In this episode we show you how to solve any problem in your life - using a simple and no risk tool that you can start with right now. We dig into why you get stuck on problems and how we often deceive ourselves. We talk about why reasons are often a ruse and how they can become dangerous once they turn into excuses, and much more with our guest Dr. Bernard Roth. 

Bernard Roth is a co-founder of the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford. He is one of the world’s pioneers in robotics and the primary developer of the concept of the Creativity Workshop. He is the best-selling author of The Achievement Habit: Stop Wishing, Start Doing, and Take Command of Your Life. His work has been featured in FORTUNE, The New York Times, Fast Company, Business Insider, and more!

• Why do you get stuck in your life?

• Are you focused on the right problems in your life, or the wrong problems?

• Reframing problems opens up a tremendous new solution space to your problem

• You can get fixated on solving the wrong problems 

• Even if you solved the problem that you think you need to solve, it may not get you what you ultimately want to get 

• If you get stuck on a problem - it’s the wrong problem 

• What would it do for me if I solved this problem? Work on THAT solution instead of the original problem 

• The no-risk tool you can use to solve any problem / reframe any problem 

• The one question that can completely blow apart your thinking and help you solve any problem

• Treating the symptom, not the root cause of the problem

• We get stuck on a problem (or solution) because it seems like the easy thing to do - even if that’s not what we’re really after 

• We often lie to ourselves, we don’t tell ourselves the truth, you often try to deceive yourself to maintain your self image 

• The importance difference between disappearing a problem vs solving a problem 

• What Would It Do For You If You Solved The Problem? (And give up the original problem) 

• Why you have to get super clear about what you REALLY want to achieve (and how to do it)

• Tell yourself the truth about the REAL problem and open up the problem-space and solution space for new ways of conceiving of it - so you that you can find new solutions 

• Why do people deceive themselves and how do you move beyond self deception?

• We all do things we aren’t proud of and we all have motivations we don’t want to admit - we have to develop the self awareness to see what the truth about ourselves and our motives are

• Why Bernie says "Reasons are Bullshit” 

• The only function of reasons is that they let you pretend that you are a reasonable person 

• There’s no one cause for anything you do - the moment you isolate that single cause you are lying 

• The way your brain works - you do stuff, and then you make up a reason to do it 

• There are a multitude of reasons for everything - we just single out one and pretend it’s the entire cause 

• We explain the world with a simple cause and effect model - and yet there is not one single cause for anything in the world 

• Reasons can be “devastating” when they become excuses 

• Reasons are an excuse for being late, not losing weight, not getting your job done, not creating the results you want, etc

• It’s not rocket science - usually you know what needs to be done.

• If you stop lying to yourself, it becomes easy to change your behavior 

• Stop giving reasons, just do it or don’t do it 

• When saying NO to people, you will get more reception if you don’t give a reason (aka an excuse) 

• Fix yourself first, don’t worry about fixing others

• In your own behavior, substitute the word REASON for the word EXCUSE

• If you’re gonna stay in the game - don’t go more than 2 levels deep with these questions and reframes - reframe to the first thing it would do for you, then ask again “what would that do for me?” And reframe that to the real question and the real thing you need to work on

• What’s the difference between Trying and Doing? (Was Yoda right?)

• Trying and doing are NOT the same thing. 

• If you’re trying to do something it might or might not happen. If you’re doing something you will make it happen, no matter what. 

• When people are DOING - obstacles don’t defeat them - they make it happen. 

• Obstacles are often a gift, unless you let them be a deterrent 

• Reasons don’t matter. Throw the reasons out and make it happen. 

• Force often takes a lot more energy than power, when you’re powerful you flow and achieve 

• Knowledge is useless if you don’t apply it 

• Homework: Stop using reasons. Reframe your problems. Ask yourself if you’re doing or trying, and decide which one it is. 

Thank you so much for listening!

Please SUBSCRIBE and LEAVE US A REVIEW on iTunes! (Click here for instructions on how to do that).

We’re proud to announce that this week’s episode of The Science of Success is brought to you by our partners at Athletic Greens!

Athletic Greens is offering our listeners 20 FREE TRAVEL PACKS, a $79 value with your first purchase when you go to www.athleticgreens.com/success.

Start this year off with a new incredibly impactful and easy to maintain healthy habit with Athletic Greens. The fact is, the perfect diet doesn't exist, and ultimately falls short due to a busy lifestyle, travel schedule or restrictive diets. That's why Athletic Greens packs in 75 whole food sourced ingredients and covers you in 5 key areas of health, making it one of the most comprehensive supplements on the market.

Show Notes, Links, & Research

• [TEDTalk] Transforming healthcare for children and their families: Doug Dietz at TEDxSanJoseCA 2012

• [Video] Bernie Roth: "The Achievement Habit" | Talks at Google

• [SoS Episode] This Is What Will Make You Finally Take Action - How To Bridge The Learning Doing Gap with Peter Shallard

• [Book site] The Achievement Habit by Bernard Roth

Episode Transcript