Clearer, Closer, Better

Introduction

In her book "Clearer, Closer, Better," social psychologist Emily Balcetis explores the fascinating connection between visual perception and success. She argues that high achievers have a unique way of seeing the world that sets them up for accomplishing their goals. By understanding and adopting these perceptual strategies, we can all improve our chances of success in various areas of life.

Balcetis begins by challenging our assumption that we see the world as it truly is. In reality, our eyes and brains work together to create an imperfect impression of our surroundings, often leading to errors in judgment and decision-making. However, this gap between perception and reality isn't necessarily a weakness. If we learn to harness it, we can reframe our obstacles and challenges in ways that make them easier to overcome.

The book introduces four key visualization strategies used by successful people:

1. Narrowing focus
2. Materializing goals
3. Controlling the frame of reference
4. Broadening focus

By mastering these techniques, we can train our eyes to work in tandem with our brains, setting ourselves up for greater achievement and personal growth.

Narrowing Focus: The Power of Laser-Like Attention

The Olympic Champion's Secret

The first visualization strategy Balcetis explores is narrowing focus. She illustrates this concept with the story of Joan Benoit Samuelson, the first-ever female Olympic marathon champion. Samuelson's success wasn't just about physical training or equipment – it was her ability to maintain a narrow focus during the race that gave her the edge.

Instead of dwelling on the daunting 26.2-mile journey ahead, Samuelson employed a simple yet effective strategy. She would scan the runners ahead of her, pick one to pass, and focus solely on that goal. Once she passed that runner, she'd choose another, repeating this process throughout the race. By breaking down the enormous challenge into smaller, manageable goals, Samuelson was able to achieve Olympic gold.

The Gym Experiment: Perception Shapes Reality

To demonstrate the power of narrow focus, Balcetis and her research team conducted an experiment with gym-goers. They added weighted cuffs to participants' ankles, increasing their body weight by 15 percent, and asked them to walk as quickly as possible to a finish line. The participants were divided into two groups:

1. One group was instructed to keep their eyes fixed on the finish line and avoid looking around.
2. The other group was told to look around as they normally would.

The results were striking:

• The group that focused solely on the finish line estimated that it was 30 percent closer than the other group.
• They used 17 percent less effort in walking to the finish line.
• They reached the finish line 23 percent quicker.

This experiment clearly shows how narrowing our focus can make tasks seem more manageable and help us perform better with less perceived effort.

Saving for Retirement: Visualizing the Future Self

The benefits of narrow focus extend beyond physical tasks to long-term planning, such as saving for retirement. Social psychologist Hal Hershfield conducted an experiment to demonstrate this:

1. He took photos of young people and digitally aged them to show how they might look in 45 years.
2. When shown these aged versions of themselves, participants planned to set aside 6.2 percent of their current salary for retirement.
3. In contrast, those who saw photos of their current selves only set aside 4.4 percent.

By narrowing their focus on a concrete visualization of their future selves, people were more motivated to take action in the present to secure their financial future.

Materializing Goals: Making the Abstract Concrete

The Olympic Swimmer's Kickboard

The second visualization strategy involves materializing goals – making them tangible and concrete. Balcetis uses the example of Gary Hall Sr., a triple Olympic swimming champion, to illustrate this concept.

Hall's coach would write specific target times on the kickboard he used during practice. This simple act transformed abstract goals into something physical and ever-present. Every time Hall practiced, he was confronted with these concrete targets, helping him stay focused and motivated.

Visualizing the Process, Not Just the Outcome

A study by UCLA psychologist Shelley E. Taylor among college students preparing for their first midterm exam revealed an important distinction in goal visualization:

1. Students who spent time each day visualizing the concrete steps they would take to prepare for the exam studied more and performed better.
2. Those who simply imagined getting a high grade studied less and performed worse than the class average.

This research highlights the importance of materializing not just the end goal, but the process required to achieve it.

