Clearer, Closer, Better: How Successful People See the World

Successful people literally see the world differently. Now an award-winning scientist explains how anyone can leverage this 'perception gap' to their advantage.

'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 attention to exercise effectively, save money, and find more time in your day.
Widen your perspective to see the forest instead of the trees, which reduces temptations and helps you recognize when a change of course is in order.
Materialize your plan by creating checklists and setting objective assessments to inspire better planning and adjust your understanding of what’s really left to be done.
Control your frame by knowing where to direct attention, which 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.