Successful people think about what they want and Meaning Factcheck Usage
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Successful people think about what they want… and that’s the whole secret, really. It’s not about being lucky; it’s about where you consistently point your mental focus. Let’s break down why this simple idea is so powerful.

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Table of Contents

Meaning

The core message is brutally simple: your focus determines your reality. What you consistently think about is what you move towards.

Explanation

Look, I’ve seen this play out for years. It’s not some mystical law of attraction. It’s a practical, cause-and-effect system. When your mental energy is spent on your goals and the actionable steps to get there, you’re essentially programming your brain’s Reticular Activating System (RAS) to spot opportunities you’d otherwise miss. You’re not just *hoping* for a result; you’re actively building a filter for your reality that highlights the “how.” Unsuccessful people? Their mental chatter is dominated by what they *fear*, what they *don’t have*, or why they *can’t* do something. It’s a fundamental difference in mental diet. It’s the difference between driving with a clear destination in your GPS versus just circling the block, complaining about the traffic.

Quote Summary

ContextAttributes
Original LanguageEnglish (3668)
CategorySuccess (341)
Topicsfocus (155), mindset (133), vision (38)
Literary Styleclear (348), insightful (43)
Emotion / Moodoptimistic (116), strategic (66)
Overall Quote Score83 (302)
Reading Level59
Aesthetic Score81

Origin & Factcheck

This comes straight from Brian Tracy’s 1988 book, The Psychology of Selling. He’s a Canadian-American motivational speaker and self-development author. You sometimes see this sentiment floating around unattributed, but the specific phrasing is Tracy’s, born from his work in sales training and personal effectiveness.

Attribution Summary

ContextAttributes
AuthorBrian Tracy (375)
Source TypeBook (4032)
Source/Book NameThe Psychology of Selling (65)
Origin TimeperiodContemporary (1615)
Original LanguageEnglish (3668)
AuthenticityVerified (4032)

Author Bio

Brian Tracy, a prolific author gained global reputation because of his best seller book list such as Eat That Frog!, Goals!, and The Psychology of Selling, and created influential audio programs like The Psychology of Achievement. He is sought after guru for personal development and business performance. Brian Tracy International, coaches millions of professionals and corporates on sales, goal setting, leadership, and productivity.
Official Website |Facebook | X | Instagram | YouTube |

Where is this quotation located?

QuotationSuccessful people think about what they want and how to get it most of the time
Book DetailsPublication Year/Date: 1988; ISBN: 978-0785288060; Last Edition: HarperCollins, Revised Edition 2006; Number of Pages: 240
Where is it?Chapter 67: Thought and Action, Page 67 / 240

Authority Score97

Context

In the book, this isn’t abstract life advice. It’s a sales tactic. Tracy argues that top salespeople are obsessed with their goals (their quotas, their desired income) and are constantly thinking about the next call, the next presentation, the next closing technique. It’s about cultivating a mindset of proactive pursuit, not reactive problem-solving.

Usage Examples

So how do you actually use this? It’s about shifting your internal monologue.

  • For an Entrepreneur: Instead of thinking, “I’m afraid my startup will fail,” the focus becomes, “What is the one key action I can take today to get our first ten paying customers?”
  • For a Job Seeker: The thought shifts from “I’ll never find a good job” to “How can I tailor my resume for this specific role, and who in my network can I contact for a referral?”
  • For a Team Leader: It’s moving the team’s conversation from “This project is a mess” to “What are the three priority tasks we need to complete this week to get back on track?”

It’s a tool for anyone feeling stuck—salespeople, managers, artists, you name it.

To whom it appeals?

ContextAttributes
ThemeWisdom (1754)
Audiencescoaches (1277), entrepreneurs (1006), leaders (2619), sales people (228), students (3111)
Usage Context/Scenariogoal-setting workshops (40), leadership development (85), motivation programs (15), strategic planning sessions (1)

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Motivation Score90
Popularity Score87
Shareability Score88

FAQ

Question: Isn’t this just positive thinking?

Answer: No, and this is a crucial distinction. Positive thinking is about the *emotion*. This is about *cognition* and *action*. It’s goal-oriented thinking. You can be thinking very clearly and strategically about a tough problem without being “positive,” but you’re still focused on “what you want and how to get it.”

Question: What about obstacles? Do you just ignore them?

Answer: Absolutely not. You think about them *in the context of the solution*. The obstacle isn’t the focus; it’s a variable in the “how to get it” equation. The mental question is “How do I overcome or navigate this?” not “Why is this happening to me?”

Question: How do you stop thinking about what you don’t want?

Answer: You don’t “stop” it. You *replace* it. It’s a muscle. You catch yourself in a negative loop and consciously pivot the thought. “I’m terrible at public speaking” becomes “What’s one skill, like storytelling or breathing, I can practice to become a more confident speaker?” It feels forced at first, then it becomes habit.

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