appreciate a good health, use the things I have been giving to get to where I’m destined to be. There should be no excuse for me not to be successful or blame my inability to excel to some external factor like the shape of my head, my height, educational qualification, etc.

Chapter thirteen of the book is one of the chapters I most confess I love a great deal; it said ‘If you don’t have money use other people’s money’. I don’t mean to sound like a cheat by saying this because a lot of people think that Nigerians are bad people and are so much involve in crime and poverty and the rest, what I mean is that, like the book suggest, the easiest way of funding a business is having cash to do business with. Here is how OPM is working for me. I sell household appliances to people and they make payment over a period of three months. First the client will see the brochure to have an idea of what he/she is buying; the brochure has the prices of the items; then the client will make an upfront payment of forty percent of the brochure price, then I’ll add the balance of the show room price. The balance is paid over three months in post dated cheque. Sometimes the upfront payment is about ninety percent of the brochure price so what I add is just the little difference which comes from my savings. It is actually a good business because the market is large so one problem I’m having now is that my client base is bigger than my financing power.

2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life?

The book is about me, building a career and the importance of self esteem and self worth and so the concepts of the book are related to every area of my life. Relationship involves making friend and being a friend. Every day of my life I try to make friendship a fine-art by meeting new people and sharing ideas with them. There was this day when I ask a friend I just met for his opinion on some of the things affecting young people and what he’s opinion was on the Nigerian that died abroad when he found out he was going to be deported back home. He told me it’s the fault of our government that if they had used all our oil profit to create jobs and infrastructure things would have been better and people will not be thinking of living the country at the rate at which it prevailed in the country at the moment. He claimed that there’s nothing we can do to improve the situation. I personally didn’t buy his ideas but I didn’t tell him my reasons. Of course it may be hard and frustrating but with a positive mental attitude we will be able to adjust our old ways of doing things.

My belief is that there’s nothing that is too bad to be fixed most especially if it involves a person. Why is the word the way it is? A person that is not happy can never think of another’s happiness as vital because the world is full greedy people who are ready to put me and my money in their pocket. I’m a pragmatic person. I believe in theories that will work and not just on mere paper theories. I have strong feeling that Nigeria will be a better place. However, there’re strong indications that it’s a wild dream.

On my goals, the book has helped me understand that I have a talent that only I can develop. It is also clear to me that to make it in whatever I have chosen to do; I must be very prudent and sincere no matter how much a set back it’s going to be. The word necessity is a word I must be very careful with; of course it’s the reason why we make some adjustment but not to the point of arrogance. This I got to know when I read the story of Al Capone who blamed all the wrongs he did on ‘necessity’.
I have realized that my values are quite different from those of the people around me. I fancy beautiful ladies, but when I ask them if we can keep sex out of our relationship on till the right time, I get a weird remark. People think that with the way I talk, move and appear, I’ll be a ‘bad boy’. I like reading and learning about new culture as well as ideas, but it becomes very annoying when there are so many road blocks to the next town.

3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book?

If there’s one thing I should be grateful for is the fact that I have learnt the success formula. All my life I’ve always seen myself as a leader with no troops all because I don’t have money or what it takes to hold a troop but that isn’t true, the truth is that happiness and wealth are mind games. It’s all about what the mind can conceive. If I feel good about myself it will be easier for me to see and know my troops. The happiness inside flow like a river and bring people close to me. Someone once said the beauty of living is the joy of each day.

4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way?

Like I always say, a good book should add value to the life of the reader. This value most times doesn’t come instantly but with time. In the area of character building which is one of the strong point of the book, the book has also awakened my interest in the area of sourcing for funds and management of funds. Again to be very sincere in whatever I’m doing; use and appreciate my body because no matter what I do, I’m going to be carrying this body for as long as I live.

5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with?

No.

6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?

Let me start by answering backwards. The least thing I find helpful is the thought to steer because they are too many to remember anyway that’s why I have a copy of the book so I can always make reference to the passage. Then the helpful thing about the book is that though the characters are small, but it is easy to read and the tone of the passage is flexible as wall as the reality of each idea in the book.

7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.

The main idea of the book is that first, I must identify my self as an important being with the potentials to actualize my dream if they are not against the law of God or the right of my fellow man. Again I must be prudent and sincere in what ever I’m doing.

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

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

Real Magic
Assessment by Joseph Philip Abue (Nigeria)

1. What Ideas were personally most important to you in this book?

I just don’t know where to start my assessment on this book because every page of the book is a whole new idea on its own. I had read the book even before my own copy came. I collected a copy of the book from a friend, the very person who introduced this entire new life to me. I read each page of the book with keen interest and I asked myself the question, why am I doing this? The reason all the things I experienced before the day I decided to be part of this program was all to lead me to this. So at this point I refer to the idea in the book that says when the student is ready the teacher will appear.

The most important thing I have come to realize is that we are like sheep without a shepherd. Every one of us that I see everyday on the street of Lagos who is still thinking of how do I make it, we are wonderful and well gifted in everything that makes life complete but the big question is how to manage our situation for the better and who is there to lead us there is one who is coming to take me by the hand to place where I want to be. It takes only the right attitude to make the whole difference in my quest.

I hear complain of the wide injustice in the land and how our leaders have left us for dead even with all the oil money we brag about. In the book it is elaborated that the teacher could take any form but to me the teacher is the books I read which is one of the ways the book suggested. The mind is the central processing unit of my whole self, physical and thoughts. The way forward for me now is how to channel it to the right direction so that I could be at peace with myself. I like the kind of people I have around me, the ones that do not think that believing is seeing rather to them, it is the other round. The only thing worth running after is the physical substance i.e. immediate value.

