Feeling stuck is a common human experience and almost all of us will go through it at some point in our lives. Whether it’s relationship struggles, dissatisfaction with work, an inability to progress financially, or a pending midlife crisis, all of these situations can bring up a range of mixed emotions like anxiety, fear, anger, and even numbness. We are joined today by Adam Alter, whose new book Anatomy of a Breakthrough: How to Get Unstuck When It Matters Most serves as a much-needed guide to help readers escape inertia and flourish in the face of freedom. Adam is a professor of marketing at New York University's Stern School of Business with an affiliated appointment in the New York University Psychology Department. His research is primarily focused on judgment, decision-making, and social psychology, and his two previous books, Irresistible and Drunk Tank Pink, are both highly acclaimed New York Times best-sellers. In today’s episode, we talk with Adam about the concept behind Anatomy of a Breakthrough, the many forms that feeling stuck can take, and what he has learned about getting unstuck. Tuning in you’ll learn about the fundamentals of goal-setting, why striving for excellence is infinitely more sustainable than settling for nothing less than perfection, and how learning to enjoy the journey will help you find meaning and avoid the aimlessness that can come after achieving your goal. We also get into the nature of breakthroughs, the role of luck and creativity, plus a whole lot more. To hear all of Adam’s thought-provoking insights and practical advice on getting unstuck, be sure to tune in!
Key Points From This Episode:
(0:00:18) Introducing today’s guest, Adam Alter, and the concept behind his new book Anatomy of a Breakthrough.
(0:05:41) An overview of the many ways that you can be financially stuck, the role of financial advisors, and when you should seek out help and guidance.
(0:09:04) Insight into the different types of stuckness and how to recognize when you’re stuck.
(0:12:42) Why people tend to question their lives with the arrival of a new decade.
(0:17:10) Unpacking the risks and benefits of major life decisions and the concept of lifequakes.
(0:20:25) The boundless nature of goal-setting and how it impacts the search for contentment.
(0:23:27) How lifequakes influence the search for contentment and how to prepare for them.
(0:26:00) What a breakthrough looks like, how it interacts with creativity, and the role of luck.
(0:35:17) A breakdown of the random impact rule; particularly in the context of careers.
(0:38:01) One key practical difference between striving for excellence versus perfection.
(0:40:05) The originality trap: why trying to do something completely new can cause paralysis.
(0:43:13) Understanding the plateau effect: why being stuck can actually be a sign of progress.
(0:44:23) The fundamentals of goal setting: the dangers of setting unachievable goals and the benefits of making it about the journey rather than the destination.
(0:49:03) Advice for processing the success of other; especially in the age of social media, and how Adam defines success.
Links From Today’s Episode:
Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582.
Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/
Rational Reminder on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/rationalreminder/
Rational Reminder on X — https://twitter.com/RationalRemind
Rational Reminder on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/channel/
Rational Reminder Email — info@rationalreminder.ca
Benjamin Felix — https://www.pwlcapital.com/author/benjamin-felix/
Benjamin on X — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix
Benjamin on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminwfelix/
Cameron Passmore — https://www.pwlcapital.com/profile/cameron-passmore/
Cameron on X — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore
Cameron on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronpassmore/
Adam Alter — https://adamalterauthor.com/
Adam Alter on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamleealter
Adam Alter on Twitter — https://twitter.com/adamleealter
Hal Hershfield — https://www.halhershfield.com/
Bruce Feiler — https://www.brucefeiler.com/
Books From Today’s Episode:
Anatomy of a Breakthrough — https://adamalterauthor.com/anatomy
Irresistible — https://adamalterauthor.com/irresistible
Drunk Tank Pink — https://adamalterauthor.com/drunk-tank-pink
Episode 305 - Is Private Credit Special?
Episode 304 - Budget 2024: The Capital Gains Inclusion Rate
Episode 303 - Scott Galloway: The Algebra of Wealth
Episode 302 - Michael Green: Market Efficiency Is Not The Question
Bonus Episode - Prof. Meir Statman: A Wealth of Well-Being
Episode 301 - Optimal Government Pension Claiming
Episode 300 - Abby Sussman: Financial Judgment and Decision Making
Episode 299: The Most Important Lessons in Investing
Episode 298 - Randall Stutman: Admired Leadership for Financial Decision-Making
Episode 297 - Do Stocks Return 10-12% On Average? & Zero to Millionaire with Nicolas Bérubé
Episode 295 - Home Country Bias, Seg Funds, and Todd Rogers on Writing for Busy Readers
Episode 294 - Dan Harris: 10% Happier
Episode 293 - Eric Balchunas: Spot Bitcoin ETFs
Episode 292 - Rob Copeland: Ray Dalio and Bridgewater
Episode 291 - The Quant Winter, and is Canada Pension Plan a Scam?
Episode 290 - Morgan Housel: Same as Ever
Episode 289 - Retiring Retirement Income Myths with the Retirement Income Dream Team
Episode 288 - Scott Rick: Navigating the Money Minefield in Real Relationships
Episode 287: A Practical Look at Private Equity w/ Steve Balaban & Epic Life w/ Justin Breen
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