First Line Friday #12: The Magic of Thinking Big

Thanks to Carrie at
Reading is My Superpower
for the Link-up

 

Title:  The Magic of Thinking Big
Author:  David J. Schwartz
Genre:  Self-Help/Business

 

 〰First Line〰

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Success means many wonderful, positive things. Success means personal property: a fine home, vacations, travel, new things, financial security, giving your children maximum advantages. Success means winning admiration, leadership, being looked up to by people in your business and social life. Success means freedom: freedom from worries, fears, frustrations, and failure. Success means self-respect, continually finding more real happiness and satisfaction from life, being able to do more for those who depend on you. Success means winning. Success --achievement--is the goal of life!

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Synopsis:  (From Goodreads) 

The Magic of Thinking Big gives you useful methods, not empty promises. Dr. Schwartz presents a carefully designed program for getting the most out of your job, your marriage and family life, and your community. He proves that you don't need to be an intellectual or have innate talent to attain great success and satisfaction, but you do need to learn and understand the habit of thinking and behaving in ways that will get you there.

 〰First Thoughts〰

I've checked this book out of the library and attempted to read it on several occasions.  Back when I first encountered Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University and his radio show, this was one of the books he recommended.  After the duds of Think and Grow Rich (see the review here) and Who Moved My Cheese, I'm growing a bit suspicious of Mr. Ramsey's recommendations.  The first line stated above doesn't give me much confidence in this volume either.  Success and achievement are the goals of life?  Where do service or community figure into his definition for success?  In other words, can "thinking big" include --as Zig Ziglar says--helping enough people get what they want and in turn, getting what you want?  Is this book going to be an exercise in self-absorption and win-at-all-cost thinking? If so, I may turn it back in to the library for the final time.

 

We'll see.

So, what's the first line of the book you're currently reading?