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Think Big: Take Small Steps and Build the Career You Want
Brought to you by Penguin.
What are you doing today to make your dream future come true?
We all have big ambitions for the future, but those dreams only become reality if we do something towards them regularly. To achieve audacious goals, we need to take action and make small changes every day. We need to think big and act small.
Drawing on cutting-edge research from behavioural science, Dr Grace Lordan offers immediate actionable solutions and tips that will help you get closer to your dream future, every day.
Focusing on six key areas - your time, goal planning, self-narratives, other people, your environment and resilience - Dr Lordan reveals practical, science-backed hacks that will help you get ahead. Each chapter introduces us to behavioural science concepts like the 'halo effect', 'confirmation bias', 'affect heuristic' and the 'ostrich effect', to help you better understand yourself and others, so that you can get the most out of your career.
Whether you fantasise about changing industry, landing that big promotion, writing a screenplay or setting up your own company, Think Big creates a clear pathway to the future you want now. Some of the things you'll learn include how
Overcome a fear of failure and throw yourself at opportunity Craft the optimum environment for work and give yourself ample time for tasks Rewrite self-narratives and tackle imposter syndrome Watch out for other people's biases and stop them from holding you back Think Big provides a practical framework to keep you moving in the right direction towards any goal. It will help you get out of your own way and propel you on the path to success, transforming you from dreamer to doer!
What are you doing today to make your dream future come true?
We all have big ambitions for the future, but those dreams only become reality if we do something towards them regularly. To achieve audacious goals, we need to take action and make small changes every day. We need to think big and act small.
Drawing on cutting-edge research from behavioural science, Dr Grace Lordan offers immediate actionable solutions and tips that will help you get closer to your dream future, every day.
Focusing on six key areas - your time, goal planning, self-narratives, other people, your environment and resilience - Dr Lordan reveals practical, science-backed hacks that will help you get ahead. Each chapter introduces us to behavioural science concepts like the 'halo effect', 'confirmation bias', 'affect heuristic' and the 'ostrich effect', to help you better understand yourself and others, so that you can get the most out of your career.
Whether you fantasise about changing industry, landing that big promotion, writing a screenplay or setting up your own company, Think Big creates a clear pathway to the future you want now. Some of the things you'll learn include how
Overcome a fear of failure and throw yourself at opportunity Craft the optimum environment for work and give yourself ample time for tasks Rewrite self-narratives and tackle imposter syndrome Watch out for other people's biases and stop them from holding you back Think Big provides a practical framework to keep you moving in the right direction towards any goal. It will help you get out of your own way and propel you on the path to success, transforming you from dreamer to doer!
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Published March 25, 2021
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June 8, 2021
Review
I was so excited to read this one because the first sentence that caught my eye was ‘What are you doing today to make your future dreams come true?’. I am beyond impressed with how detailed the author demonstrates behavioral science and the theories are so easy to understand. I do not read non-fiction so often nor a ‘master’ on non-fiction but it is a book. I am so invested in it that I break the spine multiple times. On the other hand, this is not a typical self-help book, it is very practical at any career stage.
📍 We need a big thinking goal and to achieve it, we need to take small steps. Each small step takes some time and we need to find the time. Other than that, we also need to look inside ourselves to find any reflection and learn how to navigate ourselves outside. Next, we need to find a suitable environment for us to achieve this big thinking goal. It is hard, but resilience simply can make us not give up on our big-thinking goal. All you need to do is begin.
📍Never underestimate the simple steps because they will allow you to shape your ideas. Everyone has their skill. Some of us are still finding what we are masters at, some of us already found it. One of the important skills is putting yourself out there, engaging people, and expanding your circle. By that, I mean finding a positive circle of positive people.
📍On your journey to reach your goal, several factors will drag you down. Especially the time-sinkers. One of the biggest interruptions is digital interruptions. I think most of us know what this means. We always get distracted by digital electronics by spending most of our time on social media or other platforms. With the current situation, students especially spend so much time on their digital electronics to do their work. Along with it, we will always end up not finishing our work because we are distracted to do something else.
📍Lastly, I want to recap the first point. Small steps are important. For example, to avoid the time-sinkers, you need to identify activities in your day that drain you. Identifying will lead to cutting them properly. To summarize, success does not come easily, sometimes life punches you down. You need to deal with it. Take the punch, get yourself up, be strong, move on and begin again.
Thank you @putrifariza and @times.reads for the copy
I was so excited to read this one because the first sentence that caught my eye was ‘What are you doing today to make your future dreams come true?’. I am beyond impressed with how detailed the author demonstrates behavioral science and the theories are so easy to understand. I do not read non-fiction so often nor a ‘master’ on non-fiction but it is a book. I am so invested in it that I break the spine multiple times. On the other hand, this is not a typical self-help book, it is very practical at any career stage.
📍 We need a big thinking goal and to achieve it, we need to take small steps. Each small step takes some time and we need to find the time. Other than that, we also need to look inside ourselves to find any reflection and learn how to navigate ourselves outside. Next, we need to find a suitable environment for us to achieve this big thinking goal. It is hard, but resilience simply can make us not give up on our big-thinking goal. All you need to do is begin.
📍Never underestimate the simple steps because they will allow you to shape your ideas. Everyone has their skill. Some of us are still finding what we are masters at, some of us already found it. One of the important skills is putting yourself out there, engaging people, and expanding your circle. By that, I mean finding a positive circle of positive people.
📍On your journey to reach your goal, several factors will drag you down. Especially the time-sinkers. One of the biggest interruptions is digital interruptions. I think most of us know what this means. We always get distracted by digital electronics by spending most of our time on social media or other platforms. With the current situation, students especially spend so much time on their digital electronics to do their work. Along with it, we will always end up not finishing our work because we are distracted to do something else.
📍Lastly, I want to recap the first point. Small steps are important. For example, to avoid the time-sinkers, you need to identify activities in your day that drain you. Identifying will lead to cutting them properly. To summarize, success does not come easily, sometimes life punches you down. You need to deal with it. Take the punch, get yourself up, be strong, move on and begin again.
Thank you @putrifariza and @times.reads for the copy
October 22, 2022
I swore to myself earlier this year that Atomic Habits will be the last self help book I read this year but I couldn't help it when I saw this book displayed on the library shelf, waiting for me to grab it. I first heard about this book when I listened to Ali Abdaal's podcast with the author, Grave Lordan last year. I was going through a career crisis that time and watching that podcast with Grace really helped me evaluate what I wanted in my career. I was tempted to get her book that time but I didn't have enough time to read. Fast forward to now, and I'm happy with where I'm at in my career and I have time to actually read. Even though this book would've helped me more last year, I'm glad I picked it up this year because right now, I'm in the career I want and to keep moving forward, I need to "think big". The book is pretty much the career book version of Atomic Habits but it gives more practical tips on how to achieve the goals you want and become the person you want to be in the future (or a ME+). The author is also a behavioural scientist so she really knows her stuff especially around biases which I found the most interesting. I was shocked and amazed by the amount of biases I have - I really had to sit down and think deeply about how they were hindering my journey. I also enjoyed reading the "Resilience" chapter too.
