082: Daniel Pink – The Science Of Motivation, Legendary Writer & TED Talk

Dec 21, 2015

In this engaging discussion, Daniel Pink, a bestselling author and former chief speechwriter for Al Gore, delves into the science of motivation. He emphasizes the crucial elements of autonomy, mastery, and purpose in driving success. Pink also shares insights into effective sales traits, the importance of continuous learning, and the role of discipline in writing. He highlights how small, incremental changes can lead to significant growth both personally and within organizations, illustrating these concepts with anecdotes and valuable research.

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INSIGHT

Traits of Sustained Excellence

Sustained excellence comes from curiosity, generosity, and conscientiousness. These traits fuel long-term success and helping others up the ladder.

ANECDOTE

Dan Pink's Career Transition

Dan Pink transitioned from politics to full-time writing with his wife's support while she kept her job and health insurance. He converted their attic into an office and started small with minimal risk.

ADVICE

Smart Career Transition Steps

Take small steps rather than big risks when changing careers. Keep overhead low and leverage contract help instead of full-time hires to reduce financial pressure.

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The Righteous Mind

Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion

Jonathan Haidt

In this book, Jonathan Haidt draws on twenty-five years of research on moral psychology to explain why people's moral judgments are driven by intuition rather than reason. He introduces the Moral Foundations Theory, which posits that human morality is based on six foundations: care/harm, fairness/cheating, loyalty/betrayal, authority/subversion, sanctity/degradation, and liberty/oppression. Haidt argues that liberals tend to focus on the care/harm and fairness/cheating foundations, while conservatives draw on all six. The book also explores how morality binds and blinds people, leading to social cohesion but also to conflicts. Haidt aims to promote understanding and civility by highlighting the commonalities and differences in moral intuitions across political spectra.

Getting Things Done

David Allen

Getting Things Done (GTD) is a personal productivity system developed by David Allen. The book provides a detailed methodology for managing tasks, projects, and information, emphasizing the importance of capturing all tasks and ideas, clarifying their meaning, organizing them into actionable lists, reviewing the system regularly, and engaging in the tasks. The GTD method is designed to reduce stress and increase productivity by externalizing tasks and using a trusted system to manage them. The book is divided into three parts, covering the overview of the system, its implementation, and the deeper benefits of integrating GTD into one's work and life[2][3][5].

Future shock

Toffler.

Published in 1970, 'Future Shock' by Alvin Toffler and his wife Adelaide Farrell examines the profound effects of rapid industrial and technological changes on individuals, families, and society. The book defines 'future shock' as a state of disorientation and confusion resulting from the overwhelming pace of change. Toffler argues that this rapid change leads to psychological ailments such as anxiety, hostility, and depression, and erodes traditional social structures like families and communities. He identifies three main forces driving future shock: transience, novelty, and diversity. The book also discusses the need for resilience and adaptive strategies to cope with these changes and suggests that societal institutions must evolve to support individuals in managing the 'adaptive range' required to deal with the accelerating pace of life[2][3][4].

Mindset

The New Psychology of Success

Carol S. Dweck

In this book, Carol S. Dweck introduces the concept of two mindsets: the fixed mindset and the growth mindset. People with a fixed mindset believe their abilities are static, while those with a growth mindset believe their abilities can be developed through effort and learning. Dweck shows how these mindsets influence success in school, work, sports, and personal relationships. She also discusses how to adopt a deeper, truer growth mindset, and how this can transform individual and organizational cultures. The book emphasizes the importance of perseverance, learning from failures, and embracing challenges as key components of the growth mindset[1][2][5].

Give and Take

A Revolutionary Approach to Success

Adam Grant

In 'Give and Take', Adam Grant examines the surprising forces that shape success, highlighting the differences between givers, matchers, and takers. Givers contribute to others without expecting anything in return, matchers aim to trade evenly, and takers strive to get as much as possible from others. Grant uses cutting-edge evidence and captivating stories to show how these styles impact success across various industries. The book emphasizes the benefits and challenges of adopting a giver mentality and provides practical advice on how to build successful relationships and achieve extraordinary results.

