Thinking productively

Good thinkers are in high demand. A person who understands how may always have a job, but the person who understands why is always his boss. Good thinkers solve problems, they never run out of ideas for how to build a company, and they always have hope for a better future. Good thinkers are rarely at the mercy of ruthless people who would exploit or deceive them, such as Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, who once boasted, "What luck for rulers that men do not think."

Those who cultivate the process of good thinking can rule themselves—even if they are subject to an oppressive ruler or are otherwise placed in difficult circumstances. In short, good thinkers succeed. I've studied successful people for forty years, and while there is incredible diversity among them, I've discovered that they are all alike in one way: how they think! That is the only difference between successful and unsuccessful people. And now for the good news. It is possible to learn how successful people think. You can change your life if you change your mind!

When you hear someone say that a coworker or friend is a "good thinker," it means something different to everyone. To one person, intelligence may mean having a high IQ, whereas to another, it may mean knowing a lot of trivia or being able to figure out whodunit when reading a mystery novel. Good thinking, in my opinion, is more than one thing. It is made up of several distinct thinking abilities.

Developing those skills to the best of your ability is the first step toward becoming a good thinker. It makes no difference whether you were born rich or poor. It makes no difference whether you have a third-grade education or a Ph.D. It makes no difference whether you have multiple disabilities or are in perfect health. You can learn to think well no matter what your circumstances are. All you have to do is be willing to participate in the process every day.

It's difficult to overestimate the importance of changing your mindset. Good thinking can help you generate revenue, solve problems, and create new opportunities. It can propel you to new heights, both personally and professionally. It truly has the potential to transform your life.

Consider the following information about changing your thinking:

1. Changing One's Mind Is Not Automatic

Unfortunately, a shift in perspective does not occur on its own. Good ideas rarely find their way to someone. You must look for a good idea if you want to find it. If you want to become a better thinker, you have to work at it — and once you start, the good ideas keep coming. The amount of good thinking you can do at any given time is primarily determined by how much good thinking you already do.

2. Changing One's Mind Is Difficult

Expect dandruff if you hear someone say, "Now this is just off the top of my head." Only those who do not regularly engage in thinking believe it is simple. "Thinking is hard work; that's why so few do it," said Nobel Prize-winning physicist Albert Einstein, one of the greatest thinkers of all time. Because thinking is so difficult, you want to use whatever you can to aid in the process.

3. Changing Your Mind Is Worth the Investment

"More gold has been mined from man's thoughts than has ever been taken from the earth," author Napoleon Hill observed. You are investing in yourself when you take the time to learn how to change your thinking and become a better thinker. Gold mines drain their reserves. The stock market has crashed. Real estate investments can turn bad. However, a human mind with the ability to think is like a never-ending diamond mine. It's invaluable.