My assessment on this part of the book could take the form a summary of the book. I was counting ten years back and I tried to picture how life was at that time, I realize that I can actually replay back my life to the very point where I want and have an assessment of the things I did. I noticed that the flesh is not only representing time, it is like the space suit I wear to give me identification. It is not the skin color that makes some people more outstanding than others but what the skin is covering. If I can replay any part of my life then it is possible that I can preplay it to that point where I vision myself to be say in a year, two, five, etc.

Again I like the suggestion to implementing the mind set. This involves having an open mind on issues no matter the circumstance in my life. When I was young I use to think that life is only for the affordable but that is a wrong notion, life is everything; the issues we classify as the good, the bad, and the ugly to living and non living things no matter size or nature. According to the book, life goes beyond the five senses and this I agree with. What actually is in full operation here? The mind or the flesh, I was thinking that suppose I entered a dark room which I’m not familiar with, where I can’t see anything. If I touch anything with my hand I won’t know what it is but my mind will interpret what ever I touch, perceive, hear, and feel. My senses are the means by which I collect while my mind is the processor. I read a book that said even if the glass is half empty say it is half full.

2. Can you relate ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstance in your life?

I would like to refer the ideas in the book to my relationship with people. No man is an island and so people make the world go round. Some will come with philosophies that sound and look new while others with familiar tales. The ideas in the book are that openness is the key to reaching full potential. If I want to be successful at what I’m doing, I have to go beyond the five senses to actually reach my point of creating real magic.

On my belief, the book is not far from what I hold as the truth which is the love as admonished by my LORD; the love of God is far beyond words or thoughts which the book recognizes. If not for the mercy of God I would not be hear today. He has a job for me to do in this world. I’m not in this world by mistake because the book has reminded me that there is no mistake in life everything is in perfect order. Again the book has also enabled me know that it is not a sin to go beyond the five senses and enjoy real magic. Some people in Nigeria think to talk about the invisible side of life have to do with voodoo or against the law of the universal intelligent. Often time we practice or are made to belief things we are not sure of either because of our family background or the society, as I recall during my secondary school days it was thought that those who change their religion from Christian to Islam automatically became rich because of the embrace of Islam. Of course that is not true no religion is a guarantee of heaven or riches but the good work and faith that makes it happen.

On my goals, it is a good thing that I have been blessed with such a wonderful book as this. It is my desire to build a positive character and a spirit of sharing as well as teaching those who are in need how to manage their situation. In the face of truth all this can not be achieved without the right mind set or attitude. On my values, the book has enable me know that I can’t do only the things I see but can also enjoy more from that which is not visible to the naked eye.

3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learnt from this book?

It has always been a problem for me understanding some of the things happening around me. Sometimes I wonder why things change all of a sudden without any reasonable explanation, but the book is helping me to seek answer to some question beyond the five senses and how to respond to some of the things I thought were above me. The little difference between those who are successful and those who are not is the ability to go beyond the five senses.

4. Has the book challenged or changed your thinking in anyway?

The first time I read the book, it took me more than four days to move from first the page to page five of the book because I was so engross in the revelation of the first few pages of the book, so I could not wait to finish but was in no rush to finish the book. The book has challenged me a great deal in the area of positive thinking. It has added to my pool of knowledge in the field of self enhancement. It has also added in the area of people appreciation and value. People are very important and most be considered as valuable weather rich or poor.

5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with?

No

6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in the book?

The ideas in the book are very helpful in character formation and problem solving. It is clear to me now that the first step out of any problem is the starting point which is me. I must see myself as the only person who knows what is necessary to put things right at all time in the struggle to make the best out of life.

7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey?

From the first chapter of the book it is obvious that the book is on mind shaping and making the right decision at the right time. This conclusion is based on fact, which is describe in the example of all those who have used the right state of mind to meet their goals, values, beliefs, objectives, etc. the book is also conveying the message of peace which is like one of the reason for our being here in this world. According to the book the universe is perfect but we need the right attitude to reach real magic.

PLEASE RATE THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ON A SCALE FROM 1 TO TEN. TEN IS GOOD AND ONE IS POOR.

a. How interesting was it to read? 10
b. How helpful were he 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

Giant Steps
Assessment Joseph Philip Abue

1. What Ideas were personally most important to you in this book?

My lecturer asked a question in class one day. He said ‘what advantage will a new business bring to the area where it is located’. This is stirred by the idea in the book which says ‘in the same way, your pursuit of worthwhile goals has probably resulted in unforeseen benefits for others’. No one man is an island that has everything that he need. Demand creates supply and thus creates employment. If I set a worthwhile goal it will be beneficial to all those who share the same dream. I have read and considered the profile of some of the world’s richest men and women in the corporate world, in the field of athletics, etc. no matter what they turn out to be, it is not for their benefit alone but that of those who support them in their drive. The benefit may not be physical to the naked eye. Beliefs have the power to create and the power to destroy. Here is another idea. I told a friend that happiness does not come from the ownership of a particular thing or the attainment of a particular position in the office but the appreciation of now. Now is what matters and every moment of now must be appreciated with all gratitude, of course the action of now will give us an insight of what to expect tomorrow but it will not determine it all together no matter what. This was because we heard of someone who died in a car accident when he was going to report to camp of the national youth service. The friend said after all the struggle of going to school and pain of the hardship and all that, the person just died and that is the end; no compensation for all the money spent on education to show that his quest meant good.

Personally, I think beliefs are the driving force behind our actions and the reason why we go out every day to find something to keep us busy or to get paid for is the result of our beliefs. These beliefs are either similar, opposite or semi similar among people, which is why someone who is involved in arm robbery when caught will blame it on necessity and the banker will tell you that he has to go to the office because it is necessary and so on.

