Work Life with Adam Grant is a new podcast from the Ted Audio Collective. The episode that we're about to play for you, it really plays out like a thriller and it's hilarious and incredible but also so practical in terms of what you can take away for your real life. Left over uncovers how corporations and politicians are milking the American school lunch system.
In life and work, we have a hard time changing course. When we wind up in a miserable job, a failing project, or a floundering romantic relationship, we rationalize, make excuses, and stick with our bad decisions—even when the writing's on the wall. Why? Usually we assume the driving force is sunk costs: we don't want to admit we've wasted that time or money. But in fact, the root of our stubbornness is a psychological trap called “escalation of commitment.” Once we understand that, we can start taking steps to protect ourselves from… well, ourselves. This is an episode of WorkLife with Adam Grant, another podcast in the TED Audio Collective. For more episodes, find and follow WorkLife wherever you're listening to this.