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If you want to be more successful in life, there’s no shortage of advice out there. Unfortunately, much of that advice persists simply because it sounds good—not because it actually works. When you really look at the research, most of those catchy maxims about how to get ahead or live a fuller life don’t hold up
My guest today, Eric Barker, has spent the last 8 years tracking down science-based answers to some of the biggest questions around success and life. Eric talks with us about the widely accepted myths about success and also shares some real, proven ways to be more successful in life.
Guys, I’m really excited to bring you today’s guest, I’ve been reading his blog for about 2 years. Once again, his name Eric Barker. He is the head honcho over at the blog Barking up The Wrong Tree, which presents science-based answers and expert insights on how to be awesome at life. His work has been mentioned in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic Monthly, TIME Magazine, The Week, and Business Insider. He is also a former Hollywood screenwriter having worked on projects for Walt Disney Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox, and Revolution Studios. He’s also just written a book called Barking Up the Wrong Tree: The Surprising Science Behind Why Everything You Know About Success is (Mostly) Wrong.
Eric is not only a ridiculously smart guy, but he’s got a great sense of humor, and I think you’ll appreciate his perspective on the true nature of success.
Episode Highlights
- Why playing by the rules is often not in your best interest (and why valedictorians rarely become millionaires)
- Why your worst quality can often be your greatest asset depending on the context
- The critical importance of knowing yourself and “picking the right pond”
- Why the paradigm of confidence is flawed, and what to do instead
- What research on Batman can teach you about failure
- How the “WOOP” system can work better than simply wishing to achieve your goals
- The surprising research insight that changed how Eric sees his own life
- What neuroscience tells us about the role of emotion in decision-making
Resources Mentioned
- Gautam Mukunda and Intensifiers
- Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself, by Kristin Neff
- Gabriele Oettingen and WOOP
- Bob Sutton, Stanford Business School
- Laura Carstensen, “Why Older People are Happier“
- How We Decide, by Jonah Lehrer
Connect With Eric Barker
- Barking Up the Wrong Tree Blog
- Barking Up the Wrong Tree: The Surprising Science Behind Why Everything You Know About Success is (Mostly) Wrong
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