As humans, I feel we don’t need all that is required at the same time to exist that is why the world we are today is not fix. Everything has its own time but I often hear people say if you are not corrupt you cannot enjoy a country like Nigeria owing to the gross indiscipline, poverty, illiteracy, AIDS and nearly the complete absence of infrastructure.

There’s this idea on page 105 that says ‘a single change in the habitual questions you ask yourself can and will change the quality of your life’. This reminded me of the worthlessness I felt when I was asked to resign from where I was working before. I was constantly involved in asking questions that never gave me any hope that I was good at anything. As at that time, I felt I was open to chances but never came and all I could do was to blame it on someone who I thought was not happy with the level of progress I was making at the time. I started having strong feeling of hate on people and things that would have helped me out of the mess I was. There is nothing like when you are asked to go sit at home simply because people can’t put up with you. Aside the fact that you have been called a fifth wheel, you become lonely in a populated world.

2. Can you relate the ideas or concept in the book to your personal circumstances in life?

Every inspirational book is coded with ideas or concept that would help in creating happiness and understanding the environment in other to be at peace no matter the challenges I face. Creating happiness is one of the basic ideas in the book which I strongly agree with on the grounds that no matter what the challenge is, it must be approach with happiness in other to get the better of the situation. I have seen people who face challenges with a positive mental attitude yet come out on top as though they have handled such a situation before. It looks so easy that I just wonder if they where not the ones who made look like a problem in the first place because they have the answers. Yet again I have seen people who face problem with negative attitude and get defeated by the situation as though it is their fault that everything in the world went wrong and as such they have to suffer it alone.

The book encourages experience as one of the best way of learning. Experience they say is the best teacher. It is true that I look back to and check some of the things I did while working in the bank. Sometimes I feel I was not as innocent as I would want to think. Of course I may not have stolen a dime or insulted anybody but maybe there’s something I was not doing right. Experience in the world we leave in goes to show that even the most intelligent student can fail in an exam. When the proper caution is neglected because of over confidence, it is as good as being a dull student. I recall something that happened in school, I was considered as one of the best in auditing in my class. I was so good with auditing principles that some student who came to me for assistance thought I was better than the lecturer and it somehow got into my head that I did not take lectures serous any more. But when the result came out, wow, I couldn’t believe the grade I got in the course people thought I was the master, I just manage to scale through with the last pass grade a ‘D’. Usefulness is not impaired by perfection after all I can drink from a chipped glass; this is the watch world I use when things do not go the way I feel is perfect. Rather than throwing the whole thing away I feel there’s a part I can still use to create happiness. Happiness is a relative thing, to some it is about how much of anything they have while to some it is all about making the difference in the society they live in. To me, happiness is beyond words. It is the state of freedom, the ability to help, the understanding of the environment every question must not have an answer for some questions are answers in themselves.

3. What are the most important new ideas or concept you learned from this book?

In my own words the ideas are not new. The reason is that I have read about them in some other book. However, the book serves as a reminder that anything worth having is worth working for. Success begins with goal setting and careful planning. I think the only way out of any circumstance is not by how many people I bring down but by the number I’m able to help get up. It is just like this program, it may not come with physical reward from the inception but the idea is the freedom of the mind which is the starting point of anything that lead to success. It begins with the right mind set. Every champion must start by making himself free from cobweb that could becloud the mind of the ultimate prize. It is not the destination that matter but the journey as well. The definition of the destination is a product of the journey. To some people, buying a car is nothing but a journey to the destination while to some it is the destination of their struggle for a good number of years.
Again I have seen that some people do less and get greatly rewarded while some do more and get less than. The truth is that some have a positive attitude while some have negative attitude the options are there it depends on that which I choose.

4. Has he book challenge or changed your thinking in any way?

Not par say but the book is reminding me of some the things what Napoleon Hill wrote in the seventeen principle of success. If I must explain then I’ll have to repeat what I said on the just concluded point number three above. But I want to add that the book has reminded me to stay focus on my goal and hold my dreams dear. No matter what obstacle I encounter, I should be strong and prayerful at all time.

5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with?

No

6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in the book?

The book is very easy to read and the ideas are written such that each page is an idea on its own. This makes the book a reference material that can be carried around. The lines and contents are flexible.

7. In 50 words or less, please describe the whole idea the book is trying to convey.

The book deals with questions and it is trying to teach the beauty of asking the right questions. The book to my understanding, is on using question to reach our immediate goals. If the right questions are asked the right answers will be provided which will help reach desired goals. Questions are very important if asked at the right time and place.

Please rate this book on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.

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

Keys to Success
Assessment by Joseph Philip Abue (Nigeria)


1. What Ideas were personally most important to you in this book?

I read about the 17 keys to success in Mr. Hill’s success through positive mental attitude as one of the three introductory books and I thought I had all the tips of the success formula. The first idea in the book that I find very important is to develop definiteness of purpose. There’s nothing that can be done in life without adequate plan. My purpose in life is the reason for my existence. There’s no one person I know of who has made it without a plan towards he’s or her goals. It is very important that I set a plan of what I want to do so as to enable me focus my time and resources on my set goal. Each time I ask myself what my goals are, I don’t find any answer.
Sometime I just feel I have not yet started on either setting goals or making effort to attaining my goal or so many things just show up. I’m so confused that I feel this whole thing is just a waste of time, but I know that there’s something in me that is so passionate about all this that I’m yet to fully understand. The feeling sometime is that maybe I don’t have the adequate education to comprehend what I’m after other time is that the environment is not the right place for me. Speaking of environment and education, I have read of a lot of people who left school at grade level yet are making things happen in their world through their creative thinking.

