Triggers

Triggers — Marshall Goldsmith

Core Thesis

Our environment triggers behaviors that undermine who we want to be. We vastly overestimate our willpower and underestimate how much our environment shapes our actions. The key to lasting change is designing triggers that work FOR you.

Key Principlesflashcards

What is the “belief triggers” problem — the beliefs that stop us from changing? ? We falsely believe:

1. “If I understand, I will do” — knowing ≠ doing
2. “I have willpower and won’t give in to temptation”
3. “Today is a special day” (so the diet can start tomorrow)
4. “At least I’m better than…” (comparing down)
5. “I have all the time I need” These beliefs are why smart people fail at behavior change despite knowing better.

What are “daily questions” and why are they Goldsmith’s most powerful tool? ? Every evening, answer 6+ self-designed questions scored 1-10. But the key: phrase them as “Did I do my best to…” not “Did I…”

• “Did I do my best to be engaged at work?” (not “Was I engaged?“)
• “Did I do my best to find meaning today?”
• “Did I do my best to be a good listener?” The “did I do my best” framing puts ownership on YOU, not circumstances. Track daily. Share with an accountability partner.

What is the difference between “wanting to change” and “actually triggering change”? ? The gap is environment. We are constantly triggered by people, situations, and physical spaces. If you want to change behavior:

1. Identify your triggers (what situations cause the bad behavior?)
2. Anticipate them (before the meeting, before the drink)
3. Adjust — either avoid the trigger or create a counter-trigger You can’t rely on motivation. You must design your environment.

What is the AIWATT question? ? “Am I Willing, At This Time, To make the investment required to make a positive difference on this topic?” Ask it before reacting to anything — an annoying email, a political argument, a colleague’s mistake. If the answer is no, let it go. It saves you from wasting energy on battles you don’t actually care about enough to fight properly.

What is the “wheel of change”? ? Four quadrants of behavior change:

• Creating: positive behaviors to start doing
• Preserving: positive behaviors to keep doing
• Eliminating: negative behaviors to stop doing
• Accepting: things you cannot change and must make peace with Most people focus only on creating/eliminating and forget preserving (protect what’s already working) and accepting (let go of what you can’t control).

Situations

• self-reflection, behavior-change, daily-routine, self-awareness, stress-management, habit-building, 1-on-1-with-self