Delphine Ryan
Knowledge Transfer Specialist
CONQUERING HUMAN ERROR.
DEVELOPING COMPETENCE.
The subject of what makes a genius and the various traits or characteristics that geniuses have in common has garnered much online interest over the past few years with many social media users and internet sites featuring discussions on the topic, especially the Dr Alfred Barrios' 24 traits that geniuses have in common published in a 1980 issue of the
National Enquirer magazine.
As a mentor of students and graduates, I have shared these 24 characteristics, or traits, on my website for several years now, after having myself attended a seminar on it back in the early 2000s and having experienced significant personal success from being a very happy home-schooling mother of three children working part-time in a supermarket, to graduating with a first class degree in aircraft maintenance engineering at the tender age of 38 and going on to developing a very successful engineering career in aviation and Defence (see My Personal Success Story section for further details).
Therefore, due to the increasing number of visitors to this page, I have decided to really pack this page with as much information as possible, and share all the resources I have used and which have helped me. My recommendation is that if one can binge watch a couple of Netflix series in one weekend, then one could binge on all my resources over one weekend, and discover a great deal of useful information!!
As a note of interest, I further researched and discovered that the 24 traits of a genius discussed by Dr Barrios are a modified version of the 25 traits of creative individuals published by Mr Earl Nightingale, American radio speaker and author, in his Creative Thinking Personal Development Message from 1950 (some 30 years earlier).
I have split all the information in several sections on this page, including full texts, for ease of navigation as follows:
1. The 24 Characteristics of a Genius by Dr Alfred Barrios (1980)
3. Recommended Resources to Develop each Quality
4. Becoming a Genius Workbook for 11+ years
5. The 25 Traits of Creative Individuals by Earl Nightingale (1950)
Fun fact: Did you know that the word genius comes from the Latin word
gignere
which means "beget"? The word "beget" means "to bring a child into existence". A long time ago, a genius meant a spirit who guarded a person from birth and was his guide in life, helping him in his actions. This was also associated with the person's natural abilities and talent.
(as published in The National Enquirer, 1980, first page scan below)
The world's greatest geniuses have all had 24 personality characteristics in common and you can develop the same traits yourself, says an expert.
"Most people have the mistaken idea that geniuses are born, not made", declared clinical psychologist Dr. Alfred Barrios, founder and director of the Self-Programmed Control Center of Los Angeles and author of the book Towards Greater Freedom and Happiness.
"But if you look at the lives of the world's greatest geniuses like Edison, Socrates, DaVinci, Shakespeare, Einstein, you will discover they all had 24 personality characteristics in common.
These are traits that anyone can develop. It makes no difference how old you are, how much education you have, or what you have accomplished to date. Adopting these personality characteristics enables you to operate on a genius level."
Here are the 24 characteristics Dr. Barrios lists, which enable geniuses to come up with and develop new and fruitful ideas:
1. DRIVE. Geniuses have a strong desire to work hard and long. They’re willing to give all they’ve got to a project. Develop your drive by focusing on your future success, and keep going.
2.
COURAGE. It takes courage to do things others consider impossible. Stop worrying what people will think if you are different.
3.
DEVOTION TO GOALS. Geniuses know what they want and go after it. Get control of your life and schedule. Have something specific to accomplish each day.
4.
KNOWLEDGE. Geniuses continually accumulate information. Never go to sleep at night without having learned at least one new thing that day. Read. And question people who know.
5.
HONESTY. Geniuses are frank, forthright and honest. Take the responsibility for things that go wrong. Be willing to admit, ‘I goofed,’ and learn from your mistakes.
6.
OPTIMISM. Geniuses never doubt they will succeed. Deliberately focus your mind on something good coming up.
7.
ABILITY TO JUDGE. Try to understand the facts of a situation before you judge. Evaluate things on an open-minded, unprejudiced basis and be willing to change your mind.
8.
ENTHUSIASM. Geniuses are so excited about what they are doing, it encourages others to cooperate with them. Really believe that things will turn out well. Don’t hold back.
9.
WILLINGNESS TO TAKE CHANCES. Overcome your fear of failure. You won’t be afraid to take chances once you realise you can learn from your mistakes.
10.
DYNAMIC ENERGY. Don’t sit on your butt waiting for something good to happen. Be determined to make it happen.
11.
ENTERPRISE. Geniuses are opportunity seekers. Be willing to take on jobs others won’t touch. Never be afraid to try the unknown.
12.
PERSUASION. Geniuses know how to motivate people to help them get ahead. You’ll find it easy to be persuasive if you believe in what you’re doing.
13.
OUTGOINGNESS. I’ve found geniuses able to make friends easily and be easy on their friends. Be a ‘booster’, not someone who puts others down. That attitude will win you many valuable friends.
14.
ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE. Geniuses are able to effectively get their ideas across to others. Take every opportunity to explain your ideas to others.
15.
PATIENCE. Be patient with others most of the time, but always be impatient with yourself. Expect far more of yourself than of others.
16.
PERCEPTION. Geniuses have their mental radar working full time. Think more of others’ needs and wants than you do of your own.
17.
PERFECTIONISM. Geniuses cannot tolerate mediocrity, particularly in themselves. Never be easily satisfied with yourself. Always strive to do better.
18.
SENSE OF HUMOUR. Be willing to laugh at your own expense. Don’t take offense when the joke is on you.
19.
VERSATILITY. The more things you learn to accomplish, the more confidence you will develop. Don’t shy away from new endeavours.
20.
ADAPTABILITY. Being flexible enables you to adapt to changing circumstances readily. Resist doing things the same old way. Be willing to consider new options.
21.
CURIOSITY. An inquisitive, curious mind will help you seek out new information. Don’t be afraid to admit you don’t know it all. Always ask questions about things you don’t understand.
22.
INDIVIDUALISM. Do things the way you think they should be done, without fearing somebody’s disapproval.
23.
IDEALISM. Keep your feet on the ground – but have your head in the clouds. Strive to achieve great things, not just for yourself, but for the betterment of mankind.
