Logan Pant, Ph.D.

Marketing Professor | Author (forthcoming)
@HCOB
Studying performance, decisions, and effort
↓ Psychology for work and life

[Logan Pant, Ph.D. @LoganPantPhD]

Parenting hack I wish I’d known sooner:

Use a separate Spotify profile for kids songs.

If not, you’ll be mid-workout going from All-American Rejects to Laurie Berkner, just listening to your release radar.

[Logan Pant, Ph.D. @LoganPantPhD]

What can an All-American basketball player teach us about grit?

In my latest Substack article, I talked with my longtime best friend Chad Roy about falling in love with the process, learning how to fail, and figuring out when to keep going or change direction.

Chad's story gave me a lot to think about, and I'm excited to share it.

Read 'What an All-American Taught Me About Grit' here:

https://t.co/J4yqSwmDzo

[Logan Pant, Ph.D. @LoganPantPhD]

Talking about consumer psychology in class today got me thinking about how memory works:

Memory is less like a recording and more like a reconstructive process.

In false-memory studies, under certain conditions, nearly half of participants have formed memories of events that never actually happened.

Pretty interesting when you think about how often we make decisions based on what we remember, not necessarily what occurred.

[Logan Pant, Ph.D. @LoganPantPhD]

“So there’s a lot of luck, some grit, but a lot of luck.” — @RealCarolinaMiC 🎤

I enjoyed interviewing Carolina MiC for my Strategic Effort project! From making music alongside his full-time career to going viral and performing on America’s Got Talent, his story brings up some questions like: What does persistence make possible? How much depends on timing and luck? And when should we try a different approach?

A few favorite quotes:
💬 “I’m not out here trying to impress anybody, I’m just trying to have fun.”
💬 “Find something you’re good at, that you’re passionate about, that you could pour into. And get really good at it.”
💬 “We’re laying runway, and whatever happens, happens.”
We also discussed family, support, handling criticism, and staying grounded through the highs and lows.

Thank you, Carolina MiC, for sharing your story! More from our conversation coming soon on Substack.

[Logan Pant, Ph.D. @LoganPantPhD]

ACR 2026!

[Logan Pant, Ph.D. @LoganPantPhD]

“If you’re persistent and going the wrong way, you’re still going the wrong way.”

For the latest Strategic Effort interview, I spoke with independent artist and songwriter @JZACMusic about what he has learned from building a successful career in music.

We discussed consistency, trial and error, self-awareness, and why working hard is not enough if your effort is taking you in the wrong direction.

Read the full interview:

https://t.co/cMgprMVeYd

[Logan Pant, Ph.D. @LoganPantPhD]

Am I a runner now?

After years of focusing on lifting and strength training, I honestly never thought I’d be saying that.

I hadn’t run more than 5–6 miles since high school. This summer, I decided I wanted a new goal to push myself, so I decided to start running again.

This weekend, I ran my first half marathon.
13.1 miles | sub-1:37 | ~7:19/mile

Sometimes in life, it’s good to choose a goal, start before you feel ready, and consistently show up.

Now I’m excited to keep training and see what’s next!

Strava ���� [https://t.co/fn8Gt67iB6]

[Logan Pant, Ph.D. @LoganPantPhD]

First day teaching at @WesternMichU! Excited to be here and looking forward to a great semester. Go Broncos!

📸@scottcowley

[Angela Duckworth @angeladuckw]

I wrote my most recent guest essay for @nytopinion because, both personally and as a researcher, I’ve learned that grit alone is not enough: successful people need support.

📰 Read the full article using this gift link: https://t.co/mHPaRt6B77

[Logan Pant, Ph.D. @LoganPantPhD]

Life is a series of choices.

Choose to do your best every day.

No one else will do it for you.

[Logan Pant, Ph.D. @LoganPantPhD]

“You learn more from falling than watching your step”

-@justmike

[Logan Pant, Ph.D. @LoganPantPhD]

@Strava or @Runkeeper?

I’ve been loyal to RunKeeper for years… but training for this half marathon and my feed is all Strava runners now.

Which one do you prefer and why?

[Logan Pant, Ph.D. @LoganPantPhD]

“Today was cool because it's the youngest l'll ever be for the rest of my life.”

—Mike McDaniel

[Logan Pant, Ph.D. @LoganPantPhD]

First podcast appearance in the books ✅

I really enjoyed joining the Journal of Advertising Research podcast to talk about our research on grit in advertising.

One of the things I find most interesting about this research is that grit doesn’t always mean “stick with what you’re doing.”

Our findings suggest that gritty advertising can actually encourage consumers to try something new by activating a promotion regulatory focus by shifting attention toward potential benefits rather than costs.

This creates an interesting opportunity for growing brands and new market entrants: sometimes the goal isn’t to convince consumers to persist with a choice, but to give them a reason to consider an alternative.

We also talked about the research journey behind the paper, working through reviewer feedback, and some of the lessons I learned as a first-time lead author.

Thanks to the Journal of Advertising Research and Colin Campbell for having me on!

🎙️ Listen to the full conversation: https://t.co/SrobvuE6TY

[Logan Pant, Ph.D. @LoganPantPhD]

We often confuse effort with progress.

Run more.
Lift more.
Write more.
Post more.

Sometimes the best thing we can do is rest, reevaluate, and find what’s sustainable in the long run.

[Logan Pant, Ph.D. @LoganPantPhD]

@AdamSchefter @hbomax “People’s version of me, what they think of me is not me”

Mike MacDonald

[Logan Pant, Ph.D. @LoganPantPhD]

Be present, but still make the best decisions for your future self.

Sometimes those two things conflict.

The real goal is to find a balance.

[Logan Pant, Ph.D. @LoganPantPhD]

I’ve known Chloe Wagenhauser of Chloe and the Steel Strings for nearly 20 years, so it was nice to reconnect and hear how she has built a life and career around music. The conversation often returned to a nuanced version of persistence that emphasized sustainability.

As Chloe said:

“I think it’s truly a marathon.”

“The good, the bad, and the ugly are what connect us to each other, because life isn’t perfect.”

And also:

“I think you have to give something of yourself in order for others to receive it.”

We talked about staying true to your identity in a world that constantly pressures artists to follow trends, chase algorithms, and measure success through followers. We also discussed the importance of community, vulnerability, resourcefulness, and learning to rest before work burns you out.

Chloe’s story is a reminder that success is not just about refusing to quit. It is about staying authentic and adapting when life changes, connecting with others, and finding a way to keep going without losing yourself in the process.

She also said:

“The experience and the joy are in the journey.”

I’m exited to write this substack article soon. With each interview comes a better understanding on success and performance.

Thank you Chloe!

[Logan Pant, Ph.D. @LoganPantPhD]

Half-marathon training, but make it chaotic:

Yesterday: 7 miles pushing a stroller
Today: 28 rounds of CrossFit (5 pull-ups, 10 push-ups, and 15 air squats) in 20 minutes.

Progress > Perfection

[Logan Pant, Ph.D. @LoganPantPhD]

What role does intuition play in success?

That was one of my favorite themes from my conversation with @JonKilmer. We discussed hard work, trusting your instincts, reinvention, and finding the courage to change direction when it's the right move.

Thanks, Jon, for such an engaging conversation!

Read the full interview: https://t.co/MjIXuoKtOl

[Logan Pant, Ph.D. @LoganPantPhD]

“How long are you going to wait before you demand the best for yourself?”

— Epictetus