Budgeting time and money is another idea that I think I’m going to be reading each passing day. S. B. fuller as I recount came to terms with the fact that one way of making money is to sell something. Nigeria, owing to its population advantage and the availability of both human and natural resources is one of the biggest markets in the world. There’s virtually nothing legal and economically assessable that cannot be sold in Nigeria. Like I said in my past assessment, I was working in a bank as a bulk teller when I started having problem in my office. When I resigned as advised by the recommendation of my then cash officer, I was out of work for close to twelve months without a reasonable means of survival. I was among those Nigerians that were feeding or surviving on less than a dollar per day. I’m sure it was through the work of the Infinite Intelligence that I survived those times. During this period, I met the friend that introduced me to this program I decided to do it because I needed something to preoccupy my mind since I loved the books he was reading. So I accepted his offer that I would use his computer for my assessment.

Why all this stories? Well so far, maybe no correlation. But it led me to the friend who gave me the opportunity of working as a delivery staff for the company he worked for which sold goods to clients on installment. In the course of work, I started mastering the entire process and learning the rules of the business. Soon I started getting calls from potential and existing clients through lead. The company agreed that I could also become an agent and get two percent of everything I sold. It was tough the first two months but in the third month of our agreement I sold over a million naira worth of goods, of course you can make out how much I got as commission from sales. The problem that led me to embracing this idea is that I was having problem managing my time and money. I realize that sometimes, all the money I made each month could not be accounted for not because I eat the most balance of diet or wore the most expensive cloths but because I was yet to know how to manage my time and money. To me, managing time and money is about all I need to reach the goal which I have set for myself so far as becoming an entrepreneur in consumer finance.

2. Can you relate the ideas or concept in this book to your personal circumstance in life?

I want to be a person of good qualities but with low profile. I want to try as much as I can to understand why that I have total control of my life and that I could actually create happiness in my life and in the life of those around me. In my relationship, I have come to know that I cannot fit into the invitation card of everybody around me. Some will welcome my ideas while others will not. For those who do not, I must not draw a battle line with them.

In my family, I must fine tune myself to be at peace with all members of my family even though we do not share the same ideas or concept. In my love life I must try to be truthful no matter what is will cost me. It is a common thing to find me not wanting to love someone because of factors that neither the person nor I is in control of there is this girl I was dating. I had to avoid her because I felt she had long leg and was too thin.

In my beliefs, the book has strengthen my knowledge about what I should use to get what I want and how to help others. I use to think that sharing my dream with someone will bring me bad luck and that people are not suppose to know what I want to do, but the book has encouraged me to form a mastermind alliance with those who I know can help me in attaining my goal. Goals are very important in life when they are clearly defined. The book has told me what I need to look out for in setting goal and what to do to attain my goal. I have to manage every penny I get and work out ways of meeting my clients need or request.

3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learn from this book?

The new ideas the book has offered me are the technique in understanding me and working toward using those skills that I think less of in meeting my set goals and objectives. Every person is a complete and wonderful being that need to be harnessed to achieve full potential. The mode of talking, thinking and reason are some of the new ideas the book has revealed. I was invited to a party by a school teacher who was organizing the party for her one year old son. At a point in the party, the children had to watch their parent take turn in dancing to win a prize. There was this child who refused to dance and play with his friends, he would not even eat the food his was served, when the father started dancing, he became so happy that everybody had to clear the stage for him and his dad. I started wondering what was going on in this small boy’s head. Then I realize that he acted the way he did because of the father. The father had refused the food he had been given. Like this child, we learn from things we are most familiar with but that is less than what is available to us to learn from. The part of the book that is on self-discipline is one part that reminds me of something I find myself doing that I have changed.

4. Has the book challenged or changed your thinking in any way?

If we take turn to talk in a group, I must wait for my turn before I speak. I must not shout anybody down no matter what the person has to say. I must be firm in my decision and take responsibility for my action. It will always not be rosy, so if I have to walk I must do it in good faith hoping that it is not going to last forever.

5. Are there ideas in the book you totally disagree with?

No

6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?

I don’t think there’s anything I find least helpful in the book. However, talking about helpful tips, the entire book is very helpful because everything in the book is channeled towards my success and that of those around me. It takes only careful practice to hit the mark. If I fail today, it’s because I did not apply the right attitude to the so many tools I’ve been giving.

7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main ideas the whole book is trying to convey?

The book is about success and the application of the success in every area of life. There’s no short cut to success in life. The book is practical because chapter of the book is a detail account or explanation on how to combine the feeling of success, the attitude of success and the management of success.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

What to say when you talk to your self
Assessment by Joseph Philip Abue (Nigeria)

1. What Ideas were personally most important to you in this book?

On page 14, the second paragraph the page asked a very sensible question which is the control of our lives, if it’s in our hands or not. I have always wondered if the decisions I make everyday are mine or someone else’s. Maybe the script has been written by someone else. If I’m in charge of my life, why can I have the things I desire? Why do other people opinion affect my decision to the point where I have no control over what should be my life. When I decided I was not going to keep working for the company that didn’t deem me fit to be part of it system, I got a lot of negative respond from people who didn’t know what I was suffering or passing through, the word then was that ‘you are a banker and should be grateful for it and not so many in life could have such a chance no matter what, you have to keep on even if you have to serve them your head on a plate’.

The part that I hate most is those who said I should fake happiness for the sake of the job. What could be described as the best teacher is the lesson I teach my self. On my behavior, the reason I don’t heed to my own advice is because of something else which affects, directs, influences, or controls all my actions. That something is my feeling. If I have a goal that I’m passionate about, I’ll stop at nothing to achieve my goal. If the feeling for my goal goes beyond a mere wish, then I can channel all my time, resources towards that goal. To be very frank I don’t think I’ve ever set goal(s) for myself until sometime last month. I’ve only been living my life on reflexive action, thoughts and emotions. The result may not turn out to be a disaster or superb but I’ll just be pleased with the outcome.

