How Successful People Think

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Have you ever noticed how successful people just seem to see things differently? It’s not that they have more hours in the day or more natural talent — they just think in ways that open up possibilities most of us overlook.

How Successful People Think is a short read that quietly shifts how you approach everything — goals, relationships, work, and even faith.

Now, I should say up front — I’m not sharing this because I’ve mastered it. Far from it.
These aren’t polished lessons from a sage — just notes from a friend who’s trying to grow, and hoping they might spark something good in you, too.

Maxwell outlines eleven ways successful people think differently — and each one feels like a gentle nudge toward becoming a little more intentional, a little more hopeful, and a little more grounded. Today, I’ll walk you through a few of my favorites — the ones that challenged, inspired, and, if I’m honest, convicted me a bit too.

So pour yourself a cup of something warm, settle in, and let’s talk about what it really means to think like a successful person — from the inside out.

Chapter 1. Cultivate Big Picture Thinking

Big-picture thinkers zoom out before they zoom in. They step back from the chaos of daily life to see how today’s decisions fit into the larger story.

Most people wake up and think through their daily to-dos — some of us don’t even get that far. Others might plan in weekly chunks, checking boxes and hoping nothing slips through. Maxwell challenges us to think further than that. He recommends taking half a day each month to plan the next 40 days and a few days each year to plan annually — intentionally looking at your calendar like a chessboard in light of your goals.

I loved this because, honestly, I’ve always been proud of my ability to maximize a week’s 168 hours. I schedule, stack, and Tetris every minute… and yes, it often works. Until it doesn’t. The missing piece? Margin. Life, relationships, and unexpected opportunities don’t always fit neatly into my carefully mapped schedule. Big-picture thinking reminded me that planning isn’t just about filling every block — it’s about connecting what I do today to the bigger story I want to live, while leaving room for grace, rest, and the unforeseen.

So, just for a moment, think about your own schedule. Are you planning in a way that really serves your bigger story, or are you just filling the hours?

Chapter 2. Engage in Focused Thinking 

Maxwell’s advice here deeply resonated: he encourages us to carve out intentional thinking time. Not just for planning, but for reflecting, prioritizing, and deciding what deserves our attention. And the best part? It doesn’t have to be elaborate. Right now, I’m trying something simple — just driving in silence rather than listening to anything in the car. It’s tiny, but it gives my mind a chance to breathe and actually think.

It’s amazing how easily noise can crowd out clarity. For me, it’s usually a dinging phone, or the doom scroll on YouTube disguised as being “educational.” We think we’re being productive, but a lot of the time, it’s just activity without progress.

I’m guilty of jumping from one thing to the next, trying to check every box, and thinking busyness equals effectiveness. But focused thinking is the difference between just moving and actually moving in the right direction.

So here’s a little question for you to chew on: Are you giving yourself space to think clearly, or are you letting the noise of the day decide what matters most?

Chapter 3. Harness Creative Thinking 

Creative thinking isn’t about being “artsy” — it’s really about curiosity. It’s asking questions, exploring possibilities, and looking at things in ways others might not have considered.

My students are incredible sources of fresh ideas! Kids naturally think outside the box because they haven’t yet learned to squash themselves inside it. If they think something, it will come out of their mouths — and after a little refining, those ideas can become really valuable.

One day, one of my 4th grade classes decided to create a story together —no rules, just pure imagination. They stated spitballing wild ideas, and I couldn't believe how their creativity snowballed. What began as scattered thoughts slowly took shape into something far richer than anything my adult brain could've concocted. Guiding them through that process reminded me how powerful imagination really is —and how much we can learn when we let go of control and explore together.

Maxwell says that if you struggle with creative thinking, surround yourself with creative people — their mindset will rub off on you. And seriously, kids are perfect for that. Spend time with curious minds, and you’ll be amazed at how much it sparks your own thinking.

Chapter 4. Employ Realistic Thinking

Realistic thinking is all about weighing the pros and cons honestly and preparing for what might go wrong.

This one reminded me that realism isn’t negativity — it’s wisdom in work boots. It’s the kind of thinking that helps you see obstacles before they knock you off course, without stealing your hope or enthusiasm. Maxwell points out that thinking realistically doesn’t mean you’re a pessimist; it means you’re smart enough to plan for potholes while still keeping your eyes on the road ahead.