24.
IMAGINATION. Geniuses know how to think in new combinations, see things from a different perspective, than anyone else. Unclutter your mental environment to develop this type of imagination. Give yourself time each day to daydream, to fantasise, to drift into a dreamy inner life the way you did as a child.”
© From a 1980 National Enquirer/Transworld feature
About 20 years ago back in 2004, I attended a lecture where the speaker presented what is known as the “24 characteristics that geniuses have in common” described by clinical psychologist Dr Alfred Barrios in a 1980 National Enquirer magazine article. I really enjoyed that lecture and left with renewed enthusiasm to develop these traits. I had nothing to lose!
Developing those traits became a fun game to play, and it proved to be immensely workable. At the time, I was an at-home mum with three young children whom I was home-schooling (I loved home-schooling my children). I worked a few hours a week at my local supermarket to fund the home-schooling (materials, books, educational trips etc.) I worked hard to give them the best education, and once they were older, I embarked on an aircraft maintenance engineering degree, aged 33, at the Manchester Metropolitan University, graduating with a first, aged 38, and the rest is history: an exciting and successful engineering career in aviation and Defence, spanning fast jets, submarines, commercial and military aviation, and currently working on exciting Royal Navy projects – a far cry from working in my local supermarket. I have never looked back.
And for those who are already familiar with my work, I manage this website and write content to help students, graduates and those already on the career ladder to improve their life and succeed in their given field. Then there is also my STEMiteracy project website to help primary and secondary schools students, parents and teachers restore true literacy in the educational arena. I manage these two websites voluntarily and create most of the content. I also continue to mentor engineering students and graduates, and certainly talk up the 24 characteristics of a genius!
To help parents, teachers and students, download my free Becoming a Genius Workbook for ages 11+. The workbook can be completed by oneself or as part of lessons, workshops etc. The workbook focusses on ensuring all the words and their meanings are fully understood to gain full comprehension and develop the ability to apply the information.
One question remains: What did I do or what resources did I use to help me develop these traits?
I did not find any answers in modern psychology or in psychiatry's propaganda on mental health. Instead, I found all the answers in the fields of philosophy and religion - in the truest sense of these words (the meanings of which have been altered over time and which, in this current decade, due to global societal upheavals, tend to carry all sorts of negative connotations). In my Recommended Resources section, I discuss what I have learned and practiced to develop each quality, and I add links to completely free online resources including documentaries, multi-media, and online courses, as well as links to recommended books.
Religion: from Latin religio, "conscientiousness " from religare "to bind back" - a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature and purpose of the universe; any specific system of belief, worship, conduct, etc., often involving a code of ethics and a philosophy, for e.g. the Christian religion, the Buddhist religion etc.; the word religion itself can embrace sacred lore, wisdom, knowingness of gods and souls and spirits, and could be called, with very broad use of the word, a philosophy. We could say that there is religious philosophy and there is religious practice.
Philosophy: from Greek philosophia, from philos "loving" and sophos "wise" - originally love of wisdom and knowledge; a study of the process governing thought and conduct; theory or investigation of the principles or laws that regulate the physical universe and underlie all knowledge and reality, included in the study are aesthetics, ethics, logic, etc.; a study of human morals, character and behaviour.
Religious philosophy implies study of spiritual manifestations; research on the nature of the spirit and study on the relationship of the spirit to the body; exercises devoted to the rehabilitation of the abilities of a spirit.
Go to next section Recommended Resources or
back to top.
In this section, I have added information and links to resources which I have used and continue to use to develop each quality. These resources are all based on the Scientology and Dianetics works of L. Ron Hubbard.
Scientology is a modern religious philosophy (see definition in previous section) and the word is formed from the Latin scio which means "know" or "distinguish" and the Greek word logos which means "word, knowing, study". Essentially, Scientology means "knowing how to know" and is further defined as the study and handling of the spirit in relationship to itself, universes and other life, www.scientology.org. Dianetics is formed of the Greek dia- "through" and nous "soul" or what the soul is doing to the body through the mind. Dianetics is a science of the mind and is a sister subject to Scientology which studies the spirit, www.dianetics.org .
For an overall introduction, watch the film Principles of Scientology (available in 18 languages).
Note: Although Dianetics technology was discovered by L. Ron Hubbard, dedicating his book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health to Will Durrant, he wrote: “Acknowledgment is made to fifty thousand years of thinking men without whose speculations and observations the creation and construction of Dianetics would not have been possible. Credit in particular is due to: Anaxagoras, Thomas Paine, Aristotle, Thomas Jefferson, Socrates, René Descartes, Plato, James Clerk Maxwell, Euclid, Charcot, Lucretius, Herbert Spencer, Roger Bacon, William James, Francis Bacon, Sigmund Freud, Isaac Newton, van Leeuwenhoek, Cmdr. Thompson (MC) USN, Voltaire, William A. White, Will Durant, Count Alfred Korzybski and my instructors in atomic and molecular phenomena, mathematics and the humanities at George Washington University and at Princeton."
Goals and Purposes
To be driven, it is important to ensure that the goal you are driving towards is actually your goal, not someone else’s. Attempting to accomplish someone else’s goal instead of yours can actually impede your drive, and you become demoralised.
For example, a university student could have the goal to obtain a first on their degree. However, they are not very motivated. Perhaps, they are doing a business degree. Upon closer inspection and discussion with the student, it turns out that really the goal of the student was to become an engineer, and doing a business degree is not really his goal. Perhaps due to inadequate marks for an engineering degree, they could only do a business degree. That might have set the student on the path of a wrong goal. There are infinite scenarios since no one is the same, and goals and purposes are a very personal matter.
The Admin Scale tool is a very simple tool developed by L. Ron Hubbard in the early 70s to help a person, a group, a company etc. accomplish their goal. I have used this tool regularly for the past 20 years. While a mum-at-home home-schooling, while being engineering student at university, when looking for a job, and when in a job, etc. The Admin Scale tool works in any situation where you want to achieve a particular result and goal. I even use it when getting myself ready for a job interview!