The reason I agree with this book is because every think I do is as a result of a thought I have inside whether reflexive or not. There’s always a dialogue inside me. I’m always having a meeting on this or that and my mind is good at registering things that tend to stay there for as long as I want to retain or keep it. I was made to believe that to think beyond now is a sin and that it led to evil and people who were involve in the knowledge of the programming of the mind towards the future was bad. I had to settle for the now and nothing more. The mind works like the computer and as the saying goes, garbage in garbage out. The reprogramming of my mind is the only way out of the ditch I now find myself. In believing in the existing of God, it should not be based on mere guess work but on faith that is beyond doubt. I have come to notice that there’s a part of me that is wild and restless. It wants all the good things in the world without paying a dime. I realize that this is always turn on when anything attractive flashes across my mind. Meanwhile there’s this part that is so gentle and quiet, so peaceful that its present is hardly noticed. It is the one that bears the wrong of the other part. It does not complain no matter the injustice it suffers.

2. Can you relate the ideas in the book to your personal circumstances?

I have been doing some serious thinking lately following what a close pal told me. He said he doesn’t keep friendship if he won’t gain anything from the association. Inferring base on the circumstance from which the statement was made, I could say that he only needed people he would use to reach his goal. I think friendship should be on what we can give rather than what we take. Christ gave all in service for mankind and demand just faithfulness and nothing more. In my beliefs, as a man thinketh in his heart so is he. If I think evil of anyone surely that evil I shall get. Though lately I don’t see myself wishing anybody evil. I’m happy with people around me no matter what wrong I suffer. There’s this woman I stopped talking to because I felt she was lousy and all that. I realize I was expecting more than I should, I fail to put certain factors into consideration. But now we are getting along fine. My goal is to increase my saving to a reasonable amount so that I can start my own business. I want to use the money I’ll save to register a company. I use to think that it was a dream beyond me. All I need to do is to follow the plan I have set. My value in life is the help I give without demanding a reward for it. I notice that those who give receive twice of whatever they give out. After all God loves a cheerful giver.

3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book?

The Bible admonished that I cannot give what I don’t have. The way I feel about myself is the way I’ll give or present myself to those I associate with, which of course will determine what people think and how they associate with me. If I keep telling myself that I always make mistakes then would I ever do anything well? I’ll continue to dwell in mistake even on issues that I should do with my eyes close. Therefore, the new idea in the book that affect me more is the discussion I often have within me and what I tell myself at all time which is what the book is all about. When I make a mistake rather than dwelling on it, I should change my self talk. Self talk forms the entire person at all time. My attitude, feeling, behavior, beliefs and programming are all the result of my self talk. Again, rather than living on reflex action and emotions, I should take some time before I make any move. It is better to measure ten times and cut once than cutting once and measuring ten times.

4. Has the book challenged or changed your thinking in any way?

The book has neither challenged nor changed but has added to way of thinking in other words I would say the book has challenged me to reprogram myself talk and see if I don’t reach my set goal without stress or pain beyond bearable. In self talk it is very important what I tell myself at every time no matter the issue. What is the worse thing that can happen to a person? If I don’t feel good about myself and I tell myself that I cannot reach my goals then I should forget it. There will be no point setting goals or thinking about adding value to the life of those around me. I remember telling myself one day that I was not going to feel good with anything that happen no matter what it was. I just regret what I got that day. It is one day I don’t want to look back at because each time what I got for just that self talk alone, it’s like killing a fly with a sledge hammer. In Nigeria, you become a mad man once you’re involved in self talk aloud.

5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with?

Not totally but if I will not use an advice then maybe I don’t fancy the technique. The use of tapes to record self talk is one idea I find difficult to practice. I’m not use to tapes.

6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?

The flexibility of the chapters and the tone of the pages are very helpful. I must say that it is one of the books I have read with least expectation but with high result. When I got my books it was the first book I wanted to read but when I looked at the author and title I had to drop it for another book. After reading the book, I join the band of those who say don’t judge a book by its cover and author. The book is very helpful because at every time it remind me to have a discussion within myself before reaching a conclusion.

7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.

The book, what to say when you talk to your self is a book that is to help people find what it takes to have a lasting idea in one’s life. The book admonishes on the importance of changing the way I am use to thinking which is not propelling me to my desired goal.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 8
B. How helpful were the contents? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8

Nonviolent Communication
Assessment by Joseph Philip Abue (Nigeria)

1. What ideas were personally most important to you in this book?

I’m sure that by the time I finish my assessment on this book I would have become a ‘mute’. To be very sincere, this book is one book that has brought me close to thinking about my relationship with my family and dear friends. I can’t say much about what my life was like when I was still with my parent and my other siblings because aside the fact that I don’t remember much, I can’t hold on to any of the thing that happen then to be something I had total control of. I’m not trying to run away from responsibility or denial what I did as not my action but what I’m saying is that most of the things I did back then were due to the fact that I did them to please someone other than myself. I was opportune to stay with a friend for a period of twelve months during the time my family had to relocate back to the country side. If I’m saying this so that you should feel sorry, I was with this friend at the time I was doing my industrial training with a five star hotel somewhere in Victoria Island one of the most important business area in Nigeria. We ran shift at the hotel, so week in week out I had different shift. Sometimes when I come home in the morning after a night shift I would not get a good reception. The reason I noticed was that I wasn’t bringing money for food I would not eat. He would talk with his girlfriend and talk about how I would give money to one lady who needed help rather than bring it for food. May be I was wrong but nobody told me that when you are staying with somebody you pay him back by buying him food even against his wish. I was not feeling free because I thought they were things I should be doing to support the house that I was not doing, when I got this feeling, I started doing nearly all the household chores I could think of but yet I still did not win the approval of my friend. At a point I gave money that was promised to be refunded but never got it back.

