My guest today is Patty McCord. Patty McCord served as chief talent officer of Netflix for 14 years and helped create the Netflix Culture Deck, which has been viewed on Slideshare over 15 million times (Sheryl Sandberg has referred to this deck as “ the most important document ever to come out of the Valley.”). She is also the author of "Powerful: Building a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility". In this episode, we talk about:
How Patty uses her time on planes
How her life is different post-Netflix
How Patty prepares for presentations
The key to making unlimited paid leave work
Her commutes to work with Reed Hastings and the critical role this played
Where she conducted most of her one-on-one meetings
The importance of being radically honest at work - and how to get better at it
How to change a culture
Why many companies’ bonus systems are broken
What executives need to expect from their HR people




Find Patty at pattymccord.com, check out her book Powerful (https://www.amazon.com/Powerful-Building-Culture-Freedom-Responsibility/dp/1939714095) and take a look at the Netflix Culture deck (https://jobs.netflix.com/culture).

Visit amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au 

My guest today is Patty McCord. Patty McCord served as chief talent officer of Netflix for 14 years and helped create the Netflix Culture Deck, which has been viewed on Slideshare over 15 million times (Sheryl Sandberg has referred to this deck as “ the most important document ever to come out of the Valley.”). She is also the author of "Powerful: Building a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility". In this episode, we talk about:<ul>
<li>How Patty uses her time on planes</li>
<li>How her life is different post-Netflix</li>
<li>How Patty prepares for presentations</li>
<li>The key to making unlimited paid leave work</li>
<li>Her commutes to work with Reed Hastings and the critical role this played</li>
<li>Where she conducted most of her one-on-one meetings</li>
<li>The importance of being radically honest at work - and how to get better at it</li>
<li>How to change a culture</li>
<li>Why many companies’ bonus systems are broken</li>
<li>What executives need to expect from their HR people</li>
</ul> Find Patty at <a href="http://pattymccord.com/">pattymccord.com</a>, check out her book Powerful (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Powerful-Building-Culture-Freedom-Responsibility/dp/1939714095/">https://www.amazon.com/Powerful-Building-Culture-Freedom-Responsibility/dp/1939714095</a>) and take a look at the Netflix Culture deck (<a href="https://jobs.netflix.com/culture">https://jobs.netflix.com/culture</a>).Visit <a href="amanthaimber.com/podcast">amanthaimber.com/podcast</a> for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

You know those annoyingly successful people who seem to have it all figured out? Time to steal their playbook. Organisational psychologist Dr Amantha Imber gets world‑class achievers to spill their secrets - the daily strategies behind their success through to life hacks and productivity hacks they’d rather keep to themselves. We’re talking practical tips for boosting your output (including clever AI tools and shortcuts that’ll make you look like a genius), managing overwhelm without losing your mind, and optimising both work and wellbeing. No motivational fluff. Just battle‑tested tactics from people who’ve cracked the code.

You know those annoyingly successful people who seem to have it all figured out? Time to steal their playbook. Organisational psychologist Dr Amantha Imber gets world‑class achievers to spill their secrets&nbsp;- the daily strategies behind their success through to&nbsp;life hacks and productivity hacks they&rsquo;d rather keep to themselves. We&rsquo;re talking practical tips for boosting your output (including clever AI tools and shortcuts that&rsquo;ll make you look like a genius), managing overwhelm without losing your mind, and optimising both work and wellbeing. No motivational fluff. Just battle‑tested tactics from people who&rsquo;ve cracked the code.

Have you ever wondered if the worlds leading entrepreneurs, writers, musicians and business people construct their day differently to you?

How I Work

My guest today is Patty McCord. Patty McCord served as chief talent officer of Netflix for 14 years and helped create the Netflix Cultu...

Netflix's ex Chief Talent Officer Patty McCord on how to be radically honest at work.

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/e65d8e39-927a-4d0e-8e2b-af46006c1ef4/transcript

Visualising success feels productive. Vision boards, manifesting, picturing the finish line. It gives the sense that you’re moving closer to the goal. 

But according to the research, that mental shortcut might actually be working against you. 

In Part 2 of this two-parter (listen to Part 1 here), I continue my conversation with behavioural scientist and author Nir Eyal to unpack why. Nir spent six years researching how beliefs shape what we see, feel, and do, and why the stories we tell ourselves can dramatically change our behaviour. 

We talk about the surprising power of “failure goals”, why lucky people often manufacture their own luck, and how leaders shape behaviour through the invisible simulations they create at work. Nir also explains why framing matters more than many leaders realise, and why the way you interpret discomfort can completely change how you perform. 

And when it comes to visualisation, Nir shares a key insight from elite sport. High-performing athletes aren’t picturing themselves standing on the podium. They’re visualising the moment things get hard, and exactly what they’ll do next. 

