Customer Reviews

Thinking for a Change: 11 Ways Highly Successful People Approach Life and Work

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Thinking For A Change is any easy, but thought provoking read. Thinking For A Change is broken down into two major sections.

The first section explores the premise that if you change your thinking you change your life. The second section of the book offers up eleven thinking skills and concrete ways to start applying these thinking skills. So the second section of the book contains the tools to change your thinking so you can change your life.

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

John Maxwell does a great deal more the talk about the thinking styles. He offers concrete examples of the styles in action and more importantly he shares many thoughts about the process and discipline of thinking. His insights transform a book on thoughts about thinking into a practical manual for the application of world class thinking. At the end of each chapter there are exercises designed to help you find the thinker in you and help you build momentum and experience in being a great thinker.

This is another great book from John Maxwell and has his signature style of examples, stories and great quotes to drive points home. I highly recommend Thinking For A Change.

This is the only new book I have ever read that I would recommend for absolutely everyone. Those who cannot read should have it read to them.

More effective thinking is the foundation for accomplishing whatever potential we and those we are in touch with have. Dr. Maxwell has created an effective book for "how" each of us can be better thinkers, role models and leaders. The title refers to two observations: One, most people go with the flow, the crowd or their emotions rather than thinking through their choices so good thinking is a change they should make; and two, making positive changes in your life requires thinking through your choices and acting on the best one.

Dr. Maxwell returns here to a subject he addressed in his first book, Think on These Things, written in 1979. The subject is central to him for his life has been illuminated by the observation of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:8, "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about those things." As a Christian minister, Dr. Maxwell cites the Bible as one source of examples, but people who are of different faiths and people who are not interested in spiritual matters will find the book relevant and valuable.

The book is comprised of two parts and an afterthought. The first part addresses how changing your thinking can change your life. The second looks in detail at 11 thinking skills that should be combined. The afterthought is to improve your effectiveness and that of any organization you are involved with by seeking out those whose thinking skills balance out your lacks of thinking skills. It's a powerful and important point!

The book has several structural strengths that will help you. Key observations are inset as quotes to help you see the big picture. Also, each chapter ends with a question or questions to help you assess what you need to work on to become a better thinker. Following that come action steps to help you start making the necessary changes. The lessons are captured both by logical argument and by compelling lengthy anecdotes of what both ordinary and famous people have done. The anecdotes are amazing in their depth and perceptiveness. Even when they were written about people I know well, I was struck that Dr. Maxwell captured nuances that I had missed in my understanding of these peoples' lives. For instance, Frances Hesselbein, the legendary former head of the Girl Scouts has a son but no daughters. She originally volunteered for the organization because of a need for more leaders in her community, even though her own family would not directly benefit. Dr. Maxwell also interweaves occasional references to his and other important books so that you can see how each perspective fits together in the context of this book. He is generous in his credit to others, which is part of what makes the book so credible. Finally, he cites his own experiences . . . both good and bad . . . rather than setting himself up as a model of perfection so that you can understand the struggles and potential solutions that may work for you. For example, his many references to how he uses his appointment calendar to improve his thinking made me realize more about the potential value of that tool for time management than any time management book that I have ever read.

Dr. Maxwell's argument for improving our thoughts goes something like this. If we change our thoughts, we can change our feelings and our focus. It's the quality of our thoughts . . . not the quality of our education that determines what we can accomplish. With better thinking, we can learn to focus on progress. That?s certainly been true in my life, and I enthusiastically endorse those observations.

What do most people think like now? Dr. Maxwell characterizes most thinking as being too small, scattered, restrictive, removed from reality, random, limited, impulsive, influenced by what is popular, disconnected from involving others in thinking, selfish and wishful.

