Podcasts about functional fixedness

In this episode of The Brainy Business podcast, Melina Palmer revisits an insightful discussion on the lessons every business can learn from NASA. Originally aired in the summer of 2019 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, this episode explores the remarkable success of NASA's missions and their relevance to business strategies today. Melina explores the historical context of NASA's achievements, highlighting President Kennedy's influential speech that galvanized public support and set a bold deadline for landing a man on the moon. The episode uncovers five key lessons from NASA's Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo missions that businesses can adopt: identifying problems and solutions, the significance of testing and timely action, the power of delegation and support, the impact of visibility, and the importance of word choice. In this episode: Discover how NASA tackled unprecedented challenges with innovative solutions. Learn the importance of testing and moving forward decisively. Understand how delegation and support can empower teams to achieve greatness. Explore the benefits of transparency and visibility in rallying support. Gain insights into the critical impact of word choice in leadership and communication. Show Notes: 00:00:00 - Introduction Melina Palmer introduces the episode and its focus on the lessons businesses can learn from NASA. 00:02:00 - The Historical Context Discussion on the significance of the moon landing and the strategic vision set by President Kennedy. 00:07:00 - Overcoming Functional Fixedness Insights into NASA's ability to think beyond conventional uses and innovate solutions. 00:13:00 - Testing and Moving Forward The importance of testing phases and knowing when to progress to the next stage. 00:20:00 - Autonomy and Support How NASA empowered its teams and the lessons for business leadership. 00:27:00 - The Role of Visibility The impact of transparency and shared goals in motivating teams and stakeholders. 00:33:00 - Importance of Word Choice The power of strategic communication and its lasting impact on motivation and success. 00:36:00 - 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: What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer Alchemy, by Rory Sutherland Blindsight, by Matt Johnson and Prince Ghuman Using Behavioral Science in Marketing, by Nancy Harhut Immersion, by Paul Zak Top Recommended Next Episode: Amazon (ep 159) Already Heard That One? Try These:  A Behavioral Economics Analysis of Costco (ep 47) Disney (ep 292) Peloton (ep 338) Starbucks: A Behavioral Economics Analysis (ep 73) Apple Card: A Behavioral Economics Analysis (ep 42) Other Important Links:  14th Annual People's Choice Podcast Awards Apollo 1's Fatal Fire Almost Ended the Program | Apollo John F. Kennedy Moon Speech – Rice Stadium President Kennedy's Speech at Rice University ‘No university is more synonymous with NASA than Rice' How The Cold War Launched The Space Race Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work and in Life One Conversation at a Time NASA History Overview Immunity to Functional Fixedness in Young Children NASA Johnson Space Center Oral History Project Edited Oral History Transcript This is the actual hack that saved the astronauts of the Apollo XIII Lessons in Manliness from Gene Kranz

Did you know that a whopping 57% of working adults don't have any formal financial training? So if you feel like you could be managing your finances better, don't worry.  You are not alone. But here's the good news: Managing your cashflow doesn't have to be a nightmare. In this episode of Dashdot Insider, Terry Condon is diving deep into all things cashflow. He's breaking down how to make small, smart money moves that'll help you take control of your spending without feeling like you're missing out on the good stuff. We get so focused on the short-term, we forget about the big picture. Terry's here to help you flip that mindset and make deliberate choices that actually work for you. So, if you're sick of feeling like your cash is vanishing into thin air, this episode is for you.  If you love this episode, email us at podcast@dashdot.com.au, and don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share this podcast!  See you on the inside!    In this episode, we cover: 00:00 Coming Up 1:05:54 Why Cash Flow and Financial Education Matter More Than Ever 1:06:08 Using Evidence-Based Methods for Smarter Financial Choices 1:06:25 Breaking Free from Financial Inertia: How to Make Deliberate Money Moves 1:06:37 The Trap of Functional Fixedness in Money Decisions 1:06:47 Measuring the Impact: What Sets Financial Success Apart 1:06:58 How Technology Can Streamline Your Finances 1:07:37 The Psychology Behind Your Money Decisions 1:07:49 How Financial Education Can Supercharge Your Property Investments 1:07:58 Navigating Debt: A Key Piece in Property Investment Strategy   Connect With Us: Free Rentvesting Calculator (https://dashdot.com.au/rentvesting)  Subscribe on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/@dashdotinsider)  Listen on Spotify (https://spoti.fi/3Np19x8) Dashdot Website (https://www.dashdot.com.au/) Ready to work with us directly? (https://dashdot.com.au/discovery) Get your Property Portfolio Growth Plan (https://dashdot.com.au/portfoliogrowthplan)   About the Guests:Terry is all about making money meaningful. He's got a talent for breaking down big financial ideas into simple, practical steps that help people feel confident and committed to learning. His expertise comes from two key areas. First, as a performance coach, he worked with some of Australia's top sports teams and athletes, where he learned how to turn big dreams into concrete plans and a few powerful habits. Then, after earning his MBA and moving into management consulting, he gained the skills to create adult learning programs that make financial knowledge valuable and accessible. In 2019, Terry teamed up with Ryan Monaghan, his co-founder, to combine their strengths and create a unique financial education platform designed especially for young professionals. Together, they're making it easier for people to take charge of their finances. Connect with the Guests: Cashflow Co. - https://au.linkedin.com/company/cashflo-dojo Terry Condon - https://au.linkedin.com/in/terry-condon-cashflowco See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How to uncover our fixed mindsets and the biases that keep us stuck? We dive into the concept of cognitive rigidity and the five cognitive biases that affect our daily lives: Functional fixedness and how to be more creative The endowment effect and irrational valuation of possessions The bandwagon effect and are terrible relationship with social pressure Hyperbolic discounting and why we are so lazy The Zeigarnik effect and why we endlessly ruminate Through personal anecdotes and historical examples, including insights from Albert Einstein's life, we explore how these biases shape our behaviour and decision-making. Learn practical strategies for overcoming cognitive rigidity, enhancing your mental flexibility, and achieving a growth mindset. Don't miss this enlightening and informative episode! Further reading: Einstein - Walter Isaacson Thinking Fast and Slow - Daniel Kahneman Predictably Irrational - Dan Ariely Sponsors: Cozy Earth: Luxury Bamboo sheets and Loungeware that become softer as you use them. 35% off code 'GROWTH' - CozyEarth.com SleepyClub: Doctor-approved natural sleeping aid that improves sleep quality. Safe to take every day. 20% discount code 'GROWTH20' - SleepyClub.co.uk ShortForm: Summaries and guides for the world's best books and ideas. FREE trial and 20% off annual fee - ShortForm.com/Psychology Meet Sam Free Call - Schedule Link Influence the Show Feedback - Request and Ideas Form Growth Mindset pod: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) Mail - GrowthMindsetPodcast(at)gmail.com Insta - SamJam.zen Newsletter - Expansive Thinking Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Cognitive Rigidity 00:29 A Personal Story of Cognitive Rigidity 03:47 Defining Cognitive Rigidity 04:53 Functional Fixedness 09:36 Overcoming Functional Fixedness 11:00 The Endowment Effect 15:06 Overcoming the Endowment Effect 16:26 The Bandwagon Effect 20:24 Understanding Hyperbolic Discounting 25:10 Einstein's Personal Struggles and Successes 29:28 The Zeigarnik Effect: Unfinished Tasks and Obsession 33:56 Relationships and Social Media: The Open Loop Trap 38:34 Einstein's Journey: Genius and Cognitive Biases 40:53 Embracing Growth and Self-Acceptance Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Finding leverage is difficult to do, but a lot of the reason for this is that we allow ourselves to fall into well-traveled cognitive pathways. If we reject the solution domain-set that comes to mind immediately, we may be able to consider options for solutions we had never considered. This larger solution set may also include a high-leverage option we had previously ignored.

