Do you think big and set big goals? Or you think small and set goals you are comfortable with pursuing? Well, in this article; I am going to share with you some reasons why you should think big and set big goals. “I intend to be, the richest man in the world.” – Howard Hughes One of the common traits shared by the drop out billionaires and richest people in the world is the ability to think big and set big goals. Now let me give you a practical illustration demonstrating the power of thinking big. Laskhmi Mittal built the largest steel producing company in the world; Mittal Steel. Mukesh Ambani built the biggest refinery in the world; Reliance industries. Aliko Dangote is Africa’s greatest industrialist and largest cement producer. He is also planning on building the largest refinery in West Africa. Donald Trump is one of the biggest real estate developers in the world. “Most people think small because most people are afraid of success, afraid of making decisions, afraid of winning. And that gives people like me a great advantage.” – Donald Trump Ingvar Kamprad built the largest furniture making company in the world; IKEA. Jeff Bezos built the world’s largest bookstore; Amazon. Do you think these accomplishments were a result of luck ? My answer is no. These great entrepreneurs had every reason to settle for less but they pressed on for bigger goals. If they hadn’t planned to be the biggest; they probably wouldn’t be there. “I was worth about over a million dollars when I was twenty-three and over ten million dollars when I was twenty-four, and over a hundred million dollars when I was twenty-five and it wasn’t that important because I never did it for the money.” – Steve Jobs My motive for writing this article is to challenge your perception. I want to use this article as a medium to open your mind to the tremendous power that lies in the art of thinking big. If you are an ardent reader of this business blog, then I believe you are aware of my personal goal to become a billionaire. I personally took up that goal because I love thinking big. “I like thinking big. If you’re going to be thinking anything, you might as well think big.” – Donald Trump Now why should you think big and set big goals ? The following tips will help change your perception towards goal setting. “I think I am very goal oriented. I’d like to win the America’s cup. I’d like Oracle to be the No 1 software company in the world. I still think it is possible to beat Microsoft.” – Larry Ellison The Magic of Thinking Big and why you should Set Big Goals 1. Thinking big forces you to challenge conventional wisdom Most people have been unconsciously programmed to abide by tradition and a certain mindset. Anything outside this mindset of theirs is termed “ impossible or outrageous. ” Examples of statements portraying conventional wisdom are: Go to school so you can get a good job and be secured. Don’t stand out from the crowd; blend in. Humans can’t fly. Be contented with what you have. But when you think big; you force your mind to challenge such limiting wisdom and your brain begins to fashion a way out. If the Wright brothers hadn’t thought big and set big goals; humans wouldn’t have been flying today in airplanes. If Columbus had agreed with conventional wisdom that the world is flat; I wonder what would have been of international trade today. If Bill Gates had followed the conventional wisdom of “ go to school and get a job”, I doubt if he would have been one of the richest men in the world. So never accept conventional wisdom without first giving it a thought. Think beyond conventional wisdom and it will be so. 2. Thinking big challenges you to go beyond your comfort zone “Being first is more important to me. I have so much money. Whatever money is, it’s just a method of keeping score now. I mean, I certainly don’t need more money.” – Larry Ellison When I set the goal to become a billionaire in my life time; I knew I was going way out of my reality. I felt uncomfortable because that goal seems like impossibility but I set it anyway and today, I am on the journey towards achieving such goal. That’s why I love thinking big and setting big goals; it pushes me beyond my own realm of possibilities. Now let me ask this question: have you ever been to heaven before? What real life proof do you have that heaven exists? Is heaven not beyond human reality and understanding ? Yet, billions of people hope and pray to enter heaven; a place they are not sure even exists. To me, wanting to go to heaven is a big goal which is absolutely okay but what baffles me is that while people are comfortable pursuing the goal to make heaven, they feel awful setting a big goal to be accomplished here on earth. Don’t be in this group; learn to think big for yourself. 3. Thinking big stirs your passion and enthusiasm How do you feel when you set a big goal? If you feel awful that you are gunning for something big, then you need to have your head re-examined. But if you feel excited and motivated, then you are on track. A big goal is meant to fire up your enthusiasm regardless of how challenging it is. 4. Thinking big unleashes your creative instinct Thinking big unleashes your creative instinct and helps you uncover ideas that will help you achieve your goal. When the Wright brothers toyed with the idea that humans could fly; their minds came up with the possibility of such idea becoming a reality. When I set the goal to become a billionaire ; I initially doubted the possibility. But as my mind began to absorb the goal; I began to see the possibility of achieving the goal and my mind came up with a lot of creative ideas that will help bring that goal to reality. 5. Thinking big challenges you to expand your means; rather than live below your means Have you heard the statement: “ live below your means ? Well, there’s nothing wrong with such statement but I believe that perception is for small thinkers and average achievers. Big thinkers don’t live below their means; they expand their means to suit the lifestyle they desire. Big thinkers are not contented with average results; they aim for excellence. So would you rather be a big thinker or you prefer to live in mediocrity? The choice is yours. 6. Thinking big gives you a purpose to live and die for Thinking big and setting big goals give you a purpose to live and die for. It gives you something worth pursuing. When John F. Kennedy set the goal to put a man on the moon; it became a purpose he live for and today, he’s remembered for that goal. When the Wright brothers conceived the idea that humans could fly; it became their life’s purpose. When Christopher Columbus set the goal to sail round the world despite the risk based on the assumption that the earth is flat; it became his life purpose. Every man has a purpose on earth; but you can only discover yours if you think big. 7. Thinking big eliminate impossibilities Lastly, the true magic of thinking big is in the breaking of impossibilities. Thinking big makes the impossible possible. That’s why Adidas said “ impossible is nothing. ” This statement is only true if you think big and go for it. To many, the goal to become a billionaire is out of their reality and an impossible mission. But to me, it’s achievable because I have a perception that accept big challenges. So when next you think about setting a goal or executing a project, think big and your thoughts will be brought into existence.

