Creator Science

#171: Nir Eyal – Writing books, persuasion vs. coercion, and how to be indistractable

Nov 14, 2023

Nir Eyal, the author of "Hooked" and "Indistractable," shares insights on the intersection of psychology, tech, and business. He discusses the journey from creating habit-forming products to learning to manage distractions. Nir highlights ethical marketing by distinguishing coercion from persuasion, and underscores the importance of owning your audience for genuine engagement. He also reveals methods to recognize distractions and implement strategies like time boxing to enhance productivity. Get ready to rethink how you capture attention!

58:01

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Episode guests

Nir Eyal

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Quick takeaways

Product design should focus on creating products that people use because they want to, not because they have to.

Understanding internal triggers, such as discomfort and emotional states, is crucial in overcoming distraction.

Content creators can become indistractable by mastering internal triggers, making time for traction, hacking back external triggers, and preventing distraction with pacts.

Deep dives

The Power of Sales Software

The new HubSpot sales hub offers customizable prospecting workspace, smart deal management suite, and AI powered apps to improve sales operation and pipeline management.

The Importance of Having Tools and Avoiding Distractions in Professional Work

01:22

Finding Joy in Writing: The Thrill of Creating and Learning

01:29

The Negative Effects of Coercion in Business

00:42

The Opposite of Distraction: Traction

01:21

Intro

2min

Building Impactful Businesses Through Behavioral Design

2min

From Hooked to Indistractable

18min

Ethical Framework for Creators: Coercion vs. Persuasion

5min

Owning Your Audience in Content Creation

11min

Understanding Distraction: The Key to Intentional Action

5min

Understanding Distraction: Internal vs. External Triggers

4min

Navigating Emotional Challenges in Creative Work

4min

Rethinking Productivity: Time Boxing for Success

5min

Nir Eyal is a writer, consultant, and teacher at the intersection of psychology, technology, and business. He's the author of two best-selling books. Hooked, How to Build Habit Forming Products (2014) and Indistractable, How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life (2019).

Previously, Nir cofounded and sold 2 tech companies since 2003 and was dubbed by the MIT Technology Review as "the prophet of habit-forming technology." He previously taught as a lecturer in marketing at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford.

In this episode, you’ll learn: