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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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The Alter Ego Effect summary
Todd Herman
The Power of Secret Identities to Transform Your Life
24 mins
Brief summary
The Alter Ego Effect by Todd Herman reveals how adopting a powerful alter ego can help us overcome self-doubt, unleash our full potential, and achieve our goals. With real-life examples, the book shows how anyone can activate their alter ego and become a hero in their own story.
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The Alter Ego Effect
Summary of 8 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 8
Successful people use alter egos to improve their performance.
Bo Jackson is a phenomenally successful athlete [slight pause] with a secret. Somewhat surprisingly, he admits to being fascinated by Jason Voorhees – the unemotional, mask-wearing murderer in the Friday the 13th movies. In fact, when Jackson walks onto the football field, he becomes Jason.
In other words, Jackson transforms into his alter ego. Adopting the persona of a calm and calculated killer helps Jackson stay cool and calm under pressure.
But Jackson isn’t the only one with a secret identity.
Here’s the key message: Successful people use alter egos to improve their performance.
Once upon a time, there was a talented girl in a Christian family who loved to sing gospel. She joined a girl group and started to become famous, but there was a dilemma. The “suggestive” lyrics and dance moves that made her popular were at odds with her religious identity. In order to express herself freely, the singer created a provocative, extroverted alter ego called Sasha Fierce. The name of the singer? Beyoncé.
In short, both Bo Jackson and Beyoncé use alter egos to dramatically heighten their performance. You might find adopting a new personality in this way to be a bit strange, but it works. Its effectiveness is even backed by science.
In a recent study by the University of Minnesota, young children were split into different groups and were given a toy in a locked glass box, along with a set of keys. None of the keys would open the box. One group of children had access to some costumes and accessories. For example, they could wear a cape and pretend to be Batman as they tried to open the box.
The children who adopted these impersonation strategies showed much greater perseverance and flexibility than their peers. They adopted the personality traits and strengths of their alter egos. In the words of one child who kept persevering, “Batman never gets frustrated.”
You don’t have to be a little kid to call on your inner Batman in times of trouble. Anyone can use an alter ego in order to have success – in any area of life. In the following blinks, you’ll find out how.
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What is The Alter Ego Effect about?
The Alter Ego Effect (2019) is a guide to achieving your goals through the use of alter egos. Featuring numerous examples of successful people who have created alter egos, it offers clear, practical strategies for success in every area of life.
The Alter Ego Effect Review
The Alter Ego Effect (2019) by Todd Herman reveals the power of adopting alter egos to unlock our true potential and achieve extraordinary results. Here are three reasons why this book is worth reading:
- It provides practical strategies for creating alter egos that can help us overcome obstacles and perform at our best.
- Through compelling stories and real-life examples, the book illustrates how alter egos have been used by successful individuals from various fields.
- The book challenges conventional thinking and offers a fresh perspective on mindset and personal development, making it an intriguing and thought-provoking read.
Who should read The Alter Ego Effect?
- Frustrated creatives seeking to improve their performance
- People who are curious about identity and the concept of alter egos
- Clark Kents ready for their phone booth transformation
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The Alter Ego Effect FAQs
What is the main message of The Alter Ego Effect?
The main message of The Alter Ego Effect is that adopting a powerful alter ego can help you unlock your full potential.
How long does it take to read The Alter Ego Effect?
The reading time for The Alter Ego Effect varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is The Alter Ego Effect a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Alter Ego Effect is worth reading for its insights on unleashing your hidden capabilities and achieving peak performance.
Who is the author of The Alter Ego Effect?
The author of The Alter Ego Effect is Todd Herman.
What to read after The Alter Ego Effect?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Alter Ego Effect, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
- Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? by Julie Smith
- The Imposter Cure by Dr. Jessamy Hibberd
- How to Meet Your Self by Nicole LePera
- Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday
- I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn’t) by Brené Brown
- The Ego Trick by Julian Baggini
- Flawsome by Georgia Murch
- The Success Trap by Amina Aitsi-Selmi
- You Are Your Best Thing by Edited by Tarana Burke and Brené Brown