EDUC 32/ EDC

Giraldyne D. Semaña March 6, 2010

BEED- 3 Mrs. Kathleen M. Morales

My Book Report

Title of the Book: Make a Life Not Just a Living

Author: Dr. Ron Jenson (International author/ speaker/ life coach)

What have you learned about the book?

Make A Life Not Just A Living book changed my life in a one at a time process. Looking back, 3 years
ago when I saw this book at the National Bookstore it got my eyes caught attention to its red and white
color of the front cover with a picture background of a heavily black and gray scale of a man carrying a
bag, walking fast paced. My heart pumped with excess of excitement as I bought the book.

The book was written by Dr. Ron Jenson. He is one of the world’s international speaker, author, and life
coach. As I researched on the Internet he is also a former President with campuses on three continents.
Leader of dozens of audiotapes that have sold over 1 million copies worldwide. Known as "America's Life
Coach" because of his unique, empowering work with leaders and organizations. Chairman of Future
Achievement International, an educational, coaching and leadership institution committed to the
enhancement of personal potential. I believe he is a good model and teacher to all.

I guess the cover somehow related to my own experience in my daily life that everyday I keep carrying a
big bag as big as my pillow. There are times that people always ask me why I carry big bags all the time. I
told them because I brought several of the important things I want to put inside and these are books, paper,
ball pen, wallet, my red rosary beads, cell phone, and camera. Aside from what I carry all those things is
that it’s really heavy and sometimes I suffer back aches but I don’t matter with it. What matters is what I
brought has got to do with going to school, church, strolling with my family and taking pictures with real
friends. That’s how I view my life right now. I’m still on the process of the black, gray, red and white
combinations on the front cover.
I am the kind of person who likes art so much or maybe too much and I view the world and life as full of
colors. Here it goes: The book was divided into three sections which are Root Attitudes, Root Beliefs, and
Root Commitments.

I believe that Root Attitudes goes to the color black because I tend to get angry all the time when there are
rising of arguments, mood swing, and the bad habits I abuse on. I sometimes blame myself why I did more
of the stupid things than the rest doing the best of their own. But as I read the Root Attitudes and answered
its exercises I felt like I was having a therapy that I haven’t had a real therapy in my whole life ever since.
It burned down my anger, and some of the negative emotions. And I found some ways not to feel bad by
carefully reflecting what I have done throughout the day and improvising my behavior into something
good for the next day.

Next is Root Beliefs simply goes to the gray color because I believe that in life there is a series of the
mixture of the black and white colors. This section of the book is the one that I have concentrated on
because this is a journey through self-identity regarding my beliefs in life of family, friends, teachers, and
others. As I have read and answered the exercises I was glad I have created my own principles in life and
what to do with my mission. Simply I follow my principles in life as a creed, praying to God daily, and
doing the best as I could to spot on the right tracks and hit the goals.

And lastly Root Commitments goes to red and white because I believe this is to balance all integrations in
life. As I carry my attitude and belief in good sense, I will be able to broaden constant changes in all
aspects. As what have Mother Teresa said “Love people, use things.” And I follow that line every single
day of my life so I can continue to fully grow my commitment to my self and to everybody. But then this
last section of the book is to collect my being Roman Catholic and widen my spirituality inside in my
heart and my whole system so that I can have motivation and to continue to reach the completeness in life.

That’s what I have learned from the book. It serves as my second bible. It made me realizing the important
things and gave me strength by remembering all the good advices revealed. The book was all about more
on life which is maximizing life. By the way the book has its pyramid and looks like this:

In the front view of the pyramid there are the letters contained MAXIMIZERS. Its three sections:
attitudes, belief, and commitment were logically arranged. From the bottom is the MAX which falls for
Attitudes Section. On IM falls for Beliefs Section. And IZERS falls for Commitment Section which is
highest form in the pyramid. That explains a lot.

The book has inspired many of the leaders and people world wide including our very own Dr. Henry Tan
ACTS International President and the most powerful leader in the Philippines read the book. I am glad I
am one of millions of people also by far read the book. I will always cherish this book in my whole life, in
my teaching career, and for the whole rest days of my life.