Some of the most important life skills sound strange to work on. But high-performers work on them anyway.

From building your curiosity and enthusiasm to a better sense of humour. Several life skills make all the difference in your social and professional life. We'll even learn essential ideas that make us happier, more patient and more right. Yes, that's a thing.

What's odd is that society says many things like our interests and humour are just part of who we are. We feel ashamed to want to work on becoming more unique. That is a fixed mindset approach.

We embrace our weird side and do our own thing. Become the black sheep that doesn't follow the herd and build skills that make us truly unique, memorable, and happy on our terms.

Sponsors:

ManScaped: Men's grooming at its best.

20% Off + Free Shipping - code 'GROWTH' - ManScaped.com/Growth

ShortForm: Summaries of the world's best books.

Free trial + 20% off - code 'PSYCHOLOGY' - ShortForm.com/Psychology

SleepyClub: Doctor-approved natural sleeping aid that improves sleep quality.

20% discount - code 'GROWTH20' - SleepyClub.co.uk

Related Episodes

Meet Sam

Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction: Unconventional Traits for Success

03:48 #1- Becoming a Deep Thinker

08:53 Focusing on Quality Information

10:12 Train your Attention and Build your Environment

13:38 #2 Building Curiosity: The Key to Lifelong Learning

17:35 #3 How to Be Unique

22:55 #4 Discovering and Nurturing Your Interests

27:15 #5 The Power of Humor: A Life-Changing Skill

29:01 Practical Tips for Developing a Sense of Humor

30:25 Developing Your Unique Comedy Style

32:37 Mastering the Rule of Threes

34:41 The Magic of Puns

37:05 #6 Building Enthusiasm in Life

40:59 #7 Understanding Ego in Communication

46:07 #8 How to Stay Calm and Patient

52:52 Bonus areas to consider

55:59 Send Off

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why top performers embrace imperfection and celebrate victories.

We dig into the show archives to uncover the timeless topic of perfectionism.

Hedonic adaption is a major reason we aren't as happy as we should be and relentlessly pursue the next thing without taking time to even reflect on the happiness we are seeking.

Lessons from the episode:

When we ask ourselves why are we unhappy we often seek more things to solve our problems and jump onto the next things as quickly as possible. However, a big part of our unhappiness is this exact habit to relentlessly move on that we can't even experience joy when we do achieve something.

This episode will help ground you in reality.

Sponsors:

ManScaped: Men's grooming at its best.

20% Off + Free Shipping - code 'GROWTH' - ManScaped.com/Growth

ShortForm: Summaries of the world's best books.

Free trial + 20% off - code 'PSYCHOLOGY' - ShortForm.com/Psychology

SleepyClub: Doctor-approved natural sleeping aid that improves sleep quality.

20% discount - code 'GROWTH20' - SleepyClub.co.uk

Meet Sam

Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.

Newsletter examples

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to perfectionism and Celebrating Our Wins

03:09 Celebrating Successes

04:17 Perfectionism and Letting Go

06:41 The Concept of Bundling in Business

08:46 The Importance of Celebrating Achievements

10:17 The Struggles of Entrepreneurship

11:28 Prioritizing Celebrations for long-term success

14:21 Personal Achievement: Running an Ultra Marathon

17:40 Recognizing Your Own Successes that pass us by

18:54 Reflecting on 200 Episodes

20:51 Future Plans and New Projects

22:51 Conclusion and Call to Action

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The surprising psychology of rationality, bias, numbers and happiness can improve your decision-making.

Daniel Kahneman's 'Thinking Fast and Slow' explores the interplay between our fast, intuitive thinking (System 1) and our slow, rational thinking (System 2).

Sam discusses various cognitive biases and how our thinking systems cause them such as the anchoring effect, availability heuristic, confirmation bias, and overconfidence bias.

He also covers fundamental theories like prospect theory and the peak-end rule, offering practical insights on fostering happiness and making better life choices. Stay tuned to learn more about how our brains work and how we can use this knowledge for self-improvement.

Sponsors:

ManScaped: Men's grooming at its best.

20% Off + Free Shipping - code 'GROWTH' - ManScaped.com/Growth

ShortForm: Summaries of the world's best books.