He addresses each in a separate chapter, with lots of examples to encourage you to look at the big picture, be more focused on what's important, develop creative thoughts that are not restricted, consider realities that must be addressed rather than fantasies that are impossible, be strategic in focusing on what will make a difference, be open to possibilities that can lead to new solutions, reflect before acting on your impulses, look for innovative solutions rather than following the conventional wisdom, share your thinking with others to find better solutions, be unselfish, and keep the ultimate goals well in mind.

My own reaction to the book was to see more clearly my thinking strengths and weaknesses. I had never thought of the benefits of combining all of these characteristics into every thought. I came away with a clear idea of what I need to do differently, and found that I immediately began to change.

I recommend that everyone in a family or a work unit read this book at the same so that they can share helpful observations with one another. The 14 chapter topics would make for great separate discussions over lunch or dinner.

The best anecdote I have ever read about Jack Welch is in this book. He explains what a leader wants someone to do when they get an assignment to answer a question. Mr. Welch says that the leader wants the answer, but also wants value added to the answer and new questions that need to be addressed to provide more helpful dimensions to the original question. It's worth the price of the book for most people in business to just understand that section.

Donald Mitchell
Co-author of The 2,000 Percent Solution, The Irresistible Growth Enterprise, and The Ultimate Competitive Advantage

Maxwell describes eleven thinking process every person should utilize: big-picture thinking, focused thinking, creative thinking, realistic thinking, strategic thinking, possibility thinking, reflective thinking,critical thinking, shared thinking, unselfish thinking, and bottom-line thinking. He explains how these forms of thinking can empower you to fulfill your potential.

These are all valid forms of thinking, and learning about them is important to understand our thinking process. This is an excellent book and it should be read along with Dr. Rosalene Glickman's book, Optimal Thinking: How to Be Your Best Self. Optimal Thinking is the simple, peak form of thinking we use when our best self takes charge, and we are optimizing the present moment. Individuals and top corporations all over the world use Optimal Thinking to optimize thinking, emotions, resources, profits, relationships, strategies and choices. I recommend both of these books if you want to make the most of your personal and professional life.

John C. Maxwell's "Thinking For A Change" was very helpful in teaching me a few of the basics about leadership. He gives eleven main strategies for success in work and life. I think the book can be useful to everyone. You don't necessarily have to be a corporate leader to find it useful. I think it's one of those books you can read ten times, and always find something useful inside. I'm sure I will re-read it when I am further along in my career. I have not graduated from college yet, but it has already started me on a good thinking path. It is useful for business, but it is also useful in everyday life. Since I am not a "business person" yet, I can apply the theories to my life right now, and try to use and perfect them, so when I do enter the business world, I will hopefully have a good grasp on what it is to be a leader. Maxwell talks about big-picture thinking. Big-picture thinkers are never satisfied with their current knowledge, and they always want to learn more. Focused thinking develops and discovers new ideas. Creative thinking celebrate the off-beat and explore options. Realistic thinking is the difference between what is real in life and what we wish to be real. Strategic thinking is planning to make difficult things more simple. Possibility thinking is believing in all possiblities. Reflective thinking is looking back to analyze and learn from what has already happened. Popular thinking, in a way, is not thinking at all. Shared thinking is receiving feedback from others' thoughts as well as your own. Unselfish thinking is getting outside yourself and contributing to others. Bottom-line thinking is measuring the outcomes. These are all very basic explanations of each kind of thinking, but Maxwell goes into a lot of detail. He describes what each kind of thinking is, why it is helpful, and how to go about doing it. Then at the end of each chapter, he has a workbook section that you fill out. These questions and scenarios help you start thinking like the "thinker" described in that chapter. Maxwell uses these eleven strategies to help us understand how to be a good leader, and the workbook parts help us figure out how to put these types of thinking into action. Overall, I thought this book was very affective in teaching some basics about leadership, and I know it is one that i will be pulling off the shelf in the future time and time again.

Loved THINKING FOR A CHANGE
by John C. Maxwell, subtitled "11 Ways Highly
Successful People Approach Life and Work."

