Skip navigation
Thinking for a Change
Book

Thinking for a Change

11 Ways Highly Successful People Approach Life and Work

Warner Books, 2003 more...

Buy the book


Editorial Rating

7

getAbstract Rating

  • Applicable

Recommendation

Anyone can apply the principles in John C. Maxwell’s book, in any business, in any circumstance, in any stage of life. Great thinkers have an unlimited capacity to achieve, and Maxwell tells you how to become one. While books of this nature are typically geared toward entrepreneurs or those in leadership roles, getAbstract recommends this book to any person who is committed to ongoing personal development and living life with purpose. You will benefit from learning more about the different specific thinking skills that have an impact on your daily decisions. Maxwell teaches an unusual skill: how to make conscious choices that shape your thoughts, your actions and, ultimately, your success. Think about it.

Summary

The Skill of Learned Thinking

Good thinking is a skill, and like any other skill, you can develop it deliberately and methodically. In fact, good thinking is comprised of 11 different thinking skills, all of which, when more fully developed and practiced, can lead to greater success in all areas of your life. The 11 thinking skills are:

Big-picture thinking

Learn continually. Expand your mind and look for opportunities to develop yourself, your knowledge and your experiences. Listen intentionally to discover something new, ask deliberate questions and try to understand situations from multiple perspectives. Look beyond your agenda and consider how your decisions affect others. Big-picture thinking enables you to lead, create visions and avoid getting bogged down. As a big picture thinker, consider how your actions affect others. See the potential in each situation.

Focused thinking

Focused thinking helps you zero in on a specific target or goal to derive new solutions or improvements, more fully develop an idea or product, or find a breakthrough solution to a problem. It helps you develop clarity and concentration, remove distractions, and set...

About the Author

John C. Maxwell, called America’s expert on leadership, is a New York Times bestselling author who has sold more than 10 million books. He communicates frequently to Fortune 500 companies and organizations such as the US Military Academy at West Point, NCAA, and NFL. Maxwell is the founder of The Maximum Impact Group, INJOY Stewardship Services and EQUIP.


Comment on this summary

More on this topic

By the same author

    Related Skills

    AI Transformation
    Be Emotionally Intelligent
    Become a Self-Driven Learner
    Become More Adaptable
    Become More Productive
    Build and Maintain Well-Being
    Career
    Communicate Effectively
    Develop Innovative Products
    Develop the Organization
    Drive AI Transformation
    Entrepreneurship
    Foster a Culture of Innovation
    Lead Operational Planning
    Live Well
    Manage Teams and Departments
    Management
    Marketing
    Sales
    Soft Skills
    Strengthen Team Collaboration
    Understand Innovation
    Workplace Skills
    Manage Your Leadership Impact
    Ask Questions
    Plan Your Career
    Set AI Vision & Strategy
    Communicate Corporate Strategy
    Set and Achieve Goals
    Personal Growth
    Advance Your Career
    Executive Leadership
    Cultivate a Growth Mindset
    Leadership
    Master Marketing Strategy
    Live Intentionally
    Plan and Strategize Your Sales
    Think Strategically
    Embrace Divergent Thinking
    Adopt a Learning Habit
    Innovation
    Communicate Strategically
    Overcome Challenges
    Develop Self-Mastery
    Innovate Strategically
    Take Other Perspectives
    Collaborate Creatively
    Facilitate Group Ideation
    Make Good Decisions
    Lead Yourself
    Master Logical Reasoning
    Promote Creativity
    Think Critically
    Understand Yourself
    Develop Self-Awareness
    Practice Mindfulness
    Translate Strategy into Action
    Cultivate Self-Discipline
    Generate Ideas
    Leverage Ambidexterity
    Understand Creativity
    Decide Under Uncertainty
    Challenge Assumptions
    Navigate Uncertainty
    Cultivate Curiosity
    Plan Strategically
    Be Creative
    Learn from Experience
    Enhance Your Focus
    Lead Strategically
    Develop Your Thinking Skills