Matt Abrahams, a leading expert in communication and a lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business, shares valuable insights on improving communication skills in spontaneous situations on The Brainy Business podcast hosted by Melina Palmer. In this episode, Abrahams discusses key strategies from his book, Think Faster, Talk Smarter, which focuses on helping individuals feel more comfortable and confident in impromptu speaking scenarios. Abrahams draws from personal experiences and observations to develop his methodology. He highlights the challenges individuals face in speaking spontaneously and emphasizes the importance of confidence and commitment when responding. Through anecdotes and practical tips, Abrahams shows how anyone can enhance their communication skills in impromptu situations. Throughout the episode, Abrahams discusses the significance of active listening, reframing situations as opportunities, and effective structure in communication. He encourages individuals to embrace uncertainty, take risks, and prioritize listening over speaking. Abrahams' book offers practical steps and exercises to help listeners practice and refine their communication skills. Professionals seeking to improve their spontaneous speaking and communication skills–from presentations to job interviews to networking events–will find this episode insightful and actionable. Abrahams' expertise and relatable anecdotes make it a valuable resource for individuals looking to enhance their speaking abilities in spontaneous situations. In this episode: Explore how proficient communication in unexpected situations can give you an edge. Learn how enhancing your active listening abilities can drastically improve the quality of your communication. Delve into the significance of preparing for spontaneous conversations. Master the art of using concise structures to drive powerful communication. Get a grip on actionable strategies for honing your communication skills in unplanned situations–from speaking on a stage to job interviews to networking events and more. Show Notes: 00:00:00 - Introduction, In this episode, Melina Palmer welcomes Matt Abrahams, a leading expert in communication and a lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. They discuss Matt's new book, Think Faster, Talk Smarter, which focuses on speaking effectively and confidently in spontaneous speaking situations. 00:03:10 - The Need for Spontaneous Speaking Skills, Matt explains how his personal experiences and feedback from students led to the development of his methodology for speaking confidently in the moment. He emphasizes the importance of spontaneous speaking skills in everyday communication. 00:05:23 - Overcoming Spontaneous Speaking Challenges, Melina shares her own experience of struggling with spontaneous speaking during a job interview. Matt tells a story about an unexpected question he faced during an interview and how he turned it into an opportunity to showcase his skills. The lesson is, even when you are caught off guard, to connect to something and commit to your response. 00:09:31 - Confidence and Commitment in Spontaneous Speaking, Melina highlights the importance of confidence in spontaneous speaking, as people can sense if you're not confident. Matt explains that committing to your response, even if it's unexpected, is crucial and draws parallels with the world of improvisation. 00:13:25 - Lessons from Improvisation, Matt discusses the influence of improvisation on his methodology and shares the principle of "failing big." He encourages speakers to commit fully to their responses and not be afraid of failure, as it can lead to unexpected successes. 00:15:24 - The Power of Getting Lost, Matt Abrahams discusses the importance of getting lost and embracing uncertainty in order to expand what's possible in spontaneous situations. He explains how striving for control and perfection can actually limit our potential, and how cognitive bandwidth affects our performance. 00:16:25 - Striving for Mediocrity, Abrahams encourages his students to strive for mediocrity in order to achieve greatness. By focusing on getting things done rather than judging and evaluating, individuals can have more resources to perform well. He emphasizes the need to embrace uncertainty and take risks. 00:17:43 - Allowing Yourself to Get Lost, Abrahams explains the importance of allowing oneself to get lost and try new things in order to broaden what's possible and stay focused in the present moment. While it can be challenging, embracing uncertainty can lead to rewarding outcomes. 00:18:42 - Overcoming the Fear of Average, Melina shares a personal anecdote about feeling overwhelmed by being graded on a curve in college. Matt highlights the concept that from average, greatness can emerge, and emphasizes the need to focus on personal growth rather than labeling ourselves with grades. 00:20:04 - The Six Steps to Better Communication, Abrahams outlines his six-step methodology for improving communication, which includes managing anxiety, getting out of our own way, reframing spontaneous speaking as an opportunity, emphasizing the importance of listening, using structure, and maintaining focus. 00:29:22 - The Value of Listening, Matt discusses the importance of listening in conversations and the benefits it brings to the listener. He explains that listening is a muscle that needs to be strengthened and that good listeners help speakers solve their problems instead of immediately jumping in with solutions. He also emphasizes the need for space, pace, and grace in listening. 00:30:58 - The Mindset of Listening, Matt Abrahams shares insights from an interview with a listening researcher, Guy Ichakov, who highlights the mindset of a good listener. He explains that a good listener's job is to help the speaker solve their problem, rather than trying to solve it themselves. Abrahams reflects on his own tendency to jump into problem-solving mode and actively works on adopting a listening mindset. 00:32:21 - The Power of Structures in Communication, Matt Abrahams discusses the importance of using structures or frameworks in communication to help organize and prioritize information. He introduces the "Swiss Army Knife" structure of three simple questions: What? So what? Now what? This structure helps in formulating clear and concise messages that are easy for the audience to understand. 00:35:51 - Preparing for Spontaneous Conversations, Matt Abrahams explains the irony of being able to prepare for spontaneous conversations. He compares it to jazz musicians following certain chords and patterns, or athletes training specific behaviors to respond spontaneously in a game. Abrahams emphasizes the value of frameworks and structures in preparation, using an example of three simple questions. 00:40:01 - 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: Think Faster, Talk Smarter, by Matt Abrahams A More Beautiful Question, by Warren Berger What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer Influence, by Robert Cialdini Presuasion, by Robert Cialdini Connect with Matt:  Think Fast Talk Smart podcast Follow Matt on LinkedIn Top Recommended Next Episode:  Focusing Illusion (episode 330) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Behavioral Storytelling, with David Paull (ep 289) Framing (ep 296) How to Pitch Your Business (ep 326) Magic Words, with Jonah Berger (ep 301) Confirmation Bias (ep 260) Prefactual Thinking (episode 232) The Life-Saving Skill of Story, with Michelle Auerbach (ep 288) Functional Fixedness (ep 194) What is Cognitive Semiotics? (ep 259) The Overwhelmed Brain and Its Impact on Decision Making (ep 32) A More Beautiful Question, with Warren Berger (ep 200) Habits (ep 256) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter

