Monday, April 02, 2007

The Magic of Thinking Big

The Magic of Thinking BigHow to set your goals high . . . and then exceed them!

So encourages the subtitle of The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz. This classic best seller...
"Presents a planned program for living on a big scale - in one's job, marriage and family life, and in social and cultural activities. [It] proves you need not have great intellect or great talent to be a giant among men. But you do need the habit of thinking and acting in the manner that brings success - and this book gives you the secret." (from the introduction)
Of course, "the secret" to accomplishing anything is believing you can and then backing up that belief with massive action. This book, originally published in 1959 and a bit dated in some of its examples and illustrations, nevertheless delivers a positive, powerful message for those who want to learn the habits of "living big." Topics include:
  • Believe You Can Succeed and You Will
  • Cure Yourself of Excusitis, the Failure Disease
  • Build Confidence and Destroy Fear
  • How to Think Big
  • You Are What You Think You Are
  • Manage Your Environment
  • How to Turn Defeat Into Victory
  • How to Think Like a Leader
These chapter titles will have a familiar ring to them because this book was at the vanguard of the self-help movement we know today. So much of what is written today is based on the principles espoused by personal development leaders like William James, Napoleon Hill, Russell Conwell, James Allen, Les Giblin, Maxwell Maltz, Norman Vincent Peale, and of course, David Schwartz.

Bottom line: Some solid principles taught in an enticing manner, encouraging the reader to go ahead and think big! (Hmm, wonder if Donald Trump read this book ;-)

1 comment:

Heidrun Peters said...

Hi Lyn,

I read your comment in James Jordan's blog and I see you have posted the "Think Spring" Pic.

You might be interested to learn that I have just started a blog Party using James's "Think Spring" pic!

It involves writing a spring related entry in your blog and linking to 3 other blogs with spring related entries.

So it is a combination of meme and blogtipping.

Interested?
Read more here:

Suggested rules for the "Think Spring" meme:
http://www.squidoo.com/thinkspring/

By the way, you will find your blog there, I have added you to the "Provisional Blog Roll" of people that have already added James's pic!

Hope to meet you at the party!

Heidrun Karin Peters
from Germany