Every great act, invention or company started with a thought first. Every. Single. One. There’s so much power in the way you think. It creates your reality, and it’s the difference between getting what you want, or not, in business and life. They say the biggest journey you will ever take in your life is the one between your two ears.
Like Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t–you’re right.”
That’s why it’s so important to train your brain to think in a way that supports you, your dreams, and your bigger vision. On my quest to master the art of thinking powerfully, these are the things that have helped me on both a personal and professional level.
Never assume you have all the answers
Be open to new perspectives, no matter where they come from. Your new intern or your 5-year-old can give you insights you never expected, just as much as a mentor, CEO or coach. When you allow yourself to be open, you’ll be surprised at what comes your way and what you can do with it.
Be obsessed with learning, not the progress you can see
I got this one from Astro Teller, who’s the Captain of Moonshots at X, which is Google’s Moonshot Factory. He pointed out that many of us get stuck in the need to see progress, but so often you can get a lot further ahead by focusing on what you’re learning instead. How to do something, how not to, what’s missing, and so on are just as, if not more important than reaching a milestone or a goal.
Be okay with changing your mind
The worst thing you can do is keep doing what you’re doing when it clearly isn’t working. We all make decisions based on the information we have in front of us at the time, but that doesn’t mean we have all the information when we make the decision. When you learn something you didn’t know before, use the information! Knowledge isn’t power… using that knowledge is power! Changing your mind is exercising that power in the best way possible.
Celebrate failure
There’s so much fear around failure and it holds a lot of people back from doing the things they were meant to do. Failure is a learning opportunity. That’s it! And we already talked about how you want to be obsessed with learning, not the progress. When you fail, you might not have made progress in that specific area, but you’ve definitely learned something that will move you ahead in your future. That’s a win and it should be celebrated!
Let your mind wander
It sounds counterproductive to thinking powerfully, but nothing could be further from the truth. When you take a walk and let yourself imagine or just relax for a little while, your mind is able to connect the dots between ideas, which will deliver innovative solutions. Your brain can’t do that when your energy is all focused in one direction because it’s focused in one direction. That focus leaves no room for anything else. Letting your mind wander is when your best ideas will come!
Set your intention.
Even though letting your mind wander is a good thing, you don’t want to stay there all the time. That’s how people get lost and feel like they have no purpose. You need to think about the things you want, create your big vision and then set the intention or intentions that are going to take you toward it. That will keep you focused and on purpose, so you can make your big vision a reality.
Don’t focus on the how
This is where people trip up all the time. They can only see getting what they want in one way, and they miss all the other opportunities that show up for them. Instead, set your intention and then be open to it coming to you in a variety of ways. It’s kind of interesting how things show up for you when you’re open to multiple ways of making it happen.
Surround yourself with the right people
This has a massive effect on the way you think! If you want to think powerfully, surround yourself with the people who think that way. The more time you can spend with them, the more powerful your own thinking will be!
To Wrap It All Up
It is vital to train your brain to think in a way that supports you, your biggest dreams and your vision. Some ways you can do just that are by never assuming you have all the answers and by being okay with changing your mind, celebrating failure, and letting your mind wander. I’d love to hear how you master the art of thinking differently.
About the Author
Christan Hiscock is CEO & co-founder of Kardia. Kardia offers heart-centred community building, real estate acquisitions, financial advising, accounting services, mortgages, credit solutions and more. A business expert who has launched 17 impactful companies in the last four years, Hiscock mentors CEOs on finding fulfilment in business, finance fundamentals, investing, and more. He is on a personal mission to change the conversation in the business world, moving away from the pursuit of success, to focusing on fulfilment instead.
