@michaelsnedeker.bsky.social
Behavioral shifts appear in 4-6 weeks.
Neural pathway changes take 8-12 weeks.
Build the reward system.
Track the attempts.
Measure the velocity.
Shift rewards to first attempts and shipped tests to escape the repetition trap.
Neural pathway changes take 8-12 weeks.
Build the reward system.
Track the attempts.
Measure the velocity.
Shift rewards to first attempts and shipped tests to escape the repetition trap.
November 7, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Behavioral shifts appear in 4-6 weeks.
Neural pathway changes take 8-12 weeks.
Build the reward system.
Track the attempts.
Measure the velocity.
Shift rewards to first attempts and shipped tests to escape the repetition trap.
Neural pathway changes take 8-12 weeks.
Build the reward system.
Track the attempts.
Measure the velocity.
Shift rewards to first attempts and shipped tests to escape the repetition trap.
Track Experiment Velocity:
Number of documented experimental attempts per team member per quarter.
Target: Minimum 2 experiments per person, with at least 30% resulting in null or negative results.
Zero failures = risk-avoidance culture.
Number of documented experimental attempts per team member per quarter.
Target: Minimum 2 experiments per person, with at least 30% resulting in null or negative results.
Zero failures = risk-avoidance culture.
November 7, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Track Experiment Velocity:
Number of documented experimental attempts per team member per quarter.
Target: Minimum 2 experiments per person, with at least 30% resulting in null or negative results.
Zero failures = risk-avoidance culture.
Number of documented experimental attempts per team member per quarter.
Target: Minimum 2 experiments per person, with at least 30% resulting in null or negative results.
Zero failures = risk-avoidance culture.
How to build dopamine-driven risk-taking:
1) Recognize experimental attempts within 24 HOURS
2) Quantify experiment volume as a team metric
3) Allocate 15% of recognition budget to FAILED experiments
Speed, volume, and failure budget.
1) Recognize experimental attempts within 24 HOURS
2) Quantify experiment volume as a team metric
3) Allocate 15% of recognition budget to FAILED experiments
Speed, volume, and failure budget.
November 7, 2025 at 11:51 AM
How to build dopamine-driven risk-taking:
1) Recognize experimental attempts within 24 HOURS
2) Quantify experiment volume as a team metric
3) Allocate 15% of recognition budget to FAILED experiments
Speed, volume, and failure budget.
1) Recognize experimental attempts within 24 HOURS
2) Quantify experiment volume as a team metric
3) Allocate 15% of recognition budget to FAILED experiments
Speed, volume, and failure budget.
Celebrating successful experiments only rewards RESULTS.
The brain needs to associate experimental behavior itself with dopamine release.
Reward the swing, not the hit.
Performance systems do the opposite. They ignore attempts. Punish visible failures.
The brain needs to associate experimental behavior itself with dopamine release.
Reward the swing, not the hit.
Performance systems do the opposite. They ignore attempts. Punish visible failures.
November 7, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Celebrating successful experiments only rewards RESULTS.
The brain needs to associate experimental behavior itself with dopamine release.
Reward the swing, not the hit.
Performance systems do the opposite. They ignore attempts. Punish visible failures.
The brain needs to associate experimental behavior itself with dopamine release.
Reward the swing, not the hit.
Performance systems do the opposite. They ignore attempts. Punish visible failures.
Vanderbilt research: people willing to work hard show greater dopamine signaling in the striatum and prefrontal cortex.
The difference between risk-takers and risk-avoiders isn't personality.
It's measurable dopamine activity.
The difference between risk-takers and risk-avoiders isn't personality.
It's measurable dopamine activity.
November 7, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Vanderbilt research: people willing to work hard show greater dopamine signaling in the striatum and prefrontal cortex.
The difference between risk-takers and risk-avoiders isn't personality.
It's measurable dopamine activity.
The difference between risk-takers and risk-avoiders isn't personality.
It's measurable dopamine activity.
Nature published findings: reward-encoding neurons actively SUPPRESS punishment neurons during risk-taking.
The dopamine system doesn't wait for fear to subside.
It overpowers fear.
Safety is necessary. Safety alone is insufficient.
The dopamine system doesn't wait for fear to subside.
It overpowers fear.
Safety is necessary. Safety alone is insufficient.
November 7, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Nature published findings: reward-encoding neurons actively SUPPRESS punishment neurons during risk-taking.
The dopamine system doesn't wait for fear to subside.
It overpowers fear.
Safety is necessary. Safety alone is insufficient.
