The Art of Manliness Episode #53: Experimenting With Your Life With A.J. Jacobs
Apr 4, 2014
A.J. Jacobs, a writer and human guinea pig, discusses crazy life experiments that made him a better man. Topics include self-tracking, Biblical living impact on behavior, small steps for self-improvement, and becoming the perfect husband. Entertaining insights on motivation and life improvement are shared.
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Learn By Immersion
- AJ Jacobs immerses himself to learn: he lives the subject rather than just studying it.
- He treats experiments (Bible, health, 3D printing) as learning-by-doing research.
Use Measurement To Motivate Change
- Track simple metrics (steps, spending) to change behavior because measurement creates goals.
- Use competition or social sharing to sustain motivation, like Fitbit leaderboards.
Act To Change How You Think
- Acting your way into new thoughts changes identity faster than thinking your way into actions.
- Small behavioral shifts (posture, rituals) produce larger mental and emotional change.