The Impulse Factor: An Innovative Approach to Better Decision Making

An invaluable look into the way we make decisions that shape our lives, why our personal decision-making style is so important, and how to harness caution and impulsivity.

In his work as research and development director at the 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.

Nick Tasler is a writer, researcher, organizational psychologist, and a regular contributor to Bloomberg Businessweek. He and his work have been featured in media including US News & World Report, Psychologies, Marie Claire, Fox Business, and on NBC, BBC Radio, and Irish Talk Radio. He lives with his wife and two children in Minneapolis, Minnesota.