The Magic Of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz

This is a visual book summary of The Magic Of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz. This premise of this book is that success in life is a result of THINKING BIG and not intelligence or luck. The book provides a collection of actionable tools and strategies to think big and succeed.

Visual Book Summary Of The Magic Of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz (Infographic)

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Here are some of my insights from the infographic visual book summary of The Magic Of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz:

1. Believe You Can Succeed and You Will

Think doubt and fail. Think victory and succeed.

1. Always think success NOT failure.
   
2. Remind yourself that you are better than you think you are.
   
3. Believe BIG!

2. Cure Excusitis

Excusitis is a disease that keeps people from attaining success.

There are four common forms of excuses.

Kill these excuses and succeed:

1. Health: Always remember that no one’s health is perfect so don’t complain or worry but be grateful.
   
2. Intelligence: Don’t underestimate your own intelligence and overestimate the intelligence of others. In life, attitude is more important that raw IQ.
   
3. Age: Don’t forget that you have many good years ahead no matter your present age. Assuming that a person’s productive years are from 20 to 70. If you are a 30-year-old then you have 80% of your productive life ahead and if you are a 50-year-old person then you have 40% of your productive life ahead. On the other hand, if you think you are too young then remember: age has no relation to ability.
   
4. Luck: Life is about cause and effect and find out what caused someone’s success or failure. Learn from it and don’t be a wishful thinker.

3. Destroy Fear

Build confidence and destroy fear!

Fear is real so don’t try to sweep it under the carpet. Instead take action to cure fear.

Put positive thoughts into your mind daily.

Don’t fear people. We are more alike than different.

Do the right thing and a guilty conscience won’t bug you.

To build confidence, do the following:

1. Be a “front seater”
2. Make eye contact
3. Walk 25% faster
4. Speak up
5. Smile big

4. How To Think Big

It pays to THINK BIG, so remember:

1. Your Assets: Never sell yourself short and conquer self-deprecation. Focus on your assets because you are better than your perception of yourself.
   
2. Big Thinker’s Vocabulary: Use big, bright and cheerful words. Use words that create images of victory, hope, pleasure and avoid words that denote defeat and negativity.
   
3. Add Value: Expand your vision. Practice adding value to things, people and self.
   
4. Job View: View your job as important because your future depends on how you view your current job.
   
5. Ignore Trivialities: Focus on the big things and ignore trivial matters. Develop a habit of asking, “Is it really important?”

5. Think Creatively

Creative thinking is simply finding new, improved ways to do anything.

Develop a belief that it can be done. Think in solutions NOT problems. Eliminate “impossible” from your vocabulary.

Keep an open mind and be open to new ideas and approaches. Think progress and don’t cling on to the status quo.

Challenge yourself. Ask daily, “How can I do more (quantity) and better (quality)?” and don’t set limits on your self-improvement.

Big people monopolise the listening; small people monopolise the talking.

Mingle with people from different walks of life to learn new ideas and ways.

6. What You Think

You are what you think you are!

1. Look important: Appearance is important, it boosts your confidence as well as lets others know that you value yourself.
   
2. Your work is important: Always think that your work is important and your mind will help you do a better job.
   
3. Pep talk: Give yourself a pep talk daily. Be your own coach and cheerleader. Make a “sell-yourself-to-yourself” commercial. Never forget that you are a first-class person.
   
4. HWAIPT: Whatever the situation, ask yourself, “How would an important person think?” (someone you admire and look up to)

7. Go First Class

Manage your environment to become successful.

Be conscious of your environment. Ensure that it is working for you and not against you.

Small thinkers either out of genuine concern or jealousy will try to hold you back or make you stumble.

Always get advice from successful people. Remember that losers are always ready with unsolicited advice. Ignore them.

Keep your mind stimulated. Be open to new people, idea and things.

Gossip is thought-poison so avoid it. Always talk good about people. Focus on the positives.

Go first-class in everything you do. Always choose quality over quantity.

8. Make Your Attitudes Your Allies

Attitudes reflect thinking.

Adopt the “I’m activated” attitude. Be enthusiastic about things, people and self.

Grow the “You are important” attitude. Show sincere appreciation and call people by name.

Grow the “Service first” attitude by giving people more than they expect. Money will follow.

9. Think Right Toward People

Success depends on the support of other people.

Become likeable and take the first step to make friends. Don’t be a perfectionist and accept human differences and limitations.

Tune into Channel P and seek the good in people. See the positives.

Be courteous and listen more than you speak.

10. Get The Action Habit

Be a doer and wait for conditions to be perfect to take action.

Ideas without action mean nothing.

Action cures fear and builds confidence. Start mechanically without waiting for inspiration.

Think now and NOT tomorrow, later, next week etc. Seize the initiative NOW!

11. How To Turn Defeat Into Victory

Expect setbacks on the path to success. Learn and win next time.

Become your own constructive critic and study and correct your limitations.

Don’t blame luck but dig deeper.

Be persistent but experiment along the way. Try new things.

Beat discouragement by training your mind to see the positive side of every setback.

12. Use Goals To Help You Grow

Create a 10-year goal for:

• Work life
• Home life
• Social life

Let your goals be the compass to guide your day-to-day decisions.

Create and measure your 30-day goals to break bad habits, build good habits, increase your value and sharpen your skills.

Invest in education and books.

13. How To Think Like A Leader

1. Trade Places: Put yourself in the other person’s shoes and view the situation through their eyes.
   
2. Be-Human Rule: Put others first and be kind to people.
   
3. Progress: Think progress, believe in progress, push for progress. Always be improving.
   
4. Solitude Thinking: Spend time alone daily without distractions.

What Next?

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