Adam Alter, a marketing and psychology professor at NYU and bestselling author, joins to reveal the intriguing pre-game ritual of Lionel Messi. This ritual not only enhances Messi's performance but can also help job candidates and creatives thrive. Alter discusses the goal gradient effect, illustrating how motivation can shift over time. He emphasizes the importance of perseverance and strategic pauses in boosting creativity, debunking myths about the creative process while highlighting that true breakthroughs often come after challenges.
Lionel Messi's deliberate initial strategy of pausing during matches allows him to analyze the game and manage anxiety effectively.
The persistence paradox highlights that enduring effort and strategic pauses are essential for overcoming creative blocks and achieving success.
Deep dives
The Power of Inaction: Messi's Strategy
Lionel Messi employs a unique strategy by doing little in the initial minutes of a match, which seems counterintuitive. This approach allows him to observe the game, assess player dynamics, and identify strategies for the match, giving him a competitive edge. By walking around rather than rushing into play, Messi manages his anxiety while simultaneously gathering crucial insights that inform his actions as the game progresses. This deliberate pausing facilitates a clearer understanding of the unfolding game, setting the stage for his later impactful contributions.
Understanding Creative Blocks Through Surveys
Many individuals experience a sense of being 'stuck' in various aspects of their lives, as highlighted by a comprehensive survey conducted on creative blocks. The survey revealed that a significant majority of respondents from diverse backgrounds feel enduring emotional distress linked to their inability to move forward. Common themes of stuckness included financial hardships, unfulfilling careers, or personal relationships that impede progress, with many participants willing to invest financially to overcome these blocks. These insights underline the universal nature of feeling stuck and the emotional toll it takes across different life domains.
Persisting Through Challenges and Embracing Pauses
The persistence paradox illustrates a common misconception where individuals undervalue their sustained efforts in overcoming challenges, often believing creativity should emerge effortlessly. Research shows that sustained hard work leads to greater creativity and success, emphasizing that notable ideas often come after periods of struggle. Additionally, the importance of taking strategic pauses during endeavors is highlighted, with studies showing that pauses can enhance negotiation outcomes and creativity. This dual approach of persistence and mindful pausing can unlock breakthroughs, inspiring significant achievements in various fields.
There’s a strange ritual Messi does at the start of every game that helps make him great. This ritual also helps job candidates succeed in interviews, sketch comedians create better jokes, and helped A-ha write Take On Me. To hear what it is, listen to bestselling author Adam Alter teach me the science behind beating procrastination.