15 Tips On How Successful People Think

The world's most successful people have one thing in common: they think differently from everyone else.
This is how John C. Maxwell introduces his New York Times bestseller, How Successful People Think (he's also written a ton of leadership books, which have sold around 19 million copies worldwide).
Because we also believe that smart thinking will change your life, we picked up a copy from Barnes & Noble. Here are the best takeaways.

Thinking is a discipline. If you want to be better at it, you've got to work at it

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Consider developing a thinking schedule like Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy, who sets aside a half day every two weeks, a whole day every month, and two or three full days every year.
Source: How Successful People Think

Figure out where you need to focus your energy, and then use the 80/20 rule

Devote 80% of your energy to the most important 20% of your activities. Remember that you can't be everywhere, know everyone, and do everything. And avoid multitasking: it can cost you 40% efficiency.
Source: How Successful People Think

Smart thinkers expose themselves to different ideas and types of people

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They're also selective about spending most of their time with people who challenge them.
Source: How Successful People Think

It's one thing to have an idea, another to follow through

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"Ideas have a short shelf life. You must act on them before the expiration date."
Source: How Successful People Think

Thoughts need time to develop. Don't just settle on the first thing that comes to mind

Remember the last time you had a brilliant idea at 2 a.m., but it sounded sort of ridiculous when you woke up the next morning?
Thoughts need to be "shaped until they have substance" and need to stand the test of "clarity and questioning."
Source: How Successful People Think

Smart people collaborate with other smart people

Thinking with others yields higher returns. It's like giving yourself a shortcut. That's why brainstorming sessions are so effective.
Source: How Successful People Think

Reject popular thinking (which often means not thinking at all)

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Too many people act, hoping that others have thought things through first.
To reject popular thinking you must be OK with feeling uncomfortable. Also remember that right now, there are a bunch of other people out there deciding to think for themselves -- and they're the ones who are successful.
Source: How Successful People Think

The best thinkers plan ahead, while leaving room for some spontaneity

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When you're strategic, you reduce your margin of error. Simply having vague ideas of where you are and what you want to accomplish will get you no where.
The keys to being strategic: 1. break the issue down, 2. ask why the problem needs to be solved, 3. identify the key issues, 4. review your resources, 5. put the right people in place.
Henry Ford once said, "Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into smaller parts."
Source: How Successful People Think

To think differently, do different things

Flickr Jeff Foust

Try new routes to work, meet new people, read books you might even consider boring. The key is exposure to new ideas and ways of life.
Source: How Successful People Think

To appreciate others' ideas, you need to value other ideas

CNN

You can't think you're always right. Give other concepts a chance.
Source: How Successful People Think

Have an agenda -- for the day, and when you meet with people

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Too many people only plan for the day. Smart thinkers take time to plan out their weeks, months, and long-term goals -- and then they follow through.
They also don't walk into meetings, parties and coffee dates blind. They decide what they want to learn from people before walking through the door.
Source: How Successful People Think

Reflective thinking gives you perspective and confidence in your decision-making skills

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If you're not reflecting, it's holding you back more than you think.
As Socrates said, "An unexamined life is not worth living."
Source: How Successful People Think

Get over negative self talk. Winners think in terms of "I will" and "I can"

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Smart people don't see limitations. They see possibilities.
Former baseball star Sam Ewing once said that "nothing is so embarrassing as watching someone do something that you said could not be done."
Source: How Successful People Think

Creative people are dedicated to ideas

Meredith Galante/Business Insider

They embrace ambiguity, don't fear failure, and hang out with other creative people.
Source: How Successful People Think

Naturally optimistic people find it hard to be realistic thinkers

Elizabeth Bogner

A realistic perspective allows you to get close enough to a problem in order to tackle it. Facing potential consequences also helps you be more efficient, and it gives you credibility.
To become a more realistic thinker, you must: 1. appreciate the truth, 2. do your homework and get the facts, 3. think through the pros and cons, 4. consider the worst-case scenario, and 5. align your thinking with your resources.
Source: How Successful People Think

At the end of the day, it's important to remember we can all change the way we think

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"Learning how to master the process of thinking well leads you to productive thinking. If you can develop the discipline of good thinking and turn it into a lifetime habit, then you will be successful and productive all of your life."
Source: How Successful People Think

Smart people make good decisions

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Now read 14 facts about willpower and decision making >

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/how-successful-people-think-john-maxwell-2011-9?op=1#ixzz3cmknhkod