I guess when you are not wanted you are not wanted no matter what you do. I came back from work one day and found my things outside; it was the least thing I expected because I just got a new job, the offer was to work with a bank. I could not believe what my eyes saw that day but I took it in good faith. As a Christian, I’m not suppose to recall issues like this but to be sincere they become lessons for us to learn from especially when you read a book that take you back to those moment that you think that all that has happen to you is to lead to this day. To express my self is very important especially if I have to get the result desired. I recall that my friend did not for once talked about anything I did he was not in favor of but I heard it from a neighbor all the ‘atrocities’ I committed while I was with this friend. Rather than tell me, he told his neighbor who later revealed it to me. So what I’m I saying you should think of this?

The one that really touch me the most is what happen when my kid brother had to stay with me. I don’t think if I ask him if he would like to stay with me just for one night he will buy the idea. I’m writing this as an apology to him and all those I have communicated violently with. While he was with me I did not come out in words he would understand me. Maybe what I meant for him was good, but the language I used was not that which he understood. So it is what he has concluded on what happen that he is going to hold as one of the thing he knows about me. When he told me he wanted to work, I did nothing to support him, and I would not give him any financial support even though I knew he needed it. Often time when he touches any thing I keep I would yell and shout at him. I sometimes ridicule him like he was worth nothing to me at all. Then one day I notice I had a problem with his pay check. I got so cold that when I got home that evening I fought him that he should quit the job or quit my end. He opted for the later and ‘left me so I can enjoy my peace’. I feel really bad knowing that I, ‘JP’ actually have done what I’m saying now. He left and never came back. Since I was too blind to see that I don’t need to kill with a gun alone, I have used the most destructive weapon to kill his confidence. I’m really looking for the opportunity to tell him how sorry I am for all I did.

How many books do I have to read to be able to communicate as I want with people? Each time I think of my brother I feel nothing but an insult to all the books I have read on improvement in both interpersonal and intrapersonal relationship. On page 73 of the book one of the key word is that ‘we are often not conscious of what we are requesting’. If I was conscious of what I wanted my brother to do I would have told him by empathizing with him rather than saying it has to be this way or never.
I totally agree with the book that it is better to make request rather than demands. Not only in the home life do I need this but also in the business arena as well. I told a client that I was going to get her item two days after payment of her upfront she did not get her item owing to shortage in the store. She requested that when it was available I could do the delivery I knew it was a request and not a demand because when people make demands the result is only a respond to fear. Demand result to fear while request is another way of empathizing. But this doesn’t go to show that demand is not good. Personally I think I did worse than I got.

2. Can you relate the ideas or concept in this book to your personal circumstances in life?

My life so far has been a life of complete violent, judging by the standard of this book. Even at the point of my assessment on this book. In every area of my life, it is obvious that only little do I known on how to communicate with people. There’s this girl I’m thinking about seriously that I want to be very sincere with, but my mind keep telling me there’s no point trusting anybody mostly if it involves giving my emotion. I’m not afraid of taking the risk. There’s no point wanting to win all the time. Her not reciprocating only goes to show her nature as a person. In my beliefs, I read a book that said ‘it is not who you are that hold you back, but what you think you are not’. To have a good life I don’t need to know how the universe rotates or why do we walk on two feet and not on all four. For every new day, I am a born again. I must see every challenge as a step to move forward in life. I have to be positive and open minded and keep reading good books to reprogram myself, like Shad said in his book the problem is our programming. I have been made to think that being polite should be sometimes of course when I need to get something from somebody but I don’t see that as a ‘sometimes’ thing for no time is perfect to be straight. Straight is straight. My goal is to help those who are yet to see that they are complete whether physically disable or not. Nearly every person I see or talk to want to leave Nigeria, so many say ‘they have lost hope in the government’ but I don’t think it is the government they have lost hope in but themselves. What is hard is for me is to prove it to them and I know it is just a matter of time. My value is that every man is equal in the sight of God. No matter what color, creed or language. Respect is my value. To the point where some people think I’m week and lack the courage to be aggressive. I have noticed that my greatest or most valuable time is that which I spend each time I think of what I can do to add to life and make the world I’m living in a better place. I have not seen anybody who had his age stamped against his forehead so that people will respect him when they see the size of the figure on his head. If my brother were someone I don’t know I would not talk to him the way I did because I know little of him, so I guess I should not allow the advantage of knowing someone make me disrespect him/her.

3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book?

I like I said, words are the most powerful tools that cost nothing. Communication is life, it determines how far I go in life, not by age but happiness. If someone lived for ten years of absolute happiness and another ten thousand years of sorrow, which of them lived longer? Often times I have used the ‘right words’ to get the ‘wrong result’ the reason is that the words have not said what I intended. This applies to all aspect of human endeavor and in countless times. Language is precious. Understanding is integral. I told a woman in my block good afternoon in ‘hausa’ a native tongue of those from the northern part of Nigeria and she gave me water because she is from the southern part of the country. I was not surprise but added it to my pool. In a sentence the new idea of this book is ‘use words to promote peace and harmony’.

4. Has this book changed or challenged your thinking in any way?

A great deal that cannot be confirmed in writing. First, allow the words that have already gone to find their place because they cannot be taken back, it’s ok to feel sorry for the one that will course pain. Secondly, listen. Finally, my brethren will have to read nonviolent communication from the form of a person.

5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with?

