Podcasts about bikeshedding

In this episode of The Brainy Business podcast, Melina Palmer engages in an insightful conversation with Madeline Quinlan, a behavioral scientist and co-founder of Salient, a consultancy bridging the gap between academic insights and practical applications of behavioral science. Madeline shares her journey from finance to behavioral science and discusses the importance of reframing failures as opportunities for learning and growth. With a focus on the intersection of finance and psychology, Madeline reveals how unexpected outcomes can lead to deeper insights into human behavior and decision-making. Throughout the discussion, Melina and Madeline explore the significance of understanding the right problem before applying behavioral science interventions and the value of piloting initiatives to ensure effectiveness. They also explore the role of qualitative and quantitative research in validating behavioral strategies, emphasizing the need for a more personalized approach to behavioral interventions. In this episode: Discover how unexpected results can provide valuable insights and opportunities for growth. Understand the importance of addressing the right problem in behavioral science applications. Explore the balance between qualitative and quantitative research in behavioral interventions. Learn about the potential of personalization in behavioral science through data and technology. Gain insights into the founding and mission of Salient and the Global Association of Applied Behavioral Scientists (GAABS). Show Notes: 00:00:00 - Introduction Melina introduces Madeline Quinlan, co-founder of Salient, and her background in finance and psychology. Maddie shares her journey and the inspiration behind co-founding Salient. 00:05:45 - Discovering Behavioral Science Maddie discusses her transition from finance to behavioral science and the pivotal moment when she discovered the intersection of finance and psychology. 00:10:30 - Founding Salient Maddie shares the story of founding Salient while pursuing her master's at the London School of Economics and the importance of bridging the gap between academic insights and practical applications. 00:15:22 - Innovative Projects Maddie highlights some of her favorite projects, including a collaboration with Nest Insight to encourage self-employed individuals in the UK to save for their pensions through innovative message framing techniques. 00:22:15 - The Importance of Testing Maddie and Melina discuss the importance of rigorous testing in behavioral science and the value of learning from both successes and failures. 00:30:45 - Embracing Failures Maddie shares insights from her master's thesis on mindfulness meditation and temporal discounting, emphasizing the importance of embracing failures and unexpected results in research. 00:40:30 - The Future of Behavioral Science Maddie discusses the future of behavioral science, including the potential for personalized interventions and the importance of maintaining a human-centered approach. 00:50:15 - Conclusion What stuck with you while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as @thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Connect with Madeline: LinkedIn Website Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: Indistractable, by Nir Eyal Your Future Self, by Hal Hershfield Work Well, Play More, by Marcey Rader Good Habits, Bad Habits, by Wendy Wood How to Change, by Katy Milkman Top Recommended Next Episode: Optimism Bias (ep 34) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Time Discounting (ep 328) Bikeshedding (ep 99) Planning Fallacy (ep 346) How to Set, Achieve and Exceed Brainy Goals (ep 70) Dominic Packer Interview (ep 178) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter

In this episode of The Brainy Business podcast, Melina Palmer welcomes Jodi Wellman, author of You Only Die Once, for an inspiring discussion on living a life without regrets. Jodi shares her insights on how to make the most of our limited time, emphasizing the importance of embracing mortality as a motivator for living fully. With a unique blend of humor and wisdom, she helps listeners explore the concept of mortality not as a source of fear, but as a catalyst for action and meaningful living. Throughout the conversation, Melina and Jodi explore the significance of the 4,000 weeks we have in an average lifespan, and how acknowledging this can propel us to pursue our dreams and passions. They discuss practical strategies for identifying and overcoming the inertia that holds us back, and how to prioritize what truly matters in life. Jodi's approach is filled with lively anecdotes and engaging illustrations, making her book a delightful guide to living life to the fullest. In this episode: Learn how to use the concept of mortality as a motivator for a more fulfilling life. Discover strategies for identifying and overcoming the inertia that holds you back. Explore the power of pre-regrets and how to take action before it's too late. Understand the importance of prioritizing what truly matters and how to do it effectively. Gain insights into how small changes can lead to a more vibrant and meaningful life. Show Notes: 00:00:00 - Introduction Melina Palmer introduces Jodi Wellman and the focus of today's episode on living a life without regrets. 00:04:00 - The 4,000 Weeks Concept Discussion on the average lifespan and how to make the most of our limited time. 00:15:17 - Motivated by Mortality How embracing mortality can serve as a powerful motivator for living fully. 00:25:09 - Overcoming Inertia Strategies for identifying and overcoming the inertia that holds us back from pursuing our dreams. 00:35:00 - The Power of Pre-Regrets Exploring the concept of pre-regrets and how to take action before it's too late. 00:41:23 - Prioritizing What Matters Understanding the importance of prioritizing what truly matters and how to do it effectively. 00:44:00 - Small Changes, Big Impact Insights into how small changes can lead to a more vibrant and meaningful life. 00:49:35 - Conclusion What stuck with you while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as @thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Connect with Jodi:  LinkedIn Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: You Only Die Once, by Jodi Wellman Your Future Self, by Hal Hershfield Work Well, Play More, by Marcey Rader Good Habits, Bad Habits, by Wendy Wood How to Change, by Katy Milkman Top Recommended Next Episode: How to Set, Achieve and Exceed Brainy Goals (ep 70) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Time Discounting (ep 328) Bikeshedding (ep 99) Planning Fallacy (ep 346) Optimism Bias (ep 34) Dominic Packer Interview (ep 178) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter

In this episode of The Brainy Business podcast, Melina Palmer explores the fascinating world of lazy brain biases. This episode is part of an eight-part series exploring various biases, focusing on how our brains prefer to take the path of least resistance. This rapid-fire episode provides a brief overview of each bias, helping you understand their roles, interactions, and impacts on decision-making. Melina refreshes this episode in anticipation of her upcoming interview with Alex Edmonds about his book May Contain Lies, which discusses misinformation and the importance of understanding information responsibly. Lazy brain biases play a significant role in how we process and accept information, making this episode a perfect primer for the conversation with Alex. In this episode: Discover how the default effect influences our choices. Learn about the decoy effect and its impact on decision-making. Understand the automation bias and its implications in a tech-driven world. Explore the law of the instrument and functional fixedness. Gain insights into framing, anchoring, and the contrast effect. Examine biases and their influence on decision-making. Identify how surrogation and Parkinson's Law of Triviality affect business decisions. Learn strategies to push your brain's limits and overcome lazy tendencies. Show Notes: 00:00:00 - Introduction Melina introduces the episode and its focus on lazy brain biases, part of an eight-part series on biases. 00:02:30 - Default Effect Melina discusses the default effect, where people tend to choose the default option presented to them. 00:04:00 - Decoy Effect The decoy effect is explained with examples from espresso machines and The Economist subscription options. 00:06:00 - Automation Bias Melina talks about our excessive dependence on automated systems and the importance of checking their effectiveness. 00:07:30 - Law of the Instrument and Functional Fixedness These biases are discussed with examples like the Apollo 13 mission. 00:09:00 - Framing and Anchoring Melina explains how framing and anchoring influence our decisions, with links to related episodes. 00:10:30 - Contrast Effect The impact of priming and previously presented information on decision-making is discussed. 00:12:00 - Biases Melina explains how our senses influence our external decisions, using judges' sentencing patterns as an example. 00:13:30 - Ambiguity Effect and Action Bias These biases are explored with examples from medical decisions and soccer goalies. 00:15:00 - Stereotyping and Illicit Transference Melina discusses how our brains make assumptions about groups and individuals. 00:16:30 - Surrogation The concept of surrogation is explained with an example of customer satisfaction surveys. 00:18:00 - Parkinson's Law of Triviality Also known as bikeshedding, this bias is discussed with examples from pricing strategies. 00:19:30 - Lag Effect and Levels of Processing Melina talks about effective learning strategies and how to trick your lazy brain into focusing. 00:21:00 - List Length Effect The impact of list length on memory is discussed, encouraging listeners to push their brain's limits. 00:22:30 - Conclusion What stuck with you while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as @thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: May Contain Lies, by Alex Edmans Thinking Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman Nudge, by Richard Thaler & Cass Sunstein What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer Evolutionary Ideas, by Sam Tatam Top Recommended Next Episode: Functional Fixedness (ep 194) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Anchoring & Adjustment (ep 394) Bikeshedding (ep 99) Priming (ep 252) Color Theory (ep 61) 5 Things Your Business Must Learn From NASA (ep 57) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter The Greatest Space Hack Ever This Is the Actual Hack That Saved the Astronauts of the Apollo XIII Apollo Expeditions to the Moon – A Square Peg in a Round Hole Action Bias Among Elite Soccer Goalkeepers: the Case of Penalty Kicks Action Bias and Environmental Decisions The Inaction Effect in the Psychology of Regret

Bikeshedding, also known as Parkinson's law of triviality, describes our tendency to devote a disproportionate amount of our time to menial and trivial matters while leaving important matters unattended.  DO NOT LET THIS IMPACT YOUR BUSINESS!!!  Greg BeckChief Growth Officer & Sunbelt M&A AdvisorFocalPoint Advisory Serivceshttps://gregbeck.focalpointcoaching.com/https://transactionreadiness-gregbeck.scoreapp.com/gbeck@focalpointcoaching.comgbeck@sunbeltnetwork.comOffice: Office: 937-866-4611 ext 5Cell: 513-379-2399www.linkedin.com/in/greg-beck

In this episode of The Brainy Business podcast, host Melina Palmer and guest Marc Zao-Sanders reveal how the technique of timeboxing transformed not just his productivity but his life. In this episode, you'll hear a genuine transformation story from chaos to structured success, and how intentional living can lead to profound personal and professional growth.  Marc and Melina dissect the practicalities of digital organization, intentional decisions, and share personal experiences that bring the concept to life. Learn why timeboxing is more than just a productivity hack – it's a path to a more purposeful life. If you're looking to make meaningful changes to your daily routine, this episode offers wisdom and actionable steps without the hype. Join us for a dose of reality about the power of scheduling and prioritizing that could truly reshape your outlook on work and life. In this episode: Maximize Productivity: Unlock the benefits of timeboxing to supercharge your daily output and efficiency. Harness Time Management: Learn the art of implementing timeboxing, a powerful technique to take control of your schedule and accomplish more. Optimize Productivity: Explore the nuances between timeboxing and time blocking to revolutionize your approach to time management. Prioritize Effectively: Discover strategies for prioritizing tasks using timeboxing, ensuring maximum impact in minimal time. Foster Collaboration: Strengthen team collaboration with shared calendars, enhancing efficiency and synergy within your organization. Show Notes: 00:00:00 - Introduction Melina introduces Marc Zhao-Sanders, author of Timeboxing, and sets the stage for the conversation about the psychology of time management and productivity. 00:03:32 - Marc's Background and the Origin of Timeboxing Marc shares his journey from being disorganized at the start of his career to creating his system of personal productivity and stumbling upon the concept of timeboxing through an article in Harvard Business Review. 00:08:42 - Success of Timeboxing Marc discusses the popularity of timeboxing, the TikTok video that led to a book deal, and the widespread reach of the concept with translations in 33 languages. 00:11:35 - The Power of Timeboxing for Everyone Marc emphasizes that timeboxing is not just for naturally organized individuals. Still, it can benefit anyone, especially in terms of mental health and feeling in control of one's time and productivity. 00:14:07 - Differentiating Timeboxing and Time Blocking Marc provides a four-part definition of timeboxing, highlighting the intentional decision-making, scheduling, and flexibility of the practice, and distinguishes it from time blocking as a more comprehensive approach to managing time. 00:15:05 - The Importance of Timeboxing Marc discusses the importance of timeboxing in making decisions and spending time intentionally, free from distractions. This allows for prioritizing tasks and committing to single-tasking. 00:16:17 - Defining Timeboxing Marc defines time boxing as scheduling specific blocks of time to work on tasks, committing to single-tasking, and ensuring task completion to an acceptable standard within the allocated time. 00:17:36 - Parkinson's Law and Timeboxing Marc talks about Parkinson's Law and how time expands to fill the time allowed. He emphasizes the importance of setting deadlines and timeboxing to avoid endless, frustrating tasks. 00:20:01 - Overcoming Timeboxing Challenges Marc addresses the challenges of timeboxing, especially for new tasks. He recommends starting small with time boxes and gradually building confidence in the process. 00:24:51 - The Power of One Thing at a Time Marc emphasizes the productivity of focusing on one thing at a time and the mantra "one thing at a time" to avoid multitasking and increase efficiency. He also discusses the satisfaction of completing tasks according to one's plan. 00:29:58 - Efficient To-Do List Management Marc explains how to efficiently manage a to-do list using timeboxing and spreadsheet functionality. He emphasizes the 80/20 rule and the importance of prioritizing tasks. 00:31:41 - Ranking and Sorting Tasks Marc discusses the importance of ranking and sorting tasks based on urgency and importance. He also addresses the issue of prioritizing tasks and provides advice on how to handle items with high rankings. 00:32:53 - Calibrating Priorities Marc shares his approach to collapsing urgency and importance, and emphasizes the need for calibration when dealing with tasks that are ranked highly. He also discusses the value of retaining tasks for future reference. 00:36:56 - Data-Driven Time Management Marc highlights the value of using hashtags and search terms in digital calendars for time management insights. He emphasizes the importance of quantifying and prioritizing activities, such as learning and reading, through intentional time boxing. 00:43:42 - Living an Intentional Life Marc discusses the concept of living an intentional life and emphasizes the importance of setting milestones and time boxing for aspirational activities, such as travel planning. He encourages planning to achieve desired outcomes. 00:44:24 - The Importance of Timeboxing and Planning Marc discusses the significance of planning and timeboxing to achieve goals. He emphasizes the need for setting specific milestones rather than vague timelines like "soon" or "next week." 00:46:33 - Accountability and Collaboration Marc and Melina talk about accountability and collaboration in the context of timeboxing. They explore the positive effects of timeboxing on reassurance and realistic task allocation within a team. 00:47:29 - Digital Calendar Sharing and Transparency Marc delves into the benefits of sharing digital calendars within a team, highlighting the positive impact on task dependencies and realistic time allocation. He also touches on the potential positive pressure created by the Hawthorne effect. 00:49:11 - Using Emojis in Timeboxing The conversation shifts to the use of emojis in timeboxing and calendar management. Marc explains the light-hearted and visually pleasant aspect of incorporating emojis into time management, adding a touch of fun to the process. 00:51:48 - Conclusion What stuck with you while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as @thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Connect with Marc: Filtered Blog Marc's Website LinkedIn Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: Timeboxing, by Marc Zao-Sanders Indistractable, by Nir Eyal The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, by Marie Kondo Work Well, Play More, by Marcey Rader Come Up For Air, by Nick Sonnenberg ​​Top Recommended Next Episode: Precommitment (ep 120) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Time Pressure (ep 74) Bikeshedding (ep 99) Habits (ep 256) Nir Eyal Interview (ep 290) Unmasking the Hawthorne Effect (ep 364) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter How Timeboxing Works and Why It Will Make You More Productive To Do Lists Don't Work TEDx Portland

Proposals(re)accepted: add slices.Repeat functionaccepted: report use of too-new standard library symbols with go vetFrom around the communityBlog: Context-induced performance bottleneck in Go by Gabriel AugendreNew community Q&A site: godev.com, powerd by Apache AnswerBlog: Go Enums Still Suck by Steven McCutcheonOn Reddit

In this episode of The Brainy Business podcast, Sam Tatum, the leader of Ogilvy's behavioral science team, shares insights from his book, Evolutionary Ideas, and its application in problem-solving. Sam's background as an organizational psychologist and his transition into advertising strategy equips him with a unique perspective on the intersection of behavioral science and business.  His book emphasizes gaining insights from nature to drive innovative solutions in business, drawing parallels between the natural world and applied behavioral science. He highlights the significance of long-term thinking, alternative options, and the potential impact of small ideas in problem-solving. By exploring shared solutions and learning from diverse fields, such as biology and engineering, Sam advocates for a practical and creative application of behavioral science. This episode offers valuable insights for business professionals and entrepreneurs seeking innovative problem-solving approaches based on behavioral science principles. In this episode, you will: Apply behavioral science to enhance problem-solving and innovation in business. Understand the power of reciprocity in shaping human behavior. Explore the pivotal role of language in influencing perception and decision-making. Embrace shared solutions as a strategic approach to effective problem-solving. Implement practical problem-solving approaches rooted in behavioral science. Show Notes: 00:00:00 - Introduction, Melina introduces the podcast episode and guest, Sam Tatum, and discusses the focus on evolutionary ideas and how nature can provide insights for solving business problems. 00:07:29 - Nudgestock Pivot Sam discusses the decision to pivot Nudgestock to a virtual event in 2020 due to the pandemic and the success of the event, as well as the long-term impact and growth of the event. 00:11:32 - Evolutionary Ideas Book Inspiration Sam shares the inspiration behind his book, Evolutionary Ideas, including his keynote talk and the concept of borrowing from the natural world to solve human challenges, as seen in biomimicry. 00:14:30 - Biomimicry and Applied Behavioral Science Sam explains the concept of biomimicry and how it can be used to explore the realm of possibility in applied behavioral science, drawing parallels between adapted solutions in nature and adapted psychological solutions for human challenges. 00:16:06 - Reciprocity and Adaptation Sam discusses the concept of reciprocity and adaptation by using the example of vampire bats. He emphasizes the importance of understanding and appreciating these behaviors on a continuum, highlighting their positive role in survival. 00:17:18 - Trust and Solutions Sam delves into the role of trust in social well-being and its connection to reciprocity. He explores the idea that understanding concrete concepts, such as the behavior of vampire bats, can pave the way for identifying psychological solutions. 00:19:25 - Language and Perception The conversation shifts to the power of language in shaping perception and categorization of concepts. Sam highlights the significance of having a rich vernacular to diagnose and apply solutions systematically, drawing parallels with the concept of asymmetric decoy. 00:21:44 - Shared Solutions and Innovation Sam discusses the shared nature of problems and solutions, emphasizing the evolutionary and adaptive processes that have led to the emergence of common patterns of solutions. 00:30:43 - Applying Behavioral Science in Business Melina prompts Sam to provide practical advice for applying behavioral science in business. Sam emphasizes the opportunities for employing behavioral science in various business contexts, encouraging listeners to leverage shared psychological principles to drive innovation and problem-solving. 00:32:41 - Learning and applying the notes and chords of psychology Sam emphasizes the importance of learning the basics of psychology and behavioral science, comparing it to learning notes and chords in music, and how once mastered, they can be creatively applied. 00:34:39 - Reframing problems through a human lens Sam discusses the importance of reframing problems through a human lens, rather than categorizing them based on industry-specific challenges, and how solutions can be found by recategorizing the nature of the problem. 00:39:26 -  Conclusion, Melina's top insights from the conversation. What stuck with you while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as @thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Connect with Sam:  Twitter  LinkedIn  Ogilvy Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: Evolutionary Ideas, by Sam Tatam Alchemy, by Rory Sutherland Solving Modern Problems with a Stone Age Brain, by Douglas Kenrick and David Lundberg-Kenrick A More Beautiful Question, by Warren Berger Look, by Christian Madsbjerg Top Recommended Next Episode: Look, with Christian Madsbjerg (ep 325) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Framing (ep 296) Anchoring (ep 11) Priming (ep 252) Bikeshedding (ep 99) Behavioural Science Club, with Co-Founder Louise Ward (ep 118) Herding (ep 264) Reciprocity (ep 238) Change Management (ep 226) Loss Aversion (ep 316) Scarcity (ep 270) Relativity (ep 12) Time Discounting – I'll Start Monday Effect (ep 328) Solving Modern Problems with a Stone Age Brain (ep 237) A More Beautiful Question with Warren Berger (ep 340) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter Nudgestock

