Smarter Faster Better Book Summary - Smarter Faster Better Book explained in key points
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Smarter Faster Better summary

Charles Duhigg

The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business

4.1 (418 ratings)
14 mins

Brief summary

Smarter Faster Better by Charles Duhigg teaches readers how to improve productivity and achieve success by using effective goal setting, motivation, decision-making, and teamwork strategies.

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    Smarter Faster Better
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    Stay motivated by letting yourself make choices and reminding yourself of long-term goals.

    Have you ever been excited to start a new project, only to have that excitement fade over time? This is a common problem. Let’s look at some tips for keeping your spirits high as you stay on track.

    You can maintain motivation by making choices to benefit yourself, your team or your project. Researchers at Columbia University found that people feel more motivated when they have greater control over a situation. Basically, people get excited when they get to make choices! A sense of control and responsibility can also help you recover from any setbacks during the process.

    In fact, neuropsychologist Mauricio Delgado at Columbia found that one of the brain’s “motivation centers” lights up whenever a person has an opportunity to make a choice – even something as simple as selecting a colored key in a video game.

    So make this phenomenon work for you! If you’re stuck with a task, let yourself make a decision. Even mundane choices can help to pick you back up. If you have 40 emails to read, for instance, just pick four and look at the rest later.

    Making choices isn’t always enough to give you a boost, however. You also need to remind yourself how your choices contribute to the project and your overarching goals.

    Remembering the big picture is another important element in staying motivated. Even if a task doesn’t feel rewarding on its own, you’ll feel good when you know it plays a part in something more important.

    Let’s say you want to develop a drone. You start reading an essay about drone building, but it’s terribly dry, and your attention starts to wane. You’d rather stop and do anything else to keep from falling asleep!

    What do you do in this situation? How do you get yourself back on track to focus on your goal?

    Consider this simple trick. At the top of the essay, write in bold letters: ”Reading this will help me make the drone.” In short, remind yourself of what you want. When you do this, the essay that will bring you one step closer to your goal won’t seem so boring anymore.

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    What is Smarter Faster Better about?

    Smarter Faster Better (2016) combines personal stories and business research to show that being productive isn’t just about managing your to-do list, but about making the right choices and maintaining the right mindset. These blinks offer advice on how to stay motivated, keep yourself on track and work in teams effectively to maximize your creativity, productivity and success.

    Smarter Faster Better Review

    Smarter Faster Better (2016) is a captivating book that offers valuable insights on how to improve productivity and achieve success in both personal and professional life. Here's why this book is definitely worth reading:

    • It provides practical strategies and actionable advice that can be implemented to enhance effectiveness and efficiency in various areas of life.
    • By combining real-life stories, cutting-edge research, and in-depth analysis, the book engages readers with its informative and thought-provoking content.
    • With its intriguing exploration of the science behind motivation, goal-setting, and decision-making, the book ensures that readers are never bored, fostering a genuine desire for self-improvement.

    Best quote from Smarter Faster Better

    When people believe they are in control, they tend to work harder and push themselves more.

    —Charles Duhigg
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    Who should read Smarter Faster Better?

    • Leaders looking to motivate a team
    • Business people who want to energize a company or employees
    • Anyone with a serious, long-term goal

    About the Author

    Charles Duhigg is a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for the New York Times. His first book, The Power of Habit, stayed on the Times’ bestseller list for over 60 weeks.

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    Smarter Faster Better FAQs 

    What is the main message of Smarter Faster Better?

    The main message of Smarter Faster Better is that success is achieved through productive habits and a growth mindset.

    How long does it take to read Smarter Faster Better?

    Reading Smarter Faster Better takes several hours, but the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.

    Is Smarter Faster Better a good book? Is it worth reading?

    Smarter Faster Better is a worthwhile read as it provides insights and strategies to improve productivity and achieve success.

    Who is the author of Smarter Faster Better?

    The author of Smarter Faster Better is Charles Duhigg.

    What to read after Smarter Faster Better?

    If you're wondering what to read next after Smarter Faster Better, here are some recommendations we suggest:
    • Successful Time Management by Patrick Forsyth
    • 15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management by Kevin Kruse
    • The Self-Made Billionaire Effect by John Sviokla and Mitch Cohen
    • Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday
    • 18 Minutes by Peter Bregman
    • The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
    • The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey
    • Living In Your Top 1% by Alissa Finerman
    • Pivot by Jenny Blake
    • The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins