1: So what exactly is a habit?

Yes, it is an outfit a nun wears, Tynan writes in Superhuman by Habit: A Guide to Becoming the Best Possible Version of Yourself, One Tiny Habit at a Time.

But, more importantly, “it’s an action that you take on a repeated basis with little or no required effort or thought,” he writes.

The key part of the definition? The second half … continue reading

1: Why do some seniors thrive in nursing homes while others experience rapid physical and mental declines?

The answer may surprise you.

Those who flourish tend to be those who rebel “against the rigid schedules, set menus, and strict rules that the nursing homes tried to force upon them,” Charles Duhigg writes in Smarter Faster Better: The Transformative Power of Real Productivity.

What do researchers call this group? The … continue reading

1: When Eric Quintanilla told his wife and his mother he was considering joining the Marines, neither thought it was a good idea.

The night before, he talked to a former high school classmate at a party. That friend had just finished basic training and was twenty pounds lighter and ripped, Charles Duhigg writes in Smarter Faster Better: The Transformative Power of Real Productivity.

“He was telling jokes and … continue reading

1: Why do you procrastinate?  What can you do to procrastinate less?

Those were the questions a group of psychologists at DePaul University and Case Western University set out to answer.

So they set up an experiment.  Half of the participants were invited to “take a math test.”  The other half were invited to “play a math game.”

“In reality, the test and the game were the exact same activity,” … continue reading

1: Do you want to unlock untapped sources of motivation, energy, and willpower?

The answer is actually quite simple.

You start by identifying your values.

Then you take actions aligned with those values.

“Research shows that when action is guided by values, it’s vastly easier to accomplish feats that would seem impossible otherwise,” Jane McGonigal writes in her book SuperBetter: The Power of Living Gamefully.

This holds true, Jane … continue reading

1: Turns out anxiety and excitement are the exact same emotion.

Physiologically, that is. Which just means how your body operates.

“Whether you are anxious about something or excited about it, your body responds in a nearly identical ‘high arousal’ state,” Jane McGonigal writes in her book SuperBetter: The Power of Living Gamefully.

How does your body react?

“You have excess energy, you may feel butterflies in your stomach, … continue reading

1: The global wellness economy is $4.4 trillion.

Wowza.

“With each new fitness gadget promising perfect abs and each new miracle health food promising youthful vigor, we are forced into a silent battle against the overwhelmingly strong and savvy energy of the world’s best marketers,” Sahil Bloom writes in his book The 5 Types of Wealth.

“Their jobs depend on convincing us that we need all of it to … continue reading

1: Getting better at getting better is what RiseWithDrew is all about.

Monday through Thursday, we explore ideas from authors, thought leaders, and exemplary organizations. On Friday, I share something about myself or what we’re working on at PCI.

Last month, I shared my proven annual goal-setting process.   For the past seven years, I have selected ten annual goals. Which I call “The 10.”

I select my goals from … continue reading

1: When someone isn’t succeeding at work, they typically fall into one of two camps,  Will Guidara writes in his terrific book, Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect.

The ones who are trying.  And the ones who are not.

“The end result may be similar, but the two need to be handled differently,” Will writes. 

We have to “move heaven and earth to … continue reading

1: “Everyone who was anyone in Hollywood ate lunch at Spago,”  Will Guidara writes in his book, Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect.

The restaurant was “the crown jewel of an empire presided over by Chef Wolfgang Puck,” he notes, “who had revolutionized American dining by popularizing California cuisine.”

It was the summer after Will graduated from high school.  He was working … continue reading