Nir and I discuss: 
Why setting a failure goal can actually increase your chances of success 
The study that shows why some people experience themselves as “lucky” 
How beliefs shape what we see, feel, and do in everyday life 
Why leaders are effectively designing simulations through workplace culture 
The powerful role of framing when introducing ideas to teams 
The “believe, anticipate, feel, confirm” loop that shapes our experiences 
How expectations influence the way we experience products and brands 
Why visualising the finish line can reduce motivation 
What high-performing athletes actually visualise when preparing to succeed 

 

Key quotes 

“Failure without learning is a different story. But as long as you are failing and learning, that is progress.”  

“Athletes aren’t visualising the trophy. They’re visualising the obstacles in their way.”  

Connect with Nir Eyal on Instagram, X (Twitter), and LinkedIn and his website and check out his latest book Beyond Belief. 

 

My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/ 

Connect with me on the socials: Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber) 

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai) 

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe 

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes. 

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au 

Credits: 
Host: Amantha Imber 
Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler 

Visualising&nbsp;success feels productive. Vision boards, manifesting, picturing&nbsp;the finish line. It gives the sense that&nbsp;you&rsquo;re&nbsp;moving closer to the goal.&nbsp;
But according to the research, that mental shortcut might actually be working against you.&nbsp;
In&nbsp;Part 2 of&nbsp;this&nbsp;two-parter (<a href="https://www.amantha.com/podcasts/struggling-to-reach-your-goals%3F-nir-eyal-explains-the-beliefs-holding-you-back-(part-1)">listen to Part 1&nbsp;here</a>), I continue my conversation with&nbsp;behavioural&nbsp;scientist and author Nir Eyal to unpack why. Nir spent six years researching how beliefs shape what we see, feel, and do, and why the stories we tell ourselves can dramatically change our&nbsp;behaviour.&nbsp;
We talk about the surprising power of &ldquo;failure goals&rdquo;,&nbsp;why lucky people often manufacture their own luck, and how leaders shape&nbsp;behaviour&nbsp;through the invisible simulations they create at work. Nir also explains why framing matters more than many leaders&nbsp;realise, and why the way you interpret discomfort can completely change how you perform.&nbsp;
And when it comes to&nbsp;visualisation, Nir shares a key insight from elite sport. High-performing athletes&nbsp;aren&rsquo;t&nbsp;picturing themselves standing on the podium.&nbsp;They&rsquo;re&nbsp;visualising&nbsp;the moment things get hard, and exactly what&nbsp;they&rsquo;ll&nbsp;do next.&nbsp;
Nir and I discuss:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Why setting a&nbsp;failure goal&nbsp;can&nbsp;actually increase&nbsp;your chances of success&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">The study that shows why some people experience themselves as &ldquo;lucky&rdquo;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">How beliefs shape what we see, feel, and do in everyday life&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1">Why leaders are effectively&nbsp;designing simulations&nbsp;through workplace culture&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1">The powerful role of&nbsp;framing&nbsp;when introducing ideas to teams&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="6" data-aria-level="1">The &ldquo;believe, anticipate, feel, confirm&rdquo; loop that shapes our experiences&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="7" data-aria-level="1">How expectations influence the way we experience products and brands&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="8" data-aria-level="1">Why&nbsp;visualising&nbsp;the finish line can reduce motivation&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="9" data-aria-level="1">What high-performing athletes actually&nbsp;visualise&nbsp;when preparing to succeed&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Key quotes&nbsp;
&ldquo;Failure without learning is a different story. But&nbsp;as long as&nbsp;you are failing and learning, that is progress.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&ldquo;Athletes&nbsp;aren&rsquo;t&nbsp;visualising&nbsp;the trophy.&nbsp;They&rsquo;re&nbsp;visualising&nbsp;the obstacles in their way.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Connect with Nir Eyal on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/neyal99/">Instagram</a>, X (Twitter), and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nireyal">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nirandfar.com/">website</a>&nbsp;and check out his latest book&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nirandfar.com/beyond-belief/">Beyond Belief</a>.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
My latest&nbsp;book&nbsp;The Health&nbsp;Habit&nbsp;is out now. You can order a copy here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/">https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/</a>&nbsp;
Connect with me on the socials:&nbsp;Linkedin&nbsp;(<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber">https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber</a>)&nbsp;
Instagram (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amanthai">https://www.instagram.com/amanthai</a>)&nbsp;
If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and&nbsp;simple to apply&nbsp;tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at&nbsp;<a href="https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe">https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe</a>&nbsp;
Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amantha.com/podcast">https://www.amantha.com/podcast</a>&nbsp;for full show notes from all episodes.&nbsp;
Get in touch at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:amantha@inventium.com.au">amantha@inventium.com.au</a>&nbsp;
Credits:&nbsp; Host: Amantha Imber&nbsp; Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler&nbsp;

Why visualising success might be sabotaging you, with Nir Eyal (Part 2)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/1cc3e023-0005-4c29-9f7a-b40900206623/transcript

When your to-do list feels endless and everything seems equally urgent, it’s hard to know where to start. The overwhelm doesn’t usually come from one big task. It comes from trying to hold meetings, emails, projects and life admin in your head all at once. 

