Clearer, Closer, Better

December 9, 2019
Social psychologist Balcetis employs “visual experience” as a device to study how successful people see the world, both literally and metaphorically, in this detailed exploration. Drawing from scientific studies, the habits of elite athletes, and her own efforts to learn to play the drums, the author reviews the key elements in setting and reaching goals. Many examples are given to explain how setting specific “sights” or goalposts can help a project succeed, including the Google X project (the former experimental research and development arm of the company) and its embrace of failure, as well as some obscure yet successful entrepreneurs, such as Giorgio Piccolo, founder of the multinational art gallery and brand Americanflat. Unfortunately, Balcetis only provides vague guidance on how to emulate the thinking of her examples, and some assertions she makes appear contradictory—one must narrowly focus on the goal, for instance, but also remain aware of the larger picture. Other anecdotes, meanwhile, are peripheral to the book’s thesis, such as the chapter on visual framing that relates to seating arrangements in the U.S. Senate. Readers looking for tools to achieve success will be disappointed, but the book does work as a survey of examples of singular achievements.

December 15, 2019
A social psychologist explores perception strategies that successful people rely on to reach their goals. The methods that drive individuals to prosper in their careers or to meet challenging performance goals have been the fodder of numerous motivational bestsellers. In this ambitious new book, Balcetis (Psychology/New York Univ.; co-editor: Social Psychology of Visual Perception, 2010) examines what she feels are the key elements that inform these strategies and how they specifically relate to ideas of perception. "In this book," she writes, "I offer four strategies intended to quite literally reshape the way we see the world....Each of these strategies serves a different function. Knowing about each, we can better prepare ourselves for the multitude of difficulties that we stand to experience as we tackle life's biggest challenges." The strategies include narrowing your focus (concentrating your attention allows you to tune in more effectively to the immediate task at hand); widening the bracket (big-picture planning that allows for an organic change of course if needed); materializing (organized planning through checklists and progress summaries); and framing (enhancing your ability to gather objective feedback and learning how to read the emotions of others). In each chapter, Balcetis relays a series of brief profiles, ranging across multiple disciplines, that serve as examples of how these strategies can be manifested from different angles. She also shares her own goal-oriented story as she tracks her progress in mastering a drumming piece for an upcoming performance. With the exception of her somewhat indulgent drumming account, the author's individual stories are relatable and often thought-provoking. However, in providing far too many random examples, the key arguments often lose focus; cumulatively, they distract from the flow of her narrative. There's a sense that Balcetis felt compelled to include every element of her research. Compelling ideas about perception and goal setting that would have benefitted from a tighter narrative.

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March 1, 2020

According to social psychologist/scientist Balcetis, people can train themselves to see life from a different perspective and thus gain a clearer understanding of their objectives--how far they've come, how far they have to go, and how to get there more quickly. The author explains how to narrow one's focus of attention, materialize a goal, frame events accurately, and allow oneself a wide bracket to reveal the whole picture and generate options. Some of her advice isn't new ("keep your eye on the prize"), but other tidbits about how to read a room and get unstuck are insightful and bound to produce favorable results. VERDICT Helpful for reaching any goal, from losing weight to saving for retirement.

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