Think and Grow Rich test: Do you see any connection between your friends and some unhappiness in your life?

December 21, 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 39. Do you see any connection between your friends and some unhappiness in your life?

Finally, an easy question to answer succinctly.

No, I don’t.

In the past, I may have been able to say yes, but not now. I’m proud of my friends and happy with them.

What about you?

Do you see any connection between your friends and some unhappiness in your life?

All the best,

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

Think and Grow Rich test: What do you know about your friends?

December 21, 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 38. If you believe that “birds of a feather flock together,” what do you know about your friends?

I don’t know if it’s a matter of belief or just simple observation, but I’m sure that birds of a feather tend to flock together and this applies to most people I know.

Not only do we do that, we want to flock together, so we look for more who are like us so we can associate with them.

Some of my best friends had feathers of a different kind than I. We had different backgrounds, different wealth levels, different cultures. I could learn from them and they from me.

When we tend to stick only with our own flock, about all we can do is nod our heads in agreement most of the time and that leads to stagnation.

That said, I do think that most of my friends are pretty similar to me.

In general, it means that 2009 has been a rough year and we’re hoping that 2010 will bring an upswing in the cycle. More than that, though, we’re not just hoping, we’re looking for ways to help that happen. We’re being innovative and trying things we might not be doing if circumstances were better.

I believe that we grow more during hard times than we can during easy times. We have an incentive to do so.

When I think about my friends, I see an optimistic bunch of creative people who are doing what they can to improve their lives and cope with the difficulties. I think there are a lot of people like that out there and not all of them are in our flock.

On the other hand, some of my friends and I have very different viewpoints when it comes to religion, politics, and other “hot-button” issues.

What do we do about that? Mostly we recognize the fact, accept it, and respect the others’ rights to hold different thoughts, opinions, and beliefs than we do. We’re a tolerant flock. We look for the things that make us stronger and better friends and not for something to divide us. I like that about my friends.

So, that’s all I have to say on this subject, for whatever it is worth.

What about you?

If you believe that “birds of a feather flock together,” what do you know about your friends?

All the best,

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

Think and Grow Rich test: Do you have spiritual forces to protect you from fear?

December 21, 2009 by JD · 3 Comments
Filed under: Books, Self-Improvement, Success and Failure

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

Question Number 37. Do you have spiritual forces powerful enough to keep you free from fear?

Now, this is one that I really have trouble answering.

I just don’t ever feel much fear and I can count on the fingers of one hand all the times (as an adult) that I’ve actually been afraid.

In none of those instances did I feel that I needed spiritual forces to protect me.

So, I guess the simple answer to this question is no.

What about you?

Do you have spiritual forces powerful enough to keep you free from fear?

All the best,

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

Think and Grow Rich test: Does your job inspire you?

December 8, 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 36. Does your job inspire you?

This is hard to answer, because I don’t have a job.

I have a lifestyle.

So, indulge me for a moment as I rephrase the question to, “Does my lifestyle inspire me?”

Most of the time, it does.

I enjoy what I do. I enjoy marketing and promoting things for other people. I enjoy promoting other people.

Sometimes, I even enjoy looking into myself and writing about it, as I have in this series of questions.

A long time ago, I had jobs I did not particularly like. Some were hard, others involved having to work with unlikable and unreliable people. I took steps to leave those jobs and find others that were better fitted to me and the lifestyle I wanted.

Some of the most inspiring jobs were the hardest, so I wasn’t just trying to find an easy way to live. I wanted to do something that mattered and helped others, and not just find an easy way to a big paycheck.

Now that I’m self-employed and haven’t had a job for awhile, I still try to find things that help others achieve what they want and I find that to be much more inspiring than most jobs I’ve ever had.

From a practical viewpoint, I have to increase the amount of income over what it has been this year, but I believe that the money follows when you’re doing something worthwhile. It may take some time and it may be a challenge – especially at first – but I believe the money will come.

If I had to make a decision between a big paycheck for doing something I disliked versus less income for doing something I love, I’d pick the latter one every time.

It’s been nearly 20 years since I had a job that did not inspire me, and I like it that way.

What about you?

Does your job inspire you?

All the best,

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

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

December 8, 2009 by JD · 7 Comments
Filed under: Books, Self-Improvement, Success and Failure

My answers to the 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

Think and Grow Rich test: What habits in others annoy you the most?

November 28, 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 34. What habits in others annoy you the most?

I think the habit that annoys me most is when someone says that they’ll do something and then they never follow-up and do it.

I’d much rather someone told me no and stuck to it rather than telling me yes or maybe and then never doing whatever it is.

That really gets under my skin.

Another thing that bothers me is when people have an opinion about something, even though they have no experience with it.

Where does this come from?

What may bother me the most, however, may be people who are “smart asses” and cynics. Yes, I know these are two different things, but they’re related.

No matter how serious the conversation or circumstance, the smart ass has a way of deflecting everything without resolving anything. It’s easy, but what does it accomplish?

Sometimes it can lighten the mood if it’s humorous, but frequently, probably most of the time, it’s not funny, it’s just distracting and bothersome.

Cynics have convinced themselves that everything is a lie and nothing works as described – among other traits that they develop.

Frequently, a cynic will believe that he is a skeptic. There is a big difference.

Someone who is skeptical will generally not believe what they read or hear, but they usually have enough of an open mind to look into it a bit more before making their final decision.

Cynics, however, make their final decision based on something other than facts and experience and that bothers me.

I can deal with a skeptic, but I do my best to avoid cynics.

The final habit that really annoys me is the habit of lying.

This is related to the first one I mentioned, but I don’t think the people in that first group are actually meaning to lie. They just don’t follow-up. They get busy and distracted and go in another direction.

Liars, however, are never to be trusted. When I realize that someone is an habitual liar, I move them out of my life as quickly as possible. Who needs that?

What about you?

What habits in others annoy you the most?

All the best,

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

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

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