Big Brains Why We Get Stuck—And How to Finally Move Forward
5 snips
Jul 24, 2025 
Adam Alter, a business and psychology professor at NYU and author of Anatomy of a Breakthrough, unpacks the reasons we often feel stuck in life. He explores fascinating psychological barriers and offers practical strategies to overcome stagnation, emphasizing the importance of persistence and reflection. Through the lens of entities like Netflix, he illustrates how understanding friction can enhance personal growth. Alter also discusses creativity, encouraging listeners to collect and recombine ideas for innovative breakthroughs.
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Motivation Lull in Long Goals
- Motivation peaks at the start and near the goal's completion but dips in the middle.
- This lull happens because progress feels unmeasurable mid-journey, causing lost motivation.
Break Goals Into Sub-goals
- Break big goals into smaller sub-goals to maintain motivation throughout the process.
- Celebrate small wins to make progress feel manageable and conquer the middle lull.
Creativity Emerges Through Hardship
- The best creative ideas often come late, after the task becomes difficult and ideas are harder to generate.
- Early ideas tend to be obvious; true creativity emerges when effort intensifies and you push through hardship.
