ANSWERS to simple questions just like these from the online Impulse FactorTM test speak volumes about the way individuals shape their lives. The hundreds of decisions we make every day are profoundly impacted by whether we tend to be more cautious or more impulsive. Building on TalentSmart's data from hundreds of thousands of people worldwide, the Impulse Factor test reveals both the pros and the cons of the Impulse Factor--that mysterious force behind the choices we make. Once we are armed with this knowledge of our own hidden tendencies,Tasler shows how both the cautious and the impulsive can harness their personal style to make the most of every decision-making opportunity.

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.

Foreword

Introduction

  THRILL RIDERS

CHAPTER ONE

  ORIGIN OF SEEKERS: FROM CAVEMEN TO CAGE FIGHTERS

CHAPTER TWO

  IMPULSIVITY'S HIDDEN SIDE: THE SECRET OF BEING DIRECTIONALLY CORRECT

CHAPTER THREE

  EAT OR BE EATEN: WHAT POLITICIANS HAVE LEARNED FROM PRIMATES

CHAPTER FOUR

  BUBBLOLOGY: THE PLAGUE OF THE $76,000 FLOWER

CHAPTER FIVE

  COMMON SENSE OF OWNERSHIP

CHAPTER SiX

  FACTORING YOU INTO YOUR DECISIONS

CHAPTER SEVEN

  POTENTIAL SEEKERS: EXPLORING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SINNERS, SAINTS,BARBIES, AND FARMERS

CHAPTER EIGHT

  RISK MANAGERS: CONQUERING THE FEAR OF BIG CATS

CHAPTER NINE

  STRIKING A BALANCE

Afterword

  PUTTING BIG IDEAS TO THE TEST

Acknowledgments

Appendix A

  TECHNICAL MANUAL FOR THE IMPULSE FACTOR TEST

Appendix B

  WHO IS TALENTSMART?

Notes