THE MAGIC OF THINKING BIG

Hi All! I’m now back to Hong Kong! Awesome to be back home!!! Apologies for the 2 weeks of silence, it’s hard to blog on the road!

We travel a lot. We try to get out every 2 months for 2-3 weeks. Just this year we’ve been in Germany, Lapland, Sweden, Thailand, Hawaii, Vietnam and France. Taking time away from Hong Kong provides a splendid opportunity to get a different perspective, meet interesting people and collect business ideas. I love new places, new food, new people, new emotions – it’s refreshing and stimulating! So do travel!

Upon my return, I decided to revisit some of the books on my shelf starting with THE MAGIC OF THINKING BIG by David Schwartz. The book was first published in 1959, but is definitely still relevant today. The author is convinced (I’m with him on it) that your thinking determines how you act, how you act determines how others react to you and how others react to you determine your prestige, success, happiness, earrings and more. The book offers practical guidance on how to make you think big.

If you haven’t read this book yet, spare a few hours, you won’t regret. I wrote some ideas out to put on my” motivational wall” at home. Hope you find it useful!

My notes on The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz ( in random order). Enjoy!

Deposit only positive thoughts in your memory banks and recall them often.Just before you go to sleep – count your blessings.

“To think confidently, act confidently! Be a front seater. Do eye contact. Walk 25% faster. Speak up. Smile big. Don’t sell yourself short! You are better then you think you are.”

Stretch your vision. See what can be, not just what is. Practice adding value to things, to people and to yourself. I’ve made up my mind to look at myself as the person I’m going to be in a few short years. Ask yourself daily: how can I do better? There’s no limit to self-improvement! Ask yourself: how can I do more? Capacity is a state of mind. And if you want it done, give it to a busy person.

“Think victory and success. Belief in great results is the driving force, the power behind all great nooks, plays and scientific discoveries. Belief in success is behind every successful business. Belief in success is one absolutely essential ingredient of successful people. Believe, really believe you can succeed, and you will! Believing you can success makes others place confidence in you!”

Creative thinking is simply finding a new, improved way to do things. Believe it can be done. When you do, your mind will find a way to make it happen. Be receptive to new ideas. Be experimental. Try new approaches and be progressive!

“Practice asking and listening. Big people monopolize the listening. Top-level leaders in all walks of life spend much more time requesting advice then they do giving it. Encourage others to talk. Test your own views in the form of questions. Concentrate on what other person has to day.”

Be environment cautious. The mind diet makes the mind. The kind of mind food we consume determines our habits, attitudes and personality. Environment shapes us, makes up think the way we do. Get your advice from successful people. Get plenty of philological sunshine. Circulate in new groups. Discover new and stimulating things to do.

“Stretch your mind. Associate with people who can help you think of new ideas and new ways of doing things. Mix with people of different occupational and social interest. Write new ideas down. Review your ideas regularly. Cultivate your idea by thinking about it.”

Some people command confidence, loyalty and admiration. Those that command the most respect are the most successful. We get the treatment we  think we deserve. To be important, you must think you are important. Cement in your mind the question: Is this the way an important person does it?

“No excuses! The more successful the individual is, the less inclined he is to make excuses. Accept the law of cause and effect! There’s no luck, but preparation, planning and success producing thinking.”

Destroy fear! Most fear today is physiological. Worry, tension, embarrassment, panic all stem from mismanaged negative imagination. No one is born with confidence. The confidence is acquired and developed. Action cures fear!

“Put people in proper perspective. When getting worried before the meeting, remember we are just 2 important people discussing something of mutual interest and benefit.”

You are judged by the company you keep. Big men don’t laugh at big ideas. Avoid gossip. Talk about people, but always stay on the positive side. Go first class in everything you do. It’s the most successful people who are the most humble and ready to help.

Hope you found some advice useful!? Leave your best tips on thinking big in the comments below! Enjoy your Wednesday guys!

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