Ayelet Fishbach

So, if you want to be more physically active, there is no point in yelling at yourself.

I yell it, you should walk more.

Instead, I got a puppy.

She loves long walks.

Your journey starts with setting a goal.

My friend wanted to be motivated at work, so she identified a project she wanted to complete.

That was her goal, and it's a good motivation strategy.

Goals pull you.

The problem, my friend identified a project she wished she had already completed, not something she was looking forward to doing.

Have you ever set a goal you wish you had already completed but had less interest in actually completing?

Most goals are abandoned because we want to be the person who has done it, not the person who is currently doing it.

When we are excited about doing the work, we are intrinsically motivated.

We care about the way almost as much as we are looking forward to the destination.

In our research, we found that most goals are abandoned not because they are not important.

People actually are not more likely to adhere to their important compared to unimportant goals.

Most goals are abandoned because people don't enjoy pursuing them.

Your enjoyment is what predicts whether you will stick with the goal.

So what makes goals exciting?

Exciting goals are never a chore or a meal.

Ever wondered why Chicago diners would circle the block for 30 minutes looking for free parking,