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Good things come to those who wait

Tess Vigeland Aug 3, 2012
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Author Frank Partnoy says that the instantaneous nature of our wired world is making us poorer decision makers. He says people need to learn how to delay gratification. iStockphoto

Good things come to those who wait

Tess Vigeland Aug 3, 2012
Author Frank Partnoy says that the instantaneous nature of our wired world is making us poorer decision makers. He says people need to learn how to delay gratification. iStockphoto
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In our wired world, everything comes instantly. Send out an e-mail, a tweet, a Facebook post — and the responses are almost instant. Anything you want is at your fingertips. Delayed gratification — does it have any place in a speedy world?

“The crush of technology is relaly ruining our decision-making,” author Frank Partnoy said in an interview. “The relentless of e-mail and social media and the 24-hour news cycle is speeding up our decisions.”

Partnoy might like to make we impulsive types think twice, maybe even three times… and just wait. That, in fact, is the title of his new book: “Wait: The Art and Science of Delay.” Partnoy points out that this is somethign that unique to humans. Humans are able to consider the long term — retirement; life in five, 10, 50 years. But the increasing speed in communications and the onslaught of information is chipping away at our ability to think long term.

Partnoy looks at how we make decisions and how that has evolved in his book. Listen to his interview to learn more about humans and decision-making and how you can slow down to make better choices.

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