Katy Milkman, an award-winning behavioral scientist and Wharton professor, dives into transformative concepts about personal change. She unveils the internal barriers that hinder our growth, addressing the role of identity in shaping our self-belief. Katy critiques the risks of setting overly ambitious goals and introduces 'Commitment Devices' as tools for successful change. Discover how a supportive community enhances confidence and the importance of breaking down goals into manageable tasks for real progress. This enlightening conversation is packed with actionable insights!
59:38
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
Barriers to Change
Two main barriers prevent change: external (social, structural) and internal (psychological).
Status quo bias and escalation of commitment are internal barriers, making us resistant to change.
insights INSIGHT
Internal Barriers to Change
Even with a desire to change, barriers like impulsivity, procrastination, and forgetting hinder progress.
These internal barriers prevent us from taking action and achieving our goals.
insights INSIGHT
The Fresh Start Effect
Fresh starts, like New Year's or birthdays, boost motivation by prompting reflection and signaling new beginnings.
These moments create a sense of a new chapter, optimism, and disconnect from past failures.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be
Katy Milkman
In this ground-breaking book, Katy Milkman reveals a proven path to help readers move from where they are to where they want to be. Drawing on her original research and the work of her world-renowned scientific collaborators, Milkman shares strategic methods for identifying and overcoming common barriers to change, such as impulsivity, procrastination, and forgetfulness. The book offers innovative approaches like 'temptation bundling,' using timely reminders, and creating 'set-it-and-forget-it systems' to make change more achievable. It emphasizes the importance of tailoring solutions to specific roadblocks and using science to stack the deck in favor of successful change.
Today's guest is Katy Milkman, who is an award-winning behavioral scientist and Professor at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She hosts the popular behavioral economics podcast Choiceology, and is the co-founder and co-director of The Behavior Change for Good Initiative. Her research is regularly featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and NPR. And in this interview Lewis and Katy get to dive into some of the research for her new book, How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be.
This was such a powerful and enlightening conversation that we had to split it up in 2 parts!
In this first episode Lewis and Katy discuss the biggest internal barriers holding you back from changing your life, how our sense of identity helps and hurts us, what science says about how to believe in yourself more, why setting big goals is actually hurting your ability to succeed, what “Commitment Devices” are and how they lead you to a better life, and so much more!
The School of Greatness 
