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Swipe: The Science Behind Why We Don’t Finish What We Start
This book is the key to escaping the cycle of failure, disengagement, and regret.
Why is it so hard to finish what we start? Every day we wake up determined to engage with life—to finish that novel, overcome work challenges, repair a strained relationship, or reach fitness goals. Despite our best intentions, we fall short. Are we doomed to a lifetime of regret?
Reaching goals after repeated frustration starts with understanding the impulse known as the Swipe, a side effect of our high-tech culture. Drawing on disciplines from neurobiology to business and based on a massive database, Tracy Maylett and Tim Vandehey reveal a powerful psychological process that makes us disengage from what (or who) we care about most—often when we’re heartbreakingly close to real breakthroughs.
In Swipe, readers will learn how this mechanism works and recognize when they’re caught on the “Hamster Wheel.” They’ll discover how to short-circuit the Swipe, reengage, and finally finish what they start.
Why is it so hard to finish what we start? Every day we wake up determined to engage with life—to finish that novel, overcome work challenges, repair a strained relationship, or reach fitness goals. Despite our best intentions, we fall short. Are we doomed to a lifetime of regret?
Reaching goals after repeated frustration starts with understanding the impulse known as the Swipe, a side effect of our high-tech culture. Drawing on disciplines from neurobiology to business and based on a massive database, Tracy Maylett and Tim Vandehey reveal a powerful psychological process that makes us disengage from what (or who) we care about most—often when we’re heartbreakingly close to real breakthroughs.
In Swipe, readers will learn how this mechanism works and recognize when they’re caught on the “Hamster Wheel.” They’ll discover how to short-circuit the Swipe, reengage, and finally finish what they start.
265 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 21, 2023
39 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
Tracy Maylett
8 books19 followersTracy M. Maylett is the CEO of DecisionWise, an international consulting firm advising leaders in more than 70 countries in employee engagement, leadership, and organization development.
Dr. Maylett works regularly with executives across the globe on leadership and engagement. He has an MBA from Brigham Young University, and holds a doctorate in Organization Change from Pepperdine University. He currently teaches courses in leadership and organization behavior in the Marriott School of Management at Brigham Young University.
Tracy's work has been published in numerous academic and business articles, and his work on engagement and leadership have been cited by various business sources, including The Wall Street Journal and CNN.
Tracy lives in the beautiful mountains of Utah with his wife, Lindy, and 4 sons.
Dr. Maylett works regularly with executives across the globe on leadership and engagement. He has an MBA from Brigham Young University, and holds a doctorate in Organization Change from Pepperdine University. He currently teaches courses in leadership and organization behavior in the Marriott School of Management at Brigham Young University.
Tracy's work has been published in numerous academic and business articles, and his work on engagement and leadership have been cited by various business sources, including The Wall Street Journal and CNN.
Tracy lives in the beautiful mountains of Utah with his wife, Lindy, and 4 sons.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 3, 2023
As Stevo’s Novel Ideas, I am a long-time book reviewer, member of the media, an Influencer, and a content provider. I received this book as a free review copy from either the publisher, a publicist, or the author, and have not been otherwise compensated for reviewing or recommending it. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
This book is Stevo's Business Book of the Week for the week of 4/2, as selected by Stevo's Book Reviews on the Internet and Stevo's Novel Ideas. Escape the cycle of failure, disengagement, and regret. This review is based on the Hardcover version of the book.
From completing tasks to advance my career to watering my houseplants, I'm easily diverted and leave important projects unfinished. Even when I know (or am told) they need to be done, they languish, and I become frustrated when deadlines for completion pass (or the plants die).
It's a habit we all have (our exposure to social media makes it worse) and it will never go away, but, as described in the new book "Swipe," there are ways to identify and deal with it. Authors Tracy Maylett and Tim Vandehey call this impulse Swipe: based on the action we take on our computer and phone screens to stop the current activity in anticipation of a better one, similar to a person on a dating site going from profile to profile.
"Swiping is reflexive and unconscious," they say, and this tendency to disengage from the present has consequences, especially during times of discomfort, annoyance, and panic. Two of the main reasons for The Swipe are an overestimation of our abilities (wanting too much too soon) and having unrealistic expectations (taking on too much at a time). Continuous disappointments lead to taking on less responsibilities and can cause depression.
So, how do you Swipe less? Look for patterns of triggers, such as reactions to criticism, underpreparation, or boredom, and develop a plan for dealing with a trigger when you feel it coming on. In business, a Swipe trigger is typically a manager. Managers who are fully engaged inspire their direct reports to Swipe less.
