Swipe: The Science Behind Why We Don't Finish What We Start - by Tracy Maylett & Tim Vandehey (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

The key to escaping the cycle of failure, disengagement, and regret.

Every day we wake up determined to engage with life--to overcome work challenges, finish that novel, reach fitness goals, or repair a strained relationship. Despite our best intentions, we fall short.

Why is it so hard to finish what we start? Are we doomed to a lifetime of regret?

Reaching goals after repeated frustration starts with understanding the impulse known as the Swipe, a side effect of our high-tech culture. Based on a massive research database, and drawing on disciplines from neurobiology to business, Tracy Maylett and Tim Vandehey reveal a powerful psychological process that makes us disengage from what (or who) we care about most--often when we're heartbreakingly close to real breakthroughs.

In Swipe, readers will learn how this mechanism works and recognize when they're caught on the "Hamster Wheel." They'll discover how to short-circuit the Swipe, reengage, and finally finish what they start.

Review Quotes

"Swipe takes a deep look into the science and psychology of distraction, attention, and disengagement, giving us the tools we need to focus on and finish what's most important. I truly love this book!" - Paul B. Allen, co-founder of Ancestry.com, CEO of Soar.com

"I have learned in my leadership roles that engagement and culture drive success. But as Swipe clearly illustrates, we quickly become distracted. This book is an invaluable guide for putting aside dis- traction in order to achieve both personal and organizational results." - Jeremy Andrus, CEO, Traeger Grills

"Research clearly shows that self-aware people are more successful and promotable, yet few find the time to invest in this essential skill--instead, we fall victim to what the authors smartly call the 'Swipe.' This book will help you find the power to stop reacting and start acting." - Dr. Tasha Eurich, organizational psychologist and New York Times bestselling author of Insight and Bankable Leadership

"Technology has reshaped every aspect of our lives, including the way we think. When the distractions of life, often brought on by the world of technology, cause us to disengage and 'check out, ' Swipe shows us how to get things done." - Jason Ward, executive vice president of people and customers, Azul Airlines, Brazil