This book seems to be targeted to those that are in the tech/start-up/business area but I, coming from a healthcare background, still found it useful because it gave me a practical guide on how to move progress in my career. For me, I think this is a book I'd like to buy for my shelf so I can refer to it from time to time whenever I have a career meltdown again.
This book seems to be targeted to those that are in the tech/start-up/business area but I, coming from a healthcare background, still found it useful because it gave me a practical guide on how to move progress in my career. For me, I think this is a book I'd like to buy for my shelf so I can refer to it from time to time whenever I have a career meltdown again.
February 11, 2023
This book is pretty good, but I just think I wasn't the right audience. It's more targeted to people who already have started their careers and hit a plateau they want to jump from. Most of the concepts were already familiar to me and the insights, even though very helpful, were too similar to other similar reads I have already finished. All in all, I like Lordan's writing and examples but expected a bit more thinking rather than just tools.
November 24, 2021
Doesn’t rlly apply to my life rn, very business oriented. What I actually picked up: attend to a network meeting/workshop every month and meet new ppl there, keep ur environment distraction free, build resilience by practicing gratitude and SLEEP ENOUGH.
April 18, 2022
I think I made a mistake in choosing to listen to this book as an audiobook because it is quite a practical guide and you are implored by the author to take part in physical tasks/activities (nothing more strenuous than writing a list), which I must admit I found difficult to do when walking through the middle of a field in the blustering rain with my muddy labrador. I would potentially buy a physical copy of this book in the future if I found it for a reasonable price and I felt like I needed to do an audit of my career progress, but for now I've gleaned a few little insights which were interesting and I think could be useful at present. There was however, nothing groundbreaking in this book, I had hoped it would be starkly different to other self-help books (and I've only read a couple!) with the behavioural science angle, but it did just feel like other thoughts regurgitated with a behavioural-science-twist. Also (and this is purely a personal pet peeve) I found it so hard to take DR Grace Lordan seriously when she kept saying 'pacifically' instead of 'specifically', I mean she's clearly an intelligent woman but this really tested my patience, especially when that word is used at least 100 times.
May 12, 2025
Είχα βρει το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο τυχαία και σε πολύ προσιτή τιμή.
Πραγματικά δεν περίμενα να είναι τόσο καλό.
Σου δίνει πολλά μαθήματα από τις συμπεριφορικές επιστήμες για το πώς να πετύχεις τους μεγάλους στόχους σου.
Η συγγραφέας είναι καθηγήτρια στον τομέα και το βιβλίο επίσης παραθέτει και ένα πλήθος βιβλιογραφίας.
Πραγματικά το προτείνω ανεπιφύλακτα.
Από εμένα:
5/5
Πραγματικά δεν περίμενα να είναι τόσο καλό.
Σου δίνει πολλά μαθήματα από τις συμπεριφορικές επιστήμες για το πώς να πετύχεις τους μεγάλους στόχους σου.
Η συγγραφέας είναι καθηγήτρια στον τομέα και το βιβλίο επίσης παραθέτει και ένα πλήθος βιβλιογραφίας.
Πραγματικά το προτείνω ανεπιφύλακτα.
Από εμένα:
5/5
February 2, 2023
Great book full of practical exercises.
May 1, 2023
Best self-help book of the year I must say
December 27, 2024
The book is about how behavioral science can help us achieve our mid-term goals via small steps we make regularly. Bellow is a summary of first part of the book that can give you good overview of what to expect.
It is easy to have big dreams, but it is hard and takes years of effort to make them reality. But it is not like prize is at the end and we do not get to enjoy the journey towards achieving our dreams. You need first to set a goal and identify the activities (small steps) that will take you there. Then you need to find time to do your small steps whose pay offs are in the future instead of doing things that give us immediate gratification. Third is looking inside ourselves in order to address own cognitive biases that are holding us back. Fourth is looking outside and addressing cognitive biases of others that hold us back. Fifth is about environment affecting our goal. Last is about building resilience and not giving up on your goal.
After we decide on our midterm goal and make corresponding plan of action it is time to investigate whether we have some narrative that leads us to quit before we even start. Narratives about our inabilities become self-fulfilling prophecies. Typical unconsciously created narratives are blaming others or making excuses for quitting such as “They do not value all the work I do”, ”I am too busy already”, “I can’t do that”, “I am not smart enough”, “I will never be good as pros in the field, so why bother?”, “I do not want to start something I cannot give my whole self to” etc. These perfectionist narratives ensure we do not even start if there is a chance of failure. They serve a purpose of shielding us from failure and from losing face by keeping us in comfort zone. But to achieve big thinking goal you need to step out of comfort zone and take a risk.
The quitting narratives we handle by asking ourselves why we think so. Such narratives are typically about our beliefs in our inability of some kind and are held in place by confirmation bias (disregarding all evidence that is contrary to our beliefs). In order to change we need to uncover and combat those false stories about ourselves. Negative thinking patterns often start in childhood. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps people change such stories about themselves. People with fixed mindset are the ones who have false stories about their permanent and innate inabilities and seek to stay in comfort zone safe from failing. On the other hand people with growth mindset believe that all skills can be developed and are open to changing their narratives. Person with fixed mindset can learn to adopt growth mindset.
Narrative is changed by engaging in process of change in behavior. Process is a set of small steps. Rather than labeling yourself as unproductive, start making the small steps that initiate change in yours productivity. When behavior is changed, new narrative is internalized. Think of strengths and weaknesses as results of the process you engage in. Focus on process and not on outcome because process is totally under your control. View your future self as person worth your time, empathy and effort.
Envision a doable goal that can be achieved with hard effort. Focus not on lifestyle or money you want but on how would you like your future self to be earning living doing what you have passion about so big that you can’t wait to get up from your bed in the morning. Identify detailed work activities that you will enjoy. That will help you create small steps. Next identify the skills that you are missing that your future self will have. Your small steps will be the activities you want to engage in and your skills will be the outcome. Expose yourself to people who already do what you want to do. Apart from getting useful tips that may also provide you with some opportunities as well.
Rather than learning just to pass exams to get some certificate, become continuous learner always seeking for ways to improve your skills and knowledge. Nowadays you can learn a lot on free and cheap resources. To stay on course once a week do a review of what you achieved in past week and how will that help you achieve your big thinking goal, check how far are you on the milestones you set. It is essential that your progress is clear and noticeable. Using flow state and deliberate practice will help you learn better and enjoy it more. It takes around 10 000 hours to become top expert in chosen field so be patient.