You can do the free online “Targets and Goals” course which describes the Admin Scale technique, with exercises, as well as additional articles concerned with strategic planning and how to accomplish your goals. You can also visit my Admin Scale tool page.
Target and Goals free online course overview here.
Toxic Personalities
Another potential reason for lack of drive could lie in being connected or surrounded by an anti-social personality, or toxic personality, who openly or covertly puts you down, knocks your enthusiasm, needle you with subtle digs or remarks, etc. It can be very subtle, or very obvious.
This excellent 30 minutes presentation describes the principles of the social personality and anti-social personality with tips on how to recognise them. This presentation is highly recommended. Whatch it here.
You can also do the free online course The Cause of Suppression which contains several essays on social and anti-social personalities and how to deal with situations you might encounter in life when coming up against an anti-social personality.
The Cause of Suppression online course overview here.
Overwork and Burn-out
Overwork and overload at work can definitely drive a person to burn out rather than encourage more drive to achieve their objectives. However, are there ways to handle work that could actually help you to efficiently deal with overwork or high workloads without burn out, and still keeping you driven? Yes, there are.
A compelling visual presentation based on L. Ron Hubbard’s book, The Problems of Work: Scientology Applied to the Workaday World, details the landmark discoveries, including the principles and laws which apply to every endeavour and every problem of work. With 70 percent of our time spent at work, difficulties on the job can impact every facet of our lives. Contained in this film is not only technology to bring stability to the workplace, but the groundbreaking processes to return joy itself to all of life.
Watch the Problems of Work presentation here.
Do the free online Problems of Work course here.
Courage is the ability to face danger or pain and put aside the thought of being afraid.
A few years ago, I took an aviation consulting job in the Middle East with an English company. It was meant to be for a few months only with specific work to achieve.
I found the local people wonderful, and the culture very interesting. As I like to talk to people and listen to their stories, I was indeed very interested in the job and the local culture.
Unfortunately, it very quickly transpired that a couple of individuals in the English company who were my bosses and managed the company were in fact extremely racist, continuously making disparaging comments about the company’s clients (very wealthy Arab clients) behind their back. So when those couple of individuals talked to the clients, it was all polite and nice airs. But as soon as the clients would leave, or when they were out of earshot, the critical comments came in thick and fast – comments which I can’t write here.
Very quickly, I felt extremely uncomfortable because this situation was not OK, and I found these bosses to be hypocritical. I tried to raise it with a colleague to find out how to report it. But no one in the company dared do anything about it. They were too afraid for their jobs. I was very stuck. By the third week, a significant incident took place in a meeting with extreme racism, which at this point, I contested and demanded that the racism stop. I took a gamble as I knew that either they would stop, or my contract would be ended. But in myself, the right thing to do was to stand up to that bullying and keep to my own truth and integrity.
As I thought would happen, my contract was immediately terminated and within 48 hours I was flying back to the UK. Although I had lost a contract, I felt I had done the right thing by my Arab clients and my clients were grateful that I stook up to them, and went on to review their business relationship with the company.
Interestingly enough, within a couple of weeks of returning to the UK, I had my next contract. I always find that if you stick to your own truths and personal integrity and do not compromise with your reality, with what you see with your own eyes, you will in the end.
There are three essays by L. Ron Hubbard which I have known and applied for close to 40 years now and they have always worked for me to help me keep on what is right for me.
Essay on Personal Integrity – Watch it here in film format.
Honor. Truth. Nobility. In this decisive essay L. Ron Hubbard goes beyond the obvious to explain the true meaning of integrity, revealing that, “What is true for you is what you have observed yourself.” Mr. Hubbard explains why having the courage and confidence to observe and believe in your personal truth is so important to your own integrity.
Essay on the Social Personality and Anti-Social Personality –
In a time of growing divisiveness, combating the world’s haters, bigots and liars, starts with identifying them. This film presents L. Ron Hubbard’s resounding treatise on the destructive nature of the Anti-Social Personality and the critical importance of the Social Personality in safeguarding society—and how to distinguish the characteristics of each.
Watch this essay on film here.
Free online course on recognising toxic or anti-social personalities here.
The Code of Honour (written in 1954)
By L. Ron Hubbard
(from the Life Improvement Course: Personal Values & Integrity Course)
Key words:
honour: a sense of what is right or proper; nobility of mind.
disparage: to say something/someone is of less value or importance than what it actually is; belittle.
integrity: the condition of being free from corruption; uprightness in words and deeds.
personal integrity: is knowing what you know. What you know is what you know., and to have the courage to know and say what you have observed. And that is integrity.
keep one’s own counsel: to keep one’s opinions, intentions, or plans secret.
“No man is happy without a goal, and no man can be happy without faith
in his own ability to reach that goal.”
L. Ron Hubbard from the book, “Science of Survival”, 1951.
This powerful quote lays out in no uncertain terms the importance of goals in life and living. As a mentor for young students and graduate engineers, I focus on their goals and help them to establish their goals with certainty. Many people are drifting in life due to lack of goals for themselves.
Firstly, understanding the principles of life, how life is a game, how the game works etc. will help anyone start to examine their goals in more detail. You will achieve this understanding through the book “Scientology: The Fundamentals of Thought” which has also been produced as a book-on-film, free.
In this groundbreaking book-on-film, Scientology: The Fundamentals of Thought, the focus is on the tools of life – the basic processes and principles that define the primary architecture of how life works. Discover all life has to offer by achieving a complete understanding of the mind and spirit. Recognize what motivates your actions and the actions of others, with the ultimate goal of unblocking the barriers of the extraordinary potential you have locked inside yourself. Watch it here.
Then do the free online course here to help you get the most out of it.
The next good tool which I use to continually work on improving my level of happiness and happy work/life balance to achieve my goals, is the acclaimed common sense guide to better living that inspired a worldwide movement “The Way to Happiness” by L.Ron Hubbard, written in the 1980s and translated in over 100 languages.