In this How I AI episode, Neo and I walk through practical ways to use AI to help you prioritise when your week feels out of control. Not by magically deleting tasks, but by giving you a clearer structure for deciding what actually matters today. 

We share two different approaches – one if your AI isn’t connected to your calendar, and one if it is. 

Neo and I cover: 
How to use AI for a structured brain dump so everything on your plate is visible in one place 
Getting AI to interview you to separate urgent from important, and clarify what really needs attention 
Asking AI to estimate how long tasks will take so you can time box more realistically 
Using AI to identify the single task that’s causing the most stress – and tackling that first 
Why context matters – and how tools like Claude Projects or Copilot Notebooks can help AI understand your work 
Using AI to prepare for meetings, cross-reference tasks, and spot work that hasn’t been scheduled 

Connect with Neo Aplin on LinkedIn and via inventium.ai, where he leads Inventium’s AI training and upskilling work with organisations and teams. 

 

My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/ 

Connect with me on the socials: 
Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber) 

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai) 

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe 

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes. 

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au 

Credits: 
Host: Amantha Imber 
Sound Engineer: Martin Imber 

When your to-do list feels endless and everything seems equally urgent,&nbsp;it&rsquo;s&nbsp;hard to know where to start. The overwhelm&nbsp;doesn&rsquo;t&nbsp;usually come from one big task. It comes from trying to hold meetings, emails,&nbsp;projects&nbsp;and life admin in your head all at once.&nbsp;
In this How I AI episode, Neo and I walk through practical ways to use AI to help you&nbsp;prioritise&nbsp;when your week feels out of control.&nbsp;Not by magically deleting tasks, but by giving you a clearer structure for deciding what actually matters today.&nbsp;
We share two different approaches &ndash; one if your AI&nbsp;isn&rsquo;t&nbsp;connected to your calendar, and one if it is.&nbsp;
Neo and I cover:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">How to use AI for a structured brain dump so everything on your plate is visible in one place&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">Getting AI to interview you to separate urgent from important, and clarify what really needs attention&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">Asking AI to estimate how long tasks will take so you can time box more realistically&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1">Using AI to&nbsp;identify&nbsp;the single task&nbsp;that&rsquo;s&nbsp;causing the most stress &ndash; and tackling that first&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1">Why context matters &ndash; and how tools like Claude&nbsp;Projects or Copilot&nbsp;Notebooks can help AI understand your work&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="6" data-aria-level="1">Using AI to prepare for meetings, cross-reference tasks, and spot work that&nbsp;hasn&rsquo;t&nbsp;been scheduled&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Connect with Neo Aplin on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/neoaplin/">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and via&nbsp;<a href="https://inventium.ai/">inventium.ai</a>, where he leads Inventium&rsquo;s AI training and upskilling work with&nbsp;organisations&nbsp;and teams.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
My latest&nbsp;book&nbsp;The Health&nbsp;Habit&nbsp;is out now. You can order a copy here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/">https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/</a>&nbsp;
Connect with me on the socials:&nbsp; Linkedin (<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber">https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber</a>)&nbsp;
Instagram (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amanthai">https://www.instagram.com/amanthai</a>)&nbsp;
If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and&nbsp;simple to apply&nbsp;tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at&nbsp;<a href="https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe">https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe</a>&nbsp;
Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amantha.com/podcast">https://www.amantha.com/podcast</a>&nbsp;for full show notes from all episodes.&nbsp;
Get in touch at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:amantha@inventium.com.au">amantha@inventium.com.au</a>&nbsp;
Credits:&nbsp; Host: Amantha Imber&nbsp; Sound Engineer: Martin Imber&nbsp;

How to use AI to prioritise when everything feels urgent

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/812ab817-ae94-4bbc-aae3-b3ef0057eff1/transcript

What if the biggest obstacle standing between you and the things you want in life isn’t your effort, your discipline, or even your circumstances? What if it’s the beliefs you didn’t realise you were holding. 

In Part 1 of a two-part conversation, I sit down with behavioural scientist and bestselling author Nir Eyal to unpack how our hidden beliefs shape what we see, how we feel, and what we do. Nir spent six years researching his latest book Beyond Belief, exploring the science behind how beliefs influence our behaviour and how we can change the ones that are quietly limiting us. 