I follow a financial podcast that illustrates this perfectly. The hosts often talk about wearing “3D glasses.” When planning, you create three versions of a plan. 

• There’s the dream plan, where everything goes perfectly; 

• the down-to-earth plan, which is more likely; 

• and the doo-doo plan, where Murphy moves in and everything that can go wrong does. 

You never hope for the worst, but if it's at least considered, you won’t be taken off guard — and you might even be pleasantly surprised when things go better than expected.

I’ve learned the hard way that hope is beautiful, but it’s the plan that keeps a dream alive. Dreams without preparation can fizzle, and preparation without hope can feel lifeless. Realistic thinking is the sweet spot where both come together.

So here’s a little question for you: When you’re chasing a goal, are you dreaming blindly, or are you planning wisely for the bumps along the way?

Chapter 5. Utilize Strategic Thinking 

People often say, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” The same goes for the Twin Towers — 110 stories don't materialize without careful, deliberate, strategic planning. My students and I learned the details this year during our 9/11 study, and my inner nerd was completely fascinated! The towers' foundation work began with an extraordinary feat: digging a massive hole over 70 feet deep into Manhattan's bedrock. But that was just the beginning.

To prevent the Hudson River from flooding the site, engineers constructed a watertight barrier known as a "slurry wall." This wall was built by excavating narrow trenches, each about 3 feet wide and 70 feet deep, then filling them with a viscous clay mixture. Steel reinforcement was added, and concrete was poured to form a solid, impermeable barrier. This meticulous process created a "bathtub" — a subterranean basin that kept the river’s water at bay during construction and throughout the towers’ existence.

Only after securing this foundation could the actual towers be built. The North Tower rose to 1,368 feet, and the South Tower to 1,362 feet, each with 110 stories.

The strategic foresight paid off: these buildings supported tens of thousands of people daily for decades. In 1993, a terrorist bomb exploded in the underground parking garage of the North Tower. The blast caused significant damage, but the slurry wall and foundation held firm, preserving the structural integrity of the towers.

The lesson is clear: strategic thinking isn’t about rushing to the top. It’s about laying a strong foundation, anticipating challenges, and taking deliberate steps so that the structures — or goals — you’re building today can stand tall tomorrow.

Chapter 6. Explore Possibility Thinking 

Maxwell says, “Make your plans as fantastic as you like, because twenty-five years from now, they’ll seem mediocre.” That line stuck with me. Sometimes I hold back from dreaming big because I don’t want to risk falling short or being disappointed. But possibility thinking is really about asking, “What if this actually works?” and giving yourself permission to aim higher than you normally would.

I’ve found that when you set bold goals and throw everything you have at them, even if you fall short, you’ll still land further ahead than you would have by playing it safe. That’s the beauty of possibility thinking—it keeps you moving forward, even when things don’t go exactly as planned.

Still, there’s a balance to strike. I see it all the time in the classroom—kids dream of becoming professional athletes, famous musicians, or even president. Could it happen? Absolutely! Is it statistically likely? Not so much. The key is helping them learn how to pair big dreams with grounded action. That’s where real growth happens: when imagination meets strategy.

At home, my husband and I have these wild brainstorming sessions where any idea—no matter how outlandish—is fair game. Most of them go absolutely nowhere, but every once in a while, one sticks. And when it does, it’s usually something pretty special.

Possibility thinking, I’ve learned, is equal parts wonder and work. It’s what happens when you give yourself room to dream—and the courage to try.

Chapter 7. Learn From Reflective Thinking 

John Maxwell says, “Reflective thinking turns experience into insight.” I love that idea. It’s not the experiences themselves that make us wise—it’s taking the time to look back and actually learn from them.

I’ve seen this play out in my own life. When I was younger, I remember praying and asking God for wisdom about a specific situation. What I got instead was a string of disappointments that felt like anything but answers. About a year later, I was venting to my mom about how frustrating it all was, and she just smiled and said, “Well, you’re wiser now, aren’t you? Looks like He answered you.”

That stopped me in my tracks. She was right. All those setbacks had shaped me in ways I couldn’t see at the time. They weren’t wasted—they were my lessons in disguise.