Engagement doesn't arrive by magic, but the authors utilize the MAGIC acronym to illustrate the best responses to triggers: Meaning, Autonomy, Growth, Impact, Connection. The responses include taking a break, reassessing the meaning and importance of the activity, celebrating successes, and adjusting expectations. And my recommendation: breaking the activity up into smaller, more easily accomplished, tasks.
Like most self-help business books, "Swipe" starts with processes of self-actualization. But it follows through with actionable tasks that have high success rates. My prediction: those who start reading this book won't Swipe it.
Find more Business Books of the Week on my Goodreads Listopia page at https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9..., and find many more reviewed and recommended books and products by searching for me on Google.
This book is Stevo's Business Book of the Week for the week of 4/2, as selected by Stevo's Book Reviews on the Internet and Stevo's Novel Ideas. Escape the cycle of failure, disengagement, and regret. This review is based on the Hardcover version of the book.
From completing tasks to advance my career to watering my houseplants, I'm easily diverted and leave important projects unfinished. Even when I know (or am told) they need to be done, they languish, and I become frustrated when deadlines for completion pass (or the plants die).
It's a habit we all have (our exposure to social media makes it worse) and it will never go away, but, as described in the new book "Swipe," there are ways to identify and deal with it. Authors Tracy Maylett and Tim Vandehey call this impulse Swipe: based on the action we take on our computer and phone screens to stop the current activity in anticipation of a better one, similar to a person on a dating site going from profile to profile.
"Swiping is reflexive and unconscious," they say, and this tendency to disengage from the present has consequences, especially during times of discomfort, annoyance, and panic. Two of the main reasons for The Swipe are an overestimation of our abilities (wanting too much too soon) and having unrealistic expectations (taking on too much at a time). Continuous disappointments lead to taking on less responsibilities and can cause depression.
So, how do you Swipe less? Look for patterns of triggers, such as reactions to criticism, underpreparation, or boredom, and develop a plan for dealing with a trigger when you feel it coming on. In business, a Swipe trigger is typically a manager. Managers who are fully engaged inspire their direct reports to Swipe less.
Engagement doesn't arrive by magic, but the authors utilize the MAGIC acronym to illustrate the best responses to triggers: Meaning, Autonomy, Growth, Impact, Connection. The responses include taking a break, reassessing the meaning and importance of the activity, celebrating successes, and adjusting expectations. And my recommendation: breaking the activity up into smaller, more easily accomplished, tasks.
Like most self-help business books, "Swipe" starts with processes of self-actualization. But it follows through with actionable tasks that have high success rates. My prediction: those who start reading this book won't Swipe it.
Find more Business Books of the Week on my Goodreads Listopia page at https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9..., and find many more reviewed and recommended books and products by searching for me on Google.
October 14, 2023
The subtitle of this book made me laugh (The Science Behind Why We Don't Finish What We Start), because I realized I had about ten books I'd started, but hadn't finished. One of my biggest take-aways was that "swiping" (like through one's iPhone) is not so much an act of boredom as it is experiencing discomfort with a situation. Discomfort with what is a matter of personal preference. And I say preference, because this kind of behavior is a choice. I think of my meditation practice and how its net effect is a capacity to experience whatever arises -- happiness, boredom, frustration, sadness -- and see those emotions as actually fleeting. There is no wild swing between them, but there are amazing subtleties. I'm thinking of bringing this book to my high school students and seeing what they think about it. They know they are distracted, and many of them want to stop. Maybe understanding the science a bit more will help them do just that.
January 22, 2025
I would like to take this opportunity to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book before its publication date. Swipe: The Science Behind Why We Don’t Finish What We Start by Tracy Maylett and Tim Vandehey is a fascinating exploration of why we abandon our goals and how we can overcome this behavior.
Grounded in psychology and neuroscience, the book explains complex ideas with clarity and wit, offering relatable examples and actionable strategies. Maylett and Vandehey’s engaging writing style ensures that the material is both entertaining and empowering, making it perfect for readers looking to improve productivity and resilience.
Swipe is an insightful and practical guide for anyone looking to understand and change their habits. I highly recommend it to professionals, creatives, and anyone who struggles with follow-through.
Grounded in psychology and neuroscience, the book explains complex ideas with clarity and wit, offering relatable examples and actionable strategies. Maylett and Vandehey’s engaging writing style ensures that the material is both entertaining and empowering, making it perfect for readers looking to improve productivity and resilience.
Swipe is an insightful and practical guide for anyone looking to understand and change their habits. I highly recommend it to professionals, creatives, and anyone who struggles with follow-through.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews