July 13, 2025

MM#422--How Do Successful People Think

FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text Message What makes successful people think differently? In this powerful episode of Theory to Action, we explore the strategic thinking methods of John Maxwell from his book "How Successful People Think" that can transform how you approach challenges in your life. Maxwell teaches us that strategic thinking takes what seems overwhelming and breaks it down into manageable pieces. "Anything becomes simpler when it has a plan," he writes, ech...

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FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text Message

What makes successful people think differently? In this powerful episode of Theory to Action, we explore the strategic thinking methods of John Maxwell from his book "How Successful People Think" that can transform how you approach challenges in your life.

Maxwell teaches us that strategic thinking takes what seems overwhelming and breaks it down into manageable pieces. "Anything becomes simpler when it has a plan," he writes, echoing the wisdom of Navy SEALs Jocko Willink and Leif Babin who emphasize keeping things simple for maximum effectiveness. When we break complexity into clarity, we create actionable pathways forward instead of remaining paralyzed by overwhelm.

The second key to successful thinking lies in developing systems—which Maxwell defines brilliantly as "good strategies repeated." His personal filing system of 1,200 categorized quotes, stories, and articles serves as a perfect example of how organization creates freedom. Rather than starting from scratch each time he prepares a speech, Maxwell's system allows him to quickly access relevant material. This parallels our own robust searchable database at Team Mojo Academy, where over 500 episodes of wisdom await your exploration.

These two principles—breaking down complexity and creating repeatable systems—form the foundation of strategic thinking that leads to a flourishing life. Like virtues and positive habits, good strategies repeated consistently yield compounding results over time. What complex challenge could you break down today? What system might help you repeat your best strategies? The path to thinking like successful people is clear: simplify the complex, systematize the effective, and watch your life transform.


Key Points from the Episode:


• John Maxwell's filing system with 1,200 files demonstrates effective organization for speaking and writing
• Complex issues become manageable when broken down through strategic thinking
• Simple plans are the most effective plans, as taught by Navy SEALs Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
• Successful people create and use systems to repeat good strategies
• Good strategies repeated function similarly to good virtues and habits practiced consistently
• The Team Mojo Academy website features a robust search function across 500+ episodes

Be sure to check out our show page at teammojoacademy.com, where we have everything we discussed in this podcast, as well as other great resources.

Other resources: 


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00:00 - Welcome to Theory to Action

00:52 - Strategic Thinking from John Maxwell

02:03 - Breaking Complexity into Simplicity

03:05 - Power of Systems and Good Strategies

06:27 - Key Takeaways and Closing Thoughts

WEBVTT

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Welcome to the Theory to Action podcast, where we examine the timeless treasures of wisdom from the great books in less time, to help you take action immediately and ultimately to create and lead a flourishing life.

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Now here's your host, David Kaiser.

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Flourishing life Now.

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here's your host, david Kaiser.

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Hello, I am David, and welcome back to another Mojo Minute.

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As is our custom, let's go to our first poll quote.

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Strategic thinking, then, takes complex issues and long-term objectives which can be very difficult to address and breaks them down into manageable sizes.

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Anything becomes simpler when it has a plan.

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Strategic thinking can also help you simplify the management of everyday life.

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I do that by using systems which are nothing more than good strategies repeated.

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I am well known among pastors and other speakers for my filing system.

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Writing a lesson or a speech can be difficult, but because I use my system to file quotes, stories and articles, when I need something to flesh out or illustrate a point, I simply go to one of my 1,200 files and find a good piece of material that works.

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Just about any difficult task can be made simpler by strategic thinking, and that, my friends, is from our friend, the father of personal development, john Maxwell, in his book how Successful People Think.

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So we have two key nuggets of wisdom.

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Let's review them quickly.

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Jocko Willink and Leif Babin in their book Extreme Ownership teach us to keep things simple.

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John Maxwell here says about the same thing.

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Strategic thinking takes complex issues and long-term objectives which can be very difficult to address, and breaks them down into manageable sizes.

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Anything becomes simpler when it has a plan.

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Planning breaks down the complex into manageable sizes, which can lead things to stay or become more simple.

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Simple is good.

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Key nugget of wisdom number one.

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Key nugget wisdom number two.

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What does Maxwell say here?

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Quote I do that by using systems which are nothing more than good strategies repeated.

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Ah, very, very nice.

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Good strategies repeated Sounds like good virtues repeated, like good habits repeated Sounds like good thinking is like good virtues.

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What else does Maxwell say?

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I am well known among pastors and other speakers for my filing system.

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Writing a lesson or a speech can be difficult, but because I use my system to file quotes, stories and articles which I need when I need something to flesh out or illustrate a point, I simply go to one of my 1,200 files and find a good piece of material that works Very, very nice.

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Sounds like Maxwell does have a wonderful system.

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I like his 1, 1200 file system.

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That's pretty good.

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Guess what, my friends?

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We have a heck of a filing system here too.

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Have you checked out the website lately, teammojoacademycom?

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Have you tried out the search function in the menu bar?

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Type any word there in that search field, see what comes up.

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That's a very powerful search function, a very robust search function, detailed, precise, quite quite powerful, if I must say so myself.

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We're kind of proud about that upgrade recently.

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If you can't tell so, maxwell, if you're listening you might have 1,200 files, but we have over 500 episodes of unique books and we, my friend, are catching up.

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Just a little friendly competition there.

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So, in all seriousness, in today's Mojo Minute, how do successful people think, is the question.

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Two answers come to mind from this book.

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First, strategic thinking begins to break down the complex into the manageable.

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Once broken down, things become more clear.

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Thus more simple, simple plans are the best plans, which the leadership guys, the two former Navy SEALs, jocko Willick and Leif Babin, tell us is a fantastic thing.

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Keep things simple for maximum effectiveness.

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Second, successful people use systems.

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Systems help you repeat strategies, and especially good strategies, so you are not reinventing the wheel each and every time and you can duplicate your efforts.

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Just like we have said before earlier in this podcast and on many other episodes before, good strategies repeated are like good virtues repeated and good habits repeated.

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So if you want to live a flourishing life, learn how successful people think, and here today are two strategies that you can begin in your life.

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As always, keep fighting the good fight.

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Thank you for joining us.

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We hope you enjoyed this Theory to Action podcast.

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Be sure to check out our show page at teammojoacademycom, where we have everything we discussed in this podcast, as well as other great resources.

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Until next time, keep getting your mojo on.