Why do people feel so unsatisfied on the job? It’s because the modern institution of work is based on the assumption that people are motivated solely by money.  But research shows they’re not. Barry explains what really engages workers to love their jobs and where we got this idea about money in the first place. 

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When it comes to finding meaning in your work, is there a way to turn a bad job into a better one? Barry says yes. He calls it “job crafting” and there are three ways to do it: by changing what you do, who you do it with, and how you think about the work. 

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Does your work feel like a job, a career, or a calling? Barry has done extensive research on these three attitudes toward work, and he explains what they mean and how they can impact satisfaction with your work life.

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Is a fine really just a price set to allow bad behavior? Barry Schwartz explains the downside of incentives and how they eliminate the idea that doing the right thing is a responsibility.

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Rules can be seen as a tool in the war against mistakes, but it can also inhibit the development of wisdom and judgment. Barry Schwartz explains when taking a “trial and error” approach is a good thing.

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Parents are already highly motivated, they want to get it right when it comes to raising their children. So what are the tools to help them succeed? Barry advocates that parents learn to listen, teach children how to manage risk on their own, and trust that they know their children well enough to give them what they really need.

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What makes a good friend? We need them to be trustworthy, honest (but not too honest), loyal, a little judgmental, and a great listener. Barry explains what it takes to be this kind of friend, and why it takes courage to really listen.

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The most successful businesses are often the ones that can engage and motivate employees beyond compensation and benefits. It’s about feeling a sense of purpose in the work. Barry explains the need for high commitment in the workplace and how that can nurture wisdom.

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Barry digs into theories behind medical care and how practical wisdom fits in. Is low-tech, high-touch care, like the attention you would get from a parent, the best way to treat a patient?

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It turns out practice doesn’t always make perfect. Barry Schwartz explains that while rules can help, wisdom is really how we find the healthy balance between dysfunctional extremes in our behavior. 

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