Notes on The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz

Tim Ferriss has constantly been mentioning The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz, and it was on my reading list for a while, and now I finally had a chance to read it.

It started off kind of dry and folksy, and I didn't know what all the fuss was about, but as I got into it, I realized how much timeless wisdom and good advice there was collected in these pages for all areas of life. The book reminded me a lot of How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie, another classic on similar subjects. The title of the book made me think this would be all about exponential and 10X thinking and creativity, but in fact it was just about how to succeed in life, be effective at your work, and be a good human being throughout. I ended up enjoying it a lot.
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Preface
Thinking affects success

1 believe u can succeed and u will
Doubt is negative power
Believe ur among the best
Think success
Believe big
Remind yourself you are better than you think you are. Never sell yourself short. 

2 cure yourself of excuseitis, the failure disease
Health excuses 
Refuse to talk about your health
Refuse to worry about your health
Be genuinely Grateful you are as healthy as you are
Remind self often it’s Better to wear out than rust out
Intelligence excuses
The Thinking you do is more important than the brain you have
Interest and enthusiasm more important
Amount of knowledge excuse
Use mind to think not as warehouse for facts
Knowing how to get facts more important than having them
Idea man
Never underestimate own intelligence or overestimate others
Remind self that attitude more important than intelligence 
Ability to think more important than facts
Age excuses
Look at present age positively
Compute how many productive years remaining
Invest future time in doing what u want to do
Bad luck excuses
Accept law of cause and effect
Don't be wishful thinker
Success comes from hard work

3 build confidence and destroy fear
Action cures fear
Deposit positive thoughts in memory bank
Withdraw only positive thoughts from memory bank
Realize other ppl are like u and mutually important
Develop an understanding attitude
Underneath he's probably a nice guy. Most folks are. 
To think confidently, act confidently
Motions are the precursor to emotions
Be a front seater in lectures. Sit in front row. 
Practice making eye contact
Walk 25% faster
Practice speaking up. Say something at each event u attend. 
Smile big

4 how to think big
Self deprecation or selling self short bad
Determine your 5 chief assets
Use big positive cheerful words for how u r or about others
Compliment people
Use positive words to outline plans
See what can be not what is
Practice adding value to things and people and self by visualizing 
Ask self is it really important before starting conflict
Keep eyes focused on big objective

5 think and dream creatively
Believe it can be done 
When u believe ur mind finds ways to do it
Eliminate the word impossible
Make list of reasons why u can do the thing u thought impossible 
Become receptive to new ideas
Be an experimental person 
Be progressive not regressive or traditional 
Continual improvement 
Progress is most important product
Write ideas weekly for how to improve in each important area
Eagerly accept opportunity to do more
If u want it done give it to the busy man
Listen more than give advice
Encourage others to talk in meetings
Test own views with questions
Concentrate on what other says
Join and meet regularly with professional group in your area
Join and participate in at least one group outside your profession
Don't let ideas escape. Write down. 
Review ideas regularly 
Cultivate and research ideas

6 you are what u think u r
You receive the treatment u think u deserve
Think u r important 
Your appearance matters
Dress sharp to think sharp
Pay twice as much and buy half as many
Think ur work is important 
Give self pep talk daily
Practice uplifting self praise
Everyday resell yourself on yourself
Personalized commercial about self. Say it to self daily. 
Success comes from managed thinking
Would most important person worry about this

7 manage your environment. Go first class. 
Big men do not laugh at big ideas
Ignore negaters
Change company u keep
Ask for advice from top people
Home situation affects performance
Mix with people different from u
Circulate in new groups
Select friends with different views
Select friends interested in positive things
Go with first class vendors
Make your environment make u successful

8 make your attitudes your allies
Attitudes shine through your words and expressions
3 attitudes: I'm activated, ur important, service first
Must first be enthusiastic yourself
Dig into things deeper
Life up everything you do. Handshake. Smile. Talk. 
Make little people feel like big people
Make big people feel bigger
Always use titles with others
Do something special for family and spouse
Do more than others expect 

9 think right towards people
U depend on others for success
Learn to remember names 
Be a comfortable person so no strain in being with u. Old shoe 
Be relaxed easy going so things don't ruffle u
Don't be egotistical or know it all
Be interesting for others
Get scratchy elements of personality out
Reconcile past grievances 
Practice liking people 
Always congratulate or express sympathy 
Give spiritual strength to ppl
Most important person is the one who introduces himself most and builds more friendships
Be sure other person gets your name right and u got his and know how to spell so write it down
Drop personal note to new friends u want to know better
Say pleasant things to strangers
No person all good or bad
Think of positive qualities of others
U decide whether ur listening to ur positive or negative mental channel
Switch topics when others negative or leave
Really like the customer. Find reasons to like the prospect. He will reciprocate. 
What can I do to do better at next opportunity
Encourage others to talk
Practice courtesy

10 get the action habit
Don't wait until conditions perfect to start action
Expect obstacles
Meet problems and obstacles as they arise
Cross bridges when u come to them
Use action cure fear and gain confidence
Only cure for stage fright is action
Most good ideas come from starting action
Use mechanical way accomplish unpleasant tasks. Just start mechanically without deliberating
Use mechanical way to create ideas. Move spirit. Use pencil and paper. Writing on paper writes on your mind. 
Now is magic word for success
Get the speak up habit
Stop trying to get ready. Just get going. 

11 turn defeat into victory
Salvage something from every setback
Don't blame others or luck
Believe solutions are possible
Back off to stay fresh

12 use goals to help you grow
Long run goals
Visualize future in work home and social
Image of self in 10 years
Goal works itself into ur subconscious mind
Just concentrate on the one next step not the entire journey
30 day improvement guide. Habits to break and acquire. 
Take detours in stride
Invest in yourself

13 how to think like a leader
Trade minds with people u want to influence
Think what is the human way to handle this
Think believe and push for progress
Take time out to confer with self. 30 min daily to be by yourself.
Imagine exchanging places with ppl u want to influence
Treat people around u better. Talk in private. Praise their work. Explain how can do better and repraise their work. 
Help people when laying them off. 
think improvements and high standards in everything you do

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