Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz

Action cures fear. Isolate your fear and then take constructive action. Inaction-doing nothing about a situation strengthens fear and destroys confidence. 2. Make a supreme effort to put only positive thoughts in your memory bank. Don’ t let negative, self-deprecatory thoughts grow into mental monsters. Simply refuse to recall unpleasant events or situations.

Thinking success conditions your mind to create plans that produce success. Thinking failure does the exact opposite. Failure thinking conditions the mind to think othe r thoughts that produce failure.

Disbelief is negative power. When the mind disbelieves or doubts, the mind attracts “reasons” to support the disbelief.

Look at things not as they are, but as they can be. Visualization adds value to everything. A big thinker always visualizes what can be done in the jilture. He isn’t stuck with the present. 

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.

The thinking that guides your intelligence is much more important than how much intelligence you may have.

With a positive, optimistic, and cooperative attitude a person with an IQ of 100 will earn more money, win more respect, and achieve more success than a negative, pessimistic, uncooperative individual with an IQ of 120.

This incident, familiar to thousands of former Navy men, illustrates just one point: action cures fear. Indecision, postponement , on the other hand, fertilize fear.

Put the action principle to work. Next time you experience big fear or little fear, steady yourself Then search for an answer to this question: What kind of action can I take to conquer my fear?

Unsuccessful people take them to heart, so to speak. They dwell on the unpleasant situations, thereby giving them a good start in their memory. They don’t take their minds away from them. At night the unpleasant situation is the last thing they think about. Confident, successful people, on the other hand, “don’t give it another thought.” Successful people specialize in putting positive thoughts into their memory bank.

I figured out something pretty basic back then. I discovered people are alike in many, many more ways than they are different. I discovered the other fellow is pretty much like me. He likes good food, he misses his family and friends, he wants to get ahead, he has problems, he likes to relax. So if the other fellow is basically like me, there’s no point in being afraid of him.

There is within each of us a desire to be right, think right, and act right. When we go against that desire, we put a cancer in our conscience. This cancer grows and grows by eating away at our confidence. Avoid doing anything tha t will cause you to ask yourself, ‘Will I get caught? Will they find out? Will I get away with it?

Join and participate in at least one group outside your occupational interests. Association with people who have different job interests broadens your thinking and helps you to see the big picture. You’ll be surprised how mixing regularly wi th people outside your occupational area will stimulate your on-the-job thinking

The procedure for developing successful product s is to get as much opinion as you can, listen to the people who will buy the product, and then design the produc t and its promot ion to please these people.

Big success calls for persons who continually set higher standards for themselves and others, persons who are searching for ways to increase efficiency, to ge t more output at lower cost, do more with less effort. Top success is reserved for the I-can-do-it-better kind of person. 

Write them down. Every day lots of good ideas are born only to die quickly because they aren’t nailed to paper.

Use clothing as a tool to lift your spirits, build confidence. An old psychology professor of mine used to give this advice to students on last-minute preparations for examinations: “Dress up for this important exam. Get a new tie. Have your suit pressed. Shine your shoes. Look sharp because it will help you think sharp”

Pay twice as much and buy half as many. Commit this answer to memory. Then practice it. Apply it to hats, suits, shoes, socks, coats–everything you wear. 

There’s a story often told about the job attitudes of three bricklayers. It’s a classic, so let’s go over it again. When asked, “What are you doing?” the first bricklayer replied, “Laying brick.” The second answered, “Making $9.30 an hour.” And the third said, “Me? Why, I ‘m building the world’s greatest cathedral”

But think instead, I am important. I do have what i t takes. I am a first-class performer. My work is important. Think this way, and you’re headed straight to success.

In all of life’s situations, ask yourself, “Is this the way an important person thinks?” Then obey the answer.

Talk about people? Yes, but stay on the positive side.

Do circulate in new groups. Restricting your social environment to the same small group produces boredom, dullness, dissatisfaction; equally important, remember that your success-building program requires that you be come an expert in understanding people.

Make new friends, join new organizations, enlarge your social orbit. Then too, variety in people, like variety in anything else, adds spice to life and gives it a broader dimension. It’s good mind food.

