Get It Done: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation by Ayelet Fishbach
- Alick Mouriesse
- Mar 15
- 7 min read
Updated: Mar 21
Uncover fresh, research-backed insights on self-motivation from Ayelet Fishbach’s “Get It Done” and learn practical strategies to achieve your personal and professional goals.
A U365 5MTS Microlearning 5 MINUTES TO SUCCESS Book Essential |
INTRODUCTION
Motivation can be tricky. We set ambitious goals and then watch them stall or vanish under life’s pressures. In “Get It Done: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation,” Professor Ayelet Fishbach gives us a simple yet powerful framework to kick our self-motivation into high gear. Drawing upon real-world examples, psychological insights, and leading academic studies, she reveals how to set meaningful goals, maintain momentum, juggle priorities, and build strong relationships that fuel our drive.
What makes this book a gem is its down-to-earth advice. Fishbach simplifies complex research so we can apply it right away. From personal targets like eating healthier or becoming financially secure, to professional aspirations like tackling work projects or leading teams successfully, she shows how motivation evolves—and how you can shape it. Whether you’re a busy professional, a student aiming to study smarter, or someone ready to break through a long-standing personal challenge, you’ll find actionable tips in “Get It Done” to energize your pursuit of success.
U365'S VALUE PROPOSITION
University 365 (U365) helps a wide audience—ranging from students to seasoned professionals—make smart use of Fishbach’s insights on personal and professional goal achievement. By merging these motivational strategies with our neuroscience-driven approach, we solve a core problem many face: losing steam over time.
Our distinctive take on microlearning, flexible learning schedules, and AI-driven guidance ensures that:
• You learn how to select goals that are both meaningful and do-able.
• You gain tactics to measure progress and renew motivation.
• You discover innovative frameworks for keeping multiple goals alive.
• You build a supportive social circle that nudges you forward.
• You see immediate results because we equip you to put everything into practice fast.
OVERVIEW
“Get It Done” revolves around four main parts, each offering down-to-earth methods to stay motivated:
• Part I—Choose Your Goal: Focuses on making your goals specific, meaningful, and intrinsically appealing so they feel like a genuine aspiration rather than a chore.
• Part II—Keep Pulling: Highlights progress tracking, celebrating small wins, and rethinking setbacks as stepping stones.
• Part III—Competing Goals: Explores how to juggle multiple ambitions—like career progress and family obligations—without losing your drive.
• Part IV—Social Support: Explains how friends, colleagues, and communities can energize your pursuits or inadvertently hold you back.
Crucially, each part includes practical guidance, research evidence, and easy-to-grasp examples to clarify how you can apply these insights in real life. “Get It Done” is packed with user-friendly tools—templates for setting targets, exercises to maintain momentum, and checklists to monitor results.
SUMMARY
Introduction and the Power of Self-Motivation: Fishbach opens by illustrating motivation as the pulling force behind any change. She shares Baron Munchausen’s metaphor of pulling oneself up by the hair—a whimsical allegory for overcoming seemingly impossible hurdles.
Part I—Choosing Goals and Setting Targets:
Avoid Chores: Instead of seeing goals as “have to” tasks, frame them as meaningful, “want to” aspirations.
Number Your Targets: Giving your goal a number—like saving $5,000 or running five miles—makes progress visible and stirs momentum.
Effective Incentives: Use focused rewards without overshadowing the real reason for your goal.
Part II—Maintaining Motivation:
Monitor Progress: Clarity on what’s done versus what’s left to do can spark renewed energy or help you recognize growing urgency.
The Middle Problem: Fishbach warns that early excitement and last-mile sprints come naturally, but the middle is often a slump. She suggests new checkpoints and re-commitment.
Feedback: Positive feedback encourages us; negative feedback can guide our course-correction when viewed as vital data.
Part III—Tackling Conflicting Goals and Self-Control:
Goal Juggling: Multi-goal life is the norm. Prioritize, then allocate time fairly.
