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The author through various examples persuades the reader
to see people as individuals not just doers of tasks.
This book is not for leisure reading. It
is a book that you should read with a note book beside you
always ready to take notes, jot down your experiences and
record results of the many at-times uncomfortable exercises
that force, frank and honest review and self introspection.
In Chapter 1, the author introduces the
concept of choice. Namely that every human being has the
power of choice. Each of us has the freedom to choose to
make or not to make a difference. He goes on to expatiate
on the many overwhelming environmental factors that will
prevent us from choosing to make a difference-from resources
and capabilities to attitude. The author then defines what
making a difference is (Page 7).
The
author then goes on to describe for us the broad levels
that we must pass through once we have made the conscious
decision to make a difference. From level 1 - self pity
and pain, to level 6 - ultimate sacrifice. You will have
to buy the book to discover levels 2 to5 and situate yourself
at a level before you move to chapter 2.In the next two
chapters the author begins to set the foundation on how
to make the difference.
Chapter 2 discusses learning to think about other people,
how it is impossible to make a difference unless you are
operating in a zone of selflessness. The author then talks
about the partnership of intelligence and likens the reader’s
journey to selflessness to a fruit. Beginning with the skin
the outer/external part is about improving relationships;
the flesh -Is all about self – improving your personal
effectiveness and the kernel – right inside of you
is about developing your spiritual intelligence
The traits for making a difference can be quite neatly compartmentalised
in this anatomy of a fruit.
In Chapter 3 the author talks Ore-Ofe through the seemingly
innocuous choices people have to make everyday. He calls
these quality choices of which there are 10.It is at this
point that the author introduces one of many uncomfortable
and challenging questionnaires/exercise to assess us. Now
you need the notebook I mentioned earlier to reflect on
your scores. This first exercise arouses your MDI(Making
a difference)an acronym I coined, and as you read the book,
understand concepts and apply the application questions
your progress as the MDI index is measured. The choice to
making a difference then continues as the author then overlaps
the ten quality choices over the fruit illustration and
very ingeniously relates the external fruit analogy to the
various traits required to make a difference.
And this is where the journey goes into high gear. The author
starts each of the next ten chapters with the words "I
Choose To ..." and then takes the reader through a
journey of introspection and self discovery as we try and
assess how much of the traits we currently possess and the
steps we must take to increase the occurrence of the trait.
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