Finance, personal · Performance · Motivation (psychology)
Smarter Faster Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg — Summary, Key Ideas & Quotes
2016400 pages✦ 3-min Big ideas★ 3.2 (6)
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What is Smarter Faster Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business about?
Redefining productivity as a discipline involving how one thinks, identifies goals, constructs teams, and makes decisions, explains how to transform thinking behaviors to increase self-motivation and shares illustrative examples.
A glimpse inside
The Power of Motivation
Duhigg argues that motivation isn’t an innate trait but a skill that can be cultivated. He explains that people are more motivated when they feel in control and can connect tasks to a greater purpose. By making choices and linking daily actions to personal values or long-term goals, individuals and teams can boost their drive and engagement. This reframes motivation as something you can engineer, not just hope for.
Goal Setting: Stretch and SMART
The book highlights the importance of combining ambitious 'stretch' goals with practical SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) objectives. Stretch goals inspire and push boundaries, while SMART goals break them into actionable steps. This dual approach helps maintain vision without losing focus, making big dreams attainable through consistent progress.
Ratings at a glance
Open Library
★ 3.2 / 5
6 ratings
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Get smart in 3 min
6 key ideas, distilled
- 1The Power of Motivation
- 2Goal Setting: Stretch and SMART
- 3Focus and Mental Models
- 4Team Dynamics and Psychological Safety
- 5Managing Decision Making
Popular quotes from Smarter Faster Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business
“Productivity is about making certain choices in certain ways.”
“Motivation becomes easier when we transform a chore into a choice.”
“Teams succeed when everyone feels like they can speak up and when members show they are sensitive to how one another feels.”
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Redefining productivity as a discipline involving how one thinks, identifies goals, constructs teams, and makes decisions, explains how to transform thinking behaviors to increase self-motivation and shares illustrative examples.