The entire book-on-film is available free, and it is a pleasure to watch. You can also follow by reading the chapters available online, or even do the free online course. There is so much practical information in this booklet, that it would not be possible for me to write them here as I would only be repeating the book.
Watch The Way to Happiness book-on-film here.
Follow each chapter on The Way to Happiness Foundation website here.
Do the free online The Way to Happiness course here.
There is so much knowledge available. The trick is to be able to differentiate between data and knowledge that is true and workable and knowledge that may not be so workable or true. How to select and examine the correct data, how to improve critical thinking, how to improve your ability to study and learn. These are all considerations to keep in mind in improving our ability to absorb and use knowledge.
I highly recommend an introduction to the Technology of Study, a study system that I have used for close to 40 years and which I use in all my engineering jobs, as well as an educator and mentor. It is an extremely simple but powerful method and certainly worth examining to discover if you can use it to your benefit or the benefit of others.
Free online Technology of Study introductory course here.
As already discussed in the Devotion to Goals trait, I would also recommend “The Way to Happiness” book-on-film, and course, based on the acclaimed common sense guide to better living that inspired a worldwide movement “The Way to Happiness” by L.Ron Hubbard, written in the 1980s and translated in over 100 languages.
This little book contains practical solutions to the fields of study, education and building up competence. It goes over how to examine knowledge for your own use and to help others.
Watch The Way to Happiness book-on-film here.
Follow each chapter on The Way to Happiness Foundation website here.
Do the free online The Way to Happiness course here.
And lastly, develop increased and improved critical thinking ability by studying and practicing the tools discussed in the free online course on Investigations which takes up the subject of logic, a very important subject in philosophy, and how to put key principles of logic in application.
This course contains breakthroughs in the field of logic to help you develop the skills to figure out the true sources of problems, situations, and whether information you are receiving is accurate or illogic.
Free online Investigation course here.
Honesty, ethics, morals, and all such related topics have been the focus of philosophers for thousands of years.
In a current world where morality has taken a deep dive and fraud, criminality, deception and dishonesty has become the norm, it can be incredibly challenging to exist and honestly succeed and reach our goals.
Yet it can be done. We can achieve our goals and have success in life by remaining honest, with good work and professional ethics and by doing the right thing. It seems unbelievable because we see so much dishonesty winning, but in the long run, for real health of mind, honesty is the winner.
Having studied the philosophical essays of L. Ron Hubbard on ethics, honesty and morals, I have found that it is much easier for me to take responsibility when I have made an error at work or in life, and admit that I made that mistake, and take responsibility to fix it. I actually find it much easier to live like this than to try to point the finger at others for my own failings. There is something far more honourable, in my opinion, to be able to take responsibility for my own actions, and refrain from the need to blame others. Why blame?
My view now is that had I been on the ball and observant, and had spotted the issues earlier, I could have done something about it. And if I didn’t and got my comeuppance, then this would only indicate that there is room for me to improve in my skills and abilities to confront and deal with situations in a more effective way. So there is always room for introspection and improvement, and see where one can learn from mistakes.
I recommend the following excellent resources to develop a new or renewed viewpoint and way of working with regards to one’s own personal ethical behaviour, honesty and morality.
Essay on Personal Integrity – Watch it here in film format
Honor. Truth. Nobility. In this decisive essay L. Ron Hubbard goes beyond the obvious to explain the true meaning of integrity, revealing that, “What is true for you is what you have observed yourself.” Mr. Hubbard explains why having the courage and confidence to observe and believe in your personal truth is so important to your own integrity.
Integrity and Honesty free online course here.
Ethics and the Conditions free online course here.
The Way to Happiness book on common sense guide to better living, translated in over 100 languages and available on book-on-film, online and with a free online course.
Watch The Way to Happiness book-on-film here.
Follow each chapter on The Way to Happiness Foundation website here.
Do the free online The Way to Happiness course here.
I believe that optimism is something that a person can keep creating, day in day out. You can’t become optimistic by just sitting there and waiting for something which will happen. It has to come from you.
I use the data on the Emotional Tone Scale to help me work towards an emotional tone which will keep me positive, as well as enabling me to spot individuals whose emotional tone may drag me down too much and suck my energy, like a vampire personality.
It is important to also consider who is around you who could drag you down, as well as recognising that it is necessary for each one of us to boost other people so that they are doing well.
I recommend that all the resources I listed in the first 5 traits above will actually give you a huge amount of practical knowledge to put into practice and which will give you results. The more we believe that we can reach our goals, the more we can feel that positive energy and enthusiasm coming through. And that is definitely necessary for optimism.
To add to the resources already mentioned in the first 5 traits, here is the free online course on the Emotional Tone Scale, which is intensely practical in helping you dealing with various emotional situations.
Free online Emotional Tone Scale course here.
I think many of us have experienced at least once in our life making a judgement on someone or something and then discovering we were wrong, and sometimes very embarrassingly so!
Conversely, there will have been times when we made the correct judgement, but somehow we went against it.
I have certainly experienced both many times, and I am always working on improving my ability to judge things with clarity. It is easier said than done.
I have found that Hubbard’s essays on logic and the methods of investigating information and situations to determine their validity has proved very fruitful to me, and it has certainly improved my ability to judge more accurately, especially in the type of work which I do in engineering and manufacturing. When problems occur in equipment and machinery, it is necessary to be able to find the real cause of the problem in order to solve it.
Of course, this does not just apply to machinery. It applies to any people, organisation and situations where things are not going as they should be or things "don't make sense" or "could be better" or where we find our judgement to be muddled and confused.
As already mentioned in the Knowledge trait above, I recommend studying through the free online Investigation course which offers a concise but practical summary of Hubbard’s essays on logic, with plenty of examples and exercises. This will definitely help with critical thinking.
Investigation free online course here.
Predicting Human Behaviour
So far as human behaviour is concerned, it is very useful to understand how to predict human behaviour and emotional conditions so as to be able to deal with the situation at hand when you are facing it and make the right judgement insofar as possible.
