Tobi OluwatoyinIn our world today, talking about thinking big is mostly termed as thinking about making it big in the nearest future. Yes it is but there’s always more to what we know, see and feel.
In my way, I define “thinking big” as actualizing your thought in a diverse way to achieve what no one’s ever achieve. Bringing out special and new result makes you a hero figure.
In the past I’ve written hundreds of articles and I’m so glad to know that my story has encouraged many out there and I’m thankful for every word of appreciation, but I also want to point out a great truth in this life: I did not do it alone. I had some help along the way.
Some competent, committed individuals gave me their support without reservation. Most time I receive the recognition, but now I want to pause if only for a moment to say “Thank You”. They deserve it.
I hope now you’ll walk another step further with me. I want to take you through this important article and tell you about these three special ways you can think big and achieve more in life.
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Thinking Positively
According to Ben Carson, you should always use “PMA” {Positive Mental Attitude} — “Always have faith.” – “What you think is what makes you “.
I didn’t just do it (thinking positive), I achieved it. So you too can.
We’ve all been bombarded with this slogan for years. Even though we’ve heard it often, it doesn’t make it less true or more real either.
Many and more of us in the entrepreneurial field are realizing that our attitude is a stronger indicator of our pending recovery than our physical status. A good positive outlook determines so many variables in our journey.
If we think with a positive stance, we can influence our health, mental attitude and the way we relate to others.
I’m not suggesting that we run around with smiles on our faces all the time and repeat a hundred times a day, “I think positive thoughts” but the right kind of thinking develops as we mature.
If we keep allowing ourselves to dwell on the negatives, on hurts, on mistreatments, we will fully become negative thinkers.
We always have the choice to decide how we think. While some people object the word “positive thinking” i always say, “Think Big Then!”
Like I’ve said, thinking big means opening our horizons, reaching for new possibilities in our lives, being open to whatever God has in store for us on the road ahead.
Thinking big is simple as “You can do anything they can do – only that you must try to do it better!” That’s Thinking Big.
And right here we have T (in Thinking Big) – TALENT
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Find and use your Talent
I’ve heard some people say they have no talent. But no, that’s not true. Every one of us has talents, mostly underdeveloped, sometimes ignored, and frequently used without realizing they have these talents.
To have abilities is not enough; we must learn to recognize them to use them appropriately. Here I want to make a strong statement about the importance of Thinking Big.
If you actually recognize your talents, use them appropriately –choose a field that uses those talents, apply your talent – you will rise to the top in your field.
Does this signify that you’ll be or become an outstanding Entrepreneur? Attorney? Entertainer? Blogger? Yes but not really. This principle recognizes that each of us has some kind of ability. If we use it for good, we can become excellent in our field.
For example, Brent is a copy editor who has an extraordinary ability to catch the little mistakes that many editors and readers overlook. My point here is that being successful means striving for excellence no matter what we do or what the work is.
Brent enjoys checking grammar or adding and removing punctuation marks. Just because he’s so skillful at what he does, Brent has received many opportunities for advancement in his publishing firm but he says “No, Copyediting is what I do best – this is where I want to stay”.
If more of us were to adopt such an attitude instead of relying on excuses for not doing something. Who knows what we could accomplish or have accomplished.
Particularly anytime I speak to young people, I talk mostly about talent. Whenever I get the chance for a one-to-one or small group conversation, I often ask, “What talent do you have?”
I really do this often that I can now almost fairly predict how they will respond. Their answers will come out like this:
- “I can Dance.”
- “I can sing.”
- “I’m good at sports.”
- “I play an Instrument”, etc.
Most of them tend to think in terms of being performers or superstar singers. But “I’m good at math,” or “I’m a good reader.” No one ever answered that yet. They forget that “every ability is a talent” and it’s what makes us unique.
Here’s how you can discover your talent:
A simple method that I’ve suggested to young people for discovering their intellectual talents isn’t just for young people – persons of any age can find it really useful.
Find a really quiet place where it possible to think, meditate and not be interrupted for a few minutes. Then do the following.
- Ask yourself the questions below. It’ll be helpful to write your answers. You’ll be able to study and think about them anytime.
- While answering, be honest but also generous. To do well at something doesn’t mean you have to do it perfectly. It means you do something well and that the result show you do it well.
And for those at the academic bottom of the class, these questions are still valid. We all can do something.
- At what in life have I done well so far?
- In what school subject have I done well?
- For what reason did I choose those subjects?
- What do I like to do that has made others compliment me?
- What do I do well and think of as fun although people around me see it as a boring activity?
- Analyse yourself and your situation as much as you can. Analyse matters for yourself instead of depending on outside advice. However, I understand that some people are not very good at self-reflection but do better by interacting with others. I say (another talent of people-centered individuals is to interact well with others!.)
- Whether you can figure out the answers to these questions or you discuss them with someone whose judgment is respected. Your parents, teacher, pastor, best friend and so on.
- Write down their replies and compare these ideas to what you’ve written about yourself. Are the answers the same? Now examine it. What do you now see about yourself that you didn’t think of before? For five to six days, spend some time each day by yourself in thinking about these answers.
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Be honest
No matter what you have to plan for, always try to be honest with people and yourself as much as possible.
I constantly come across individuals who believe that they can get away with “just a little” indiscretion. Little –leads to large and few – leads to many.
If you can make a conscious decision to be honest, decent and not put skeleton in your closets, then you can concentrate on what you’re doing. You won’t have to worry about a knock on your door in the middle of the night, a telephone call, or a press conference that tells the world about your indiscretions.
I always tell young people “Tell the truth”. If you say truthful things always, you won’t have to worry a month or two months down the line about what you said two months earlier. Truth is always truth. You won’t have a complicated life trying to cover to.
Here’s four points you should take note about being honest.
- When you act dishonestly, you cheat yourself.
- If you’re dishonest, you cannot hide it for long.
- Dishonest people get treated dishonestly.
- Honest thinkers can Think Big; dishonest thinkers are small minded.
No matter how powerful, renowned or famous anyone become, they can still be destroyed by dishonesty.
Conclusion
Just do the right thing. Never look down on yourself. You’re great and blessed – you can achieve it.
