Adam Grant✓

One of the clearest signs of learning is rethinking your assumptions and revising your opinions. 21 things I rethought in 2021: a thread...

I'm giving away 25 copies of #VIBE. To enter, repost and comment by October 13.

The reports about the events at Cornell—and the lack of accountability for the perpetrators—are sickening. So is the victim blaming in response. Victim blaming: “If you don’t want to be raped, don’t go to a frat party.” Responsibility: Don’t. Rape. Women. The right focus is not on teaching girls and women to avoid harm. It’s on raising boys and men who don’t commit it in the first place.

When men have daughters, they become more supportive of women. Data on every worker in Denmark over 25 years: After male bosses welcome their first daughter, they're 2.9% more likely to hire qualified women—and pay them 4.4% more—without any cost to firm performance. But we shouldn't have to wait for men to have girls before they become feminists. It's time to replace "As a father..." with "As a human being..."

Don’t follow your passion. Follow your talent and find your purpose.

Listening carefully doesn't just avoid misunderstandings. It also bolsters bonds during arguments. 5 studies: Even if people don’t find common ground, when they feel heard, they leave feeling more connected, capable, and optimistic. Agreement is not a prerequisite for respect.

Generosity is not about fulfilling every request. It’s about giving what we can. Evidence: People appreciate receiving partial help more than we realize. Regardless of the result, they value the gesture of care. Kindness is defined by the effort, not only the impact.

The activity you enjoy most is not your calling. It's your hobby. Careers aren't built solely on passion—they depend on making a meaningful contribution. Doing what you love is a luxury. Finding a purpose is a necessity.

AI struggles to make creative leaps. Large language models are trained on data from the past. Original thinking involves recognizing novel patterns in the future. Long live human ingenuity.

In the long run, the best way to curb cheating isn't proctoring essays and oral exams. It's developing a moral compass. The heart of integrity is recognizing that the ends don’t justify the means. What we achieve defines our success. How we achieve it determines our character.

We squander too much of our free time feeling guilty that we’re not working. In 1 of every 7 moments of fun and relaxation, people feel bad that they're not being “productive”—robbing themselves of joy and rejuvenation. Leisure is not a bug. It’s a feature of a good life.

We don't need unwavering confidence to take action. We merely need to doubt our doubts. When people are randomly assigned to question their hesitations, they become more committed to pursuing their goals. A key to tenacity is refusing to treat feelings of insecurity as facts.

Using social media in middle school predicts lower standardized test scores in high school. 10th graders who started social media before 9th grade are ~6 months behind their peers on math & reading. They're more distracted by their phones. No child should have access to social media.

A sign of intelligence is the ability to disagree with yourself.

No, disagreeing with yourself is more a sign of intellectual humility.

Being prejudiced is a risk factor for mental illness. Longitudinal evidence: When people develop racist beliefs, they become more socially isolated—and end up more depressed, anxious, and distressed over the next 6 months. Belonging is an antidote to bigotry as well as misery.

We don't just feel better during vacations. Our moods elevate in advance too. Evidence: People aren't always happier after a holiday, but they do feel happier beforehand. It gives them something to look forward to. Anticipated joy is a reliable source of happiness.

Hybrid work doesn't just boost productivity. It leads us to reproduce more too. Economists find that when remote work opportunities rise, fertility rates do too. For every 3 couples that work from home at least a day a week, an extra child is born. Flexibility is pro-family.

Dealing with difficult people may be hazardous to your health. Data: Each additional "hassler" in your network predicts 1.5% faster biological aging—and worse health a year later. Non-spouse family hasslers are the most problematic. Some ties aren't worth the toll they take.

It’s better to attribute success to grit than natural talent. 5 studies: Highlighting how accomplishments depend on hard work—not just innate ability—builds confidence and boosts performance. A key to motivation is recognizing the connection between effort and excellence.