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Think and Grow Rich test: Do you form your own opinions?

December 8, 2009 by JD
Filed under: Books, Self-Improvement, Success and Failure

My answers to the Think and Grow Rich Self-Assessment Test

Recently, I was reminded of the self-assessment test in Napoleon Hill’s best-selling book, Think and Grow Rich.

There are fifty-four questions in that test, and I’m going to be giving my answers and thoughts on one or two of them as close to daily as I can manage. I may miss a day here or there, but I’m going to follow through until I reach the end of the test.

I’ve started the series of posts with:

Think and Grow Rich self-assessment test

Question Number 35. Do you form your own opinions or do you let yourself be influenced by others?

I definitely form my own opinions.

While I try to learn from others and value a range of different opinions from a variety of people, I form my own opinions and make my own decisions.

This annoys some people who know me. Some of them would rather that I’d just “join the crowd.” I’m just not like that.

When I was growing up, one of the anthems was “question authority,” and I’ve always done that.

I took it a step further and entered the realm of the philosophers when I decided to “question reality.”

I don’t take anything on its face value, no matter what authority it calls upon.

Sometimes it makes life more difficult, but it also means that I’m carving out my own slice of the pie and living my life on my own terms – for good or bad.

I will listen to others’ opinions and respect them for what they are – their opinions.

Whether I agree with them or not, is an entirely different matter.

When I was younger, I would stay up late at night and debate issues that nobody has ever solved or agreed upon. It was a valuable exercise in debate and logic – and, now and then, tempers would flare for awhile.

These days, I tend to debate with myself rather than others, but I still look at many sides of the issues I consider before making a decision.

Even when I do decide upon an opinion, it is still open for debate and reconsideration at a later date, if I get more facts to consider or encounter differing opinions of which I was previously unaware. It can make life interesting and dynamic, instead of being stuck in the ruts that others have carved and want us to travel within.

I’m not conceited enough to think that I’m always right, but I try to do the best I can.

What about you?

Do you form your own opinions or do you let yourself be influenced by others?

All the best,

Tags: Napoleon Hill, self-assessment, test, Think and Grow Rich

Comments

7 Comments on Think and Grow Rich test: Do you form your own opinions?

Sire on Tue, 8th Dec 2009 6:22 am

I always form my own opinion which gets me into so much strife with my wife. For some reason she gets upset when I don’t agree with her and thinks I do it on purpose to piss her off. Not so, I just think she’s wrong and I’m not scared to say so, even if it get’s me into trouble.

The same thing when we are amongst friends. Sometimes I prefer not to say anything but if pressed I say it how it is.

The same in my blog posts or when commenting. There’s no pussy footing around. If they’re wrong or I disagree with things then that’s how it is.
.-= Sire´s last blog ..Why I No Longer Link To The Likes Of ProBlogger And John Chow =-.

JD on Tue, 8th Dec 2009 6:46 am

Good morning, Sire.

I know what you mean about having a different opinion from your wife and/or friends. Sometimes it can be a real challenge.

Being divorced, I solved one of those problems. Now, even though we continue to be good friends, I don’t have as much of a problem disagreeing with her as I had when we were married.

A lot of times, when I’m with friends, I do what you say – and just not say anything. This is especially true if it involves religion or politics, two areas where there will never be agreement.

However, if I’m pressed, I, too, will give my opinion and it doesn’t matter much to me whether I agree or disagree with them. On the other hand, some of my friends are now ex-friends, because they could not tolerate me having opinions of my own that did not match theirs. They were stuck in a rut that I chose not to follow.

When I’m reading blog posts that I disagree with, I have to consider whether posting something that disagrees adds any value to the conversation. If I think it does, I may give my opinion. If I don’t see how I can add value while disagreeing, I generally don’t say anything.

It’s good to hear from you, again.

All the best,

Sire on Tue, 8th Dec 2009 6:52 am

Well it does add value if their post is erroneous and your correcting it to a degree. As to those friend who are no longer friends because of differing opinions, they were never friends in the first place.

Sorry, I’m not here as often as I would like. It was lucky that I caught your Tweet, as that’s what alerted me to this post.
.-= Sire´s last blog ..The New FTC Guidelines, How Fair Is It? =-.

JD on Tue, 8th Dec 2009 7:40 am

Good morning, Sire.

Yes, I believe it would be useful if I were correcting a mistake someone made. But, if I just have a different opinion, I don’t necessarily feel a need to share it.

You’re always welcome here anytime you drop by. We’re all busy people.

I’m glad that Twitter Tools is working again and automatically tweeted the new blog post, because I hadn’t even thought about Twitter this morning.

All the best,

Sire on Tue, 8th Dec 2009 8:13 am

That’s the beauty of the Twitter Tool, as it’s one less thing that we have to worry about.

It’s always a pleasure reading your posts, John, and with that I must bid you adieu as I have to hit the sack.
.-= Sire´s last blog ..Qondio Or Qassia, They Both Suck =-.

Mitch on Tue, 8th Dec 2009 2:38 pm

I form my own opinions, which bothers some people because they might not like someone who I might have a workable relationship with. Kind of like when Nelson Mandela told the United States back in the early 90′s when he was first elected president “Your enemies are not necessarily my enemies.” Gotta be true to ourselves, right?
.-= Mitch´s last blog ..My Top 12 News Stories Of The Decade =-.

JD on Wed, 9th Dec 2009 1:26 am

Good morning, Mitch.

You bring up a good point. Not only do some people want us to always agree with them, they usually want us to have the same friends, and I just don’t understand the reasoning behind that.

Absolutely. Being true to ourselves is very important.

Act on your dream!

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