352. Science-backed ways to navigate the hardest part of goals with motivation expert Ayelet Fishbach

SHOW NOTESEpisode 352: Science-backed ways to navigate the hardest part of goals with motivation expert Ayelet FishbachGuest: Ayelet Fishbach, PhD, award-winning Professor of Behavioral Science at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and author of "Get It Done."THIS WEEK'S TOPIC:Are you feeling your motivation start to wane as January rolls along? You’re not alone! This week we dig into strategies for closing the gap between the goals you set…and actually reaching them—especially when the excitement has worn off, and you find yourself slogging through the “messy middle.” Laura’s guest is renowned motivation expert Ayelet Fishbach, whose research and best-selling book, “Get It Done,” offer practical, research-backed actions you can take starting today.We discuss why the middle phase of goal pursuit feels the hardest, what science says about willpower (hint: it’s not your best strategy), how to build a support system that genuinely works, and how to recover from setbacks without the self-blame spiral. Whether your goal is health, business, family, or anything else, this episode is about designing motivation that works with your busy life (not against it!).ABOUT THIS WEEK’S GUEST:Ayelet Fishbach is one of the world’s leading experts on the psychology of motivation and goal pursuit. As a professor at Chicago Booth, she’s earned numerous awards for her work and carved a reputation for translating academic insights into actionable takeaways for daily life. Her book “Get It Done: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation” is a practical guide to picking the right goals, making progress visible, and reframing struggles as valuable information—not signs of failure.KEY TOPICS AND WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE:WHY THE “MESSY MIDDLE” IS SO HARD:Professor Fishbach explains why enthusiasm fades midway through a goal, and what to do about it.STRATEGIES BEYOND WILLPOWER: You actually DON’T need to “try harder”. Find out how designing your environment and finding the “easy way” is more effective than muscling through.THE POWER (AND LIMITS) OF ACCOUNTABILITY: How to set up social support that’s encouraging, not controlling, and what makes for feedback that pushes you forward rather than making you want to give up.TURNING SETBACKS INTO STEPPING STONES: Why anticipating setbacks (rather than being surprised by them!) is crucial, and how to recover when you inevitably hit an obstacle.RETHINKING INCENTIVES & SELF-CONTROL: The surprising downsides of rewards and how to keep your “big why” front and center so incentives support (not sabotage) your purpose.TEMPTATIONS AND LONG-TERM SUCCESS: How to outsmart temptation by changing how you frame decisions and the best way to strengthen your “goal muscle.”INTRINSIC MOTIVATION: The most important (and overlooked) predictor of whether you’ll stick with your goals, plus actionable ideas to make your resolutions more appealing and achievable in everyday life.There’s so much wisdom and encouragement in this conversation. As Laura and Ayelet candidly share (even the expert doesn’t always hit her own goals perfectly!), you’ll come away better equipped to navigate your own journey...one intentional, realistic step at a time.Be sure to share what resonated with you most! Connect with us via the links below.FEEDBACK & COMMUNITY:Which part of this episode resonated with you most? We’d love to hear! Contact us using the links below.LOOKING FOR MORE SHE SAID/SHE SAID? You’ll find all our episodes & lots more content: shesaidshesaidpodcast.comLET’S CONNECT!Instagram: @lauracoxkaplanLinkedIn: Laura Cox KaplanContact: shesaidshesaidpodcast.comEmail: [email protected] RATE AND REVIEW SHE SAID/SHE SAID PODCASTLove the show? Please consider leaving a review on Spotify, iTunes, GooglePlay, YouTube, or wherever you listen. Your feedback helps shape the podcast and brings more amazing content your way!MORE SPECIAL OFFERS FOR SHE SAID/SHE SAID PODCAST LISTENERS: Use the link below to shop all of our special offers and receive exclusive She Said listener discounts:Get them at: https://MyDeals.Page/1w7dBe sure to use our Promo Code: SHESAID at checkoutNote: She Said/She Said Podcast is a weekly production of She Said/She Said Media