In episode 325 of The Brainy Business podcast, host Melina Palmer interviews Christian Madsbjerg, author of the book Look and an expert in human observation. Madsbjerg discusses the importance of observation in understanding human behavior and helping organizations make better decisions. He emphasizes that many companies make big mistakes by not asking the right questions and relying too heavily on data abstractions and groupthink. According to Madsbjerg, companies need to constantly study the questions that are most meaningful in their industry in order to stay relevant and successful. Christian highlights the necessity of observing and describing social phenomena before forming opinions and challenges individuals and companies to question their assumptions. Madsbjerg introduces the concept of hyper-reflection, which involves analyzing how people pay attention, to gain deeper insights into human behavior. The conversation provides valuable insights into the power of observation and description in understanding the world around us and making more informed decisions. In this episode: Recognize the critical importance of keen observation in comprehending complex human behavior. Learn about the pitfalls and misleading aspects of treating the human brain like a digital interface. Delve into the influence and impact of societal constructs on human behavior. Harness the capacity of hyper-reflection to delve deeper into your own thoughts and perceptions. Appreciate the added value of integrating observational techniques into scientific enquiry. Show Notes: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Christian Madsbjerg and his Background Melina introduces Christian Madsbjerg, the author of the book Look, and discusses his background in utilizing observation techniques to help organizations better understand human behavior. 00:02:45 - The Importance of Asking the Right Questions Asking the right questions makes a huge difference for companies. They discuss the dangers of jumping into problem-solving mode without fully understanding the problem. Christian explains how companies that fail to constantly study meaningful questions often struggle to adapt and remain successful in their industries. 00:07:49 - The Class on Human Observation Christian shares his experience creating and teaching a class on human observation at the New School in Manhattan. The class focused on using observation techniques inspired by philosophy and anthropology to study social phenomena. He explains that the book is a reflection of that class, allowing more people to learn about observation. 00:11:50 - The Journey of Observation and Curiosity Christian discusses his natural inclination towards observation and curiosity. He reflects on how studying philosophy and different historical perspectives helped him develop a deeper understanding of the assumptions we make about the world. He emphasizes the importance of observing without preconceived opinions and describes observation as a technique for scrutinizing our own assumptions. 00:14:49 - Perception and Intuition Christian challenges the misconception that humans perceive the world as atomistic data. He explains that humans perceive things holistically, seeing things as part of a larger social context rather than as individual data points. He highlights the importance of understanding the relationship 00:18:17 - The Danger of Comparing Computers to Human Brains, Comparing computers to human brains can lead to a misunderstanding of what it means to be human. Humans are not just intellectual beings; much of our experience and understanding comes from our bodies and the spaces we inhabit. 00:19:55 - The Problem with Having Strong Opinions, Having strong opinions about everything can create a filter between us and the world. It prevents us from seeing things objectively and directly, as we interpret everything through a political or opinionated lens. 00:21:54 - The Importance of Describing Social Phenomena, In order to better understand the world and the work we do, we need to study and describe the social phenomena at the center of our work. By understanding the context and dynamics of a situation, we can provide better advice and make more informed decisions. 00:25:30 - Case Study: Observing Fundraising Strategies, By observing people in the streets trying to raise funds for the white rhinos, a student learned valuable lessons about effective fundraising. He discovered that gentle and subtle approaches were much more successful than aggressive or shaming tactics. 00:30:44 - The Power of Hyper Reflection, Hyper-reflection is a type of attention that allows us to observe how others pay attention. By practicing hyper-reflection, we can better understand the dynamics and behaviors of people and organizations, leading to innovation and positive change. 00:35:36 - The Importance of Observation and Description, Christian discusses the importance of observing and describing social phenomena in order to gain insight and break down biases and prejudices. He emphasizes the value of feeling connected to the world and having a direct relationship with it. 00:37:35 - Building Trust and Observing Humans, Melina mentions how this work reminds her of an Apple Fitness' “Time To Walk” episode with Jane Goodall she recently listened to. Christian draws a parallel between Jane Goodall's observations of chimpanzees and his own observations of humans. He highlights the need to build trust with people in order to accurately describe and understand group dynamics and assumptions. 00:40:11 - Different Perspectives on the Same Phenomena, Christian recognizes that he and Melina approach the same phenomena from different angles, with behavioral science and cognitive science on one side and philosophical perspectives on the other. They agree on the importance of diverse methods and techniques in gaining insight. 00:42:33 - Observation in Science, Christian and Melina discuss the role of observation in scientific breakthroughs and paradigm shifts. They agree that observation is at the heart of good science and that scientists should incorporate more observation into their work. 00:44:50 - 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: Look, by Christian Madsjberg Sensemaking, by Christian Madsjberg The Moment of Clarity, by Christian Madsjberg A More Beautiful Question, by Warren Berger Both/And Thinking, by Wendy Smith and Marianne Lewis Connect with Christian:  Follow Christian on LinkedIn Christian's website Top Recommended Next Episode: How Minds Change, with David McRaney (ep 210) Already Heard That One? Try These:  For The Culture, with Marcus Collins (ep 305) Survivorship Bias (ep 110) What Problem Are You Solving? (ep 126) Mental Accounting (ep 282) What is Cognitive Semiotics? (ep 259) Using Semiotics in Retail, with Rachel Lawes (ep 191) Non-Obvious Thinking, with Rohit Bhargava (ep 297) Habits (ep 256) Solving Modern Problems with a Stone-Age Brain (ep 237) Confirmation Bias (ep 260) Biases Toward Others – Including Groups (ep 314)  Fundamental Attribution Error (ep 268) The Overwhelmed Brain and Its Impact on Decision Making (ep 32) Functional Fixedness (ep 194) A More Beautiful Question, with Warren Berger (ep 200) Evolutionary Ideas, with Sam Tatam (ep 204) Focusing Illusion (ep 89) Anthropology, Market Research and BE, with Priscilla McKinney (ep 196) Using Ethnography in Business (ep 324) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter

