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The Impulse Factor: Why Some of Us Play It Safe and Others Risk It All | 
 enlarge | Author: Nick Tasler
Creator: Travis Bradberry
Publisher: Fireside
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
Buy New: $7.25
You Save: $17.70 (71%)
New (45) Used (14) from $7.25
Avg. Customer Rating:  21 reviews
Sales Rank: 26545
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 272
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 8.5 x 5.5 x 1.1
ISBN: 1416562346
Dewey Decimal Number: 153.83
EAN: 9781416562344
ASIN: 1416562346
Publication Date: October 7, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
In his work as research and development director at cutting-edge think tank TalentSmart, where he helps businesses work better and employees think smarter, Nick Tasler realized that the recent discovery by scientists of a potential-seeking gene could have a remarkable impact on how we understand decision making. Those who have this gene -- about one quarter of the population -- are endowed with impulsive tendencies that can lead to fast and decisive action or to foolish choices. The cautious majority that Tasler calls risk managers can make carefully considered decisions or become hopelessly lost in the fog of details. Now The Impulse Factor offers readers a unique online opportunity to analyze their own decision-making style and harness it to improve their everyday lives. Each book comes with access to a proprietary assessment developed specifically to evaluate impulsivity. With examples from business, psychology, and Tasler's own research at TalentSmart, the book also vividly illustrates how susceptible we are to the events around us and how our reactions often run contrary to our best interests.By combining his research with real-world examples of extreme decision making, Tasler teaches readers how to thrive when faced with difficult choices. More than just a book, The Impulse Factor provides a clear understanding of why you make the choices you do -- and the tools to make those decisions change your business and your life.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 16 more reviews...
 A impulse to choose this book... November 26, 2008
Usually I enjoy books that explain psychological patterns so Impulse Factor was a natural for me to choose. Mostly I enjoyed the book, especially Tasler's summary of psychological studies. There's not a lot of novelty: if you've taken a social psych course, especially at the graduate level, you'll recognize the classics.
Other reviewers have identified the book's many virtues, so I will focus on two quibbles.
First, I am cautious about the influence of personality traits. Some personality theorists emphasize that trait are more like dispositions -- i.e., tendencies to respond that can change depending on the situation. And I believe people do change fundamentally over time.
More important, I believe Tasler defines "impulse" very broadly. His first example -- rescue squad members who decide to race down a dangerous hill -- seems to fit the definition. I view a dieter's decision to order a big piece of chocolate cake as giving in to impulse.
But I think we can differentiate risk taking tendencies and non-conformity from impulsivity. We can distinguish impulsivity as a trait from impulsive decisions. I also think we have to differentiate intuitive decisions from impulsive decisions, especially in business. Often what seems to be an impulsive decision is actually grounded in experience. Malcolm Gladwell's Blink shows how on-the-spot decisions often are grounded in deep experience.
That's probably why Tasler ultimately concludes the most successful visionaries combine traits of potential seekers and risk managers. I suspect many of us tend to move quickly in situations where we have experience to guide us. And as Tasler suggests (in more elegant language), when forced to make a decision with incomplete information, we need to ask, "What's the worst outcome scenario?"
Despite these quibbles, I would recommend the book enthusiastically -- except for the book's ties to a commercial consulting firm. Appendix A appears to be a guide to the proprietary test -- essentially a commercial.
Decisions Decisions November 26, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This was a great study into how impulsive decisions are developed based on your personality type, the impulsive tendencies and how it effects how people make decisions. The study is really useful at disecting impulse decision making, knowing the blueprint into impulse helps the reader benefit in making really productive and successful impulse decisions. I really liked the idea that impulsive decisions can have a positive even successful result similar to the idea in BLINK; since the norm is to treat impulsive decisions as negative and bad decisions.
Irresistible Impulse November 21, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
It's in the genes.
So says Nick Tasler, author of The Impulse Factor
Those who are cautious look at the impulsive and think they are reckless. Those who are impulsive look at the cautious and wonder why they can't make a decision.
And now Tasler links impulsivity to a lack of MAO in the brain.
More specifically Tasler sums that impulsivity is at least in part due to a gene mutation that alters the way some people's brains handle dopamine, thus causing people to be Darwin Award winners, sexaholics and a host of other negative behaviors and life patterns.
Meanwhile the non-mutant (my word not Tasler's) is the cautious one.
And there are a lot more of the cautious variety on the planet.
More interesting is Tasler's uncovering of the fact that about 1/2 of people diagnosed with ADHD have the novelty seeking gene.
Tasler makes it clear that there are obvious benefits and drawbacks of being one of those who seek novelty. Sometimes you get what you jump for and other times you become a Darwin Award recipient.
Next Tasler points out an interesting distinction of impulsive behavior. It's not so much ignoring the risk, he says, it's more about the focus on the reward.
If that sounds like a stereotypical teenager, you're probably hearing right....
Meanwhile cautious people behave impulsively to keep up with the group.
Tasler's brilliant book is even handed and offers wisdom for "potential seekers" and others. You'll have to pick up the book to get the details.
Kevin Hogan
Author of Irresistible Attraction: Secrets of Personal Magnetism
 Fascinating research and insight November 20, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Based in the context of genetics and psychology, The Impulse Factor, is a great tool for understanding risk and risk aversion. Nick Tasler used years of research to illustrate why it's easier for some to take risks than others and whether or not risk takers are more successful than non risk takers in business.
Business professionals can benefit from The Impulse Factor as a tool for understanding how and why different people, including themselves, either make or don't make risky decisions. By reading Tasler's book, people, despite their innate tendencies, can learn to make better decisions thus improving their chances of success.
Do you like taking risks for the chance of higher payout? This book tells you why you make those decisions. November 20, 2008
Which one are you? Are you among the 75% who are "Risk Managers" or among the other 25% who are "Potential Seekers"? Why do some people opt for a 50% chance to win $10,000 rather than a 100% guarantee of getting $5000?
The answer lies partly in genetics according to the author. Some of us have the "novelty seeking genes" that make some of us seek thrills in every day life to get to the same happy state that others may get to by just pottering about in their garden or reading books. Impulsiveness, argues the author can be a factor of genetics.
Ultimately, this is book that delves into the decision making process and gives us insights to manage risk without running from opportunity. It also asks the impulse followers to Think, Analyze and then React. The aim is to strike a balance in our decision making process.
This book is interesting and Nick Tasler has a good style. However, the book got too long in parts. We are so used to getting our information in bite sized nuggets now that any chapter that takes too long to get to the point gets boring. I thought Tasler used great examples to illustrate his points in the book, but he gave so much build up in some that the nugget of information which came at the end was almost anti-climactic.
If you're interested enough to read this review, I recommend reading this book. For me it wasn't earth shattering but it provided insight into the question, why do some of us jump into entrepreneurship propelled by a new idea while the rest of us keep working at our jobs still mulling over the pros and cons of taking that step. If you've been intrigued by the same question, I recommend reading this book.
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