Think and Grow Rich test: Does your presence have a negative influence on others?

November 28, 2009 by JD · 5 Comments
Filed under: Books, Self-Improvement, Success and Failure

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

Question Number 33. Does your presence have a negative influence on others?

I was tempted to just say “No” and move on to the next question.

I try not to be a negative influence on others, but this may not be true for part of this year.

When I was very sick earlier this year, I’m sure it worried my family and friends, but I don’t think that qualifies as being a negative influence. Do you?

When my affiliate marketing business took a dive this year, I lost my direction for that part of my business and I’m still looking for a viable new approach that will rebuild it to where it was previously – and grow much higher in the future.

During the last few months, I was rather negative about some things related to my business, but I still don’t think that makes me a negative influence. Perhaps it does for people reading my affiliate marketing blog. I don’t know.

Do you think I’ve been a negative influence?

I try to be a positive influence and do my best to help others achieve their dreams. In fact, that’s the entire focus of my Act On Your Dream! website, which gets many more viewers and page views every month than my blogs do.

What about you?

Does your presence have a negative influence on others?

All the best,

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

Think and Grow Rich test: Do you encourage others to bring their troubles to you for sympathy?

November 16, 2009 by JD · 2 Comments
Filed under: Books, Self-Improvement, Success and Failure

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

Question Number 32. Do you encourage others to bring their troubles to you for sympathy?

No, in general, I do not.

For my family and close friends, I always try to be available to listen when they have problems or other trouble. I’m a good listener.

But, like many men, I try to find a solution to the problem, rather than just give sympathy or even empathy.

Once it gets out of my very small circle of family and close friends, however, I’m not as easy to approach. At least, I don’t think I am.

I have to wonder about that a bit, as I think of all the blogging and social networking that I do. Perhaps I’m a bit easier to approach than I originally thought. In fact, I’m much easier to approach online than I am offline.

I hadn’t really thought much about that until just now.

The problem arises, however, when the same person keeps coming back to me with the same trouble. Over time, I tend to lose any empathy I have unless they are seriously trying to find a way to solve the situation.

Some situations aren’t solvable.

Many are.

I’m going to have to think about this question some more.

What about you?

Do you encourage others to bring their troubles to you for sympathy?

All the best,

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

Think and Grow Rich test: What are your three most damaging weaknesses?

November 16, 2009 by JD · 1 Comment
Filed under: Books, Self-Improvement, Success and Failure

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

Question Number 31. Can you name your three most damaging weaknesses and explain what you are doing to control them?

I hate this type of question! I don’t like it in interviews and I don’t like it here.

OK. I feel better now that I have that out of my system.

I don’t like to admit that I have any weaknesses and I believe it is much more productive to identify your strengths and make the best use of them that you can than it is to spend too much time looking at your weaknesses.

Still, I understand that there is some value in this, especially if those weaknesses are interfering with being able to exercise your strengths effectively.

So, enough beating around the bush, JD. What are your three most damaging weaknesses and what are you doing to control them?

1. Procrastination.

This is not as much of a problem as it used to be. Still, there are times when I know I have to do something that I don’t want to do and I’m really good at finding other things to do, instead.

Most days, I try to tackle something as it comes up, unless I have other, more important things that have to get done first.

Prioritizing and scheduling have helped lessen my tendency to procrastinate, but I still have to be aware of this tendency and keep it in check.

2. I’m a slob.

I have a very high tolerance for disorder in my life and I’m not good at organizing things in the real 3-D world and putting them in their place.

In fact, I frequently don’t even see the problem until it is pointed out to me.

While I can organize just about anything on a computer, it gets much more difficult out there in the real world. When this is coupled with my tendency to procrastinate, it can result in things looking like a tornado went through my office.

I’m a piler, not a filer.

I’m trying to control this and to get things back under control, but it is very difficult for me. One of my main goals is to declutter my life and I’ve been doing that in my business by dropping things that are unproductive, but I haven’t been as successful in my real-world life.

That’s tied in with my tendency to be a…

3. I’m a packrat.

I hang on to everything because I might need it “one of these days.”

I know that is a symptom of poverty-consciousness, but it’s a fact of life for me.

I could blame Mom for this, because she was a world-class packrat, but I won’t. I do it to myself and it’s my problem.

I remember 30 years ago when I could put everything I owned into my pickup and tie my canoe on top and I could go anywhere I wanted.

Now, I couldn’t do that with an 18-wheeler, maybe two of them.

There’s no excuse for it. I know.

Still, it’s a very difficult thing to overcome and I don’t know how I’m going to come to terms with this and get things back under control.

I’ll continue working on it.

I hate talking about this. I hate telling you my weaknesses. It’s something I need to deal with.

What about you?

Can you name your three most damaging weaknesses and explain what you are doing to control them?