In this episode of The Brainy Business podcast, Melina Palmer interviews Amy Porterfield, an esteemed author and host of the Online Marketing Made Easy podcast, who shares her journey from working with Tony Robbins to becoming a successful entrepreneur. Amy's insights on leaving a 9-to-5 job and starting a business emphasize the importance of embracing entrepreneurship for personal freedom and the ability to design a fulfilling professional life.  She advises aspiring entrepreneurs to have the courage to pursue their dreams, highlighting the initial challenges and the significance of experimentation and niche focus in the early stages of entrepreneurship. Amy's expertise in creating profitable digital courses and her emphasis on the value of an email list and scarcity marketing make this episode a must-listen for aspiring entrepreneurs seeking increased confidence and clarity in their pursuit of entrepreneurship. Her relatable experiences and actionable insights offer valuable guidance for those considering a career change and venturing into entrepreneurship. In this episode, hear discussions about: Mastering the transition from a 9-to-5 job to entrepreneurship empowers you to pursue your passion and take control of your career. Strategically building an email list facilitates direct communication with your audience, fostering stronger connections and increasing business opportunities. Embracing the importance of scarcity marketing cultivates a sense of exclusivity, driving demand and urgency for your products or services. Focusing on a specific niche allows you to become an authority in your field, attracting a loyal customer base and standing out in a competitive market. Leveraging limited availability creates a sense of urgency, compelling customers to act swiftly and seize the opportunity, leading to increased sales and engagement. Show Notes: 00:00:00 - Introduction Melina introduces Amy Porterfield, author of Two Weeks Notice and host of the Online Marketing Made Easy podcast, and shares her excitement about having Amy as a guest on the show. 00:04:05 - Amy's Background and Transition to Entrepreneurship Amy shares her transition from working for Tony Robbins to becoming an entrepreneur. She highlights the challenges she faced in her first two years of business and emphasizes the importance of finding the courage to quit a 9-5 job. 00:07:02 - Upsides of Entrepreneurship Amy discusses the freedom and opportunities that come with entrepreneurship. She encourages individuals to pursue entrepreneurship if they feel unhappy in their current job, emphasizing the freedom and control that it offers. 00:10:11 - Evolution of Business Model Amy talks about the evolution of her business model, highlighting the importance of experimentation and finding what works. She emphasizes the need to pivot and make changes based on what feels right and resonates with the entrepreneur. 00:13:24 - Overcoming Trivial Obstacles Melina and Amy discuss the concept of Bike Shedding and Parkinson's Law of Triviality, emphasizing the tendency to procrastinate on trivial tasks. They encourage entrepreneurs to focus on the most important aspects of their business and avoid getting stuck on minor details. 00:14:19 - Avoiding Common Business Mistakes Amy advises against spending too much time on non-essential tasks such as perfecting a website or business card. She emphasizes the importance of making decisions and taking action to move forward in business. 00:15:23 - Overcoming Analysis Paralysis Amy highlights how spending excessive time on decisions like website templates is a way to stay safe, but it ultimately keeps individuals stuck. Taking action and making decisions is crucial for progress. 00:16:40 - Importance of Website Content Amy stresses the significance of key website pages, such as the about page and creating weekly original content. She advises against comparing one's early business stages to established businesses and emphasizes the need for consistency in content creation. 00:18:28 - Building an Email List Amy discusses the value of an email list, emphasizing its control and reliability compared to social media. She underscores the importance of promoting freebies and nurturing the email list as a priority in business growth. 00:26:29 - Consistency in Business Strategy Amy shares her successful strategy of launching the same product repeatedly until it performs exceptionally well. She highlights the importance of familiarity and repetition in marketing for success. 00:27:36 - The Evolution of Digital Course Academy Amy discusses the evolution of her product, Digital Course Academy, and how she has been launching it since 2019, with each launch getting better and bigger. She emphasizes the importance of improving marketing and program quality over time. 00:28:31 - Building Brand and Growing Email List Amy explains how launching the same product annually has helped her improve marketing, program quality, and grow her email list. She emphasizes the value of continuously building and strengthening the brand through consistent launches. 00:30:27 - Overcoming Nervousness about Scarcity and Urgency Melina and Amy discuss the challenges entrepreneurs face when implementing scarcity and urgency in their offers. Amy offers advice on addressing the fear of being pushy and the importance of believing in the value of urgency in helping customers make decisions. 00:34:48 - The Psychology of Scarcity and Urgency Melina delves into the psychological aspects of scarcity and urgency, highlighting how time pressure can shift individuals from being risk-averse to loss-averse. Amy emphasizes the effectiveness of scarcity in capturing attention and spurring action. 00:40:21 - The Power of Nudging and Feedback Melina and Amy discuss the concept of nudging and the importance of providing feedback to guide customers in their decision-making. Amy emphasizes the value of sending reminder emails to nudge potential customers, recognizing that people may forget due to their busy schedules. 00:40:55 - Overcoming Hurdles and Helping Others Amy gives advice on how to approach helping others without making them feel bad and encourages stepping out of comfort zones to send more emails. 00:41:36 - Self-Selection and Audience Clarity Amy shares her experience with receiving negative emails and emphasizes the importance of self-selecting audiences and being clear about who your audience is. 00:42:25 - Focused Business Approach Melina and Amy discuss the benefits of focusing on specific areas of expertise and being known for something specific, such as online courses and email list growth. 00:43:29 - Leveraging Social Media Amy talks about using social media to her advantage, even if she doesn't love it, and how it has helped her business. 00:44:43 - Leveraging Scarcity and Generosity Melina and Amy discuss the power of scarcity, familiarity bias, and reciprocity in growing a business, and encourage listeners to simplify and leverage these principles. 00:45:47 -  Conclusion, Melina's top insights from the conversation. What stuck with you while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as @thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Connect with Amy: Amy's website Amy's Instagram Amy's LinkedIn  Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: Two Week's Notice, by Amy Porterfield What Your Customer Wants And Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer The Truth About Pricing, by Melina Palmer Purpose, by Gina Bianchini The Power of Scarcity, by Mindy Weinstein Top Recommended Next Episode: Subscriptions and Memberships (ep 105) Already Heard That One? Try These: Framing (ep 296) Focusing Illusion (ep 330) Confirmation Bias (ep 260) Gina Bianchini Interview (ep 263) Bikeshedding (ep 99) Time Pressure (ep 366) Loss Aversion (ep 316) Scarcity (ep 270) How to Stack and Bundle Offers (ep 84) How to Raise Prices (ep 354) Mindy Weinstein Interview (ep 271) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter

In this episode of The Brainy Business podcast, you'll join host Melina Palmer as she dives into the fascinating topic of cognitive overload and its impact on decision-making. Melina's expertise in behavioral economics and decision science makes her the perfect guide to help you understand how an overwhelmed brain can hinder your ability to make rational choices. She shares insightful strategies for reducing cognitive load, allowing you to improve your decision-making skills and make better choices in all aspects of life. With her engaging storytelling and relatable examples, Melina will captivate your attention and leave you with practical tools to overcome cognitive overload. Whether you're seeking personal growth or professional development, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to enhance their decision-making abilities and reduce cognitive overwhelm. In this episode, you will: Gain a clear understanding of how cognitive overload impacts your decision-making, so you can make more informed choices and avoid costly mistakes. Explore effective strategies for reducing cognitive load, enabling you to think more clearly and efficiently, leading to improved decision-making and increased productivity. Discover practical ways to overcome overwhelm and improve your overall productivity, so you can achieve your goals with a focused and calm mindset. Recognize the importance of clear communication and goal setting in decision-making, empowering you to align your actions with your objectives for more successful outcomes. Learn how to address post-completion error and reduce overwhelm, ensuring that you can navigate complex tasks and projects without feeling overwhelmed or making avoidable mistakes. Understand the power of prioritization and effective time management in decision-making, enabling you to allocate your resources wisely and make quality choices that align with your long-term objectives. Uncover the impact of information overload on decision-making and explore strategies to filter and prioritize information, allowing you to make better decisions in today's fast-paced world. Gain insights into decision-making biases and learn techniques to overcome them, helping you minimize the influence of cognitive biases on your choices and improve your rational decision-making abilities. Show Notes: 00:00:00 - Introduction, Melina introduces the episode on the overwhelmed brain and its impact on decision-making. She highlights the importance of reducing cognitive load and provides insights on how show notes and videos can help alleviate overwhelm. 00:02:26 - The Power of Show Notes Melina explains the significance of show notes in helping listeners retain information. She emphasizes that having access to detailed show notes and videos allows the brain to relax and focus on the content, leading to better decision-making. 00:06:29 - The Chocolate Cake Study Melina discusses a study where participants were asked to remember either a two-digit or seven-digit number. The results showed that those with the higher cognitive load were more likely to choose chocolate cake as a snack. This highlights how overwhelm can influence decision-making towards instant gratification. 00:09:36 - Ignoring Complexity Melina explains how our brains tend to ignore tasks that are deemed too complex or overwhelming. She discusses the brain's preference for simplicity and how it relies on subconscious rules of thumb to make decisions. This has implications for understanding why our brains get overwhelmed and how it affects decision-making. 00:11:25 - Overwhelm and Performance Melina explores how overwhelm can negatively impact performance. She references Dan Ariely's book, The Upside of Irrationality, which highlights how the weight of high stakes and pressure can impair cognitive function and lead to worse performance. This underscores the importance of managing overwhelm to optimize decision-making. 00:16:01 - Introduction and Traveling Checklist Melina introduces herself and discusses her packing routine for important trips, highlighting the tendency to obsessively run through lists in her head. She emphasizes the importance of relieving overwhelm from the conscious brain and shares her personal experience of forgetting to close the garage door. 00:17:48 - Post-completion Error and Overwhelming Tasks Melina explains the concept of post-completion error, where the brain marks a task as complete when only some or most of it has been done. She relates this to personal examples such as leaving clothes in the washing machine all day. She encourages the use of checklists and sticky notes to combat overwhelm. 00:20:17 - Relieving Overwhelm in Work and Personal Life Melina urges listeners to find ways to relieve overwhelm in both their work and personal lives. She suggests simple strategies like using sticky notes and establishing routines to help manage tasks effectively. She also emphasizes the importance of being a resource to customers by helping them alleviate overwhelm. 00:20:58 - Overwhelming Customers Melina prompts listeners to reflect on whether they are overwhelming their current or potential customers. She advises considering the amount of information being presented and the order in which it is presented. If customers feel overwhelmed, they may hesitate or delay making decisions. 00:32:15 - Overcoming Constant Updates Constantly checking for updates can make the whole experience feel jaded. Instead, lenders can provide proactive updates to make customers feel valued and informed, while also avoiding unnecessary interruptions. 00:33:17 - Bringing Value and Endearment Proactive updates not only benefit customers but also help lenders prioritize their tasks and avoid wasting time. It creates a sense of reciprocity, which can be beneficial when asking for referrals or reviews. 00:34:14 - Tips to Overcome Overwhelm The five tips to overcome overwhelm are: write things down, focus on one task at a time, create patterns or habits, set goals, and incorporate breathing room and checkpoints. 00:35:03 - Getting Things Out of Your Head Getting things out of your head is crucial to avoid overwhelm. Don't rely on your memory and limit your focus and goals to reduce stress. 00:37:45 -  Conclusion, Melina's top insights from the conversation. What stuck with you while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as @thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: The Anatomy of a Breakthrough, by Adam Alter Fierce Conversations, by Susan Scott Happier Hour, by Cassie Holmes Work Well. Play More! by Marcey Rader Come Up For Air, by Nick Sonnenberg Top Recommended Next Episode: Expect Error: The “E” in NUDGES (ep 362) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Give Feedback: The “G” in NUDGES (ep 40) How to Set, Achieve and Exceed Brainy Goals (ep 70) DOSE Brain Chemicals (ep 123) Bikeshedding (ep 99) Planning Fallacy (ep 346) Time Discounting (ep 328) Optimism Bias (ep 34) Cassie Holmes Interview (ep 257) Marcey Rader Interview (ep 323) Nick Sonnenberg Interview (ep 347) Sludge (ep 179) Friction (ep 274) Ben Guttmann Interview (ep 351) Behavioral Economics Foundations: Habits (ep 256) Behavioral Economics Foundations: Reciprocity (ep 23) Behavioral Economics Foundations: Sense of Sight (ep 24) Behavioral Economics Foundations: The Sense of Smell (ep 298) Resolutions and Keeping Commitments (ep 29) Mirror Neurons (ep 31) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter Heart and Mind in Conflict: the Interplay of Affect and Cognition in Consumer Decision Making Poverty Impedes Cognitive Function How Writing To-Do Lists Helps Your Brain (Whether Or Not You Finish Them)

In this episode of The Brainy Business podcast, you will hear an insightful conversation between host Melina Palmer and guest Ben Guttmann, author of Attention!: The Power of Simple Decisions in a Distracted World. Guttmann shares his expertise on the importance of simplicity in communication and offers practical advice on creating messages that resonate with the audience. Through examples and analogies, Guttmann highlights the "Frankenstein problem" of overloading messages with too much information, stressing the need for focus and clarity. He emphasizes the concept of fluency in messaging and how it leads to simplicity and resonance.  The episode also delves into the paradox of choice, the difference between nice and kind messaging, and the significance of context in crafting effective messages. If you're a communicator or marketer looking to improve your messaging and connect with your audience on a deeper level, this episode is a must-listen. In this episode: Master the art of simplicity in communication to captivate your audience and convey your message with clarity and impact. Create messages that cut through the noise and resonate with your target audience, leading to higher engagement and conversion rates. Harness the power of context in your messaging to ensure your audience understands the relevance and importance of your message, increasing its effectiveness. Craft messages that leave a lasting impact on your audience, turning them into loyal customers and advocates for your brand. Avoid the pitfalls of fragmented communication by delivering cohesive and consistent messages that strengthen your brand and build trust with your audience. Show Notes: 00:00:00 - Introduction, Melina Palmer introduces Ben Guttmann, author of the book Simply Put, and provides a brief overview of his background in marketing and communications. 00:03:10 - Example of Simple Messaging Ben shares an example of a project he worked on for a power plant in New York City. The power plant needed an internal rallying cry to help employees feel a sense of identity and purpose. The slogan they developed, "Making New York Happen," became a powerful message that resonated with the employees. 00:06:47 - Internal Messaging with External Potential Ben discusses another project he worked on, a pro bono campaign to combat littering in New York City parks. The campaign aimed to tap into the identity of being a "real New Yorker" and encourage people to not litter. Although the campaign was not launched due to timing issues, it demonstrates how internal messaging can have external potential. 00:10:57 - Empathy in Messaging Ben emphasizes the importance of empathy in messaging. He explains that effective messaging should meet people where they are and speak their language. Understanding the audience's perspective and using language that resonates with them is key to creating impactful messages. 00:12:50 - Simplifying Complex Messages Ben and Melina discuss the challenge of simplifying complex messages. Ben highlights the importance of finding the core message and eliminating unnecessary complexity. By focusing on the key point and delivering it clearly, messages can become more memorable and effective. 00:14:49 - The Problem of Having Too Much Stuff in Your Message Ben discusses the common problem of having too much information in a message, leading to a lack of focus and effectiveness. He uses the analogy of a website redesign and refers to his own website as "Franken-site" to illustrate this issue. 00:17:14 - The Frankenstein Idea in Communication Ben introduces the concept of the "Frankenstein idea" in communication, where multiple components are put together in a message without considering their compatibility. He compares it to the monster in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, highlighting the importance of focus and coherence in communication. 00:20:56 - The Sender and Receiver in Communication Ben emphasizes the distinction between senders and receivers in communication. He explains that as senders, it is our responsibility to ensure our message is heard and understood by the receivers, as they are not inherently interested in what we have to say. Humility and effective messaging are key. 00:23:03 - The Burden of the Sender Ben discusses the burden of the sender in communication. He highlights that it is the sender's responsibility to create a message that is valuable and engaging for the receiver, as they do not wake up wanting to hear the sender's message. The sender must pay the postage to ensure their message is heard. 00:29:41 - The Power of Focusing on One Idea It's better to pick one piece of an idea and focus on it, even if it's not the strongest. Commitment leads to better messaging and concept development. 00:31:26 - Mediocre Feedback vs. Love or Hate Mediocre feedback is worse than receiving love or hate for your work. The distance between love and hate is shorter than between apathy and passion. A little bit of nuance and commitment can turn an imperfect concept into something better. 00:33:22 - The Paradox of Choice Having too many options can lead to indecision and apathy. When there are fewer options, people are more likely to rally behind and appreciate what they have chosen. 00:35:04 - The Importance of Kindness in Messaging Kindness in messaging goes beyond being nice. It means caring about the well-being and outcome of the receiver. Simple and clear messages, like a parking sign that says "Don't even think about parking here," can be kind and effective. 00:39:57 - Respecting People's Time It's important to respect people's time and not waste it with cluttered or irrelevant messaging. When messages are concise and get to the point, people are more likely to pay attention and take action. 00:44:22 - The Importance of Contrast Ben emphasizes the importance of contrast in communication, stating that without quiet, there can be no loud. He explains that knowing what exists is crucial in order to stand out and connect with your audience. 00:44:56 - Standing Out and Resonating Ben discusses the significance of context and resonating with your audience. He highlights the need to understand what resonates with your audience in order to make an impact. 00:45:20 - Connecting and Getting More Information Ben directs listeners to his website, Benguttmann.com, where they can find his blog, sign up for his newsletter, and download the first chapter of his book for free. He encourages connecting with him on LinkedIn or other platforms. 00:45:53 -  Conclusion, Melina's top insights from the conversation. What stuck with you while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as @thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Connect with Ben: Ben's website Ben's LinkedIn Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: Simply Put, by Ben Guttmann Subtract, by Leidy Klotz For The Culture, by Marcus Collins The Hype Handbook, by Michael Schein What Your Customer Wants And Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer Top Recommended Next Episode: The Hype Handbook with Michael Schein (ep 350) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Do You Subtract Enough? w/ Leidy Klotz (ep 322) Framing (ep 296) Availability Bias (ep 310) Bikeshedding (ep 99) Curse of Knowledge (ep 176) Understanding the Problem (ep 126) For the Culture (ep 305) Herding (ep 264) Social Proof (ep 87) Ikea Effect (ep 112) What Is Value? (ep 234) Paradox of Choice (ep 171) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter Why Many Men Think They Could Win a Point Off Serena Williams