Normalizing Failure in Corporate Culture

Materializing goals also involves preparing for potential setbacks. Many successful companies have recognized the importance of normalizing failure in their corporate culture. For example:

• Tata Group, the Indian multinational conglomerate, introduced a "Dare to Try Award" that recognizes audacious attempts that fail.
• Over the first five years of the award's inception, applications from employees increased more than sevenfold.

By removing the shame associated with failure, companies encourage innovation and risk-taking. This approach helps employees anticipate potential obstacles and prepare for them, rather than being paralyzed by the fear of making mistakes.

Keeping Yourself Accountable: The Power of Tracking Progress

The Birth of MyFitnessPal

Materializing goals also involves objectively assessing your progress. Mike Lee, a Yale economics graduate, discovered the power of this approach when trying to lose weight for his beach wedding. His trainer gave him:

1. A book listing the nutritional values of about 3,000 foods
2. A small pad of paper to track his daily food intake and calorie consumption

This method aligns with scientific studies showing that people who keep daily food records lose twice as much weight as those who don't. However, Lee found the process tedious and impractical. His solution? He created a web application to track calories automatically online. This eventually became MyFitnessPal, the popular calorie-counting app that was later bought by Under Armour for $475 million.

Tackling Debt Through Visualization

Carrie Smith Nicholson's story demonstrates how materializing progress can help overcome financial challenges. At 25, newly divorced and burdened with debts amounting to a third of her salary, Nicholson managed to pay off $14,000 in just 14 months.

Her secret? Using online tools that visualized her expenditure and savings progress. By materializing her financial situation and future goals, Nicholson gained the motivation and clarity needed to tackle her debt aggressively.

These examples show that when we make ourselves accountable to our goals and visualize the steps leading to them, we significantly increase our chances of success.

Controlling the Frame of Reference: Directing Your Attention

The Power of Line of Sight

What falls within our line of sight often determines what we deem most important. This principle is evident in various settings:

1. Supermarkets strategically place tempting items like chocolate bars at easily visible points near the checkout.
2. In the US Capitol, senators vie for seats within the line of sight of the presiding officer, as this can determine who gets to speak.

Senator Orrin Hatch, the longest-serving US senator, chose a seat directly behind the majority leader, close to the aisle. He explained, "In a very serious situation, sometimes getting recognition is the difference between winning and losing."

The Walmart Shelf Strategy

Walmart executives discovered that keeping shelves overflowing with products led to increased profits. Customers were more likely to buy items they hadn't intended to purchase simply because they were visible. When they experimented with a more streamlined visual experience, sales dipped.

Breaking the Cycle: Structuring Your Environment

To avoid falling prey to visual temptations, it's crucial to be aware of this tendency and take steps to address it. One effective strategy is to deliberately structure your environment in a way that promotes good choices. This might involve:

1. Removing visual cues that trigger unwanted behaviors
2. Placing reminders of your goals in prominent locations
3. Organizing your space to make desired actions more convenient

By controlling your frame of reference, you can set yourself up for success by ensuring that what you see aligns with what you want to achieve.

Reading Emotional Expressions: The Importance of Accurate Feedback

The Myth of Positive Self-Regard

Contrary to popular belief, having a positive view of oneself doesn't necessarily lead to greater accomplishments. In fact, receiving unwarranted positive feedback can hinder progress by creating a false sense of competence.

The Challenge of Reading Emotions

Successful people are often adept at reading the facial emotions of others, which contributes to their happiness and productivity. However, this skill isn't easy to master:

• In experiments, participants could recognize happiness 99 percent of the time.
• Fear was the hardest to read, recognized only half the time and often confused with surprise.
• Anger was frequently mistaken for sadness or disgust.

Keys to Reading Emotions

To improve your ability to read emotions:

1. Focus on the eyes to distinguish between genuine and staged smiles. Real smiles involve contraction of muscles around the eyes.
2. Look at the lips to differentiate between surprise and fear. Both expressions share raised eyebrows and wide eyes, but a surprised mouth pulls down more than a fearful one.