I kept taking notes on it and, in fact, my biggest challenge
will be to present my thoughts in just a few paragraphs here . . . the
author presents countless examples, but what makes them
so relevant is that they're all based on real companies and
individuals . . . in addition, he presents many relevant
quotes . . . and perhaps best of all, he concludes each chapter
with several questions that force you to reflect on what you've read.

Even if you've never thought too much about thinking, you'll get
a real feel for such things as:

Big-Picture Thinking--seeing the world beyond your own ideas and
how that leads to great ideas;

Focused Thinking--removing mental clutter and distractions to
realize your full potential;

Creative Thinking--stepping out of the "box" and making
breakthroughs;

Shared Thinking--working with others to compound results; and

Reflective Thinking--looking at the past to gain a better understanding
of the future.

There's much more, too . . . but to give you just a feel for some of the
many memorable passages, consider the following:

* Because of my workload, I also have to skip doing many things that
I would love to do. For example, every week I hand off projects that
I think would be fun to do myself. I practice the 10-80-10 principle
with the people to whom I'm delegating a task. I help with the
first 10 percent by casting vision, laying down parameters, providing
resources, and giving encouragement. Then once they've done the
middle 80 percent, I come alongside them again and help them take
whatever it is the rest of the way, if I can. I call it putting the cherry
on top.

* Creating additional thoughts is like taking a trip in your car. You may
know where you are going, but only as you move toward your
destination can you see and experience things in a way not possible
before you started. Creative thinking works something like this:
Think - Collect - Create - Correct - Connect

Once you begin to think, you are free to collect. You ask yourself,
What material relates to this thought? Once you have the material,
you ask, What ideas can make the thought better? That can start
to take an idea to the next level. After that, you can correct or
refine it by asking, What changes can make these ideas better? Finally,
you connect the ideas by positioning them in the right context to
make the thought complete and powerful. The whole process happens
more readily when you have a framework or picture of where you
want to go. That frees you to add value to your thinking. If you go
to the ideas, soon the ideas will flow to you.

* If possibility thinking is new to you, you're going to have to give yourself
a lot of coaching to eliminate some of the negative self-talk you may hear
in your head. When you automatically start listing all the things that can
go wrong or all the reasons something can't be done, stop yourself and
say, "Don't go there." Then ask, "What's right about this?" That will help
to get you started. And if negativity is a really big problem for you and
pessimistic things come out of your mouth before you've even thought
them through, you may need to enlist the aid of a friend of family member
to alert you every time you utter negative ideas.

By now Maxwell has earned and thus deserves a reputation for some excellent thinking about leadership. In this volume, somewhat of a departure from his usual concerns, he shares some excellent ideas about the thinking process itself. He asserts (and I wholly agree) that successful people think differently than do unsuccessful people. Specifically, he identifies and then carefully examines eleven different types of thinking. "Those who embrace good thinking as a lifestyle," he suggests, "understand the relationship between their level [and quality] of thinking and their level [and degree] of progress. They also realize that to change their lives, they must change their thinking." Agreeing with Abraham Maslow, Maxwell suggests that unsuccessful people focus their thinking almost entirely on survival, average people focus their thinking almost entirely on "maintenance' (i.e. keeping whatever they now have), and successful people focus their thinking entirely on progress.

Maxwell devotes a separate chapter to each of the eleven types of thinking: Big Picture, Focussed, Creative, realistic, Strategic, Possibility/Potentiality, Reflective, Popular (thinking which creates agreement, consensus, teamwork, etc.), Shared/Collaborative, Unselfish, and Bottom-line. According to Maxwell, his book "does not try to tell you what to think; it attempts to teach you [in italics] how to think." At the conclusion of each chapter, he thoughtfully includes a brief exercise which requires the reader to apply the key points in the chapter to her or his own circumstances. I have no problem with the fact that there is some redundancy in Maxwell's presentation of material. First of all, the eleven types of thinking are interrelated, interdependent. Strengthening one inevitably helps to strengthen the others. Also, certain key points need to be reiterated for purposes of both review and emphasis. Presumably Maxwell agrees with me that there is a compelling need for new thinking about how to change one's way of thinking. Metaphorically, we need both new wine AND new bottles but also new, better ideas about the process of producing wine.