The third wave

Alvin Toffler

Published in 1980, 'The Third Wave' is a sequel to Toffler's 'Future Shock' and the second in a trilogy completed with 'Powershift'. The book describes the evolution of human civilization through three waves: the First Wave (Agrarian Society), the Second Wave (Industrial Society), and the Third Wave (Information Society). It explores how these transitions impact various aspects of society, including family, business, economics, and politics. Toffler's work provides a sweeping synthesis of the changes battering the world and offers an optimistic look at new potentials and future possibilities[2][4][5].

The Adventures of Johnny Bunko

The Last Career Guide You'll Ever Need

Dan Pink

A Whole New Mind

Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future

Daniel Pink

In 'A Whole New Mind,' Daniel H. Pink argues that the future belongs to individuals who can master the six essential aptitudes of the right brain: Design, Story, Symphony, Empathy, Play, and Meaning. As the world transitions from the Information Age to the Conceptual Age, these skills become crucial for professional success and personal fulfillment. Pink discusses how forces like abundance, Asia, and automation are driving this shift and provides tools, tips, and exercises to help readers develop these essential abilities[1][2][4].

To Sell Is Human

Daniel Pink

Man's Search for Meaning

Viktor Frankl

The book is divided into two parts. The first part recounts Frankl's harrowing experiences as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps, including Auschwitz, between 1942 and 1945. He describes the inhumane conditions and the psychological and emotional struggles of the prisoners. The second part introduces Frankl's theory of logotherapy, which posits that the primary human drive is the search for meaning, rather than pleasure. Frankl argues that meaning can be found through three main avenues: work (doing something significant), love (caring for another), and suffering (finding meaning in one's own suffering). The book emphasizes the importance of finding purpose and meaning in life, even in the most adverse conditions, as a key factor in survival and personal growth.

Drive

The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us

Daniel H. Pink

In 'Drive', Daniel Pink explores the three elements of true motivation—autonomy, mastery, and purpose—arguing that these intrinsic factors are more effective than extrinsic rewards in driving high performance and satisfaction. Drawing on decades of scientific research, Pink offers practical techniques for fostering motivation in personal and professional settings.

Episode 082: Daniel Pink – The Science Of Motivation, Legendary Writer & TED Talk

Dan Pink is one of my all-time favorite writers and speakers. He truly understands the importance of an intense focus on continuous improvement. His focus and work on “Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose” is fantastic. We are extremely fortunate to have Dan share his knowledge with us, the loyal listeners of The Learning Leader Show.

Dan Pink is the author of five provocative books — including three long-running New York Times bestsellers, A Whole New Mind, Drive, and To Sell is Human. Dan’s books have been translated into 34 languages and have sold more than 2 million copies worldwide. In 2013, Thinkers 50 named him one of the top 15 business thinkers in the world.

Dan’s TED Talk on the science of motivation is one of the 10 most-watched TED Talks of all time, with more than 19 million views. His RSA Animate video about the ideas in his book, Drive, has collected more than 14 million views. Before venturing out on his own 18 years ago, Dan worked in several positions in politics and government, including serving from 1995 to 1997 as chief speechwriter to Vice President Al Gore.

Episode 082: Daniel Pink – The Science Of Motivation, Legendary Writer & TED Talk

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The Learning Leader Show

“For a sales professional, I look for: Conscientiousness, Willingness to develop expertise, and Ambiversion.”

Some Questions I Ask:

What are the common characteristics of high achievers?
What was your proves for quitting your job as a speechwriter and becoming a full time writer?
What was your preparation process for your legendary TED Talk?
What are the specific skills needed in order to remain in control of your career?
How does your research have an effect on the profession of sales?
Why do we struggle to implement and execute on what we learn from books/speeches/workshops?
What advice would you give to your 20 year old self?
What books have had the biggest influence on your life?
What does being a learning leader mean to you?

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

The critical components of sustaining excellence: Curiosity, Generosity, Hard Work
What it was like writing speeches for Al Gore
The process for starting his own business and leaving his comfort zone
The specific traits he looks for in a sales professional
His interview process to increase his odds of hiring the right people
The specific elements of “To Sell Is Human”
Focusing on one small task and doing it daily
Drew Brees and moving the chains… Getting first downs
Habit Formation and how to do it
Having a Growth Mindset vs. a Fixed Mindset

“Focus on moving the chains. Can I do one small thing every single day?”

Continue Learning:

Go To Dan’s website: DanPink.com
Read: Drive- The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
Read: To Sell Is Human
See why over 345,000 people follow Dan on Twitter: @DanielPink