Time is most precious resource. You can’t buy it. You can’t return it. Commit to fight against procrastination and distraction. Time sinkers are activities that mostly just waste our time such as obsession with social media or watching tv or attending pointless meetings or obsessively checking email. Perform time audits to realize what you waste time on instead of working on your plans.
Think how to lower immediate costs and increase immediate benefits of doing your small steps and increase immediate costs and lower immediate benefits of engaging in time sinkers. Put your alarm clock further in room to increase cost of just snoozing it automatically. Put your exercise gear next to your bed to lower cost of starting the workout early in the morning. Reward yourself with activity you like for doing activity you dislike.
You can also use commitment device as a stick. Oblige to do something and that if you do not you have to punish yourself financially or by not allowing yourself some activity you love. This makes costs of not doing planned steps immediate. E.g. you can pledge to give money to a cause you really dislike in case you do not achieve planned. Making costs and benefits occur immediately ensures you stay in track.
It is important to believe in yourself or at least have someone who believes in you. Studies have shown that when teachers believed in abilities of their students, students performed significantly better. Nurture belief in yourself by reminding yourself that with effort you can upgrade your skills and character traits. Simply believing that you can improve in any skill gives you immediate performance boosts.
Beware of time, cost and risks estimates of planned activity.
The more clearly you tie small steps to vision of your future self the more you will have purpose and motivation. Think whether your goal serves higher purpose and aligns with your core values. When the goal is observed as meaningful, people show up regularly and put much more effort into it and that leads to increased happiness and feeling proud and reduced stress and cynicism. You want to link your goals to benefit of others, of family, of community or even humanity.
Do weekly analysis of what did you get done from what you planned. Seeing progress improves performance. What gets measured gets done. Reward yourself when your output significantly exceeds your plans.
Commit to being brutally honest with yourself. Do analysis of failures. Do not mistake being not prepared for bad luck or being lucky with being successful. Reflect on how your effort and decisions brought you to the place where you are now. Judge your progress by quality of your decisions not by quality of the outcomes you got. If you have the same problem over and over again think twice before blaming others or the life being unfair to you. Get as much feedback as possible from a failure and from success.
Emotions play big role in deciding what to do. This can have big effect on you starting or quitting your midterm goal. You may be not showing up because you feel failure. A frustration at a lack of progress may cause you to quit. Or you may be avoiding necessary steps that are difficult and not pleasant. Always test which emotions are behind your decision. Do not make big decisions in haste. Any big life decision should be made with a cool head. Ask for time to let thoughts settle when you are put on the spot. Make analysis of costs, benefits and risks of pathways you take. Fulfilling your daily plans is never all or nothing. Be happy also when you show up and have some progress even if it is much less than planned. Journaling may help being mindful about role of emotions in your process.
It is easy to have big dreams, but it is hard and takes years of effort to make them reality. But it is not like prize is at the end and we do not get to enjoy the journey towards achieving our dreams. You need first to set a goal and identify the activities (small steps) that will take you there. Then you need to find time to do your small steps whose pay offs are in the future instead of doing things that give us immediate gratification. Third is looking inside ourselves in order to address own cognitive biases that are holding us back. Fourth is looking outside and addressing cognitive biases of others that hold us back. Fifth is about environment affecting our goal. Last is about building resilience and not giving up on your goal.
After we decide on our midterm goal and make corresponding plan of action it is time to investigate whether we have some narrative that leads us to quit before we even start. Narratives about our inabilities become self-fulfilling prophecies. Typical unconsciously created narratives are blaming others or making excuses for quitting such as “They do not value all the work I do”, ”I am too busy already”, “I can’t do that”, “I am not smart enough”, “I will never be good as pros in the field, so why bother?”, “I do not want to start something I cannot give my whole self to” etc. These perfectionist narratives ensure we do not even start if there is a chance of failure. They serve a purpose of shielding us from failure and from losing face by keeping us in comfort zone. But to achieve big thinking goal you need to step out of comfort zone and take a risk.
The quitting narratives we handle by asking ourselves why we think so. Such narratives are typically about our beliefs in our inability of some kind and are held in place by confirmation bias (disregarding all evidence that is contrary to our beliefs). In order to change we need to uncover and combat those false stories about ourselves. Negative thinking patterns often start in childhood. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps people change such stories about themselves. People with fixed mindset are the ones who have false stories about their permanent and innate inabilities and seek to stay in comfort zone safe from failing. On the other hand people with growth mindset believe that all skills can be developed and are open to changing their narratives. Person with fixed mindset can learn to adopt growth mindset.
Narrative is changed by engaging in process of change in behavior. Process is a set of small steps. Rather than labeling yourself as unproductive, start making the small steps that initiate change in yours productivity. When behavior is changed, new narrative is internalized. Think of strengths and weaknesses as results of the process you engage in. Focus on process and not on outcome because process is totally under your control. View your future self as person worth your time, empathy and effort.
Envision a doable goal that can be achieved with hard effort. Focus not on lifestyle or money you want but on how would you like your future self to be earning living doing what you have passion about so big that you can’t wait to get up from your bed in the morning. Identify detailed work activities that you will enjoy. That will help you create small steps. Next identify the skills that you are missing that your future self will have. Your small steps will be the activities you want to engage in and your skills will be the outcome. Expose yourself to people who already do what you want to do. Apart from getting useful tips that may also provide you with some opportunities as well.
Rather than learning just to pass exams to get some certificate, become continuous learner always seeking for ways to improve your skills and knowledge. Nowadays you can learn a lot on free and cheap resources. To stay on course once a week do a review of what you achieved in past week and how will that help you achieve your big thinking goal, check how far are you on the milestones you set. It is essential that your progress is clear and noticeable. Using flow state and deliberate practice will help you learn better and enjoy it more. It takes around 10 000 hours to become top expert in chosen field so be patient.
Time is most precious resource. You can’t buy it. You can’t return it. Commit to fight against procrastination and distraction. Time sinkers are activities that mostly just waste our time such as obsession with social media or watching tv or attending pointless meetings or obsessively checking email. Perform time audits to realize what you waste time on instead of working on your plans.
Think how to lower immediate costs and increase immediate benefits of doing your small steps and increase immediate costs and lower immediate benefits of engaging in time sinkers. Put your alarm clock further in room to increase cost of just snoozing it automatically. Put your exercise gear next to your bed to lower cost of starting the workout early in the morning. Reward yourself with activity you like for doing activity you dislike.
You can also use commitment device as a stick. Oblige to do something and that if you do not you have to punish yourself financially or by not allowing yourself some activity you love. This makes costs of not doing planned steps immediate. E.g. you can pledge to give money to a cause you really dislike in case you do not achieve planned. Making costs and benefits occur immediately ensures you stay in track.
