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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
The Surprisingly Simple Way to Reach Big Goals
Think Small by Owain Service and Rory Gallagher is a guide to behavioral science, offering practical tools for making positive changes in our daily lives. By breaking down complex ideas into manageable steps, it helps readers make better decisions and achieve their goals.
Have you ever made a potentially life-changing New Year’s resolution – to quit smoking, for example, or to start running every morning – only to find that, come February, you’ve forgotten all about it?
It’s an all-too-common situation. But why do we have such difficulty persevering our big plans?
Well, we tend to think that we’ll pursue our aims with focus and thought, but the reality is that our minds are not always in a thoughtful and focused state. Distractions and temptations are constant, and, more often than not, we succumb to them.
Let’s say you’ve resolved to follow a diet that entails counting and controlling your calorie intake, day in, day out. Naturally, this requires a lot of focus – a level of focus that’s almost impossible to keep up. People face countless mental demands daily, from the pressures of a tough day at work to the stresses of raising children, so it’s no surprise that many dieters will, at some point, lose focus, give in to temptation and sneak in a snack.
So what can we do to stay on track and stick to our goals? Behavioral science has some surprisingly simple answers.
We can, for example, make use of the nudge theory, which suggests that small changes, when subtly encouraged, can lead to big results. Maybe you set your watch two minutes early to help keep yourself punctual. Or maybe you’ve joined a running group, harnessing sociability to stay motivated with exercise. That’s nudge theory in action.
Nudge theory often makes use of social norms – patterns in our peers’ behavior that we feel compelled to imitate.
For instance, one project, conducted by the UK government, tested the impact of social norms by adding a single line to the end of letters sent to citizens with outstanding tax debts: “most people with a debt like yours have paid it by now.” The result? Because people thought prompt payment was the expected behavior, they paid up quickly, generating hundreds of millions of pounds in taxes paid.
In total, behavioral science offers seven steps for nudging yourself toward happiness and achievement. And you’ll learn them all in the following blinks.
Think Small (2017) shows how small changes in the way we think and act can help us achieve big goals. Harnessing insights from behavioral science, the author sets out a seven-step program to help you make and stick to plans for improving your well-being. Whether your aim is to lose weight or to get ahead at work, this framework will help you get there.
Think Small (2017) explores the power of behavioral science and provides practical strategies for making lasting changes in our lives. Here's why this book is worth reading:
Create clear, simple rules that reduce the mental effort required to stick to your goal.
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Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Get startedBlink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
What is the main message of Think Small?
The main message of Think Small is that small changes can lead to big results.
How long does it take to read Think Small?
The reading time for Think Small varies, but it typically takes a few hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Think Small a good book? Is it worth reading?
Think Small is worth reading for its practical insights and actionable tips. It offers a refreshing perspective on achieving personal and professional success.
Who is the author of Think Small?
The authors of Think Small are Owain Service and Rory Gallagher.