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

In today's conversation, I am joined by Dr. Wendy Smith, coauthor of Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems. I don't think we realize it all that much, but our lives are full of paradoxes. Questions like: How can we each express our individuality and be a team player? How do we balance work and life? How can we take care of ourselves while supporting others? How can we manage the core business while innovating for the future? Believe it or not, these are some of the everyday paradoxes that make up our lives. And because our brains tend to default to either/or choices, we choose one option over the other. We deal with uncertainty by asserting certainty. BUT this is not the best way, as you will learn about in today's conversation with Wendy Smith, a co-author of one of my new favorite books: Both/And Thinking. Wendy is the Dana J. Johnson Professor of Management and earned her Ph.D. in organizational behavior at Harvard Business School, where she began her intensive research on strategic paradoxes—how leaders and senior teams effectively respond to contradictory, yet interdependent demands. She is a wealth of amazing information and I can't wait for you to learn from her today. Show Notes: [00:42] In today's conversation, I am joined by Dr. Wendy Smith, coauthor of Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems. [01:46] Wendy is the Dana J. Johnson Professor of Management and faculty director of the Women's Leadership Initiative at the Lerner College of Business and Economics, at the University of Delaware. [03:57] Wendy shares about herself, her background, and the work she does. She is a professor of organizational behavior and business leadership management.  [06:27] We all experience these tug of wars in our lives.  [09:37] Our decisions really have multiple layers to them. They show up for us as a dilemma - these competing ideas in which you feel like you have to make a decision.  [11:37] Underlying our dilemmas are these paradoxical tensions.  [14:23] It is not that we are constantly trying to choose between always trying to be super disciplined or always trying to be spontaneous. If we go extreme on one side it becomes problematic in so many ways.  [15:36] The goal is to recognize that there is a relationship between discipline and spontaneity and that discipline enables us to be spontaneous as long as we don't go so extreme. Spontaneity enables us to have more structure in our world.  [17:08] These tensions drive us into either/or thinking. That kind of thinking is limited at best and detrimental at worst.  [19:39] Often when change happens you feel like you have to change significantly and essentially you are throwing out the baby with the bath water by innovating everything. [21:44] Polarization is when you go down a path and you are sure that if you are right about the way you are thinking, someone else must be wrong. [24:35] Businesses should continue to be operationally successful as they move up their S curve. Continue to service your existing customers and be efficient with your existing products and at the same time be scanning, exploring, experimenting, and innovating to figure out what the new S curve looks like.  [27:09] The problem isn't the problem. The way we are framing and thinking about the problem is the problem.  [28:10] You have to change to stay the same.  [30:56] Wendy shares a story about a group that built an inn to honor and value what was key to the culture of Newfoundland.  [34:04] To keep what you have, you have to change and we should embrace that.  [35:35] Her number one tip for writing a book is just to sit and do it.  [38:04] Wendy and her co-author worked together to structure the ideas of the book.  [40:38] There is something deeply paradoxical about behavioral economics (and Wendy loves that!)  [43:02] Just changing the question will invite you into a whole different way of thinking.  [44:02] Melina's closing thoughts [45:55] Embracing paradoxes can have a huge impact. There is so much opportunity there.  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: Both/And Thinking, by Wendy Smith & Marianne Lewis The Paradox of Choice, by Barry Schwartz Paradoxes of Group Life, by Kenwyn Smith & David Berg A More Just Future, by Dolly Chugh A More Beautiful Question, by Warren Berger Connect with Wendy:  Wendy's Website Wendy on Twitter Wendy on LinkedIn Top Recommended Next Episode: Framing (ep 16) Already Heard That One? Try These:  A More Just Future, with Dr. Dolly Chugh (ep 247) Paradox of Choice (ep 171) Dunning-Kruger Effect (ep 198) Past, Present, and Future Biase (ep 246) Time Discounting (ep 51) What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You (ep 225) Change Management (ep 226) Confirmation Bias (ep 260) Focusing Illusion (ep 89) Functional Fixedness (ep 194) A More Beautiful Question with Warren Berger (ep 200) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter

