Geoffrey Adam

Retired. Walker. Observer. Cook. Former lawyer, CEO for Aust Inst of Conveyancers (SA) & Director, Building Brighter Futures Foundn. Our legacy is our measure.

[Adam Grant @AdamMGrant]

AI writing produces an illusion of creativity.

Data on >370k college essays: After chatGPT, personal statements seemed more creative because they used more varied words—but actually featured less original ideas.

Machines favor homogeneity. Humans excel at diversity of thought.

[daily zen @dailyzen]

"Look within. Within is the fountain of good, and it will ever bubble up, if thou wilt ever dig." — Marcus Aurelius

[Adam Grant @AdamMGrant]

Even toddlers experience the joy of giving.

Evidence: When kids under 2 share a snack with a puppet, they exude enthusiasm. They actually smile bigger and laugh more after giving a treat than getting one for themselves.

Kindness is a fundamental source of happiness.

[Adam Grant @AdamMGrant]

Neuroscientists find that chewing gum can elevate focus and alleviate stress.

Randomly assigning people to chew gum increases blood flow to the brain, boosting attention and productivity—especially under stress.

Even small movements are enough to keep our minds active.

[Adam Grant @AdamMGrant]

Not knowing what to do is as stressful as having too much to do.

515 studies, 787k people: Role ambiguity and role conflict are at least as detrimental to well-being and performance as role overload.

Setting clear, consistent expectations is a foundation of good leadership.

[Adam Grant @AdamMGrant]

Expecting kids to control their emotions is not good for their well-being.

When parents believe in suppressing feelings, they respond with more disapproval. Their kids are more likely to become anxious and depressed.

Emotion regulation improves with practice, not punishment.

[Adam Grant @AdamMGrant]

Dear managers: Stop dumping extra tasks on people who love their jobs.

5 studies: Managers mistakenly assume that if you're intrinsically motivated, you'll happily do more without burning out or expecting more pay.

Joy shouldn't come at a cost. It's time to end the passion tax.

[Adam Grant @AdamMGrant]

Even small gestures of affection can have a big impact on our well-being.

When a girl faces stress, if her mom touches her hand, she sweats less. If they have a close relationship, the mere presence of her mom is enough to alleviate anxiety.

Love is a source of strength.

[Adam Grant @AdamMGrant]

The most important skill for creativity is no longer original thinking. It’s taste and tenacity.

In the age of AI, ideas are abundant. Good judgment and execution are scarce.

The future belongs to those who excel at finding and amplifying the signal in the noise.

[Adam Grant @AdamMGrant]

Women are offered lower pay than men for the same job.

Across >700k jobs, women were offered 5.5% less money than men, even after controlling for education, experience, employer, occupation, industry, and location.

The value of work shouldn’t depend on the gender of the worker.

[Adam Grant @AdamMGrant]

The books you love are a window into your personality.

•Mystery & self-improvement attract conscientious people
•Sci-fi, psychology, philosophy draw open-minded people
•Memoir & horror appeal to neurotic people

Reading doesn't just shape our views. It reveals what we're like.

[Adam Grant @AdamMGrant]

Too many managers reward people for the passion they show instead of the value they add.

Evidence: Even when they do worse or no better than their peers, people who exude enthusiasm get more praise and promotions.

What counts is not expressed emotion. It's contribution.

[Adam Grant @AdamMGrant]

A sign of emotional intelligence is the ability to laugh at yourself.

6 studies: After making small mistakes, people are seen as warmer and more capable if they're amused instead of embarrassed.

Taking your responsibilities seriously but your ego lightly is a core life skill.

[Adam Grant @AdamMGrant]

Telling kids to sit still doesn’t build discipline. It stifles imagination.

Evidence: When students are given freedom to fidget and wiggle in their seats, they pay just as much attention—and generate more creative ideas.

Physical activity unlocks mental agility.

[Adam Grant @AdamMGrant]

The cure for ignorance is not information. It's humility and curiosity.

Facts can be easily dismissed. What motivates people to gain insight is recognizing gaps in their understanding and wanting to find out more.

The root of lifelong learning is knowing how little we know.

[George Conway ⚖️🇺🇸 @gtconway3d]

The single most significant event in legal history since Blackstone's Commentaries

[Adam Grant @AdamMGrant]

Our highest loyalty doesn’t belong to people or parties. It belongs to principles.

If you wouldn’t accept it from the “other side,” you shouldn’t accept it from yours.

Integrity is upholding your values even when your own group violates them.

[Adam Grant @AdamMGrant]

Introverts aren’t necessarily better listeners than extraverts.

New data: In conversations and meetings, extraverts are at least as likely to show enthusiasm, avoid dominating and interrupting, and focus on others.

Listening is not a personality trait—it's a behavioral skill.

[Adam Grant @AdamMGrant]

Multitasking isn't just unproductive—it's stressful too.

Average attention on a screen has fallen from 2.5min in 2004 to 75sec in 2012 to 47sec today. Rapid switching puts our nervous systems on alert.

The best way to keep calm and carry on is to focus on one thing at a time.

[Adam Grant @AdamMGrant]

Early specialization is overrated. Generalists excel over time.

Data on >34k stars in sports, music, science, and chess: Focusing on a single field predicts a faster rise, but cross-training foreshadows a higher peak.

The most successful adults start off as well-rounded kids.