All the best,

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

Think and Grow Rich test: Do you analyze mistakes and try to learn from them?

November 11, 2009 by JD · 4 Comments
Filed under: Books, Self-Improvement, Success and Failure

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

Question Number 30. Do you analyze mistakes and try to learn from them?

Yes, I do.

As some have pointed out, I tend more towards over analyzing than under analyzing a situation.

I don’t like repeating mistakes and I try hard to learn from my own mistakes as well as those I see others making.

Perhaps it would not be a real mistake for them, but it would be for me.

As I get older, I feel more strongly about being true to myself and acting with as much character as I can muster.

Sometimes it places some limits on what I’ll do that others feel are too self-limiting, but that’s okay. When I look in the mirror, I want to see someone who is comfortable with himself and true to his word.

Some mistakes I’ve made in the past include…

…too much credit card debt. I solved that one and have no debt, now. I still use a couple of debit cards, but no credit cards.

…promoting something for the money, even if I didn’t believe in it. For example, for a year or so, I promoted a variety of credit cards on my sites. They offered good commissions, but it never felt right. Eventually, I stopped doing it. The money I lost was not worth the self-respect it was costing me. Now, I feel better.

…buying someone else’s content and putting my name on it. When I first got started with affiliate marketing, I subscribed to a service and received a year’s worth of mailing list articles. They were well-written and informative, but I knew what I was doing was wrong, even though I had a license to use them. I was misrepresenting something as my work, and it wasn’t. That is clearly wrong, even though many people would disagree with me. So, I stopped doing it. Now, I write all my own content and feel good about putting my name on it. It’s a lot more work, but I think it’s more effective and certainly more honest.

…fighting with my brother. Arguing with a sibling is a part of growing up, but it can be carried to extremes. I remember the exact moment when I realized that my brother and I were too grown up and too strong to fight any more. It was about a second after I dodged a four-speed transmission that the threw across the room at me. We stopped fighting that day, but not the arguing. For years, we had little to say to each other. Now, decades later, he’s one of my best friends.

I’m sure I’ve made lots of other mistakes, but, when I realize it, I try to learn from it, correct it, and not repeat it.

What about you?

Do you analyze mistakes and try to learn from them?

All the best,

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

Think and Grow Rich test: Do you accept responsibility for problems?

November 10, 2009 by JD · 6 Comments
Filed under: Books, Self-Improvement, Success and Failure

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

Question Number 29. Do you accept responsibility for problems?

I can interpret this question in at least a couple of ways and each interpretation demands a different answer.

For example, perhaps it means that I’m the cause of the problems.

In that case, yes, I accept responsibility and I look for ways not to cause the same or similar problems in the future.

On the other hand, perhaps it means that I find myself in a situation not of my making. Do I accept responsibility for those types of problems.

Of course, I do.

If I’m involved in a situation or other problem, even if it’s not of my own making, then I still accept responsibility for finding a solution.

Who else can I depend upon to solve these problems?

Sure, I could bellyache and whine about it, but that would not do anything constructive to eliminating the problem.

I could get mad at someone and harangue them, but what’s the sense of that?

If I find myself in the middle of a problem or situation, I have to take responsibility, look for solutions, and then implement them the best I can.

I can directly apply that to my affiliate marketing business and the situation I find myself in regarding Mom’s estate.

I don’t think I caused those problems, but I’m certainly involved and therefore I have to accept responsibility for them and try to find a solution.

What about you?

Do you accept responsibility for problems?

All the best,

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

Think and Grow Rich test: Have you learned anything of value today?

November 10, 2009 by JD · 2 Comments
Filed under: Books, Self-Improvement, Success and Failure

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

Question Number 28. Have you learned anything of value today?

I try to learn something of value every day. Most days, I succeed; a few, I don’t.

Today, I learned the value of going back to sleep when you’re too tired to do your best work.

I woke up about 2:00 am and was ready to go, but just couldn’t quite get into the swing of things. About 4:00 am, I decided to go back to bed and try again when I was really awake and ready to go.

It worked.

I’ve gotten more done in the last hour than I would have achieved in several hours, if I had not gone back to bed.

I’m not one of those people who can just grind out work. To do my best – and that’s what I always strive to do, I need to feel like doing it.

I learned something valuable yesterday, too.

I spent the whole day out and about in Murphy, NC talking to a variety of business owners and managers. We discussed the state of the economy, how their business was doing, the Murphy Gold marketing system I’m building, and other topics of interest.

One of the local business owners had already found Murphy Gold and Murphy Connections and we had a very interesting, brief discussion about what I was doing and how it could help promote not only locally-owned, small businesses, but the town, itself.

Later, I talked to the Mayor of Murphy and the Chairman of the Cherokee County, NC Commissioners and asked them a couple of questions. Based on their positive responses, I’m going to ask the members of the Murphy Town Council and all the County Commissioners the same two questions and I’ll be publishing their responses on Murphy Gold and Murphy Connections.

