Review "The Magic of thinking big"
One book that inspired me was "Think Big" by David Schwartz. It encouraged me to think big about goals, and positive thinking now guides my actions.
I got used to filing book reviews in six sections. I want to deviate from this time because I want to use the article to highlight the many points in David Schwartz's masterpiece, "Think Big," that have stimulated my thinking.
I want to stress that the book should be read by everyone who sets goals or wants to set them in the future. One thing is clear: we only achieve our goals to the maximum; we do not exceed them, so we should think big about our live projects and dreams.
My findings
Below is my collection of thoughts, quotations, and significant findings that I have emphasized while reading with a marker. I mark passages that impress me or encourage me to think. As a rule, there are a few per book, but a lot has arisen from David's work.
About thinking
David uses the term thought factory. From a business perspective, production can be viewed in terms of efficiency and effectiveness. Taken further, this means that we control our thoughts. We can focus on (thought) production—ideally, on positive thoughts that inspire us. More on this below.
Another important term is the memory bank. A kind of collection of thoughts that we can use to motivate ourselves and convince ourselves that something, or more precisely everything, is possible. However, this only works if we fill this bank with positive rather than negative thoughts. If negative thoughts find a place there, they drag us down and lead to the exact opposite.
If we think something is impossible, our mind ensures that it is impossible and that we are right. Conversely, this means that belief in a solution attracts it. The mind looks for the impossible to make it come true.
On page 136, David describes a feedback loop between my thoughts, how others perceive me, and what I achieve—my thoughts control my actions, and others judge me by my actions. With a positive attitude, i.e., positive thinking, my actions are perceived positively, and I am likelier to achieve what I want. From this, it can be deduced that I am what I am in my thoughts.
In action
On the one hand, it is obvious, and on the other hand, its impact is so central that I would like to highlight it: If you want to be trustworthy, you should act trustworthy, which is only possible if you think trustworthy. So it starts with your attitude and conscious, trustworthy thinking! With all positive and significant thinking, it is essential to remember that feeling alone does not achieve anything. Action is crucial.
David adds "possible" to the well-known quote, "Knowledge is power." The "possible power" only becomes real power when we use knowledge constructively and know how to implement it.
Another recommendation for action is to write down ideas immediately. I'm already doing this with my second bullet journal, which I always carry. I like this form of confirmation.
Giving more than is expected is advisable so that our fellow human beings notice us and we stand out positively. These little actions are investments in the future that pay off in the long term—David calls them money seeds planted by giving more.
Using language
Language creates reality. By using big, positive words, I change my thinking and, thus, my actions. David describes how enormous things can be achieved by asking the weekly question, "How can I improve my performance?"
The interval is longer than James Clear's, but in principle, it is the approach from the "1% method" (here you can find my review of the book).
Always learning
David has also written about learning: How I think after a defeat determines how long it takes me to win again. At the same time, it is essential to draw something positive from every setback and grow with this self-knowledge. This persistence, together with the courage to experiment, guarantees success. Success is not about preventing difficulties but about overcoming them when they arise.
Conclusion
When I take all the previous findings and read this sentence: "Nobody achieves more than they set out to do," an avalanche of thoughts is released. This sentence has resonated with me for a very long time. I set goals for myself, achieve them, celebrate success, and set new goals. But what if I had set myself bigger goals? Would I have achieved them? And where can I get to if I have the courage to set bigger goals? Should I "just" think big, and everything will magically come true?!
Transfer to everyday life
I have selected a handful of points to implement in my everyday life. I will keep you updated on the results.
- I use positive words in my thoughts and words. If I catch myself thinking or speaking negatively, I immediately improve. Before playing table tennis, I told myself that it would be a good day and that I would win because I was better.
- On Mondays, 30 minutes are reserved to discuss and discover potential for improvement. During the week, I make notes for this appointment.
- I am developing my 10-year goals. This task is challenging, but it has already produced unexpected results. I can recommend this step to you. Looking so many years into the future makes me dream. I have decided to bring these dreams to life—I have to decide which ones!
