Modern Wisdom – #688 – Steven Bartlett – 17 Raw Lessons About Human Nature

Intro

In this episode of the “Modern Wisdom” podcast, host Chris Williamson interviews Steven Bartlett, the CEO of Social Chain and author of “Happy Sexy Millionaire.” They discuss various lessons about human nature and how they can impact our perception and success in life.

Main Takeaways

The Power of Framing

• The frame matters more than the picture: the context and presentation of an object can significantly impact its perceived value
• Real estate and scarcity create value: giving an object space and limiting its availability can increase its perceived worth
• The frame in the story can make people believe something tastes entirely better
• The frame we place around our experience largely determines our experience
• Anchors around the thing you’re looking at provide tons of shortcuts

Beliefs and Self-Perception

• Our lives are essentially run on beliefs that we’ve accepted as true, whether they are objectively true or not, and changing limiting beliefs is crucial for success in any context
• Self-belief is overrated, evidence is more valuable in building confidence
• Shouting affirmations in the mirror won’t make you confident, but having undeniable proof of your abilities will
• Hypnosis can be used to change beliefs and behaviors, such as having a better relationship with sugar

Commitments and Discipline

• Keeping commitments to yourself is the path out of despair and leads to positive self-story and self-esteem
• Consistency is key to success, but it’s possible to have dual self-esteem in different areas of life
• Unkept commitments to oneself can lead to struggles in certain situations
• “How you do anything is how you do everything” can be a lot of pressure

Achieving Success and Mastery

• Truly exceptional people achieve disproportionate levels of success by obsessing over their craft with deep passion and curiosity
• Creativity comes from pulling pieces together in new ways and expressing oneself without the constraints of convention
• Passion for the industry you’re in is crucial for success and sustained curiosity
• Deep practitioners who spend years practicing their craft are the masters of their field

Dealing with Pressure and Public Perception

• Building a social network and retracting from social media helps to guard against criticism and scrutiny
• The ongoing paranoia of always being in the public eye can be numbing and overwhelming
• The price people pay for wealth and fame can be high, including the need for security and the inability to do simple things without being mobbed
• Successful deliberate approaches can become a prison that stops us from being more innovative and agile

Summary

The Power of Framing

Steven Bartlett emphasizes the importance of framing in shaping our perception and the value we assign to things. The context and presentation of an object can significantly impact its perceived worth. Real estate and scarcity can create value by giving an object space and limiting its availability. Anchors and shortcuts play a role in influencing our decisions and preferences. Great artists and innovators understand the power of the frame and use it to shape the consumer’s perception of their creations. By playing with the frame, they can change the story in the consumer’s mind without making significant advances in the product itself.

Beliefs and Self-Perception

Our beliefs, whether objectively true or not, shape our lives. Changing limiting beliefs is crucial for success in any context. While self-belief is often emphasized, Steven Bartlett argues that evidence is more valuable in building confidence. Shouting affirmations in the mirror may not make you confident, but having undeniable proof of your abilities will. Hypnosis can be a powerful tool for changing beliefs and behaviors, such as improving one’s relationship with sugar. By telling ourselves a new story about what we already believe, we can introduce new evidence and challenge our existing beliefs.

Commitments and Discipline

Keeping commitments to ourselves is essential for personal growth and positive self-esteem. Consistency is key to success, but it’s important to recognize that we can have dual self-esteem in different areas of life. Failing to keep commitments to ourselves can lead to struggles in certain situations. However, keeping tiny commitments to ourselves every day can create a positive, upward reinforcing spiral and change our lives. Our self-respect and self-esteem come from having faith in our own word. Controlling our thoughts and habits, such as not using our phone before going for a walk, can help us practice discipline and achieve our goals.

Achieving Success and Mastery

Truly exceptional people achieve disproportionate levels of success by obsessing over their craft with deep passion and curiosity. Mastery is achieved through natural dedication and practice, not just regurgitating what we learn. Creativity comes from pulling pieces together in new ways and expressing ourselves without the constraints of convention. Passion for the industry we’re in is crucial for sustained curiosity and success. Deep practitioners who spend years practicing their craft become the masters of their field. It’s important to prioritize the work we avoid and spend time practicing our craft, as the magic we’re looking for is often in the work we’re avoiding.

Dealing with Pressure and Public Perception

Building a social network and retracting from social media can help guard against criticism and scrutiny. The ongoing paranoia of always being in the public eye can be numbing and overwhelming. The price people pay for wealth and fame can be high, including the need for security and the inability to do simple things without being mobbed. Successful deliberate approaches can become a prison that stops us from being more innovative and agile. It’s important to focus on our own principles and what we’re doing, rather than getting caught up in public perception and trying to counteract it. Resilience and longevity in our endeavors require building sustainable systems and staying true to our own principles.

Conclusion

Steven Bartlett’s insights on framing, beliefs, commitments, success, and dealing with pressure provide valuable lessons for understanding human nature and achieving personal and professional growth. By understanding the power of framing, challenging our limiting beliefs, keeping commitments to ourselves, embracing our passion, and staying true to our principles, we can navigate the complexities of life and find success and fulfillment.