The Magic of Thinking Big

The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz, Ph.D. was first published in 1959 and has since become one of the most influential self-help books ever written. Millions of copies have been sold worldwide, and it remains a guide that people return to decade after decade.

Dr. Schwartz, a professor at Georgia State University and a noted authority on motivation, life coaching, and leadership, wrote this book with a simple yet powerful thesis: the size of your success is determined by the size of your thinking. Think little goals and expect little achievements. Think big goals and win big success.

Key Lessons

• Believe You Can Succeed, and You Will — Belief is the thermostat that regulates what you accomplish in life. When you truly believe you can do something, the "how to do it" develops naturally. Disbelief is a negative power — when the mind disbelieves, it finds reasons to not succeed.
• Cure Yourself of Excusitis — Unsuccessful people suffer from a mind-deadening disease: excusitis. The four most common forms are health excuses, intelligence excuses, age excuses, and luck excuses. Successful people refuse to make excuses.
• Build Confidence and Destroy Fear — Action cures fear. Indecision and postponement fertilize fear. To fight fear, isolate it, then take constructive action. Confidence is built by doing things you fear, one step at a time.
• Think and Dream Creatively — Creative thinking is simply finding new, improved ways to do anything. Believe it can be done — this is the basic, essential ingredient. Ask yourself daily, "How can I do better?" and "How can I do more?"
• You Are What You Think You Are — Your appearance, your actions, and how you carry yourself all speak volumes. Think like an important person, and others will treat you as one. Look important — it helps you think important.
• Manage Your Environment — Your mind is an incredibly sensitive instrument. It absorbs everything around it. Go first class in everything you do. Be selective about who you spend time with — people who think big lift you up, people who think small drag you down.
• Make Your Attitudes Your Allies — Grow the three attitudes that will help you succeed: (1) the attitude of enthusiasm — when you're enthusiastic, others become enthusiastic; (2) the attitude of importance toward other people — people do more for you when you make them feel important; (3) the attitude of service — put service first, and money takes care of itself.
• Think Right Toward People — Success depends on the support of other people. The only hurdle between you and what you want to be is the support of others. Think positively about people. Like them, and they will like you. Take the initiative in building friendships.
• Get the Action Habit — Ideas alone won't bring success. Ideas have value only when you act upon them. Don't wait until conditions are perfect — they never will be. Think in terms of "now" and seize the initiative.
• Turn Defeat into Victory — Study setbacks to pave your way to success. When you lose, learn, and then go on to win next time. Salvage something from every setback. Blend persistence with experimentation — try new approaches, don't just try harder.
• Set Goals and Work Toward Them — A goal is a dream with a deadline. Know where you want to go, then figure out how to get there. Write your 10-year plan. Invest in yourself by committing time, money, and energy toward your goals.
• Think Like a Leader — Leadership is earned, not appointed. Trade minds with the people you want to influence — see things through their eyes. Think, "Is this the way an important person would handle this?" before reacting to situations.

Why This Book Matters

Dr. Schwartz doesn't deal in vague inspirational platitudes. Every chapter contains concrete, actionable techniques — practical experiments to run on yourself and mental exercises to reshape how you think. The beauty of this book is its simplicity: thinking big isn't about IQ, luck, or starting capital. It's a habit anyone can develop.

More than six decades after its publication, the principles in this book remain as relevant as ever. In a world that often encourages playing it safe and managing expectations, The Magic of Thinking Big is a powerful reminder that your beliefs shape your reality.

All insights and lessons presented here are from "The Magic of Thinking Big" by David J. Schwartz, Ph.D., originally published by Prentice Hall (1959). Full credit goes to the author for these timeless ideas. We highly recommend purchasing and reading the complete book.