The Magic of Thinking Big
The late David J. Schwartz wrote The Magic of Thinking Big thirty years ago, and it is one of our 100-Day Challenge Recommended books! David was a professor at Georgia State University in Atlanta. He was considered a leading American authority on motivation.
Starting from a one-room schoolhouse in rural Indiana, he went on to become the president of his own company and lecturer to more than 3,000 trade associations, sales groups and management seminars. He is long regarded as one of the foremost experts on motivation. After reading this gem of a book, you’ll learn to sell better, manage better, earn more money, and — most important of all — find greater happiness and peace of mind.
“Believe Big. The size of your success is determined by the size of your belief. Think little goals and expect little achievements. Think big goals and win big success. Remember this, too! Big ideas and big plans are often easier – certainly no more difficult – than small ideas and small plans.” – David J. Schwartz
The overall message in The Magic of Thinking Big is to believe in yourself and your ability to succeed! Disbelief is negative power. If you think doubt, you’ll fail. If you think victory, you will succeed.
Key takeaways from this powerful book:
1) Think creatively. Believe that it can be done and your mind will find new and improved ways to do anything. Your mind will create a way if you let it. Strengthen your creativity through asking and listening.
2) Fight traditional thinking. Become receptive to ideas and welcome new ones. Break up routines and expose yourself to new places and things. Be progressive, not regressive. Always think forward.
3) Make your attitudes your allies. How we think shows through in how we act. Attitudes are mirrors of the mind. Do better work that others expect. Talk less and listen.
4) Manage your environment because it is food for your mind. Be wary of negators. Guard your psychological environment and avoid poisonous gossip.
5) See what can be, not just what is. Visualization adds value to everything.
6) Develop the big thinker’s vocabulary. Use bright, favorable words about others. Promise victory. Build castles!
7) Develop an improvement plan. Ask yourself how you can do a better job today. Capacity is a state of mind. It pays to do more and better.
8) Look at yourself not as you are, but how you will be. Interview yourself. Ask what you can do to add value and what you can do to add value to people.
9) Managed motions can change emotions. Act the way you want to feel. Follow the walk-25%-faster technique.
10) Harness the power of smiling!
