I looked at this script with pessimism as I assumed this was another book white-washed with old recycled ideas. However, it didn't turn out to be so. John Maxwell brought forth his ideas with sincerity and honesty -- yes, there were a few old ideas but the manner in which he presented those ideas and the method he used to make his readers understand his concepts, made this book a worthwhile investment.
Maxwell divides the most important skills into Big Picture Thinking, Focused Thinking, Creative Thinking, Realistic Thinking, Strategic Thinking, Possibility Thinking, Reflective Thinking, Questioning Popular Thinking, Shared Thinking, Unselfish Thinking and Bottom Line Thinking. Each has an essential function in our thinking world. Each must be balanced against the others. Each is about understanding the kind of thinking used and developing the discipline to use that mode of thinking effectively.
Ideas you can use from this book:
1. If you want to be a better thinker you must work at it. Once you become a better thinker the ideas just keep coming.
2. Good thinkers solve problems. They never lack for ideas that can build an organization and they always hope for a better future.
3. Find a regular time and place to think and stick to a schedule. Write down your thoughts which capture them for implementation and builds clarity.
The eleven thinking skills Thinking For A Change offers are as follows:
1. Acquire the wisdom of big-picture thinking - does my thinking extend beyond me and my world
2. Unleash the potential of focused thinking - concentrate to find clarity on the real issues
3. Discover the joy of creative thinking - get out of the box and find break through thinking
4. Recognize the importance of realistic thinking - does my thinking have a solid mental foundation
5. Release the power of strategic thinking - is my thinking leading to plans for today that help me reach my potential tomorrow
6. Feel the energy of possibility thinking - possibility thinking can help you find solutions to even the difficult problems
7. Embrace the lessons of reflective thinking - am I revisiting the past to gain understanding and learn from what happened
8. Question the acceptance of popular thinking - am I rejecting the limitations of common thinking
9. Encourage the participation of shared thinking - am I engaging others to expand and sharpen my thinking
10. Experience the satisfaction of unselfish thinking - am I considering others and their needs
11. Enjoy the return of bottom-line thinking - am I staying focused on results
Personally, I didn't see any drawback to this good piece of original thinking other than once you have read it -- it is not something that can drastically change your life or make a big difference to it. It is a book that makes you think.
So go ahead and buy it if you feel the need to explore old and new ideas of thinking like successful people.
Overall Rating
7 out of 10.
Loy Machedo
loymachedo.com | loymachedo.tv
