Psychology

Firstly, it's crucial to adopt a bold mindset right from the start. I advocate for setting almost unrealistic targets. This approach might seem counterintuitive, but it's essential for enabling substantial change. If we only aim for realistic targets, our efforts will be limited to minor tweaks rather than significant transformations.

On a fundamental level, any experience that nudges your mind to engage from a unique angle is immensely valuable. Art, for instance, demands a different set of appreciation and communication skills. It invites you to respect and marvel at someone whose talents may be starkly distinct from your own.

Author of "The Tipping Point" & Popular Cultural Theorist

In the realm of experts, intuition, anchored in a substantial reservoir of experience and knowledge, becomes an invaluable asset. It's essentially a dialogue with your unconscious. However, for it to be constructive, your unconscious necessitates a good measure of education. An uneducated unconscious is a perilous entity.

Author of "The Tipping Point" & Popular Cultural Theorist

I believe the traditional perception, which posits that success is merely an accumulation of advantages while failure is an accumulation of disadvantages, is overly simplistic. It's the disadvantages that offer a more fertile ground for learning, albeit for a smaller cohort. The depth of learning and engagement derived from tackling difficulties is substantially richer compared to that gleaned from facing advantages.

Author of "The Tipping Point" & Popular Cultural Theorist

We can be sexually aroused by a mere text message, tapping into a primal sensory system in a bizarre way. We can feel empathy for someone on the other side of the globe. We can perpetrate violence, like dropping a bomb from 30,000 feet, without ever seeing the victim's face.

Neuroscientist & primatologist known for stress research and public engagement

Intelligence and self-deception appear to have co-evolved, with the belief that we are fully in control of our destinies serving as a mental safeguard, despite its inaccuracy.

Neuroscientist & primatologist known for stress research and public engagement

When a coach gains the player's confidence and establishes a strong partnership, they can effectively motivate the player, boost their confidence, and help them break through barriers. This can elevate a player's career to new heights.

Tennis coach who famously coached Serena Williams

Champions possess a distinct mindset, a relentless drive for excellence that sets them apart. They're not content with just doing okay; they strive for excellence constantly. Being second is not an option for them, they aim for the top.

Tennis coach who famously coached Serena Williams

I often describe a Grand Slam as a marathon, not a sprint. It involves enduring extremely long matches, seven times over two weeks. In tennis, those who sprint don't make it to the finish line.

Tennis coach who famously coached Serena Williams

Anti-Jewish prejudice can be likened to a reservoir of water, accumulating over time, with some elements diminishing while new ones are added. Three concepts became central: supersessionism, conspiracy theories, and the stereotype of a special, negative affinity Jews had with money.

The greatest risk often lies in people's biased perceptions of risk itself. These biases, both psychological and political, tend to lead to a dangerous underestimation of risk. Our advice, backed by data and methodologies we've developed, is focused on debiasing risk.

Leading researcher on megaprojects, planning, and governance expert

While optimism is essential and beneficial in many aspects of life, it can become a hindrance in the realm of large-scale, costly projects. As highlighted in our book, misplaced optimism in multi-billion-dollar investments is particularly problematic. It often signals impending financial shortfalls.

Leading researcher on megaprojects, planning, and governance expert

Games are not just a source of entertainment; they can be a tool for self-improvement, a way to understand decision-making and break free from suboptimal patterns. The initial lesson in any game is that natural talent alone isn't enough. Every time I encounter a new game, I think I might be naturally good at it, but that's rarely the case. However, the truth is empowering: with effort, you can become proficient at any game.

Game designer and NYU professor known for game theory and interactive entertainment

I do believe there's something fundamentally essential about free play—the open-ended combination of elements not confined by a narrow context. This concept is vital not only to humanity but to life itself. Consider Johan Huizinga, the sociologist and anthropologist who, in his book 'Homo Ludens,' famously argued that play is a necessary precondition for culture. I find this perspective accurate.

Game designer and NYU professor known for game theory and interactive entertainment

I see games as psychology experiments that we conduct on ourselves. This realization struck me while playing Sudoku. When you first encounter Sudoku, you're acutely aware of the rules you're applying to solve the puzzle. It's a conscious effort, like turning a crank and watching the puzzle get solved. However, as you progress, those initial heuristics, those rules of thumb, become internalized. You stop being aware of them; they become second nature, and you start focusing on more subtle, higher-level heuristics.

Game designer and NYU professor known for game theory and interactive entertainment

My personal stance is to respond positively to any question, no matter how awkward or inappropriate. I believe it takes courage to ask, and even if the approach is off, the curiosity is commendable. The key is to create an environment where it's okay to be wrong, as long as there's a willingness to learn and engage respectfully.

British Paralympic sprinter and long jumper; multiple Paralympic medals