A Bit of Optimism Your Instincts Know What You Want with Author Arthur Brooks
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Sep 2, 2025 
Join Arthur Brooks, a Harvard professor and bestselling author known for his insights on happiness and purpose, as he navigates the complexities of life. He discusses how instincts serve as a compass in our pursuit of joy and the importance of embracing the journey over mere outcomes. Arthur shares powerful lessons from his own reinventions and emphasizes the value of struggle in personal growth. With critiques of technology's impact on happiness, he inspires listeners to trust their gut and redefine what fulfillment means in a fast-paced world.
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From Horn Player To Behavioral Scientist
- Arthur Brooks recounts switching from a professional French horn player to an academic and behavioral scientist in his early 30s.
- He calls that reinvention hard but formative and says later changes were easier once he learned how to repurpose his past life.
Reinvent By Interest, Not Skills
- Ask not what skill you can reuse but what you are most interested in when reinventing your career.
- Choose roles that produce ~80% excitement, ~20% fear, and 0% deadness as a gut-check.
Treat Setbacks As Forward Learning
- Be willing to go backward in money, prestige, or position as part of reinvention.
- Treat temporary lower-status moves as schooling that trains you for future jumps.