In this episode of The Brainy Business podcast, you'll hear Melina Palmer interview Nick Sonnenberg, CEO of Leverage and author of Come Up For Air. Nick's background as an algorithmic trader on Wall Street gave him a unique perspective on the value of time, efficiency, and automation. He developed the CPR business efficiency framework to address common challenges in communication, planning, and resource allocation.  Nick's expertise in optimizing operations led to the founding of Leverage, a consultancy that helps businesses increase productivity using modern technologies and tools. Throughout the episode, Nick emphasizes the importance of time optimization and information retrieval. He shares practical strategies, such as the Foundations program, which teaches teams how to use tools like email, Slack, and Asana effectively. By implementing Nick's insights, you can save time, reduce stress, and increase productivity in your business. Tune in to learn how to streamline your operations and make the most of your valuable resources. In this episode, you will: Increase operational efficiency and productivity to maximize your business's growth potential. Learn effective time management strategies to optimize your productivity and achieve your business goals. Streamline your operations and processes to eliminate bottlenecks and improve overall efficiency. Optimize information retrieval and storage to access critical data quickly and make informed business decisions. Find the balance between work and play to enhance your overall well-being and maintain sustainable productivity. Show Notes: 00:00:00 - Introduction, In this episode, Melina Palmer introduces Nick Sonnenberg, CEO of Leverage and author of Come Up For Air. Nick shares his background in finance and how his experience in high-frequency trading led him to develop a passion for automation and the value of time. 00:02:30 - The Journey of Leverage Nick discusses the growth and challenges faced by Leverage, his operational efficiency consultancy. He shares how he overcame operational debt and realized that the key to success lies in saving time and maximizing efficiency. 00:05:05 - The CPR Business Efficiency Framework Nick explains the CPR framework (Communicate, Plan, Resource) and how it can help organizations improve their efficiency. He highlights the importance of effective communication, planning, and standard operating procedures in saving time and increasing productivity. 00:07:28 - Getting Started with Efficiency Nick advises listeners on where to start when seeking to make efficiency improvements. He suggests focusing on areas that offer the highest return on time and recommends starting with the Foundations program, which helps align teams on information management and retrieval. 00:15:56 - The Power of Shifting Perspective Shifting your perspective and approach can lead to increased productivity and efficiency without the need for approval or new tools. By organizing your email and having a plan, you can set yourself up for success and inspire others to do the same. 00:16:55 - The Value of Time and Cutting Meetings The book emphasizes the importance of saving and optimizing time. Not all time slots are equal, and it's crucial to identify high-value time slots. By implementing strategies like pre-reading materials and using tools like Loom, meetings can be more efficient and productive. 00:21:18 - Leveraging Loom and Asynchronous Communication Loom, a screen recording tool, can help save time by allowing for asynchronous communication. Watching recordings at an accelerated speed and having the ability to rewatch can increase efficiency. Loom also facilitates discussions and comments, even outside of meetings. 00:23:44 - Understanding Your Bandwidth with Sprint Planning Sprint planning involves determining your capacity for work and considering pre-commitments like meetings and maintenance tasks. By recognizing how much time is actually available for new initiatives, you can set realistic goals and increase productivity. 00:24:11 - The Impact of Optimizing Time Optimizing time can lead to significant improvements in productivity. By reclaiming even just a few hours a week, you can effectively double the amount of time available for new initiatives. Recognizing the value of time can drive the implementation of time-saving strategies. 00:30:43 - Introduction to GetLeverage.com Nick Sonnenberg introduces his training and consulting company, GetLeverage.com, which helps businesses train and use various tools effectively. 00:31:19 - Benefits of GetLeverage.com Nick Sonnenberg highlights how GetLeverage.com can save businesses time and money by providing training and optimizing processes. 00:32:01 - Importance of Policies and Procedures Nick Sonnenberg emphasizes the significance of having optimized procedures and processes in place to facilitate business growth and efficiency. 00:33:30 - Focus on Quick Retrieval of Information Nick Sonnenberg suggests focusing on the quick retrieval of information rather than the quick transfer of information, as it saves time and improves productivity. 00:34:51 -  Conclusion, Melina's top insights from the conversation. What stuck with you while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as @thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Connect with Nick: Follow Nick on Twitter Follow Nick on LinkedIn Leverage website Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: Come Up For Air, by Nick Sonnenberg Work Well. Play More! by Marcey Rader Indistractable, by Nir Eyal Subtract, by Leidy Klotz What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer Top Recommended Next Episode: Work Well. Play More! with Marcey Rader (ep 323) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Planning Fallacy (ep 346) Indistractable, with Nir Eyal (ep 290) Optimism Bias (ep 34) Time Discounting (ep 328) Loss Aversion (ep 316) Focusing Illusion (ep 330) Fundamental Attribution Error (ep 268) Bikeshedding (ep 99) Confirmation Bias (ep 260) How To Start and Grow a Successful Podcast (ep 108) How to Organize Your Brain with Behavioral Economics (ep 83) Expect Error, the “E” in NUDGES (ep 39) Anchoring & Adjustment (ep 11) Habits (ep 256) Good Habits, Bad Habits, with Wendy Wood (ep 127) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter Come Up For Air website

In this episode of The Brainy Business podcast, you'll join host Melina Palmer as she dives into the fascinating topic of the planning fallacy. Melina shares her personal experiences with underestimating the time it takes to complete tasks and projects, revealing that even she, an expert in the field, is not immune to this cognitive bias. But fear not, because Melina also provides valuable strategies to combat the planning fallacy and improve your planning accuracy. From seeking external perspectives to breaking tasks into smaller steps, she offers practical advice that you can implement in your own life. Whether you struggle with accurately estimating time or simply want to enhance your productivity, this episode is a must-listen. So get ready to tackle the planning fallacy head-on and start maximizing your time and efficiency. In this episode: Maximize productivity by understanding the planning fallacy and its impact on time estimation. Learn effective strategies to combat the planning fallacy and accurately estimate project timelines. Improve planning accuracy and avoid delays caused by underestimating the time needed for tasks. Unpack complex projects into manageable tasks for more accurate time allocation. Overcome the challenges of planning fallacy when dealing with large-scale projects. Show Notes: 00:00:00 - Introduction, Melina introduces the concept of planning fallacy and explains how it affects our ability to estimate the time and effort required for tasks. She also mentions her upcoming conversation with Nick Sonnenberg and how his book, Come Up for Air, inspired her to refresh this episode. 00:02:16 - The Foundations of Planning Fallacy Melina discusses how planning fallacy was first introduced by Kahneman and Tversky in 1979. They found that errors in judgment were systematic and not random, indicating a bias in the brain. Planning fallacy affects all kinds of people, even experts, and it can be difficult to overcome. 00:05:05 - Why We Fall Victim to Planning Fallacy Melina explains that the brain is naturally inclined to focus on success and underestimate the possibility of failure. We tend to believe that things will go smoothly and that we can do it all, leading to unrealistic expectations and missed deadlines. Even having deadlines and incentives doesn't necessarily help. 00:08:54 - Biases Contributing to Planning Fallacy Melina discusses several biases and brain tricks that contribute to planning fallacy, including the focusing illusion and fundamental attribution error. The focusing illusion causes us to allocate different amounts of time based on what we're currently focused on, while fundamental attribution error leads us to attribute external or internal factors incorrectly. 00:15:57 - The Myth of 8 Hours of Writing Writing for 8 hours straight is not actually 8 hours of writing. Taking breaks and getting distracted reduces the actual writing time. A suggested technique is to write for 25 minutes and then take a 5-minute break, repeating this cycle. This helps to combat planning fallacy and increase productivity. 00:17:43 - The Impact of Distractions and Breaks Distractions and breaks, such as emails and unexpected projects, further decrease writing time. Considering these interruptions, a planned 8-hour writing day may result in only 4.5 hours of actual writing. This means that the anticipated 32 pages would be reduced to only 18. 00:19:47 - Planning for Worst Case Scenario To overcome planning fallacy, it is crucial to plan for the worst case scenario. By allocating a realistic amount of time for productive writing and acknowledging potential distractions, you can avoid beating yourself up over unmet expectations. Celebrate achieving your planned writing time. 00:21:51 - Urgent vs Important Tasks The urgent vs important grid helps prioritize tasks. Determine if a task is important, urgent, both, or neither. This framework helps in dismissing distractions by asking if they are truly important and urgent compared to the planned task. Planning for distractions helps stick to timelines and overcome planning fallacy. 00:31:48 - Understanding the Planning Fallacy Launching a podcast involves various tasks that may seem quick and easy on the surface. However, breaking them down into subtasks reveals the true complexity of the process. Properly allocating time and planning for each subtask can help reduce stress and ensure completion without overcommitting. 00:33:48 - The Power of Unpacking Unpacking tasks into their smallest subcomponents is essential for complex projects like launching a podcast. Simple tasks may not benefit as much from unpacking, but for larger projects, it helps in understanding the full scope and allocating sufficient time for each task. 00:34:27 - Overcoming Planning Fallacy Planning fallacy is a natural tendency that affects everyone. Being aware of this tendency and using the tips mentioned in the episode can help overcome it. Having a trusted friend or colleague to keep you in check is also crucial in avoiding overcommitment and excessive work. 00:35:11 - Personal Experience with Planning Fallacy Melina admits to constantly struggling with planning fallacy despite her knowledge of it. However, understanding its existence and finding ways to manage it can prevent continuous overcommitment and excessive work. 00:36:22 -  Conclusion, Melina's top insights from the conversation. What stuck with you while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as @thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: Come Up For Air, by Nick Sonnenberg Work Well. Play More! by Marcey Rader Indistractable, by Nir Eyal Subtract, by Leidy Klotz What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer Top Recommended Next Episode: Work Well. Play More! with Marcey Rader (ep 323) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Indistractable, with Nir Eyal (ep 290) Optimism Bias (ep 34) Time Discounting (ep 328) Loss Aversion (ep 316) Focusing Illusion (ep 330) Fundamental Attribution Error (ep 268) Bikeshedding (ep 99) Confirmation Bias (ep 260) How To Start and Grow a Successful Podcast (ep 108) How to Organize Your Brain with Behavioral Economics (ep 83) Expect Error, the “E” in NUDGES (ep 39) Anchoring & Adjustment (ep 11) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter The Planning Fallacy: Getting Things Done Can the outside‐view approach improve planning decisions in software development projects? The Planning Fallacy: When Plans Lead to Optimistic Forecasts Exploring the Planning Fallacy: Why People Underestimate Their Task Completion Times A Nobel Prize-Winning Psychologist Explains Why We're Always Wrong About How Long Tasks Take The Planning Fallacy: Why You Miss Your Deadlines, And What to do About it Allocating Time to Future Tasks:The Effect of Task Segmentation on Planning Fallacy Bias Intuitive Prediction: Biases and Corrective Procedures Seattle tunnel construction avoided costly mistakes of Boston's Big Dig Visualization-Mediated Alleviation of the Planning Fallacy If You Don't Want to Be Late, Enumerate: Unpacking Reduces the Planning Fallacy Planning Fallacy

In this episode of The Brainy Business podcast, you'll hear an insightful interview with Warren Berger, an expert in the power of questioning. Warren's exploration of design thinking led him to delve into the origins of breakthrough innovations, startups, and the role of questioning in driving them. His books, A More Beautiful Question and The Book of Beautiful Questions, provide frameworks and examples for using questioning effectively in different domains of life.  Warren emphasizes the importance of questioning in education, business, relationships, and leadership. He highlights the transformative power of asking beautiful questions, which can lead to continuous learning, innovation, and deeper connections with others. By embracing questioning, individuals and organizations can unlock their full potential and lead a path of growth and discovery. In this episode: Unleash your potential and drive personal and professional growth by harnessing the power of questioning. Discover how questioning plays a vital role in design thinking and innovation, and unlock new possibilities in your creative endeavors. Ignite exploration and creativity by asking beautiful questions that inspire curiosity and push the boundaries of what is possible. Foster continuous improvement and engagement by incorporating mission questions into your personal and professional life. Learn how questioning can enhance interpersonal relationships, problem-solving, and lead to deeper connections and understanding. Show Notes: 00:00:00 - Introduction, Introduction to the podcast episode and the guest, Warren Berger, who is an expert in questioning and author of the book A More Beautiful Question. 00:01:23 - Importance of Questioning, Warren discusses the importance of questioning and how it is a powerful tool for problem-solving and decision-making. He emphasizes that questioning should be recognized as a field of study and incorporated into education and business training. 00:04:29 - Questioning and Design Thinking, Warren explains his background in writing about design thinking and how it led him to explore the role of questioning in problem-solving. He highlights that designers and successful business leaders are often skilled questioners. 00:07:06 - Researching Questions, Warren shares his research approach, which involves studying how different fields and professionals use questioning. He mentions sources such as Harvard Business Review and Psychology Today, and notes that there are few books dedicated solely to questioning. 00:10:47 - The Challenge of Writing about Questions, Warren discusses the challenge of expanding the topic of questioning from a chapter in a book to multiple books. He emphasizes the limitless depth and breadth of the subject and his commitment to exploring it fully. 00:15:26 - The Power of Questioning, Warren discusses how questioning leads to breakthroughs and innovation, emphasizing that many innovations start with a simple question. He introduces his first book, which explores the general concept of questioning with a focus on innovation. 00:16:16 - Questioning in Different Areas, Warren explains that people approach questioning from different angles depending on their interests. He highlights the relationships between questioning and creativity, decision-making, relationships with others, and leadership. Businesses are recognizing the importance of leaders who can ask insightful questions. 00:17:31 - The Book of Beautiful Questions, Warren's second book delves into four key areas where questioning is relevant: creativity, leadership, relationships, and decision-making. He offers examples of useful questions in each area and encourages readers to come up with their own. 00:18:31 - Questioning in Education, Warren's third book, targeted at educators, focuses on how to encourage students to ask more questions. He emphasizes the importance of engaging students' curiosity and creating a classroom environment where questioning is encouraged. 00:21:02 - Modeling Questioning Behavior, Warner discusses the importance of modeling questioning behavior, both for teachers and parents. He explains that demonstrating a balance of confidence and humility as a questioner can inspire others and create a more approachable leadership style. Intellectual curiosity is a valuable trait for both leaders and learners. 00:30:45 - The Three Types of Questions, The three types of questions are why, what if, and how. These questions work together in a cycle to push you forward and prevent you from getting stuck. Each question serves a different purpose in the problem-solving process. 00:31:19 - The Importance of the Why Question, The why question helps you understand the problem and its importance. However, it's important not to get trapped in the philosophical stage of constantly asking why. The why question is the first step in the process. 00:31:50 - Moving to the What If Stage, After asking why and gaining an understanding of the problem, it's time to start asking what if. This stage is for brainstorming and speculating on possible solutions. However, it's important not to get stuck in this stage and move on to the next. 00:32:28 - The How Question, The “how” question is about implementation and practicality. It's about figuring out how to solve the problem and get started. This question should be the last step in the process, after understanding the problem and exploring possible solutions. 00:35:30 - The Importance of Spending Time on Each Stage, It's important not to rush through any of the stages. Spending time on each stage ensures that you have a deep understanding of the problem, explore different possibilities, and then figure out how to implement the solution. Don't shortchange any of the stages. 00:44:52 - The Power of Beautiful Questions, Warren discusses the importance of formulating a powerful question that can drive motivation and purpose. He encourages individuals and companies to focus on mission questions rather than mission statements, as questions are ongoing and open-ended. 00:46:14 - Finding Your Beautiful Question, Warren encourages listeners to find their own beautiful question, a question that they can continuously pursue and work on throughout their lives. He also suggests that businesses should have mission questions that drive their purpose and motivate their employees. 00:47:18 -  Conclusion, Melina's top insights from the conversation. What stuck with you while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as @thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Connect with Warren: WARREN'S WEBSITE WARREN ON TWITTER WARREN ON LINKEDIN Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: A More Beautiful Question, by Warren Berger Beautiful Questions in the Classroom, by Warren Berger The Book of Beautiful Questions, by Warren Berger CAD Monkeys, Dinosaur Babies, and T-Shaped People, by Warren Berger Both/And Thinking, by Wendy Smith Top Recommended Next Episode: Questionstorming at KIND (ep 215) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Dunning-Kruger Effect (ep 266) What Problem Are You Solving? (ep 126) Framing (ep 296) Questions or Answers (ep 4) Bikeshedding (ep 99) Priming (ep 252) Influence Is Your Superpower with Zoe Chance (ep 308) How Businesses Can Design for Behavior Change, with Amy Bucher (ep 164) You're Invited! with Jon Levy (ep 150) Nudging for Good at Walmart (ep 206) Both/And Thinking, with Wendy Smith (ep 261) Is There a System 3? with Leigh Caldwell (ep 233) What is Cognitive Semiotics? with Sarah Thompson (ep 259) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter Warren Berger TED Talk: Nurturing the Ability to Question Right Question Institute The Questionologist, Psychology Today Warren Berger Articles, Harvard Business Review

Wherein noone actually pair programs, bruh

A company's success nowadays is so reliant upon pitching–whether you are looking to land a new client or get quoted in the media. Having a credible source say positive things about you and your company can be pivotal when it comes to whether your brand is going to be seen or not. That is exactly why this episode of The Brainy Business is dedicated to giving you some concise tips on how to use behavioral economics to pitch your brand. Pitching yourself can feel awkward, but when you understand the brain science it doesn't have to be, especially if you follow Melina's tips! In this episode, Melina Palmer discusses different brain biases such as social proof, authority bias, familiarity bias, and availability bias. Availability bias gets a big focus because it is one of the most critical to pitching success. You can take advantage of it by predicting and paying attention to trends and finding a way to offer people a fresh perspective on them. The episode closes with three key points to keep in mind when pitching: (1) keep it short (2) be happy with your language and (3) follow directions. This is just scratching the surface of what you'll get in this episode, one of the top 10 downloaded episodes of The Brainy Business of all time. Listen now to learn how to use behavioral economics to successfully pitch yourself and your business… In this episode: Gain knowledge on crafting compelling business pitches that seize opportunities. Unearth techniques to fight self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and potential slants in your business pitches. Learn how to leverage social proof to boost business credibility, attracting a wider customer base. Learn to spot niche perspectives and fresh ideas that attract media attention for your business. Understand why it is important to plan ahead much further than you think is necessary, with tips for how to get started immediately. Show Notes: 00:00:00 - Introduction, Melina Palmer introduces the episode, which focuses on how to successfully pitch your business. She mentions that pitching can be uncomfortable and discusses the brain biases that often hold people back from pitching themselves. 00:03:12 - Overcoming Biases and Procrastination, Melina acknowledges that pitching oneself can be challenging and discusses how various brain biases, such as imposter syndrome and the focusing illusion, can hinder the pitching process. She encourages listeners to focus on the positive aspects and prioritize pitching as a goal. 00:08:27 - The Importance of Pitching, Melina explains the three main benefits of pitching the media: social proof, familiarity bias, and availability bias. She emphasizes the value of social proof and how being featured in the media can enhance credibility and trust in your brand. 00:11:50 - Availability Bias, Melina delves into the concept of availability bias and its relevance to pitching. She provides examples, such as flood insurance and crime rates, to illustrate how frequent exposure to certain topics can skew our perception of risk and importance. 00:15:18 - The Power of a Unique Perspective, Having a unique perspective can help you stand out in the media. By offering a fresh angle on a popular topic, you can become the go-to expert in your field. Melina shares a real-world example of how a handwriting expert found success by providing insights on the signatures of Prince William and Kate Middleton before their wedding. 00:17:01 - Reporters are People Too, Overcoming the fear of pitching reporters is crucial. They are just people doing a job and are constantly in need of content. By understanding their needs and offering valuable insights, you can become their solution and build a positive relationship with them. 00:18:35 - Finding Your Unique Perspective, To find your unique perspective, look at upcoming events, trends, and topics in various fields. Even if it seems unrelated to your work, there may be a niche you can carve out for yourself. By thinking outside the box, you can offer valuable insights on seemingly random topics. 00:19:44 - The Importance of Personalized Pitches, Sending generic pitches to reporters is ineffective. It's essential to do research and understand what each writer and/or outlet covers. By personalizing your pitches and showing how your expertise aligns with their audience's interests, you increase your chances of being featured in the media. 00:26:42 - Using Help a Reporter Out (HARO), HARO is a free service that connects reporters with expert sources. Signing up for HARO and responding to relevant inquiries is a great way to start getting some media coverage because it isn't a cold pitch. 00:30:10 - Tips for Pitching, Melina summarizes her tips for pitching, emphasizing that these tips can be applied to pitching anything, not just traditional news media. She advises deciding if pitching is a main goal for your business, making a list of top outlets and reporters, and practicing looking at trending topics or events. She also encourages getting out of your own way and just starting, even if it feels scary. 00:31:42 - Pitching as an Achievable Task, Melina reassures listeners that pitching is achievable and encourages them to realize their story's potential. She highlights the various opportunities for pitching, whether it's for publications, clients, promotions, or projects. Melina emphasizes the importance of taking initiative and making your own opportunities. 00:32:34 - Conclusion, Melina's top insights from the conversation. What stuck with you while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as @thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: Influence, by Robert Cialdini What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer You're Invited, by Jon Levy The Hype Handbook, by Michael F. Schein The Speed of Trust, by Stephen M.R. Covey Top Recommended Next Episode: Availability Bias (episode 310) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Priming (ep 252) Framing (ep 296) Herding (ep 264)How To Set, Achieve, and Exceed Brainy Goals (ep 70) Familiarity Bias (episode 149) Confirmation Bias (episode 260) Optimism Bias (episode 34) Social Proof (episode 87) Reciprocity (episode 238) Herding (episode 19) Focusing Illusion (episode 330) Prefactual Thinking (episode 232) Bikeshedding (episode 99) Survivorship Bias (episode 110) Dr. Robert Cialdini and the (Now!) 7 Principles of Persuasion (episode 157) Magic Words, with Jonah Berger (ep 301) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter HARO – Help A Reporter Out Certificate in Applied Behavioral Economics at Texas A&M

