Episode 6

6 - Challenge The Rider and The Elephant

Show Notes

6 - Challenge The Rider and The Elephant

I review “Switch” by Chip and Dan Heath. It’s all about understanding how our brains work when it comes to creating new habits and making changes in our lives. The authors break it down into two parts: the emotional elephant and the rational rider.

We dive into the different steps the book recommends for bringing these two parts of our brain together. We talk about finding the feeling, shrinking the change, growing your people, directing the rider, scripting the critical moves, and pointing to the destination. But that’s not all! We also explore how to shape the path by tweaking the environment, building habits, and rallying the herd.

I share personal tips and examples of how to apply these principles to achieve your personal goals.

https://startwithsmallsteps.com/?p=2264

https://www.happinesshypothesis.com/

https://heathbrothers.com/books/switch/

Jill’s Links
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/startwithsmallsteps

Twitter startwithsmallsteps

Email the podcast at jill@startwithsmallsteps.com

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Start with Small Steps
Thoughtful personal growth through small, realistic steps you can use in everyday life.

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About your host

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Jill McKinley

I’m Jill from the Northwoods. Professionally, I work in Health IT, where I untangle complex systems and help people use technology more effectively. But at heart, I’m a curious lifelong learner—always exploring how things work, why people grow the way they do, and how even the smallest steps can spark real transformation. That curiosity fuels everything I do, from problem-solving at work to sharing insights through my creative projects.

My journey wasn’t always easy. Growing up, I faced a rough childhood, and books became my lifeline. They introduced me to voices of ancient wisdom, modern psychology, and the natural world around me. Those pages taught me resilience, gave me perspective, and helped me see that wisdom is everywhere—waiting to be noticed, gathered, and shared.