It is important to believe in yourself or at least have someone who believes in you. Studies have shown that when teachers believed in abilities of their students, students performed significantly better. Nurture belief in yourself by reminding yourself that with effort you can upgrade your skills and character traits. Simply believing that you can improve in any skill gives you immediate performance boosts.
Beware of time, cost and risks estimates of planned activity.
The more clearly you tie small steps to vision of your future self the more you will have purpose and motivation. Think whether your goal serves higher purpose and aligns with your core values. When the goal is observed as meaningful, people show up regularly and put much more effort into it and that leads to increased happiness and feeling proud and reduced stress and cynicism. You want to link your goals to benefit of others, of family, of community or even humanity.
Do weekly analysis of what did you get done from what you planned. Seeing progress improves performance. What gets measured gets done. Reward yourself when your output significantly exceeds your plans.
Commit to being brutally honest with yourself. Do analysis of failures. Do not mistake being not prepared for bad luck or being lucky with being successful. Reflect on how your effort and decisions brought you to the place where you are now. Judge your progress by quality of your decisions not by quality of the outcomes you got. If you have the same problem over and over again think twice before blaming others or the life being unfair to you. Get as much feedback as possible from a failure and from success.
Emotions play big role in deciding what to do. This can have big effect on you starting or quitting your midterm goal. You may be not showing up because you feel failure. A frustration at a lack of progress may cause you to quit. Or you may be avoiding necessary steps that are difficult and not pleasant. Always test which emotions are behind your decision. Do not make big decisions in haste. Any big life decision should be made with a cool head. Ask for time to let thoughts settle when you are put on the spot. Make analysis of costs, benefits and risks of pathways you take. Fulfilling your daily plans is never all or nothing. Be happy also when you show up and have some progress even if it is much less than planned. Journaling may help being mindful about role of emotions in your process.
December 25, 2024
Grace Lordan’s Think Big, Take Small Steps offers a blend of behavioural economics, career advice, and personal anecdotes aimed at helping readers craft fulfilling and meaningful professional lives. This book serves as a good refresher on behavioral economics concepts like cognitive biases, habit formation, and decision-making processes. Adam Grant aptly describes it as “a rare self-help book that’s actually informed by evidence.” While the book may not break new ground for readers already familiar with behavioural economics or self-help principles, its practical advice and emphasis on small, actionable steps make it a useful starting point for career development.
I really wanted to like this book, at a time when I was going through a particularly tough time navigating the next step to take in my career. I understand that it's meant to make behavioural economic concepts accessible to a wide audience who are picking up this book with the primary and much broader goal of achieving life goals. Unfortunately, she goes over behavioural science principles with too light a touch to be truly informative and she occasionally lapses into oversimplified or repetitive advice.
Key Takeaways
1. The Value of Small, Incremental Steps
Lordan argues that achieving audacious goals requires taking small, manageable actions every day. This echoes concepts from Atomic Habits and Thinking, Fast and Slow: success is less about sweeping changes and more about steady progress. “We all have big ambitions for the future, but those dreams only become reality if we do something towards them regularly.”
2. Awareness of Behavioural Biases
The book introduces readers to concepts like the spotlight effect, anchoring, and omission bias, offering practical ways to recognise and mitigate these biases in career decisions. For example: “If you recognise that you are suffering from anchoring or the curse of knowledge, actively seeking feedback can help.”
3. Maintaining Openness to Opportunities
Lordan encourages readers to challenge omission bias and action bias when unexpected opportunities arise. A particularly compelling example involves her own decision to pursue a PhD: “How should you approach opportunities that arise out of the blue? Start by being aware of how biases affect your decision-making process on these occasions.”
Critiques and Reservations
1. “Insights” That Aren’t Insightful
Many of the so-called “insights” feel self-evident, such as “remaining open to new opportunities” or “not relying on a single source of feedback.” She stresses, "It is your own responsibility to seek feedback regularly and with a specific agenda." Aren't these basic critical thinking principles dressed up as behavioural science? While this is solid advice, for anyone who can engage in decent critical thinking, it reads overly obvious rather than insightful. Compare this with Scott Adams's How to Fail at Almost Everything which explores similar themes with far more wit and concision.
2. Repetition and Lack of Depth
Several concepts, such as feedback, appear repeatedly in different chapters with little new to add. Behavioural science terms are often introduced briefly, almost as if ticking off a checklist, without being sufficiently fleshed out.
3. Relatability
Much of the book’s examples come from Lordan’s personal academic journey, from high school to her PhD. While these are meant to be relatable, they can feel distant for working adults who are navigating corporate, entrepreneurial, or industry-specific contexts. Given that fewer than 5% of adults in developed countries hold a PhD, this framing might alienate a significant portion of her audience.
4. Casual and Unfocused Delivery
At times, the book veers off into personal opinions or casual assertions that detract from its focus on behavioural science. For example, pages-long commentary on authenticity ("be your true self") feels misplaced in a book that positions itself as practical applications of behavioural economics to everyday life.
Memorable Moments
Despite its flaws, the book does have standout moments, especially in its closing remarks: “Whenever you encounter people, you don’t know what is going on in their lives. Slow down and pay attention. When we are racing around, System 1 allows us to perform pretty well on autopilot, but it can also cause us to miss moments when other people need us to notice them.”
This sentiment reflects Lordan’s core message of balancing ambition with empathy and intentionality, giving the book a heartfelt conclusion. Lordan’s key message—that big dreams require small, consistent actions—is both timeless and empowering. Her heart shines through in the concluding paragraphs, where she emphasizes kindness and patience in our interactions with others, adding a thoughtful human touch to the career-driven narrative. It is Lordan’s genuine desire to help others succeed that adds an earnest charm to her writing, even if the delivery occasionally falters.
tl;dr: A well-intentioned but uneven read that provides practical, evidence-based advice but lacks the depth and flair to stand out in the crowded self-help genre.
I really wanted to like this book, at a time when I was going through a particularly tough time navigating the next step to take in my career. I understand that it's meant to make behavioural economic concepts accessible to a wide audience who are picking up this book with the primary and much broader goal of achieving life goals. Unfortunately, she goes over behavioural science principles with too light a touch to be truly informative and she occasionally lapses into oversimplified or repetitive advice.
Key Takeaways
1. The Value of Small, Incremental Steps
Lordan argues that achieving audacious goals requires taking small, manageable actions every day. This echoes concepts from Atomic Habits and Thinking, Fast and Slow: success is less about sweeping changes and more about steady progress. “We all have big ambitions for the future, but those dreams only become reality if we do something towards them regularly.”
