The Magic of Thinking

Big by David Schwartz |

Book Summary by Paul
Minors

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INTRODUCTION

Who is this summary for?

This is a great book for just about anyone. The Magic of Thinking Big contains the
secrets to getting the most out of your job, your marriage and family life. The book
illustrates how you don’t need to be incredibly intelligent or unique to have the
success you want, you simply need to think in a way that cultivates success. By
thinking big you can motivate yourself to improve your work life, earn more money
and get more happiness and fulfillment out of life.

About the author

David Schwartz wrote the Magic of Thinking Big in 1959, it quickly became a New
York Times bestseller and has a great reputation as one of the best self-help books.
American Schwartz was a professor of Marketing at Georgia University but is more
well known for his work as a motivational speaker and writer. Passionate about
helping others Schwartz became a self-help coach and began is own consulting firm
dedicated to leadership development. Schwartz sadly passed in 1987 at the age of
60.

In this summary
Schwartz’s book aims to provide the secrets to getting more out of every aspect of
your life, so there are a few topics to cover in this summary. We’ll start by discussing
believing in yourself, excuses, and confidence before we move on to ‘how to think
big’. Next, we’ll cover dreams, your environment, your attitudes and making things
happen. Finally, we’ll discuss defeats, failure, and goals.

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BOOK SUMMARY

BELIEVING IN YOURSELF
We’ve all been told before that we just need to believe in ourselves. It sounds easier
said than done, but Schwartz really emphasises the importance of believing that you
have the ability to succeed, and you will. Schwartz offers three top tips for improving
the belief you have in yourself.

1. Think success, not failure. And this goes for all areas of your life, not just
work. When you are facing a tricky situation, don’t think about a potential
loss. Think about what’s going to happen when you succeed. By thinking
about success, you are predisposed to putting into action whatever
needs to be done to succeed. But by thinking about failure only sets you
up to fail.

2. Remember, you’re better than you think. It’s all to easy to undermine
ourselves, to think we are not good enough. But the truth is, we are better
than we give ourselves credit for, and we should remind ourselves of this
often. Schwartz emphasises that success isn’t magic, nor does it require
you to be super-intelligent. Everyone is capable of success, so don’t
underestimate yourself.

3. Believe big and you’ll succeed big. Schwartz explains that your beliefs
can either limit you or extend your success. So have big beliefs and you’ll
have big successes.

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EXCUSES

Schwartz describes having excuses as ‘excusitis’, or the failure disease. He explains

that people cut themselves short and rely on excuses to avoid doing things. Schwartz
believes that excuses are most common when it comes to health, intelligence, age,
and luck. We’ll cover a few of Schwartz’s tips when it comes to combatting excuses
below.

Excuses about health

Firstly, don’t talk about it, the more credit you give to your supposed bad health, the
worse it appears to be. Don’t give your ailments any more attention than absolutely
necessary. Don’t worry about your health either, especially before anything has
actually happened. There’s no point stressing about something that’s not even real
yet. Recognise what good health you have and celebrate that. Consider someone
who has asthma, rather than complaining about the asthma and letting it hold you
back, be grateful that your legs work and you are able to move around freely. Just
change your perspective.

”Remind yourself often, “It’s better to wear out than rust out.” Life is yours to
enjoy. Don’t waste it. Don’t pass up living by thinking yourself into a hospital
bed.”

Excuses about a lack of intelligence

It’s all too common to hear people explaining that they are simply not smart enough
or as smart as someone else. Schwartz believes that you are almost always
underestimating your own intelligence, and likely overestimating other peoples
intelligence. Focus on what you are good at, what you do know a lot about and
consider those your assets. Schwartz also reminds us that there’s something more
important than intelligence and that’s attitude. If you have a positive, winning
attitude, you’ll find it more useful than having brains. Memorising is a useless skill in
most situations, anyone who knows some interesting facts isn’t necessarily more
intelligent than you are. Embrace the ability to think, and use that skill to develop
your own ideas, not simply regurgitate other peoples information.

