Think Big!

[Tyler]

I have always achieved something or received something that I really wanted.

That may sound like a bold statement, but it is 100% true.  Everything that I've ever really set my mind to became reality.  Wait, don't stop reading!  I'm being honest here. 

The key to that statement is the word "really."  I have set my mind to do many things, but I didn't always see everything become reality; it was only the things that I REALLY set my mind to that did.  So, what does this have to do with "thinking big?"

Again, everything that I've ever really set my mind became reality, the problem is, I didn't always set the bar as high as I should have.  Had I thought bigger, I would have been able to accomplish the bigger dream just as I did the smaller.

For example, when I was in high school I dreamed of going to college on the beach in Southern California.  I love the beach and felt that if I was going to spend money to go to college then I should do it somewhere that I was going to enjoy.  I accomplished this goal by going to and graduating from Pepperdine University.  If you don't know anything about Pepperdine, then I suggest you take a look at their website - http://www.pepperdine.edu - as it is one of the most beautiful schools and is right on the beach.  Here's where I failed to think big.  Instead of dreaming to attend Pepperdine and graduate, I should have dreamed to achieve more than I did while at Pepperdine.  I could have graduated with a higher GPA, traveled abroad, graduated with another major, or a host of other things, but I didn't.  Sure, I saw my dream come true, but my dream could have been so much bigger!

Enough about me and my dreams, the point of this post is to get you to start thinking big so that you can accomplish yours.  How can you do this?

First, you need to start believing that you can achieve your dreams.  If not, you'll never REALLY set your mind to achieving them.

Second, you need to start dreaming and thinking big.  Do you have a picture of a house or car that you really want to buy?  Or is there a vacation that you really want to take?  Whatever it is, take that dream and expand on it!  Think of a bigger house or a nicer car.  Think of that vacation, but now bump up your hotel to a 5 star hotel with 5 star meals.  Start applying this to every thought of something you want.

Third, dream that dream and think that thought everyday.  If you have to, write it down and put it somewhere where you'll see it so that you will be reminded to think of it.  Take a couple minutes and really dive into that dream.

Fourth, start taking action to achieve those dreams.  You can't accomplish them just by sitting on the couch (ok, maybe a couple of them, but not many!).  Make that first phone call, or that first search on Google.  Do something everyday to achieve that dream.

Fifth, don't forget your dream.  You will come to roadblocks, but don't let that stop you from keeping the dream. 

Why do all of this?  It will start to set your mind into motion to figuring out what steps you need to take to make your dreams come true.  Each time you take action on what you've figured out you'll start to open up the door to then next step, then the next, then the next and before you know it you'll accomplish that dream.

I have done this with Sly Bald Guys and continue to do it.  I set a goal to have 1000 members and we're at double that now.  I've now set the goal at 10,000 members and that's one of the reasons that I started this section of the forum.  I feel that if I can help make more people more successful, then it's only going to draw even more people here.

[Tyler]

If you're looking for some reading material on this subject, two books I recommend are Magic of Believing by Claude M. Bristol which you can find by following this link to Amazon - http://tinyurl.com/magicofbelieving

And, I also recommend The Magic of Thinking Big by David J Schwartz which you can find by following this link to Amzon - http://tinyurl.com/magicofthinkingbig

WOW, that's a lot of "magic" in the titles!  I know, but trust me, these are good reads and will give you the foundation for starting your continuous learning of thinking big.

[Mikekoz13]

Great post Tyler.......... I'm a huge believer in the Power of Positive Thinking....... not all that different really.

[Robmeister]

Atta boy, Tyler !

I'm on like my 3rd read through with Magic of Believing by Claude M. Bristol.....excellent stuff.

I'll have to check out the Magic of Thinking Big......

What can you tell me/us about Magic of Thinking and/or Schwartz that sets this book apart?

I'm looking at the online excerpts right now.

[Robmeister]

What can you tell me/us about Magic of Thinking and/or Schwartz that sets this book apart?

Never mind.....if it lives up to the first five pages....it's another for me to add to my reading list.

[Tyler]

Great post Tyler.......... I'm a huge believer in the Power of Positive Thinking....... not all that different really.

They are along the same lines, but there are some subtle differences.  Positive thinking has to do with looking for the positive in every situation, which is a great tool for building confidence and overcoming the obstacles that try to get in the way of realizing your dreams. 

[herronm]

Have any of you read "The Secret" and the law of attraction?  If so, what did you think about it?

Max

[Tyler]

Have any of you read "The Secret" and the law of attraction?  If so, what did you think about it?

Max

I haven't yet.  I'm going to pick it up to see how it compares. 

[Robmeister]

Have any of you read "The Secret" and the law of attraction?  If so, what did you think about it?

Max

I haven't yet.  I'm going to pick it up to see how it compares. 

I have the DVD ... The basic premis of hard-core mental envisioning and believing I agree with...

Some of it goes a bit far IMO when they speak of your mental efforts actually "realigning or moving the universe" to your desires.

It's worth the read/viewing as there are powerful concepts that are employed by, let alone given credence to, by the vast minority.

[Robmeister]

What can you tell me/us about Magic of Thinking and/or Schwartz that sets this book apart?

Never mind.....if it lives up to the first five pages....it's another for me to add to my reading list.

OK...that's it..

119 5-star ratings out of 146 !!!!

I'm buyin' it....

[Alexander215]

This is something I've done since I was a boy, always looking into the future and wanting more, bigger better things. I began by making lists, cutting out pictures and making a kind of scrap book, which I would lose, forget about, but never losing sight of what I wanted. I occasionally find these and actually see my dreams realized.

[Robmeister]

This is something I've done since I was a boy, always looking into the future and wanting more, bigger better things. I began by making lists, cutting out pictures and making a kind of scrap book, which I would lose, forget about, but never losing sight of what I wanted. I occasionally find these and actually see my dreams realized.

There ya go, shdwwlk !!

I bought this book about which Tyler started this thread (The Magic of Thinking Big).  I'm half way through and it is AWESOME !!!

Seems like the older books pack more of a wallop in this regard...at least in my experience.

The best have been written in the 50's and 60's....How To Win Friends And Influence People (Dale Carnegie); The Power of Positive Thinking (Norman V. Peale); The Magic of Thinking Big (David Schwartz); The Magic of Believing (Claude Bristol)....

All were written more than 40 years ago....and grace my bed stand (not my library)......I'm always at some point of re-reading all of them.

[time2shine]

I couldn't agree more with the thinking big and positive mentality in whatever you do.
Most recently, I met with my boss for an annual performance review.  He noted that I was doing a great job, and that there would be a raise in the near future.  I asked him if it was non-negotiable, and he asked what I was thinking.  After my proposal and reasons why I deserved it - he said, "Well, Trevor, I'm going to be honest, you're shooting for the stars on that one."
He came back to me one week later and gave me the raise I proposed! 
Had I never "shot for the stars", that never would have happened.

[Robmeister]

He came back to me one week later and gave me the raise I proposed! 
Had I never "shot for the stars", that never would have happened.

Beauty, eh?