An excellent resource on predicting human behaviour is The Emotional Tone Scale free online course here.
Recognising different types of personalities
As for identifying toxic personalities or people who do not have your best interests at heart, watching the presentation on the Social and Antisocial personality based on Hubbard’s essay on this topic, may prove to be quite the eye-opener. It will help you in your judgement of situations.
Anti-Social and Social Personality presentation here.
In a time of growing divisiveness, combating the world’s haters, bigots and liars, starts with identifying them. This film presents L. Ron Hubbard’s resounding treatise on the destructive nature of the Anti-Social Personality and the critical importance of the Social Personality in safeguarding society—and how to distinguish the characteristics of each.
The Cause of Suppression (social and anti-social personality) free online course here.
Personal Integrity and What is True for You
As mentioned earlier in other traits, personal integrity is king when dealing with situations. What is true for you is what you have observed. Very often, we see a situation or we have a gut feeling about a situation, and we believe that what we are judging is correct, but perhaps other factors such as other people influence our final decisions or observations. Then we compromise with our own reality, later discovering that we were right after all and we should have stuck to our guns. This has happened to me many times in life. I have found that understanding what is personal integrity, and working at expanding and developing one’s personal integrity has really helped me in judging situations and people better and more accurately. It has helped me to remain "at cause" over a situation, rather than the victim or "effect" of it.
I recommend this excellent Essay on Personal Integrity produced in film format here.
Honor. Truth. Nobility. In this decisive essay L. Ron Hubbard goes beyond the obvious to explain the true meaning of integrity, revealing that, “What is true for you is what you have observed yourself.” Mr. Hubbard explains why having the courage and confidence to observe and believe in your personal truth is so important to your own integrity.
I have always found L. Ron Hubbard’s essay on Personal Integrity to be uplifting, providing a fundamental encouragement and boost to what I try to accomplish.
According to the Emotional Tone Scale, Enthusiasm is at Tone 4.0, very high on the scale. At that level of emotional tone, it is much easier to get things done and cooperate with other people, to boost other people, to encourage other people, and to have them also help you. Real enthusiasm is a win-win situation.
But what is the meaning of enthusiasm?
It is a feeling of energetic interest in a particular subject or activity and an eagerness to be involved in it (Collins Dictionary).
The word ‘enthusiasm’ comes from the Greek enthousiasmos, from enthousiazein ‘be inspired or possessed by a god’ (based on theos ‘god’).
What a wonderful word etymology! Fancy that, ‘inspired or possessed by a god’. The Greeks had the right idea.
Being highly interested in a subject is contagious! You can become so enthusiastic about something that your positive energy just passes on to other people, and it encourages other people too.
I would recommend taking the free online course on the Emotional Tone Scale, followed by the wonderful book-on-film “The Way to Happiness” which is packed with practical information on actions you can take to lift yourself, your environment and people around you. It also gives very good advice on what to do when you are doing very well but as a result attract people who do not like your success and who may try to take you down.
You can also do the free online The Way to Happiness course, and go through the other courses and presentations on toxic personalities and how to spot them in your environment so that you are not effect of them. I also recommend all previous courses and video presentations listed in the traits 1-7 above.
The Emotional Tone Scale free online course here.
The Way to Happiness book on common sense guide to better living, translated in over 100 languages and available on book-on-film, online and with a free online course.
Watch The Way to Happiness book-on-film here.
Follow each chapter on The Way to Happiness Foundation website here.
Do The Way to Happiness free online course here.
Recognising different types of personalities
As for identifying toxic personalities or people who do not have your best interest, watching the presentation on the Social and Antisocial personality based on Hubbard’s essay on this topic, may prove to be quite the eye-opener. It will help you in your judgement of situations.
Anti-Social and Social Personality presentation here.
In a time of growing divisiveness, combating the world’s haters, bigots and liars, starts with identifying them. This film presents L. Ron Hubbard’s resounding treatise on the destructive nature of the Anti-Social Personality and the critical importance of the Social Personality in safeguarding society—and how to distinguish the characteristics of each.
The Cause of Suppression (social and anti-social personality) free online course here.
When I was 33 years old, I decided to attend university and undertake an aircraft maintenance engineering degree. I had no school qualifications or certificate as I had been homeschooled.
Some colleagues at the supermarket where I worked were unconvinced, while others wished me success. Some were commenting on the student loan and being in debt at the end the degree with perhaps not finding a job, and that sort of thing. Some questioned how I could jump from a supermarket job at my age and go into an engineering career.
I took the view that it was a challenge that I was prepared to take for myself and I would do it without paying attention to other people’s opinions. Some opinions which came my way were even on the line of “Are there jobs for women in aircraft engineering?” Therefore, I never worried about what other people thought. I decided to make my own path and get on with it.
I have never looked back. I graduated with a first-class degree at 37, and within a few weeks of graduating, just before my 38th birthday, I was offered a place at the Ministry of Defence on an engineering graduate scheme in aviation. Since then, I have had dozens of opportunities working in commercial and military aviation, shipbuilding, and many years of great joy helping out other graduates and younger students develop their confidence to attain their goals in their chosen career.
As already covered in earlier traits above, where I suggest exciting resources to study and watch, you can discover what each of these resources has to offer, and then determine for yourself how you are going to take chances.
If you can build up your confidence in what you can achieve (see the resources for the Courage trait) and understand what the game of life is all about (see all other resources so far) I am confident that you will be able to develop a fantastic willingness to take chances.
Think about it: even going through all the resources I am recommending here is a willingness to take a chance. Many people may consider that “self-improvement” or “philosophical topics” or “other philosophies” are not good, are not helpful, are stupid, and so on and so forth. But actually, it takes courage and a willingness to take chances to look for solutions in life; to look for something that might work and actually try it out for yourself and discover for yourself by your own experience whether or not it works.
That’s personal integrity.
I once again recommend this excellent essay on Personal Integrity which you can watch here.