Erica, Gil, and Sen discuss some of the tools and processes they use at the various phases of designing a game from their varying perspectives of an in-house designer, a publisher, and freelance designer/developer.  SHOW NOTES: 00:08:31 DDS is an acronym for Detailed Design Specification 00:11:38 LucidChart browser-based flowcharting and more www.lucidchart.com 00:18:43 Canva free online graphic design tool www.canva.com 00:19:13 Tabletop Simulator is a virtual tabletop (VTT) run on Steam www.tabletopsimulator.com  00:19:14 Tabletopia is a browser-based VTT www.tabletopia.com 00:21:26 Also known as an MVP - a “Minimum Viable Prototype” 00:21:45 Filemaker Pro is a relational database www.claris.com  00:21:57 Nandeck is cardmaking software www.nandeck.com  00:22:05 Component Studio is a full game design suite that is hooked up to the Game Crafter https://component.studio/ 00:26:06 Adobe Creative Suite is the industry standard for the industry in terms of graphic design www.adobe.com  00:27:54 Photopea is an online Photoshop equivalent for raster images www.photopea.com 00:28:29 GIMP is an open source Photoshop equivalent www.gimp.org 00:29:15 Inkscape is a free equivalent of Illustrator for vector images www.inkscape.org 00:29:57 The Affinity Suite is a one-time payment suite of graphic design and illustrative tools https://affinity.serif.com 00:36:46 Fiskars Rotary Cutter is Sen's weapon of choice www.fiskars.com/en-us/crafting-and-sewing/products/rotary-cutters-mats-and-rulers  00:37:13 Arc punches, square punches and corner punches, oh my! This is an example of a 1” arch punch: www.amazon.ca/General-Tools-Instruments-1271M-1-Inch/dp/B00004T7WH 00:41:36 Midjourney and Dall-e are prompt-based AI Art generators www.midjourney.com / https://openai.com/blog/dall-e/ 00:44:58 Some great sources for icons etc. www.flaticon.com https://thenounproject.com https://game-icons.net 00:45:32 Face generating software ThisPersonDoesNotExist https://thispersondoesnotexist.com/ 00:48:46 Functional Fixedness is the psychological phenomena when a person cannot see any other use for an item because their initial understanding of how it's used is the only way they think it can be used 00:49:10 Sunk Cost Fallacy occurs when a person will not make a change, even one that is likely to be highly beneficial, due to the perceived amount of time, money, effort, etc.they have already invested in the current strategy 00:55:58 You can record your screen right from Windows https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/record-the-screen-d70508e8-25a3-4b97-b78a-a467b5372e21 and MacOS https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT208721

We're back for Season 3! Don't worry, we're just as surprised as you are.

Today I am very excited to introduce you to Katelyn Bourgoin. As you will hear during our conversation, I met Katelyn via Twitter where she has been kind enough to tag me many times when people ask for recommendations for people who are using psychology in marketing or for business as well as for podcast recommendations, books, or just for someone to follow. Katelyn also has a phenomenal newsletter that is so engaging — I just love how well she understands her audience. We will be talking about that a lot more during the conversation today.   Katelyn uses reciprocity so well by shining the light on others and it comes back in a really great way. Before any non-marketers tune out and say this episode is not for you, know that creating engaging content that people want to respond to matters for everyone whatever your industry, whoever you are communicating with, and whatever you want to achieve. People like to work with those they like. Framing your messages with the recipient in mind is never a bad idea. Katelyn is a marketer and market researcher so that is the lens of her statements throughout the episode, but I challenge you to consider all the ways this can be useful to you in your life and business. For anyone with a newsletter or striving to have one, and who has ever been mystified by Twitter and especially Twitter threads, get ready for some awesome tips and free resources.  Show Notes: [00:41] Today I am very excited to introduce you to Katelyn Bourgoin.  [02:13] Katelyn is a marketer and market researcher so that is the lens of her statements throughout the episode, but the tips are for everyone! [04:24] Katelyn shares about herself and how she found herself in the behavioral sciences.  [05:50] She ended up working with a bunch of companies and seeing the same problem over and over: they just didn't know who their best customers were or why they bought. That led her to launch the company she has today called Customer Camp. [08:18] When she decided that she wanted to help people overcome that problem she discovered an innovation framework known as Jobs to Be Done.  [09:56] Jobs to Be Done is really important for understanding the context of the customer situation and what would cause them to seek out and choose a new solution.  [11:44] Their company exists to help people build a better understanding of their buyers through educating them on why people buy, training, and products. [12:39] It was thinking beyond the research and what they do to what would be engaging for potential customers.  [14:54] Having a functionally better product is important but there are all these other factors that you also need to consider when you think about the job holistically.  [16:00] You have to not just look at the functionality of a product but you have to consider the social and emotional aspects too.  [18:45] In having these conversations about the buyers' journey, pulling out the details, and mapping them, that is what leads to being able to design better marketing.  [20:14] Talk to buyers who have bought to try and understand their buying journey — that's a step a lot of marketers are missing.  [23:00] The trigger technique is a good solution for pulling out the bits that you can make most actionable and share with your team to back up your strategy. (Freebie in the links below!) [25:47] When they designed the newsletter, they thought about what was the job of the newsletter. They wanted to create a newsletter to make people feel like it was food for their brains. [26:58] It has to be something really quick to consume and it has to be something where you walk away feeling like you have ideas for applying them to your own work. [29:55] People need to feel like they are getting something back to open and read a newsletter.  It can be inspiration, validation, or something to forward.  [32:02] They realized it was better to have consistency with their newsletter even in the subject line.  [34:44] Testing and seeing what works is very helpful.   [37:54] Choose the social media platform where you think you can be consistent.  [39:21] Make a big effort to follow the right people. She follows people who inspire her and she can learn from.  [40:57] Leverage the opportunity to highlight work that other people are doing. [42:54] Melina shares about one of Katelyn's Twitter threads. [44:32] When it comes to writing a thread, the first tweet is the most important one.  [47:34] Understanding your customers when it comes to figuring out demand is everything. Clarity of what works doesn't come from sitting around in a boardroom and thinking about it. It comes from actually engaging with customers. [49:05] If you want to market better, really be obsessed about understanding customers.  [50:28] Melina shares her closing thoughts.  [52:31] 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:

