A THREAD on insightful thought provoking ideas shared by Adam Grant (@AdamMGrant):
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Your impact isn't about the number of people you reach.
It's about how deeply people are affected by your work—and how long it lasts.
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Your impact isn't about the number of people you reach.
It's about how deeply people are affected by your work—and how long it lasts.
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Satisfying work is about enjoying the process, not the product.
Pride in the result is not a substitute for joy in creating it.
Satisfying work is about enjoying the process, not the product.
Pride in the result is not a substitute for joy in creating it.
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What separates entrepreneurs, filmmakers, artists, and scientists who keep inventing?
They keep reinventing themselves.
They're not afraid to experiment: tackle a new problem, try a new skill, take on a new collaborator, work in a new culture.
What separates entrepreneurs, filmmakers, artists, and scientists who keep inventing?
They keep reinventing themselves.
They're not afraid to experiment: tackle a new problem, try a new skill, take on a new collaborator, work in a new culture.
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Mastery comes from deliberate practice.
Creativity comes from deliberate play.
Precision depends on learning rules & following routines. Imagination springs from defying rules & breaking routines.
New ideas flourish in unstructured activities & serendipitous conversations.
Mastery comes from deliberate practice.
Creativity comes from deliberate play.
Precision depends on learning rules & following routines. Imagination springs from defying rules & breaking routines.
New ideas flourish in unstructured activities & serendipitous conversations.
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Productivity is not the volume of output.
It’s the value of output.
There's a big difference between working long hours and doing worthwhile work.
Productivity is not the volume of output.
It’s the value of output.
There's a big difference between working long hours and doing worthwhile work.
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A career is what you do, not who you are.
New research: kids are more interested in science when they're encouraged to think about it as an action ("doing science") than an identity ("being a scientist").
A career is what you do, not who you are.
New research: kids are more interested in science when they're encouraged to think about it as an action ("doing science") than an identity ("being a scientist").
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To figure out whether you really understand an idea, write it down.
Unclear writing is a sign of unclear thinking.
To figure out whether anyone else will understand your writing, read it out loud.
Unclear speaking is a sign of unclear writing.
To figure out whether you really understand an idea, write it down.
Unclear writing is a sign of unclear thinking.
To figure out whether anyone else will understand your writing, read it out loud.
Unclear speaking is a sign of unclear writing.
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Elite athletes and musicians rarely specialize early.
They go through a "sampling period" where they develop a range of skills and interests.
For performance and creativity, start broad, then go deep, and go broad again.
Elite athletes and musicians rarely specialize early.
They go through a "sampling period" where they develop a range of skills and interests.
For performance and creativity, start broad, then go deep, and go broad again.
9/
Creativity doesn't fall over time because of age.
It falls because our output falls.
Study of film directors, scientists, artists: creative bursts can occur at any age, and typically last 4-5 years.
To stay original, keep producing.
Creativity doesn't fall over time because of age.
It falls because our output falls.
Study of film directors, scientists, artists: creative bursts can occur at any age, and typically last 4-5 years.
To stay original, keep producing.
10/
Productivity comes from making habits of doing.
Creativity comes from breaking habits of thinking.
Innovation comes from toggling between novel ideas and familiar routines.
Productivity comes from making habits of doing.
Creativity comes from breaking habits of thinking.
Innovation comes from toggling between novel ideas and familiar routines.
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Innovation isn’t just about running experiments.
It’s about thinking like a scientist: develop hypotheses, test them systematically, pivot as relevant, and don’t let early feedback lure you toward incremental improvements over breakthroughs.
Innovation isn’t just about running experiments.
It’s about thinking like a scientist: develop hypotheses, test them systematically, pivot as relevant, and don’t let early feedback lure you toward incremental improvements over breakthroughs.
12/
The 8-hour work day was not ordained from above for all time.
It was dreamed up by humans in a particular time period.
It doesn't make sense for every person, every job, or every organization.
And it makes less sense in the knowledge economy.
The 8-hour work day was not ordained from above for all time.
It was dreamed up by humans in a particular time period.
It doesn't make sense for every person, every job, or every organization.
And it makes less sense in the knowledge economy.
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The mark of a lifelong learner is recognizing that you can learn something from everyone you meet.
Knowledge is best sought from experts.
Wisdom can come from anywhere.
The mark of a lifelong learner is recognizing that you can learn something from everyone you meet.
Knowledge is best sought from experts.
Wisdom can come from anywhere.
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One of the main reasons people fall short of their potential is they care more about looking good than getting better.
One of the main reasons people fall short of their potential is they care more about looking good than getting better.
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No one has a monopoly on good ideas, because no one has a monopoly on curiosity.
Original thinking doesn't require genius.
Creativity = fertile mind + fresh perspective
Innovation = focused attention + persistent effort
No one has a monopoly on good ideas, because no one has a monopoly on curiosity.
Original thinking doesn't require genius.
Creativity = fertile mind + fresh perspective
Innovation = focused attention + persistent effort
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The best way to learn from mentors is not to absorb what they know, but to internalize how they think.
Collecting their knowledge helps you solve the challenges of the day.
