Think Critically to Call the Shots in Your Life
You Can Take Back Control Starting Now
The Bootlegger’s Guide to Critical Thinking is a serial work in progress with new posts added as they are completed. Once all of the contents are finally compiled, the entire work will be paywalled. But for now, you may have access to this work in progress. Follow this link to the Table of Contents for all the sequenced posts in order as they are added to the volume.
We invite your active interaction and input! Please help us deliver a better end product by offering suggestions and comments. Thank you!
The purpose of compiling “The Bootlegger’s Guide to Critical Thinking ”
is to promote a thought-worthy quest for spiritual and moral excellence.
Central to the quest is a simple strategic thought process that helps trained critical thinkers attain personal, family, and business goals.
An easy, proven system is provided to help you think clearly, process information, internalize objectives, and take control of your life to accomplish the quest.
You have likely already figured out that critical thinking is at the core of this approach for taking control of your life and getting what you decide is important.
Consider this:
Some people ACT without thinking or instinct.
Some people think at a superficial level but ACT primarily by instinct.
Some people THINK and then ACT and adjust their behavior by INSTINCT.
Finally, some people THINK, then ACT, and adjust their behavior after additional thought.
Events often happen so fast there is not sufficient time to stop and think before reacting.
But I would argue that the more a person has practiced thinking skills, the better equipped he or she is to make quick beneficial tactical course adjustments as circumstances change.
Practiced good thinking becomes second nature.
Part of our crusade is reminding people to THINK before ACTING.
The thought process and action plan are better when there is time to press pause and think about your next moves!
But taking time to think before acting is not always an option.
In those times when thinking on your feet is required, thoroughly practiced thinking skills will be an asset and increase the likelihood of achieving positive results.
The earlier in life we can become competent critical thinkers, the better our quality of life will be down the road. Doing so is not hard or rocket science. Critical thinking is a mindset and an acquired skill. You will learn how easy and comfortable it is to acquire and use this skill.
Three Core Competencies You Will Learn by Following Along in This Personal Strategery Journey
1. How to Organize Your Thoughts
Pondering results in thoughts.
Thoughts stimulate information gathering.
Information leads to inspiration.
Finally, inspiration leads to revealed solutions and an "inspired" course of action you will want to recognize, seize, and act upon.
The principles taught and the tools provided will help you clarify your vision, identify your personal mission, and recognize principle-based values and beliefs that are precious to you.
As is natural to all humans, your mind will begin to organize those thoughts.
Some will be more important than others, and the most important will start to reside in your mind for instant recall. You will recognize when this happens and want to capture and accomplish something productive with those ideas and feelings.
2. How to Create a Personal Success Plan
Creating a personal success plan, your formal personal strategery, is the next step to organizing your approach to self-directing your life.
Depending on personality and personal preference, some of you will be content to carry your personal strategic plan around in your head. Others who are more analytical or procedure-oriented will want to invest in creating a written plan.
Either way, you will have established a cognitive baseline you can refer to at any time, check your direction, make decisions, and claim responsibility for your life.
3. How to Execute Your Plan and Assure Success
Regardless of whether or not you choose to write out your plan, you will have attained more deserved and accountable freedom than most people on the face of the earth.
You will have some form of a plan and know why you are engaged in the chosen activities and the desired outcome. You will have a defined purpose!
But plans are only dreams if you don't act.
In the planning step of the strategery process, methods to ensure success will be shared with you. Before long, purposeful acting will become easy and natural.
“First pants, THEN your shoes.”
That’s the caption from one of Gary Larsen’s FarSide memes, which I think was published in 1983. I continue to be a fan of Gary Larsen’s work and miss his wit.
Developing a plan to mobilize your personal strategery is like your shoes, and must follow critical thinking in the process.
You probably figured out the little simile. Critical thinking is likened to your pants, and your shoes represent your plan.
If you get the sequence backward, that is, roll out a plan before thoroughly thinking about what you want to accomplish, you will find yourself with your pants down, your underwear exposed, and unable to move without tripping!
That is why we are spending a fair amount of time covering critical thinking.
Stay with us, some really good stuff is coming!
Personal Strategery Mindshift #4: You Are Capable of Thinking for Yourself.
Thanks for reading and thinking for yourself! Be sure to subscribe so you do not miss out on future posts.
Russell Anderson
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P.S. Helping each other publish peace and tidings of great joy is a big part of what we hope to accomplish with the Fifty-two Seven Alliance. You are invited to join us in this endeavor when you are ready!
LINKS:
Table of Contents for The Bootlegger’s Guide to Personal Strategery
FAQs about The Fifty-two Seven Alliance.
Review the Fifty-two Seven Community Charter.
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