The Psychology of Goals and Achievement

What matters more: meeting our own ambitions, or winning fame and glory? What’s it like to earn a gold medal at the Olympics? And why didn’t Mike’s grandfather get a watch?

• SOURCES:
  • Alain de Botton, writer and founder of The School of Life.
  • Kirk Flatow, head coach of co-ed varsity track and field at Monta Vista High School.
  • Katie Ledecky, competitive swimmer.
  • Diana Nyad, long-distance swimmer.
  • Michael Phelps, former competitive swimmer.
  • Martin Seligman, professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania.
  • Kerri Walsh Jennings, professional beach volleyball player.
  • John Wooden, men's basketball coach at the University of California, Los Angeles.

• RESOURCES:
  • "Why Success Doesn’t Lead to Satisfaction," by Ron Carucci (Harvard Business Review, 2023).
  • "Katie Ledecky Matches Michael Phelps Record With Dominant World Championships Win," by Patrick Andres (Sports Illustrated, 2023).
  • Success Index, by Populace and Gallup (2019).
  • "PERMA and the Building Blocks of Well-Being," by Martin Seligman (The Journal of Positive Psychology, 2018).
  • "Michael Phelps: ‘I Am Extremely Thankful That I Did Not Take My Life,’" by Susan Scutti (CNN, 2018).
  • "The PERMA-Profiler: A Brief Multidimensional Measure of Flourishing," by Julie Butler and Margaret L. Kern (International Journal of Wellbeing, 2016).
  • "Diana Nyad: Dream Accomplished," by Michel Martin (Tell Me More, 2013).
  • "A Kinder, Gentler Philosophy of Success," by Alain de Botton (TEDGlobal, 2009).
  • "The Difference Between Winning and Succeeding," by John Wooden (TED, 2001).

• EXTRAS:
  • "Where Is the Line Between Exaggeration and Lying?" by No Stupid Questions (2023).
  • "Is a 'Success Hangover' Real?" by No Stupid Questions (2022).