Embracing a Growth Mindset

Rather than fearing negative feedback, adopt what psychologist Carol Dweck calls a "growth mindset." This approach helps you:

1. Recognize mistakes faster
2. See every new experience as an opportunity for improvement
3. Nurture a desire to learn and grow

By framing your visual surroundings to promote a complete and true reflection of the world, you can use feedback – both positive and negative – to continually improve and move closer to your goals.

Broadening Focus: Aligning Decisions with Long-Term Objectives

The Pitfall of Living in the Moment

While the popular phrase "YOLO" (You Only Live Once) encourages living in the moment, this approach can be detrimental when working towards significant long-term goals. The things that capture our immediate attention can lead to decisions that seem ideal in the moment but poorly align with our long-range plans.

The Reality of Impulse Purchases

To illustrate this point, Balcetis and her students tracked their impulse purchases for two weeks:

1. They estimated their total unplanned expenditure would be no more than $1,600.
2. In reality, they spent $2,400.
3. The author's unintended expenses were primarily on food, often due to lack of preparation or giving in to temptation.
4. She spent $75.30 more than planned over two weeks – equivalent to five hours of babysitting or four Zumba classes.

This experiment highlights how easily we can be swayed by immediate desires when we don't maintain a broader perspective.

Balancing Narrow and Broad Focus

It might seem contradictory to discuss the benefits of both narrow and broad focus. However, successful people use a variety of perceptual tools, applying them at appropriate times:

1. A narrow focus can be inspiring towards the end of a journey.
2. A broad focus is often more motivating at the start.

This was demonstrated in a study of seasoned athletes competing in New York Road Runners races:

• In the last half mile, 60 percent narrowed their focus more often than they expanded it.
• At the beginning, over 80 percent widened their focus more than they narrowed it.

By learning when to apply each type of focus, you can optimize your approach throughout the journey towards your goals.

Knowing When to Let Go: The Power of Broadening Perspective

Redefining Success

Sometimes, broadening your focus can help you recognize when it's time to let go of a cherished dream. Success doesn't always look like what you initially imagined, and being open to new possibilities can lead to unexpected opportunities.

Steve Sims: From Bricklayer to Luxury Concierge

Steve Sims' career journey illustrates the benefits of broadening focus:

1. He started as a bricklayer but dreamed of being a stockbroker.
2. He achieved his dream but was fired after three days in Hong Kong.
3. He became a nightclub doorman and started organizing events.
4. Still pursuing finance, he leveraged his contacts but was again rejected by banks.
5. Eventually, he let go of his stockbroking dream and launched Bluefish, an exclusive luxury concierge service.

By broadening his focus, Sims discovered a unique niche that combined his skills and connections in ways he hadn't initially imagined.

Vera Wang: From Figure Skater to Fashion Designer

Vera Wang's story similarly demonstrates the power of broadening perspective:

1. Her original goal was to become an Olympic figure skater.
2. After failing to qualify for the 1968 Olympics, she retired from skating.
3. While studying at the Sorbonne in Paris, she discovered a passion for fashion.
4. She eventually became one of the most sought-after contemporary fashion designers.

Wang's ability to broaden her focus allowed her to apply the passions that had inspired her in figure skating to a new field, leading to unexpected success.

Reframing Setbacks as Opportunities

These stories teach us that setbacks don't have to be viewed as failures. By broadening our focus, we can reframe disappointments as opportunities to progress on new paths. This approach allows us to remain flexible and open to possibilities we might not have considered when narrowly focused on a single goal.

The Multitasking Myth: Why Broad Focus Matters

The Demand for Multitasking

Despite its popularity in job descriptions, evidence shows that multitasking can be detrimental to long-term goals and impair judgment. For example, Monster.com posted over 300,000 job descriptions in a single month seeking candidates who could effectively multitask.

