The Magic of Thinking Big

While in graduate school, I took several marketing courses taught by Dr. David Schwartz who wrote, The Magic of Thinking Big. The book has sold over 2-million copies and explains how to set your goals high and then exceed them.

In the first class, Dr. Schwartz announced that, although the marketing class he was teaching did not require the purchase of his best-selling book, students that did buy the book—specifically the hardback version— usually received higher grades. He stated he would autograph copies of the hardback version only and remember those students as Big Thinkers. I bought the hardcopy, got the autograph and received A’s in both classes.

Dr. Schwartz lectured on teamwork and the need for the team to interact positively to achieve synergy. But, his real emphasis and passion was on the individual and his or her responsibility for their own success. The professor clearly believed the words of the Good Book when it states, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Swartz taught that by awakening the professional within, you can inspire the professional without.

In The Magic of Thinking Big, Schwartz wrote, “Believe in yourself and good things do start happening.” His three guides to acquiring and strengthening your power of belief are: “1. Think success, don’t think failure. At work or in your home, substitute success thinking for failure thinking. Thinking success conditions your mind to create plans that produce success. 2. Remind yourself regularly that you are better than you think you are. Successful people are just ordinary folks who have developed belief in themselves and what they do. 3. Believe Big. The size of your success is determined by the size of your belief. Big ideas and big plans are often easier—certainly no more difficult—than small ideas and small plans.”

So, when you make plans: Think Big!

HOG THOUGHT: Thinking big awakens the professional within, which then inspires the professional without. What is on the inside shows up on the outside.

Hog Quote: “Big thinkers train themselves to see not just what is, but what can be.” —Dr. David Schwartz

Hog Action:
Dr. Schwartz signed my copy of his book, “Remember all things do work together for good. So, make good lemonade out of every lemon!” Hogs make lemonade out of every lemon because they: Think Big! Execute Big! Win Big!