The book is easy to read but it is going to take sometime to understand.
Hope its ok?

6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?

I have noticed that no one will stand and say ‘it is my fault that things went wrong’ unless the person is planning on doing worse. I will see every situation I find myself in like a child, and then I’ll get the better of violence.

7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the book is trying to convey.

The world was saved by words which were said by Jesus on the cross. A woman is in pain because of words she heard. The book is about words, words, words in volume. It is either good or bad both are correct but most be used at the right 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? 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

The Law of Attraction
Assessment by Joseph Philip Abue (Nigeria)

1. What ideas were personally most important to you in this book?

The first idea in the book that I seem to agree with is the definition of the law of attraction which says 'I attract to my life whatever I give my attention, energy and focus to, whether positive or negative. It has to be true or false, good or bad, yes or no and may be now or later.

Everything in life falls under this two category. I totally agree with this point because, if I channel all my effort, the little money I'm making from my business of buy and sell as well as my prayers into something I'm emotionally committed to, I'll get the result of that which I have ventured and then the interpretation I give it is what now becomes positive or negative. I can't put all into something and nothing comes out of it. There most be a result.

Vibrations are very good which according to the book means my feelings or mood. It serves as the origin of my motive. If I sit on my leg I may be comfortable at first, then if I keep sitting on the same position, I'll start to feel the pain then the vibration would need me to change my sitting position.

What is it that always causes me to want something, do something? Some of the things I do are not origin of my mood which is not true because I reserve the right to whatever I want. This idea is a product of the books I've read in the past twelve months of trying to know who runs the show of what I term 'my life'. If I attract what I give my attention, energy and focus on why I'm I still at the position or place I find myself today? I daydream a lot of having some of the finest things that life has to offer, nice car, a good home (family), a wonderful job and so on. At a point I had to beg to feed, I was nothing but en empty gung. Why won't I wake one day to find myself in a 'perfect world' where I have everything I want, where I don't have to move a muscle before I eat, a world of peace, without hunger, no disease, war, color, creed and religion are not factors of adaptation. Why is the good life only on pages of books such as law of attraction, unlimited power and so on? The books are saying one thing life is throwing another. Who is in CHARGE? I think of happiness and attract sadness; I think of joy and attract something I can't explain. At what point do I see myself as successful?

If I am daydreaming of having everything I want then, the interpretation is that I can get whatever I want by channeling my effort and attention to that which I have vision. To have a dream is indeed a good thing and thanks to the books I'm reading that have enable me to know what it means and the importance of having a dream and how to make the dream a reality. Everything that has happen was all to lead me to this whether it was interpreted to be sadness or whatever I want to call it. No one person can say I've had a perfect life if it is not considered a perfect life.

We are gifted in a unique way that requires the control of our desires. If there's anything I don't like all I need do is to write a list of the thing I would rather have that cancel out the ones I don't want. The 'bad' experiences are good. At least they are the reason I want to make the desired change.

It is a lot easier in Africa to see the things we don't have rather than being grateful for the thing that are most valuable in our lives. The general belief is that there are countries where people don't work for what they want or where the government would pay you for not doing anything. If I think in this way then, I won't be able to think of what I can do with my life and time.

2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in your life?

When I was in the polytechnic I was told that if I do not attend tutorial I would not do well in my test and exams. At first I thought it was the truth, I bought the idea with keen respond. I was shock when I got to the venue of the tutorial to find a student from my class to be the leader of the class. I had attracted the belief that without tutorial I won't pass, but when I saw the guy from my class I was challenged. The first question I asked myself was how many heads did the guy have? Why was he worshipped? Was he not like any of us? I refused to attend the tutorials I knew that I had to work hard like every serious student to pass. May be my ego was at work at the time but the desire that created the drive was what I was up against. It was only later that I was told that those who attended tutorial saw exam questions.

I can only attract what I give my attention, focus and resources on. We are not living in a primitive state where I would educate the people but I have noticed that the problem with where I'm from is that of illiteracy. It is still the major challenge we face here. During the last election if my opinion is sort, I will not hesitate to cancel the poll because people where given as ''much' as #500 to vote for a particular party and people did this with joy. Goals are set to be attained after careful planning. I know it will take a lot of time to master the art of attracting more of what I want but if I keep practicing, I will become use to the art.

I believe that the world can be a better place if I start with myself. If I attract the things I want that will help promote the wellness of my brother then I'm already on the part that leads to a better world. I like making reference to Nigeria because the law of adaptation states that the environment determines the organizism that survives in it. It is part of the practice of people to think most of what to eat. The entire life of an average citizen is spent on battling with poverty. When people see books like this the first thing is how much can they get out of it. A friend visited me and while talking we stumble on the books I've been reading. He told me that he wanted to tell me what his girlfriend did, and the next question I asked him was why he wanted me to know what she did and immediately his vibe changed. If it was in the past I would have gladly want to know. The reason I asked him that was to know what he wanted from me.

3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned in this book?

The idea I have learn is that I attract to my life that which I give my attention, energy and focus in my studies, business, family and friends. The book looks at it from the top. Prior to this book I have had something or things I don't want and yet do not know how to handle the situation. I'm changing and I know it. I'm getting to like people and appreciate them not base on what they have like it use to be in the past where I was trying to work with 'show me your friends and I'll tell you who you are.' I use to think that poor people will only bring poverty and nothing more. We live in a society where people say; to be rich you have to move with the rich. The greatest riches are that which I can create for myself. Life is not what most of us have been conditioned to think it is; to steal to have plenty to lie to be good. To have the things I want I have the option of drawing a list of the thing I don't want that I have against the one I want that I don't have yet.

4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way?

