Books, Books, Books

I am still reading Succcess Through a Positive Mental Attitude, but I've decided to stop posting after each chapter.  Instead, I'll be rating books I read and writing a short review including 3 main points that I take away.  Below is my rating system.

Must-read regardless of the kind of reading you typically like

I'll definitely read it again

Must-read if you like the genre/ category of book

I'll probably read it again

I recommend it if you like the genre/ category, but not a must-read

I may read it again

I don't recommend it but go for it if you really want to 

I won't read it again

Don't read it

I won't even think of picking it up again

Success Through PMA: Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Will you dare to explore the powers of your mind?

Ideas
- "You are a mind with a body."  The mind controls the body, not the other way around.
- The mind is made of two parts: the conscious and the subconscious.  The subconscious is very powerful but not well understood.  One way to tap into that power is through conscious autosuggestion a.k.a. self-suggestion.  (Funnily enough, Natsuko is reading a book about a similar concept.)  Anyway, to do this, write down your goal and say it to yourself out loud everyday.  The idea is that whenever you are presented with an opportunity to move closer to that goal, you subconscious mind will persuade you to respond even if you don't consciously acknowledge it.  I do something similar, though it's not a goal, it's about positive reinforcement for my job search.
     - As I wake up, "It's a beautiful day, and it's great to be alive.  I'm ready for the best job for me."
     - As I go to sleep, "I'm grateful for today.  Today is in the past.  I'll sleep and prepare for tomorrow."

Quotes
- "Day by day in every way I am getting better and better."
- "You can do it if you believe you can."

Success Through PMA: Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Clear the cobwebs from your thinking

Ideas
- In order to reach your goals, you need to work with others.  For effective communication, we need to free our mind from negative feelings, emotions, prejudices, beliefs and habits.  I think the quote below explains this quite well.
- Start with a "meeting of the minds."  I.e. When you have a misunderstanding with someone, take a step back and make sure you're on the same page.
- Make sure to separate facts from fiction.

Quotes
- "When I am faced with a problem that involves a misunderstanding with another person, I must first start with myself"

Success Through PMA: Chapter 2

Chapter 2: You can change your world

Ideas
- The book mentions 17 success principles, which I think is a bit much, so I've boiled'em down to 5 and changed the wording:
     1. Have a clear goal and plan
     2. PMA
     3. Self-discipline
     4. Teamwork
     5. Learn from defeat
In my own words: In order to accomplish anything, it starts with a CLEAR GOAL and a PLAN.  You'll need PMA, SELF-DISCIPLINE and help (TEAMWORK) to be successful.  It's not often that dreams are reached on the first try, so LEARN FROM DEFEAT, adjust, and try again.
- Choose an image, slogan or symbol of what you want your world to be and make it prevalent in your daily life (i.e. put the image in a place where you'll see it daily, write the slogan on a piece of paper and keep it in your wallet, etc).

Quotes
- "If you are right, your world will be right."  (If you're unhappy with your world and want to change it, the best place to start is with yourself.)
- "Remember, your world will change whether or not you choose to change it.  But you have the power to choose its direction."
- "What the mind of man can conceive and believe - the mind of man can achieve with PMA."
- "If life hands us a problem, it also hands use the abilities with which to handle that problem."

Success Through PMA: Chapter One

Chapter One: Meet the Most Important Living Person

Concepts:
- You are the most important living person in the world.  Don't forget it!
- Everyone has an invisible talisman with PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) on one side and NMA (Negative Mental Attitude) on the other.  In any and every situation, but especially in difficult times, take a moment to make sure the PMA side is face-up.
- Inspirational dissatisfaction is the idea of using PMA to turn a negative result into the fire that drives hard work in the future.

Quotes:
- Every adversity has the seed of a greater outcome.
- Keep your mind on the things you want, and off the things you don't want.
- You have everything to gain and nothing to lose by trying.

Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude

Recently, for whatever reason, I've started reading like crazy.  The more I read, the more I realize there's ever more to read.  Crazy, huh.

With all of this uncertainty around our future (when we'll be back together, where we'll live, what job I'll be doing, etc.) and with a desire to maintain and improve my optimistic outlook, I've turned to self-help/ motivational books.  Like Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude, the book I'm reading now, says, "motivation is like a fire: unless you continue to add fuel, it will go out."

pic from www.barnesandnoble.com

This is an older book, copyright 1960, written by Napoleon Hill and W. Clement Stone.  I'm new to this kind of reading, but apparently Hill has written a number of famous books while Stone built his own insurance company out of $100.  As I read through it, I'll pass on some helpful and inspiring notes and quotes.  So far, I've found this applicable to every part of my life from job hunting to athletics to simple conversation with folks.  Please enjoy!

Introduction
"The greatest secret to success is: there is no secret."
"It's impossible for you to conceive how far up is, except for the limitations of your own mind."