A Life Stuck in Small Thinking
Hyderabad, 2018.
Anirudh sat at his office desk staring at the same Excel sheet he had been updating for hours. His job as a junior accounts officer paid the bills, but every day felt like an endless loop of routine. He often told himself, “At least I have a stable job. Others have it worse.”
But deep down, he knew he wasn’t happy. His friends were starting businesses, switching careers, or pursuing higher education abroad. Anirudh, on the other hand, convinced himself he wasn’t smart enough, rich enough, or “lucky” enough to do something big.
At night, when he returned to his small rented apartment in Ameerpet, he scrolled through social media, seeing stories of entrepreneurs, writers, and self-made achievers. Instead of inspiration, he felt envy mixed with resignation.
His father once told him, “Beta, play safe. Don’t risk too much.” And that’s exactly what Anirudh did — until life threw him a curveball.
In early 2019, his company announced downsizing. Though he kept his job, many colleagues were laid off. For the first time, Anirudh realized: stability was an illusion. If he didn’t take charge of his life, he might remain stuck forever.
The Turning Point – Discovering The Magic of Thinking Big
One evening, while browsing in a second-hand bookstore near Abids, Anirudh stumbled upon a slightly worn copy of The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz. The subtitle caught his eye:
“Acquire the secrets of success… achieve everything you’ve always wanted: financial security, power, influence, the ideal job, satisfying relationships.”
Curious, he flipped through the pages. The very first lesson — “Believe you can succeed and you will” — struck him like lightning.
For years, Anirudh had been trapped by disbelief: “I can’t do this… I don’t have the background… I’m not lucky.” But Schwartz’s words made him pause:
“Belief, strong belief, triggers the mind to figure out ways and means.”
That night, Anirudh bought the book. Little did he know, this decision would mark the start of his transformation.
Implementation Phase – Applying the Principles Step by Step
As Anirudh devoured each chapter, he decided to test the lessons in real life. Here’s how he applied them:
1. Believe You Can Succeed and You Will
Instead of repeating “I can’t,” Anirudh began affirming: “I can build a better future. I can achieve financial freedom.”
He wrote these words on sticky notes and placed them on his mirror and laptop. Slowly, this belief reshaped his confidence.
👉 Takeaway for Readers: Write one empowering belief today and repeat it daily until it becomes part of your mindset.
2. Cure Yourself of Excusitis
Earlier, Anirudh’s excuses were endless: “I’m not good with numbers beyond accounting,” or “Business is only for the wealthy.”
Inspired by the book, he created a journal called “Excuse Killer.” Every time he caught himself making an excuse, he wrote it down — and countered it with an action.
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Excuse: “I don’t have time.”
Counter: Wake up 30 minutes earlier to learn a new skill. -
Excuse: “I don’t have money.”
Counter: Start with free resources online.
This small shift helped him reclaim control of his life.
👉 Takeaway for Readers: Start an “Excuse Journal” and replace each excuse with one actionable step.
3. Don’t Sell Yourself Short
Anirudh always thought of himself as “average.” But the book reminded him: successful people think more highly of themselves.
He decided to upgrade his self-image. Instead of just being an “accounts officer,” he saw himself as a future entrepreneur in financial services. This change in identity motivated him to enroll in evening classes on mutual funds and personal finance.
👉 Takeaway for Readers: See yourself as who you want to become, not just who you are today.
4. Be an Activationist – A Doer, Not a Dreamer
Anirudh realized he had spent years planning and wishing, but rarely acting. Schwartz’s call to “be a doer” struck home.
He started small — offering free financial planning advice to two colleagues. Their positive feedback gave him confidence. Within months, he began consulting small families in his community, charging nominal fees.
👉 Takeaway for Readers: Pick one idea you’ve been delaying. Take one step toward it today — however small.
5. Use Goals to Help You Grow
Instead of drifting, Anirudh set a bold 3-year goal: achieve financial freedom by building his own financial consultancy.
He broke this down into milestones:
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Year 1: Build knowledge and 10 paying clients.
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Year 2: Expand to 50 clients and start a blog.
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Year 3: Scale to 200+ clients and quit his job.
He reviewed these goals weekly, tracking progress like a coach monitoring a player.
👉 Takeaway for Readers: Write one long-term goal and break it into smaller, measurable milestones.
The Breakthrough – When Everything Changed
In late 2020, a major turning point arrived. One of Anirudh’s colleagues, impressed with his advice, referred him to a housing society looking for a financial awareness workshop.
Nervous but determined, Anirudh prepared using positive self-talk and visualization techniques from the book. He stood tall, dressed sharp, and used optimistic, powerful words.
The workshop was a hit. Within weeks, 15 families signed up for his consulting service. For the first time, Anirudh realized: “This is working. My big thinking is creating real results.”
That was the cross-over point. From an “average employee,” he was now building a thriving consultancy.
Life After Change – The New Anirudh
By 2022, Anirudh had quit his corporate job. His consultancy had grown to 250 clients, and he launched a YouTube channel simplifying personal finance for young Indians.
His income was now triple what he earned at his job. More importantly, he had freedom — time to travel, spend with family, and invest in personal growth.
Friends who once pitied his “safe life” now came to him for advice. Anirudh had gone from invisible to influential.
Reflection – Anirudh’s Advice to Readers
Looking back, Anirudh often says:
“The biggest prison is small thinking. Once I started thinking big, everything changed — my confidence, my actions, my results. If one book can do this for me, it can do it for you too.”
His advice:
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Believe in yourself even when others doubt you.
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Kill excuses — they’re success killers.
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Act boldly, even if you start small.
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Set clear goals and review them often.
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Surround yourself with people who encourage big thinking.
Call to Action
Inspired by Anirudh’s journey? This is just one story in our Book to Life series.
Pick up The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz today and take the first step toward your own transformation. Don’t wait for the “right moment” — start now, and let your belief and actions rewrite your story.
👉 For more self-growth strategies and financial freedom tips, visit www.mycashflowhub.com or call 885-511869 for a free consultation.
Disclaimer
This story is hypothetical and created only for the purpose of showing how concepts from The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz can be applied in real life.
