How Successful People Think: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life

by John C. Maxwell

Those who develop the process of good thinking can rule themselves—even

The Right Thought plus the Right People in the Right Environment at the Right Time for the Right Reason = the Right Result

If you want to become a better big-picture thinker, then become a good listener.

French essayist Michel Eyquem de Montaigne wrote, “The value of life lies not in the length of days, but in the use we make of them; a man may live long yet live very little.”

The younger you are, the more likely you will give your attention to many things. That’s good because if you’re young you’re still getting to know yourself, your strengths and weaknesses. If you focus your thinking on only one thing and your aspirations change, then you’ve wasted your best mental energy. As you get older and more experienced, the need to focus becomes more critical. The farther and higher you go, the more focused you can be—and need to be.

If you think you have a great idea, don’t let anyone talk you out of it even if it sounds foolish. Don’t let yourself or anyone else subject you to creativity killers. After all, you can’t do something new and exciting if you force yourself to stay in the same old rut. Don’t just work harder at the same old thing. Make a change.

Take a look at the following questions developed by my friend Bobb Biehl, the author of Masterplanning.8

General George S. Patton observed, “Successful generals make plans to fit circumstances, but do not try to create circumstances to fit plans.”

Volunteers want to join the pastor with a good ministry plan.

Ask Why Before How

Every time you remove the label of impossible from a task, you raise your potential from average to off the charts.

He learned how Winston Churchill helped his people to see the possibilities and kept his people going. Inspired, Giuliani did the same for his own people six decades later.

“We ought not to look back unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors, and for the purpose of profiting by dearly bought experience.”