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The Impulse Factor

Why Some of Us Play It Safe and Others Risk It All

About The Book

In his work as research and development director at cutting-edge think tank TalentSmart, where he helps businesses work better and employees think smarter, Nick Tasler realized that the recent discovery by scientists of a potential-seeking gene could have a remarkable impact on how we understand decision making. Those who have this gene -- about one quarter of the population -- are endowed with impulsive tendencies that can lead to fast and decisive action or to foolish choices. The cautious majority that Tasler calls risk managers can make carefully considered decisions or become hopelessly lost in the fog of details. Now The Impulse Factor offers readers a unique online opportunity to analyze their own decision-making style and harness it to improve their everyday lives. Each book comes with access to a proprietary assessment developed specifically to evaluate impulsivity. With examples from business, psychology, and Tasler's own research at TalentSmart, the book also vividly illustrates how susceptible we are to the events around us and how our reactions often run contrary to our best interests.

By combining his research with real-world examples of extreme decision making, Tasler teaches readers how to thrive when faced with difficult choices. More than just a book, The Impulse Factor provides a clear understanding of why you make the choices you do -- and the tools to make those decisions change your business and your life.

About The Author

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Nick Tasler is a writer, researcher, organizational psychologist and a regular contributor to BusinessWeek.com. He and his work have been featured in media including U.S. News & World ReportPsychologies, Marie-Claire, FoxBusiness.com, and on NBC-TV, BBC Radio and Irish Talk Radio. He lives with his wife and two children in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Touchstone (October 7, 2008)
  • Length: 256 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781416562559

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Raves and Reviews

"This book is a fascinating exploration of the human tension between seeking new opportunities and protecting the ones we already have, and offers useful insight on how to improve our decision making." -- Michael Gerber, bestselling author of The E-Myth and Awakening the Entrepreneur Within

"Wow! The best books teach you how to see the world in a whole new way. Nick manages to do that in the first ten pages. Brimming with anecdotes and research, this is not a risky choice. Grab a copy." -- Seth Godin, author of Tribes

"This intriguing and highly readable analysis demonstrates how both groups ["risk managers" or "potential seekers"] can enhance their decision making and is enlivened by dramatic stories of innovators from St. Francis to Bill Gates and scientific reports on impulsiveness in different species and in hyperactive children. Tasler's pragmatic advice on leveraging the talents of both the brash and the bashful make this rewarding reading for anyone in the business world." -- Publishers Weekly

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