In this episode of The Brainy Business podcast, host Melina Palmer interviews Marcey Rader, author of the book Work Well, Play More. They delve into the importance of habits in achieving efficiency and work-life balance. Marcey shares her personal journey of making small, manageable changes in her life and emphasizes the need to focus on the behaviors underlying productivity. She highlights the value of breaking down goals into smaller tasks and tracking progress to stay motivated. The conversation also covers strategies for setting boundaries, prioritizing tasks, and incorporating movement into daily routines. Whether you're a busy professional looking to enhance your productivity or seeking a better work-life balance, this episode offers actionable advice and inspiration. Don't miss the opportunity to learn from Marcey's expertise and improve your efficiency and overall well-being. In this episode: Uncover the critical crossroads of health, productivity, and behavioral economics, providing an enriched understanding of personal and professional efficiency. Appreciate the transformational power of habits in attaining a meaningful work-life balance, preparing you for a balanced and fruitful lifestyle. Realize the necessity of establishing boundaries and prioritizing tasks, seeding the prevention of potential fatigue and burnout. Delve into the profound significance of immersing oneself in work and taking necessary breaks, instilling a refreshed sense of focus and vigor. Relate to Marcey Rader's personal journey, promoting an invaluable dimension of empathy and connection to her work. Show Notes: 00:00:00 - Introduction, Melina Palmer introduces Marcey Rader, an author and health, productivity, and digital wellness expert. They discuss the importance of health in powering productivity and how habits and behavior change play a significant role in achieving work-life balance. 00:05:16 - Background and Journey, Marcey shares her journey from working in clinical research to becoming a productivity coach and speaker. She talks about how her own struggles with burnout and health issues inspired her to help others find a healthier and more efficient approach to work and life. 00:10:41 - Minimalism and Productivity, Marcey discusses how reading the book The Power of Less by Leo Babauta sparked her interest in minimalism and productivity. She shares how adopting minimalist principles and simplifying her life helped her improve her focus, efficiency, and work-life balance. 00:13:25 - Personal Experience and Empathy, Melina and Marcey emphasize the importance of personal experience and empathy when helping others make behavior changes. They discuss the value of relatability and understanding in guiding individuals towards healthier habits and a more productive lifestyle. 00:14:51 - Overcoming Overwhelm, Melina and Marcey address the feeling of overwhelm that many people experience when trying to make multiple behavior changes at once. They emphasize the importance of breaking changes down into smaller, manageable steps and starting with one area at a time for sustainable progress. 00:16:40 - Making Small Changes for Personal Growth, Marcey Rader shares her method of making personal and behavioral changes by breaking them down into smaller, manageable tasks. She shares her experience of creating a list of 100 things she wanted to change about herself and how she tracked her progress by checking off each task every day. (And, yes, acknowledges this approach may not be for everyone.) 00:19:20 - The Importance of Small Wins, Marcey emphasizes the importance of celebrating small wins and finding quick wins to build momentum. She shares her personal journey of gradually increasing her vegetable intake and how she started with just one serving a day and gradually worked her way up to five or six servings. 00:23:17 - Work Well, Play More Book Overview, Marcey discusses her book, Work Well, Play More, which covers topics of productivity, clutter, and health. The book is divided into twelve months, and each month focuses on a different area with novice, pro, and master levels. It can be used as a guide for making changes at your own pace and choosing your own adventure. 00:28:03 - Tackling Decluttering in Different Areas, Marcey explains how her book caters to different levels of expertise in each area. She shares examples of decluttering tips, such as cleaning up contacts in your phone, and how she personally used the process of decluttering contacts to reconnect with people during the COVID-19 pandemic. 00:30:10 - Top Tips from the Book, Marcey shares a top tip from each section of the book: productivity, health, and clutter. 00:34:59 - Being Flexible with Dietary Restrictions, Marcey shares her experience of being gluten-free for digestive reasons but not wanting to restrict her diet too much. She emphasizes the importance of looking for flexibility and balance in everything, including one's dietary choices. 00:35:36 - Breaking Habits and the Two-Minute Rule, Melina and Marcey discuss the challenge of breaking habits. Marcey shares about OHIO and Melina introduces the concept of the two-minute rule. They explain how tackling small tasks immediately can lead to a significant impact on productivity and organization. 00:37:15 - Organizing Information for the Book, Marcey shares her process of organizing the information for her book by using sticky notes and categorizing them by topic. She explains how this method helped her create a cohesive journey for her readers. 00:42:02 - Working with Companies, Marcey explains her approach when working with companies, which includes assessing their email behaviors, communication, time management, and meeting effectiveness. She also shares an example of implementing "design days" to promote deep focus and productivity within a company. 00:46:58 - Conclusion, Melina's top insights from the conversation. What stuck with you while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as @thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: Work Well, Play More, by Marcey Rader Subtract, by Leidy Klotz The Power of Less, by Leo Babauta Essentialism, by Greg McKeown Good Habits, Bad Habits, by Wendy Wood Connect with Marcey:  Follow Marcey on LinkedIn Follow RaderCo on YouTube RaderCo website Top Recommended Next Episode: Habits (ep 256) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Loss Aversion (ep 316) Good Habits, Bad Habits with Wendy Wood (ep 127) Framing (ep 296) Magic Words, with Jonah Berger (ep 301) Reciprocity (ep 238) The Overwhelmed Brain and Its Impact on Decision Making (ep 32) Priming (ep 252) Solving Modern Problems with a Stone-Age Brain (ep 237) Subtract, with Leidy Klotz (ep 322) Anchoring & Adjustment (ep 11) Bikeshedding (ep 99) How To Change, with Katy Milkman (ep 151) How To Set, Achieve and Exceed Brainy Goals (ep 70) Indistractible, with Nir Eyal (ep 290) Bikeshedding (ep 99) Planning Fallacy (ep 114) Get Ready for Act Two, with Kate Gigax (ep 321) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter Marcey's Powered Path Playbook Health Powered Productivity podcast

In this episode of The Brainy Business podcast, guest Leidy Klotz shares his research on the psychology of subtraction and its importance in decision-making and problem-solving. Klotz discusses how our natural instinct is to add rather than subtract when trying to improve a situation, and he provides insights into why this is the case. He explains that humans have a desire to display competence, and adding to a situation is a visible way to demonstrate that we can deal with the world effectively. However, Klotz argues that we can also display competence through subtracting, but it may require more effort to make it noticeable. He shares studies conducted with LEGO structures, itineraries, recipes, and computer grids, which consistently showed that people overwhelmingly choose to add rather than subtract. The episode explores concepts such as loss aversion and the IKEA effect, which contribute to our preference for adding. The conversation also touches on the concepts of minimalism and essentialism, and how subtracting can be a powerful tool for displaying competence and achieving goals effectively. Listeners will gain valuable insights into the psychological biases that hinder effective decision-making and problem-solving, and learn practical strategies to prioritize and achieve what truly matters.  In this episode: Discover the pivotal role subtraction plays in effective decision-making and problem-solving. Learn how our instinctive preference for addition can obstruct optimal solutions. Grasp how to confront biases and initiate shifts towards a subtractive mindset. Understand the immense benefits of streamlining and eliminating needless aspects of daily life. Acquire empowering strategies for integrating subtraction practices into your everyday living. Show Notes: 00:00:00 - Introduction, Melina Palmer introduces the episode and its focus on the power of subtraction with Dr. Leidy Klotz. She emphasizes the importance of optimization, reduction, and efficiency in various areas of life. 00:03:20 - Dr. Leidy Klotz's Background, Dr. Klotz shares his background in engineering and how his interest in sustainability led him to behavioral science. He highlights the overlap between engineering, architecture, and behavioral science in terms of creative application and design. 00:08:56 - Uncommon Paths to Behavioral Science, The conversation explores the diverse backgrounds of behavioral scientists, including Dr. Klotz's experience as a professional soccer player. They discuss how different disciplines, like marketing and sports, can contribute to the field of behavioral science. 00:11:50 - Personal Backgrounds and Professional Work, Melina and Dr. Klotz discuss how personal backgrounds, such as being an opera singer or playing basketball, can shape a person's approach to problem-solving. They highlight the value of diverse experiences in the field of behavioral science. 00:13:35 - Introduction to Subtract, Dr. Klotz introduces his book, Subtract, and explains how it explores the concept of subtraction as a means of optimization. He discusses the relationship between design, sustainability, and the creative application of behavioral science principles. 00:15:26 - The Instinct to Add, Leidy discusses how our first instinct when trying to improve something is to add, rather than subtract. This instinct is seen across various contexts, including LEGO structures and itineraries. The guest also mentions a study where people were given a task to make quadrants symmetrical and found that people overwhelmingly added blocks instead of removing them. 00:17:27 - Overlooking Subtraction, The guest explains that our tendency to overlook subtraction is due to various factors such as loss aversion, the endowment effect, and the IKEA effect. The book explores these factors and delves into the biological, cultural, and economic forces that contribute to our preference for adding. 00:18:47 - Science-Informed Strategies, Leidy discusses the latter half of the book, which focuses on utilizing science-informed strategies to get better at subtraction. By understanding the science behind our inclination to add, we can develop strategies to improve our ability to subtract. Leidy emphasizes the importance of creating a list of "stop doings" instead of solely focusing on a long list of to-dos. 00:21:06 - Minimalism and Essentialism, Leidy notes the connection between the book's concept of subtraction and minimalism and essentialism. He and Melina highlight the value of decluttering and getting rid of excess in order to display competence. Leidy also mentions the satisfaction that comes from having a focused to-do list with achievable tasks. 00:30:08 - The Importance of Subtraction, The conversation begins with the idea that subtraction is often overlooked in our society, and how we need to shift our mindset to value subtraction as much as addition. The guest, Leidy Klotz, mentions historical figures like Da Vinci and Lao Tzu who understood the importance of subtraction for design perfection and gaining wisdom. 00:31:01 - Subtraction as a Valuable Skill, Klotz discusses how his book aims to help people understand the science and stories behind subtraction, and encourages readers to adapt the principles to their own lives. He emphasizes the importance of subtracting first and how it can lead to better decision-making and problem-solving. 00:32:48 - Overcoming Challenges with Subtraction, Klotz addresses the challenges people face when considering subtraction, such as loss aversion and the fear of regret or guilt. He suggests mindset shifts, such as reframing subtraction as a positive improvement and emphasizing the benefits of subtracting. He also highlights the role of valence in perception and the value of thinking of add and subtract as complementary approaches. 00:35:53 - Add and Subtract, Klotz discusses the misconception that add and subtract are opposites and explains how they can coexist as complementary ways to make change. He encourages people to consider both options and think about the potential gains and losses associated with each. This mindset shift can lead to more effective decision-making and problem-solving. 00:44:27 - Introduction to the Book Work Well, Play More, Melina introduces the book Work Well, Play More by Marcey Rader, which builds upon the concepts of productivity and distraction introduced in "Indistractable." The book focuses on three areas: productivity, clutter, and health, providing a twelve-month approach to improve each area and reclaim time and mental well-being. 00:45:02 - Conclusion, Melina's top insights from the conversation. What stuck with you while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as @thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: Subtract, by Leidy Klotz The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, by Marie Kondo Essentialism, by Greg McKeown How to Change, by Katy Milkman Work Well, Play More, by Marcey Rader Connect with Leidy:  Leidy on LinkedIn Leidy on Twitter Leidy's website Top Recommended Next Episode: Quit, with Annie Duke (ep 227) Already Heard That One? Try These:  NUDGES and Choice Architecture (ep 35) Non-Obvious Thinking, with Rohit Bhargava (ep 297) Endowment Effect (ep 139) Focusing Illusion (ep 89) Indistractible, with Nir Eyal (ep 290) How To Change, with Katy Milkman (ep 151) The Elements of Choice, with Eric Johnson (ep 174) Functional Fixedness (ep 194) A More Beautiful Question, with Warren Berger (ep 200) Evolutionary Ideas, with Sam Tatam (ep 204) Anchoring & Adjustment (ep 11) Bikeshedding (ep 99) The Overwhelmed Brain and Its Impact on Decision Making (ep 32) IKEA Effect (ep 112) Loss Aversion (ep 316) Behavioral Storytelling, with David Paull (ep 289) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter Leidy at the University of Virginia

How many times do you get clear about your priorities, and then get distracted and focus on something completely unimportant because it feels productive? This is what we at Levels call “bikeshedding,” and here we talk about how it happens in companies, and how people can think in order to avoid it. Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health. Look for new shows every month on Levels - Inside the Company, where we have in-depth conversations about how the Levels startup team builds a movement from the ground up in the health and wellness tech industry.

Dealing with distractions is a common challenge that many professionals face in their everyday lives. Traction (the opposite of distraction) is the force that drives us towards our goals and objectives, keeping us focused on the tasks that really matter. In order to combat distractions, it's vital to create a plan that outlines the necessary steps for achieving success. This includes setting clear objectives and breaking down goals into manageable tasks, while also allocating specific time for relaxation or personal enjoyment.  By doing so, individuals can achieve a balanced life that fosters productivity and happiness. During this conversation with host Melina Palmer, Nir Eyal emphasized the importance of distinguishing between distraction and traction. Contrary to popular belief, the opposite of distraction isn't focus, but rather traction. Eyal explained that distractions are anything that pulls us away from our true goals, while traction is any action that brings us closer to achieving them. He urged listeners to create schedules that align with their values and to stick with them, ensuring that they devote the necessary time and focus to what truly matters. Enhance concentration through gaining traction and structured planning to mitigate distractions. Utilize technology with intention for peak productivity and enriching personal experiences. Overcome internal triggers by comprehending the nature of discomfort and controlling urges. Create value-driven schedules to bolster time management and sharpen focus. Employ tactical tools and approaches to curb the influence of digital distractions. Show Notes: 00:00:00 - Introduction, Melina Palmer introduces the episode and the guest, Nir Eyal, who is a behavioral designer. She talks about how Nir's book, Indistractable, helps people overcome distractions and become more productive. 00:04:30 - Personal Reason for Writing Indistractable, Nir Eyal shares his personal reason for writing Indistractable. He talks about how he was distracted by his phone while spending time with his daughter. Research and personal testing made him realize the problem was much deeper than just technology. He decided to explore the root cause of distraction and find an answer that actually worked. 00:09:40 - Distraction is an Old Problem, Nir talks about how distraction is not a new problem and has been with us for at least the past 2500 years. He explains how people have always blamed various forms of entertainment and technology for distracting them, and how it's lazy thinking to blame technology for distraction without understanding the root cause. 00:11:14 - The Opposite of Distraction is Traction, Nir Eyal explains that the opposite of distraction is not focus, but traction. He defines traction as any action that pulls you towards what you want to do, and distraction as any action that pulls you away from what you plan to do. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the difference between the two. 00:12:27 - Tools for Finding Balance, Nir Eyal talks about the importance of finding balance when it comes to using technology. He shares some tips and tricks anyone can use to help with this (a tiny sample of all the resources in his book). 00:13:47 - Understanding Distractions and Traction, Nir Eyal explains that distraction is anything that pulls us away from what we planned to do and anything can be a distraction. Conversely, anything can be traction if we make time for it and plan it according to our values. Becoming indistractable means living with personal integrity and knowing why we got distracted. 00:18:28 - The Root Cause of Distraction, Eyal identifies the root cause of distraction as our inability to deal with discomfort in a healthy manner. We use distraction as psychological pacification and escape uncomfortable emotions. To become indistractable, we must first learn to deal with the discomfort in a healthy way by fixing the source of discomfort or finding ways to cope. 00:19:48 - Human Motivation, Nir explains that human motivation is not about the pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain but rather spurred by discomfort. We have two neural circuits, the liking system and the wanting system. The purpose of the wanting system is to create discomfort to get us to act. Time management is pain management, and to master distractions, we must first master internal triggers. 00:22:21 - Time Management and Addiction, Addiction isn't just about substances or behaviors but is more about our need to escape from discomfort. We must fix the source of discomfort or learn to deal with it in a healthier way. Eyal shares the story of Dr. Zoe Chance, who became temporarily addicted to her pedometer as she was using it to escape her life. 00:27:21 - The Evolution of Internal Triggers, Evolution has made us perpetually perturbed and hardwired for things like hedonic adaptation, rumination, and boredom to keep us searching for more. We are not designed by evolution to be satisfied, but to strive, search, want, and crave, which helped our species progress. The idea is to channel these uncomfortable sensations towards traction rather than distraction. 00:29:21 - Mindset and Reimagining Temptation, Our brains are wired for mindset issues, and we need to reimagine our temperament to become indistractable. If we have an issue, we need to understand the root cause and channel our mindset towards traction instead of distraction. We can reimagine the task, trigger, or our temperament to master the internal triggers, which is crucial to becoming indistractable. 00:32:00 - The Nuances of Technological Distraction, Our relationship with technology and other distractions is a nuanced discussion. Everything has unintended benefits and harms, and it is crucial to take a deeper look. We need to understand the good stuff that's happened and not just the negatives. If something is not serving us, we should disconnect and use what we want with intent. 00:35:23 - The Story Behind the Moral Panic, Every moral panic throughout the years has had a scapegoat, and this time, it's technological distraction. It's dangerous to believe in scientifically unsupported theories, which leads to learned helplessness. The evidence is scant, and the story is much more nuanced. 00:41:33 - Why We Need to Become Indistractable, Nir Eyal talks about how constant interruptions from Facebook and the news distract us and how hacking back our phones and offices can help us become indistractable. 00:42:14 - How Distractions Come from Colleagues, Eyal discusses how distractions from colleagues in open-office plans can impede work progress and how a simple explicit message can help. 00:43:10 - The Role of Pre-Commitments, Eyal explains how pre-commitments can help prevent distraction and promote personal integrity. 00:48:29 - The Antidote to Impulsiveness, Eyal emphasizes that the antidote to impulsiveness is forethought and how we should use our ability to see into the future to plan ahead. 00:50:08 - Conclusion, Melina's top insights from the conversation. What stuck with you while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as @thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: Indistractable, by Nir Eyal Hooked, by Nir Eyal Influence is Your Superpower, by Zoe Chance What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer Connect with Nir:  Nirandfar.com Nir on Twitter Nir on LinkedIn Top Recommended Next Episode: Influence is Your Superpower, by Zoe Chance Already Heard That One? Try These:  Availability (ep 15) Habits (ep 256) The Power of Habit (ep 22) How to Set, Achieve & Exceed Brainy Goals (ep 70) Tips To Overcome Imposter Syndrome (ep 13) How to Get (and Stay) Motivated (ep 67) Resolutions and Keeping Commitments (ep 29) Sense of Hearing (ep 27) How To Organize Your Brain with Behavioral Economics (ep 83) Bikeshedding (ep 99) Planning Fallacy (ep 114) Temptation Bundling (ep 250) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter 3 Ways You Can Limit Everyday Distractions How This Year's Nobel Prize Winning Research in Economics Can Help Your Business

Christina School Board candidate Doug Danger Manley joins Rob in the bunker to talk about some of the things that are (literally) broken in Delaware education and his priorities in running for school board. Then, a preview of some more upcoming trial coverage.Show Notes:Doug's siteDonate to Doug

Önemsizlik kanunu olarak da bilinen bikeshedding, insanların küçük sorunları ele almak için görece büyük bir zaman, enerji ve diğer kaynakları harcadığı fenomenleri ifade eder.Örneğin bikeshedding eyleminde bulunan bir şirket, küçük bir bisiklet kulübesinin (İng: "bikeshed") inşasını tartışmaya, ileri…