Yes. The book has just told me why I don't have some of the things I want and how to use the things I have to get the things I want. God created me complete with all the things it takes to get to wherever I want to go; like in real magic the student is ready so the teacher is appearing if not completely here, then by the time I finish or go half way into this program then I will know if the teacher is here in full or not. When people start to tell you they don't understand you, your tolerance level is beyond 'normal', you decide what you get and not get what comes, you judge!

5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with?

No.

6. What did you find most helpful in this book?

In the past I use to think that science is in negation of God's work or provide base to think less of the importance and presence of God but that is not true. Science is a confirmation of the presence of God beyond doubt.

7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main ideas the whole book is trying to convey.

Everybody attracts 'good or bad' which is the product of our vibe. I ought to know what I'm getting why? What I want and how to use it. We live in a world of where we scramble for what we think it's ours and nobody is thinking of the effect it has on the society.

8. Please Rate this book on a scale from 1 to 10.

A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 8.6
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

Unlimited Power
Assessment by Joseph Philip Abue (Nigeria)

1. What ideas were personally most important to you in this book?

‘How you feel is not the result of what is happening in your life – it is the interpretation of what is happening’. On this single idea, I can spend the entire day writing of people and event that I know that have allowed the outside to affect the inside and course a great deal of damage in their lives. Let me first start with myself. I have always thought it is the other way. I believed that my feelings are not anything I’d control over. There was no distinction between what went on inside and what happened outside. I have always thought its eye for an eye. There are things in the world I cannot change and no matter what I do it will continue to be what it is and that is ‘truth’. If someone said some words that should irk me and I could decide to use the words to my advantage and use them to feel happy, it is hard but possible. If I don’t interpret any situation to be doom then where will the doom come from to take away my chances of feeling good? I think it is the starting point where all our action emancipates from. Marshall Rosenberg said our actions can be influenced but not coursed by external factors. This only goes to prove that it is the interpretation I give the situation that determines my respond.

My kid brother’s silence was interpreted to mean a rebuke and so I acted the way I did. If I had intended it to mean compliance I’m sure we would have got along on a sound note.
While reading the book I got to a point that said ‘every human experience, everything I’ve ever said, seen, heard, smelled, or tested is stored in the brain. So that when I say I can recall anything that has happen, I can actually do it and if I say I can’t remember something then I can’t. There are so many things I can remember now that I keep thinking of. Some of these things bring me happiness while some just make me fell stupid. Like when I was in elementary school, I never liked school. I use to run away from class and wonder about the entire city looking for what I did not lose. My father at that time nearly gave up on me. He’d concluded that he was not going to keep wasting his money on my education, since I would end up in the street when I should be in the class. To me at that time it was cool and fun because I didn’t think that school had anything to do with the life of a person I was just trying to please my father only when I went to school but today it’s a whole different story. Of course education will increase one’s chance of earning a mega job and other incentives that follow but it will never bring happiness if the work is not seen as play.

2. Can you relate the ideas or concept in this book to your personal circumstance in life?

I’ve always told my self that a good book should have effect on the reader whether consciously or unconsciously. Most times the effect is unconscious. The difference between success and failure is a very thin line. The line is so thin that it is not visible to the naked eye. To succeed I must have a goal, to reach the goal, I must have a plan. Every successful person I have seen has suffered set back. No one person could boast that the journey was an all round pleasant one. Through the ideas of this book, I see the world in a different way. I must say that I feel I’m responding to this book using the ideas of NVC and real magic. There are no mistakes in life only result and what the results are interpreted to be is what is more important now in life. There’s an idea in the book that said ‘words are the most important powerful drug used by mankind’. To define my relationship, it depends on the impression I create using the words that I intend. If I’m meeting someone for the first time I ask my self what I would want the person to think about me. Sometimes it’s not the cloths that do the speaking and introduction of what I have to offer the tone of voice alone can win me the person confidence. Relationships are built on trust which is a function of the things we tell each other if I start telling my friend a lie; he’s going to work on what he is told. Communication is very important in every area of human endeavor. Without communication we are no where in life and all the things that have been made would not have been. Through the power of communication demands are made and supply is possible. The word we live in is getting smaller and better through the use of words. I have a friend who is now in the US, sometimes when we talk I wonder if the location is actually as far as I have been condition think in the past. Through research, I have come to know that it is the only thing that is holding us and keep connecting us together. I would not have known Mr. Michael if not the drive to make the world a better place. This dream starts with me. I have always believed that the mind is the soul of my existence but how to take control of it is what I’m just getting to know. There’s no point telling a lie if it will not favor me, but if I choose not to lie then, I know that it is between lie and truth. They both cancel out each other. The con science is only open to that which is true. In my goal I wish to help people to understand that what they feel is not as a result of what is happening around them; but an interpretation of what’s happening. Nigeria is a country with a lot of talent and drive that need to be harnessed in the proper direction. People don’t need to run away from their responsibility owing to the level of corruption in the land. Those who are supposed to represent us in government are busy embezzling the sweat of the common man.

3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book?

I believe the ideas are not new but a reminder of some of the things to consider if I’m racing towards what I’ve set as my goal.

There are no mistakes in life but result. I have to be open and truthful to things I do and tell my self about the reality of my actions. I can only help if I have the right mind set and attitude towards helping. There’s no one person who can argue that it is alright being alone. The world is full of people with great ideas and plenty talent that need to be directed towards the right angle.

Generalization is not advisable if I want specific result from someone. Most times I find myself generalizing when I’m talking with someone on issues that involve us directly. The other day I wanted to tell a guy that I did not like what he did I remember saying that ‘ you people are fund of touching things that I keep without my permission’ in a world of diverse identity, the way forward is tolerance. It leads to peak performance. Where peo