Whenever you leave a person, ask yourself, “Does that person honestly feel better because he has talked with me.

Broadcasting good news activates you, makes you feel better. Broadcasting good news makes othe r people feel better too.

Most folks look at another person and think, “He can’t do anything for me. Therefore, he’s not important.” But right there is where people make a basic blunder. The other person, regardless of his status or his income, is important to you and for two giant, dollars-and-cents reasons. First, people do more for you when you make them feel important.

1. Success depends on the support of other people. The only hurdle between you and what you want to be is the support of others.

2. Be a comfortable person so there is no strain in being with you. Be an old-shoe kind of individual.

3. Acquire the quality of relaxed easy-going so that things do not rule you . . 4. Don’ t be egotistical. Guard against the impression that you know it all.

5. Cultivate the quality of being interesting so people will get something of value from their association wi th you.

6. Study to get the “scratchy” elements out of your personality

7. Sincerely attempt to heal, on an honest basis, every misunderstanding you have had or now have. Drain off your grievances.

8. Practice liking people until you learn to do so genuinely.

9. Never miss an opportunity to say a word of congratulation upon anyone’s achievement, or express sympathy in sorrow or disappointment.

10. Give spiritual strength to people, and they will give genuine affection to you. Living these ten simple but tremendously powerful “\ike

Take the initiative of building friendships – leaders always do. It’s easy and natural for us to tell ourselves, “Let him make the first move.” “Let them call us.” “Let her speak first.” It’s easy; too, virtually to ignore other people. Yes, it’s easy and natural, but it isn’t right thinking toward people. I f you follow rhe rule of letting the other person build the foundation for friendship, you may not have many friends. 

Sol Polk credits a lot of his success to his attitude toward shoppers. “Customers,” says Mr. Polk, “should be treated like they are guests in my home.”

How you think when you lose determines how long it will be until you win. 

Mr. Activationist does. Mr. Passivationist is going to do but doesn’t. Everyone wants to be an activationist. So let’s get the action habit.

The test of a successful person is not an ability to eliminate all problems before they arise, but to meet and work out difficulties when they do arise. We must be willing to make an intelligent compromise with perfection lest we wait forever before taking action. It’s still good advice to cross bridges as we come to them.

 

It’s been ten years now since C. D. decided he wanted to go into business for himself. But today, he’s still working for the Customs Office. Why? Well, every time C. D. wa s jus t about ready to cut loose on his own, something happened that stopped him from taking action. Lack of money, economic recession, new baby, need for temporary security, trade restrictions, and more excuses all served as reasons for waiting, for postponing. The real truth is that CD. let himself develop into a passivationist. He wanted conditions to be perfect before he took action. Since conditions were never perfect, C. D. never took action. 

A good idea if not acted upon produces terrible psychological pain. But a good idea acted upon brings enormous mental satisfuction. 

Use action to cure fear and gain confidence. Here’s something to remember. Action feeds and strengthens confidence; inaction in all forms feeds fear. To fight fear, act. To increase fear -wait, put off, postpone.

Live the advice of Benjamin Franklin: “Don’ t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.”

Initiative is a special kind of action. It’s doing something worthwhile without being told to do it. The person with initiative has a standing invitation to join the high income brackets in every business and profession.

CAA officials, successful sales executives, physicians, football coaches, and professionals in every field follow this success principle: salvage somethingfrom every setback. 

The bounce of a ball is determined by three things: the ball, the way it is thrown, and the surface it strikes. Definite physical laws explain the bounce of a ball, not luck.

The important thing is not where you were or where you are but where you want to get.

