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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Change Anything summary
Kerry Patterson
The New Science of Personal Success
17 mins
Brief summary
Change Anything demonstrates how individuals can effectively modify their behavior by leveraging six sources of influence. It offers practical tools and insights to achieve personal and professional transformation, empowering readers to overcome detrimental habits.
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Change Anything
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Willpower isn't enough – you need smarter strategies for change
In a small lab nestled in the Utah mountains, a four-year-old named Kyler faced a seemingly insurmountable challenge: a marshmallow. He’d been told he could have a second one if he resisted the first for 15 minutes. Many children failed to resist, as had been observed in an earlier study by psychologist Walter Mischel, which showed that the ability to wait correlated with better outcomes in school and life. This time, though, researchers were trying a new tactic: to help Kyler and other children resist, they taught them skills like turning their bodies away and focusing on something else. As a result, half of the children who learned these skills succeeded, with Kyler proudly leaving the lab with two marshmallows.
This experiment highlights a key lesson: success isn’t just about willpower. Many people fall into the trap of believing their failures stem from a lack of personal strength, creating a cycle of effort, disappointment, and self-blame. The reality is that many external factors influence behavior, often without us realizing it. Recognizing and addressing these hidden influences is essential for meaningful, lasting change.
For example, a nurse who wanted to quit smoking struggled when her initial efforts relied only on willpower. After realizing her cravings were tied to specific habits, like driving to work or talking on the phone, she changed her routines, avoided certain triggers, and found alternative ways to keep her hands and mind occupied. By reshaping her environment and adopting new strategies, she succeeded in quitting.
Unseen forces, like the design of a casino or easy access to junk food at home, often guide your actions without your knowledge. While self-control is important, depending solely on it is like trying to push a heavy car uphill while others push it down. To create lasting change, you need to do more: build specific skills, adjust your surroundings, and seek support from those around you.
The good news is that change is possible. In the sections ahead, you’ll learn about six key influences on behavior and practical strategies for success. These tools can help you move past self-blame and create solutions tailored to your challenges.
Change doesn’t mean perfection, though. Like Kyler with his marshmallows or the nurse overcoming her smoking habit, you’ll undoubtedly encounter obstacles. The key is to treat these setbacks as learning opportunities and refine your approach. With the right strategies, meaningful transformation is entirely within your reach.
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What is Change Anything about?
Change Anything (2011) presents a comprehensive approach to improving your life both at work and beyond, emphasizing the power of subtle influences over traditional willpower. It explores why common efforts often fail and demonstrates how you can harness influential forces to achieve meaningful and lasting change. It encourages you to rethink your behavior and adopt strategies that will lead to consistent success.
Who should read Change Anything?
- Personal growth and development seekers
- Professionals looking to improve their productivity and performance
- Those stuck in a rut looking to break free from old habits
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