2. Awareness of Behavioural Biases
The book introduces readers to concepts like the spotlight effect, anchoring, and omission bias, offering practical ways to recognise and mitigate these biases in career decisions. For example: “If you recognise that you are suffering from anchoring or the curse of knowledge, actively seeking feedback can help.”
3. Maintaining Openness to Opportunities
Lordan encourages readers to challenge omission bias and action bias when unexpected opportunities arise. A particularly compelling example involves her own decision to pursue a PhD: “How should you approach opportunities that arise out of the blue? Start by being aware of how biases affect your decision-making process on these occasions.”
Critiques and Reservations
1. “Insights” That Aren’t Insightful
Many of the so-called “insights” feel self-evident, such as “remaining open to new opportunities” or “not relying on a single source of feedback.” She stresses, "It is your own responsibility to seek feedback regularly and with a specific agenda." Aren't these basic critical thinking principles dressed up as behavioural science? While this is solid advice, for anyone who can engage in decent critical thinking, it reads overly obvious rather than insightful. Compare this with Scott Adams's How to Fail at Almost Everything which explores similar themes with far more wit and concision.
2. Repetition and Lack of Depth
Several concepts, such as feedback, appear repeatedly in different chapters with little new to add. Behavioural science terms are often introduced briefly, almost as if ticking off a checklist, without being sufficiently fleshed out.
3. Relatability
Much of the book’s examples come from Lordan’s personal academic journey, from high school to her PhD. While these are meant to be relatable, they can feel distant for working adults who are navigating corporate, entrepreneurial, or industry-specific contexts. Given that fewer than 5% of adults in developed countries hold a PhD, this framing might alienate a significant portion of her audience.
4. Casual and Unfocused Delivery
At times, the book veers off into personal opinions or casual assertions that detract from its focus on behavioural science. For example, pages-long commentary on authenticity ("be your true self") feels misplaced in a book that positions itself as practical applications of behavioural economics to everyday life.
Memorable Moments
Despite its flaws, the book does have standout moments, especially in its closing remarks: “Whenever you encounter people, you don’t know what is going on in their lives. Slow down and pay attention. When we are racing around, System 1 allows us to perform pretty well on autopilot, but it can also cause us to miss moments when other people need us to notice them.”
This sentiment reflects Lordan’s core message of balancing ambition with empathy and intentionality, giving the book a heartfelt conclusion. Lordan’s key message—that big dreams require small, consistent actions—is both timeless and empowering. Her heart shines through in the concluding paragraphs, where she emphasizes kindness and patience in our interactions with others, adding a thoughtful human touch to the career-driven narrative. It is Lordan’s genuine desire to help others succeed that adds an earnest charm to her writing, even if the delivery occasionally falters.
tl;dr: A well-intentioned but uneven read that provides practical, evidence-based advice but lacks the depth and flair to stand out in the crowded self-help genre.
July 20, 2024
Mi sono convinta a comprare Think Big dopo aver ascoltato l’episodio di Deep Dive with Ali Abdaal con ospite l’autrice, Grace Lordan.
Ascolto il podcast di Ali Abdaal con un grado di intenzionalità che non riservo a tanti podcast: scelgo l’episodio in base a ciò di cui ho bisogno sul momento e il titolo di quello con Grace Lordan è “How to choose the right career”.
Ambizioso. Ma in quel momento spaventoso in cui avevo appena realizzato di star investendo nella professione sbagliata l’ambizione era esattamente ciò di cui avevo bisogno.
Tutto quello che avevo erano suggestioni, vaghe idee rispetto ad attività su cui mi sarebbe piaciuto investire ma non riuscivo a far quadrare tutto in un progetto strutturato.
Sono sempre stata molto scettica rispetto ai libri di self-help ma ultimamente sto abbracciando l’idea che in un mare di pubblicazioni inutili e a tratti dannose ci siano anche dei volumi utili, e Think Big a mio parere è uno di quelli.
Il lavoro di Grace Lordan si basa sulle scienze comportamentali e ruota attorno al concetto di ME+ ossia la versione di te che si è presa il tempo di pensare in grande e ha messo a punto un piano per raggiungere il futuro dei suoi sogni. Per qualche motivo ho subito associato questo concetto alla domanda “come ti vedi tra cinque anni”?
Ho sempre trovato questa domanda tanto spaventosa da non aver mai voluto cercare una risposta e ciò che è successo con la lettura di Think Big è che non solo l’ho trovata, ma non mi sono dovuta sedere a tavolino per elaborarla. ME+ ha iniziato a formarsi spontaneamente nella mia testa sin dall'ascolto del podcast e si è rafforzata un po’ di più ad ogni nuovo capitolo del libro. Grace Lordan trasuda sicurezza e sono contenta di essermi lasciata guidare dalle sue parole perché mi ha aiutata a trovare ciò di cui avevo bisogno: un metodo per individuare una nuova strada e sufficiente fiducia nelle mie capacità per intraprenderla.
Qualsiasi sia il vostro ambito di riferimento, se avete voglia di guardare al vostro futuro lavorativo con occhi nuovi o semplicemente diversi vi consiglio di leggere questo libro. Personalmente stile e struttura non mi hanno fatta impazzire ma i contenuti sono assolutamente validi.
Ascolto il podcast di Ali Abdaal con un grado di intenzionalità che non riservo a tanti podcast: scelgo l’episodio in base a ciò di cui ho bisogno sul momento e il titolo di quello con Grace Lordan è “How to choose the right career”.
Ambizioso. Ma in quel momento spaventoso in cui avevo appena realizzato di star investendo nella professione sbagliata l’ambizione era esattamente ciò di cui avevo bisogno.
Tutto quello che avevo erano suggestioni, vaghe idee rispetto ad attività su cui mi sarebbe piaciuto investire ma non riuscivo a far quadrare tutto in un progetto strutturato.
Sono sempre stata molto scettica rispetto ai libri di self-help ma ultimamente sto abbracciando l’idea che in un mare di pubblicazioni inutili e a tratti dannose ci siano anche dei volumi utili, e Think Big a mio parere è uno di quelli.
Il lavoro di Grace Lordan si basa sulle scienze comportamentali e ruota attorno al concetto di ME+ ossia la versione di te che si è presa il tempo di pensare in grande e ha messo a punto un piano per raggiungere il futuro dei suoi sogni. Per qualche motivo ho subito associato questo concetto alla domanda “come ti vedi tra cinque anni”?
Ho sempre trovato questa domanda tanto spaventosa da non aver mai voluto cercare una risposta e ciò che è successo con la lettura di Think Big è che non solo l’ho trovata, ma non mi sono dovuta sedere a tavolino per elaborarla. ME+ ha iniziato a formarsi spontaneamente nella mia testa sin dall'ascolto del podcast e si è rafforzata un po’ di più ad ogni nuovo capitolo del libro. Grace Lordan trasuda sicurezza e sono contenta di essermi lasciata guidare dalle sue parole perché mi ha aiutata a trovare ciò di cui avevo bisogno: un metodo per individuare una nuova strada e sufficiente fiducia nelle mie capacità per intraprenderla.