In today's conversation, I am joined by Dr. Mike Rucker, author of the brand new book, The Fun Habit, which just came out a couple of days ago on January 3, 2023. Mike is an organizational psychologist and charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association whose work has been published in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management and Nutrition Research. His ideas about fun and health have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Fast Company, The Telegraph, Psychology Today, Forbes, Vox, Thrive Global, Mindbodygreen, and more. He was named one of ten digital changemakers by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, and currently serves as a senior leader at Active Wellness. And, not surprisingly, today's conversation is all about fun! We also talk about framing and word choice and how fun and change really do go together. It's a great chat that I can't wait to share with you. Show Notes: [00:41] In today's conversation, I am joined by Dr. Mike Rucker, author of the brand new book The Fun Habit.  [02:32] Mike shares about himself and his background. He is an organizational psychologist by trade but focuses more on behavioral science.  [02:44] His new book, The Fun Habit looks at living a life more joyfully through actively pursuing the activities you engage in rather than pursuing happiness.  [04:04] From 2009-2016 he optimized his life and tried to extrapolate as much happiness as he could.  [06:33] He found out that the more he tried to chase happiness the unhappier he was and he wanted to figure out why.  [09:08] We can have more longevity with certain tasks if we add a component that makes it pleasurable for us. We do mundane things – with a little creativity, we can reframe them.   [12:07] If we take control over how we spend our time and we bias it towards fun things, ultimately we are going to perceive the world in a more positive and optimistic light.  [14:41] If you don't take time off the table for yourself you are not showing up as the best version of yourself.  [16:42] When our lives are overly habituated and we are always doing the same stuff we store those memories as single units. [18:58] Most people live this habituated life and that becomes comfortable, but you forget that you can have a little bit of time for yourself. [20:42] Disruption is a great opportunity for change.   [21:42] The initial step is to sit down and brainstorm what you would like to do more for fun. This could include past hobbies, things you authentically feel connected to, and things you long to do. Par your list down to 8-15 things so it is actionable. [23:34] An important second step is to make sure it is not an exercise of adding things to your already busy life. Mike suggests doing a time audit.  [26:16] We need to swap out the “low-hanging fruit” activities for ones that light us up more.  [27:15] First create space in your schedule. Once you have that, use the list you made to integrate things that are more fun into your life.  [28:29] A lot of times the biggest impact is looking for a way to change an activity so it is better, or adding something on. [30:56] When you hear about fun interventions at work you need to make sure everyone can come in and have fun at the activity in a safe place. Leaders need to be setting an example.   [33:07] Fun in the workplace generally unites you around a common goal. Cohesion comes from wanting to accomplish something together.  [35:16] Because our brains work in micro-moments and microdecisions, we really need to be looking at the little things. (Change is more than just the big stuff that requires a project team.) [38:00] People who have a best friend at work are more loyal, happier, engaged, and better employees. Helping to incorporate fun and allowing people to connect is valuable.  [40:45] You can either empower the individual so that they can have more fun and more vitality when they come back to the office or you can create it from an empathic standpoint where you are creating opportunities for organic fun.  [41:37] Fun is not the same for everyone.   [42:56] If the outcome of whatever you are trying to do can still be the same but allow people to do it in a way that feels comfortable to them, you are going to have more fun every time.   [44:10] Melina's closing thoughts [44:54] We are a species that is meant to have fun. We should take the time and make the effort to bring fun back into our lives.  Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: The Fun Habit, Mike Rucker Get It Done, by Ayelet Fishbach Happier Hour, by Cassie Holmes How to Change, by Katy Milkman Indistractable, by Nir Eyal Connect with Mike:  Mike's Website Mike on LinkedIn Mike on Twitter Top Recommended Next Episode: Temptation Bundling (ep 250) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Get It Done: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation with Ayelet Fishbach (ep 186) Using Motivation and Happiness Science to Make 2023 Your Best Year Ever (ep 249) Temptation Bundling (ep 250) How To Change, an interview Dr. Katy Milkman (ep 151) Framing (ep 16) Priming (episode 18) How to Set, Achieve & Exceed Brainy Goals (ep 248) Bikeshedding (ep 99) Habits (ep 21) Loss Aversion (ep 9) How to Become Indistractible, Interview With Author Nir Eyal (ep 78) Good Habits, Bad Habits, with Dr. Wendy Wood (ep 127) Vulnerability Loops (ep 229) Do You Subtract Enough? with Leidy Klotz (ep 162) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter

Today's episode is all about temptation bundling, and before we talk about what that is, can we take a minute to celebrate the milestone that is this episode?! This is the 250TH EPISODE of The Brainy Business podcast!!!  What an amazing way to kick off 2023. I would love to say that I planned it that way, but it was more serendipitous than anything (I think that's how we know it was meant to be).  One thing that has allowed me to write, record and set up 250 episodes (along with everything else I do each week) is temptation bundling, which is the focus of today's episode. This one originally aired as number 136 in January 2021, and there is a reason I chose to have it back again to kick off the year.  Temptation bundling is a great way to help you reach goals by making something mundane, boring or hard more enjoyable and likely to be completed. Don't get me wrong, I love creating the podcast. It is fun to learn and share and I do enjoy it. However, it has plenty of mundane stuff that needs to be done to keep it moving, so a little temptation bundling is very helpful in getting this and so many other aspects of my life and work moving forward when it might be easier or more tempting to put it off. Listen in for all the ins and outs of temptation bundling and how you can use it for your own life and work. Show Notes: [00:39] Today's episode is all about temptation bundling, but first, we must celebrate 250 episodes! [01:49] Temptation bundling is a great way to help you reach goals by making something mundane, boring or hard more enjoyable and likely to be completed. [02:54] One of my favorite things about temptation bundling is how simple it is.  [04:42] Temptation bundling is taking something you should do but may have a longer-term reward and may not be super appealing at the moment…and bundling it with something you really want to do right now.  [06:53] A slight change in routine can upend newly formed habits and make it hard to start up again if you aren't careful.   [08:11] Pretty much anything can be a candidate for the bundle. What you set up doesn't need to be what someone else would want or need. [09:46] Temptation bundling uses a “now” activity to achieve a longer-term goal and overcome time discounting.  [10:16] Don't feel like you need to bundle things simultaneously. Most multitasking doesn't work well.  [11:05] Start by looking for something you love to do in your spare time. If you had a free day, what would be at the top of your list? [12:52] It is important to have that reward tied to the action you need to take now to be successful.   [13:39] Temptation bundling is everywhere. You just have to find the cheese to your own personal life broccoli and you will be achieving goals left and right.  [13:49] Melina's closing thoughts [14:33] It doesn't matter if this is in the “manufactured happiness' category. Our brains look at natural happiness and manufactured or synthetic happiness in pretty much the same way. [15:08] One of my other favorite things about temptation bundling, is that it allows you to get more done. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode:   How To Change, by Katy Milkman Get It Done, by Ayelet Fishbach Happier Hour, by Cassie Holmes Indistractable, by Nir Eyal The Fun Habit, by Mike Rucker Top Recommended Next Episode: How To Change, an interview Dr. Katy Milkman (ep 151) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Get It Done: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation with Ayelet Fishbach (ep 186) How to Make 2023 Your Best Year Ever with Ayelet Fishbach and Cassie Holmes (ep 249) How to Set, Achieve & Exceed Brainy Goals (ep 248) The Brainy Benefits of Gratitude (ep 236) Bikeshedding (ep 99) Time Discounting (ep 51) Optimism Bias (ep 34) Negativity Bias (ep 223) Framing (ep 16) Loss Aversion (ep 9) How to Organize Your Brain with Behavioral Economics (ep 83) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter  Holding the Hunger Games Hostage at the Gym: An Evaluation of Temptation Bundling Katy Milkman on Twitter

Happy (almost) New Year! This is the last episode of 2022, coming out on December 30 – and what a year it has been! My second book, What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You came out in October, and I got to do a book signing at the Sam's Club Auditorium which was amazing! I also got to speak at some amazing conferences, including travel to Amsterdam and for multiple groups in Latin America, had students from around the world in the certificate program at Texas A&M, got to work with amazing clients and so much more. I can't wait to see what 2023 has in store. One of the things I am most excited about is speaking at SXSW in Austin in March.  Well, speaking of 2023 being an amazing year, that's what this episode is all about. I've done something a little bit different in this episode by bringing on two guests to do a panel of sorts. One of them you have met before, Ayelet Fishbach, Professor of Behavioral Science and Marketing at the University of Chicago and author of Get It Done, which came out earlier this year. Our other panelist, Cassie Holmes, is a professor at UCLA who wrote the new book Happier Hour, which is so beyond fantastic. She specializes in the science of happiness and talks about time poverty and so many other amazing things. (Don't worry, we have a full interview that is all about Cassie and her work coming out in early 2023.) In today's episode, that topic is having the best, happiest year by understanding the science of motivation, goals, achievement, happiness, mindset, and more. Listen in to find out how you can make 2023 your best year yet!  Show Notes: [00:06] In today's episode, I am excited to welcome Ayelet Fishbach and Cassie Holmes to discuss how you can have the best year ever.  [01:15] Forty-six different guests have joined me on the show this year including those in today's interview. We also started testing out releasing two episodes a week.  [04:51] Today I have brought together two people from different universities studying somewhat different (but arguably related) topics to have a discussion about how their work compliments (or contradicts) one another. Today's topic is having the best happiest year by understanding the science of motivation, goals, achievement, happiness, mindset, our thoughts towards time, and more.   [06:21] Ayelet shares about herself, her background, and what she does. She is a motivational scientist.  [07:47] Cassie shares about herself, her background, and what she does. She is a professor that studies happiness and life satisfaction.  [10:25] We are talking about how to help people have better, more successful years in 2023.  [11:24] Around the time the year ends and the new year begins, people are thinking about what they want to achieve. However, there is a likelihood that you will forget about your resolution.  [13:27] You have a wonderful opportunity to reflect back on the prior year.  [16:08] When we feel like we are constantly rushing or hurrying, we are more reactive in how we invest our time instead of proactive and investing in those things that really matter.  [19:02] Looking back is often a way to reaffirm your commitment.  [21:58] Set goals that you can see yourself doing right now and what will make you feel good right now.  [22:41] A year is not the right time frame for many goals. A year has a very long middle. Often weekly and monthly goals are better.    [24:57] Folks who take a broader perspective of time report greater meaning and satisfaction and are happier in their days.  [26:44] Invest time in ways that are worthwhile. The particular activity you are engaging in and also how you are engaging in that activity are what makes the activity worthwhile.  [28:37] You constantly need to navigate the motivation and priorities of your goals.   [30:42] We often get stuck on the little stuff that doesn't really matter instead of focusing on the most important things that help us to move forward on a bigger goal. A to-do list can be a distraction from our higher-value goals.  [32:56] Melina shares four things that work against us: optimism bias, time discounting, planning fallacy, and bikeshedding.  [34:12] Progress is motivating – progress feels good – which is why we often love our to-do lists.  [36:18] You want to ask why you are doing the thing you are doing. You also want to ask how questions.   [39:29] Those who treated their weekend like a vacation were significantly happier when they returned to work and enjoyed the weekend more. Our weekends are meant to be breaks so we can return feeling refreshed and motivated.  [41:26] We need to be intentional and carve out spaces for true breaks during the week – at least once, ideally more.  [46:20] It is important to create the right balance between our goals and the activities that help us achieve the goals.   [49:31] Restructure your day in a way that makes more sense for the goals that you have for yourself for the week and year.  [51:32] It is often harder to learn when you are working from home and not with other people you can learn from. Connection and friendship have suffered between colleagues working from home during the pandemic.  [54:17] Developing friendships with colleagues can be so hard through Zoom, but figuring out ways to bring people together to foster those relationships is so important.  [57:16] Do our panelists set resolutions? Melina and Cassie say no (listen in on her upcoming episode to find out why). Ayelet sets New Year's resolutions because it is an opportunity to think about what she wants to achieve and where she wants to go.  [58:35] Melina's closing thoughts [59:54] Melina chooses a word annually. It is a theme to guide her and keep her centered throughout the year on what she wants to accomplish.  [61:36] Thank you for supporting The Brainy Business! I appreciate you more than I can ever say!  Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: Happier Hour, by Cassie Holmes Get It Done, by Ayelet Fishbach How to Change, by Katy Milkman Power of Regret, by Dan Pink Good Habits, Bad Habits, by Wendy Wood Connect with Ayelet & Cassie:  Ayelet on LinkedIn Cassie on LinkedIn Ayelet on Twitter Top Recommended Next Episode: Get It Done: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation with Ayelet Fishbach (ep 186) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Resolutions and Keeping Commitments (ep 29) How to Set, Achieve & Exceed Brainy Goals (ep 248) Temptation Bundling (ep 136) Motivation and Incentives at Work with Kurt Nelson (ep 187) Secrets of Motivation and Incentives, Tim Houlihan Interview (ep 109) The Brainy Benefits of Gratitude (ep 236) The Power of Regret with Daniel Pink (ep 214) Time Discounting (ep 51) Bikeshedding (ep 99) Optimism Bias (ep 34) Planning Fallacy (ep 114) Good Habits, Bad Habits, with Dr. Wendy Wood (ep 127) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter Get it Done Happier Hour Ayelet Fishbach - University of Chicago Cassie Holmes - UCLA

Today's episode is another refresh from the series I did on “All the Biases” back in 2019. Two weeks ago on episode 242 we had the one on numbers-based bias called “Math is Hard” and this week is all about time. It focuses on the past and the future and how we don't look at them in the same way, and how that can impact our behavior (it isn't always the same and our preferences definitely change when we are looking forward versus backward) and how this changes the way we value things and so much more.  I chose to refresh this episode today because this coming Friday, Dolly Chugh is on the show to talk about her new book, A More Just Future. We talk specifically about how the way we look backward isn't the same as when we look forward, and how that impacts our likelihood to take action. Even when we are furious in the moment, and are adamant we will take action, because the past and future don't impact our behavior the same way we often don't. This can be really problematic when we are looking to right the wrongs of the past and present for a better future.  As you listen today, I encourage you to consider how the past, present, and future are different for you. Think of a time when you were outraged by something in the moment and said (either aloud or in your head) that you were absolutely going to do or say something and never did. Why is that? When you remember that incident do you feel as upset about it? What if you heard it was going to happen tomorrow or a week from now? What might you do to prevent it? Why do the past and future feel different and how can this knowledge change the way you support other humans? Show Notes: [00:39] Today's episode is another refresh from the series I did on “All the Biases” back in 2019. [01:39] Because the past and future don't impact our behavior the same way, it can really be problematic when we are looking at history and helping to right the wrongs of the past and present. [03:48] People want immediate payoffs.  [06:23] Due to impact bias, we overestimate the duration of the intensity of the impact of how we will feel in the future. We are also victims of projection bias.  [08:26] To prove a point now you might be making a choice that negatively impacts your future self.  [10:08] The sunk cost fallacy is where people will keep spending and justify pouring into a bad prior investment even though evidence shows it is bad.  [12:37] As your brain gets overwhelmed your subconscious is more likely to take the reins, meaning you will make more battery and present-focused decisions instead of snowball, future-focused decisions.  [14:05] In the cold state we may know that something is a good idea and commit ourselves that when you are in a hot state you don't have the option to let that hot self take over and make a bad decision about the present.   [16:03] People think that when you are in that cold state you're not going to require, need, or want whatever the things are as much as you actually will when your body chemistry has changed to the hot state.    [16:49] People are impacted more by losses than gains and it takes double the joy felt by a gain to equal the pain that is felt by a loss.   [18:03] You may consciously want to stop dreading something. However, as long as your subconscious is still getting some kind of reward or benefit from the physical act of dreading you would need a lot of extra savoring, positive benefit, and something to enjoy at the moment to combat the dread.  [20:45] We do not really like risks and will avoid them when we can. Due to a zero risk bias, we humans prefer to reduce a small risk down to nothing than we would like to take a bigger reduction in a larger risk.  [22:27] When you think you are safer, you are more likely to take risks in other areas. For example, people drive worse when wearing a seatbelt. [25:01] Because we don't want to change, we may ostrich and avoid the potential negative even at our own personal cost.    [26:13] For one person to succeed it does not mean everyone else has to lose or fail.  [28:52] When you know the rules of the game (all these biases and how they work together) it can be easier than you think to trick your brain into doing more in your own favor and use these biases in your favor so you can make decisions today that you will appreciate tomorrow or help get yourself out of a negative spiral.  [31:52] Melina's closing thoughts [32:37] Time discounting is such a big hurdle for us but knowing about it and how it combines with bikeshedding, planning fallacy, and optimism bias is the first step in tackling this.  Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: Fierce Conversations, by Susan Scott A More Just Future, by Dolly Chugh A More Beautiful Question, by Warren Berger How Minds Change, by David McRaney Behavioral Investor, by Daniel Crosby Top Recommended Next Episode: Time Discounting (ep 51) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Focusing Illusion (ep 89) Get Your D.O.S.E. of Brain Chemicals (ep 123) Decision Fatigue (ep 132) Bikeshedding (ep 99) Planning Fallacy (ep 114) Optimism Bias (ep 34) Loss Aversion (ep 9) Math Is Hard (ep 242) A More Beautiful Question with Warren Berger (ep 200) Endowment Effect (ep 139) Status Quo Bias (ep 142) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter  Diversification Bias: Explaining the Discrepancy in Variety Seeking Between Combined and Separated Choices Mixing Virtue and Vice: Combining the Immediacy Effect and the Diversification Heuristic Research on How Self-control Works Could Help You Stick With New Year's Resolutions Free Will in Consumer Behavior: Self-control, Ego Depletion, and Choice A Multilab Preregistered Replication of the Ego-Depletion Effect Hot–Cold Empathy Gaps and Medical Decision Making Exploring the Cold-to-Hot Empathy Gap in Smokers Anomalies: The Endowment Effect, Loss Aversion, and Status Quo Bias Experimental Tests of the Endowment Effect and the Coase Theorem Does Market Experience Eliminate Market Anomalies? The Case of Exogenous Market Experience

Decisions are everywhere — we are making them all day long. Even if you know you are making a lot of decisions, you probably don't grasp the full weight of them. Think about yesterday, how many decisions can you remember making? How many decisions do you make on an average day? Research shows that people make 35,000 decisions every single day!  Can you believe it? Clearly, the bulk of those are done subconsciously as we couldn't exist if we had to do all of those on a conscious level. So, how do we make better decisions? What happens when we make too many decisions? Is there a point in the day when we have hit our decision number and it's all downhill from there? Or is there an opportunity to recharge those batteries and have a second wind?  When do we reach the point of decision fatigue and what can we do to avoid it? That's what this episode is all about. This refreshed episode originally came out on Christmas day, 2020 (at the end of a year full of decision fatigue). It includes tips for making better decisions around the holidays and is useful all year round. Ready to optimize your decisions? Listen in… Show Notes: [00:39] Today's episode is all about decision fatigue. [03:21] We humans make an incredible number of decisions each day.  [04:48] We all make about 35,000 decisions every single day. Some of those are big choices evaluated by our conscious brain but over 90% are made by your subconscious.  [05:51] As you begin to get fatigued, you rely on your subconscious rules of thumb to make decisions. You'll be more cautious and make decisions that are risk-averse without even noticing the change in your behavior.  [07:48] If you don't bog down your brain with mundane choices you can free it up so it doesn't get fatigued as quickly.  [09:34] Doing something today is the best way to make tomorrow easier.  [11:14] Decision fatigue is similar to overwhelm but they are not the same thing. Your brain can get overwhelmed by more than just decisions.  [14:08] Be thoughtful about the things you will be thoughtful about. There are lots of things that seem important at the moment that simply aren't.  [14:33] Dopamine is a chemical that your brain likes. It forms lots of habits around getting more of it and Dopamine goes hand and hand with anticipation.  [15:16] Just because it feels bad or painful doesn't mean it is wrong or that it isn't in your best interest to continue down the path. It might just be your subconscious rebelling about not getting the Dopamine it is used to. Take that painful moment as a good sign and celebrate it and keep moving forward.   [16:58] It is so important to put extra thought into your customer experience journeys. You want to reduce that friction and make it as easy as possible to do business with you.   [19:04] You are making it easier for someone to make a choice.   [20:47] Look for ways to reduce decisions and make it easier to work with you.   [21:12] Decision fatigue is another reason batching content and tasks is so important. When you set aside some time to plan out content in advance, you condense all those decisions into one. It is a super simple brain hack. [22:17] Another closely related item to batching is delegating. Don't hold onto every little decision and choice on a project. Fight the urge to have everything done perfectly in the way you would do them and free up your brain from making decisions that someone else could do.   [24:04] Take breaks. Take a lunch break, weekend off, breaks throughout the day, and even naps.  [25:59] It isn't selfish or self-indulgent in a bad way. It's actually beneficial to your overall decision-making to take this time for yourself. It helps keep your brain clear, your decisions stronger, and your work better and more meaningful. Taking care of your brain is important.   [27:41] Melina's closing thoughts [27:53] When you can streamline the things you do and reduce the unnecessary decisions in your life by making them habits, it can really help you to do more and better things. [29:45] The more you streamline and plan while you are in a cold state (before the moment of distraction hits) the easier it will be in the long run. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: Essentialism, by Greg McKeown Good Habits, Bad Habits, by Wendy Wood Friction, by Roger Dooley The Selling Staircase, by Nikki Rausch Sludge, by Cass Sunstein Top Recommended Next Episode: Habits: 95% Of Decisions Are Habitual - Which Side Is Your Business On? (episode 21) Already Heard That One? Try These:  The Overwhelmed Brain & Its Impact on Decision Making (ep 32) Defaults: The "D" in NUDGES (episode 38) Good Habits, Bad Habits: An Interview with Wendy Wood (ep 127) Bikeshedding (ep 99) Time Discounting (ep 51) Get Your D.O.S.E. of Brain Chemicals (ep 123) Friction - What It Is And How To Reduce It, with Roger Dooley (ep 72) How to Make it Easy to Do Business With You With Nikki Rausch (ep 96) Sludge: What It Is and How to Reduce It (ep 179) Planning Fallacy (ep 114) How to Set, Achieve & Exceed Brainy Goals (episode 70) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter  How Many Daily Decisions Do We Make? Decision Fatigue: What it is and how it's killing your focus, motivation, and willpower How Willpower Works: How to Avoid Bad Decisions When Thinking is Hard: Managing Decision Fatigue You're facing a lot of choices amid the pandemic. Cut yourself slack: It's called decision fatigue. What is Decision Fatigue? The Science of Decision Fatigue How to Identify When You're Experiencing Decision Fatigue

