Dr. No – One Trick To Change Anything In Your Life In 59 Seconds (And Why Most People Will Never Try It)

“When you counsel someone, you should appear to be reminding him of something he had forgotten, not of the light he was unable to see.” - Baltasar Gracián

Dear Savvy GC,

Let’s talk about a radical idea.

Richard Wiseman’s 59 Seconds: Think a Little, Change a Lot dismantles self-help myths with science-backed strategies for real change in under a minute.

The key message in this book: You can apply many different 1 minute techniques to your life to significantly improve certain aspects without much time or effort. The techniques in this book show you how to make quick and easy changes that enhance your creativity, likeability, relationships and more.:

1️. The Gratitude Journal vs. Visualization Myth
Many believe that visualizing success leads to achieving it. Science says otherwise. Studies show that people who imagined success achieved less than those who simply wrote down three good things that happened each day.

✍ Try this in 59 seconds: Every night, jot down three things you’re grateful for. It boosts your mood faster than traditional self-help techniques.

2️. Boosting Confidence Before a Big Meeting
Amy Cuddy popularized the "power pose," but Wiseman was onto it earlier. Research shows that standing in an expansive posture (think superhero stance) for two minutes increases testosterone and lowers cortisol, making you feel more confident.

🦸 Try this in 59 seconds: Before your next important meeting showdown, stand tall, feet apart, hands on hips. Change your physiology, and your mindset will follow.

3️. The Secret to Creativity: Movement and Light
Research proves that walking—especially outdoors—enhances creative thinking. Even something as simple as looking at a bright lightbulb (yes, really) can make you more innovative.

💡 Try this in 59 seconds: If stuck on a legal conundrum, take a walk or switch on a bright light. Your brain will thank you.

4️. Persuasion 101: Ask, Don’t Tell
If you want your business team to buy into your ideas, don’t instruct—ask. Studies show that when people justify a course of action themselves, they are far more likely to follow through.

🗣 Try this in 59 seconds: Instead of saying, "We need to implement AI-driven tools in our department" ask, "How would AI fit into our strategy to reduce contract turnaround time?" Let them sell themselves on it.

5️. Want to Be More Productive? Rethink Your To-Do List
Large tasks feel overwhelming. The trick? Break them into micro-actions. Instead of "Write a memo," start with "Draft the introduction." The smaller the step, the easier it is to start—and finish.

📝 Try this in 59 seconds: Rewrite your to-do list into bite-sized tasks. Watch your productivity soar.

6️. Increase Influence with a Light Touch
Lightly touching someone on their upper arm makes them far more likely to agree to a request. This touch is unconsciously perceived as a sign of high status. In one dating study, the touch produced a 20% increase in dance acceptance and a 10% increase in people giving their phone numbers to a stranger.

🤝 Try this in 59 seconds: Next time you make an important request, lightly tap the person’s upper arm. Influence is often in the subtleties.

7️. Detecting Deception: Close Your Eyes & Ask for an Email
The most reliable clues to lying are in the words people use—liars lack detail, use more "ums" and "ahs," and avoid self-references like "I" or "me." People are also about 20% less likely to lie in an email than on a call because their words are on record.

📧 Try this in 59 seconds: If something sounds fishy, ask them to put it in an email. Truth has a harder time hiding in writing.

8️. Praise Effort Over Ability
Praising effort rather than ability—saying "You must have worked really hard" instead of "You’re so smart"—encourages people to persist through challenges. This mindset shift makes them more likely to attempt difficult tasks, enjoy problem-solving, and keep improving.

🏆 Try this in 59 seconds: Next time you give feedback, focus on effort. You’ll build a more resilient, high-performing team.

AI Booster of the Month

DeepTutor is an AI-powered research assistant that goes far beyond basic text retrieval, providing deep, contextual analysis for complex legal, corporate, and academic research. If LexisNexis and ChatGPT had a genius child, this would be it.

Thought to Ponder…

What single habit, if implemented consistently for the rest of this year, would transform your life the most? Think about it.

That’s it for today. Hope this sparks some ideas on how to shift the narrative, lead smarter, and turn your team into a true business ally.

As always, hit reply if you want to talk.

Best,

Rosa & Manuel