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Excuses about age
The phrase ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ is much more damaging than it is
true. It gives people the idea that age puts a restraint on what you are capable of.
Schwartz encourages everyone to view their current age in a positive light. When you
look forward, consider how much time you have left, don’t dwell on how much time
has passed. Schwartz explains that someone who is 50 years old, still has 40% of
their life left to live, that’s plenty!

”Invest future time in doing what you really want to do. It’s too late only when
you let your mind go negative and think it’s too late. Stop thinking “I should
have started years ago.” That’s failure thinking. Instead think, “I’m going to
start now, my best years are ahead of me.” That’s the way successful people
think.”

Excuses about luck

People assume that they are predisposed to being unlucky. But Schwartz reminds us
that luck isn’t what creates the success of good fortune. Instead, these things are a
result of preparation, planning, positive thinking, and action. The founder of a
successful company didn’t get ‘lucky’, they worked hard for years and years, they
earned the success. Schwartz explains that success is a result of mastering success-
producing principles. You do not get promoted because you are lucky, you get
promoted because you’ve worked hard and proven yourself. Schwartz encourages
you to focus on developing the skills and qualities required for success rather than
focusing on luck or bad luck.

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CONFIDENCE AND FEAR

One critical way you can improve your life is by building confidence and destroying
your fears. Fears hold you back whereas confidence propels you forwards.

- One way to can destroy your fears is by taking action. When you have a
fear about a certain situation, and you sit back and do nothing, the fear
festers and develops. But when you take constructive action and try to do
something about the fear, your confidence strengthens and success is
more likely.

- Schwartz emphasises the importance of positive thinking. Letting

negative, self-destroying thoughts into your brain is only going to fuel the
fear fire. Instead, focus on positivity and your confidence will grow.

- Rid yourself of guilt by listening to your conscious. Schwartz explains that

guilt is toxic and can have a significant effect on your confidence.

- Make eye contact with people, don’t look away. Sit in the front row. Speak
up in meetings. And smile at people. These may seem like little things, but
they add up and work towards building your confidence.

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HOW TO THINK BIG

Thinking big is the main premise if Schwartz’s book. But how exactly do you think
big? The first thing you need to do is stop selling yourself short. Remember that you
are better than you think. Stop with the self-doubt. Schwartz emphasises the
importance of using a positive vocabulary. Words that are positive and promising.
Avoid toxic words that imply failure and negativity (like impossible, can’t, won’t).
Thinking big requires the ability to stretch your own vision. As Schwartz explains, you
should concentrate on what can be, not just what is. Another important aspect of
thinking big is avoiding trivial things, don’t get caught up in minor issues, focus on
what’s really important, the bigger picture.

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CREATIVE THINKING AND DREAMING

Thinking and dreaming creatively are a big part of thinking big and are going to
significantly improve your life. There are many ways to think and dream creatively,
and it’s important to embrace your options. Schwartz encourages everyone to stop
getting caught up in tradition, just because something is usually done one way
doesn’t mean it’s the only way. Remain open-minded and look for new approaches
and new ideas. Don’t be afraid to be experimental, you’ll be surprised at what you
might learn.

Schwartz believes that you should ask yourself a few questions every day. The first
question is; “how can I do better?” By continuously asking yourself this you are
always looking for improvement. Even if the improvements seem minuscule they will
add up over time. Reflect on what you are currently doing and identify how you can
improve. The second question you should ask is; “how can I do more?”. Again, by
reflecting on what you currently do, you’re opening your mind up to look for
opportunities to do more. There’s usually something else you can add in.

”Stretch your mind. Get stimulated. Associate with people who can help you
think of new ideas, new ways of doing things. Mix with people of different
occupational and social interests.”

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YOUR ENVIRONMENT IS IMPORTANT

Schwartz explains that you need to be conscious of your environment. Some

environments are going to encourage you and lift you up, while others are likely to
hold you back. This is particularly relevant when you consider the people you
surround yourself with. People who are negative, think small and are constantly
saying ‘you can’t do it’ are the people you need to avoid. These people will hold you
back and encourage defeatist thinking. Instead, surround yourself with successful
people, people who are successful. And ask them for advice.

”Get plenty of psychological sunshine. Circulate in new groups. Discover new

and stimulating things to do. Go first class in everything you do. You can’t
afford to go any other way.”