Today is all about the aversion that humans have to uncertainty and ambiguity, our fear of the unknown, and how it can cause us to choose something we are familiar with even though it may not be in our best interest. While this can often align with risk aversion, they are not the same thing, and while they do often correlate, they don't have to.  More on that, and of course, loss aversion and inequity aversion – all the aversions – on the show today, but because this is a concept I'm guessing you'll “get” pretty easily, there is less on the research studies (they are linked in the notes). That leaves the bulk of the episode to focus on how this applies to you in two aspects of business: internal communication and customer experience. Ready? Let's get started. Show Notes: [00:43] Today is about the aversion that humans have to uncertainty and ambiguity, our fear of the unknown, and how it can cause us to choose something we are familiar with even though it may not be in our best interest. [02:38] The most important thing to know is that we don't like the unknown. We don't like uncertainty in our choices and will prefer known risks over unknown risks. And also, because our brains are lazy and rely on rules of thumb, we often will avoid making complex (and not so complex) calculations. [03:39] Consider the stock market. This can have unknown risks and so people can feel hesitant to put their money there even when the probabilities and rates of return are relatively known over time. [05:30] As with everything, when you present information, how you talk about it matters more than what you are saying. Frame the information you present to highlight what IS known to make it easier for someone to see the positive. (Note: don't gloss over important risks or problems. Use good judgment.) [07:47] When you are presenting a change at work, there are so so so many variables at play, and if you leave a lot of uncertainty and ambiguity – say you share too early or in an incomplete way – there is a good chance people will rebel against that unknown future state. [09:17] A real problem that happens a lot (and is unfathomably detrimental to change initiatives at work), is when someone is given ambiguous information and they feel the need to get their own brain relief by reducing their own mental burden (and wanting someone to help fill that void) in a way that they will find any possible way to justify telling someone (or in some cases, many someones) to cover up that uncertainty. [11:26] As George Lowenstein proposed, “Curiosity is like an itch on the brain and we need anything we can find to scratch that itch.” When there is information to be found, we can fill the gap with learning. When there isn't like in these scenarios, it can be gossip, fear, and doomsday-style planning for the worst, which will cause people to rebel against the potential future before it even has a chance to bloom. [12:55] Everyone on your team needs to be trained on how to share the information and when, and make sure the message is properly framed with regard to all the ambiguous pieces that could cause people to revert to the known instead of the unknown. [14:19] Melina shares some questions you can ask yourself to help determine when it is the right time to share information. [15:38] Just forcing yourself to take a step back and a calming breath as you consider what is really happening can be so helpful. You may want to get out and take a walk or sleep on it or whatever else you do to gain perspective. [18:35] Sharing too much information can cause overwhelm as well, which is stressful and creates its own avoidance, so it is about sharing the right information in the right way at the right time to the right people. Remember that “fair” isn't always equal, and different people need to hear different information at different times. [19:50] The early days of Covid are such a perfect case study for what happens when we feel uncertainty and a lack of control. When people feel a lack of control and like they can't do anything to protect themselves or their families, they may strive to find control in other areas – like hoarding toilet paper. It feels like you are doing something, and can reduce some of that stress. [21:59] Time moves differently on the two sides of a decision in ambiguous times. This presents a big communication problem and disconnect that teams need to pay attention to if they want to be effective. [22:51] The “no update update” can be really helpful for companies. I know you want to wait until everything is perfect to share, but that rumor mill is going to be piling up in a way that is working against you and you owe it to your employees to help relieve some of that stress. [25:30] “No update updates” can be really helpful to diffuse some pressure when there is a lot going on and things are scary on the other side of the decision, but you can't do too many “no update updates” in a row without it starting to be a new problem… [28:06] Let's look at the customer experience side. We like to think people want a lot of choices and to be treated as individuals with very unique experiences. While that can be true, there is also a real issue with the ambiguity side of things if we allow ourselves to rest on the easy answer of “it's custom.” [29:56] When people feel uncertain, they are more likely to look to what others like them do in this situation, so testimonials, social proof, and case studies are all your friends in fighting ambiguity aversion. You don't want or need to share all the nuts and bolts, but at least let them know that there is a process. [32:02] You owe it to your clients and customers to take the time to make this as easy and streamlined as possible – and the benefit is it will make it easier for people to choose you and do business with you. [32:29] Melina's closing thoughts [35:02] Adapting your lenses and looking from multiple angles and depths is really important to make that possible, which is why an episode like this is so valuable. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer The Paradox of Choice, by Barry Schwartz Sludge, by Cass Sunstein Nudge, by Richard Thaler & Cass Sunstein Friction, by Roger Dooley Top Recommended Next Episode: Inequity Aversion: That's Not Fair! (episode 224) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Availability Bias (ep 15) Familiarity Bias (ep 149) Status Quo Bias (ep 142) Loss Aversion (ep 9) Framing (ep 16) Bikeshedding (ep 99) Planning Fallacy (ep 114) Paradox of Choice: Why More is Less (ep 171) Sludge: What It Is and How to Reduce It (ep 179) NUDGES & Choice Architecture (ep 35) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter  RISK, AMBIGUITY, AND THE SAVAGE AXIOMS The Itch of Curiosity Ambiguity (uncertainty) aversion Treatment decisions under ambiguity

In today's conversation, I am joined by Dr. Tessa Misiaszek, coauthor of Branding That Means Business. Tessa is an instructor with Harvard Professional Development Programs, as well as a Professor at Hult International Business School. She brings extensive experience developing human capital strategies to improve business communications. Previously she served as CEO of Empathetics, Inc. – a company that developed empathic communications training for healthcare professionals, and she is currently the Head of Research for Korn Ferry. She is also one of the hosts of The Happy At Work Podcast, which I was honored to be a guest on recently discussing my book, What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You. Today, Tessa is here discussing her new book, Branding that Means Business, which she co-authored with Matt Johnson, who was on the show two weeks ago talking about the customer side of branding. Today, Tessa and I look a little more on the employee side of things and how much that matters for brands. Listen in to learn more. Show Notes: [00:43] In today's conversation, I am joined by Dr. Tessa Misiaszek, coauthor of Branding That Means Business. [02:41] Tessa shares about herself and the work she does.  [04:06] Tessa met Matt in England and they had an argument about empathy. [06:06] Her debate with Matt was if empathy had a scaling issue and if empathy can deplete you as a person.  [08:13] Tips for working with a co-author? If you go into business or create a start-up with a partner it is like a marriage. If it goes bad, it can go really bad. You want to make sure you have the right partner at the onset.  [11:04] Today we are going to talk about the internal functioning of marketing, branding, and culture.  [11:45] The function of marketing is value creation.      [13:45] A brand is not marketing. A brand is an asset to your marketing strategy. [16:17] Authenticity needs to tie through everything and the outward messaging to customers matters.   [18:41] At the end of the day it is the transparency that builds trust and once consumers have trust that you are doing what you say you are they are more likely to be loyal and forgiving if something happens.  [22:05] The more empathy you can have for the way that your consumers live their lives and think about how your product and service are integrated into the way they live their lives that will allow you to build a more authentic brand connected to them.  [23:42] Brand is really the great differentiator today.   [26:42] Empathizing with the customers is crucial.  [29:00] As a brand you can't be all things to all people so don't try to be.  [29:49] Companies are only as good as the people that run them. Being able to really connect that purpose to the employee organization and culture that you develop within the company is very important.   [31:50] Mission and values are just the beginning. Next, you have to think about the infrastructure and operations.  [33:54] Zappos worked on creating and building a culture that really engaged the employees and then delivered on that and drive everything about the company.  [35:28] Melina shares Zappos' ten core values. Tessa recommends that start-ups start with five unique authentic values. [37:14] If we all say we have the best service then nobody has the best service unless you are really living that. It is not enough to just say it, you have to show it.  [40:09] Values are not just words on a board. You have to think about how these values will evolve over time. To stay true to that as a company you have to continue to innovate based on those values.  [42:50] There should be an inventory once a year of company values.   [44:35] Tessa's podcast Happy At Work talks about organizational culture, employee engagement, and how to create a positive workplace environment.   [45:09] Melina shares her closing thoughts.  [46:03] Your brand promise may not be the same as your core values...and even if you don't have something written out anywhere (yet) or aren't really living those days in and day out (yet) consider this an opportunity to look at those and see how you can be doing better. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! Learn and support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: Branding That Means Business, by Matt Johnson and Tessa Misiaszek Blindsight, by Matt Johnson and Prince Ghuman What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer The Speed of Trust, by Stephen M.R. Covey Delivering Happiness, by Tony Hsieh Connect with Tessa:  Tessa on LinkedIn Tessa on Twitter The Happy At Work Podcast Top Recommended Next Episode: Branding That Means Business with Matt Johnson (episode 231) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Neuroscience and Psychology in the Business World, An Interview with Matt Johnson  (episode 160) Why We Like the Things We Like, with Prince Ghuman, coauthor of Blindsight (episode 172) Introducing Kwame Christian and How to Use the Compassionate Curiosity Framework for Difficult Conversations (episode 107) What is Value? (episode 234) How to create a brainy brand (episode 230) That Time I Went Viral… with Dr. Daniel Crosby (episode 212) Reciprocity (episode 23) The Speed and Economics of Trust, an Interview with Stephen M.R. Covey (episode 148) IKEA Effect (episode 112) The Power of Us with Dr. Dominic Packer (episode 178) Bikeshedding (episode 99) Time Discounting (episode 51) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter  Korn Ferry Empathy Company Zappos 10 Core Values Embracing Change: Melina's Episode on The Happy At Work Podcast Automatic Effects of Brand Exposure on Motivated Behavior: How Apple Makes You “Think Different”

In today's conversation, I am joined by Annie Duke, a former professional poker player (widely known as one of the best female players in the world) who also has an impressive and fascinating background in psychology, which she will talk about on the show today. I've been wanting to have Annie on for ages, she has two other fantastic books called Thinking in Bets and How to Decide, and I am so delighted that she wrote this additional book, Quit, which we are talking about today (and really, she talks about all three books in our conversation). I am so honored and delighted that Annie took the time to chat with me for this interview. We had a great conversation and ended up chatting for over 90 minutes (with about 80 of those recorded). Here on the show today, we are cutting that conversation down to fit in under an hour but if you want to hear the full conversation in detail, come on over to the BE Thoughtful Revolution membership group -- it's our free community of behavioral economics enthusiasts from around the world, and you can check out the full video interview and conversation. Annie is a wealth of knowledge and insights, so you will want to glean every extra moment just like I did, I'm sure – be sure to stick around for monkeys and pedestals! Show Notes: [00:40] In today's conversation, I am joined by Annie Duke, a former professional poker player who also has an impressive and fascinating background in psychology. [03:07] Annie shares her background and how she found herself in the world of behavioral science.  [04:41] Her brother was the one who suggested she play poker and she ended up playing poker for 18 years as her profession.  [06:05] After eight years as a poker player she started getting asked to give talks. The first talk she gave was to a group of options traders and she talked about how poker might inform your thinking about cognitive bias. From there she started getting referrals and spending more time speaking than playing poker.  [07:11] In 2012, she retired from poker to spend more time on the business side of things and started consulting and speaking full-time.  [09:13] If you look at anything on Annie's journey from the time she entered graduate school, it is all decision-making under uncertainty.    [11:09] The more ways that you are thinking about problems and the different frames that you have to ponder these issues you end up bringing something different to the table.  [12:54] Premortems can be very effective if you combine them with other good decision-making tools.  [15:14] If you use prospective hindsight instead of just forward planning, research shows you will generate 30% more reasons for failure or success if you didn't do prospective hindsight.  [17:14] Self-serving bias is that when bad things happen to us as individuals we tend to blame them on things that are outside of our control.   [19:49] Other researchers suggest that premortems need to be done in groups to be successful.  [22:42] Thinking in Bets was a book that she had really wanted to write for many years, which is about making decisions under uncertainty.  [25:27] One of the things she really talks about in Thinking in Bets is resulting. Resulting is when we look at other people and assume if they have a bad outcome then they made a bad decision and a good outcome is from luck (whereas when we have a bad outcome it is luck and a good outcome is from our good decision making – this is very similar to fundamental attribution error).   [26:55] She wrote How to Decide as a companion, which had more practical tools for making decisions.  [28:23] Annie shares about writing her new book Quit.   [30:44] Most of the decisions you make you can actually probably make faster. The way to decide if you can go faster is by looking at the consequences of getting the decision wrong.  [33:01] We are really bad at exercising the option to quit when the time comes. The option to quit is very valuable.  [35:02] She shares the many Zoom conversations with influential behavioral scientists she had prior to writing her new book about quitting.   [36:36] Science shows that when we quit, we are usually doing it too late.  [38:45] One of the problems we have is that once we set a goal we are immediately in the losses.  [39:20] Annie shares about the California Bullet Train.  [41:51] After getting the project approved once starting the project they realize they have two big problems… (Why didn't they “see” them before?)  [44:22] Instead of stopping the project, they approved two pieces of track that don't address the gigantic engineering problems. [46:13] Monkeys and pedestals is an incredibly helpful framework for trying to figure out how you approach projects to find out the information you need to find out the fastest so you can figure out if it is something you want to stick to.  [47:26] She shares the monkeys and pedestal's story. You have to start with the monkey (the hard part) of the problem first.  [49:11] When you do but up against hard things you tend to turn to pedestal building rather than to quit (similar to bikeshedding).   [50:28] You should definitely tackle the monkeys first. [51:51] You follow the premortem by looking at the monkeys and pedestals. You figure out what the monkeys are and then you change your plans according to that.  [53:20] Kill criteria are what you could see or find out in the future that would tell you that you ought to quit.  [55:01] There is no point in tackling any low-hanging fruit if you can't train the monkey. Figure out the hard problem first.  [57:34] Winners quit a lot. That is how they win. Winners sample a lot of stuff, settle on a course of action, tackle the monkeys first, and if the world gives them another signal they switch. [58:41] Winners pick the right things to stick to and they abandon everything else.  [60:52] Melina shares her closing thoughts.  [61:08] Thoughtful quitting, stopping doing things that aren't serving you anymore isn't a failure -- that is a win. That is a sign of doing great big amazing things! If you never quit, you can never win because you will be spread too thin. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! Learn and support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: Thinking in Bets, by Annie Duke How to Decide, by Annie Duke Quit, by Annie Duke Superforecasting, by Dan Gardner and Philip E. Tetlock How to Change, by Katy Milkman Power of Regret, by Daniel Pink Connect with Annie:  Annie's Website Annie on Twitter Annie on LinkedIn Top Recommended Next Episode: Game Theory (episode 62) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Loss Aversion (episode 9) Framing (episode 16) The Most Important Step in Applying Behavioral Economics: Understanding the Problem (episode 126) 3 Steps to Better Decision Making, An Interview with Matthew Confer (episode 158) Counterfactual Thinking  (episode 68) How To Change, an interview Dr. Katy Milkman (episode 51) Fundamental Attribution Error (episode 92) Planning Fallacy (episode 114) Precommitment (episode 120) Hindsight Bias (episode 167) Bikeshedding (episode 99) Status Quo Bias (episode 142) Endowment Effect (episode 139) Survivorship Bias (episode 110) Mental Accounting (episode 56) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter  A Slight Change of Plans Podcast with Maya Shankar Annie's Newsletter

With so much turmoil going on right now, our world has been turned upside down in so many ways. Many people, including business owners, are feeling this pressure to get a lot of things done or try to make an impact or shift. At the same time, they also are overwhelmed with not knowing where to focus, and so they feel stuck.   There's a way around feeling stuck, and it takes looking into the brain and how it works. This week on the podcast, behavioral economist Melina Palmer is sharing how to use brain science to be more productive and meet your goals. We discuss why it's so difficult to change your self-talk, why starting that new habit is so challenging, why you might hate seeing yourself on video (and how to overcome that) and so much more.   Melina, the host of The Brainy Business podcast, is on a personal mission to make your business more effective and brain friendly. Don't miss this episode to learn more about how the brain works and how to avoid productive procrastination to actually get things done.   About Melina Palmer:   Why do people say one thing and do another? What really drives behavior? How does the brain actually work – and how can we best communicate with it? What does that mean for companies? Melina Palmer, host of The Brainy Business podcast, has dedicated her career to seeking answers to these questions for herself and her clients. Melina uses behavioral economics to help everyone from global corporations to entrepreneurs understand the psychology of why people buy, unlocking the secrets of small changes that make a big difference via her podcast, public speaking, and column on Inc.com. The result is messaging, branding, advertisements, pricing, and products that are more “brain-friendly” (meaning more leads, conversions, and revenue).   Links and Resources: Indestructible: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life by Nir Eyal Nir Eyal Brainy Busines podcast episode Master Your Mindset masterclass Samuel Salzer Brainy Business podcast episode TheBrainyBusiness.com @TheBrainyBiz – Instagram   Time Stamps: [1:36] - About Melina Palmer [3:13] - Melina's superpower [4:25] - Applicable behavioral science - a new branch [5:45] - Getting things done, make an impact, and feeling in the swirl [7:01] - 99% of decisions are made by subconscious brain [10:50] - Your brain is processing 275,000 things that aren't important [12:17] - What's coming up may not be what's useful [14:30] - Why it's so difficult to change your self-talk [17:30] - Bikeshedding [19:53] - “Busy” isn't the stamp of awesomeness anymore [21:21] - The opposite of distraction is traction [23:05] - - “I'll start Monday” effect [26:56] - When you only get 3 things done today and feel bad about yourself [29:47] - Perfectionism gets us stuck [30:23] - There's a good enough point where you can keep going [31:52] - Set your goal on dream, but focus on the reality of right now [33:31] - Our challenge with video is focusing illusion [36:20] - The only way we see ourselves is in a mirror; we look different on video [38:40] - Invest in what's important to you

How many times do you get clear about your priorities, and then get distracted and focus on something completely unimportant because it feels productive? This is what we at Levels call “bikeshedding,” and here we talk about how it happens in companies, and how people can think in order to avoid it. Look for multiple new shows per week on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations about metabolic health and how the Levels startup team builds a wellness movement from the ground up in the health and wellness tech industry.

