The Magic of Thinking Big

by David J. Schwartz

I’ve never heard anyone complimented and praised because “he doesn’t disturb anyone,” “he doesn’t take action,” or “he waits until he’s told what to do.” Have you?

much sometimes) all it took was a persistent man who never thought he was defeated.

salvage something from every setback.

We can turn setbacks into victories. Find the lesson, apply it, and then look back on defeat and smile.

Decide right now to salvage something from every setback. Next time things seem to go wrong on the job or at home, calm down and find out what caused the trouble. This is the way to avoid making the same error twice.

Being self-critical is constructive. It helps you to build the personal strength and efficiency needed for success. Blaming others is destructive. You gain absolutely nothing from “proving” that someone else is wrong. Be constructively self-critical. Don’t run away from inadequacies. Be like the real professionals. They seek out their faults and weaknesses, then correct them. That’s what makes them professionals,

Don’t, of course, try to find your faults so you can say to yourself, “Here’s another reason I’m a loser.” Instead view your mistakes as “Here’s another way to make me a bigger winner.”

Persisting in one way is not a guarantee of victory. But persistence blended with experimentation does guarantee success.

Many ambitious people go through life with admirable persistence and show of ambition, but they fail to succeed because they don’t experiment with new approaches. Stay with your goal. Don’t waver an inch from it. But don’t beat your head against a wall. If you aren’t getting results, try a new approach.

Instead, back off, get mentally refreshed. Try something as simple as playing some music or taking a walk or a short nap. Then, when you tackle it again, the solution often comes almost before you know it.

5. Remember, there is a good side in every situation. Find it. See the good side and whip discouragement.

“There’s an old maxim I’ve formed and held in my mind,” he began. “Whoever is under a man’s power is under his protection, too. We never should have hired this man in the first place because he’s not cut out for this kind of work. But since we did, the least I could do was help him to relocate.

What kind of world would this world be, If everyone in it were just like me?

A wise man will be master of his mind, A fool will be its slave.