why we do (or don't do) what we do (or don't do)

Why we door don’t dowhat we door don’t do.

michael.duah@gmail.com@michaelduah

PHXDW 2012: here + now

Why we do (or don’t do) what we do (or don’t do)

Why we do (or don’t do) what we do (or don’t do)

Me: a brief case study

I’ve always had high hopes for myself...

professionally or “as a designer”(picture of tanner woodford)

financially

(richard branson on an island)

spoiler alert: I don’t have an island or a PhD.

I’ve had my successes.

but,

I was a shitty misguided student.

*

*approximate measurement

ok, so basically

EVERYONE.

but also for things we really care about...

we all want to be a better .

In the future:

WWD(ODD)WWD(ODD)...

MOTIVATION.

MOTIVATION = doing something

MOTIVATION ≠inspiration, passion, hope, personality

hang in there

hang in there, buddy!

MOTIVATION = doing something

MOTIVATION = doing something

just play along with me...

you.

goal.

motivation: exerting effort toward a goal

X

procastination: exerting effort toward one goal instead of another

2 key perceptions:

“whether you think you can or you can’t...

lose 25 pounds

lose 1 pound

“whether you think you can or you can’t —you’re right.”

Henry Ford, cognitive researcher crotchety tycoon.

second,

$WIIFM?

:

note:this is the lamest slide in the presentation,

I swear.

attainment

designer black turtleneck

$

:

expectancy for success

value

the magic equation:

expectancy (for success)

expectancy (for success)

X

expectancy (for success)value (for the task)X

expectancy (for success)value (for the task)X

MOTIVATION.

high

highlow

low

expectancy

value

high

highlow

low

expectancy

BOREDOMvalue

high

highlow

low

expectancy

BOREDOM

ANXIETY

value

Why we door don’t dowhat we door don’t do.

michael.duah@gmail.com@michaelduah

PHXDW 2012: here + now

high

highlow

low

expectancy

BOREDOM

ANXIETY

“FLOW”

value

perfect concept

high

highlow

low

expectancy

BOREDOMNOPE.

ANXIETY “FLOW”

value

medieval poetry

Q:

Q: Where do they come from?

A: Your past...

eventspeopleexperiencescultureetc.

WHAT.

WHAT.

reasoninganalysisattributions

WHY.

WHAT.

self conceptself efficacyhopes/fearsdreams...

WHY.

WHO.

WHAT.

WHY.

WHO.

past present future

it’s that simple.*

some bad news:

*it’s not that simple.

changing behavior is tricky.

WHAT.

WHY.

WHO.

change gets harder the farther you go back...

gigantic brains

this is your brain...

accounts manager

brain synapses.

think of it like this:

WHAT.

WHY.

WHO.

the good news...

or,

“what this all had to do with design, anyways:”

these perceptions...

past present future

are just perceptions.

here + now.

we all want to be a better .

In the future:

here + now.

here + now.

Trust me. I finished this presentation this afternoon...

here + now.

Here + now, I am a better learner.

Here + now, I am a better co-worker.

Here + now, I am a better designer.

Here + now, I am a better citizen.

Here + now, I am a better husband.

Here + now, I am a better thinker.

Here + now, I am a better hugger.

Here + now, I am a better uncle.

Here + now, I am a better lover.

Here + now, I am a better flosser.

Here + now, I am a better failure.

Here + now, I am a better dreamer.

Here + now, I am a better BFF.

Here + now, I am a better forgiver.

Here + now, I am a better Valentine.

Here + now, I am a better taxpayer.

Here + now, I am a better booty-shaker.

Here + now, I am a better cheerleader.

Here + now, I am a better storyteller.

Here + now, I am a better man.

Here + now, I am a better human being.

Here + now, we are all better people.

Why we door don’t dowhat we door don’t do.michael.duah@gmail.com

@michaelduah

here + now.