Qualsiasi sia il vostro ambito di riferimento, se avete voglia di guardare al vostro futuro lavorativo con occhi nuovi o semplicemente diversi vi consiglio di leggere questo libro. Personalmente stile e struttura non mi hanno fatta impazzire ma i contenuti sono assolutamente validi.
December 31, 2023
I’ve taken copious notes from this book. So copious, in fact, that I can compile and publish them as a book of my own.
In the toxic world of woo-woo self-help, a book like this rarely surfaces. To my personal delight, this book fell into my lap at the perfect moment. I stand at a crossroads: As I step into my 20s, I have to decide what I want to do in the next 5-6 decades of my life and carve a career that doesn’t make me kill myself.
This books is based on an idea which has been repeated countless times by other self-help gurus as well. The idea is this: Think big in terms of years and decades; break those big-thinking goals down into manageable chunks that you can work on; start taking small steps towards those goals. People think that the key to transforming your life is working too hard and too much. Starting too big is a one-way ticket to misery and failure.
The thing that I liked the most about this book is its practicality. Most books in this genre are very abstract – they give you a bunch of ideas without telling you what to do with them. This book, on the other hand, forces you to sit your ass down and actually work on your life. Every chapter features multiple exercises that help you think/act clearly and realistically about your future.
One thing that I didn’t like about this book is that, like all the other books in this genre, this one also caters to a certain well-off section of Western society. If you, like me, are living in a third-world country, you might find it difficult to relate to most of the ideas and advice in this book. You have to be creative in how you approach these concepts so that they can work for you too.
Overall, it’s an excellent book. 9/10. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to have something going for them.
The author also has a great podcast with Ali Abdaal on YouTube. Check that out as well.
In the toxic world of woo-woo self-help, a book like this rarely surfaces. To my personal delight, this book fell into my lap at the perfect moment. I stand at a crossroads: As I step into my 20s, I have to decide what I want to do in the next 5-6 decades of my life and carve a career that doesn’t make me kill myself.
This books is based on an idea which has been repeated countless times by other self-help gurus as well. The idea is this: Think big in terms of years and decades; break those big-thinking goals down into manageable chunks that you can work on; start taking small steps towards those goals. People think that the key to transforming your life is working too hard and too much. Starting too big is a one-way ticket to misery and failure.
The thing that I liked the most about this book is its practicality. Most books in this genre are very abstract – they give you a bunch of ideas without telling you what to do with them. This book, on the other hand, forces you to sit your ass down and actually work on your life. Every chapter features multiple exercises that help you think/act clearly and realistically about your future.
One thing that I didn’t like about this book is that, like all the other books in this genre, this one also caters to a certain well-off section of Western society. If you, like me, are living in a third-world country, you might find it difficult to relate to most of the ideas and advice in this book. You have to be creative in how you approach these concepts so that they can work for you too.
Overall, it’s an excellent book. 9/10. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to have something going for them.
The author also has a great podcast with Ali Abdaal on YouTube. Check that out as well.
July 27, 2025
Think Big encourages readers to envision a bold future for themselves—what Lordan calls “ME+”—and then break the journey down into small, consistent, evidence-based steps. Using behavioural science as its foundation, the book empowers readers to overcome internal and external obstacles, rewire habits, and commit to long-term personal and professional growth.
Main Arguments / Frameworks:
Grace Lordan proposes a six-part behavioural science framework to help readers move toward their goals:
Goal – Define a big-thinking vision of your future self (ME+).
Time – Conduct time audits and beat procrastination using nudges and routines.
Inside – Identify and rewire personal cognitive biases and limiting beliefs.
Outside – Recognize and navigate biases and barriers in your environment.
Environment – Design your physical and digital spaces to support new habits.
Resilience – Develop emotional strength to persevere when things go wrong.
The final chapter, Journey, ties it all together by emphasizing reflection, iteration, and celebrating progress.
Worth Reading Today? Yes — especially if you're navigating a transition, looking for clarity, or need motivation grounded in science rather than slogans.
Think Big is a practical, well-researched, and motivating guide that balances behavioural insights with real-life application. It stands out by avoiding gimmicks and showing how sustainable change is built—one small step at a time.
Main Arguments / Frameworks:
Grace Lordan proposes a six-part behavioural science framework to help readers move toward their goals:
Goal – Define a big-thinking vision of your future self (ME+).
Time – Conduct time audits and beat procrastination using nudges and routines.
Inside – Identify and rewire personal cognitive biases and limiting beliefs.
Outside – Recognize and navigate biases and barriers in your environment.
Environment – Design your physical and digital spaces to support new habits.
Resilience – Develop emotional strength to persevere when things go wrong.
The final chapter, Journey, ties it all together by emphasizing reflection, iteration, and celebrating progress.
Worth Reading Today? Yes — especially if you're navigating a transition, looking for clarity, or need motivation grounded in science rather than slogans.
Think Big is a practical, well-researched, and motivating guide that balances behavioural insights with real-life application. It stands out by avoiding gimmicks and showing how sustainable change is built—one small step at a time.
April 14, 2023
"Self-awareness is the foundation for everything that follows. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses, your likes and dislikes, your values and beliefs, and what motivates you is essential for making good decisions and pursuing a fulfilling career."
The book offers practical advice and insights on how to find a career that you can succeed at and actually enjoy. Dr Grace Lordan uses relatable examples and real-life stories to illustrate her points and make the concepts easy to understand and implement.
One strategy the book suggests is to break down big goals into smaller, more manageable steps. The author calls this the "think small to think big" approach. By breaking down a big goal into smaller, achievable tasks, it becomes less overwhelming and more attainable. This also allows for progress to be tracked and celebrated along the way, which can be motivating and build momentum towards the ultimate goal.
The writing style is engaging and easy to read, with a clear and organised structure that guides readers through the concepts and exercises. The book is suitable for anyone looking to make positive changes in their personal or professional life, regardless of their level of experience or expertise.
The book offers practical advice and insights on how to find a career that you can succeed at and actually enjoy. Dr Grace Lordan uses relatable examples and real-life stories to illustrate her points and make the concepts easy to understand and implement.
One strategy the book suggests is to break down big goals into smaller, more manageable steps. The author calls this the "think small to think big" approach. By breaking down a big goal into smaller, achievable tasks, it becomes less overwhelming and more attainable. This also allows for progress to be tracked and celebrated along the way, which can be motivating and build momentum towards the ultimate goal.