We dive into why rumination feels productive but actually keeps us stuck, why venting about people can reinforce the very stories that make us miserable, and a practical tool called a reality log that helps you see situations more clearly. Nir also shares a powerful technique for questioning beliefs that are causing suffering, using a surprisingly relatable story about a birthday gift for his mum that didn’t go quite as planned.  

Nir and I discuss: 
The difference between facts, faith, and beliefs and why beliefs are open to change 
Why many of our most important life decisions come down to beliefs rather than facts 
How rumination feels like problem solving but often reinforces limiting beliefs 
The surprisingly effective technique of scheduling “worry time” 
How our beliefs shape what we literally perceive in the world 
Why venting about people can strengthen negative assumptions rather than resolve them 
How a reality log can help you challenge distorted perceptions 
A four question technique to examine beliefs that are causing suffering 
How collecting a “portfolio of perspectives” can help you reduce emotional reactivity 

 

Key quotes 

“Beliefs are tools, not truths.” 

“We don’t see the world as it is. We see a simulation of the world shaped by what we already believe.” 

Connect with Nir Eyal on Instagram, X (Twitter), and LinkedIn and his website and check out his latest book Beyond Belief. 

 

My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/ 

Connect with me on the socials: Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber) 

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai) 

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe 

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes. 

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au 

Credits: 
Host: Amantha Imber 
Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler 

What if the biggest obstacle standing between you and the things you want in life isn&rsquo;t your effort, your discipline, or even your circumstances? What if&nbsp;it&rsquo;s&nbsp;the beliefs you&nbsp;didn&rsquo;t&nbsp;realise&nbsp;you were&nbsp;holding.&nbsp;
In Part 1 of a two-part conversation, I sit down with behavioural scientist and bestselling author Nir Eyal to unpack how our hidden beliefs shape what we see, how we feel, and what we do. Nir spent six years researching his latest book&nbsp;Beyond Belief, exploring the science behind how beliefs influence our&nbsp;behaviour&nbsp;and how we can change the ones that are quietly limiting us.&nbsp;
We dive into why rumination feels productive but&nbsp;actually keeps&nbsp;us stuck, why venting about people can reinforce the very stories that make us miserable, and a practical tool called a reality log that helps you see situations more clearly. Nir also shares a powerful technique for questioning beliefs that are causing suffering, using a surprisingly relatable story about a birthday gift for his mum that&nbsp;didn&rsquo;t&nbsp;go quite as planned.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Nir and I discuss:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">The difference between facts, faith, and beliefs and why beliefs are open to change&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">Why many of our most important life decisions come down to beliefs rather than facts&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">How rumination feels like problem solving but often reinforces limiting beliefs&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1">The surprisingly effective technique of scheduling &ldquo;worry time&rdquo;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1">How our beliefs shape what we&nbsp;literally perceive&nbsp;in the world&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="6" data-aria-level="1">Why venting about people can strengthen negative assumptions rather than resolve them&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="7" data-aria-level="1">How a reality log can help you challenge distorted&nbsp;perceptions&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="8" data-aria-level="1">A&nbsp;four question&nbsp;technique to examine beliefs that are causing suffering&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="9" data-aria-level="1">How collecting a &ldquo;portfolio of perspectives&rdquo; can help you reduce emotional reactivity&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Key quotes&nbsp;
&ldquo;Beliefs are tools, not truths.&rdquo;&nbsp;
&ldquo;We&nbsp;don&rsquo;t&nbsp;see the world as it is. We see a simulation of the world shaped by what we already believe.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Connect with Nir Eyal on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/neyal99/">Instagram</a>, X (Twitter), and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nireyal">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nirandfar.com/">website</a>&nbsp;and check out his latest book&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nirandfar.com/beyond-belief/">Beyond Belief</a>.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
My latest&nbsp;book&nbsp;The Health&nbsp;Habit&nbsp;is out now. You can order a copy here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/">https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/</a>&nbsp;
Connect with me on the socials:&nbsp;Linkedin&nbsp;(<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber">https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber</a>)&nbsp;
Instagram (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amanthai">https://www.instagram.com/amanthai</a>)&nbsp;
If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and&nbsp;simple to apply&nbsp;tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at&nbsp;<a href="https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe">https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe</a>&nbsp;
Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amantha.com/podcast">https://www.amantha.com/podcast</a>&nbsp;for full show notes from all episodes.&nbsp;
Get in touch at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:amantha@inventium.com.au">amantha@inventium.com.au</a>&nbsp;
Credits:&nbsp; Host: Amantha Imber&nbsp; Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler&nbsp;

Struggling to reach your goals? Nir Eyal explains the beliefs holding you back (Part 1)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/aff7a96f-2f80-4183-9f50-b4090020015f/transcript

Netflix's ex Chief Talent Officer Patty McCord on how to be radically honest at work.

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