Honor. Truth. Nobility. In this decisive essay L. Ron Hubbard goes beyond the obvious to explain the true meaning of integrity, revealing that, “What is true for you is what you have observed yourself.” Mr. Hubbard explains why having the courage and confidence to observe and believe in your personal truth is so important to your own integrity.
It is so tempting to procrastinate! We’ve all done it. But it is absolutely an eye-opener to witness what actually happens when you just complete actions and step-by-step accomplish activities which lead towards the bigger goal or the big achievement. These little steps, completed, really help to make things happen.
As I mentioned in the “Devotion to Goals” trait, understanding the principles of life, how life is a game and how the game works etc. will help anyone start to examine their goals in more detail and how to achieve them through various actions and activities. You will achieve this understanding through the book Scientology: The Fundamentals of Thought which has also been produced as a book-on-film, free.
In this groundbreaking book-on-film, Scientology: The Fundamentals of Thought, the focus is on the tools of life – the basic processes and principles that define the primary architecture of how life works. Discover all life has to offer by achieving a complete understanding of the mind and spirit. Recognize what motivates your actions and the actions of others, with the ultimate goal of unblocking the barriers of the extraordinary potential you have locked inside yourself.
Watch it here.
Then do the free online course here to help you get the most out of it.
The Admin Scale
I use the Admin Scale tool regularly to plan to ensure my goals, activities and intended outcomes all align. This helps me to achieve what I want to achieve.
You can visit my page on the Admin Scale tool here as well as look at the free online course Targets and Goals which will provide key information on how to achieve your goals.
Check out the course here.
The word “enterprise” here refers to the personal quality of eagerness to do something new and clever, despite any risks (Cambridge Dictionary). “Enterprise” can also refer to a business or organisation, or a difficult and important plan, but this is not the definition used in this instance.
Doing something new and clever despite risks does require some courage and realising that you might attract some individuals who may wish to stop you in your endeavour. Therefore, I would refer you to the courage trait above and the recommended resources as a good starting point.
But once you have got that courage and you have started with these new or unknown jobs, then I would recommend understanding how to best organise the activity and plan to achieve the goals that you wan to achieve.
Two excellent free online courses which would help with this are:
And don’t forget that as you take on those challenges, you will run across different people, different emotions, different situations which may all require a good grasp and knowledge of all the various aspects of life and living. You can find additional resources in the other 23 traits, as well as further resources on the scientology.tv site and the scientologycourses.org site.
Browse through what is on offer, all free, and take the time to review those topics which may be of interest to you to improve your efforts and achieve your goals in your new projects.
The ability to positively persuade others and motivate them requires an enthusiasm for what you are talking about as well as an ability to really communicate and get your ideas across.
The following resources on communication, on the components of understanding (the Affinity, Reality and Communication Triangle) and on the emotional tone scale will give you a new understanding of what comprises good communication, and how to increase understanding between people and groups. What is even better is you can put the information into practice immediately through recommended exercises, and observe first hand the magic of good communication and understanding and how you can create that positive effect on others. It is really a win-win situation.
To learn about what comprises (makes up) understanding, and the Affinity, Reality and Communication Triangle, do this short free, online course: The Components of Understanding
Then, next, learn about the exact formula of communication – real communication with this free, online course: Communication
To understand the emotional tone scale and how people behave whilst experiencing different emotions and how to boost them up the scale, do this free, online course: The Emotional Tone Scale
Then to sell your positive ideas to people, so that they will listen to what you have to say, it is a good idea to understand the fundamentals of public relations with this free, online course: The Fundamentals of Public Relations
And finally, to help motivate people, why not listen and watch the wonderful essay on “Is it Possible to be Happy?” by L. Ron Hubbard, produced in film form. A worthwhile watch.
Watch the essay-on-film here.
For this trait, I will refer you to all the resources in trait 12 “Persuasion” which are all about reaching out and motivating people.
But to further help with appreciating how people may be going through difficult times, I recommend listening to and watching the essay-on-film “What is Greatness?” by L. Ron Hubbard.
It is an incredibly uplifting piece of philosophical writing which you can actually put into practice straight away.
Watch “What is Greatness?” here.
The ability to communicate is more often than not the number one ability that people wish to improve.
The resources I recommend at trait 12 “Persuasion” and trait 13 “Outgoingness” are fundamental to the ability to communicate.
Take the time to look at those resources to help you improve your ability to communicate.
Patience is an interesting and rather subjective quality to develop. Each and everyone of us has some sort of failings or idiosyncrasies which may cause others to be impatient. It’s a tough one!
But it is possible to improve one’s own ability to tolerate others and thus become more patient. This is accomplished by better understanding of others and their emotions, and better understanding of the human mind.
The international best-seller book, “Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health” written in 1950 and with over 22 million copies sold, translated in over 50 languages, is THE book on the human mind and its workings, with in-depths explanations as to why we react as we do towards others and situations.
I would recommend watching this introduction to Dianetics, and then visiting the official website to watch further videos and download free sample chapters so that you can determine if this book would benefit you.
Watch Dianetics: An Introduction here.
Visit the official website for more information at www.dianetics.org.
What is Greatness?
Conflict or tolerance, cooperation or opposition, love or hate—such are the questions of both daily living and international affairs. When subjected to hatred, what then is the solution to one’s own happiness? In answer to that question is L. Ron Hubbard’s timeless article, What is Greatness?
Watch “What is Greatness?” here.
As we progress through the 24 characteristics of a genius, we are arriving at those last few traits which encompass many of the previous traits.
In order to really perceive what is happening, one must be in the present, observing, confronting and communicating in the environment.
I would recommend going through all the resources available in the previous 15 traits. Then when you come up to trait 16 “Perception”, I expect that you will have a completely different viewpoint as to what it means to perceive those around you and to have your mental radar on full-time.
Your challenge: note down your state of mind, ideas, opinion about others and yourself etc. BEFORE starting on trait 1 resources.
Then go through all the resources up to and including trait 15.
Now take a fresh look at the notes you made at the beginning and examine if any of your opinions or views about yourself and others have changed. Write down how you could improve your perceptions of others and of the environment around you.
