Solve Problems By Redefining Them As Puzzles | A.J. JACOBS | Unlock Your Potential #221

In this episode, I chat with A.J. Jacobs, 4x New York Times Best Selling Author, about redefining your problems as puzzles to solve them. Because of his normal childhood, A.J. found it difficult to write about his life as he hadn't done anything interesting. So, he decided to redefine his problem by turning it into a puzzle to solve. As a result, he went on "quests" to learn something new to write about his experiences.  Throughout his entrepreneurial journey, A.J. has spent much of his time learning about cognitive behavioral therapy. He learned that behavior could affect your thoughts and feelings.  For example, to succeed in life, you could act into a new way of thinking, also known as faking it until you feel it. Another concept of cognitive behavioral therapy that A.J. talks about is implementing self-imposed constraints for creativity. For example, developing a structure for brainstorming is much more productive than simply deciding to brainstorm. Lastly, A.J. talks about viewing your challenges as puzzles to make them more productive and fun. It's easier to find a solution to a puzzle than a problem. Thank you, A.J., for sharing your knowledge and experiences with us. Create the life you've always wanted! 👉 https://unlockyourpotentialbyjefflerner.com?sl=anchor-jefflerner Check Out More of A.J.’s Content Here 👇    💻 https://ajjacobs.com/  📖 The Puzzler - https://ajjacobs.com/books/the-puzzler/  ℹ️ LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/pub/a-j-jacobs/1/43a/592  🖥️ FB 👉 https://www.facebook.com/ajjacobs  ⌨️ Twitter 👉 https://www.twitter.com/ajjacobs  📲 IG 👉 https://www.instagram.com/ajjacobsinc/ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to AJ Jacobs 02:58 Writing about humble quests 07:11 Transferring experiences 10:21 Non-transferable experiences 14:19 Living biblically 17:05 Reducing decisions 19:41 Self-imposed constraints 25:05 Traditional jobs 26:18 Resisting authority vs. accepting authority 36:37 Being noticed 41:33 Flexibility of all kinds 47:00 The Healthiest man alive 52:11 Gamifying life 57:38 Where to find AJ Jacobs