Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

The goals we set often lead us away from the meaning we ultimately seek.

Meaning in life isn’t a concrete point we can route toward. That’s why we need what Arthur Brooks calls “proxy goals” — and much better ones than we typically choose.
Brooks, a professor at Harvard Business School and author of The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness, says that meaning can't be pursued directly, but rather through proxy goals — markers that lead us to what we're really seeking. “The big, complex, meaning-filled things in life, you can't see them directly,” he says. “If you want to find meaning, you have to have proxy goals.” The problem is that many of us have chosen terrible proxies. “Money, power, pleasure, fame, prestige; those are really bad proxy goals for the meaning of life,” Brooks says. “You're never gonna find it.”
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Brooks returns to the show, and with host Matt Abrahams, he explores how we can move from searching for meaning to actually finding it. From understanding the three components of meaning to transcending the “me self,” Brooks offers practical guidance for those who strive and strive, yet still feel like something’s missing.
To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium.
Episode Reference Links:
Arthur Brooks
Arthur’s Book: The Meaning of Life
Arthur’s Podcast: Office Hours
179. Finding Positive in Negative Emotions: Communication, Happiness & Wellbeing
180. Unlocking Your Future Self: Communication, Happiness & Well…
181. Why Happiness is a Direction, Not a Destination: Communicat…
182. Stop Chasing Time and Start Owning It: Communication, Happiness & Wellbeing  

Connect:
Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected]
Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn

Chapters:

(00:00) - Introduction

(02:26) - The Striver Mindset

(04:00) - Three Parts of Meaning

(07:50) - Me Self vs. I Self

(09:59) - Transcendence Explained

(12:04) - Proxy Goals

(14:44) - Meaning vs. Achievement

(18:36) - Daily Protocols

(20:26) - This or That

(22:00) - Conclusion

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Thank you to our sponsors.  These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you at no cost.

This episode is sponsored by Grammarly. Let Grammarly take the busywork off your plate so you can focus on high-impact work. Download Grammarly for free today
Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be.

Why mastering unspoken workplace communication is essential to long-term career success.

Succeeding at work doesn’t just depend on how hard you work or how smart you are. According to Erin McGoff, it often comes down to whether you understand the “secret language” everyone else seems to be speaking.

McGoff is a career creator, Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, and author of The Secret Language of Work: Hyper Helpful Scripts for Every Situation. Known for her wildly popular AdviceWithErin platform, she helps millions of professionals phrase things more effectively — without sounding stiff or robotic. “It’s this hidden curriculum to the workforce,” she explains, describing the unwritten rules of interviews, negotiations, and professional etiquette. “It’s not written down anywhere. It’s not equally distributed.” Her mission is to make those invisible rules visible — and usable.
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, McGoff and host Matt Abrahams explore how to communicate with confidence, advocate for yourself strategically, and build a professional brand with intention. Confidence, she says, isn’t fixed: “Confidence isn’t binary. Confidence is a spectrum.” It starts internally, with how we speak to ourselves, and strengthens when we “get really good at what you do.”
Episode Reference Links:
Erin McGoff
Erin’s Book: The Secret Language of Work
202. Own Your Brand: How to Communicate with Presence and Impact

Connect:
Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected]
Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn

Chapters:

(00:00) - Introduction

(04:36) - The Secret Language of Work

(06:12) - Building Confidence

(08:19) - Creating Your Professional Brand

(09:40) - Setting Expectations at Work

(12:11) - Advocate Strategically

(14:14) - Mastering First Impressions

(15:30) - Professional vs. Personal

(17:59) - Interview Before, During, After

(22:36) - Nonverbal Presence

(23:00) - The Final Three Questions

(26:59) - Conclusion

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Thank you to our sponsors.  These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you at no cost.

This episode is sponsored by Grammarly. Let Grammarly take the busywork off your plate so you can focus on high-impact work. Download Grammarly for free today
Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be.

How to communicate for deeper connection—and greater happiness.

Happiness isn’t just a feeling—it’s something you can actively shape through how you think, connect, and communicate.

Sonja Lyubomirsky, a distinguished professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside and co-author of How to Feel Loved: The Five Mindsets That Get You More of What Matters Most, defines happiness as two key components: “being happy in your life and being happy with your life.” And while many people separate happiness from meaning or purpose, she explains that “they almost always go together.” Her research shows how the small habits we practice—like gratitude—can have a powerful effect, helping to “neutralize negative emotions” and shift how we see our lives. 

