How many times have we seen the result of thinking big? Too many times! Without fail, there will always be the instances of those who have tremendous accomplishments, amazing feats, and incredible outcomes after taking time to carefully plan. In fact, Wilfred Peterson once said that “Big thinking precedes great achievement.”
What is it about those who bring to the table cutting edge solutions? Do they have some magical powers? Are there typical ways that we can learn from their contributions?
Just looking at the history books, there are examples of those who took the time to think bigger than their circumstance. For instance, a once-captive Nelson Mandela later found peace within and unprecedented tenacity that propelled him to become president of South Africa. And who can overlook the inventions and projections made by Leonardo da Vinci? His contributions to science and the arts have endured throughout history.
Similarly, the late first lady Eleanor Roosevelt made significant contributions beyond the expectation of tradition roles for the wife of a president. She repeatedly established programs for the poor, people of color, and women. Through her collaborations with community-based organizations she found ways to expand numerous programs that have been sustained over the years.
One common element with all these leaders is that they imagined a reality beyond their current conditions. They took time to explore new horizons without even seeing the light in the distance. Each was perpetually attentive to finding balance within and honoring their genuine perspectives. And at the end of the day, they each found the courage to follow their dreams despites the odds and adversity.
It is great to know that there just a few leaders who became an inspiration for all leaders by just starting where they were. At the end of the day, we can all remember a simply formula: To be big, just start thinking big.
