How Successful People Think

View in Browser   Key insights from How Successful People Think: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life By John C. Maxwell

What you’ll learn What successful people have in common more than any other factor is mindset. There are certain patterns of thinking that the successful consistently possess, regardless of culture, era, or circumstances. Bestselling author and motivational speaker John C. Maxwell gives us a glimpse into the types of thinking that lead to success.   Read on for key insights from How Successful People Think.

1. Success begins with our thoughts. Across a wide variety of fields and institutions, there is a golden thread that runs through the lives of all successful people: good thinking. There is an identifiable mindset. People preoccupied with the question how will always find employment, but the people who ask why will employ them. Fortunately, the success mindset doesn’t belong to a select elite. It is something that anyone can learn. If you do, it truly can change your life. That being said, it is important to bear several things in mind as you begin adopting good thinking. For one, the change does not occur overnight, and it is a challenging process. People who expect new thought patterns to come easily probably haven’t done enough thinking themselves. Albert Einstein once quipped that thinking is incredibly hard work, which is why few actually do it. Though it is difficult, taking the time to learn this mindset is a priceless endeavor. Markets crash and capital dries up, but you will never lose a mindset. If you are ready to be a better thinker, then commit to the process. You won’t regret it.

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2. Surround yourself with an environment and people conducive to cultivating successful thinking. This might sound great in theory, but what does it look like practically? There are several things you can do to create an environment that will set you up for successful thinking. Take an inventory of the habitual inputs you allow into your life and thoughts: What movies? books? magazines? friends? preferred social settings? When you find something that intrigues you—be it a thought or a potential project—keep it on your radar. Find podcasts, books, and articles that build your understanding of the world. Surround yourself with good thinkers. Spend time with people who will help you move your ideas forward. The right people will sharpen you and your vision, and you will be able to do the same for others. You also need to be ruthless about preempting a hectic lifestyle. Build times for quiet reflection into your schedule. When you have ideas, don’t shelve them. Act on them before they fizzle out. If you wait till you feel like doing something, you will probably not end up doing it at all. Feelings tend to follow from action, rather than the other way around, so just get started.

3. Big-picture thinking is essential to keep you grounded and on target amidst challenges. The ability to think big picture is the power to keep the main thing the main thing amidst setbacks and busyness. It keeps things in proper perspective, so that we can see things for what they are. Big-picture people are not hard to spot because they possess qualities that—while available to anyone—are fairly rare. For starters, big-picture people are lifelong learners. They refuse to rest on their laurels or settle for the body of knowledge they’ve already accrued. They continue to read new books, seek out new ideas, meet new people. There’s only so much that you can experience for yourself, and you can’t become an expert in everything.  Experience is multiplied through conversations with different people. Thus, big-picture people are also good listeners. When they talk, they ask questions. Big-picture thinkers tend to have a humility, recognizing that there’s a great deal that they don’t know. Big-picture people are also empathic. They are able to rise above their myopia and see the world through the eyes of others. Good listening skills are imperative here, too. “Every man dies. Not every man truly lives.” The immortal words of Scottish revolutionary William Wallace ring as true today as they did for his own generation: we only have one life, so it is important for us to consider how we live. You can, as many people do, settle for a life that is narrow and safe. Ironically, the big-picture people encounter fewer unexpected snags than the people playing it safe because they operate in the real world. From a more involved position, they gain awareness of variables, people’s interests, and timing. They also tend to tolerate ambiguity and disagreement better. Big-picture thinking makes it possible to lead. It encourages teamwork because your dreams become too big for you to accomplish on your own. It keeps you from getting discouraged by the mundane tasks of life. It gives you the courage to face uncertainty instead of keeping your world controlled and small.

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4. Focused thinking allows you to make your use of time and energy count. The ability to concentrate for long periods of time has been an enviable trait for doers and thinkers alike across the millennia. Focused thinking helps you accomplish a number of things. For one, it gathers your energy to accomplish specific goals. It also allows your best ideas to unfurl. After an initial brainstorm—ideally with other like-minded people—it’s time to be more discriminating and devote your thinking to your best ideas. The process has its discouraging moments; you may spend days preoccupied with an idea and come to the conclusion that you can’t really develop it any further. But there will also be ideas that focused thinking will expand and grow. Chances are good that you will grow through the process as well. A diffuse eagerness toward everything in particular leaves you exhausted and confused. Obviously, you can’t give your focused attention to every single item in your life. There are likely a few areas of your life that are most important to you. Maybe those areas are creativity, networking, research, and communication. Each person’s list will vary with interests and passions. If you aren’t sure of your values and priorities, there are ways to figure this out. You can focus on your strengths, your skills, the things you enjoy most. If you’re not sure what your strengths are yet, there are plenty of tests to get a better grasp on how you’re wired. There’s the Myers Briggs personality test, the DISC profile, and StrengthsFinders. Think about where your biggest victories have been. The bottom line is to pay attention to the areas where there are the most fruit. Dreams begin to emerge as these thoughts foment. Dreaming is a vital part of successful thinking. Is there an area or subject that your thinking continually comes back to? That could be a clue as to the dream zone. People who still have most of their lives ahead of them can try numerous and varied activities. This is all part of the vital getting-to-know-yourself process. As people gain life experience, it’s imperative to focus thinking and efforts as much as possible. Once you’ve targeted what to think about, get rid of distractions. Don’t do easy tasks first. Don’t do difficult tasks first either. Do first things first. Create an environment where distractions can be minimized, and resist the urge to multitask. Multitasking cuts productivity almost in half. It’s also vital to keep priorities on the forefront of you mind. Consider making a list of your areas of focus and keeping the paper at a place you’ll pass by often. This will keep your thinking focused and encourage new ideas. Goal setting is also helpful, but goals are never the destination—just headings that comprise a larger journey. If you want to make it from North America to China, you need more specific goals than just “head east.”