In today's episode, we are digging in on the concept of functional fixedness, or the “when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail” problem. I rather enjoyed taking this analogy a bit to the extreme while sharing how this works; I hope you like it too. When there is an issue with functional fixedness, both sides are holding tightly to their own respective hammers. Like all the biases, heuristics, and concepts I share here on The Brainy Business, it is often easier to see these things in others than in ourselves, but I challenge you to look for your own hammer in each encounter. As you will learn in this episode, getting out of your own functionally fixed way – even about something simple – can have such a huge impact on your company overall. Listen in to find out how you can make small changes for a big impact.  Show Notes: [00:41] In today's episode, we are digging in on the concept of functional fixedness, or the “when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail” problem. [02:27] When you first show up to tackle a new skill or concept, you are so excited for this new opportunity, you likely bring every mental tool you might need to help you learn. You're a sponge, ready for whatever life throws at you. [03:17] As you develop expertise, you start to declutter that mental toolbox. [04:30] When someone cuts you off on the freeway, they're instantly labeled a “jerk.” What about when you cut someone off? It feels completely different because of fundamental attribution error (and we do this all the time in business).  [06:09] It is important to know that you see “others” as different from you and will tend to judge them and their ideas more harshly, not giving them the benefit of the doubt that you might give to yourself and members of your team. [07:49] Isn't it possible that the one thing someone else is arguing is one of those 275,000 things your brain filtered out? Or that you are looking at just one of many possible correct alternatives that could work? [08:15] Functional fixedness or being set in your ways is another version of confirmation bias and the focusing illusion. [09:06] Everyone else doesn't have to be wrong in order for you to be right. [09:58] One of my favorite stories that I think is such a great example of overcoming functional fixedness, comes from Apollo 13. [12:31] Even when the stakes are high little things like this can be missed when you're too focused on your little area that you are working on. That can cause a big problem.  [14:23] It is easy to find the right answer to the wrong question. [15:18] Reframing the conversation so the team can look at things from different angles is so important [16:51] When you are too deep into a problem or have become an expert, you have this curse of knowledge that can keep you from seeing all the other opportunities that are just outside the norm. [17:26] Having a background knowledge of associations and how things work is important, but it is also important to understand that functional fixedness is a problem and it can keep you stuck sometimes in a way that will keep you from innovations or from solving the right problems. [19:35] When you are fixated on the myopic perspective of what you do or how you do things, everything looks like a nail when all you have is that hammer. You can be missing the bigger picture, which isn't necessarily a problem until sometimes, it is too late. [19:51] As you think about starting to apply this to your work, I don't recommend starting with something big like your company's mission. Have some warm-ups on less consequential projects first. [21:11] Properly wording the question is so critical for where you end up. [23:47] In general, when there is an issue with functional fixedness, both sides are holding onto their own respective hammers. Like all the biases, heuristics, and concepts I share here on The Brainy Business, it is easier to see these things in others than in ourselves, but I challenge you to look for your own hammer in each encounter. What are you fixated on that is keeping you closed off to the other person's perspective? [24:51] “I don't care what it was designed to do, I want to know what it can do”  - Gene Kranz, flight director for Apollo 13 [24:58] 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:

Functional fixedness is a cognitive bias that limits a person to use an object only in the way it is traditionally used. It is the inability to realize that something known to have a particular use may also be used to perform other functions. When one is faced with a new problem, functional fixedness blocks one's ability to use old tools in novel ways. Thank you so much for listening to this episode of THE ADIVERSE (previously TATS PODCAST). Please do a review for this episode, so I can improve my content. Do follow me here on this audio platform so you never gonna miss any episode of my podcast. You can listen to this podcast on almost every audio platform, ( https://tatspodcast.podlink.to/AdityaMulukuri) ADIVERSE (previously TATS PODCAST) was an internationally well-ranking podcast hosted by Aditya Mulukuri, a 17-year-old conceptualist, and a startup guy. (You can visit my social media here: https://beacons.page/adityamulukuri)

Spinoff show! But hopefully, this spinoff fares better than most spinoffs... Finn's focusing on being a mom, but don't worry, she'll be back! Mata flies solo in these spinoff episodes. These episodes will feature people who're succeeding in life! We attempt to better understand what they're doing that makes them succeed and share that in hopes of fortifying families.  This episode features a trailblazer, Genein Letford. She's a wife, mother, daughter, CEO, educator, author, and speaker. Hear her story, her beliefs on the importance of intercultural creativity, and how to cultivate it in ourselves and our children. Enjoy!

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Learn all about Functional Fixedness and how it affects your business and personal life. Yes, it sounds way out there, but I'll make it all clear for you in this episode. Screw The Commute Podcast Show Notes Episode 499 How To Automate Your Business - https://screwthecommute.com/automatefree/ Internet Marketing Training Center - https://imtcva.org/ Higher Education Webinar – https://screwthecommute.com/webinars See Tom's Stuff – https://linktr.ee/antionandassociates 05:00 Tom's introduction to Functional Fixedness 06:20 Defining Functional Fixedness 08:17 Home Depot Garden Department and Dollar Tree 13:49 How it can affect your business relationships 17:03 How it can affect your personal relationships 19:29 Use creativity to decrease functional fixedness Entrepreneurial Resources Mentioned in This Podcast Higher Education Webinar - https://screwthecommute.com/webinars Screw The Commute - https://screwthecommute.com/ Screw The Commute Podcast App - https://screwthecommute.com/app/ College Ripoff Quiz - https://imtcva.org/quiz Know a young person for our Youth Episode Series? Send an email to Tom! - orders@antion.com Have a Roku box? Find Tom's Public Speaking Channel there! - https://channelstore.roku.com/details/267358/the-public-speaking-channel How To Automate Your Business - https://screwthecommute.com/automatefree/ Internet Marketing Retreat and Joint Venture Program - https://greatinternetmarketingtraining.com/ Disabilities Page - https://imtcva.org/disabilities/ Recognizing and Overcoming Functional Fixedness - https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/functional-fixedness Email Tom: Tom@ScrewTheCommute.com Internet Marketing Training Center - https://imtcva.org/ Related Episodes Ask Me a Question - https://screwthecommute.com/498/ More Entrepreneurial Resources for Home Based Business, Lifestyle Business, Passive Income, Professional Speaking and Online Business I discovered a great new headline / subject line / subheading generator that will actually analyze which headlines and subject lines are best for your market. I negotiated a deal with the developer of this revolutionary and inexpensive software. Oh, and it's good on Mac and PC. Go here: http://jvz1.com/c/41743/183906 The Wordpress Ecourse. Learn how to Make World Class Websites for $20 or less. https://screwthecommute.com/wordpressecourse/ Join our Private Facebook Group! One week trial for only a buck and then $37 a month, or save a ton with one payment of $297 for a year. Click the image to see all the details and sign up or go to https://www.greatinternetmarketing.com/screwthecommute/ After you sign up, check your email for instructions on getting in the group.