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Lyubomirsky and host Matt Abrahams explore the science of wellbeing and the habits that help us feel more fulfilled. From gratitude practices to breaking free from the comparison trap, they share practical strategies for boosting happiness and explain why connection isn’t just about being loved, but truly “feeling loved.”
Episode Reference Links:
Sonja Lyubomirsky
Sonja’s Book: How To Feel Loved
179. Finding Positive in Negative Emotions: Communication, Happiness & Wellbeing
180. Unlocking Your Future Self: Communication, Happiness & Well…
181. Why Happiness is a Direction, Not a Destination: Communicat…
182. Stop Chasing Time and Start Owning It: Communication, Happiness & Wellbeing  

Connect:
Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected]
Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn

Chapters:

(00:00) - Introduction

(04:12) - Defining Happiness

(06:24) - Gratitude in Practice

(07:07) - Acting Extroverted

(09:04) - The Comparison Trap

(11:02) - Reflection vs. Rumination

(11:49) - Best Self Exercise

(13:13) - Building Positive Psychology

(14:38) - Happiness Drives Success

(16:06) - Relationships as a Seesaw

(18:26) - Being Known vs. Impressive

(20:45) - The Final Three Questions

(25:18) - Conclusion

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Thank you to our sponsors.  These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you at no cost.

This episode is sponsored by Grammarly. Let Grammarly take the busywork off your plate so you can focus on high-impact work. Download Grammarly for free today
Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be.

Memorable communication isn’t about saying more—it’s making the right idea stick. 

No matter how compelling a presentation feels in the moment, most of what you say won’t last in your audience’s memory. The key isn’t trying to make people remember everything — it’s ensuring they remember what matters most.

Carmen Simon is a cognitive neuroscientist, author, and expert on how the brain pays attention and forms memories. Her research explores how communication can move beyond passive listening and become an experience the brain actually holds onto. “The way we come to know the world is through the interaction of brain, body, and environment,” she explains. “The more you invite your audiences to interact with anything, especially physically, the more you impact cognition.”
In this Quick Thinks episode of Think Fast Talk Smart, Simon and host Matt Abrahams explore practical, research-backed ways to make communication more memorable. They discuss why handwriting notes can deepen understanding, how curiosity and tension capture attention, and why communicators should avoid overwhelming audiences with too much information. Instead, Simon encourages speakers to structure ideas so audiences can recognize patterns and return to a clear core message.

Episode Reference Links:
Carmen Simon
Carmen’s Book: Impossible to Ignore
Ep.39 Brains Love Stories: How Leveraging Neuroscience Can Capture People's Emotions 

Connect:
Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected]
Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn

Chapters:

(00:00) - Introduction

(02:02) - Embodied Cognition Explained

(04:15) - The Impact of Environment on Attention

(05:39) - Sparking Curiosity in Your Audience

(09:55) - Avoiding Cognitive Overload

(13:57) - Using Visuals to Improve Recall

(17:52) - Conclusion

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Thank you to our sponsors.  These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you at no cost.

This episode is sponsored by Grammarly. Let Grammarly take the busywork off your plate so you can focus on high-impact work. Download Grammarly for free today
Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be.

People are forgetful. Here’s how to make your messages more memorable.

After any presentation, your audience will forget about 90% of what you said. That’s okay, says Carmen Simon — just make sure they remember the right 10%.
Simon is a cognitive neuroscientist, speaker, author, and expert on how the brain processes and retains information. Her research reveals a humbling truth: “We forget our lives almost as quickly as we live them,” she says. But instead of fighting our forgetfulness, Simon believes we can work with it — by getting intentional about what we want people to remember. “So many people aspire at attention and memory, but very few really know what they want to be memorable for,” she says. “Ask the question: what is my 10% message?”
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Simon and host Matt Abrahams discuss how to distill your communication for maximum memorability. Whether you're pitching an idea or presenting to a team, Simon’s practical techniques will help you ensure your 10% message is the one your audience takes away.
Episode Reference Links:
Carmen Simon
Carmen’s Book: Impossible to Ignore
Ep.39 Brains Love Stories: How Leveraging Neuroscience Can Capture People's Emotions 

Connect:
Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected]
Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn

Chapters:

(00:00) - Introduction

(02:22) - Attention vs. Memory

(04:58) - Novelty & Surprise

(06:19) - Why Attention Isn’t Enough

(07:47) - The Power of Priming

(09:20) - Priming in Business Communication

(10:04) - Why Audiences Forget

(13:15) - Smart Repetition

(14:51) - The Final Three Questions

(21:06) - Conclusion

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Thank you to our sponsors.  These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you at no cost.

This episode is sponsored by Grammarly. Let Grammarly take the busywork off your plate so you can focus on high-impact work. Download Grammarly for free today
Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be.