The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish cover image

The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish

(#198) #1 Psychologist: Toolkit to Accomplish Your Hardest Goals

Jul 9, 2024
Maya Shankar, a cognitive scientist and former White House Senior Advisor, shares her journey from aspiring Juilliard violinist to leading in behavioral science. She delves into how identity shapes personal transformation and goal achievement. Shankar emphasizes the importance of a flexible self-perception and offers strategies for setting goals rooted in one's identity. The conversation also touches on the role of empathy in success, making it a rich exploration of human motivation and growth.
52:07

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Setting wildly ambitious short-term goals at the start maintains motivation and focus.
  • Defining an aspirational identity related to goals aligns actions for goal attainment.

Deep dives

Setting Ambitious Goals at The Outset of Goal Setting

At the beginning of setting goals, it is suggested to set wildly ambitious short-term goals instead of long-term ones to maintain motivation and focus. By reframing goals to be approach-oriented rather than avoidance-based, individuals are more likely to stay motivated and achieve desired outcomes. This approach helps in sustaining motivation, especially during the middle phase of goal pursuit when motivation tends to wane.

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