The Dieter's Dilemma

A study conducted by psychologists at Swarthmore College and UCLA among dieters revealed:

1. When dieters multitasked, they were more likely to make food choices they later regretted.
2. They consumed 40 percent more calories while multitasking than when focusing on a single task.

This research demonstrates how getting caught up in the present moment can lead to decisions that undermine long-term goals.

The Wide-Bracket Mindset

To overcome the pitfalls of multitasking and short-term thinking, Balcetis recommends adopting a wide-bracket mindset. This approach:

1. Broadens your focus
2. Encourages you to look beyond the obvious
3. Helps you make decisions that align with your more important, long-term goals

When Low-Level Multitasking Works

While multitasking is generally counterproductive, there are some situations where low-level multitasking can be beneficial. Professor Diwas KC's study of emergency room doctors over three years found:

1. Multitasking with a small patient load (3-4 patients) led to faster discharge rates.
2. ER physicians increased their pace of discharging patients by about 25 percent when their load went from three to four.
3. Low levels of stress actually boosted cognitive functioning.

The Limits of Multitasking

However, the benefits of multitasking have limits:

1. When the ER doctors' patient load grew to five or six, the strain became counterproductive.
2. Patients ended up staying in the hospital longer than they would have otherwise.

This research highlights the importance of finding the right balance and knowing when multitasking becomes detrimental rather than helpful.

Practical Applications of Perceptual Strategies

In Personal Health and Fitness

1. Narrow focus: When exercising, focus on small, achievable goals (like passing the next runner) rather than the entire workout.
2. Materialize goals: Use fitness tracking apps or journals to visualize your progress and keep yourself accountable.
3. Control your frame of reference: Structure your environment to promote healthy choices, like keeping fruits visible and junk food out of sight.
4. Broad focus: When planning your fitness routine, consider long-term health benefits rather than just immediate results.

In Financial Management

1. Narrow focus: Break down large financial goals into smaller, manageable targets.
2. Materialize goals: Use budgeting apps or spreadsheets to track your spending and savings visually.
3. Control your frame of reference: Keep reminders of your financial goals in prominent places, like your wallet or phone lock screen.
4. Broad focus: When making purchasing decisions, consider the long-term impact on your financial health.

In Career Development

1. Narrow focus: Concentrate on mastering one skill at a time rather than trying to improve everything simultaneously.
2. Materialize goals: Create a visual career roadmap with specific milestones and deadlines.
3. Control your frame of reference: Surround yourself with reminders of your career aspirations and achievements.
4. Broad focus: Regularly step back to assess how your current role aligns with your long-term career goals.

In Relationships

1. Narrow focus: During conversations, give your full attention to the person you're talking to, avoiding distractions.
2. Materialize goals: Set concrete relationship goals and track your progress (e.g., weekly date nights, daily acts of kindness).
3. Control your frame of reference: Create an environment that fosters positive interactions, like designating tech-free zones at home.
4. Broad focus: Consider how your actions and decisions impact your relationships in the long run.

In Learning and Education

1. Narrow focus: When studying, concentrate on one subject or concept at a time rather than trying to multitask.
2. Materialize goals: Use visual aids like mind maps or progress charts to track your learning journey.
3. Control your frame of reference: Organize your study space to minimize distractions and maximize focus.
4. Broad focus: Regularly reflect on how your current studies contribute to your overall educational and career goals.

Overcoming Common Obstacles

Dealing with Distractions

1. Identify your most common distractions and their triggers.
2. Use the narrow focus technique to concentrate on one task at a time.
3. Control your frame of reference by creating a distraction-free environment.
4. Practice mindfulness to improve your ability to refocus when distractions occur.

Maintaining Motivation

1. Materialize your goals by breaking them down into smaller, achievable milestones.
2. Use visual reminders of your progress to stay motivated.
3. Regularly broaden your focus to remind yourself of the bigger picture and why your goals matter.
4. Celebrate small victories along the way to maintain momentum.