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ATTITUDES

It’s important to always have a good attitude, this is not only for your own self-
perception but also for how others see you. People respond well to other people
with good attitudes, display yours through your smile, handshake, voice, words, and
your walk. Walking with your head held high and a smile on your face may sound
silly but it does wonders for your positive attitude. When talking to people,
broadcast the good news, not the bad. Schwartz also believes that it’s important to
make other people feel as if they are important. Show them appreciation and make
them feel respected. In doing this, people are much more likely to help you out and
do things for you.

”Grow the “Service first” attitude, and watch money take care of itself. Make it
a rule in everything you do: give people more than they expect to get.”

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DEALING WITH OTHER PEOPLE

Schwartz emphasise the importance of being likable. It’s absolutely critical in the
process of improving your life and thinking big. Consider what you like in a person
and ensure that you are being that person. Build friendships and relationships
wherever you can. And when meeting new people, ensure that you learn their name.
Something we all need to remember that everyone is different and nobody is
perfect. You can’t expect everyone to think or act just like you, it doesn’t mean that
they are less of a person, just different.

It’s extremely important to let other people have their say when you are holding a
conversation. Ensure that they get to share their point of view and opinions. Ask
questions and encourage them to share as much as possible. In doing this, they will
be much more receptive to you. Schwartz also recommends you practice looking for
positive qualities in everyone you meet, don’t get caught up in their downfalls. As it’s
been made pretty clear so far by Schwartz, positive thinking is key in every aspect of
life.

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ACTION IS EVERYTHING

”Be an activationist. Be someone who does things – a doer, not a don’t-er.”

Schwartz explains that too many people wait until the ‘perfect time’. The reality is,
there never is a perfect time, things always come up. You’ve got to stop waiting for
the perfect conditions and just get started!

Schwartz also wants us to remember that ideas are only ideas. They have no value
until you action them. You can be full of ‘million-dollar-ideas’ but unless you actually
act upon these ideas, you’ll never realise any success. Another tool to being a ‘doer’
is that you should use action to eliminate your fears. By doing the exact things that
you fear, your fear will disappear and your confidence will actually grow.

In order to be someone who takes action, you have to shift your mindset and adjust
your thinking. Always be thinking of the right now. Stop using words like tomorrow,
next week, later or the infamous ‘I’ll start on Monday’. Instead, become someone who
starts right now.

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WHAT ABOUT DEFEAT?

The reality is that success is not always the only result of any new venture. Failure
happens and it’s totally normal. Schwartz explains that it’s your attitude towards
failure that is important. He explains that any setback should be studied, what can
you learn from a loss and how can you use this information to ensure you have a win
next time? It’s also important to be able to reflect on your work, be critical in a
constructive way, identify your weaknesses and work on turning these into strengths.
Schwartz emphasises that there is good in every situation, always be looking for the
silver lining.

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GOALS AND GROWTH

Schwartz emphasises the importance of having goals. Goals help you visualise where
you are headed and where you want to be in one, five or even ten years from now.
Schwartz encourages you to have a ten-year plan. He believes that planning is
essential, don’t leave it up to chance. Write down what you want to achieve over the
next ten years in all areas of your life; work, home, social etc. Have one significant
goal and let that be your driving force, let it consume you and make it your focal
point. By doing this you will enable yourself to make the right moves in order to
reach these goals. Schwartz also recommends breaking goals down into steps, this
way you can tick them off one at a time, making constant progress towards your
larger goal. And don’t be afraid if your goal has a bit of a detour, it doesn’t mean you
have given up, just changed the path.

”Surrender yourself to your desires. Set goals to get more energy. Set goals to
get things done. Set goals and discover the real enjoyment of living. Invest in
yourself. Purchase those things that build mental power and efficiency. Invest
in education. Invest in idea starters.”

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HOW TO USE THE MAGIC OF THINKING BIG IN
LIFE’S MOST CRUCIAL SITUATIONS

”There is magic in thinking big. But it is so easy to forget. When you hit some
rough spots, there is danger that your thinking will shrink in size. And when it
does, you lose.”

