Behavior Gap Radio: Exploring human behavior...with a Sharpie

You have a problem. At least, you think you have a problem. But the truth is, a problem actually has you! In this episode I explore why that is the case, and what we can learn from it. Listen time: 3:40

Jeanna in Idaho tells us how she improved her relationship with fear with one, tiny, psychological adjustment: Replace the word "scared" with "excited." It worked for her. Could it work for you? Listen time: 3:41

There's a battle for your attention. Yet you only have so much attention to give. If considering an idea costs precious time and energy, what needs to happen to offset those costs? In other words, what makes an idea worth considering? Listen time: 5:30

Who Put Numbers in Charge? by Carl Richards: Human Behavior, Creativity, Behavioral Finance

Ping Pong root. Maybe you've heard of it. If you haven't, brace yourself. Your world is about to be turned upside down — until you learn that it's actually just a ... well, that would be giving away the surprise. Take a few minutes to learn more about the power of names. Listen time: 3:45

When it comes to dreams, there are two types: those you do and those you don't do. The good news is, they're both O.K. But here's the big question. How do you know which is which? Listen time: 3:16

I have a disease. What's-Around-The-Next-Cornerism is a serious condition. And you might suffer from it, too. But sometimes, the disease pays off. Listen time: 3:15

Things aren't going according to plan. It's hard. Scary. The skies are stormy. This isn't how the adventure was supposed to go... So what do you do? Say "thank you." Here's why. Listen time: 4:18

When is Enough Enough by Carl Richards: Human Behavior, Creativity, Behavioral Finance

A few months ago, I wrote a column for the Times about letting go. When people sent me their stories, it was fascinating to learn that many people found themselves in similar circumstances. But they reached different conclusions about what they could and couldn't let go of. It got me thinking about the stories we tell ourselves in general. Does our situation really require only one possible reaction or could there be another option? Listen time: 3:19

Pretending plays a powerful role in our lives. For instance, we're good at telling ourselves that certain things are a problem. Funny enough though, these so-called problems don't always have anything to do with what's happening right now, but what might happen. What if we use our power of pretending to help us put aside these "problems" so they don't get in the way of doing meaningful work? Listen time: 3:31

We all seem to struggle with tracking our spending, and it's not really about the tools. There are plenty of great tools available. It's the idea of tracking that trips up many of us. What if start simple? What happens if you track your total spending for the next month? Listen time: 3:31

Listen time: 4:33

The incremental power of small things done repeatedly over a long period of time applies to investing, but it also applies to creative endeavors. Just think about the people you know who've worked away, a little bit at a time, on a their projects over the years. What's one little thing you can do every day to move forward on one of your projects? Listen time: 4:52

My friend Tim Maurer likes so say that, "Personal finance is more personal than it is finance." With that reality comes a hard truth. No one can tell us what to do. We can get great advice that gets us 80 percent there, but at the end, we still need to make the decision. It's up to us. Listen time: 3:22