 

You must form an image now of the person you want to be ten years from now if you are to become that image. This is a critical thought. Just as the business that neglects to plan ahead will be just another business (if it even survives), the individual who fails to set long-range goals will most certainly be just another person lost in life’s shuffle. Without goals we cannot grow

Second, demand of yourself clear, precise answers to these questions: What do I want to accomplish with my life? What do I want to be? and What does it take to satisfy me? Use the plannng guide below to help:

 

Work Department: 10 years from now:

1. What income level do I want to attain?

2. What level of responsibility do I seek?

3. How much authority do I want to command?

4. What prestige do I expect to gain from my work?

 

Home Department: 10 years from now:

1. What kind of standard of living do I want to provide for my family and myself?

2. What kind of house do I want to live in?

3. What kind of vacations do I want to take?

4. What financial support do I want to give my children in their early adult years

 

Social Department: 10 years from now:

1. What kinds of friends do I want to have?

2. What social groups do I want to join?

3. What community leadership positions would I like to hold?

4. What worthwhile causes do I want to champion?

Not long ago the McKinsey Foundation for Management Research conducted a large-scale study to determine what it takes to become an executive. Leaders in business, government, science, and religion were questioned. Over and over again in different ways these researchers’ kept getting one answer: the most important qualification for an executive is the sheer desire to get ahead.

Remember this advice of John Wanamaker: “A man is not doing much until the cause he works for possesses all there is of him.

The point is this: energy increases, multiplies, when you set a desired goal and resolve to work toward that goal. Many people, millions of them, can fmd new energy by selecting a goal and giving all they’ve got to accomplish that goal. Goals cure boredom. Goals even cure many chronic ailments.

When you surrende r to your goal, the goal works itself into your subconscious mind. Your subconscious mind is always in balance. Your conscious mind is not, unless it is in tune with what your subconscious mind is thinking. Without full cooperation from the subconscious mind, a p rson is hesitant, confused, indecisive. Now, with your goal absorbed into your subconscious mind you react the right way automatically. The conscious mind is free for clear, straight thinking

Start marching toward your ultimate goal by making the next task you perform, regardless of how unimportant it may seem, a step in the right direction. Commit this question to memory and use it to evaluate everything you do: “Will this help take me where 1 want to I f the answer is no, back off; if yes, press ahead. 

Break these habits: (suggestions) 1. Putt ing off things. 2. Negative language. 3. Watching TV/Social Media more than 60 minutes per day. 4. Gossip

Acquire these habits: (suggestions) 1. A rigid morning examination of my appearance. 2. Plan each day’s work the night before. 3. Compliment people at every possible opportunity. 

Sharpen my mind in these ways: (suggestions) 1. Invest two hours each week in reading professional magazines in my field. 2. Read one self-help book. 3. Make four new friends. 4. Spend 30 minutes daily in quiet, undisturbed thinking.

1. Ge t a clear fix on where you want to go. Create an image of yourself ten years from now. 2. Write out your ten-year plan. Your life is too impor t ant to be left to chance. Put down on ·paper wha t you want to accomplish in your work, your home , and your social departments 3. Surrender yourself to your desires. Set goals to get mor e energy. Set goals to get things done. Set goals and discover the real enjoyment of living. 4. Let your major goal be your automatic pilot. When you let your goal absorb you, you’ll find yourself making the right decisions to reach your goal. 5. Achieve your goal one step at a time. Regard each task you perform, regardless of how small it may seem, as a step toward your goal. 6. Build thirty-day goals. Day-by-day effort pays off. 

There are two special things you can do to develop your progressive outlook: 1. Think improvement in everything you do. 2. Think high standards in everything you do.

Do I think progressively toward myself 1. Can I honestly say I am a mor e valuable person today than three or six months ago? 2. Am I following an organized self-improvement program to increase my value to others? 3. Do I have forward-looking goals for at least five years in the future? 4. Am I a booster in every organization or group to which I belong. 

Leaders use solitude – to put the pieces of a problem together, to work out solutions, to plan, and, in one phrase, to do their superthinking.

Put other people in proper perspective. The other person is just another human being, so why be afraid of him?

When You Feel Defeated, THINK BIG. It is not possible’ to achieve large success wi thout hardships and setbacks. But it is possible to live the rest of your life without defeat. Big thinkers react to setbacks this way: 1. Regard the setback as a lesson. Learn from it. Research it. Use it to propel you forward. Salvage something from every setback. 2. Blend persistence with experimentation. Back off and start afresh with a new approach.

A wise man will be master of his mind, A fool will be its slave