Brian Tracy’s “Reinvention: How to Make the Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life” is one of the most useful self development books I’ve read.

I got so much from it though, that I decided to break it up into more than one post.

No point overwhelming you with all my notes dumped into one super-long read! 

Enjoy.
And let me know what resonates with you, by commenting below.
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First, here are some quotes from Brian Tracy’s “Reinvention”, for context.

“Survival goes not necessarily to the most intelligent or the strongest of the species. But to the one that is most adaptable to change.” – Charles Darwin.

“You are put on this earth to do something wonderful with your life.

Something that no one else can do.

There is no one in all of human history with your combination of talents, abilities, insights, feelings, desires, ambitions, hopes and dreams, that you have.

And there never will be.”

- Brian Tracy

“The quality of your life is measured by your ability ability to think about the consequences of doing or not doing something

And then spend most of your time and energy on the things with the greatest possible consequences.” – Brian Tracy

Knowing What I Know Now…

Brian points out a survey of a large number of older people, who were asked to reflect on their lives.

Their conclusions fell into three general buckets:

1. They would have taken more risks and tried more things
   Would not have been so concerned with the possibility of failure, or risk of criticism
   .
2. They would have worried less
   Many of the most pressing concerns eventually resolve themselves
   .
3. They would have taken the time to stop and think more about what was really important to them
   .

It made me personally wonder about all the risks I passed up – even from childhood!  Ha ha!

For some reason I had a deathly fear of failure.  I’ve even blogged about it.

It also made me appreciate the “forced time-outs” that life often handed my way.
(three layoffs in six years will give you lots of time for reflection.)

Brian Tracy’s Reinvention: WHO ARE YOU?

In Reinvention, Brian Tracy’s 2^nd chapter, “Who Are You”, asks some questions that have stayed with me ever since I read the book.

Of course, they’re nothing more than “interesting questions”… unless you answer them.

Here are some of the questions, and some of my answers to them.
(It took me a while to get these written down!  )

1. What are your 3 most important values in life?

   Bolaji’s answers:
   - Christianity. The calling to serve our Creator, in all things.
   - Legacy. Doing stuff that matters, over the long-term. That makes a significant, lasting, quantum leap, positive change in people’s lives.
   - Mentoring & Teaching. Giving a  hand up, not a hand out.  Giving the gift of dignity, self awareness, and motivaction.
   What would your answers be?
   .
   

2. Your best qualities have taken you years to develop. What are your 3 best qualities?

   Bolaji’s answers (I cheated – I found it really hard to narrow this down to my top 3):
   - Communication with kids
   - Storytelling (writing and speaking)
   - Inspiration/Motivation
   - Creativity and Innovation

   What would your answers be?
   .

3. What 3 accomplishments in your life are you most proud ?  (Bolaji’s addition: And how many took place in the past year?)
   Bolaji’s answers:
   (I cheated again, and included 7 instead of 3.  I figured it would give more context.  Hmm.. does anything in 2010 make the list?)
   1 – 2009 Men’s Health Urbanathlon (Completed a 12-Mile Obstacle Course, in below-freezing temperature+rain)
   2 – 2008 Featured in Seth Godin’s “Triiibes” eBook
   3 – 2002 Skydiving – Jumped out of a perfectly good plane with my fiancee (now wife)
   4 – 1996 Performing in the 1996 Olympics Opening Ceremonies, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
   5 – 1994 Morehouse College Freshman Step Show Championship (A coming of age moment for me.)
   6 - 1991 – The Motown Philly dance performance, in high school (Another coming-of-age moment for me.)
   7 – 1999/2000 Founding HBCUnetwork.com – a social network that grew to 30,000 members. 

   What would your answers be?
   .
   

4. What have been your 3 biggest successes in your career?

   To be honest – I had a short list of things I accomplished during my 12-years in corporate America.
   While they were very usefl to my various employers, and had a big impact,
   I find that they’re not things I would excitedly tell my sons about.
   They’re more like just projects I did because I was being paid to do them.
   And I did a great job at them.  But in retrospect, all those years dedicated to work I’m not passionate about…
   I’m glad I’m doing something different now.

   This time next year, I’ll re-answer this question, with highlights from my new career as a motivational children’s author, Internet Marketer, and speaker.

   What would your answers be?
   .

5. What are the 3 worst experiences you’ve had in your business life (most stressful/frustrating experiences)

   Bolaji’s answers:
   Great question to ask and answer.  I did answer it… but I will judiciously keep my answers private! LOL!

   What would your answers be?
   .

6. What are the 3 biggest mistakes you’ve made in your life?
   (Likely as a result of fear or ignorance. If not careful, they will be major sources of regret that hold you back.)
   .
7. What are the 3 most important lessons you’ve learned?
   Bolaji’s answers: (I got greedy.  I included EIGHT. LOL!)
   1 – Don’t try to do it all! Successful people outsource. (And partner.)
   2 – 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration.
   3 – Fail early and often.
   4 – Focus trumps genius, creativity, and innovation.
   5 – “Just Words?”
   6 – Work on finite projects, not endless maintenance work.
   7 – Fall down 7 times.  Stand up 8.
   8 – Success leaves clues. Don’t re-invent the wheel.  Use the best wheel out there to go somewhere new.
   9 – When you pray, move your feet. (Thanks to Elizabeth Titi Laoye for this one.)
   .
8. What are your 3 biggest worries or concerns right now?
   .
   
9. Who are the 3 people whom you most admire? (Usually people who have values you aspire to)
   Bolaji’s answers: (I listed a few – I admire many more people, but this is the list that popped out when I answered this question.)
   1 – Walt Disney (Vision, Determination, Creativity, Child-Like vision, ability to THINK BIG)
   2 – Seth Godin (Insight, Brevity, Storytelling, Ability to write daily)
   3 – Richard Branson (Unconventional business acumen, brand consistency across industries, Courage, Sense of Adventure, Ability to THINK BIG)
   4 – Stan Lee – The Marvel Universe. Nuff said.
   5 – CS Lewis (Storytelling for God.)
   6 – Enid Blyton (Creation of new worlds. Determination. World changing. Loves kids.)
   7 – Jim Rohn (Sense of Humor, Wit, Insight, Storytelling, Presentation Skills, Ability to Influence)
   8 – Dr Seuss (Simply genius at teaching kids.)
   .

10. What 3 words would you most like other people to use to describe you when you’re not present?

    Bolaji’s answers (THREE IS SUCH A HARD NUMBER!):
    - Christian
    - Inspiring
    - Purposeful
    - Storyteller
    - Visionary
    - Big Dreamer
    - Driven

MOST PEOPLE WILL NEVER ASK AND ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS IN THEIR ENTIRE LIVES. -Brian Tracy

Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” – Historian

So what do you think?

Try answering even a handful of those questions… even without spending much time on it.

I think you’ll learn more about yourself than you thought you would.   I know I did.

What’s your take on it?

Would it be useful to you, to get part 2 of this book review?