239: “Don’t Wait Until You’re an Expert” — Scratch Your Own Curiosity Itch with Nir Eyal
Free Time with Jenny Blake
The Power of a Book to Create Habit Changes
The guest discusses the impact of their book on the host's father, who was able to quit smoking. They explore the use of psychology in Silicon Valley to change behavior and how perceptions have evolved.
“I only write books for problems I can’t otherwise solve,” Nir Eyal says. “I don’t write my books for my readers; I write my books for myself.”
Driven by curiosity to fix his own problems, Nir’s books have sold over one million copies. Listen to today’s conversation on how he weathered the criticism storm around his first book, Hooked; the one essential skill to being an entrepreneur; how to turn your values into time, and turn time into traction; and if you’re an aspiring author, why the fear of not being qualified should not be one of your fears.
If you haven’t already, check out Pivot episode 131: Indistractable with Nir Eyal.
More About Nir
Nir Eyal writes, consults, and teaches about the intersection of psychology, technology, and business. He is the author of two bestselling books, Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products and Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life. In addition to blogging at NirAndFar.com, Nir’s writing has been featured in The New York Times, The Harvard Business Review, Time Magazine, and Psychology Today.
🌟 3 Key Takeaways
- Distraction is not something that happens to us, it’s something we ourselves decide to do.
- Traction is prioritizing the right things, on your chosen schedule.
- Reactive work vs reflective work: you have to put time in your schedule to think.
📝 Permission
Live out your values without regret. There is no distraction you can’t overcome if you plan ahead, even if you can’t guarantee the outcome. You do control your time, and your attention. We need to stop moralizing or medicalizing normal behaviors, as long as you do them on your schedule.
✅ Do (or Delegate) This Next
Map out a time-blocked calendar that includes time with loved ones, a bedtime, and anything else that fits your values.
🔗 Resources Mentioned
- Nir on the web, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, IG: @neyal99
- Nir’s free tools: Habit Tracker, Schedule Maker
- Indistractable bonus content and summary
- Articles: ****Why the Illusion of Control Is Hurting Your Goals
- Jeff Bezos’ Regret Minimization Framework
- Nir’s top articles—including on timeboxing, values, and FOMO
- Tim Urban’s Wait but Why
📚 Books Mentioned
- Hooked and Indistractable
- Stolen Focus by Johann Hari
- Free Time: Lose the Busywork, Love Your Business
- Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One
- Life After College
🎧 Related Episodes
- The Tim Ferriss Show with Tim Urban (#283)
- Diary of a CEO: No.1 Habit & Procrastination Expert: We've Got ADHD Wrong! Break Any Habit & Never Be Distracted!
- Free Time: 203: 🎢 Riding the Emotional Rollercoaster of Launching with Natalie Lue
- Pivot: 131: Indistractable with Nir Eyal
- 281: Feeling Impostery? Become a Qualified Curator Instead of an End-All-Be-All Expert
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