The art of thinking

By Engr. Carlos V. Cornejo

(Part I)

There was a study made long ago that an average person only uses 10% of his mind in his lifetime.  The bad news is, there is a newer study that claims that it’s even worse than that.  It’s actually just 2% and the rest of the 98% remains untapped or unused.  And how much is this 2% being used?  For conversations at home and work.  For messaging and tweeting.  For watching TV and other devices that have screens.  But nowadays it’s not even wholesome conversations anymore that occupies most of the average person’s day but it’s watching a screen whether a smartphone, a computer or a TV for at least 5 hours a day.  It might have been productive if the thing watched is something informative or educational but unfortunately, it’s useless or have no significant contribution to one’s life.  And since it’s done on a daily basis, it becomes a habit.

I’m mentioning this screentime vice because it takes us away from one of the most important good habits we should have been practicing: thinking.   The habit of thinking has the greatest consequence in our life.  The quality of our thinking determines the quality of our decisions and choices in life.  And the quality of our decisions and choices, determines the quality of the actions we undertake.  And the actions we take determines the results or the things that happen in our life.  And these results determine the quality of our life.  And it all starts with thinking.  And so here are Brian Tracy’s 3 Types of Thinking practiced by leaders or successful individuals.

Short-Term Thinking vs Long-Term Thinking

Average or unsuccessful people are stuck in thinking short-term.  They think of immediate gratification.  And as a result, they do time wasting activities such as the ones I’ve mentioned.  Successful people however think long-term.  They make long-term plans or they make long term goals.  These people study courses or read books in order to develop skills for the long-term.  The more you think long term, the more guaranteed you are to move up in life, in your work and income.  A Harvard study conducted for 50 years says that whatever your current status in life, if you think ahead 5 to 10 years, and would be willing to sacrifice fun and pleasure in order to work and prepare yourself for your plans, then you are guaranteed to have a wonderful future.  The ones who think long term are the ones who move up higher in the ladder of success.

Uninformed Thinking vs Informed Thinking

Uninformed thinking is when we act without enough information.  The probability of making mistakes for this type of action is quite high.  Informed thinking is where we gather all the information in advance before we make our decision.  Informed thinking therefore requires discipline, patience, slow thinking and long-term thinking.  The people who rise to the top are informed thinkers.  Informed thinkers keep asking questions, do research, and even hire consultants.   They ask for advice and sometimes one piece of advice from an experienced person in a particular area can change your thinking completely.  Thomas Edison said, “Thinking is the most important thing we do and the most difficult, that’s why most people don’t do it.”  Thinking requires we set aside time for it, put down our smartphones or stop whatever we are doing and start thinking.  More of this in the next article.