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Person

Bruce Daisley

Author, Joy of Work; former VP EMEA, Twitter; podcaster

Best-selling author, award-winning podcaster (Eat Sleep Work Repeat), and VP of EMEA at Twitter at time of recording. Author of Joy of Work, on fixing the problems of the modern workplace. His book and research were cited (not interviewed) for the open-plan office study in Episode 14; he then appeared as a guest across two episodes covering breaks, notifications, ego depletion, and burnout (Episode 21), and management, feedback, and motivation (Episode 22). Revisited in the year-end recap (Episode 46), which adds that average UK working days rose from roughly 7.5 to 9.5 hours in recent years, and that COVID-era home working added an estimated extra 7 days of work over 5 months per employee (Office Group research) — cited alongside his recap advice to cap the working week at 40 hours, reclaim lunch breaks, and take a periodic "digital sabbath."

Referenced via archival clips from his existing Episode 22 Nudge appearance (Episode 105). Discusses the "line manager lottery" — a bad boss, not a bad company, is the more common reason people resign — and the five-to-one compliment ratio (see Marriage Five-to-One Compliment-Ratio Research).

Third appearance (Episode 97), on his book Fortitude. Explains why the "10,000-hour rule" doesn't hold for elite athletes and presents UK Sport's Great British Medalist Report finding that childhood adversity — not raw practice — distinguishes gold-medal "super-elite" athletes from merely elite ones, alongside the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) index. See Adversity and Elite Performance.

Fourth appearance (Episode 98), the direct follow-up to Episode 97. Investigates the replication failures behind grit (Duckworth), growth mindset (Dweck), and resilience training, and argues resilience is a state produced by control over one's circumstances, not a trainable trait — see Growth Mindset and Resilience-Training Replication Crisis.

Fifth appearance (Episode 112), on childhood resilience. Argues resilience comes from identity, community, and a sense of control — and that children today are not less resilient (marshmallow-test performance has improved for 50 years, contrary to expert prediction), though they do have measurably less control over their own schedules than prior generations. See Synchrony and Collective Resilience, Need for Control (Autonomy and Wellbeing).

Discussed in

  • Episode 14 — 14- How to stop getting distracted (referenced)
  • Episode 21 — 160-21-the-science-behind-improving-your-productivity
  • Episode 22 — 22- How to be a good boss
  • Episode 46 — 46- Five marketing lessons for 2021 (recap; working-hours/burnout stats)
  • Episode 105 — Why -doing everything- at work won-t work (archival clips)
  • Episode 97 — The surprising trait that links elite performers
  • Episode 98 — Is growth mindset training a waste of time
  • Episode 112 — Are kids today less resilient

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