Anne-Laure Le Cunff, founder of Ness Labs and author of 'Tiny Experiments', highlights the power of small experiments to overcome procrastination and foster personal growth. She emphasizes curiosity as a guiding force, encouraging listeners to embrace uncertainty and explore change without rigid goals. The discussion includes the value of understanding emotions, the concept of growth loops as a dynamic approach to decision-making, and techniques like 'field notes' for mindfulness. Le Cunff advocates for viewing procrastination with curiosity rather than self-blame.
54:40
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
Rethinking Traditional Goal Setting
Traditional linear goals assume certainty and a fixed destination, which rarely holds true today.
Embracing uncertainty with an experimental mindset allows ongoing learning and adaptation.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Begin With Tiny Experiments
Start tiny experiments by questioning how you usually do things and try new approaches with openness.
Treat outcomes as data, not failure, to regain curiosity without overhauling your whole life.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Use Pacts for Experimentation
Make pacts that specify one action to perform for a set duration, without judgment during the process.
This commitment lets you collect data and decide if a habit or activity suits you before scaling it.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
This book, first published in 1989, outlines seven habits that are designed to help individuals become more effective in their personal and professional lives. The habits are grouped into three categories: Private Victory (habits 1-3), Public Victory (habits 4-6), and Renewal (habit 7). The habits include being proactive, beginning with the end in mind, putting first things first, thinking win-win, seeking first to understand and then to be understood, synergizing, and sharpening the saw. Covey emphasizes the importance of personal integrity, effective time management, empathetic communication, and continuous self-improvement[2][5][4].
Tiny Experiments
How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World
Anne-Laure Le Cunff
In this book, neuroscientist and entrepreneur Anne-Laure Le Cunff argues that life should be approached as a playground for experimentation rather than being molded around linear goals. She provides a science-backed toolkit to help readers break free from limiting beliefs, harness the power of imperfection, and make smarter decisions in uncertain times. The book guides readers in discovering their true ambitions through tiny personal experiments, dismantling harmful beliefs about success, and making decisions true to their own aspirations. It emphasizes the importance of embracing uncertainty as a catalyst for growth and self-discovery.
In this episode, Anne-Laure Le Cunff, discusses how to go from procrastination to action using the power of tiny experiments. Most advice about self-improvement assumes you know where you’re going, but what if you don’t? Anne-Laure suggests that’s not a flaw, it’s actually the starting point. Her new book, Tiny Experiments, offers a way to explore change without chasing outcomes. In our conversation, we talk about curiosity as a guide, how to stay engaged in uncertainty, and what it means to choose persistence.
For the first time in over three years, I’ve got a couple open spots in my coaching practice. If you’re a thoughtful business owner, creator, or leader feeling stuck in scattered progress or simmering self-doubt, this might be the right moment. Through my Aligned Progress Method, I help people move toward real momentum with clarity, focus, and trust in themselves. If that speaks to where you are, you can learn more at oneyoufeed.net/align.
Key Takeaways:
Importance of curiosity and exploration in personal growth
Conducting small experiments to challenge the status quo
Embracing uncertainty and learning from emotions
Distinction between passive and active acceptance of challenges
The concept of “field notes” for self-reflection and observation
Understanding and labeling emotions to reduce anxiety
Addressing procrastination through curiosity and exploration
The iterative process of growth loops and adjusting one’s trajectory
The significance of taking actionable steps in the present
Developing mini protocols or “pacts” for personal experimentation
If you enjoyed this conversation with Anne-Laure Le Cunff, check out these other episodes:
The One You Feed 