5. Possibility thinking gives people hope and the courage to discover new things. Many people limit themselves because they are too quick to label new ideas “impossible.” Possibility thinking is a commitment to entertaining new scenarios. Successful people have more options because they think in terms of possibility. Winston Churchill once commented on the difference between people who see challenges in every opportunity and people who see opportunities in every challenge. Possibility thinking tends to attract opportunities and people. It adds value to others because it tends to create possibilities for them, too. Possibility thinking also has a way of invigorating people. To consider something a possibility is to have hope. When we have hope, we are motivated to move toward something, to take action. No one ever started moving toward a goal because they thought it was impossible. According to psychologist Denis Waitley, successful people consistently approach challenges with the attitude of, “I can, I will, I am.” Life’s losers habitually talk about what they should have done differently or what they don’t do well. Possibility thinking is the belief that you can do something, which is really most of the battle. To experience the energy that comes from possibility thinking, drop the language of impossibility and stop obsessing over obstacles. Experts will tell you the odds and refer to what has already been done. If you have a creative, new idea that falls outside the accepted schema, keep it away from experts. They are notorious for squashing dreams. Historically, amazing discoveries and inventions have come about when people refused to listen to people content with status quos. Make a habit of looking for possibilities in any situation. Whatever seems like the limit of your dream, imagine what would make it even better.

6. Shared thinking recognizes that ideas developed in isolation will never be as good as ideas refined through collaboration. Good thinkers and good leaders understand that more can be accomplished with others than in isolation. When good thinkers put their heads together, solid solutions to problems are discovered and refined faster. This is becoming increasingly critical in a world moving at dizzying speeds. Good thinking becomes great thinking when several people get together to multiply ideas and select the best composite. Shared thinking also provides an opportunity for growth. Our skin gets thicker as we learn to weather constructive criticism. We also become more humble as we realize how much we don’t know, and others show us our blind spots. English poet and actor Ben Johnson once remarked that, “He that is taught only by himself has a fool for a master.” People like the idea of collaborative thinking until their idea gets subjected to scrutiny. It is important to ask yourself whether you actually want other people to weigh in on your ideas. Consider whether you are secure enough to hear criticism, to let go of a pet idea, or concede that someone else’s idea is better.

7. Unselfish thinking not only makes people more successful, but expands their understanding of what success even is. The varieties of thinking are all components of successful thinking. Unselfish thinking has the potential to change the way you understand success itself. It will yield a greater return on investment than the other types of thinking. Sages and poets have rightly remarked that it is more blessed to give than to receive. People who experience the greatest satisfaction with life are those who find ways to help others. Life really begins when you put the needs of others first. The self-actualization that so many people are after will never be found without a focus on others and being attentive to their needs. It adds value to the lives of others and encourages the formation of character in them and you. We all long to be part of something bigger than ourselves, and we would like to leave a legacy, a mark on the world. By selflessly giving of our lives and investing in the lives of others, we leave that legacy. As with the other types of thinking, unselfish thinking takes time to cultivate. Here are a few suggestions for building patterns of unselfish thinking. For one, put others before yourself. This goes against the conventional wisdom to look after Number One, but letting go of selfish ambition is part of mutual flourishing in relationships. Another habit worth cultivating is putting yourself in contexts where you meet people in need. When you give, don’t make a big scene about it. People who insist on being recognized for their donations and efforts already have their reward, and it’s far less than the joy and peace that comes from giving simply because it’s good to be generous. Giving to others of your time, energy, or resources for the sake of others is the ultimate win-win. Staying other-centered in your thinking means checking your motives. We naturally want to put ourselves first. Benjamin Franklin would ask two questions each day. He would begin his day by asking, “What good am I going to do today?” He would finish each day asking, “What good have I done today?” These questions are orienting if answered honestly.

Endnotes These insights are just an introduction. If you're ready to dive deeper, pick up a copy of How Successful People Think here. And since we get a commission on every sale, your purchase will help keep this newsletter free. * This is sponsored content

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