Overcoming Self-Doubt

1. Use the materialization technique to document your achievements and progress.
2. Practice reading emotional expressions accurately to avoid misinterpreting feedback.
3. Adopt a growth mindset to view challenges as opportunities for learning and improvement.
4. Broaden your focus to remind yourself of past successes when facing new challenges.

Managing Stress and Burnout

1. Use the narrow focus technique to break overwhelming tasks into manageable chunks.
2. Control your frame of reference by creating a calming environment.
3. Practice broadening your focus to maintain perspective during stressful periods.
4. Incorporate stress-reduction techniques like meditation or exercise into your routine.

Adapting to Change

1. Use the broad focus technique to assess how changes align with your long-term goals.
2. Materialize new situations by creating action plans and visualizing potential outcomes.
3. Control your frame of reference by seeking out information and perspectives that help you understand and adapt to changes.
4. Practice flexibility in your thinking by considering multiple approaches to challenges.

Integrating Perceptual Strategies into Daily Life

Morning Routine

1. Start with a broad focus: Review your long-term goals and how today's activities contribute to them.
2. Narrow your focus: Identify the most important tasks for the day.
3. Materialize your plan: Write down or visualize your schedule and goals for the day.
4. Control your frame of reference: Set up your environment for success (e.g., lay out exercise clothes, prepare a healthy breakfast).

At Work

1. Begin tasks with a broad focus to understand their importance and context.
2. Narrow your focus when diving into specific projects or problems.
3. Materialize your progress by using to-do lists, project management tools, or visual aids.
4. Control your frame of reference by organizing your workspace to promote productivity and minimize distractions.

During Leisure Time

1. Use a broad focus to ensure your leisure activities align with your overall well-being and goals.
2. Apply narrow focus to fully engage in and enjoy your chosen activities.
3. Materialize the benefits of your leisure time by journaling or sharing experiences with others.
4. Control your frame of reference by creating environments that promote relaxation and enjoyment.

Before Bed

1. Broaden your focus to reflect on the day's accomplishments and lessons learned.
2. Narrow your focus to plan key tasks for the next day.
3. Materialize your thoughts by writing in a gratitude journal or to-do list for tomorrow.
4. Control your frame of reference by creating a calming bedtime environment conducive to good sleep.

Conclusion: The Power of Perception in Achieving Success

Emily Balcetis' "Clearer, Closer, Better" offers a fresh perspective on how we can harness the power of our visual perception to overcome challenges and achieve our goals. By understanding and applying the four key visualization strategies – narrowing focus, materializing goals, controlling the frame of reference, and broadening focus – we can train our eyes to work in harmony with our brains, setting ourselves up for greater success in all areas of life.

The book's insights remind us that our perception of the world is not fixed or absolute. Instead, it's a tool that we can learn to manipulate and control to our advantage. By becoming more aware of how we see our surroundings and challenges, we can make better decisions, stay motivated, and ultimately achieve more.

Key takeaways from the book include:

1. The power of narrowing focus to make tasks seem more manageable and achievable.
2. The importance of materializing goals and progress to maintain motivation and accountability.
3. The impact of controlling our frame of reference to create environments that support our objectives.
4. The value of broadening focus to maintain perspective and make decisions aligned with long-term goals.
5. The need for flexibility in applying these strategies, knowing when to narrow or broaden our focus depending on the situation.

Balcetis' work encourages us to be more intentional about how we perceive our world and our challenges. By adopting the perceptual habits of high achievers, we can literally change the way we see our obstacles, making them appear more surmountable and our goals more attainable.

As we integrate these visualization strategies into our daily lives, we may find that our perception becomes a powerful ally in our pursuit of success. Whether we're tackling personal health goals, managing our finances, developing our careers, nurturing relationships, or pursuing education, these perceptual tools can help us navigate challenges more effectively and move closer to our aspirations.

Ultimately, "Clearer, Closer, Better" reminds us that success is not just about what we do, but also about how we see. By mastering our perception, we can transform our approach to challenges and open up new possibilities for achievement and personal growth.