The writing style is engaging and easy to read, with a clear and organised structure that guides readers through the concepts and exercises. The book is suitable for anyone looking to make positive changes in their personal or professional life, regardless of their level of experience or expertise.
May 6, 2022
Think Big by Dr Grace Lordan is a fantastic book that strays from other books that fall under the self-help category, as this book offers practical actions to implement into your life. Primarily providing insights into our cognitive biases and how that can impede our career goals.
The main takeaways:
• to find a job you will enjoy think of the daily tasks and activities you will do on that job. If you enjoy the daily tasks you will enjoy the job. We often like the idea of a career (for example becoming a lawyer fighting for justice in the courts) but we don’t know that the daily grind is comparatively unglamorous (lawyers work long hours)
• Implement small habits to build transferable goals that will benefit your career, by dedicating time to developing such skills
• the end-of-history effect underestimates how much we can change in the future. Remember that so much can happen in a couple of weeks, months and years in terms of your career.
I would recommend this to anyone who feels lost in terms of what career they want to pursue and for anyone in general who feels dissatisfied with their current work situation. Wonderful book!
The main takeaways:
• to find a job you will enjoy think of the daily tasks and activities you will do on that job. If you enjoy the daily tasks you will enjoy the job. We often like the idea of a career (for example becoming a lawyer fighting for justice in the courts) but we don’t know that the daily grind is comparatively unglamorous (lawyers work long hours)
• Implement small habits to build transferable goals that will benefit your career, by dedicating time to developing such skills
• the end-of-history effect underestimates how much we can change in the future. Remember that so much can happen in a couple of weeks, months and years in terms of your career.
I would recommend this to anyone who feels lost in terms of what career they want to pursue and for anyone in general who feels dissatisfied with their current work situation. Wonderful book!
January 25, 2023
The book doesn’t help you find a thing you will be doing, but will make you think about your current situation and what kind of steps you should take to achieve your desired goal.
There are so many information and behavioural science concepts which could make you feel a bit overwhelmed while reading through those chapters. However, the author put a summary and a list of concepts in the end of each chapter to make it easy for you to revisit those later.
Confirmation bias, bias blind spot, and more things mentioned in each chapter are eye-opening things for me because I don’t think many people notice those in their everyday life.
I took this book hoping to find my life path. I still don’t know what my goal is after reading the book. And most chapters I read can’t be immediately applied to my life, but if I know which way I’m going then I think those insights would serve me well on my progress.
There are so many information and behavioural science concepts which could make you feel a bit overwhelmed while reading through those chapters. However, the author put a summary and a list of concepts in the end of each chapter to make it easy for you to revisit those later.
Confirmation bias, bias blind spot, and more things mentioned in each chapter are eye-opening things for me because I don’t think many people notice those in their everyday life.
I took this book hoping to find my life path. I still don’t know what my goal is after reading the book. And most chapters I read can’t be immediately applied to my life, but if I know which way I’m going then I think those insights would serve me well on my progress.
May 12, 2022
This book has the twin benefits of being very practical and also very well-grounded in behavioural science. Grace Lordan takes readers on a journey (illustrated from her own experience with clarity, humility and humour) to help them identify an ambitious life goal and then work through a process that will help turn that goal into reality. Each chapter is structured so that after the narrative part, there is a summary of the key behavioural science insights shared and the actions the reader can take to apply them, making t very easy to review and consolidate; and all those insights are well-referenced at the back of the book, for those who want to know that we are talking serious research-based strategies here, not mere pop psychology - and that is what distinguishes this from the average self-help book.
April 2, 2023
Взялася читати цю книгу щоб дізнатись що заважає мені мислити масштабно і досягати цілей. Виявилось що це когнітивні упередження, не тільки мої а й мого оточення . Їх безліч, проявляються по різному але мають дуже сильний вплив на свідомість. На результат впливають 3 фактори: талант, зусилля і удача. Масштабне мислення передбачає регулярні дії і маленькі кроки, запас терпіння і віру що зміни можливі, внутрішня стійкість. Наративи, упередження, переконання - необхідно усвідомити і побороти, бо вони діють на підсвідомому рівні і заважають рухатись вперед. Визначити ключові навички необхідні для досягнення мети, відслідковувати прогрес.... Іще багато практичних порад. Загалом мене ця книга надихнула, додала віри в себе, допомогла розібратися в моїх стримуючих факторах і способах їх подолання.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2024
The best thing about this book is to learn that marketing is way more important than the content, and to believe that anyone can write a book if this author wrote such a book.
I have never read more nonsense book!
I will save ur time, this book is telling u „u can do it, manage ur time, stay optimistic, I’m sure u can do it“
Yeah nice but as u see, no need to more than 10 words! She needed hundreds of pages!
The first thing to do if u want to think big is to throw this book in bin! It’s not a book! I bet that some reels about self growth on insta have more content!
Her attitude is also very annoying! She knows she wrote nothing but she wants to shout at you to fool u and make u think that the problem is you!
I have never read more nonsense book!
I will save ur time, this book is telling u „u can do it, manage ur time, stay optimistic, I’m sure u can do it“
Yeah nice but as u see, no need to more than 10 words! She needed hundreds of pages!
The first thing to do if u want to think big is to throw this book in bin! It’s not a book! I bet that some reels about self growth on insta have more content!
Her attitude is also very annoying! She knows she wrote nothing but she wants to shout at you to fool u and make u think that the problem is you!