Paradoxically, as the prophet Eccelesiastes asserts, "there is nothing new under the sun." I am not damning with faint praise when suggesting that there is (essentially) nothing new in Maxwell's book. Almost all of the key concepts in this book can be found in the works of Aristotle, Marcus Aurelius, Immanuel Kant, William James, and others. (Maxwell duly acknowledges a wealth of resources.) For me, the great value of this book is not derived from any original insights offered by Maxwell; rather, from his brilliant organization and presentation of essentially fundamental ideas about the process of thinking clearly on so many different levels, from so many different points of view. This may well prove to be his most important contribution to our understanding of what can and should be accomplished by more effective use of the abundant resources which are already available...between our two ears.

I thoroughly enjoy reading John Maxwell's works, and this latest volume is no exception. He opens in his first three chapters with a presentation of why it is important to use good thought processes. He then proceeds in the main body of the book to describe eleven cognitive skills every person should possess: big-picture thinking, focused thinking, creative thinking, realistic thinking, strategic thinking, possibility thinking, reflective thinking, critical thinking, shared thinking, unselfish thinking, and bottom-line thinking.

While Maxwell has written at least one previous book on attitude, this work pertains to attitude and goes further to address effective patterns of reasoning. I personally appreciate the author's Christian perspective, although non-Christians could benefit by much if not all of what he has to share.

Maxwell is tops when it comes to cultivating leadership skills. Anyone in a management/leadership position would do well to read this one. Get it and see if you think the same!

"Everything begins with a thought." Or so says John Maxwell in this excellent book.

If you need a new way of thinking about anything, "Thinking for a Change" will give you the inspiration you are looking for. One or more of the eleven skills he discusses will fit nearly every situation you encounter. If you can internalize those skills, you will never be short of good ideas.

Mr. Maxwell has a pleasant writing style and a lot of good insight. I really enjoyed the wide range of sources he used for his anecdotes.

This book got me thinking about thinking, reinforced what I was already doing, and gave me new skills for finding solutions and ideas for a variety of situations.

Look around, and you will see that a lot of people in our society don't think. Our television shows have laugh tracks to tell us when something is supposed to be funny. Our coffee cups now warn us that the contents may be hot. Labels on our hair dryers remind us not to use them underwater. We are so used to having someone else do our thinking. What would happen if we woke up and started...thinking for a change?

Right away Maxwell establishes that successful people think differently than unsuccessful people. In Part I, he develops a foundation by explaining the merits of good, changed and intentional thinking. Part II reveals the 11 ways that successful people think -- big-picture instead of small, focused instead of scattered, creative instead of restrictive, realistic instead of fantasy, strategic instead of random, possibility instead of limited, reflective instead of impulsive, innovative instead of popular, shared instead of solo, unselfish instead of selfish, and bottom-line instead of wishful.

Each chapter explains one of these facets of thinking and allows you to evaluate yourself in each area. Maxwell then gives you action steps to develop that type of thinking in your life. This is an excellent resource to help you jump-start and expand your thinking beyond where it is today. If you are ready for a change, this book will get you thinking...for a change.

Larry Hehn, author of Get the Prize: Nine Keys for a Life of Victory

Finally, finally - an innovative self-help book that delivers the goods. Reminds me of the impressive work of Laura Lewis or 'Undoing Yourself' by Hyatt.

Written with great authority and insight, "Thinking for a Change" forces you to do just that, which means comfortably setting down the other ten books recommended by your favorite talk show host and going with something truly self-empowering in a UNIQUE way.

Thanks for the change!