Schwartz offers some guidelines for how to stay on track and how to avoid being
forced to think small. Think big, even when the little people try to hold you back.
Schwartz acknowledges that there are going to be people out there who aren’t on
your side, who want to see you fail. But if you can remember a few critical points,
then these people won’t be able to affect you:

1. Refuse to fire the little people. In fighting them, you only reduce your size.
Remain big and refuse to fight.

2. If you really are growing, you need to expect to be attacked. Expect it and
be ready.

3. Remember that anyone who attacks you or doesn’t wish you well is not a
good person. You can feel sorry for them.

Schwartz also acknowledges that occasionally, we feel as if we haven’t got what it

takes. Here’s how he recommends you deal with that feeling:

1. Remember the power of your mind, if you think you are weak, then you
are. So think that you are strong, and you will be.

2. Help yourself by looking important, this will help you feel important.

3. Acknowledge your assets and develop these.

4. Remember that everyone else is also just another human being, they are
no more important or significant than you. Don’t be afraid of anyone else.

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CONCLUSION

Key takeaways
- Believing that you have the ability to succeed, and you will.

- Think about success, don’t think about failure.

- Remember that you are better than you think you are, don’t undermine
yourself.

- When it comes to health, age, intelligence, and luck, don’t make up

excuses. Excuses hold you back and usually aren’t true.

- Fears hold you back whereas confidence propels you forwards.

- Take action against your fears, when you fear a situation, just face it and
do it. Your fears will quickly be eliminated and you’ll receive a huge
confidence boost.

- Use a positive vocabulary. Words that are positive and promising. Avoid
toxic words that imply failure and negativity.

- Stop getting caught up in tradition, just because something is usually

done one way doesn’t mean it’s the only way. Remain open-minded and
look for new approaches and new ideas.

- Be conscious of your environment. Some environments are going to

encourage you and lift you up, while others are likely to hold you back.

- Be likable. Consider what you like in a person and ensure that you are
being that person.

- There never is a perfect time, things always come up. You’ve got to stop
waiting for the perfect conditions and just get started!

- You have to take action and be a do-er. Ideas are only ideas. They have no
value until you put them into action.

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 - Any setback should be studied, what can you learn from a loss and how
can you use this information to ensure you have a win next time?

- Having goals is really important. Goals help you visualise where you are
headed and where you want to be in one, five or even ten years from now.

Further reading
The 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris is the book I probably recommend the most to
people, and it’s one I’ve personally read multiple times. This book is an absolute go-
to for anyone interested in working for themselves and creating a sustainable work/
life balance. The 4-Hour Work Week is about escaping the 9-5 trap, giving yourself
the freedom to work anywhere and still be successfully. Similar to The Magic of
Thinking Big, this book is all about getting the most out of your life.

Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuk is a great read for anyone that has a passion and wants
to make their passion their job. Vaynerchuck talks about making your dreams a
reality, that it’s possible to wake up everyday and work on something you love. This
book is ideal for anyone wanting to take full advantage of the internet as a platform
for building a business and pursuing their passions.

A Guide to the Good Life by William Irvine is an eye-opening read about how to live
a happier and more meaningful life. The book challenges you to think about living
life as an art. The art of living is a skill to be practised (rather than “misliving” and
failing to acquire the happiness you want). William Irvine has curated the perfect
guide to the good life that is well worth a read!

Guidelines is my eBook that summarises the main lessons from 33 of the best-selling
self-help books in one place. It is the ultimate book summary; Available as a 80-page
ebook and 115-minute audio book. Guidelines lists 31 rules (or guidelines) that you
should follow to improve your productivity, become a better leader, do better in
business, improve your health, succeed in life and become a happier person. 

Action steps
- Do you have a ten-year plan? If not, picture where you want to be in ten
years, what do you want your life to look like?

- Consider this your major goal. How can you break this down into smaller
steps so you can work towards reaching your goal?

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 - Consider the people you surround yourself and the words you use on a
regular basis. Are the people positive and supportive? Is your vocabulary
uplifting? If the answer to these questions is no, start working on meeting
the right people and using the right words.

- Stop using excuses, you are only holding yourself back. Try and always
look for the positive.

- Download the complete book on Amazon.

This summary is not intended as a replacement for the original book and all quotes
are credited to the above mentioned author and publisher.

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