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.

"Corporate psychologist Tasler draws on years of research and the latest findings in genetics, neurology and management theory to explore the benefits and dangerous consequences of human impulsiveness. At the heart of the author's argument is his pioneering 'Impulse Factor Test,' an online assessment that classifies people as 'risk managers' or 'potential seekers.' According to Tasler, potential seekers are quick to identify new opportunities and are comfortable making important decisions, but their tendency to 'shoot first and apologize later' can lead to trouble if not tempered; conversely, risk managers favor careful nurturing of existing opportunities, providing the stability businesses need to survive, but they often miss opportunities for growth because they are inherently cautious. This intriguing and highly readable analysis demonstrates how both groups 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 (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

"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 ["riskmanagers" 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

Packed with riveting examples and controversial research, "The Impulse Factor" provides a clear understanding of why people make the choices they do--and the tools necessary to turn those decisions into something great.

Nick Tasler is the director of research and development for think tank and consultancy TalentSmart. He is the author of the online Impulse Factor? test and the head of TalentSmart's global research. He lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with his family.