There’s one question that must have popped into everyone’s mind at one time or another. Why is it that some people become world-class leaders, exceptional performers, and pioneers in their field when others plateau? What is it about Einstein, Newton, Henry Ford, and Elon Musk that enabled them to break the shackles and think on such a different tangent?
Isn’t it fascinating? So many people venture into a new field with hopes and aspirations. Many think their startup will change the world. Countless people feel they have ideas that can bring incredible transformations.
Yet, it’s not every day that the world sees people like Einstein, Newton, Henry Ford, and Elon Musk. Let’s try to figure out the secret and the common factor between all these great minds.
The Thinking Mechanism at Work in Einstein, Newton, Henry Ford, and Elon Musk
Einstein was initially disregarded as a failure. No one spared much thought to Newton. Henry Ford went bankrupt five times. Elon Musk faced ridicule when he originally presented his idea.
So none of them really had it easy. But there’s one thing common in all of them. They did not give up!
So if you are wondering how they think, we have the answer. Their mind is fixated on their goal. They don’t let others’ opinions get in the way of what they want to know. These people believed in breaking barriers. They push the societal boundaries and try to look at things from a fresh perspective.
These great thinkers believe there’s nothing unattainable. There’s an explanation for everything. There are opportunities everywhere. The important thing is not to let anyone distract you or convince you that your idea isn’t good enough.
But what made them so resilient? What enabled them to think with such courage and conviction? Don’t they ever get tired? Doesn’t their mind slow down? Here are a few tips we can extract from their journey.
There’s an explanation for everything. There are opportunities everywhere. The important thing is not to let anyone distract you or convince you that your idea isn’t good enough.
Taking a Break When Required
Let’s face it. These top performers and thinkers had more responsibilities than anyone else. After all, they are always on the brink of another great idea.
Yet, all of them always managed to step away when they felt it was getting too much.
They did not hesitate to slow down and invest in other activities. They focused on attaining long-term goals instead of being satisfied with immediate success. None of them really achieved much in a day. But their thinking enabled them to change the course of their lives.
We call this approach compounding your time. You have to determine what part of your life deserves more attention and can yield better results. Your productivity determines your success. It’s not about how many hours you put in during your work but rather how much you accomplish within a given timeframe.
Disconnecting from the Idea
Although you might think your idea is your identity, that’s never the case. Not every idea can be a success.
What you need is a vision. Initially, your idea might be dismissed as incredulous. But that does not say anything about your intelligence.
For instance, if Henry Ford had asked people in the early 1900s about the need for a car, his idea would have been met with disdain. People then did not need a car. They had no idea how cars could change their life.
His idea wasn’t silly but required long-term planning. He was clear that his vision had the potential to revolutionize the world. Hence, he didn’t let the negative feedback consume his identity.
What’s unique about the way great visionaries think? They don’t back down when their idea doesn’t get an immediate acceptance! They know that how their idea is received has no reflection on their intelligence.
Let the Journey Take Its Course
How Einstein, Newton, Henry Ford, and Elon Musk think is debatable. But one thing is definite. All of them had a clear path. They knew they wouldn’t be satisfied with just the ordinary. They had the quest to learn and conquer more.
But they did not let this goal consume them completely. Had they allowed stress to cloud their thinking, none of them would have achieved much. They did not try to change the world in a day. They worked on every step.
If you break your journey into short-term tasks, there’s a better chance of attaining success. Short-term focus makes your long-term goals more accessible.1
If you break your journey into short-term tasks, there’s a better chance of attaining success.
Practice Is the Key
It’s good to wonder how great performers think. But it’s even more crucial to understand how they act. Every great thinker aims to perfect their skills via practice. You have to give everything time to bear fruit.
And we don’t only mean deliberate practicing but also effective thinking. Manifest optimism into your thinking. You must think to change, and to do this; you have to learn to organize your thoughts and ideas.
Success Doesn’t Come Easy, No Matter How You Think
It seems now that people like Einstein, Newton, Henry Ford, and Elon Musk always had it easy. They had a great idea which was met with aplomb and gave them worldwide recognition in a jiffy. But that’s definitely not the case.
All of them had their share of struggles. Always remember, success never comes easy. It involves consistent and deliberate thinking. Don’t consider your failure as the end but as a lesson. Here are a few ideas that can change the way you think.
- Keep a journal which helps make you feel clearer and more focused.
- After all, Einstein wrote over 80,000 pages of notes throughout his life!
- Take naps throughout the day to enhance your awareness, memory, productivity, and learning.
- Indulge in practices that ease your mind.
Remember, every new road will have bumps and obstacles. But if, like Einstein, Newton, Henry Ford, and Elon Musk, you don’t let those bumps distract you, nothing can stop you.
