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Summary of Switch 

4.6 . 4388 reviews

Short summary

Do you find it hard to make the switch that can change your life? Are you finding it hard to make a change about a situation in your life? Making changes can be difficult, but with the tidbits contained in this book “Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard” by Dan Heath and Chip Heath, you'll learn how to make the switch easily while following prescribed patterns. Dan Heath is a professor at Duke University, a speaker and bestselling author whose works alongside his brother Chip Heath — who is a professor of organizational behavior at Stanford University, have been certified as great books needed for behavioral studies. Both brothers have co-authored four works, all of which are bestsellers.

Table of content

  • Summary of Switch
  • About the author
  • What is Switch about?
  • Who should read Switch
  • Topics in Switch
first key point

Your behavior depends on how much change you are able to make

Listen the first key point
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00:00
Change is constant in the world, and it comes at all levels — individual, organizational, and societal. In the year 2000, a group of unsuspecting moviegoers was subjected to a study that proved that people eat more when they are given more. The research, carried out by Brian Wansink, furthermore explained that you could control what people eat by the amount of food you give them. This theory goes on to prove that change is possible if the right quantity is applied.

People resist change consciously and subconsciously because it's hard to deviate from what has been a default way of life without experiencing relapse or rebounds.
Change requires a lot of dedication and commitment from people to work.
There are three surprises about change that are not common knowledge with people:
• What looks like a problem with people is a situation problem
• Laziness is often confused with exhaustion
• What looks like resistance is a lack of clarity and direction

There are hard and easy changes, which means that the duration of the techniques might differ. People react differently to situations, and not all behavior can be easily tweaked. The situation isn't everything you need to consider — sometimes, the situation is not enough. Sending an alcoholic to rehab might work well, but what happens when he leaves rehab and is faced with a world of alcohol at his beck and call? The problem with this is that most times, the heart disagrees with the mind fervently.

Humans have a congenital disorder that hinders clear thinking, feeling, and behavior. They need devices and support to be able to make the right decisions. Clocky, an alarm clock designed by Guari Nanda, an MIT student was made in a way that it would jump about the room when it goes off, forcing the owner to get up from sleep and chase it about. Clocky was a way of getting people to wake up early because their schizophrenic nature would most likely force them back to sleep if they could snooze the alarm at arm's length.

This summary explains how to make changes that will bring transformation into your life and work.
second key point

The brain is composed of the rational side and the emotional side

Failure to balance these two sides is what causes terrible decisions and what makes it hard for change to be implemented. These two features can be classified as the Elephant and the Rider.
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third key point

Give your rational mind a direction so your journey can be smooth

fourth key point

Decision paralysis disrupts every aspect of your life unless you're conscious about it

fifth key point

Motivate the emotional side of your brain to make significant decisions

sixth key point

Dividing success and achievement into small celebrated parts reinforces the belief into people that they can do well

seventh key point

If you change the path, you'll change the behavior

eighth key point

Your society is an integral part of your change process

ninth key point

Conclusion

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What is Switch about?

Who should read Switch

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Do you find yourself staring at your computer for long minutes, unaware of time slipping by? Do you enter a room and suddenly cannot remember why you stepped in the first place? Is it a herculean task for you to sit through ten pages of a book without reaching for your phone? If yes, your focus needs some work and fast.

Actually, yours is not a unique situation. Many adults like you have issues concentrating on a given task. However, in this fast-paced world of ours, you can’t afford to be not focused at all times. Thankfully, this article comes to your rescue! With the tips and tricks from Hyperfocus by Chris Bailey, you will get in the top percent of folks who have mastered the art of concentration.

Do you find yourself staring at your computer for long minutes, unaware of time slipping by? Do you enter a room and suddenly cannot remember why you stepped in the first place? Is it a herculean task for you to sit through ten pages of a book without reaching for your phone? If yes, your focus needs some work and fast.

Actually, yours is not a unique situation. Many adults like you have issues concentrating on a given task. However, in this fast-paced world of ours, you can’t afford to be not focused at all times. Thankfully, this article comes to your rescue! With the tips and tricks from Hyperfocus by Chris Bailey, you will get in the top percent of folks who have mastered the art of concentration.