Today I am very excited to introduce you to Sarah Wilson, Director of Human Experience Research at Walmart. This is a fun episode because we are sharing a live podcast that was recorded while I was a speaker on the live podcast stage at Greenbook's IIEX North America Conference in Austin, TX a couple of weeks ago.  At IIEX North America I had the honor of interviewing Walmart's Sarah Wilson about some of the work they are doing in behavioral science including a project we have been working on together around sustainability. Listen in to learn about Walmart's important sustainability goals, how asking the wrong question can make things worse, and how they are nudging for good.  Show Notes: [00:44] Today I am very excited to introduce you to Sarah Wilson, Director of Human Experience Research at Walmart.  [02:02] At IIEX North America I had the honor of interviewing Sarah Wilson from Walmart about some of the work they are doing in behavioral science. [04:46] Sarah shares about herself and the work that she does at Walmart.  [05:44] Walmart has made a commitment to becoming a regenerative company. They believe in making a healthy planet that has prosperity for everyone.  [06:21] Small changes can make a really big impact when you have a large footprint like Walmart.  [07:10] It takes a thousand years for a plastic bag to degrade. 14 plastic shopping bags is equivalent to a gallon of gas.  [08:35] Research has shown that 95% of the decisions that people make are done on a subconscious level and that includes buying decisions.  [10:05] Being able to send the right message at the right time to get someone to change their behavior can actually be a difficult thing if you are working on the wrong problem.  [12:42] Sometimes the easy answer is not always the right answer.  [15:21] They started with the problem of reducing plastic but also didn't want to impact the customer experience.  [17:34] We like to think that we are logical and rational people making logical choices in everything we do, but humans aren't really that way.  [18:18] Often we know that we should do something but we don't always change the habit.  [20:09] With bag usage we have to find those nugdable spots to help shift the behavior.  [21:27] They started by making sure everyone was on the same page with the problem to solve.  [23:30] It is really easy to find the right answer to the wrong question.  [25:40] Walmart brought in Melina for a workshop to help with their plastic reduction project. They started with the idea of just letting people explore. They focused on the experience journey of the customer and associate separately because their experience journeys with the bags are very different.  [28:29] Sarah shares her favorite insights that came up from the workshop.  [31:18] Really small problems can add up, so they looked at how they could solve the small problems to turn those into big gains.  [32:58] It is really hard to test and experiment in certain environments.  [35:46] When you are trying to do too much, it ends up being too much and you don't get good results.  [36:41] Look at doing small ongoing experiments instead of too much at one time.  [38:20] Having thoughtfulness about the problem upfront is important. One benefit is being able to be shape the project around what you can test.  [40:37] Customer experience matters. We can add in small nudges that still maintain a good customer experience.  [42:40] Melina shares her closing thoughts. Do you want to hire Melina to do work with your company like at Walmart? Email melina@thebrainybusiness.com [43:35] Finding new opportunities to incorporate behavioral science nudges into the habits of the associates and customers while maintaining great customer service in the process of reducing plastic is a long-term endeavor. [44:52] If you enjoy the experience I've provided here for you, will you share about it? That could mean leaving a rating/review or sharing the episode with a friend (or 10!) Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! More from The Brainy Business:

Today I am so excited to introduce you to Sam Tatam to talk about his fantastic new book Evolutionary Ideas. I got my first peek at this book so many months ago and I have been eagerly awaiting the moment when I can finally share it with everyone. I'm delighted that that day is finally here!  Sam Tatam is the Global Head of Behavioural Science at Ogilvy. He has a passion for understanding human behavior, and his experience comes from a mix of organizational/industrial psychology and advertising strategy. Sam has led behavior change projects across virtually every category and continent. Today, he leads a global team of talented psychologists and behavioral economists to develop interventions and shape the communications of some of the world's most influential brands and organizations. You're in for a treat! I truly loved Evolutionary Ideas and think you will too! Show Notes: [00:42] Today I am so excited to introduce you to Sam Tatam to talk about his fantastic new book Evolutionary Ideas. [03:27] Sam shares his background and how he got into behavioral science. He is an organizational psychologist by training.  [05:47] Virtual doesn't have to be worse. Nudgestock looked at what they had available and reframed the idea of what this event could be (without being anchored to what they had done before).  [06:38] He shares their internal conversations about how they approached Nudgestock differently to make that transition (and have amazing results!) in 2020. [07:45] They decided if they were going to do it digitally they wanted to do it big (transitioning from the “Woodstock” of behavioral science to the “Live Aid”).  [09:27] They “followed the sun” and presented through LinkedIn live (with over 128,000 attendees!).  [11:32] Look at challenges that come your way like opportunities.  [12:21] Sam's new book is called Evolutionary Ideas.  [13:21] The beginnings of his book actually started in 2014 when he did a keynote in Sidney.    [15:03] Six years later a video about biomimicry continued to spark his interest.  [17:13] We are not distinct.  [19:10] It helps us to be more open and see psychological solutions in a slightly different way.  [20:49] Language is so immensely powerful. It helps us to see things in the world and categorically differentiates between concepts.   [21:53] Once you have a language for something, you see it more frequently and easily, and you can apply it more systematically.   [23:27] Context and individual differences still play a role.  [26:10] We don't always need to be revolutionary. It is not true that big problems need big solutions. (Innovation Myth #1 in the book!) [26:58] Small ideas can have big impacts. We have a series of shared problems that we face. We have also adapted to have shared solutions.  [29:31] Innovation is the revolution of the contradiction.  [31:05] If you understand what connects us (across species and other developments) then you can borrow from each other and learn together.  [33:36] There is a rich and vast resource of inspiration in the world around us.  [35:12] The brain makes decisions the same way regardless.  [36:58] If you can reframe in more human terms, solutions are all around us to help us solve our problems. You are probably not as unique in facing your challenges as you think you are.  [38:38] Questions can be really helpful for us to have a bit more of a checklist approach to creativity.  [41:50] Melina shares her closing thoughts.  [42:37] Take comfort in knowing that any problem you have has already been solved before. [45:09] If you enjoy the experience I've provided here for you, will you share about it? That could mean leaving a rating/review or sharing the episode with a friend (or 10!) Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! More from The Brainy Business:

Today I am very excited to introduce you to Warren Berger. If you know me at all, you probably know what a big deal this is for me. Warren wrote my very favorite book, A More Beautiful Question. I reference it all the time on the show when I am being interviewed, when I am teaching… I even referenced it in my own book. I love questions and a huge part of that infatuation came from Warren's book.  When the milestone of the 200th episode of The Brainy Business was on the horizon I decided to go out on a limb and asked Warren if he would be my guest for this special episode. He kindly agreed and here we are! Warren has a history as a journalist for the New York Times before writing or co-authoring ten books including A More Beautiful Question, The Book of Beautiful Questions, Beautiful Questions in the Classroom, and more. Today we are talking about questions (of course!) as well as design thinking and so much other goodness. You definitely don't want to miss this one! Thank you so much for 200 amazing episodes together! What do you want to hear more of in the next 200?  Show Notes: [00:45] Today I am very excited to introduce you to Warren Berger.  [01:44] Warren has a history as a journalist for The New York Times before writing or co-authoring ten books including A More Beautiful Question, The Book of Beautiful Questions, Beautiful Questions in the Classroom, and more. [03:35] Warren shares who he is and his background. He is a long-time journalist. [05:54] This idea of asking questions, trying to get to the right questions, and figuring out how to ask a good question is a really important concept that has been underappreciated and not talked about enough.  [07:20] Questioning is basic and comes naturally to us…but at the same time, it is very complex. There are so many ways you can get better at questioning and understand it better.  [09:16] Warren looks for whatever has been published and he also talks to people and interviews them about how they use questions. He has interviewed a hostage negotiator, FB agent, therapists, coaches, and more.  [11:31] It is very common to see books have a chapter on questioning, but it doesn't go that deep into it. There needs to be more. Warren advocates for Questionology departments in schools (sounds good to Melina!) [12:46] The more you learn about something, the more you realize there is to learn and that is certainly true with questioning. (Intrigued by this idea? Listen to episode 198 on the Dunning-Kruger effect to learn more about this!) [14:28] Warren has three books on questioning, A More Beautiful Question, The Book of Beautiful Questions, and Beautiful Questions in the Classroom. [15:27] There is this underappreciated tool called questioning. You know how to do it in a way, but there is so much more to it that you can learn. Questioning leads to innovations, changes, and breakthroughs.  [16:25] Everybody comes at questioning from a different angle.  [19:02] His third book on questioning was adapted for education and teachers.  [20:58] You have to model the behavior of being a curious questioner that doesn't have all the answers. Be a person that is wondering, growing, and learning. [23:27] You have to have a balance of confidence and humility to be a questioner. [24:39] The model for great leaders is to have that ability to learn consistently and be learning in front of the people you are leading.  [25:36] The smartest people are aware of how much they don't know. Being aware of your ignorance is an indication of how smart you are. (Dunning-Kruger effect again!) [27:28] We have to realize there is a lot we don't know and keep learning with our teams.  [29:48] Questioning involves getting comfortable with uncertainty.  [31:17] If you use why, what if, and how questions together they tend to go in a cycle that pushes you forward.  [33:27] Questioning has to be actionable and it has to be moving forward.  [35:07] The problem is that people want to rush to practical “How” questions. It is in our nature, but it is not enough. [36:53] You could give yourself a deadline when working through the questions or just trust your gut that you will know when you have spent enough time on that stage of questioning. Melina's tip – ask way more questions than you think you need to. [37:39] Sometimes the purpose of a question is to help you get to the next question. [38:48] The questioning muscle is a different muscle than your idea-generating muscle. When you use the questioning muscle you start to see things differently.  [41:11] Warren says design thinking is how a designer would go about approaching a problem, what can we learn from the way designers approach problems, and how we can apply that. [43:27] We can all use this mindset and process that designers use as we try to take on problems.  [44:18] If you want to create your own beautiful question and take ownership of it, consider framing it as: “How might I…?” Warren shares his beautiful question(!) [46:21] Forget the mission statement. What is your company's mission question? [48:33] Melina shares her closing thoughts.  [50:28] If you enjoy the experience I've provided here for you, will you share about it? That could mean leaving a rating/review or sharing the episode with a friend (or 10!) Thank you for 200 episodes! What do you want to hear in the next 200? Share it with me on social media (links below). Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! More from The Brainy Business:

Today I am beyond delighted to introduce you to my friend Dan Gingiss to talk about how to create remarkable experiences that your customers can't wait to share. Dan is an international keynote speaker and coach who believes that a remarkable customer experience is your best sales and marketing strategy.  His 20-year professional career included leadership positions at McDonald's, Discover, and Humana. He is the author of two books, including The Experience Maker which we will discuss today, and is the host of two shows, the Experience This! podcast and The Experience Maker LinkedIn live show.  While Dan's insights are valuable at any time, it is very much intentional to have this as the last episode of the year. This is a time many reflect on the year that has just ended and think about what they will be doing next. If your plan doesn't already include an improved customer experience and having a business that people can't wait to share about, it should. Listen to today's episode as you consider your customer experience and look to improve it in the new year.  Show Notes: [00:39] Today I am beyond delighted to introduce you to my friend Dan Gingiss to talk about how to create remarkable experiences that your customers can't wait to share. [03:36] Dan shares his experience speaking at Social Media Marketing World for the first time.   [04:30] Dan shares his background of 20 plus years in corporate America.  [05:04] We all know that word of mouth is the holy grail of marketing. It is much better when someone is saying nice things about us than if we are saying nice things about ourselves.  [05:29] A remarkable customer experience is your best marketing strategy.  [08:34] We have so much data on our customers that we don't use and we forget to come back to.  [11:03] Experience can happen anywhere. It is about knowing when to provide the right experience when your customers need it most or don't expect it.  [13:47] There are so many little things that we can do. Some people may advocate to only focus on one side, but Dan (and Melina!) suggest you both get rid of pain points and create positive moments.  [14:26] If we keep focusing on the little things, they absolutely add up to something amazing.  [15:48] We have got to empower all of our employees to truly believe they are in the customer experience business.  [16:56] Become a customer of your own business.  [18:49] Remove pain points and create peaks in your customer journey.  [20:08] If your customer is frustrated with your company, they are going to be more open to a TV commercial or social media ad for your competitor.  [22:16] The WISER Methodology teaches you how to create the kinds of experiences that people want to talk about. You have to be intentional about the experience to make it so someone wants to share it.  [22:55] W stands for witty, I is immersive, S is sharable, E is extraordinary and R is responsive.  [25:18] Millennials and Gen Z in particular want a relationship with the brands they spend their hard-earned money with. In order to have a relationship, you have to have human interaction.  [26:48] We don't have to delight in the same way every time.   [28:57] There is a part of every business where either you do it the same way as everybody else or the same way it has always been done and you can turn it into something that can be an experience when people least expect it.  [30:43] Whenever you can play to peoples' kids or pets, you are going to hit them in the heart.  [32:36] There are lots of opportunities, but we just have to seize them and look for chances when people don't expect it.  [35:07] With gift-giving, make sure you are giving a gift you would like to receive (i.e. don't slap a giant logo on your “gift”).  [37:00] Shareable is the end goal and it has to be strategic and intentional.  [39:27] There are so many opportunities where we can kick it up a little notch and do something unique—it is a great way to stand out. You don't have to spend more, just spend differently.  [40:39] Look for ways to make work more fun and enjoyable.  [42:37] Every communication is an opportunity.  [45:36] Melina shares her closing thoughts.  [48:28] If you enjoy the experience I've provided here for you, will you share about it? That could mean leaving a rating/review or sharing the episode with a friend (or 10!) Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! More from The Brainy Business:

A company's success nowadays is so reliant upon pitching and getting media coverage. Having a credible source say positive things about you and your company can be pivotal when it comes to whether your brand is going to be seen or not. That is exactly why this episode of The Brainy Business is dedicated to giving you some concise tips on how to use behavioral economics to pitch your brand. I know pitching yourself can feel awkward, but when you understand the brain science it doesn't have to be, especially if you follow my tips! I discuss different brain biases such as social proof, authority bias, familiarity bias, and really focus on availability bias. Availability bias is critical to pitching success. You can take advantage of it by predicting and paying attention to trends and finding a way to offer people a fresh perspective on them. We close with three key points to keep in mind when pitching: (1) keep it short (2) be happy with your language and (3) follow directions. This and so much more in this episode, which will help you use behavioral economics to successfully pitch yourself and your business, so listen now... Show Notes: [00:06] In today's episode, I talk about using brain science to successfully pitch to media. [02:22] Pitching yourself can be awkward and uncomfortable, and there are brain biases that can explain why that is. Understanding them can help you turn them around and use them to your advantage. [05:05] There is good news – pitching doesn't have to be so hard if you use my tips! [07:20] I explain why media coverage and pitching are so important, beginning with social proof. [08:43] Authority bias leads us to believing that anything that the news or media reports is true or else it wouldn't be featured. [09:32] Familiarity bias makes us lean toward things that we already know or know of. [10:26] The final (and I would argue, most important) brain bias that is to your benefit when pitching is availability bias. [12:48] One of my favorite examples of availability bias is how travel to Norway drastically increased following the release of Disney's movie Frozen! [14:20] In order to take advantage of availability bias, you need to predict trends and offer something unique in relation to them. [16:30] Pitching to reporters can be stressful, but remember that reporters are people doing a job. You can be a resource to them they are thankful for if you connect with them properly. [19:06] A simple and easy habit you can create to make you a master at pitching by taking advantage of availability bias. [21:55] Recognize where you fit and where you can fill in gaps. [24:23] Remember to take advantage of familiarity bias! Get people to know who you are and like you before you ask for anything [25:41] I recommend signing up for HARO (Help a Reporter Out). [27:10] It's important to remember that not all of your pitches will land, but that only makes it that much more rewarding when they do. [27:43] I give you some key tips to keep in mind: (1) keep your pitch short and sweet, (2) be sure that you're satisfied with how your pitch is worded, and (3) follow directions that reporters put into their requests and do what they ask. [29:30] A quick and simple summary of all the tips in the episode. [31:03] Registration is now open for my Setting Brainy Goals course! Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show. I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: Influence, New and Expanded: The Psychology of Persuasion, by Robert B Cialdini PhD Presuasion, by Robert B. Cialdini, PhD You're Invited, by Jon Levy The Hype Handbook, by Michael F. Schein The Speed of Trust, Stephen M.R. Covey Top recommended next episode: Availability Bias (episode 15) Already heard that one? Try these: Familiarity Bias (episode 149) Confirmation Bias (episode 102) Framing (episode 16) Priming (episode 18) Optimism Bias (episode 34) Social Proof (episode 87) Reciprocity (episode 23) Herding (episode 19) Focusing Illusion (episode 89) Prefactual Thinking (episode 71) Bikeshedding (episode 99) Survivorship Bias (episode 110) Dr. Robert Cialdini and the (Now!) 7 Principles of Persuasion (episode 157) Other Important Links: HARO - Help A Reporter Out Certificate in Applied Behavioral Economics at Texas A&M Check out Melina's award-winning book, What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You on Amazon, Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, and Booktopia. Also, be sure to register for her upcoming Setting Brainy Goals course!

Please visit our website 10bestest.com for all of our show notes.If you're enjoying the show please leave us a review. It really helps us out.

Hello and Happy New Year everyone! While 2020 was nowhere near the year any of us were expecting it to be, I’m always looking for silver linings, so it seemed worth taking the time to celebrate the top content and accomplishments here at The Brainy Business over the past year. I finished my book, which comes out in the first half of 2021 and I’m so excited to be able to talk more about it soon! I was also a guest two separate times on New Day Northwest, a Seattle area afternoon talk show on the NBC affiliate here. The Brainy Business won Best YouTube Channel in behavioral science from reader votes via Habit Weekly, which was such a huge honor, and I also started teaching applied behavioral economics through Texas A&M University for the Certificate in Applied Behavioral Economics! We’ve had one cohort start already in the fall and if you’re interested there is still time to join us for January classes, which begin on January 18.  I want to thank you all for listening, subscribing, sharing, connecting on social media, and for reaching out to let me know your wins and the behavioral economics concepts you have applied in your own businesses. Those are some of my favorite messages to get – I truly love hearing from you, so please continue to reach out (and use the links below to connect on social media). I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Show Notes: [00:49] Today we are going to celebrate the top content and accomplishments here at The Brainy Business over the past year. [03:30] First, I want to thank you all for listening, subscribing, sharing, connecting on social media, and for reaching out to let me know your wins and the behavioral economics concepts you have applied in your own businesses. [04:37] The top countries and states with downloads in 2020. [06:11] I’m going to tell you about the top 10 downloads of the year, which will be followed by the top 10 downloads of all time. [07:31] The tenth most downloaded episode of 2020 was number 99 on bikeshedding. Bikeshedding is constantly keeping people spinning their wheels and not making progress on goals.  [09:01] The ninth most downloaded episode of 2020 was number 84: How to stack and bundle products and services so they are most appealing to potential customers. [09:57] Coming in at number 8 is episode 87 on social proof and how to use herding to boost engagement and sales.  [11:01] Number 7 was the very first of 2020, episode 81: How to Finally Change Your Behavior So it Sticks.  [12:10] Number 6 is the first interview to make an appearance with author Brian Ahearn, which was episode 104. [13:50] The 5th most downloaded episode of the year was also an interview, episode 101 with Dan Ariely, where we discussed Shapa, the numberless scale. [15:07] The 4th most downloaded episode of 2020 was episode 91 on the coronavirus and how the human brain responds to pandemics. [17:15] The third most downloaded episode was on Confirmation Bias, episode 102. [18:23] The second most downloaded of the year was number 83: How to Organize Your Brain with Behavioral Economics [19:08] And the most downloaded episode of all of 2020 was number 86, A Behavioral Economics Analysis of Peloton! [21:57] Next we are going to talk about the top ten most downloaded episodes of all time since the podcast launched in June 2018.  [22:18] The number 10 most downloaded episode of all time was episode 102 on Confirmation Bias. [22:26] The ninth most downloaded episode of all time was on Selective Attention Biases which was episode 50. [24:04] Number 8 was the episode on Game Theory which was episode 62. In this episode, I got to talk about how life and business are a game and figuring out if you know the rules.  [25:19] Coming in at Number 7 was episode 5, our first throwback to 2018, The Truth About Pricing.  [26:07] Number 6 is How to Organize Your Brain with Behavioral Economics which was number 83.  [26:17] Number 5 was episode 61 on color theory. When it comes to color, this one thing matters more than anything else.  [28:05] The fourth most downloaded episode of all time was number 86 on Peloton.   [28:10] Number 3 was another behavioral economics analysis episode. It was the analysis of Starbucks which was episode 73.  [29:04] The first two episodes of the show continue to be number 1 and number two on the list.  Number 2 was episode 2 which was The Top 5 Wording Mistakes Businesses Make.  [29:13] The number one most downloaded episode of all time was episode 1, Unlocking the Secrets of the Brain. [31:33] In 2021, I am definitely planning to do some of those company analysis episodes. I am also going to continue to do interviews.  We have some VERY exciting ones coming up!  [33:08] I also write for Inc. Magazine, here are the top ten articles I’ve written there.   [33:53] Number 10: The Font Size on Your Price Tags Could Be Reducing Your Sales by 28 Percent. Here's How to Fix It [34:17] Number 9: Forget Brainstorming. Try Questionstorming. [34:45] Number 8: Why You Hate Seeing Your Face in Video Meetings [35:24] Number 7: These 5 Simple Concepts of Behavioral Economics Can Drastically Improve Your Marketing Efforts [35:50] Number 6: Still Trying to Multitask? How to Make More Time for Deep Work [36:23] Number 5: This Simple Framework Can Help You Sell More of Anything [36:56] Number 4: Why You Should Ditch Your Flimsy, Paper Business Cards Right Now [37:44] Number 3: 1 Simple Brain Trick That Can Help You Overcome Self-Doubt Forever [37:59] Number 2: Feeling unproductive? This brain bias could be to blame [38:32] Number 1: A Starbucks Barista Asked Me This 1 Simple Question, and Using It May Be a Great Way to Boost Your Sales [39:16] Getting people to decide to buy from you is much more difficult than getting them to buy MORE things from you once they are in the purchasing mindset. So, it is easier to get people to add on things than to get them to buy initially. [40:03] There is so much to learn and implement. I hope this episode opened your eyes to some exciting content from The Brainy Business you may have missed or want to revisit. Find them all at any time at www.thebrainybusiness.com/podcast  For a complete list with links, check out the Top Content of 2020 blog post. Thanks for listening. Don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  Let’s connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube More from The Brainy Business: Master Your Mindset Mini-Course BE Thoughtful Revolution - use code BRAINY to save 10% Get Your FREE ebook Melina’s John Mayer Pandora Station! Listen to what she listens to while working. Past Episodes and Other Important Links: Sign Up For The Texas A&M Certificate Program Planning Fallacy Check out (and preorder!) my upcoming book, Unlocked, on Amazon, Bookshop, and Barnes & Noble If you are outside the US, please complete this form to be first to know when the book is available near you AND to help show there is a presence in your country to speed along international agreements and get it to you faster!

