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How to Rewire Your Mind for Success
Vicente Évora
September 29, 2024
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In today’s email (1,040 Words | 4 Min 15 Sec read):
Today’s Read
Overview
The Magic of Thinking Big is all about changing how you think.
The idea is simple: if you believe in yourself and think bigger, you’ll get bigger results. This book teaches you how to boost your self-confidence, aim higher, and take action—without needing more talent or intelligence.
It's about eliminating excuses, visualizing success, and surrounding yourself with positive influences. Let me explain how you can apply these lessons in real life. Get the book here.
The Core Idea: Believe You Can, and You Will
Schwartz starts with a bold statement:
"Believe you can succeed and you will."
It sounds simple, but let’s break it down. This belief is the foundation of everything. Most people don’t aim high because they don’t believe in themselves enough. They set small goals, expecting small results.
Key concept:
Your success is tied to the size of your belief.
If you believe you’re only capable of small things, that’s all you’ll achieve.
Example:
Think of it like aiming for a target. If you aim low, you’ll never hit anything above that. But if you aim high, even if you miss, you’ll still land higher than if you aimed low to begin with.
Self-Belief Is The Real Magic
Schwartz emphasizes that self-belief is crucial for success. It’s like a muscle—you have to work on it daily.
Quote:
"The person determined to achieve maximum success learns the principle that progress is made one step at a time."
But how do you build self-belief?
Here's how:
Affirmations: Tell yourself you can do it. This isn’t cheesy—it’s training your brain to stop doubting you.
Visualize success: Picture yourself succeeding. It’s not fantasy; it’s preparation.
Example:
Imagine you’re going to give a speech. If you picture yourself stumbling, you’ll probably stumble. But if you see yourself delivering confidently, your mind will focus on that outcome.
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Visualization and Action
Thinking big isn’t just about daydreaming. You need both visualization and action.
Visualize: See your success. Mentally rehearse it.
Act: Take steps toward it, no matter how small.
Key tip from Schwartz:
Don’t wait for the perfect plan. Start now, refine as you go.
Example:
Let’s say you want to start a business. Instead of waiting until you’ve figured out everything, start with the first step—maybe it’s researching your market or creating a simple website. You'll learn more by doing than by planning endlessly.
The Failure Disease
Schwartz talks about a mental block he calls "excusitis." This is the habit of making excuses for why you can’t succeed.
There are 4 common excuses:
Health: “I’m too tired.”
Intelligence: “I’m not smart enough.”
Age: “I’m too old or too young.”
Luck: “It’s just bad luck.”
Example:
Ever hear someone say, “I’d start my own business, but I don’t have enough time”? That’s excusitis. The truth is, people often make time for what they really want.
How to overcome it:
Catch yourself when you make excuses.
Replace them with actions.
If you think you’re not smart enough, start learning. If you think you're too old, remember many entrepreneurs started late in life.
Think Like a Leader
Leaders, according to Schwartz, aren’t just people in charge. They are people who think big and take action.
Key leadership traits:
Confidence: Speak and act like someone who knows they can succeed.
Risk-taking: Leaders don’t play it safe all the time. They trust their big ideas enough to act on them.
Empowerment: Leaders think of their team or followers as partners, not underlings.
Example:
Imagine you’re managing a project at work. Instead of micromanaging, ask your team for input. Treat them like equals. That’s what a leader does—they empower others, not just themselves.
Who Are You Surrounding Yourself With?
Schwartz stresses that your environment affects your thinking. The people you surround yourself with will either lift you up or hold you down.
Key advice:
Spend time with big thinkers. Find people who encourage you to aim higher.
Distance from negativity. If people are constantly telling you your ideas are too ambitious, it’s time to rethink who’s in your circle.
Example:
Have you ever noticed how being around driven people makes you feel more motivated? That’s because their mindset is contagious. The same goes for people who are stuck in a negative loop—it can pull you down.
Action is the Antidote
Fear is a major barrier to thinking big. It’s natural, but Schwartz has a solution:
"Action cures fear."
Explanation:
The more you delay action, the bigger the fear grows. But once you take that first step, the fear shrinks.
Example:
Say you’re afraid of public speaking. The more you think about it, the scarier it seems. But if you force yourself to get up there, you realize it’s not as bad as you imagined. The fear loses power.
Your Attitude Determines Your Success
Schwartz argues that a positive, forward-thinking attitude is crucial for achieving big things. Your attitude is like a lens—it affects how you see everything.
Quote:
"Attitudes are more important than intelligence, money, or education. It’s your attitude that determines how far you go."
Takeaway:
Stay optimistic, especially when facing setbacks.
Don’t focus on problems—focus on possibilities.
Example:
Imagine two people facing the same obstacle. One thinks, “This is impossible.” The other thinks, “How can I solve this?” Guess who’s more likely to succeed?
Apply the Magic in Your Life
The real magic in The Magic of Thinking Big is that it’s practical. It’s not just about positive thinking, but about turning big thoughts into action.
Believe in yourself.
Visualize success.
Act without waiting for perfect conditions.
If you adopt Schwartz’s principles, you’ll start noticing that the bigger you think, the bigger your results.
Remember, thinking big isn’t just about dreaming. It’s about believing you’re capable of more, acting on that belief, and surrounding yourself with people who lift you up.
Happy reading and remember to TAKE ACTION! There’s more to learn in the next one! Same day, same time! See ya.
My Favorite Quotes
"Believe it can be done. When you believe something can be done, really believe, your mind will find the ways to do it. Believing a solution paves the way to solution."
"Look at things not as they are, but as they can be. Visualization adds value to everything. A big thinker always visualizes what can be done in the future. He isn't stuck with the present."
"Most of us make two basic errors with respect to intelligence:
1. We underestimate our own brainpower.
2. We overestimate the other fellow’s brainpower."
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