If there's a single pernicious idea that dogs our ability to contribute, it's that the world is zero-sum and there's not "enough". We try our best to elucidate the scarcity mindset and offer ways toward a path of abundance (literally and metaphorically [and metaphysically?]). There is enough for nearly all of us but our functional fixedness prevents us from seeing the what's available.

Episode 48 | Suffering from functional fixedness , My Entrepreneur Academia, and can COVID-19 be a good thing Functional Fixedness is something that academics use to explain when people are unable to think outside the box that is given to them for whatever reason. The following comes from my opinion after reading a chapter from the book The Creator's Code: The six essential skills of Extraordinary Entrepreneurs. This book was recommended to me by the Coursera course Developing the entrepreneurial mindset. It is a must-read for aspiring entrepreneurs. This book goes into detail about how successful and unsuccessful entrepreneurs solved problems in their businesses. The concept of Functional Fixedness is used in the "The Candlelight Problem " Where someone is unable to see how they can solve a problem in another way. Tonight's Podcast I tried to explain my understanding from perception. I do recommend you to read this book and find out more on your own and not just my own. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yamanote-tech/message

Mankind has used patterns for thousands of years to solve everyday problems. Those patterns are now embedded into the products and services you see around you every day. These patterns are like the DNA of a product or service.  Now, imagine if you had a way to extract that DNA and reapply it to any product, process, or service. These patterns form the basis of a method called Systematic Inventive Thinking or SIT for short.  One of the five pattern-based techniques of the SIT method is called Task Unification.  In this podcast, learn how you can apply the task unification in the everyday things you do, whether it be at work or at home or some other part of your life. Learn how to generate ideas in a systematic way and increase your creative output no matter where you're starting from on the creativity scale.  Task unification is everywhere so get used to seeing it out there! In this episode you’ll hear: What is Task Unification? Steps in using the task unification technique The benefits of using task unification How you can apply task unification technique in everyday life Internal components vs. external components Examples of existing task unified components Some common pitfalls to avoid when using this technique     *** Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com  

Your browser does not support the audio element. Click the Title to Play or DownloadThis podcast is a presentation entitled "Neuro-Andragogy: Science & Art of Changing the Brain" Presented by Dr. Kristen Betts, Clinical Professor, Drexel University School of Education. It was delivered at the PADLA Annual Conference and Expo. PADLA is the PA/DE/NJ chapter of the United States Distance Learning Association.Dr. Betts discussed these topics:PLAY VIDEO VERSIONNeuroplasticityMetacognitionFunctional FixednessAndragogyNeurodiversityUniversal Design for Learning (UDL)Differentiated InstructionNeuro-AndragogyLinks:Neuro Teach by Glenn Whitman & Ian KelleherAfter Watching This, Your Brain Will Not be the Same by Dr. Lara BoydWhat is Neuroplasticity by Dr. Michael ValenzuelaDrexel University Conquer CollaborativePADLAPodsafe music selection"Winter Moon" by Rhonda Lorence - from the new age viola album "Winter Moon"Duration: 40:20

