We all get stuck. In relationships, in jobs or in creative endeavors. It’s a universal experience, yet most people feel incredibly lonely when they’re stuck. By shedding light on the latest research, bestselling author Adam Alter expertly unravels the psychological and practical steps you need to get unstuck.
Adam Alter PhD is a professor of Marketing at New York University's Stern School of Business with an affiliate appointment in the Psychology Department. Adam has spent the past two decades studying how people become stuck and how they free themselves to thrive. He is the author of bestsellers Drunk Tank Pink and Irresistible but we talk with him on this episode about his latest book, Anatomy of a Breakthrough: How to Get Unstuck When It Matters Most.
As someone who has kept decades of notes on interesting observations from his life, Adam peppers all his work with relatable personal stories. One of the trends of Adam’s observations from over the years is that music has provided a stream of interesting anecdotes. So it will come as no surprise to regular listeners of the Behavioral Grooves, that Tim thoroughly enjoyed talking about how music has influenced Adam’s life, research and writing!
We hope you enjoy listening to our light hearted discussion with Adam and if you would like to support the work of Behavioral Grooves, you can become a Patreon member of the show: https://www.patreon.com/behavioralgrooves.
Topics
(3:30) Welcome and speed round questions.
(4:31) Creativity is a result of productivity not insight.
(6:38) Where do people get stuck in their lives?
(7:42) Narrow bracketing - how to get rid of the messy middle.
(9:55) Why is it so hard to get unstuck?
(12:08) How to reframe difficulties as challenges.
(15:52) In hierarchical organizations, the personality of leaders matters.
(18:30) How to fail well.
(23:07) Are constraints liberating?
(26:34) The 3 part process of a friction audit?
(29:29) What is hardship inoculation?
(34:06) Finding the people who magically unstick your team.
(38:48) What makes a great band?
(42:46) How Universal Basic Income (UBI) can harness creative breakthroughs.
(45:28) Why music is a huge part of Adam’s book.
(48:10) How the economy actually dictates our musical choices.
(53:39) The music that Adam listens to.
(57:37) Grooving Session with Kurt and Tim on getting unstuck.
© 2023 Behavioral Grooves
Links
Adam Alter’s book “Anatomy of a Breakthrough: How to Get Unstuck When It Matters Most”: https://amzn.to/3NHkQ6z
Episode 276, How To Stay Motivated So You Exceed Your Goals with Ayelet Fishbach PhD: https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/motivation-to-exceed-your-goals/
Episode 307, Groove Track - Mind Over Milkshakes: Why Expectations Matter A Lot: https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/mind-over-milkshakes-groove-track/
Michael Lewis “Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game”: https://amzn.to/46dqbJV
Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt, “The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure”: https://amzn.to/3NSRItb
Episode 64, Danny Oppenheimer: Governance and Helicopter Parenting: https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/danny-oppenheimer-governance-and-helicopter-parenting/
Behavioral Grooves Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/behavioralgrooves
Musical Links
EDM, trance music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xptn9MHiAdo
Alice in Chains “Man In The Box”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAqZb52sgpU
Bob Dylan “Like A Rolling Stone”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwOfCgkyEj0
Why Finding Pleasure in Life is a Painful Journey | Paul Bloom
How Collaboration is Growing Behavioral Science: Learnings from BX Arabia
How To Turn Your Creative Dreams Into Reality | Jeff Madoff
How To Create New Goals That Will Really Motivate You in 2022
The Behavioral Science Books We Just Couldn’t Put Down in 2021 With Louise Ward
More Than Just A Checklist: How to Effectively Apply Behavioral Science | Torben Emmerling
Our Love Of Music And The Influence Of The Pandemic With Mark Thorley
Please Help Us by Voting for Behavioral Grooves - it takes 10 seconds
Trust: The Four Key Steps to Genuinely Build It | Sandra Sucher
Focus More on HOW to Think, and Less on WHAT to Think | Dr. Howard Rankin PhD
Need a Laugh to Get Through Your Workday? Dan Hill
Feeling Fearful: Why People Seek Out Conspiracy Theories | Eric Oliver
Why We Are More Vulnerable To Harmful Conspiracy Theories Than We Think | Andy Norman
Conspiracy Theories: How To Talk to A Science Denier | Lee McIntyre
Conspiracy Theories: Hidden Brain‘s Shankar Vedantam | The Delusion of Nations
Halloween Special: Grooving on Scary Biases
Why Does Rude Behavior Really Bother Us So Much? | Trevor Foulk PhD
Helping People To Assemble Better Decisions | Eric J. Johnson
Anxiety at Work: Why We Feel It and How To Manage It | Chester Elton
The 5 Healthy Brain Habits Of A Neuroscientist | Dr Daniel Almeida
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Poetry of Science
Hidden Brain
The Science of Happiness
Choiceology with Katy Milkman
Therapist Uncensored Podcast