It’s amazing what you can learn when you just take the time to ask a couple of simple questions.

What about you?

Have you learned anything of value today?

All the best,

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

Think and Grow Rich test: Are you easily influenced by others?

October 28, 2009 by JD · 1 Comment
Filed under: Books, Self-Improvement, Success and Failure

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

Question Number 27. Are you easily influenced by others?

For the most part, I am not.

For a better answer, it depends.

I have pretty much been able to control how negative people influence me, but I really would like to be more influenced by positive, happy, successful people.

For the most part, I do a good job of setting the course I’ll follow in life, but part of that course has isolated me.

I’m looking to meet new, interesting, successful, positive people and look forward to seeing how I can improve with their influence.

It’s going to be an interesting new chapter in my life.

I will not allow negative people to influence what I do; I’ll always fight that.

I hope to be more influenced by positive people.

What about you?

Are you easily influenced by others?

All the best,

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

Think and Grow Rich test: What do you value more?

October 28, 2009 by JD · 1 Comment
Filed under: Books, Self-Improvement, Success and Failure

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

Question Number 26. What do you value more, your physical possessions or your ability to control your own thoughts?

This may be the easiest question to answer, so far.

Without a doubt, I value the ability to control my own thoughts.

I’m mostly past the point where I want to acquire any more stuff. In fact, I want to declutter my life as much as I can and that means that I’m giving away or tossing all the stuff that used to be really important to me.

I used to dream about fancy cars, big fancy houses, expensive vacation trips and all the new gadgets, but I don’t ever do that anymore.

These days, I spend most of my effort controlling my own thoughts and planning my future.

I already live a life that I love and only need a few relatively minor improvements to be a very happy camper, indeed.

That helps to keep things in perspective, too.

What about you?

What do you value more, your physical possessions or your ability to control your own thoughts?

All the best,

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

Think and Grow Rich test: Do you actively attempt to keep your mind positive?

October 28, 2009 by JD · 2 Comments
Filed under: Books, Self-Improvement, Success and Failure

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

Question Number 25. Do you actively attempt to keep your mind positive?

I almost have to laugh out loud when I read this question!

If I didn’t actively work to keep my mind and attitude positive, I’d have sunk into a deep dark depression this year. As it is, I’ve had a struggle, but I think I’m mostly succeeding in keeping a positive attitude and looking for a way to turn my life back around.

Yes, it’s been difficult, but I really don’t know any other way to deal with what life throws at me.

I’m not the only one to face this issue, either.

I know lots of people who are struggling financially, facing health issues, and just trying to find a way to survive until they can thrive again.

Still, when I look at my situation and the plight of many people around the world, I have to remind myself that I’m extremely fortunate.

Nobody is trying to kill me. Nobody is bombing the area where I live.

I may be behind in some payments, but I still have money coming in and I need to concentrate on increasing it.

I have clean water to drink, food to eat, a dry place to live, and family and friends who are very supportive and positive.

Compared to many people on this planet, I live very well, indeed.

It’s something I remind myself every day.

When I want to whine and wallow in self-pity, all I have to do is think of the people – millions of them – who are worse off than I am.

That’s usually incentive enough to turn my attitude around and get back to work.

I always ask myself, “What is the worst that could happen?” and “Will this matter to anyone a hundred years from now?”

They help put things back into perspective.

Almost every day, I ask myself, “If I knew I was going to die today, what is the one thing I would most want to do?”

If I can find a way to do that one thing, I do it.

If I can’t, I try to find a way to make it possible.

Keeping a positive attitude is essential to achieving what I want to do and I work at it every day.

Even if I were to fail miserably at something, it won’t be the end. We fail only when we give up and stop trying.

I don’t intend to do that.

What about you?

Do you actively attempt to keep your mind positive?

Act on your dream!

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

Think and Grow Rich test: Do you have a way to shield yourself from the negative effects of others?

October 28, 2009 by JD · 1 Comment
Filed under: Books, Self-Improvement, Success and Failure

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

Question Number 24. Do you have a way to shield yourself from the negative effects of others?

I’m not sure how to answer this question.

There are both metaphysical and practical aspects to shielding ourselves from the negative effects of others.

I won’t go into the metaphysical aspects here, but I’ve used shielding in the past when it was necessary. That was a long time ago.

Practically, I try to avoid negative people and therefore don’t have to deal with their influences. I’m lucky that most of the people I know are positive and supportive.

Now and then, I have to deal with situations that are very negative, but that’s a different question, entirely.

So, I guess the short answer is that I do know how to shield myself from the negative influences of others, but – fortunately – don’t really need to do it.

What about you?

Do you have a way to shield yourself from the negative effects of others?

All the best,

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

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