Free trial + 20% off - code 'PSYCHOLOGY' - ShortForm.com/Psychology

SleepyClub: Doctor-approved natural sleeping aid that improves sleep quality.

20% discount - code 'GROWTH20' - SleepyClub.co.uk

Further Reading:

Further Listening

Enjoyed this episode? Check out the rest of the Cognitive Ciases series:

Meet Sam

Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.

Chapters:

00:00 Understanding Cognitive Biases, comedy and systems of thinking

02:50 Deep Dive into System One and System Two Thinking

04:15 How System 1 and System 2 Work Together

05:40 System 1's Impact on Decision Making

07:18 System 1 and Politics

10:20 The Teenage Brain and System 2 Development

11:24 Cognitive Biases and Their Impact

16:34 The Law of Large Numbers

21:29 Prospect Theory and Risk Assessment

21:46 The Cookie Analogy: Understanding Loss Aversion

22:31 Rationality and Utility Theory in Economics

24:30 Prospect Theory: Perception of Value and Risk

26:06 Probability and Decision Making

28:19 The Experiencing Self vs. The Remembering Self

30:07 The Peak-End Rule and Its Impact on Memory

33:45 Balancing Moment-to-Moment Pleasure and Long-Term Satisfaction

36:56 The Focusing Illusion: What Really Matters

42:33 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What do we learn from the legends of history and how they approached innovation and making things happen?

An action-packed episode today to inspire curious minds to think big and act accordingly.

All that and more in this Growth mindset masterclass into the psychology of genius thinkers and the behaviours and mental models behind making things happen.

Sponsors:

ManScaped: Leading the charge in Men's grooming below and above the waist.

20% Off + Free Shipping using code 'GROWTH' - ManScaped.com/Growth

ShortForm: Summaries and guides for the world's best books and ideas.

Free trial and 20% off annual fee - ShortForm.com/Psychology

SleepyClub: Doctor-approved natural sleeping aid that improves sleep quality. Safe to take every day.

20% discount code 'GROWTH20' - SleepyClub.co.uk

Meet Sam

Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

00:31 The Analogy of Ideas Taking Flight

02:09 The Challenge of Execution

02:59 The Importance of Persistence

03:55 Learning from Historical Figures

06:16 Consistency is Key

08:01 The Role of Feedback

10:01 The Power of Consistency

11:03 The Myth of the Perfect Idea

12:51 The Concept of Destiny

15:07 The Legacy of Actions

17:08 The Tragic Endings of Legends

18:04 Why Do Greek Statues Have Tiny Penises???

19:00 Wrap up

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Standard Self-improvement advice is usually beige, unhelpful and often just wrong.

We dive into the topic of "You are the 5 people you spend most time with" and learn where it is wrong and dangerous to follow. Instead, we learn a toolkit to be ourselves wherever we are and build relationships that nourish us.

Lessons:

This episode holds a core mental-model for building a Growth Mindset and how to seek inspiration around you. Avoid getting caught in group-think or relationships that create Fixed Mindset thinking and be more yourself.

Sponsors:

ManScaped: Leading the charge in Men's grooming below and above the waist.

Get 20% Off and Free Shipping with the code GROWTH - ManScaped.com/Growth

SleepyClub: Doctor-approved natural sleeping aid that improves sleep quality. Safe to take every day.

20% discount code 'GROWTH20' - SleepyClub.co.uk

ShortForm: Summaries and guides for the world's best books and ideas.

FREE trial and 20% off annual fee - ShortForm.com/Psychology

Recommended Episodes:

Meet Sam

Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.

Questions to reflect on

• What are my strengths? When do I feel like I am being myself?

• I am putting my energy directly into the thing I want to do or is it postponed for some reason?

• Is there a faster way to reach the lifestyle I want?

• Who are my idols? Why do I look up to them? Could I have better idols?

• Who are 5 cool but very different friends to me, what would they tell me to do?

Chapters:

00:00 - What is a Growth Mindset?

