Sullivan Bob - Getting unstuck: break free of the plateau effect

Praise for Getting Unstuck

The authors write in clear, engaging, and sometimes irreverent prose as they dart across case studies from Amazon to Zappos.... A stimulating read, offering some inventive theories and solutions.

Financial Times

Many readers will be fascinated by their descriptions of such underlying matters as acclimation, flow, and distortion mechanisms... well written and entertaining.

Kirkus Reviews

Its got some interesting strategies that can really benefit consumers.

Kelli Grant, CNBC

The books peppy tone and intriguing examplesathletes, miracle berries, the famous marshmallow testhelp illustrate the point that people find it all too easy to get used to untenable situations.... Will inspire readers to tackle major changes in some areas of their lives.

Publishers Weekly

Sullivan and Thompson have identified a phenomenon that plagues us all, robbing us of energy, delight, and successful results. Poignant stories, intriguing information, and insightful advice make this a must-read for any of us that want easier ways to keep the important fires lit. Warning: theyve nailed stuff close to home for all of us!

David Allen, author of Getting Things Done

Uncovering forces like the Greedy Algorithm that create plateaus in our lives is a great service, but Bob Sullivan and Hugh Thompson go much further. Their book is an entertaining and valuable guide that will show you how to quit the struggle and get up off the ground.

Daniel H. Pink, author of A Whole New Mind

The science behind how we can learn to excel at almost anything we care about by retraining our brains. A stimulating anduseful handbook.

Daniel J. Levitin, author of This Is Your Brain on Music

You already know what the Plateau Effect is. No matter what the endeavor, weve all experienced that feeling of diminishing returns from our efforts. Now Bob Sullivan and Hugh Thompson present the definitive guide for those who believe things can get a lot better and want to rise above their plateaus. Turn your back on the daily grind for good. Read this book now.

Ori Brafman, coauthor of Sway

Getting Unstuck is smart, bracing, and eye-openingwith genuine pay-offs for accomplishing your dreams. Its also cheerful, funny, and greatly entertaining. Use it!

Amy Chua, author of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother

A PLUME BOOK

GETTING UNSTUCK

BOB SULLIVAN and HUGH THOMPSON are entrepreneurial analysts with forty years of experience between them researching, writing, and analyzing systems and human nature. Bob is an investigative reporter and the bestselling author ofGotcha CapitalismandStop Getting Ripped Off. Hugh is a mathematics and computer science professor and speaker who teaches executives how to protect themselves from twenty-first-century hazards.

PLUME

Published by the Penguin Group

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First published in the United States of America as The Plateau Effect by Dutton, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, 2013

First Plume Printing 2014

Copyright 2013 by Robert Sullivan and Herbert Hugh Thompson

Penguin supports copyright. Copyright fuels creativity, encourages diverse voices, promotes free speech, and creates a vibrant culture. Thank you for buying an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright laws by not reproducing, scanning, or distributing any part of it in any form without permission. You are supporting writers and allowing Penguin to continue to publish books for every reader.

REGISTERED TRADEMARKMARCA REGISTRADA

THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS HAS CATALOGED THE DUTTON EDITION AS FOLLOWS:

Sullivan, Bob, 1968 author.

The plateau effect : getting from stuck to success / Bob Sullivan and Herbert Hugh Thompson.

pages cm

Includes index.

eBook ISBN 978-0-698-18381-0

1. Self-actualization (Psychology) 2. SuccessPsychological aspects. 3. Achievement motivation. 4. Learning, Psychology of. 5. Performance. I. Thompson, Herbert H., author. II. Title.

BF637.S4S85 2013

158.1dc23 2012038324

While the author has made every effort to provide accurate telephone numbers, Internet addresses, and other contact information at the time of publication, neither the publisher nor the author assumes any responsibility for errors or for changes that occur after publication. Further, publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.

Version_1

To everyone who still thinks things can get better