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John Tierney

John Tierney

Authors of bestselling book, Willpower.

John Tierney always wanted to be a scientist but went into journalism because its peer-review process was a great deal easier to sneak through. Now a columnist for the Science Times section, Tierney previously wrote columns for the Op-Ed page, the Metro section and the Times Magazine. Before that he covered science for magazines like Discover, Hippocrates and Science 86.

PhilosophersNotes on John Tierney's Books All PhilosophersNotes

Willpower

Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength

by Roy Baumeister, John Tierney

Willpower. It’s ESSENTIAL to optimizing our lives. In fact, in their *great* book, Willpower, Roy Baumeister (one of the world’s leading scientific researchers on self-control) and John Tierney (science writer for the New York Times) tell us that “Improving willpower is the surest way to a better life.” In this Note, we’ll learn how to eat our way to willpower (seriously), how to exercise our self-control muscles, why “precommitment” is so important and how to win the willpower game with bright lines and a great offense. :)

Packs:

Conquering Digital Addiction & Self-Care & Willpower

Best of Optimize Modern Classic Top 101 Volume II Work

+1s Inspired by John Tierney All +1s

Bright Lines
#45

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How to Make Good Contracts with Yourself

I dropped out of law school before a semester was over but I do remember one Big Idea from Contracts class. Lawyers like to say that a contract is a good one when there are “bright lines”—when it’s super obvious what everyone is agreeing to. Fuzzy lines? Not so good. We want super crisp, obvious,...

+1 inspired by Note: Willpower

Packs:

Habits & Willpower

Choice commitment Consistency persistence Practice success undisciplined Work

Want Willpower: Play Offense not Defense
#138

How to Win the Willpower World Series

Most of us wonder how we can have more willpower in those moments of temptation. But Roy Baumeister—the world’s leading expert on willpower, and one of the most cited social psychologists on the planet—tells us that the people who use their willpower the most wisely don’t actually use it to deal ...

+1 inspired by Note: Willpower

Packs:

Habits & Willpower

Best of Optimize Energy Systems Work

Recommitment
#154

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Commitment Is Easy - It's ALL about Recommitting

We’ve talked a lot about the importance of making a strong commitment. We know that making a 100% commitment is, somewhat paradoxically, way easier than making a 90% or 95% or even a 99.9% commitment. And… Even with a super strong initial commitment, the fact is we’re going to fall short of the sta...

+1 inspired by Note: Willpower

Packs:

Confidence & Goals

action commitment Strategy success tool Work

Precommitment
#155

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Making Contracts with Odysseus + Ourselves

In our last +1, we talked about the power of recommitting. You make a big commitment, then you fall a little off track. No big deal, REcommit and continue on. Today, we’re going to add a little letter to recommitment. It’s a “P.” We’ll drop it in right at the beginning. Giving us: PREcommitment...

+1 inspired by Note: Willpower

Packs:

Confidence & Willpower

challenges commitment Discipline Inspiration science Strategy Work

Sirens
#156

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What Song Do They Sing to YOU?

In our last +1 we talked about Odysseus and his contract with himself as he navigated past the Sirens. As we discussed, willpower scientists tell us that precommitments are where it’s at. Again: Play OFFENSE with your willpower rather than DEFENSE. Install habits that run on autopilot rather than fight...

+1 inspired by Note: Willpower

Packs:

Confidence & Willpower

challenges commitment Discipline Fundamentals tool Work

IQ vs. Willpower
#607

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One Is a Much Better Predictor than the Other

In our last +1, we talked about the awesome CEO-dads (and Harvard interns!) who are committed to mastering their Love as much as their Work. (Inspiring!!!) One of the things that triggered the CEO-dad’s question was the fact that I emphasized the importance of our Big 3: Energy + Work + Love. And… I ...

+1 inspired by Note: Willpower

Packs:

Learning & Willpower

algorithms big-three Discipline Learning productivity The Big 3 willpower Work

Running Your Willpower Offense
#608

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Strategic Considerations + Odysseus Contracts

In our last +1, we talked about the fact that willpower outpredicts IQ by a factor of TWO for academic performance. Today I want to revisit the fact that the best willpower exemplars among us play OFFENSE with their willpower NOT defense. In other words, they don’t use their precious willpower reserves...

+1 inspired by Note: Willpower

Packs:

Habits & Willpower

commitment Discipline Habits productivity Strategy willpower Work