What do we mean by “mediocrity”? We mean the quality of not being very good, and not bad either. Just medium, second-rate.
This trait is looking at performing and producing good quality work and outputs. Getting things done with the goal of producing high quality.
An excellent resource to improve one’s ability to put out good quality products more often than not, is the chapters on competence and industry in "The Way to Happiness" book. A beautiful, non-religious common sense guide to better living translated in over 100 languages. There are other chapters in the book which also add to these two key chapters. You will find lots of tips and suggestions on how to improve not only your ability to produce high quality work, but also how to help others do the same.
The book is available to watch free as a book-on-film, or to read online free, chapter by chapter, or even as a free on-line course. Available in over 20 languages online.
Watch The Way to Happiness book-on-film here.
Follow each chapter on The Way to Happiness Foundation website.
Do the free online The Way to Happiness course here.
We British people are very good at laughing at our own expense! I do not know how this works in other cultures and countries. But if you would like to see it first-hand, then watch British comedy, or come on holiday to the UK!
But on a more serious note, if you do find that you have difficulty with having a sense of humour, then I recommend learning about the emotional tone scale, and learning about Dianetics and what Dianetics can do for you.
Watch Dianetics: An Introduction here.
Visit the official website for more information at www.dianetics.org.
To learn about the Emotional Tone Scale, do the free, online course here.
Life is compartmented into 8 different dynamic urges. When you understand them and understand how they work together and how to make the best decisions for your life, you can become much more flexible in your life choices.
Learn about the Dynamics of Existence with this free online course here.
The next resource I recommend is "The Way to Happiness" book, available free on film, online and as an online course. This outstanding philosophical work provides tips, and many ideas on how to best deal with life for yourself and how to help others as well. Along with all the other resources I have provided in traits 1-18, you will possess a wealth of information to help you become more versatile in life and more understanding of others around you.
Watch The Way to Happiness book-on-film here.
Follow each chapter on The Way to Happiness Foundation website.
Do the free online The Way to Happiness course here.
Now that we are up to trait 20, I would recommend working through all the resources up to this trait. I am certain that you will have accumulated new information which will help you work out how to best adapt to new situations.
“The clue to happiness is being interested in life. People’s happiness is as great as they can create it.”
L. Ron Hubbard from the book “Scientology: A New Slant on Life”.
I often get asked, “How do I become more curious and interested?”. Interest and curiosity is a personal thing. No one can “beat” someone into being curious or interested. It has to come from within oneself.
In the earlier traits, I recommend several times the online course The Components of Understanding, because this course discusses what is called the Affinity, Reality and Communication Triangle. This is an absolute fundamental in increasing your reality, interest and curiosity in life. You can practice it on a daily basis.
But in the long run, it boils down to the individuals themselves changing their minds.
All the resources from trait 1 to 20 contain powerful data on life and how to control life better, and on how to become interested in life and be curious about it. You can put the information into practice straight away, and observe the results for yourself. I recommend going through all the resources from trait 1 to 20, and then take a fresh look at your curiosity, and see if this has changed to your satisfaction, or at least improved.
Remember, you have to create it!
We are all individuals, with our own goals, purposes, dreams and abilities. When learning and using the principles of Scientology and Dianetics, it brings out the individualism in each person.
All the resources I have included up to trait 21 are worth learning and putting into practice. I highly recommend it.
For more information about how individualism is brought about, watch those wonderful essays-on-film written by L. Ron Hubbard. They are uplifting and empowering, and I hope it will give you a glimpse that individualism can be achieve.
What is Greatness?
Conflict or tolerance, cooperation or opposition, love or hate—such are the questions of both daily living and international affairs. When subjected to hatred, what then is the solution to one’s own happiness? In answer to that question is L. Ron Hubbard’s timeless article, What is Greatness? Watch film here.
What is Scientology?
In this piercing and forthright essay L. Ron Hubbard not only answers the question “What is Scientology?” but also spells out the need for spiritual technology. “In your hands, with Scientology, you can remake yourself and remake your fate and luck and rise up from the ashes of misdeeds with new life.” Watch the film here.
The True Story of Scientology
Confusion, upset, chaos and destruction. These disturbing elements in society can make the world feel overwhelming and full of danger. L. Ron Hubbard’s The True Story of Scientology is a revealing essay about the philosophy that launched a worldwide movement and the motives of the powerful forces that profit from distorting the truth. What the film here.
My Philosophy
“I like to help others and count it as my greatest pleasure in life to see a person free himself of the shadows which darken his days.” L. Ron Hubbard’s My Philosophy brings to light his deep personal belief that despite those who would corrupt the truth, wisdom must be shared with all humanity. Watch the film here.
The Aims of Scientology
The Aims of Scientology is a foundational essay describing the religion’s goal for individuals and society to advance to higher states of being—“A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where Man is free to rise to greater heights.” Watch the film here.
Many great things have been achieved by great people. Sadly, not always for the betterment of mankind.
Life is compartmented in 8 dynamic urges, the dynamic 4, or fourth dynamic, being that of mankind.
With all the resources in the previous traits, you can see that great things can be achieved for the betterment of mankind, if people consider all the 8 dynamics of existence, and not just themselves.
Learn about the 8 dynamics of existence, how they are inextricably connected, and how decisions which do not consider all the dynamics can have dire consequences. Take responsibility for your actions, and that of others, to drive a positive future which will benefit all of mankind.
Free online course The Dynamics of Existence here.
Free online course Integrity and Honesty here.
Watch the film Personal Integrity here.
Watch The Way to Happiness film and do the online course to get the knowledge to do what is right for yourself, your friends and family and the rest of the world.
Watch The Way to Happiness book-on-film here.
Follow each chapter on The Way to Happiness Foundation website.
Do the free online The Way to Happiness course here.
And finally, I encourage you do go through all the resources from trait 1 onwards to discover life-changing information.
