Exploring the Balance Between Excellence and Perfection

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.caBenjamin 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