summary ofGet Smart!Book by Brian Tracy

first KEY POINT

The long-term perspective

Many people misunderstand the significance of long-term outcomes, placing higher value on their intentions rather than the actual results. This mindset is a fundamental source of societal perplexity. Their rationale is, “As long as my intentions are good, even if the outcomes of my thoughts, choices, and actions are not, I shouldn't be held responsible.” However, foreseeing the repercussions of your actions is a true reflection of your intellect.Most people have a bias in their line of thought. They are not concerned with outcomes or results anymore; they focus on their intention without caring if bad things occur as a result of their actions. The measure of a person's level of intelligence is in their ability to accurately deduce the consequences of their words and deeds and act accordingly.The keynote in that definition is “act.” Many people can slightly or completely deduce the ill effects of their actions, but they still carry them out. The measure of true intelligence is weighed by actions.

Edward C. Banfield’s book “The Unheavenly City” divided society into seven classes — lower-lower class, upper-lower class, lower-middle class, middle-middle class, upper-middle class, lower-upper class, and upper-upper class. The lowest socioeconomic level is the lower-lower class. People at this level include alcoholics and drug addicts whose minds are focused on the next drink or dosage. They perceive time as limited. At the highest level of social classification, people's minds are focused on events years, decades, and even generations still to come. That is the difference between leaders and workers.In essence, future-oriented people are leaders. They are members of the highest class of society that considers the effects of daily decisions on the coming years, decades, and generations.This summary will help you understand the benefits of thinking over the long term. As you progress, you'll learn to become future-oriented and make decisions to get you to your desired future destination.