Clearer Closer Better How Successful People See the World

When it comes to setting and meeting goals, we are often susceptible to perceptual illusions: We think we are closer or further away depending on our mindset, and we might handicap ourselves by looking only at the big picture or too long at the fine detail. But as award-winning social psychologist Emily Balcetis explains in Clearer, Closer, Better, there is great power in these misperceptions--if we know how to use them to our advantage.

Drawing on her own unique research and cutting-edge discoveries in vision science, cognitive research, and motivational psychology, Balcetis gives readers an unprecedented account of the perceptual habits, routines, and practices that successful people use to set and meet their ambitions. Through case studies of entrepreneurs, athletes, artists, and celebrities--as well as her own colorful experience of trying to set and reach a goal--she brings four powerful yet largely untapped visual tactics to life:

* Narrow your focus: Closing the aperture of your attention can be the key to exercising more effectively or losing weight.
* Widen the bracket: Seeing the "forest for the trees" is the trick to retirement savings as well as finding more time in the day.
* "Materializing" works: Checklists and objective assessments are the best ways to track progress and gauge what's really left to be done (vision boards not so much ).
* Take control of your frame of reference and attention in order to read others' emotions, negotiate better deals, improve relationships, and even overcome a fear of public speaking.

A mind-blowing and original tour of perception, Clearer, Closer, Better will help you see the possibilities in what you can't see now. Inspiring, motivating, and always entertaining, it demonstrates that if we take advantage of our visual experiences, they can lead us to live happier, healthier, and more productive lives every day.

"Get ready for this book to change how you see everything you see.--Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Originals and Give and Take

When it comes to setting and meeting goals, we may see--quite literally--our plans, our progress, and our potential in the wrong ways. We perceive ourselves as being closer to or further from the end than we may actually be depending on our frame of reference. We handicap ourselves by looking too often at the big picture and at other times too long at the fine detail. But as award-winning social psychologist Emily Balcetis explains, there is great power in these misperceptions. We can learn to leverage perceptual illusions if we know when and how to use them to our advantage.

Drawing on her own rigorous research and cutting-edge discoveries in vision science, cognitive research, and motivational psychology, Balcetis offers unique accounts of the perceptual habits, routines, and practices that successful people use to set and meet their ambitions. Through case studies of entrepreneurs, athletes, artists, and celebrities--as well as her own colorful experience of trying to set and reach a goal--she brings to life four powerful yet largely untapped visual tactics that can be applied according to the situation.

Narrow your focus: Closing the aperture of your attention helps you exercise effectively, save money, and find more time in your day.
Widen the bracket: Seeing the forest instead of the trees reduces temptations and helps you recognize when a change of course is in order.
Materialize your plan and your progress: Creating checklists and objective assessments inspires better planning and adjusts your gauge of what's really left to be done.
Control your frame of reference: Knowing where to direct attention improves your ability to read others' emotions, negotiate better deals, foster stronger relationships, and overcome a fear of public speaking.

A mind-blowing and original tour of perception, Clearer, Closer, Better will help you see the possibilities in what you can't see now. Inspiring, motivating, and always entertaining, it demonstrates that if we take advantage of our visual experiences, they can lead us to live happier, healthier, and more productive lives every day.