On this week's episode, Steph discusses the value of conducting student research when creating course content and Chris revisits a recent architecture decision to use Svelt and Inertia. They also explore the challenges developers face in acquiring their first job and share insights for those looking for their next big role. This episode is brought to you by: ExpressVPN (https://www.expressvpn.com/bikeshed) - Click through to can get an extra 3 months free on a one-year package. ScoutAPM (https://scoutapm.com/bikeshed) - Give Scout a try for free today and Scout will donate $5 to the open source project of your choice when you deploy Hunt for the Wilderpeople (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4698684/) Wicked (https://wickedthemusical.com/) Svelte (https://svelte.dev/) Inertia.js (https://inertiajs.com/) Ruby on Rails Podcast - 285: Bikeshedding with Steph Viccari (https://5by5.tv/rubyonrails/285) Will Johnson (https://twitter.com/willjohnsonio) Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_and_the_Terrible,_Horrible,_No_Good,_Very_Bad_Day)

In this episode of Syntax, Scott and Wes talk with Adam Argyle about how stuff gets added to CSS. LogRocket - Sponsor LogRocket lets you replay what users do on your site, helping you reproduce bugs and fix issues faster. It’s an exception tracker, a session re-player and a performance monitor. Get 14 days free at logrocket.com/syntax. Freshbooks - Sponsor Get a 30 day free trial of Freshbooks at freshbooks.com/syntax and put SYNTAX in the “How did you hear about us?” section. Guests Adam Argyle Show Notes 01:48 - Who are you and what do you do? 04:13 - How does stuff get added to CSS? 06:44 - Github issue proposal or public document Shares use case Problem made succinct StrawMan solution JS demo 10:12 - Time Multiple proposals Comments Back and forth Bikeshedding 20:00 - Editor’s draft spec (Stage 1) CSS typed Examples Provided code logic Implementor interest Can go stale Explainer Implementor Prototype behind flags in browser Intent to Prototype (I2P) 24:42 - Working Draft (Stage 2) WPTs Prototype behind flags in browser Needs two or more to graduate Intent to Ship (I2S) 24:54 - Conference Calls Around 10 items to discuss Issues or proposals Flexible list Things can be injected as emergency Things can get punted to the next call 25:26 - Face 2 Face (F2F) Four times a year Presentations Breakout sessions Houdini focus groups, etc Try to resolve as many Github issues as possible 27:34 - Candidate Recommendation (Stage 3) Could still be behind a flag Edge cases are being worked through WPTs and standards are being nudged into a final state 44:20 - Roles Spec author Community Member Print Color Internationalization Box Model AOM JS APIs Renderers etc Implementor It’s like pub/sub, where spec authors pub and implementors sub, and the community tries to help shape the message that’s published while supporting the subscribers who need to implement and make it real 46:32 - Questions What language is CSS written in? What's the deal with Houdini? Links https://github.com/w3c/csswg-drafts @rachelandrew @hj_chen Incomplete List of Mistakes in the Design of CSS 10 Things I Regret About Node https://ishoudinireadyyet.com/ ××× SIIIIICK ××× PIIIICKS ××× Adam Wok Scott: Balance Pad Wes: Security Bit Set Shameless Plugs Adam: The CSS Podcast Scott: CSS Design Systems - Sign up for the year and save 25%! Wes: All Courses - Use the coupon code ‘Syntax’ for $10 off! Tweet us your tasty treats! Scott’s Instagram LevelUpTutorials Instagram Wes’ Instagram Wes’ Twitter Wes’ Facebook Scott’s Twitter Make sure to include @SyntaxFM in your tweets

Today, we are going to be talking about bikeshedding, also known as Parkinson’s Law of Triviality. There is definitely a reason I am talking about this topic right now, as it very much impacts us all at this time of extreme change during the coronavirus pandemic. This is part of a series of sorts in talking about concepts that are relevant to our changing lives and many of us being sequestered at home and doing most everything virtually (some for the very first time).  As with most concepts you will hear me talk about on this show, bikeshedding is something we do all the time and don’t really realize it is happening. The thing that makes this concept different from a lot of others is how much it is holding us all back ALL THE TIME without our conscious consent. You may call this “being a perfectionist” and many of us ambitious folks struggle with this tendency. The thing is, for the most part people are not suffering from perfectionism in every aspect and possible decision. They tend to get hung up on really tiny details that don’t matter so much in the long run.  The question is: why do those things get so much of our attention? Why do they feel so important in the moment and like you can’t move forward until they are dealt with?  More often than not, this is because your brain is bikeshedding (and essentially avoiding a more important topic that makes it scared or nervous).  Here’s what you can expect in this episode: I will give you an explanation of what bikeshedding is, with some of the most common examples. Then I am going to give you a list of questions that you can ask yourself (and explain why those particular questions matter) to help you shake things up and get out of that bikeshedding mindset so you can actually achieve goals and move forward. Be sure to get your freebie worksheet on bikeshedding to help you overcome this sneaky brain trick. Show Notes: [02:36] Bikeshedding is something we do all the time and don’t really realize it is happening.   [03:53] The term “bikeshedding” was coined by Cyril Northcoat Parkinson, who came up with the term.   [04:22] Parkinson’s Law states that work will expand to fit the amount of time allocated to it.  [06:05] Just like a goldfish will grow to the size of its bowl, our tasks will take up as much time as we will allow them to.    [06:57] Parkinson’s Law of Triviality finds that people will waste time focusing on trivial details while ignoring the bigger, more important problems. As a result, those important problems end up with less time than would be optimal.  [08:25] We tend to get hung up on really tiny details that don’t matter so much in the long run.   [09:57] The consequences of picking the wrong shade of blue in your logo (potentially a bikeshedding issue) are not that big, and the mistake could be fixed relatively easily down the road if need be. [10:52] Your brain hates the idea of entering an uncertain territory, so it will make other things seem more important than they are to keep you dwelling on them, and therefore stick in the status quo it loves so much.    [11:27] Overcoming bikeshedding is sometimes a battle with yourself and your brain’s natural tendencies. It takes conscious effort to say, “No, that’s not important right now” and you can only do that if you know your goals and take the time to prioritize what matters.   [11:57] When you don’t have a plan, your subconscious can run rampant and decide what it wants you to focus on, and its priorities don’t always align with your conscious goals.   [12:17] Tackling Parkinson’s Law of Triviality can help with time management, resource allocation, project management, project planning and general direction for your work, business and life. [13:37] Having a good name for your business is important, but it isn’t everything.  [15:28] You have to start swinging. Try for things, follow up with things, do some research so you don’t look ridiculous, but pick your top outlets and send a personalized pitch.   [17:31] You don’t want to perfect a course and spend hours and days of your time agonizing over it when you don’t even know if people want it.   [18:59] In business you have to write the content first. Come up with the plan and write it all out with the least amount of words possible and your designer can come up with something great. [21:06] Will I even remember this 5 years from now? Or even 5 days? [22:19] What is the consequence if I get it wrong? [24:34] Is this decision helping me reach my goals...or keeping me from them? [25:38] Having an accountability buddy that you trust can be really helpful. They can help shine light on things, but don’t ask a ton of people advice on every little problem you have.   [26:45] Many people get sucked into bikeshedding because they are too worried about what other people think and are trying to please others with their decisions instead of doing what would make them happy or help them achieve their own goals.   [27:41] What makes you happy and feeling fulfilled is central to you. Don’t make all your effort about other people’s opinions.  [29:18] Your brain preference to focus on trivial stuff instead of big stuff is not limited to your own trivial problems. It can also easily and happily consume itself with everyone else’s trivial junk (and them with yours). [30:14] The lesson here is not to ask for other peoples’ input if it is a bikeshedding problem, especially if their opinion will not coincide well with your goals and happiness.   [31:07] Bikeshedding is an ongoing problem which makes it so your brain wants to focus on little, inconsequential details so you never have time to tackle the big stuff that moves you forward toward your goals and shift the status quo.  [33:16] Bikeshedding makes you feel worse and you don’t achieve your goals.   Thanks for listening. Don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.   Links and Resources: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram Master Your Mindset Mini-Course The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube 7 Examples of Bikeshedding What is Bikeshedding? Parkinson's law of triviality (bikeshedding) Definition The Bike Shed Effect Mindset Details - use code BRAINY to save 10% BE Thoughtful Revolution - use code BRAINY to save 10% Pro Podcast Solutions Melina’s Articles What Is Narcissism? 91. Coronavirus and How the Human Brain Responds to Pandemics 93. Normalcy Bias: Why We Love To Know What’s Coming And How It Keeps Us Stuck (a Behavioral Economics Foundations Episode) 95. Hate Being on Camera? Understand Your Brain’s Biases To Change Your Mind 53. An Overview of Lazy Brain Biases 83. How to Organize Your Brain with Behavioral Economics 78. How to Become Indistractible, Interview With Author Nir Eyal 61. Color Theory: When It Comes To Color, This 1 Thing Matters More Than Anything Else 43. A Guide for You to Create a Brainy Brand

In this episode, I speak with Ben Cattaneo. Ben is a risk professional who is also the host of the All Things Risk podcast.We ended up having a rather longer than planned conversation, so I've split it up into several parts. In this first part, we begin by talking about Ben's career in Risk. We then explore how our perception of risk is often flawed and look at ways that organisations can think differently about risk management.You can find out more about the topics we discussed as follows:The All Things Risk podcast: http://www.allthingsrisk.co.uk/"Zen Mind, Beginners Mind" by Shunryu Suzuki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen_Mind,_Beginner%27s_Mind"Black Swan" by Nassim Taleb:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_swan_theoryBike Shedding:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_triviality"Range" by David Epstein:https://davidepstein.com/the-range/

On this week's episode, Steph is joined by Brittany Martin, an avid Rubyist and the host of the Ruby on Rails Podcast. They discuss Brittany's passion for roller derby and her upcoming Ruby conference talk: "Hire Me, I'm Excellent at Quitting." They also discuss using AWS Serverless, troubleshooting Postgress connection errors and working with Google Pay and Apple Wallet to introduce digital tickets.@BrittJMartin - Brittany on TwitterRuby on Rails PodcastRubyConf 2019 - Hire Me: I'm Excellent at QuittingBikeshedding with Steph ViccariTN Inspire! "Ramping Up With Roller Derby"RubyConf MY - Rails Against the MachineRuby on Rails on Windows is not just possible, it's fabulous using WSL2 and VS CodeAmazon Aurora ServerlessNate Berkopec - Speed Shop

Steph Viccari, co-host of the Bikeshed and developer at thoughtbot, shared her insights on developer bootcamps, starting out as a developer, the state of Rails, podcasting and her first experience as a consultant.

Steph Viccari, co-host of the Bikeshed and developer at thoughtbot, shared her insights on developer bootcamps, starting out as a developer, the state of Rails, podcasting and her first experience as a consultant.

A bunch of ideas today - thoughts on dealing with this revision (yes, still), why people hate Nickelback (yes, really) and how bikeshedding fits into this (yes, it does. well... kinda). This is the article I mention: https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2015/04/25/402026979/the-good-listener-why-do-people-hate-nickelback-so-muchSupport the show (http://paypal.me/jeffekennedy)

bikeshedding in Loveland Ohio

Jimmy Song is a Bitcoin Core Contributor and former VP of Engineering for Armory. He caught the Bitcoin bug back in 2011 and started contributing to Bitcoin open source projects since 2013. He’s a contributor to CoinDesk and has a popular Bitcoin blog. He’s been teaching blockchain to engineers for over 3 years. Jimmy graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics.Seminar: http://programmingblockchain.com/ Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cZr_Aj Medium: https://medium.com/@jimmysong Twitter: https://twitter.com/jimmysong Github: https://github.com/jimmysongFollow the best podcasts from the best minds in the Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency space on twitter.https://twitter.com/bitcoinpodcasts

We discuss bikeshedding, which is when people discussing solutions for a large, complex problem bog themselves down in minutia. In this episode, we examine a situation in which a discussion about redesigning healthcare in the United States becomes hyper-focused on one aspect of American health and lifestyle. Content warnings for this episode: discussions of anti-fat … Continue reading "Audacious Compassion 022 – Two Spaces Per Tab"

This week, after a brief detour into the subject of pizza, Soroush and Chris discuss how they’d go about the broad goal of “improving an app.”Artichoke Basille’s Pizza New York's Artichoke Basille Pizza: Why The Controversy?Ann Arbor vs DetroitYpsilanti, MIDetroit-style pizzaBilly Bishop Toronto City AirportVillanova, PACode audit - WikipediaSwiftLintSwiftFormatSwift Enums Are 'Sum' Types. That Makes Them Very InterestingYak Shaving DefinedBikesheddingGet a new Fatal Error episode every week by becoming a supporter at patreon.com/fatalerror.

What is bikeshedding and how does it save you time?

In Schweden gibt es weniger Frauen als Männer, das ist bestimmt kein Bikeshedding und regt die Deutschen nicht so auf, wie andere unüberlegte Themen. Neugierig? Hört in unsere Sendung und verbreitet sie gerne weiter. Viel Spaß! Über eine Bewertung bei Facebook oder iTunes freuen wir uns sehr.

02:15 - Jamund Ferguson Introduction Twitter GitHub Blog PayPal Jamund Ferguson: JavaScript Linting for Code Quality & ESLint Overview 02:47 - Lint (Background) JSLint Douglas Crockford JSHint ESLint [GitHub] eslint Nicholas Zakas [Gitter] eslint 04:48 - Keeping ESLint Up-to-date ​​Esprima Ariya Hidayat espree Babel babel-eslint ES6 (ECMAScript 6) 08:09 - Abstract Syntax Tree (ASTs) Jamund Ferguson: Don’t be scared of abstract syntax trees Minification UglifyJS 13:28 - Using Lint Tools Context Switching Aspects to Linting: Code Standardization Catching Bad Mistakes JSCS (JavaScript Code Style) “Extends” 20:42 - Are there a downsides to linting? The Social Problem 23:40 - Establishing Rules Bikeshedding Consistency 25:12 - Cool ESLint Features handle-callback-err Not Throwing Literals No Restricted Modules Jamund Ferguson: Error Handling in Node.js @ MountainWest JavaScript 2014 30:45 - How ESLint Works Internally eslint-plugin-angular Configuration and Defaults 40:07 - Getting Started with Linting 43:03 - Autofixer 44:41 - Plugins 46:47 - Linter Feedback From the Panel Picks Mozilla (AJ) We Will All Be Game Programmers (Aimee) Search Inside Yourself: The Unexpected Path to Achieving Success, Happiness (and World Peace) by Chade-Meng Tan (Aimee) Good Mythical Morning (Dave) Salt Lake City (Dave) BB King Calls This One Of His Best Performances (Jamison) json-server (Jamison) Austenland (Joe) Supergirl (Joe) A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson (Jamund) The Book of Mormon (Jamund)          

02:15 - Jamund Ferguson Introduction Twitter GitHub Blog PayPal Jamund Ferguson: JavaScript Linting for Code Quality & ESLint Overview 02:47 - Lint (Background) JSLint Douglas Crockford JSHint ESLint [GitHub] eslint Nicholas Zakas [Gitter] eslint 04:48 - Keeping ESLint Up-to-date ​​Esprima Ariya Hidayat espree Babel babel-eslint ES6 (ECMAScript 6) 08:09 - Abstract Syntax Tree (ASTs) Jamund Ferguson: Don’t be scared of abstract syntax trees Minification UglifyJS 13:28 - Using Lint Tools Context Switching Aspects to Linting: Code Standardization Catching Bad Mistakes JSCS (JavaScript Code Style) “Extends” 20:42 - Are there a downsides to linting? The Social Problem 23:40 - Establishing Rules Bikeshedding Consistency 25:12 - Cool ESLint Features handle-callback-err Not Throwing Literals No Restricted Modules Jamund Ferguson: Error Handling in Node.js @ MountainWest JavaScript 2014 30:45 - How ESLint Works Internally eslint-plugin-angular Configuration and Defaults 40:07 - Getting Started with Linting 43:03 - Autofixer 44:41 - Plugins 46:47 - Linter Feedback From the Panel Picks Mozilla (AJ) We Will All Be Game Programmers (Aimee) Search Inside Yourself: The Unexpected Path to Achieving Success, Happiness (and World Peace) by Chade-Meng Tan (Aimee) Good Mythical Morning (Dave) Salt Lake City (Dave) BB King Calls This One Of His Best Performances (Jamison) json-server (Jamison) Austenland (Joe) Supergirl (Joe) A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson (Jamund) The Book of Mormon (Jamund)          

02:15 - Jamund Ferguson Introduction Twitter GitHub Blog PayPal Jamund Ferguson: JavaScript Linting for Code Quality & ESLint Overview 02:47 - Lint (Background) JSLint Douglas Crockford JSHint ESLint [GitHub] eslint Nicholas Zakas [Gitter] eslint 04:48 - Keeping ESLint Up-to-date ​​Esprima Ariya Hidayat espree Babel babel-eslint ES6 (ECMAScript 6) 08:09 - Abstract Syntax Tree (ASTs) Jamund Ferguson: Don’t be scared of abstract syntax trees Minification UglifyJS 13:28 - Using Lint Tools Context Switching Aspects to Linting: Code Standardization Catching Bad Mistakes JSCS (JavaScript Code Style) “Extends” 20:42 - Are there a downsides to linting? The Social Problem 23:40 - Establishing Rules Bikeshedding Consistency 25:12 - Cool ESLint Features handle-callback-err Not Throwing Literals No Restricted Modules Jamund Ferguson: Error Handling in Node.js @ MountainWest JavaScript 2014 30:45 - How ESLint Works Internally eslint-plugin-angular Configuration and Defaults 40:07 - Getting Started with Linting 43:03 - Autofixer 44:41 - Plugins 46:47 - Linter Feedback From the Panel Picks Mozilla (AJ) We Will All Be Game Programmers (Aimee) Search Inside Yourself: The Unexpected Path to Achieving Success, Happiness (and World Peace) by Chade-Meng Tan (Aimee) Good Mythical Morning (Dave) Salt Lake City (Dave) BB King Calls This One Of His Best Performances (Jamison) json-server (Jamison) Austenland (Joe) Supergirl (Joe) A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson (Jamund) The Book of Mormon (Jamund)