00:20 - You are not the 5 people you spend time with

01:23 - How Skiing proves others don't affect you

04:08 - Don't be blocked from being yourself

04:40 - Best Friends Don't Need To Be Aspirational Figures

06:30 - Opposite can work

08:50 - Choose your inspiration

09:36 - Small encounters can have butterfly effects

10:53 - Prioritise healthy relationships

11:30 - Avoid being lost in generic groups/cliques

12:08 - Sahil Lavingia and GumRoad

13:53 - Build Variety in your relationships

14:53 - Questions to journal on (see above)

16:05 - Life tips

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Research has shown 4 mindset pairs as recurring themes for success in life and leadership:

By looking into the science of how these mindsets show up in our lives we can build a more robust approach to success and happiness. These mindsets affect how we show up, how easy we are to get on with, and our relationship with fear.

Ryan Gottfredson PhD is a researcher, author and consultant who helps leaders develop their skills and success.

He joins the show to discuss his research and work for his book on the mindsets for success for leaders and in all life.

Sponsors:

ManScaped: Leading the charge in Men's grooming below and above the waist.

Get 20% Off and Free Shipping with the code GROWTH - ManScaped.com/Growth

SleepyClub: Doctor-approved natural sleeping aid that improves sleep quality. Safe to take every day.

20% discount code 'GROWTH20' - SleepyClub.co.uk

ShortForm: Summaries and guides for the world's best books and ideas.

FREE trial and 20% off annual fee - ShortForm.com/Psychology

Recommended Books:

See Arbinger Institute interview on the show here - How to Stop Self-Deception and Narrow-Minded Thinking

Ryan Gottfredson

Meet Sam

Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Mindsets and Behaviour

02:40 The Power of Mindsets in Leadership

04:54 Understanding Non-Conscious Automatic Processes

08:46 The Four Sets of Mindsets

09:56 Fixed vs. Growth Mindset

11:34 Closed vs. Open Mindset

15:21 Can Growth Mindset fix other mindset problems

22:49 Prevention vs. Promotion Mindset

29:51 Inward vs. Outward Mindset

35:45 Brene Brown rising Strong and how we see homeless people

41:29 Coaching Techniques and Mindset Shifts

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How to uncover our fixed mindsets and the biases that keep us stuck?

We dive into the concept of cognitive rigidity and the five cognitive biases that affect our daily lives:

Through personal anecdotes and historical examples, including insights from Albert Einstein's life, we explore how these biases shape our behaviour and decision-making.

Learn practical strategies for overcoming cognitive rigidity, enhancing your mental flexibility, and achieving a growth mindset.

Don't miss this enlightening and informative episode!

Further reading:

Further Listening

Enjoyed this episode? Check out the rest of the Cognitive Ciases series:

Sponsors:

ManScaped: Leading the charge in Men's grooming below and above the waist.

Get 20% Off and Free Shipping with the code GROWTH - ManScaped.com/Growth

SleepyClub: Doctor-approved natural sleeping aid that improves sleep quality. Safe to take every day.

20% discount code 'GROWTH20' - SleepyClub.co.uk

ShortForm: Summaries and guides for the world's best books and ideas.

FREE trial and 20% off annual fee - ShortForm.com/Psychology

Meet Sam

Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Cognitive Rigidity

00:29 A Personal Story of Cognitive Rigidity

03:47 Defining Cognitive Rigidity

04:53 Functional Fixedness

09:36 Overcoming Functional Fixedness

11:00 The Endowment Effect

15:06 Overcoming the Endowment Effect

16:26 The Bandwagon Effect

20:24 Understanding Hyperbolic Discounting

25:10 Einstein's Personal Struggles and Successes

29:28 The Zeigarnik Effect: Unfinished Tasks and Obsession

33:56 Relationships and Social Media: The Open Loop Trap

38:34 Einstein's Journey: Genius and Cognitive Biases

40:53 Embracing Growth and Self-Acceptance

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Practical Psychology for navigating life's challenges and cultivating joy.

Sam Webster Harris explores the concept of life as a series of games, blending psychological insights with practical wisdom. He discusses how every aspect of life involves some form of gameplay, from professional networks like LinkedIn to personal decisions and social interactions.

We dig into the intersection of Philosophy and Psychology to understand the experiencing self and how we navigate our moments.

Sam emphasizes the importance of understanding the different 'modes' of approaching life's games—machine, intelligent, and zen. He advocates for living authentically, focusing on self-amusement, and challenging societal norms.

