Oct 16, 2023
In this episode of The Brainy Business podcast, you'll hear an insightful conversation between host Melina Palmer and guest Ayelet Fishbach, a professor and researcher in behavioral science at the University of Chicago. The episode focuses on the topic of goal setting and motivation. Ayelet shares her expertise in understanding the psychology behind setting and achieving goals, emphasizing the importance of intrinsic motivation and finding joy in the journey.
She provides practical strategies for overcoming obstacles, reframing goals, and maintaining motivation over time. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their goal-setting skills and increase their chances of successfully achieving their goals. Ayelet's research-backed insights will inspire you to approach goal setting in a more thoughtful and effective way. So, if you're looking to enhance your motivation and achieve your goals, tune in to this episode.
In this episode:
00:00:00 - Introduction to the Episode
Melina introduces the purpose of refreshing this episode and
mentions the upcoming conversation with Vishal George, who
references Ayelet's work.
00:02:04 - Setting Goals and Motivation
Listeners are encouraged to think about their goals, especially
related to money and financial stability. Melina teases the
upcoming conversation with Ayelet Fishbach and encourages listeners
to keep their goals in mind during the discussion.
00:02:53 - Interview with Ayelet Fishbach
Ayelet Fishbach discusses her background in motivation science and
goal setting. She explains how she became interested in studying
motivation and self-control and discusses her early research on
anticipating temptation. The importance of planning and thinking
about obstacles is highlighted.
00:09:19 - Overcoming Fantasies and Intuition
Ayelet emphasizes the importance of thinking beyond fantasies and
focusing on potential obstacles. She discusses how fantasies are
less effective than considering the challenges that may arise. The
importance of questioning intuition and challenging common beliefs
is also mentioned.
00:11:18 - Intuition and Counterintuitive Findings
Ayelet discusses the importance of questioning intuition and
presents examples of counterintuitive findings. She highlights the
need to challenge common beliefs and assumptions, such as opposites
attract or consistent reinforcement for behavior.
00:16:50 - The Power of Goals,
The conversation begins by discussing the power of setting goals
and the inspiration they provide. The example of Mount Everest is
used to highlight the allure and intrinsic motivation behind
achieving a specific goal.
00:19:33 - Choosing the Right Goal,
The discussion emphasizes the importance of choosing the right
goal, as not all goals are in our best interest. The example of
climbers on Mount Everest who persist despite dangerous conditions
is used to illustrate the potential pitfalls of misguided
goals.
00:22:20 - Increasing Goal Adherence,
The conversation addresses the issue of people giving up on their
New Year's resolutions. The key factor in goal adherence is
intrinsically motivating resolutions that provide immediate
pleasure or growth. The importance of enjoying the path towards the
goal is emphasized.
00:24:35 - Setting Pleasurable Goals,
The discussion highlights the significance of setting goals that
are pleasurable to pursue. Examples include enjoying healthier
foods, finding fun ways to exercise, and creating rewarding work
tasks. Emphasis is placed on the need to find pleasure in the
process rather than solely focusing on the end result.
00:29:10 - Mistakes in Goal Setting,
The conversation explores the common mistake of setting resolutions
based on an idealized version of oneself. The concept of hyperbolic
time discounting is mentioned as a factor that hinders long-term
commitment. The speaker advises setting goals based on one's
present self, acknowledging personal limitations, and planning
accordingly.
00:34:52 - The Problem with Avoidance Goals,
Avoidance goals, such as not being a couch potato or not eating
junk food, are less likely to be successful because they bring to
mind the very thing we are trying to avoid. Approach goals, on the
other hand, like catching Pokemon, are more exciting and
motivating.
00:36:10 - Why Avoidance Goals Don't Work,
Avoidance goals may seem urgent in the short term, but they are not
effective for long-term success. Instead of focusing on what not to
do, it is more productive to think about what we should do. For
example, setting a goal to have healthy snacks instead of avoiding
junk food.
00:37:07 - Reframing Avoidance Goals,
Reframing avoidance goals involves shifting the focus from what we
should not do to what we should do. For example, instead of setting
a goal to stop eating junk food, we can set a goal to eat healthy
snacks. This reframing makes the goal more positive and
motivating.
00:39:24 - Changing Perceptions of Healthy Food,
Many people have a negative perception of healthy food, associating
it with being tasteless. However, this perception can be changed by
framing healthy food in a more positive and tasty way. When healthy
food is seen as delicious, people are more likely to choose and
enjoy it.
00:51:22 - Reaching Goals and Making Little Changes,
Melina discusses the importance of regularly taking action towards
goals instead of only focusing on the long term. Little changes and
choices made today can have a significant impact in the future,
such as planning for retirement. Being thoughtful and proactive is
key.
00:52:03 - 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.
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Top Recommended Next Episode: Have Your Best Year Ever, with Cassie Holmes and Ayelet Fishbach (ep 249)
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