Let me share something that completely changed my life as a student – a perspective shift that started when I picked up David Schwartz's "The Magic of Thinking Big." You see, while most of us are busy worrying about our next exam, there's an entirely different game being played by those who are willing to dream bigger.

The Student's Dilemma

I remember sitting in my room, surrounded by English Vocab and a half-finished summary for the upcoming history exam, when it hit me – I was thinking way too small. We often get caught in what Schwartz calls the "excusitis" trap. You know those thoughts: "I'm just a student," "I don't have enough experience," "Maybe after graduation..."

Sound familiar?

But here's what Schwartz taught me, and what I want to share with you:

Change the way you think

Think of your mind like prime real estate in a booming city. Every thought you allow to take up space either appreciates or depreciates in value. When Schwartz talks about the power of belief, he's not just throwing around motivational stuff. He's talking about a fundamental truth that successful students throughout history have leveraged.

Remember how Mark Zuckerberg didn't wait to finish Harvard before building Facebook? Or how Bill Gates saw the potential for personal computing while still in college? They understood something crucial – your current circumstances don't define your potential for impact.

The 6 Pillars of Big Thinking for Students

Let me break down how Schwartz's principles specifically apply to us as students:

Belief in Yourself (Despite Academic Pressure)

When you're drowning in exam stress, it's easy to lose sight of your bigger potential. But here's what I learned: It doesn’t matter what you (need to) learn, you can always find ways to make it matter in your life. That research paper? It could be the foundation of your future company. That group project? Your first leadership experience. That boring physics-homework? You’re exercising your discipline. There’s always some value hidden.

Action Cures Fear

You know that terrifying moment before presenting in class? Schwartz would say that's exactly where growth happens. Start doing something that requires you to go out of your comfort-zone. Maybe that’s volunteering to go first in presentations. Are you scared? Probably. But each time you do it, something magical happens – your confidence grows, and your dreams get bigger.

Think in Terms of Possibilities, Not Limitations

Stop focusing on what you don’t have yet and start asking: What can I do with what’s in front of me? You don’t need a big title or flashy credentials to make moves. Volunteer for something random. Start a side project that excites you, even if it’s messy at first.

Connection Dots

Let me share how I applied these principles in real student life. Instead of just studying for exams, I started connecting dots between different subjects, looking for innovation opportunities. When working on projects, I asked myself, "How could this solve a real-world problem?"

Building Your Big Thinking Muscle

Think of big thinking like training for a marathon (I know seems weird). You don't start by running 26 miles – you build up to it. Get me? Start with slightly bigger goals than what feels comfortable. Then expand them. When you get a 6 on that test, don't just celebrate – ask yourself, "What's next?"

The Future You're Building

Remember, every major innovation, every world-changing company, every revolutionary idea started with someone who dared to think beyond their current circumstances. Why not you? Why not now?

Student life isn’t just about making it to graduation—it’s about using this time to build something bigger. Think of these years as your time to experiment with ideas, failing fast, and learning even faster.

Starting Your Journey

Tonight, before you go to bed, take a moment to dream bigger. Ask yourself: "What would I do if I knew I couldn't fail?" Write it down. Then tomorrow, take one small step toward that vision.

Because here's the truth – the magic of thinking big isn't really magic at all. It's a skill, a choice, and most importantly, it's available to you right now, exactly where you are.

Remember: Your current status as a student isn't your limitation – it's your advantage.

Use it!

Cheers,

Jonas

P.S. The next time someone tells you to "be realistic," remember what Schwartz taught us – the biggest limits we face are usually the ones we place on ourselves. Break free from them, and watch how your world expands.