Category Psychology
I read Michael Crichton’s book “Next” a few years back. The book focuses on gene therapy and the use – or more accurately –the misuse of genetic material. Early on in the book the concept of a Chimera was brought up. A… Continue Reading →
One of my favorite books on influence is “Predictably Irrational” by Dan Ariely. It’s a mash up of “Freakonmics” and “Influence: Science and Practice” and “Fooled by Randomness.” I reference the book regularly and have my e-notes in a special file… Continue Reading →
Incentive programs reward people for hitting specific goals. Typically, you announce the requirements and as your audience performs and hit the specified hurdles, they earn awards – points, credits, what have you. The points earned can be redeemed for merchandise,… Continue Reading →
What I thought about this weekend is that most companies would love to have all their employees (or their distribution channel and customers for that matter) focused on the best interests of the company. However, that is a difficult task. … Continue Reading →
Read to the end – video embedded! Over my thankfully too many years in the influence, incentive and reward industry I have seen one axiomatic behavior by clients and amateur/poser solution architects when it comes to designing programs to influence… Continue Reading →
Sometimes I get busy writing for other people and don’t get a chance to support my own blog. This is one of those weeks. I had two posts go live this week on different sites. I must of been in… Continue Reading →
A while back (like in 2009) I wrote what follows. This is edited a bit but by and large it is the same post (google seo be damned!) Back then I ran a decidedly unscientific poll asking if Maslow’s Hierarchy… Continue Reading →
Unfortunately, I’ve been to funerals. I’ll wager you have too. Common to most is the “memory lane” exercise, where a family member, friend or religious representative, walks through the life and times of the deceased. For one funeral I attended… Continue Reading →
One of my all-time favorite books is “The Drunkard’s Walk. How Randomness Rules Our Lives.” I am a big fan of randomness – or more accurately – how we mistake randomness for causation or how we continue to ignore the… Continue Reading →
Back in 2007 I read a post on a site that is no longer showing up in a google search. So much for the internet “always” remembering. (But I do. Ping me if you forgot where you put your keys.)… Continue Reading →
I get frustrated sometimes when I read articles, posts and even books about incentives, rewards, recognition and other topics related to designing and delivering great influence programs. Mostly because I continue to see bad advice being doled out over and… Continue Reading →
Image a world where the meek have really inherited the earth. Where the rich are now at the bottom of the economic pyramid and the poor are now the ruling class. Imagine working in a factory shooting screws for 10… Continue Reading →
Incentives and rewards influence behavior. Recognition influences behavior. Simply paying attention influences behavior (ask Elton Mayo and Fritz Roethlisberger after their studies at the Hawthorne plant in the 1920s). What you say influences behavior. HOW you say things also has… Continue Reading →
“If you were a video game which game would you be?” No. This isn’t a trick interview question from Gryzzl or some other high tech company. It’s a question we’re asking related to our newest whitepaper “Unleash an Epic Incentive… Continue Reading →