God Bless.

Exactly what I need this morning

iknwachi:
Do you think big and set big goals? Or you
think small and set goals you are comfortable
with pursuing? Well, in this article; I am
going to share with you some reasons why
you should think big and set big goals.
“I intend to be, the richest man in
the world.” – Howard Hughes
One of the common traits shared by the drop
out billionaires and richest people in the world
is the ability to think big and set big goals.
Now let me give you a practical illustration
demonstrating the power of thinking big.
Laskhmi Mittal built the largest steel
producing company in the world; Mittal Steel.
Mukesh Ambani built the biggest refinery in
the world; Reliance industries. Aliko Dangote
is Africa’s greatest industrialist and largest
cement producer. He is also planning on
building the largest refinery in West Africa.
Donald Trump is one of the biggest real estate
developers in the world.
“Most people think small
because most people are afraid
of success, afraid of making
decisions, afraid of winning. And
that gives people like me a great
advantage.” – Donald Trump
Ingvar Kamprad built the largest furniture
making company in the world; IKEA. Jeff
Bezos built the world’s largest bookstore;
Amazon. Do you think these accomplishments
were a result of luck ? My answer is no. These
great entrepreneurs had every reason to settle
for less but they pressed on for bigger goals.
If they hadn’t planned to be the biggest; they
probably wouldn’t be there.
“I was worth about over a
million dollars when I was
twenty-three and over ten million
dollars when I was twenty-four,
and over a hundred million
dollars when I was twenty-five
and it wasn’t that important
because I never did it for the
money.” – Steve Jobs
My motive for writing this article is to
challenge your perception. I want to use this
article as a medium to open your mind to the
tremendous power that lies in the art of
thinking big. If you are an ardent reader of
this business blog, then I believe you are
aware of my personal goal to become a
billionaire. I personally took up that goal
because I love thinking big.
“I like thinking big. If you’re
going to be thinking anything,
you might as well think big.” –
Donald Trump
Now why should you think big and set big
goals ? The following tips will help change
your perception towards goal setting.
“I think I am very goal oriented.
I’d like to win the America’s
cup. I’d like Oracle to be the No
1 software company in the world.
I still think it is possible to beat
Microsoft.” – Larry Ellison
The Magic of Thinking Big and
why you should Set Big Goals
1. Thinking big forces you to challenge
conventional wisdom
Most people have been unconsciously
programmed to abide by tradition and a
certain mindset. Anything outside this mindset
of theirs is termed “ impossible or
outrageous. ” Examples of statements
portraying conventional wisdom are:
Go to school so you can get a good job
and be secured.
Don’t stand out from the crowd; blend
in.
Humans can’t fly.
Be contented with what you have.
But when you think big; you force your mind
to challenge such limiting wisdom and your
brain begins to fashion a way out. If the
Wright brothers hadn’t thought big and set big
goals; humans wouldn’t have been flying
today in airplanes. If Columbus had agreed
with conventional wisdom that the world is
flat; I wonder what would have been of
international trade today.
If Bill
Gates
had
followed
the
conventional wisdom of “ go to school and get
a job”, I doubt if he would have been one of
the richest men in the world. So never accept
conventional wisdom without first giving it a
thought. Think beyond conventional wisdom
and it will be so.
2. Thinking big challenges you to go beyond
your comfort zone
“Being first is more important to
me. I have so much money.
Whatever money is, it’s just a
method of keeping score now. I
mean, I certainly don’t need
more money.” – Larry Ellison
When I set the goal to become a billionaire in
my life time; I knew I was going way out of
my reality. I felt uncomfortable because that
goal seems like impossibility but I set it
anyway and today, I am on the journey
towards achieving such goal. That’s why I