Learn to apply some of the more surreal and abstract concepts of the mind into real life:

The episode encourages listeners to reassess their motivations and redefine what winning means in their personal game of life.

Further reading:

Sponsors:

Cozy Earth: Luxury Bamboo sheets and Loungeware that become softer as you use them.

35% off code 'GROWTH' - CozyEarth.com

SleepyClub: Doctor-approved natural sleeping aid that improves sleep quality. Safe to take every day.

20% discount code 'GROWTH20' - SleepyClub.co.uk

ShortForm: Summaries and guides for the world's best books and ideas.

FREE trial and 20% off annual fee - ShortForm.com/Psychology

Meet Sam

Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.

Chapters:

00:00 The Concept of Life as a Game

01:28 The Rules of Life's Games

03:17 The Games of LinkedIn and Appearance

06:30 Life Lessons - Philosophy for fun and success

11:36 Your Point of View is First Player

14:03 The Three Modes for Playing Games

15:00 Applying the Modes to Social Media, News and Health

17:00 Final Thoughts

18:00 Housekeeping and Recommendations

Topics:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What is the source of anger and how do we learn from everything in life?

This episode explores how to investigate our assumptions and find a deeper understanding of the world around us.

We use psychology to investigate our curiosities and find unexpected and useful lessons for life whilst having fun.

Cool moments coming up:

Further reading:

Sponsors:

Cozy Earth: Luxury Bamboo sheets and Loungeware that become softer as you use them.

35% off code 'GROWTH' - CozyEarth.com

SleepyClub: Doctor-approved natural sleeping aid that improves sleep quality. Safe to take every day.

20% discount code 'GROWTH20' - SleepyClub.co.uk

ShortForm: Summaries and guides for the world's best books and ideas.

FREE trial and 20% off annual fee - ShortForm.com/Psychology

Meet Sam

Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.

Chapters:

00:00 Curious Investigation and Sam's Newsletter Mishap

03:37 Understanding Cognitive Load Theory

03:48 Intrinsic and Extrinsic Load Explained

05:00 Germane Load and Tangents

07:41 Applying Cognitive Load Theory to Newsletters

09:27 Expectation Violation and Perceived Control

11:56 Reactance Theory and Personal Freedom

14:23 Overwhelm and Habits

15:08 Embracing Curiosity over Anger

19:10 Innovative Ideas for Blog Consumption

21:25 Book Recommendations and Book Club

22:48 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Topics:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The secret to unparalleled success is not enduring endless misery.

In fact, it's the opposite. We learn how to amplify our abilities in any domain by making the process more enjoyable and actionable.

The brain is like a muscle analogy is a harmful myth. It is based on some half-truths that on the surface make sense.

Learn:

Further reading:

Sponsors:

Cozy Earth: Luxury Bamboo sheets and Loungeware that become softer as you use them.

35% off code 'GROWTH' - CozyEarth.com

SleepyClub: Doctor-approved natural sleeping aid that improves sleep quality. Safe to take every day.

20% discount code 'GROWTH20' - SleepyClub.co.uk

ShortForm: Summaries and guides for the world's best books and ideas.

FREE trial and 20% off annual fee - ShortForm.com/Psychology

Journal Prompts

Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction: The Value of Time

01:00 Challenging Conventional Wisdom

01:55 The Mind vs. Muscle Debate

02:54 Memory and Creativity

04:22 Analogies and Insights

07:21 Differences Between Brain and Muscle

11:06 The Role of Stress and Play

14:53 Finding Enjoyment in Learning

15:30How to enjoy learning an instrument

19:24 Why Alexander the Great Achieved so Much

23:42 The Big Conclusion

28:33 Final Thoughts and Community Engagement

Topics:

training the brain vs muscle growth

how to effectively train your brain

differences between brain and muscle training

stress effects on brain vs muscle

career change for personal enjoyment and growth

entertaining the mind for enhanced learning

cognitive training vs physical exercise

best practices for cognitive enhancement

learning an instrument brain training

The secret to Alexander the Great's success

how stress impacts brain functionality

improving brain function without stress

using entertainment to boost brain power

practical tips for brain training

understanding brain health and physical fitness

innovative methods to train the brain

cognitive development through entertainment

effective brain workouts for professionals

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices