Insights from ‘One Small Step Can Change Your Life’ by Robert Maurer Flashcards
What is the concept of Kaizen?
Kaizen is a Japanese practice of taking small steps to continuously improve a process or product.
Fill-in-the-blank: The Japanese concept of making continuous improvements through small steps is called ____.
Kaizen.
Why is Kaizen an effective personal development strategy?
It works by disarming the brain’s fear response, allowing for rational thought and creativity, which prevents the fight-or-flight reaction that hinders progress.
What part of the brain is responsible for detecting fear and triggering the fight-or-flight response?
The amygdala.
Fill-in-the-blank: When the ______ detects fear, it triggers the fight-or-flight response.
Amygdala.
How does Kaizen help in bypassing the brain’s fear response?
By taking small steps, Kaizen avoids triggering the amygdala’s fear response, reducing the need for immediate comfort and making it easier to focus on long-term goals.
What happens when we take large steps towards change?
It induces fear, which activates the fight-or-flight response, leading to distractions and often failure.
How can focusing on small intermediate rewards help achieve large goals?
Small rewards encourage internal motivation and break down a large goal into manageable parts, making it easier to stay motivated and make progress.
What is the benefit of taking small steps towards change?
Small steps bypass fear, reduce the urge for short-term comfort, and allow for continuous action that builds constructive habits, leading to success.
Fill-in-the-blank: Taking ______ steps helps bypass fear and leads to lasting habits.
Small.
What is an effective question to ask yourself when using Kaizen to achieve a goal?
“What is one small step I could take today towards reaching my goal?”
Fill-in-the-blank: To avoid feeling overwhelmed by a big question, ask yourself smaller questions like “What’s one _____ I could take today?”
Small step.
What did Karan Pryor do to motivate herself to attend class despite the long commute?
She broke the journey into smaller segments and rewarded herself with a square of chocolate after each segment.
Fill-in-the-blank: Karan Pryor rewarded herself with a ______ after completing each segment of her commute to class.
Square of chocolate.
What does Dr. Maurer recommend to help you stay focused on small steps daily?
Write down the small step question and place it on a Post-it note in a visible location, such as a nightstand or dashboard.
