As children, we learn to time our requests to our parents. Thus, it makes sense that once we are grown, timing will continue to make a difference in the results we obtain. In this book, Daniel Pink takes a scientific approach to explain why timing matters throughout our lives.
Part I
The first section of the book focuses on the daily cycle.
Generally speaking, most people function
better and make better decisions in the morning when they are fresh. By
afternoon most people are experiencing a daily lag period. Afternoons are the
worst time to schedule surgery at many hospitals for this very reason. A short
siesta of between 10 and 20 minutes can counter
an afternoon slump and help a person become more alert.
The exception to this, however, is if you are a night owl. Night
owls function better in the evening,
Part II
The second part of the book explores beginnings, middles, and endings. A fascinating discovery
in this section of the book is that, in general, those who graduate from
college and enter the workforce during a strong economy fare better throughout
their entire career and earn more than those people who join the workforce
during a recession. Thus, it's important to try to give yourself the best and
strongest beginning possible.
During a midpoint, people either slump or jump to the
next level. Research also indicates that people are also more likely to cut
corners in the middle.
Just like in novels, we want to have a strong and upbeat
ending. Most people remember the ending
far more vibrantly than they recall all that precedes it. Additionally, people
near the end of life, prune their
contacts and focus only on their inner circle.
Part III
Working in groups makes us feel good. Group activities like
running together, singing in a choir, even doing yoga together have a positive
impact on the body.
One way for bosses to make a good impression on those who
work for them is to respond quickly to email requests.
Thinking about the past and considering the future can have
a positive impact on us. Integrating our lives into a coherent whole can help us
to “comprehend who we are and why we're here.”
Overall, this is an interesting book, and I recommend reading
it.
