Personal Growth Desk
Podcast: Diary Of A Ceo
This breakdown focuses on what is discussed and how performance, motivation, and success are framed not on offering therapy, coaching, or personalised psychological advice.
This episode of The Diary Of A CEO, hosted by Steven Bartlett, features organisational psychologist Adam Grant. The conversation challenges deeply held beliefs about discipline, originality, and achievement, arguing that long‑term success is less about raw talent or grit and more about how people think, experiment, and relate to others.
Key Takeaways
- Skill power beats willpower: The most reliable way to resist temptation is by changing the environment blocking, hiding, or altering temptations rather than relying on internal self‑control.
- Brainwriting outperforms brainstorming: Independent idea generation and rating produces higher‑quality ideas than group discussion dominated by loud or senior voices.
- Procrastination is emotional, not logistical: People delay work to regulate uncomfortable emotions, not because they lack time management skills.
- Imposter thoughts can enhance performance: Self‑doubt is common among high performers and often correlates with persistence and learning.
- Givers win long‑term: Individuals who help others without immediate return consistently outperform expectations and elevate team outcomes.
The Newsdesk Lead
On The Diary Of A CEO, Steven Bartlett sits down with Adam Grant to dismantle myths around success, discipline, and originality. Grant’s central verdict is that progress comes from operating in scientist mode testing assumptions, welcoming disagreement, and updating beliefs rather than prosecutor mode, where individuals defend being right. Unlocking potential, he argues, requires systems that reward learning over certainty.
The Deep Dive
Originals, Procrastination, and Innovation
Grant revisits his Originals research, showing that many high‑impact innovators are not reckless first movers but strategic procrastinators. By delaying action, they allow ideas to mature and improve, avoiding premature commitment to weak concepts.
Brainwriting Over Brainstorming
Traditional brainstorming favours confidence over quality. Grant’s Brainwriting Framework asks individuals to generate ideas independently, followed by anonymous group evaluation. This preserves the wisdom of crowds and prevents hierarchy or enthusiasm from distorting judgment.
Imposter Thoughts as a Signal
Rather than treating imposter thoughts as pathology, Grant reframes them as evidence of high standards. When paired with evidence‑based self‑trust believing credible feedback these thoughts can sharpen performance and resilience.
Advice‑Seeking Builds Influence
Grant highlights research showing that asking for advice instead of feedback transforms critics into allies. The act of seeking advice flatters expertise and increases others’ investment in your success, strengthening mentorship and collaboration.
“The very people who it felt like they were trying to take me down if I asked for their advice instead of their feedback they actually gave me a tip that built me up.”
Why This Episode Matters
The episode reframes success as a learnable process rather than a fixed trait. It offers practical frameworks for individuals and teams who feel stuck between self‑doubt and ambition.
What Viewers Are Saying
Audience response trends toward recognition and relief, particularly among listeners who struggle with imposter thoughts or procrastination.
- @essenvicente: “Thumbs up if you clicked this because you’re a first born and wanted validation.”
- @dynguyen11: “Be as smart as you can, but remember it’s better to be wise than smart.”
- @emman3m99: “The idea that if people believe in you, you should believe them too really helped.”
Worth Watching If
- You want research‑backed explanations for procrastination and self‑doubt.
- You’re leading teams and want better idea‑generation systems.
- You’re interested in why generosity and collaboration outperform competition.
Skip If
- A short summary of brainwriting and procrastination theory already gives you enough signal.
🎥 WATCH THE FULL EPISODE ON YOUTUBE
About the Creator
The Diary Of A CEO is a long‑form podcast hosted by Steven Bartlett, exploring performance, psychology, business, and human behaviour.
Adam Grant, organisational psychologist and bestselling author of Think Again and Originals.
Video Intelligence
- Platform: YouTube
- Views: 700,342
- Likes: 14,000+
- Comments: 847
- Runtime: 1 hour 46 minutes
- Upload date: 12 February 2024
This article is part of Creator Daily’s Personal Growth Desk, where we examine how creators explore meaning, identity, and human behaviour.