In honor of the 50 year anniversary of Neil Armstrong landing on the moon, we are going to talk about behavioral economics lessons you can learn from NASA! On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong descended onto the lunar surface and uttered those immortal words, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." It’s hard to believe that was 50 years ago, and that – knowing what we know today about technology – that it was able to be done with the equipment they had available. Most anyone today would think it was impossible to have completed that feat in the 1960s. So the questions may arise – why then? Why the moon? Why did it matter so much? There are lots of lessons your business can learn from NASA during the space race. While your failures are likely not life or death situations and you may not be breaking world records at every turn, and this story unfolded half a century ago, I want to break down five areas where your business – no matter what industry you are in – can learn from the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo missions at NASA. CLICK HERE FOR YOUR FREE DOWNLOAD! Show Notes: [05:40] On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong descended onto the lunar surface and uttered those immortal words, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." [05:43] Most people today would think that would be an impossible feat with 1960s technology. [06:40] The cold war intensified as the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first satellite, into orbit in October 1957 – much to the shock of the United States. [07:19] This led to fear and essentially kicked off the space race. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (also known as NASA) was created in 1958. [07:47] Kennedy really ratcheted up excitement and budget for NASA. [07:59] In Kennedy's famous speech at Rice University, he mentioned that the budget and taxes would be increased to accommodate the new space program.  [08:24] Overall, the Apollo program cost nearly 20 billion dollars – a third of NASA’s budget for those 13 years, so public interest was important to keep funding around for the program. [08:42] Kennedy also does a great job of priming and framing throughout the speech, and playing on the past victories and pride of the US, Texas and the city of Houston. [09:17] In the moon speech, he did great work to motivate the audience and the general public about the importance of the program and to encourage them to get behind the initiative. [10:53] Kennedy drew a line in the sand that helped launch the program. He also helped to overcome some hurdles by saying we CHOOSE to go to the moon. [12:02] Acknowledging our mistakes and hinting that the Soviets had mistakes helped to instill confidence and combat the availability bias. [13:24] Kennedy also made the task ahead relatable to the audience. [14:35] Kennedy's speech was truly amazing and inspiring. Everybody should read /watch it. [14:57] There are a lot of lessons that your business can learn from NASA during the space race. [15:47] 1) Look for problems (and solutions) [16:31] It would be impossible to think of every possible issue that could come up, but it was critical to think through as many of these pieces as possible. [17:01] Using challenges as inspiration is in direct competition with a bias humans are susceptible to called functional fixedness. [17:23] There are times in your business when this natural bias in your brain is doing more damage than you realize. [19:00] When the astronauts needed to fix their CO2 scrubber, they were literally faced with fitting a square peg in a round hole. Flight director Gene Kranz famously said, "I don't care what anything was designed to do--I care about what it can do."  Those on the ground were inspired to overcome their natural tendency toward functional fixedness to create an ingenious hack to save the lives of the astronauts over 100,000 miles away. [19:12] It's important to think through problems before they come up. [20:05] 2) Test and Retest (But Know When to Move) [20:34] Simulations and trial runs were critical. [21:38] They still moved forward instead of suffering analysis paralysis. [21:51] Narrow down your focus to one or two important goals. Break your goal into small tasks and set up tests to ensure they can be done. [22:35] 3) Autonomy and Support [22:53] The teams were united working toward a common goal, but they were also given the autonomy they needed to solve problems. [23:44] The leadership mindset came from the top down. [25:26] I always told my teams that I would support them in any decision they made and let them know how delegation was a sign of my trust in and respect for them. [26:19] In your business, do you delegate enough and trust your team to take on and really own your big vision? Do they feel supported to look for new options and innovative paths for you? [27:01] 4) Visibility Makes a Difference [27:21] The moon landing made the impact it did because of videos and photos cataloging it every step of the way.  Mirror neurons allow us to experience what we are seeing. [28:23] Are you making your important projects visible enough to rally the troops? While not everything needs to be put on video, and not every little detail needs to be shared with everyone…there is a lot of power in transparency. [29:13] Where can you share more – either via video or other communications – to ensure big goals and projects are remembered? [29:27] 5) Word Choice Matters [29:58] No one told Neil Armstrong what to say, or asked him what his first words would be when he stepped onto the lunar surface. The words he chose perfectly captured the moment, [30:00] What he said was easy to remember, poignant, and succinct. [31:31] Gene Kranz had countless quotes including, "failure is not an option." [32:11] The lesson for you as a leader, and within your business is this: in the moment, it may feel like word choice isn't critical. You may think you can always clarify, but the subconscious brain is picking up on so many millions of bits of information. It would take many words to undo the damage of not saying something properly. [33:12] As you move up the ranks in an organization, the words you use in everyday conversations matter much more than you realize. [33:50] I encourage you to be thoughtful each and every time, because the words you choose in any conversation could be the difference between changing the world forever, and just another day. [34:12] RECAP: Think about the ripples and look for problems before they come up so you can plan for them…and always be working on innovative solutions.  Break your goal into smaller tasks, and test each step before you move forward on the final goal (but make sure you actually do move forward) Let your teams know you trust and support their decisions, and that delegation is an extension of your belief in them Make big, important projects as visible and transparent as possible Take the time to choose the right words, because they might be famous quotes attributed to you one day! 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: Episode 56. Behavioral Economics Foundations: Mental Accounting @BethAMcAuley on Twitter Your Awards and Accomplishments Don't Mean Anything to Your Customers Unless You Talk About Them in This Way Episode 16. Behavioral Economics Foundations: Framing @thebrainybiz on Twitter The Brainy Business on Facebook The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on YouTube 14th Annual People's Choice Podcast Awards Apollo 1's Fatal Fire Almost Ended the Program | Apollo John F. Kennedy Moon Speech - Rice Stadium President Kennedy's Speech at Rice University Episode 18. Behavioral Economics Foundations: Priming ‘No university is more synonymous with NASA than Rice’ How The Cold War Launched The Space Race Episode 15: Behavioral Economics Foundations: Availability Episode 24. Behavioral Economics Foundations: Sense of Sight Episode 27. Behavioral Economics Foundations: The Sense of Hearing and Sound Episode 54. Biases Toward Novelty and Stories NASA History Overview Immunity to Functional Fixedness in Young Children NASA Johnson Space Center Oral History Project Edited Oral History Transcript This is the actual hack that saved the astronauts of the Apollo XIII Lessons in Manliness from Gene Kranz My Everyday Extraordinary The Apollo 13 Accident Episode 29. Resolutions and Keeping Commitments Careers at NASA: Explore the Extraordinary, Every Day Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work and in Life One Conversation at a Time Episode 31. Mirror Neurons

Game players often get stuck, either not seeing how to properly use an object in the game or perhaps persisting in an inefficient strategy. I discuss two such mental sets, functional fixedness and Einstellung. Game References Burgle Bros, Defender, Go, … Continue reading →

Beth Comstock spent over 25 years at GE where she was a vice chair, CEO of Business Innovations and Chief Marketing Officer among other roles. She has been featured in the New York Times, Forbes, Fortune and Fast Company and has been named to the Fortune and Forbes lists of the world's most powerful women.  Her new book is titled Imagine It Forward: Courage, Creativity, and the Power of Change.    Some interesting insights from this episode:  Risk taking is a skill that can be learned.  “Most of us fear losing what we have more than we desire winning something we don't have.”  Due to her risk taking mentality, Jeff promoted her to Chief Marketing Officer, a role that hadn't existed at GE for over two decades.  She had to overcome a lack of self-confidence along with her introversion in order to speak up, challenge others and be effective in her role.  Success correlates as closely with confidence as it does with competence.  Much of the success of Hulu was attributed to hiring an entrepreneur from the outside and keeping him independent vs hiring someone from the inside.  She led GE's disruptive green initiative called Ecomagination which pushed an aggressive clean energy agenda throughout GE's multiple business lines.  GE executives often struggled to see parallels from developments happening in other industries due to a common cognitive bias called Functional Fixedness.  She pioneered a new program at GE called Fastworks which leveraged the lean methodology to experiment with new product ideas, increase innovation and accelerate time to market.  “Excellence is a never ending journey of learning and trying to get better.”

We might imagine that a tremendously positive workplace envrionment is a productive place to work. Research shows that a totally positive workplace isn't as productive as you might think. There's a place for negativity in proportion. How can we, individually and in teams, see things and behaviours as they actually are and critique them?