In this episode we show you how to solve any problem in your life - using a simple and no risk tool that you can start with right now. We dig into why you get stuck on problems and how we often deceive ourselves. We talk about why reasons are often a ruse and how they can become dangerous once they turn into excuses, and much more with our guest Dr. Bernard Roth.

Bernard Roth is the co-founder of the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford. He is one of the world’s pioneers in robotics and the primary developer of the concept of the Creativity Workshop. He is the best-selling author of The Achievement Habit: Stop Wishing, Start Doing, and Take Command of Your Life. His work has been featured in FORTUNE, The New York Times, Fast Company, Business Insider, and more!Why do you get stuck in your life?Are you focused on the right problems in your life, or the wrong problems?Reframing problems opens up a tremendous new solution space to your problemEven if you solved the problem that you think you need to solve, it may not get you what you ultimately want to get What would it do for me if I solved this problem? Work on THAT solution instead of the original problem The no-risk tool you can use to solve any problem / reframe any problem The one question that can completely blow apart your thinking and help you solve any problemWe often lie to ourselves, we don’t tell ourselves the truth, you often try to deceive yourself to maintain your self image The importance difference between disappearing a problem vs solving a problem Why you have to get super clear about what you REALLY want to achieve (and how to do it)Tell yourself the truth about the REAL problem and open up the problem-space and solution space for new ways of conceiving of it - so you that you can find new solutions We all do things we aren’t proud of and we all have motivations we don’t want to admit - we have to develop the self awareness to see what the truth about ourselves and our motives areWhy Bernie says "Reasons are Bulls**t” The only function of reasons is that they let you pretend that you are a reasonable person There’s no one cause for anything you do - the moment you isolate that single cause you are lying The way your brain works - you do stuff, and then you make up a reason to do it There are a multitude of reasons for everything - we just single out one and pretend it’s the entire cause We explain the world with a simple cause and effect model - and yet there is not one single cause for anything in the worldReasons are an excuse for being late, not losing weight, not getting your job done, not creating the results you want, etcIf you stop lying to yourself, it becomes easy to change your behavior When saying NO to people, you will get more reception if you don’t give a reason (aka an excuse) Fix yourself first, don’t worry about fixing othersIn your own behavior, substitute the word REASON for the word EXCUSEWhat’s the difference between Trying and Doing? (Was Yoda right?)If you’re trying to do something it might or might not happen. If you’re doing something you will make it happen, no matter what. When people are DOING - obstacles don’t defeat them - they make it happen. Obstacles are often a gift, unless you let them be a deterrent Force often takes a lot more energy than power, when you’re powerful you flow and achieve Knowledge is useless if you don’t apply it Homework: Stop using reasons. Reframe your problems. Ask yourself if you’re doing or trying, and decide which one it is.

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