The Monty Hall paradox is a famous probability puzzle that continues to stump many people, highlighting the ways in which our intuitions about chance can lead us astray. The puzzle is based on the classic game show Let’s Make a Deal, where the host, Monty Hall, presents a contestant with three doors. Behind one door is a car (the prize), and behind the other two are goats. The contestant picks a door, after which Monty—who knows what’s behind each door—opens one of the other two doors, intentionally revealing a goat. Monty then offers the contestant the chance to switch to…
Posts Categorized:Leadership
Broken Windows, Broken Business by Michael Levine is a book we use frequently in my businesses, on stage at seminars, and in the practices of our members at Burleson Seminars. It’s based on a simple but powerful premise brought forward by criminologists James Q. Wilson and George Kelling. This theory posits that visible signs of disorder—like broken windows—can lead to more serious crime and antisocial behavior. Levine adapts this concept to the business world, arguing that seemingly minor issues, when left unaddressed, can spiral into significant problems that damage your company’s reputation, customer satisfaction, and ultimately, your bottom line. Why It…
The Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup this year. The story of their coach, Paul Maurice, as captured by Jason Gay in the Wall Street Journal, is a poignant reminder of the power of patience and perseverance in building a successful career. Maurice’s journey through the ranks of professional hockey, culminating in his ultimate triumph at age 57, serves as an inspiring example of how success is often a long game, requiring years—if not decades—of dedicated effort. Maurice’s career began with the now-defunct Hartford Whalers and saw him traverse a variety of teams and leagues, including stints with the Carolina…
The idea that failure is always a valuable teacher might need a rethink. A recent study suggests that people often overestimate the likelihood of success following a failure, which could make us less inclined to assist those who are struggling. Researchers from Northwestern, Cornell, Yale, and Columbia universities analyzed data from various online surveys, including over 1,800 adults in the U.S. They explored how people predicted the resilience of professionals such as lawyers, teachers, nurses, and even those dealing with substance use disorders and heart problems. “We wanted to see if people think about resilience wrong,” said lead author Lauren…
Jason Zweig wrote a really nice article in the Wall Street Journal about his friend and colleague, Daniel Kahneman, who passed away recently at the age of 90. Below, you’ll find my summary of the article and a few notes worth considering: Daniel Kahneman, the eminent psychologist from Princeton University and Nobel laureate in economics, together with his research partner Amos Tversky, fundamentally reshaped our understanding of human decision-making. Before their groundbreaking work, economists had clung to the assumption that humans were rational beings, making decisions based on self-interest and perfect information. Kahneman and Tversky shattered this illusion, revealing…
Cal Newport, a distinguished computer science professor at Georgetown University, has become a leading voice in the realm of productivity and professional fulfillment. His notable contributions to this field include the influential book, Deep Work, where Newport explores the transformative power of focused, undistracted work in an age of constant connectivity. Published in 2016, Deep Work gained widespread acclaim for its insights into cultivating profound concentration and delivering exceptional results in various professional domains. Newport’s work challenges prevailing norms of constant busyness, urging individuals to embrace a more deliberate and immersive approach to their tasks. As a precursor to his…
Psychiatrist and author, David Viscott said, “The purpose of life is to discover your gift, the work of life is to develop it, and the meaning of life is to give your gift away.” I’m not certain I understood this early in my career. I was too busy focused on external metrics like practice growth. I was constantly striving to prove myself to others and to assuage self-doubt and fear. I grew up with role models who instilled work ethic and diligence into me from a young age. I also grew up in the 1980s when movies like “The Meaning…
Hey there, it’s Dustin, and I’m excited to announce the latest episode of The Burleson Box. Today’s episode is a special one as we explore a topic that lies at the heart of human connection – the lost art of conversation. Joining me on the show is the insightful John Bowe, author of “I Have Something to Say: Mastering the Art of Public Speaking in an Age of Disconnection.” Together, we dive into the profound impact of speech training, the healing power of words, and the ancient wisdom that could revolutionize the way we communicate. The Decline of Conversational Education:…
Most people think of failure in the wrong way. They see it as simply negative. We’re conditioned through school – and healthcare providers go through a lot of school – that our biggest fear becomes failing. This is unfortunate. You should think of failure as a temporary defeat. You’ve learned over and over again that thinks either work or they don’t work. From the time you learned to walk and through school and starting your practice, many things have worked and many things have not worked. Yet, we convince ourselves from today forward that everything is just going to work.…
As the world mourns the recent passing of Henry Kissinger, a seasoned diplomat and strategic thinker, it’s worth revisiting some of his insights that could serve as an unexpected lesson for the most unexpected situations. Earlier this year, Kissinger made an intriguing statement regarding the Ukraine war, urging us to contemplate the potential repercussions of providing Ukraine with advanced Western arms and technology. His unique perspective raised the critical question: What if the country’s politics took an unexpected turn, posing a threat to Europe? It was a unique question from Kissinger no one was asking. This scenario, though hypothetical, underscores…