Patience and Trade-Offs: Strategies to curb short-term temptations in favor of long-term wins, such as pre-commitment and “temptation bundling.”
Part IV—Harnessing Social Support:
Social Context Matters: The presence of others can fuel or deter your ambition. Carefully choose who you allow into your circle of accountability.
Community Dynamics: Group goals, partnerships, and shared challenges can solidify your determination. Encouragement becomes a mutual superpower.
Practical Takeaways and Real-World Stories: The book closes with real success stories—like consistently saving money or finally finishing a degree. Each example reveals how commitment to a well-chosen goal can transform everyday life.
At its core, “Get It Done” teaches you to honor your dreams by shaping them into achievable missions, equipped with clear progress markers and unwavering determination.
IN PRACTICE
Define the Right Goal: Instead of “I want to eat healthier,” shift to “I aim to add two servings of fresh vegetables daily.” This clarity ensures you know exactly how to measure success.
Add Fun and Intrinsic Reward: Use “temptation bundling.” If you love a certain podcast or show, only allow yourself to listen/watch it while exercising or doing necessary chores. This positive link keeps you excited.
Track Progress Visually: Create a simple chart—digital or physical—to mark milestones. For example, every time you complete a workout, check off a box. Watching your streak expand fuels a sense of achievement.
Manage Competing Desires: If you’re aiming to upskill for career growth and also maintain quality family time, schedule both. Identify the key tasks for each goal and protect those blocks in your calendar.
Lean on Others: Find a friend or colleague on the same journey—study group, healthy-eating partner, or daily accountability check via text. Mutually celebrating wins and empathizing with setbacks can keep you on track.
Measure results by watching how you feel—are you more positive, consistent, and proactive? Also look for external markers: performance at work, mood in relationships, and physical health improvements. Track these regularly to see real change over time.
QUOTES
“Goals are powerful tools and, as such, they should be handled with care”
“When the path to your goal is enjoyable, your motivation doubles”
“Progress and lack of progress both fuel drive—just at different stages”
“Let others help you, but remember you are the architect of your own success”
AUTHORS EXPERTISE
Ayelet Fishbach is a leading psychologist and professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Specializing in motivation and decision-making, her empirical work has been featured in top psychology and business journals. She is widely recognized for her expertise in goal-setting, self-regulation, and consumer behavior.
This deep academic background underpins the practical advice in “Get It Done,” bridging science and real-world application. Her groundbreaking studies have garnered multiple awards, reinforcing her credibility as an authority in motivation science.
RESOURCES
Official Book Link: Visit the publisher’s website at littlebrownspark.com or major online retailers to purchase “Get It Done.”
Author Platforms: Follow Ayelet Fishbach’s work via the University of Chicago Booth School of Business (chicagobooth.edu). • Further Reading:
“Mindset” by Carol Dweck
“Atomic Habits” by James Clear
“Grit” by Angela Duckworth
(If you want curated mini-lectures, podcasts, or detailed tutorials, explore our specialized microlearning and advanced materials at University 365.)
BONUS - THE U365 AI ADVANTAGE |
Use Generative AI for Personalized Planning (U.Copilot, MS 365 Copilot Chat, etc.):
Role: Task Planner
Context: Studying for professional certification
Goal: Organize a 6-week study roadmap
Clarity: “Outline weekly to-dos, reading goals, and practice tests. Keep me accountable with daily check-ins.”
Level Up with U365: Our membership offers microcredentials and specialized diplomas, letting you combine motivational science with AI-driven coaching. Earn recognized qualifications while streamlining your study time.
Apply AI Tools for On-the-Spot Feedback:
Role: Feedback Coach
Context: Practicing healthy eating
Goal: Evaluate progress weekly
Clarity: “Ask me if I’ve met my daily veggie intake, track patterns, and suggest incremental adjustments.”
By prompting AI in this structured format, you transform broad tasks into precise actions for optimal success.
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