August 13, 2023
这里是本书前4章的主要内容总结:
第一章介绍了行为科学的概念,以及作者如何应用行为科学来实现她的职业目标。主要观点是,我们需要设定远大的目标,然后通过坚持每天小步骤的努力来实现这些目标。
第二章讲述如何设定远大的职业目标。重点在于明确未来的职业形象,以及需要培养哪些技能来实现这个目标。作者提出了10个行为科学见解来帮助读者设定目标。
第三章探讨了时间管理。由于人的注意力有限,我们需要理解自己的时间消耗点,并采取行为科学的方法来管理时间,使之专注在实现远大目标的小步骤上。作者给出了10个见解。
第四章讨论了个人的认知偏差如何阻碍实现目标。作者认为我们需要减少这些偏差的影响,给出了10个见解,例如多样化社交网络,接受批评,保持开放心态等。
第5章“环境”讨论了人们的行为和情绪是如何受周围环境的影响的。作者建议减少数字中断,改善空气质量、采光、温度、噪音等工作环境因素,以提高工作效率和保持积极心态。
第6章“韧性”提供了一些行为科学洞察,以帮助培养个人的适应力和抗压能力。这些策略包括庆祝小小的胜利,将失败归因于外部因素而不是个人特征,重新定义“打击”事件的定义,以及合理安排睡眠时间等。
第7章“旅程”讨论实现梦想和职业目标的过程中会遇到的困难和挑战。作者鼓励读者保持乐观和积极的心态,与他人保持友好,多尝试不同的方式,并相信最终会取得成功。
第8章“结语”总结全书内容,概述前面章节中提出的行为科学洞察,并鼓励读者在追求目标的过程中要保持友善、慷慨和理解他人。作者提醒读者生活中会有起起落落,但只要坚持努力,就一定能实现梦想。
第一章介绍了行为科学的概念,以及作者如何应用行为科学来实现她的职业目标。主要观点是,我们需要设定远大的目标,然后通过坚持每天小步骤的努力来实现这些目标。
第二章讲述如何设定远大的职业目标。重点在于明确未来的职业形象,以及需要培养哪些技能来实现这个目标。作者提出了10个行为科学见解来帮助读者设定目标。
第三章探讨了时间管理。由于人的注意力有限,我们需要理解自己的时间消耗点,并采取行为科学的方法来管理时间,使之专注在实现远大目标的小步骤上。作者给出了10个见解。
第四章讨论了个人的认知偏差如何阻碍实现目标。作者认为我们需要减少这些偏差的影响,给出了10个见解,例如多样化社交网络,接受批评,保持开放心态等。
第5章“环境”讨论了人们的行为和情绪是如何受周围环境的影响的。作者建议减少数字中断,改善空气质量、采光、温度、噪音等工作环境因素,以提高工作效率和保持积极心态。
第6章“韧性”提供了一些行为科学洞察,以帮助培养个人的适应力和抗压能力。这些策略包括庆祝小小的胜利,将失败归因于外部因素而不是个人特征,重新定义“打击”事件的定义,以及合理安排睡眠时间等。
第7章“旅程”讨论实现梦想和职业目标的过程中会遇到的困难和挑战。作者鼓励读者保持乐观和积极的心态,与他人保持友好,多尝试不同的方式,并相信最终会取得成功。
第8章“结语”总结全书内容,概述前面章节中提出的行为科学洞察,并鼓励读者在追求目标的过程中要保持友善、慷慨和理解他人。作者提醒读者生活中会有起起落落,但只要坚持努力,就一定能实现梦想。
August 12, 2024
Pretty good self-help book - organized and in-depth, with tl;dr chapter endings to summarize the points. Largely based in science and cognitive biases, with lots of personal anecdotes as illustrative examples.
I read this book because I work in college career advising and I wanted to examine the framework Lordan provides to driving organized behavioral change. I recommend this book for someone who a) wants a step-by-step guide, b) has never thought about how to change one's own behavior or c) someone who really wants to make change to their life and needs a meditative guide on how to do so.
I read this book because I work in college career advising and I wanted to examine the framework Lordan provides to driving organized behavioral change. I recommend this book for someone who a) wants a step-by-step guide, b) has never thought about how to change one's own behavior or c) someone who really wants to make change to their life and needs a meditative guide on how to do so.
April 3, 2024
This book came at the right time of my career just when I was about to shift to a different path. I discovered this one from Ali Abdaal's YouTube video "How to Find a Career You Genuinely Love" featuring Dr. Grace Lordan and was instantly compelled to read the full text.
A lot of practical steps with actual exercises that really helped me put structure to my plans. I am beyond impressed with how detailed Dr. Lordan demonstrated behavioral science, and how she framed the theories as easy to understand.
A lot of practical steps with actual exercises that really helped me put structure to my plans. I am beyond impressed with how detailed Dr. Lordan demonstrated behavioral science, and how she framed the theories as easy to understand.
February 15, 2025
Can’t believe I read so many this kind of book recently…but actually pretty insightful and encouraging just to be aware that some people are in the same situation. Now I simply want to be reconnected to the bigger world and stay away from pitiful solitude. Everyone needs some kind of placebo as supposed to vrai intellectual advance. Part of the reason could be that I didn’t have too much time before. Continuous growth nourishes one’s life and intellectual development is only part of it. This book confirms that I’m on the right track. Well, life is about happiness by end of the day.
September 13, 2022
I really enjoyed the chapter on setting goals and thinking what a 'ME+' is. The insights on behavioural science have also been very helpful. Book contains lots of useful exercises but you'll only see the progress once you engage and do the work! I'm not sure whether I found the last chapter on building resilience as useful as I hoped but nevertheless, I highly respect Grace Lordan and what she has achieved in her career.
January 30, 2023
Inspiring. Wonderful use of behavioural science to achieve life goals, broaden aspirations and understand how to get there. It pushes you to Think Big whilst deepening your belief in your ability to get with practical takeaways. Wish I had read twenty years ago! Only it wasn't written!
An unexpected benefit is the ideas and takeaways for me as a parent of teenager doing their exams. How to help them build their confidence and advance forward toward their goals.
An unexpected benefit is the ideas and takeaways for me as a parent of teenager doing their exams. How to help them build their confidence and advance forward toward their goals.
December 27, 2023
Sehr gute Denkansätze und Übungen, um zu seinem ME+ zu kommen und daraus abzuleiten, was man benötigt, um dort hinzukommen. Zusätzlich liefert das Buch sehr viele wissenschaftlich fundierte Insights über den Weg zum ME+. Tipps, wie man seine Umgebung so einrichtet, dass man produktiv arbeiten kann bis hin zu Biases, die wir bei der Planung oder eigenen Gedankenexperimenten haben, helfen dabei, seinem ME+ mit höherer Wahrscheinlichkeit näherzukommen.
February 8, 2025
What I loved about this book is how Grace Lordan empowers readers to make lasting changes by focusing on small steps rather than trying to achieve everything at once. Her advice is practical and easy to implement, and it provides a roadmap for how to achieve big goals without burning out. I also appreciated the research-based approach she took in offering actionable insights. I sure recommend this book!
January 21, 2024
like a personal psychologist and coach
As someone who has coached and been coached and also and the luxury of an organisation psychologist this book is a great ‘do it yourself’ option with lots of lists and tips and cool summation boxes very handy to have if you’re looking for a career move
As someone who has coached and been coached and also and the luxury of an organisation psychologist this book is a great ‘do it yourself’ option with lots of lists and tips and cool summation boxes very handy to have if you’re looking for a career move
February 4, 2025
There are so many insights in this book I couldn’t even count them. But there is no point extracting them all. That would be pretty damn overwhelming. As with every other book, it is always WIN when you take at least one thought (insight) from the book you’re reading and implement it to your life.
Loved the way Grace connected those insights through her own life experience. Thank you! 5 stars!
Loved the way Grace connected those insights through her own life experience. Thank you! 5 stars!
February 2, 2022
Inspired. Lots of behavioural science insights that simply gave names to feelings we experience every day. Suggested if you need a change or if you want to understand what is stopping you from the change itself.
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