Understanding their thought process helps you navigate the challenges of a lifetime.
The best way to learn from mentors is not to absorb what they know, but to internalize how they think.
Collecting their knowledge helps you solve the challenges of the day.
Understanding their thought process helps you navigate the challenges of a lifetime.
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We focus too much on trying to live up to others' expectations—and too little on forming and fulfilling our own expectations of ourselves.
To separate image from identity, ask what goals you would pursue if no one would ever find out what you achieved.
We focus too much on trying to live up to others' expectations—and too little on forming and fulfilling our own expectations of ourselves.
To separate image from identity, ask what goals you would pursue if no one would ever find out what you achieved.
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If you want to find out what's important to people, don't ask them what they value.
Ask them who they admire.
Their values become clear in the principles and practices that their role models share.
If you want to find out what's important to people, don't ask them what they value.
Ask them who they admire.
Their values become clear in the principles and practices that their role models share.
19/
In interviews, don't just hire the people who give the best answers.
Hire the ones who ask the best questions.
When people inquire about how they can grow and contribute, they signal that they won't just master the job; they'll enrich your culture of learning.
In interviews, don't just hire the people who give the best answers.
Hire the ones who ask the best questions.
When people inquire about how they can grow and contribute, they signal that they won't just master the job; they'll enrich your culture of learning.
20/
Before taking a job offer, it's worth asking: do I want to become more like the people here?
You can aspire to change the culture of a group, but don't overlook how the culture will change you.
Few of us are immune to the values of the people around us.
Before taking a job offer, it's worth asking: do I want to become more like the people here?
You can aspire to change the culture of a group, but don't overlook how the culture will change you.
Few of us are immune to the values of the people around us.
21/
One of the most common mistakes in giving feedback is presenting it as fact instead of opinion.
Feedback isn't an objective assessment. It's a subjective reaction.
Criticism should come with a disclaimer: my perspective may or may not be representative.
One of the most common mistakes in giving feedback is presenting it as fact instead of opinion.
Feedback isn't an objective assessment. It's a subjective reaction.
Criticism should come with a disclaimer: my perspective may or may not be representative.
22/
Questions to ask when receiving criticism: 1. Content: what can I learn from the signal in the noise? 2. Source: how credible is the critic? Are they trying to improve the work or elevate themselves? 3. Action: what can I do differently to avoid this response in the future?
Questions to ask when receiving criticism: 1. Content: what can I learn from the signal in the noise? 2. Source: how credible is the critic? Are they trying to improve the work or elevate themselves? 3. Action: what can I do differently to avoid this response in the future?
23/
Pressuring people to change is rarely effective.
An alternative: helping them see inconsistencies between their beliefs and actions.
When we realize we're not using our knowledge or following the advice we give, cognitive dissonance kicks in.
Pressuring people to change is rarely effective.
An alternative: helping them see inconsistencies between their beliefs and actions.
When we realize we're not using our knowledge or following the advice we give, cognitive dissonance kicks in.
24/
Speed reading is a compelling way to consume more content while gaining less insight.
The purpose of reading is to learn and reflect.
It's about quality, not quantity.
A great book should be savored like a gourmet meal, not inhaled like fast food.
Speed reading is a compelling way to consume more content while gaining less insight.
The purpose of reading is to learn and reflect.
It's about quality, not quantity.
A great book should be savored like a gourmet meal, not inhaled like fast food.
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Productivity in a day depends on the amount of time you spend doing.
Productivity in a year hinges on the amount of time you spend thinking.
Productivity in a career rests on the amount of time you spend learning.
Productivity in a day depends on the amount of time you spend doing.
Productivity in a year hinges on the amount of time you spend thinking.
Productivity in a career rests on the amount of time you spend learning.
26/
To make remote teams more effective:
(1) Stack meetings back-to-back to protect time for deep work
(2) Set up office hours so people know when you're free for unscheduled chats
(3) Use a digital bulletin board so you can see what everyone is working on
To make remote teams more effective:
(1) Stack meetings back-to-back to protect time for deep work
(2) Set up office hours so people know when you're free for unscheduled chats
(3) Use a digital bulletin board so you can see what everyone is working on
27/
Feeling grateful makes us happier.
Showing gratitude makes others happier.
Feeling grateful makes us happier.
Showing gratitude makes others happier.
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Boredom is not an emotion to suppress.
It's a prompt to change our routines and chase our curiosities.
Disinterest is a cue that it's time to seek out a more enjoyable task, a more meaningful project, or a deeper conversation.
Boredom is not an emotion to suppress.
It's a prompt to change our routines and chase our curiosities.
Disinterest is a cue that it's time to seek out a more enjoyable task, a more meaningful project, or a deeper conversation.
29/
When you meet someone new, don't ask "What do you do?"
It limits what people share about themselves to a job description.
Instead, try "What do you love to do?"
It ignites curiosity and invites people to express their distinctive interests.
When you meet someone new, don't ask "What do you do?"
It limits what people share about themselves to a job description.
Instead, try "What do you love to do?"
It ignites curiosity and invites people to express their distinctive interests.