I’ll admit, I’d much prefer to gain wisdom from books, mentors, or someone else’s story (and I do try!). But some lessons you can only learn by walking through them yourself—getting a little muddy, making mistakes, and then pausing long enough to notice what they taught you.

Now, I try to build that reflection into everyday life—asking simple questions like, What went well? What didn’t? What can I learn from this? It’s amazing how even a few quiet minutes of honest reflection can turn ordinary experiences into meaningful insight for the future.

Chapter 8. Question Popular Thinking 

Maxwell tells about his friend’s childhood teacher who took the class outside one day to look through a telescope. Each child took a turn, one by one. The first student said they couldn’t see anything, so the teacher made a small adjustment. After that, the next classmate nodded and said he “saw it,” and soon every other student claimed they could see perfectly — one after another, all agreeing that the view was great.

Finally, it was the turn of the boy standing right before Maxwell’s friend — the next-to-last student in line. He looked through the telescope and frowned. “I still can’t see anything,” he said. The teacher, a little frustrated, grabbed the telescope to check for himself… and discovered the lens cap had been on the whole time. Every single student before him had just gone along with the crowd.

That story made me laugh, but it also made me think. How often do we do the same thing — nodding along, agreeing, or pretending to understand something because everyone else seems to? Maxwell’s point is simple but powerful: following the crowd doesn’t guarantee you’re right. Sometimes the safest-seeming choice is actually the one that keeps you blind.

It’s not always easy to think differently or ask questions when everyone else seems certain, but growth requires a willingness to pause, think for yourself, and sometimes stand apart. After all, clarity only comes when you’re brave enough to remove the lens cap.

Chapter 9. Benefit From Shared Thinking

Maxwell reminds us that great thinking doesn’t have to happen alone. He’s intentional about finding wisdom wherever it appears — from a child, a taxi driver, or even someone he usually disagrees with. The source doesn’t matter; what matters is the strength of the idea itself.

I was reminded of this recently while reading Thomas Erikson’s Surrounded by Idiots, a book about understanding how different people think and communicate. It reinforced how powerful diverse perspectives can be. When we’re willing to listen, our thinking becomes richer, sharper, and far more effective.

Maxwell sums it up beautifully: “Some of my best ideas didn’t come from me at all — they came from a friend’s perspective that made mine stronger.” The takeaway? Two humble thinkers will always beat one proud genius. When we’re willing to learn from others, our ideas can grow in ways we never could have imagined. (If you missed the review of Erikson’s book, you can find it here.)

10. Practice Unselfish Thinking 

Maxwell reminds us that the highest level of success is significance — when what you do blesses more than just you. True success isn’t about one person winning at the expense of another; it’s about creating something that lifts everyone involved.

-If I win and you lose, I only win once.
-If you win and I lose, you only win once.
-If we both lose, the partnership is over.
-But if we both win, we build something stronger — a connection that grows and keeps producing shared success.

I’ve found this to be true in my own life. When I pause to consider how my actions impact others, the outcome is always richer — more lasting, more meaningful.

The takeaway? Unselfish thinking isn’t just admirable; it’s essential. It’s the foundation of lasting success and truly significant relationships.

11. Rely on Bottom-Line Thinking

This one hit me hard because it’s so easy to mistake motion for meaning. We fill our days with busy work, checking tasks off a list, and think we’re making progress — when sometimes we’re just spinning our wheels. Bottom-line thinking is about stepping back and asking the hard question: “What really matters here? What’s the real win?”

A simple approach my husband introduced to me is asking: “Will this matter in five years?” If the answer is no, it helps you zoom out, adjust your perspective, and keep your emotions from driving decisions that won’t have lasting impact. It’s a lesson I’m continually attempting to learn.

Maxwell teaches that bottom-line thinking keeps you focused on the actions and choices that make a real difference in your life, work, and relationships.

Last Thoughts

So, there you have it: eleven ways John Maxwell shows that successful people think differently — not because they’re superhuman, but because they choose to think on purpose.

I’m far from having them all figured out. I’m still learning to think bigger, deeper, and kinder. But this book gave me some gems I’ve been scribbling down for my own life — and I hope they might bless someone else too.

I’d love to hear from you: which of these ways of thinking stood out the most? And if you’d like to dive in for yourself, you can find the book here. That’s all for now — take care, stay curious, and I’ll see you next time. 🌿