love thinking big and setting big goals; it
pushes me beyond my own realm of
possibilities.
Now let me ask this question: have you ever
been to heaven before? What real life proof do
you have that heaven exists? Is heaven not
beyond human reality and understanding ? Yet,
billions of people hope and pray to enter
heaven; a place they are not sure even exists.
To me, wanting to go to heaven is a big goal
which is absolutely okay but what baffles me
is that while people are comfortable pursuing
the goal to make heaven, they feel awful
setting a big goal to be accomplished here on
earth. Don’t be in this group; learn to think
big for yourself.
3. Thinking big stirs your passion and
enthusiasm
How do you feel when you set a big goal? If
you feel awful that you are gunning for
something big, then you need to have your
head re-examined. But if you feel excited and
motivated, then you are on track. A big goal is
meant to fire up your enthusiasm regardless
of how challenging it is.
4. Thinking big unleashes your creative
instinct
Thinking big unleashes your creative instinct
and helps you uncover ideas that will help
you achieve your goal. When the Wright
brothers toyed with the idea that humans
could fly; their minds came up with the
possibility of such idea becoming a reality.
When I set the goal to become a billionaire ; I
initially doubted the possibility. But as my
mind began to absorb the goal; I began to
see the possibility of achieving the goal and
my mind came up with a lot of creative ideas
that will help bring that goal to reality.
5. Thinking big challenges you to expand
your means; rather than live below your
means
Have you heard the statement: “ live below
your means ? Well, there’s nothing wrong with
such statement but I believe that perception
is for small thinkers and average achievers.
Big thinkers don’t live below their means;
they expand their means to suit the lifestyle
they desire. Big thinkers are not contented
with average results; they aim for excellence.
So would you rather be a big thinker or you
prefer to live in mediocrity? The choice is
yours.
6. Thinking big gives you a purpose to live
and die for
Thinking big and setting big goals give you a
purpose to live and die for. It gives you
something worth pursuing. When John F.
Kennedy set the goal to put a man on the
moon; it became a purpose he live for and
today, he’s remembered for that goal.
When the Wright brothers conceived the idea
that humans could fly; it became their life’s
purpose. When Christopher Columbus set the
goal to sail round the world despite the risk
based on the assumption that the earth is flat;
it became his life purpose. Every man has a
purpose on earth; but you can only discover
yours if you think big.
7. Thinking big eliminate impossibilities
Lastly, the true magic of thinking big is in the
breaking of impossibilities. Thinking big
makes the impossible possible. That’s why
Adidas said “ impossible is nothing. ” This
statement is only true if you think big and go
for it.
To many, the goal to become a billionaire is
out of their reality and an impossible mission.
But to me, it’s achievable because I have a
perception that accept big challenges. So
when next you think about setting a goal or
executing a project, think big and your
thoughts will be brought into existence.

I agree with all your well-laid out points except point 5 which seems to be suggesting that living below your means implies that you are not expanding your means. That you are living below your means does not in any way imply that you're not expanding your means. You can expand your means and still live well below your means. In fact, this is what smart people do that earns them millions or billions after some time.

It remains a financially sensible advice to live below your means..Living below your means implies ensuring your costs (which exclude investment, of course) fall below your income. This remains a sensible decision any day, any time. If your means go from 1 billion to 2 billion and your expenses increase from 200 million to 400 million, you have expanded your means, you're also living the kind of life style you desire and living below your means. This is what that conventional wisdom tries to teach.