Jordan Peterson - Why the Small Task Method Works So Well 

Do you agree that the small task method is effective? Why or why not? To buy my books, including Thomas Paine: A Lifetime of Radicalism, check out my online bookstore: davidbenner.square.site

Here is an example. I still remember my first job. I was hired as the senior (and only) scientist at a small environmental firm. I was like a deer in the headlights on the first day. After a few hours my boss said "Just do something!". So I did. I do not recall how much of what I did was useful but I went on to be recognized as one of the experts in operating the instrumentation that was our speciality. I never forgot that simple piece of information.

There is a cookbook with the tittle "Cook, eat and repeat." Sounds simple. I apply it to all of my complcated tasks. Not cooking them, but approaching - making - repeating. So simple, yet often so difficult:)

A lot of good common sense in that. My Dad taught me to swim that way when I was a kid. He simply took me out to water about half way up his chest, told me to stretch out as he hung onto me, and then slowly walked back with me, instructing me on how to move my arms and kick my feet. By the time we were back in water just below his waist I realized he was no longer holding me. I just knew how to swim. I used a similar method with a student who was afraid of heights. He was being trained to be an aircraft mechanic and that meant being able to walk on top of the wing, a height of roughly 15 feet off the ground for this model. Anyway, the first task requiring him to get up there was about two weeks into the course so each day, before class, I took him out to the aircraft and we worked on it, bit by bit. It started with him sticking his head out of the escape hatch. Then I had him sit with his feet still inside the aircraft. Then he sat on the wing a few times, stood once, and the next time we went for a walk. Halfway through that walk he turned to me and said I don't think I'm afraid of heights anymore. Step-by-step but just like I realized I could swim, he realized he wasn't afraid. I didn't teach him that. I barely coached him. We just worked through the process and he developed his own ideas on the matter. It was never a problem for him after that. This idea that you have to throw people into the deep end of the pool is promoted by people who can swim in the dep end of the pool. We all have our own fears, the deep end of the pool people included, and if they were forced to face it all at once they'd find out just how strong the fight or flight concept is. Everyone is a coward at some level.

A person, or a culture, can be lured into self-destruction in a similar manner. A person may think they are incapable of terrible acts such as murder, infidelity, drug addiction or self-harm, but can become capable of any of these things through the process of becoming incrementally habituated to increasingly dangerous manifestations of the root sin. "Fear is the path to the Dark Side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering."- Yoda.

I love the idea. I recently started a job that is very complicated. Right now, I'm suffering from ADHD and I'm not medicated yet. It's making the job 10x harder. This approach would greatly benefit me. I'm going to bring up to my bosses at work. Thank you, Dr. Peterson.

I am an infp personality type and struggle with no motivation low energy and procrastination. Small tasks during the day have really benefited me and this is before i found this video. Thats why i know its true. I watched videos first on my personality type, then into neurodiversity, then dopamine and the reward system and a few others that led me to this. Its nice to see all that i am investigating is being verifoed through multiple sources and applied practically and productivily. And being an infp productivity can be an issue especially when not feeling like it lol 😊

Thanks

This came out of the blue..sure always so good and might be good timing to hear it for someone. Anything in how to deal with extremely hot weather?

It's a form of graded exposure. Make the step so small you are absolutely certain you can do it. It prevents you triggering internal resistance from the alarm system in the brain which fears change (amygdala.) This is one of the foundations of kaizen. I recommend Dr Bob Maurer's books and interviews.

I needed this so much. Thank you

❤

Method of small steps is called Kaisen. Read “One small step can change your life” by Robert Mauer

Truck was suppose to be here it's Monday ......numbers were problem then it's Monday...not today .

Surely someone afraid of being trapped in an elevator is claustrophobic, not agoraphobic

Jordan is still trying to practice psychology? That is not allowed in any way. Why? DURING SUSPENSION, LICENSEES MAY NOT PRACTICE PSYCHOLOGY OR REFER TO THEMSELVES AS PSYCHOLOGISTS. As indicated above in "Probation," suspensions are considered disciplinary actions associated with probation orders and, as such, are public information and provided to consumers upon request. Jordan is a Frasier Crane wannabe. He is an entertainer not a psychologist. Because he sells books and videos and lectures, THAT IS NOT THERAPY. He needs to address his bad conduct in courts in the case of Case 1 Sordi v. Sordi, 2009 CanLII 80104 (ON SC) he defamed a parent in court. In the case 2 R. v. Pearce, 2012 MBQB 22 (CanLII) he tried to free a murderer. Then in the case Peterson v. College of Psychologists of Ontario, 2023 ONSC 4685, he tried to avoid taking responsibility. He also tried to interfere in a family court case in Montana, the Kolstadt case, where there was a GAG order, he unprofessionally diagnosed a minor without interviews or assessments, and tried to defend unfit parents.