The Art of Thinking BIG

The little things matter.  In fact, many times, it is the littlest of things that can make the biggest difference in our success.  This is one thing I've learned in hosting the Misfit Entrepreneur.  It's amazing how the little details can make such a big difference.  But, the trick is that the little details are only important in the context of going after something truth big and worthwhile.  

Most people think small.  In fact, most don't think beyond the next 10 minutes in their lives - especially in the instant gratification world we live in.  And for most this is just fine.  But, for some of us, it's not.  We want to do big things, make tremendous impacts, and have our chance at potentially changing the world around us.  

To do that, we have to think BIG and thinking BIG is an art unto itself.  Here are 3 things I've learned in my life on how to truly think big.

The first step to thinking big or bigger than you do now is to stop thinking.  Wait, what?  In order to think big, you need to get your mind out of the way and out of the day to day and let it wander.  We get so bogged down, by the minute by minute things in our lives that they consume our thoughts throughout the day.  In order to get to a place where you can think big, you have to get out of that day to day and let your mind have the ability to go big and look at life, the world, business, etc. without the distractions.  In order to do this right, you need to schedule the time for it.  I suggest at least 4 hours a week and in one block where you don't let yourself be interrupted.  For example, every Friday from 1pm-5pm or whatever works in your schedule.  

The second step in thinking big or bigger is to change your state and location.  If you schedule your 4 hours and do it at the desk you do your work from all week long, your brain will not focus on the bigger things.  It will instead do what it's been trained to do at your desk - work on the day to day and those things that you do at your desk.  If you truly want to give your mind the opportunity to think bigger.  You have to change your state and location.  By changing your state, I mean getting out of anything that resembles your normal day to day.  And by location, I mean doing this in a place that you don't normally work.  It could be going to a park and splitting time between walking trails and writing in a journal.  Or going to the library and grabbing a room with a white board.  Whatever you do, do not do your "thinking big time" in the same place and state where you work daily.

The third step is to keep track and share it with others that think big as well.  Keep a journal of your ideas and what happens in your weekly sessions.  Take some time to review it each week before you begin your thinking time.  Be open to sharing it with those that think big like you as well.  Better yet, schedule separate time with them to have a thinking session together and share your ideas and discuss them.

Remember, everything begins with an idea.  Every business begins with an idea.  The United States began with an idea.  Ideas are what change the world.  And those ideas come from brains like yours thinking big, so take the time to let your brain do what it was designed to do - Think BIG!