“The day when you stop building your own environment, when you stop building your own surroundings, when you stop waving a magic hand and gracing everything around you with magic and beauty, things cease to be magical, things cease to be beautiful. Well, maybe you’ve just neglected somewhere back in the last few years to wave that magic hand.” L. Ron Hubbard from article “Is it Possible to Be Happy?”
Watch “Is it Possible to Be Happy?” here.
“That mind which understands itself is the mind of a free man." L. Ron Hubbard
Understand the human mind in all its aspects including the power of imagination.
The international best-seller book, “Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health” written in 1950 and with over 22 million copies sold, translated in over 50 languages, is THE book on the human mind and its workings.
I would recommend watching this introduction to Dianetics, and then visiting the official website to watch further videos and download free sample chapters so that you can determine if this book would benefit you.
Watch Dianetics: An Introduction here.
Visit the official website for more information at www.dianetics.org.
And my final recommendation? Go through all the resources from trait 1 to 24 to discover life-changing data and information and develop all 24 characteristics of a genius to your satisfaction.
“Imagination could be classified as the ability to create or forecast a future or to create, change or destroy a present or a past.” L. Ron Hubbard.
Transcript of Earl Nightingale’s "Creative Thinking" Personal Development Message from 1950, with his 25 traits creative people have in common, with a link to Spotify.
"In this message I'd like to talk to you about the characteristics of Creative People.
Our studies show that certain characteristics are almost always present in the creative individual. And, what are these characteristics? Well, here’s a list of 25 of them.
And no one man or woman has all of the traits here. But the really creative people, the Socrates, da Vincis, Shakespeares, Edisons, Einsteins, Schweitzers, and all the others who led us to where we are today, have had most of the following characteristics. So check yourself.
1. Drive, the desire to work hard and long.
2. Courage, tenacity of purpose, the mental and moral strength to venture and persevere.
3. Goals, knowing what they wanted and going after it.
4. Knowledge, a thirst for knowledge, they knew their fields. They constantly honed up on them.
5. Good health, they kept physically and mentally fit. They exercised their bodies and, of course, their minds.
6. Honesty, they were frank, forthright, honorable. They had integrity and they were, above all, intellectually honest.
7. Optimism, the great creative people were usually optimistic and positive. They believed in people and they were cheerfully reasonable trying hard to be part of the solution to a problem, not part of the problem.
8. And judgment, they exercised judgment. They searched for facts, evaluated them, tried always to understand first, then judge.
9. Enthusiasm, they were enthusiastic, they were vital, they had a zest for life. They lived life fully.
10. They were chance takers. They didn’t fear failure. They knew failure is often a stepping stone to success.
11. They were dynamic. They were energetic, always on the move.
12. Enterprising, they courageously took on jobs others didn’t want or couldn’t do. They were never afraid to try the unknown. They were opportunity seekers.
13. They were persuasive. They knew how to sell. They knew what motivates people. They inspired action and backed it up with reason and sound arguments.
14. They were outgoing. They made friends easily and they were easy on their friends. They encouraged people and ideas to grow in their presence.
15. They were good communicators. They had verbal skill and competence. They spoke fluently and interestingly.
16. They were perceptive. Their gateways to the mind were always wide open. Their senses were highly tuned to life around them. They were quick, acute, and sensitive. Their mental radar was always on.
17. They were both patient and impatient. Patient with others most of the time but always impatient with themselves believing they could and should be doing more and doing it better.
18. And, adaptable, they were resilient not ridged in their thinking. They were intelligent and flexible, adjusting quickly to changing situations.
19. They were perfectionists, always striving for the highest possible degree of excellence. They would not settle for mediocrity, particularly in themselves. They tried to be tolerant with others but others knew they insisted upon excellence.
20. They had a sense of humor. They saw the lighter side of life. They laughed easily, enjoyed a good story, often at their own expense.
21. They were versatile. They were able to do many things and do them well.
22. They were curious, inquisitive, always asking why. They knew that questions are the creative act of intelligence.
23. Individualistic, they were purposely independent. They did things the way they believe they should be done.
24. They were both realists and idealists occupied by reality and guided by ideals.
25. And, of course they were imaginative. They knew how to imagineer. They knew how to think in new combinations. They were able to conceive new relationships because of their curiosity and their habit of thinking outside the boundaries of conformity. They thought imaginatively. They judged wisely. And, they got their best ideas into action.
Well, those are 25 of the characteristics found in the most creative people. Again, let me stress that few creative people have all of these traits. Yet, every creative person seems to have many of them in varying degrees.
Each of these characteristics, one at a time, can be fashioned into a solid habit. And, together, they can become a living philosophy, a creative way of life.
You already have many of these traits. My objective here is to encourage you to bring them out, spotlight them, polish them, hone them and use them in your daily life.
And here’s how you start making these creative characteristics a part of your life right now. Your record album contains 25 cards, each listing one of these traits. Spread the cards in front of you, study each one, and think negatively. That’s right, think negatively.
Take the card which lists your weakest creative characteristic and put it aside. Take another card listing your next weakest trait and so on until you’ve got a stack of 25 cards, weakest traits on top, strongest on the bottom.
Start today and work on weak trait number one. Work on it diligently for one week. Make it a part of your life. Next week, start on weak trait number two. Keep going. Work on all 25 characteristics one at a time. Soon, all 25 will be a living part of you. You’ll have studied, worked on, and put into action 25 different creative characteristics.
If you do this faithfully, you’ll be a far more creative person. You’ll be more interesting, more valuable, and perhaps more uncomfortable. That is, you’ll start to realize the scope, the depth, and breadth of your creative power.
You’ll see new horizons, new ways to solve problems, new ways to create, build, invent, and improve. Even more important, you’ll begin to work and live closer to the highest level of your mind power to realize fulfillment of your own potential.
Thank you."
© 2018-2024- Delphine Ryan, website, All Rights Reserved.
© 2024 -
Scientology and L. Ron Hubbard
are trademarks and service marks owned by Religious Technology Centre and are used with its permission. Grateful acknowledgement is made to L. Ron Hubbard Library for permission to reproduce selections from the copyrighted works of L. Ron Hubbard.