The dopamine system doesn't wait for fear to subside.
It overpowers fear.
Safety is necessary. Safety alone is insufficient.
Psychological safety removes PUNISHMENT.
Dopamine creates DRIVE.
Your team needs both.
Most orgs eliminate fear but forget to add reward.
The brain doesn't innovate in neutral.
Dopamine creates DRIVE.
Your team needs both.
Most orgs eliminate fear but forget to add reward.
The brain doesn't innovate in neutral.
November 7, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Psychological safety removes PUNISHMENT.
Dopamine creates DRIVE.
Your team needs both.
Most orgs eliminate fear but forget to add reward.
The brain doesn't innovate in neutral.
Dopamine creates DRIVE.
Your team needs both.
Most orgs eliminate fear but forget to add reward.
The brain doesn't innovate in neutral.
Fix the system.
November 5, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Fix the system.
Vocal tonality = signal control.
Emotional contagion works both ways.
Script the soundtrack.
The room will follow.
Emotional contagion works both ways.
Script the soundtrack.
The room will follow.
November 5, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Vocal tonality = signal control.
Emotional contagion works both ways.
Script the soundtrack.
The room will follow.
Emotional contagion works both ways.
Script the soundtrack.
The room will follow.
METRIC: Engagement Retention Rate.
Track audience eye contact + forward lean during marked vs. unmarked sections.
Target: 70%+ sustained attention.
Lives in post-presentation debrief.
Track audience eye contact + forward lean during marked vs. unmarked sections.
Target: 70%+ sustained attention.
Lives in post-presentation debrief.
November 5, 2025 at 9:38 PM
METRIC: Engagement Retention Rate.
Track audience eye contact + forward lean during marked vs. unmarked sections.
Target: 70%+ sustained attention.
Lives in post-presentation debrief.
Track audience eye contact + forward lean during marked vs. unmarked sections.
Target: 70%+ sustained attention.
Lives in post-presentation debrief.
Run this in your next presentation.
Rehearse with marks visible.
Execute under load.
The system removes guesswork.
Tone becomes repeatable.
Not improvised.
Rehearse with marks visible.
Execute under load.
The system removes guesswork.
Tone becomes repeatable.
Not improvised.
November 5, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Run this in your next presentation.
Rehearse with marks visible.
Execute under load.
The system removes guesswork.
Tone becomes repeatable.
Not improvised.
Rehearse with marks visible.
Execute under load.
The system removes guesswork.
Tone becomes repeatable.
Not improvised.
The protocol, steal this markup system:
1) Mark PAUSE before conclusions (2-beat silence).
2) Mark DROP on key stats (lower pitch 20%).
3) Mark SOFTEN on hard messages (reduce volume 15%).
1) Mark PAUSE before conclusions (2-beat silence).
2) Mark DROP on key stats (lower pitch 20%).
3) Mark SOFTEN on hard messages (reduce volume 15%).
November 5, 2025 at 9:38 PM
The protocol, steal this markup system:
1) Mark PAUSE before conclusions (2-beat silence).
2) Mark DROP on key stats (lower pitch 20%).
3) Mark SOFTEN on hard messages (reduce volume 15%).
1) Mark PAUSE before conclusions (2-beat silence).
2) Mark DROP on key stats (lower pitch 20%).
3) Mark SOFTEN on hard messages (reduce volume 15%).
Tone signals intent before content does.
Mirror neurons pull audiences toward your arousal level. Controlled prosody anchors the room.
Mirror neurons pull audiences toward your arousal level. Controlled prosody anchors the room.
November 5, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Tone signals intent before content does.
Mirror neurons pull audiences toward your arousal level. Controlled prosody anchors the room.
Mirror neurons pull audiences toward your arousal level. Controlled prosody anchors the room.
RECEIPT: Prosody studies show listeners tag monotone as low energy in under 7 seconds. Same words, different tone, completely different emotional response.
November 5, 2025 at 9:38 PM
RECEIPT: Prosody studies show listeners tag monotone as low energy in under 7 seconds. Same words, different tone, completely different emotional response.
Externalizing tone decisions cuts cognitive load when pressure spikes.
Your delivery stays aligned.
Your message lands.
The room follows your nervous system.
Your delivery stays aligned.
Your message lands.
The room follows your nervous system.
November 5, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Externalizing tone decisions cuts cognitive load when pressure spikes.
Your delivery stays aligned.
Your message lands.
The room follows your nervous system.
Your delivery stays aligned.
Your message lands.
The room follows your nervous system.
Outcome metric: VO2 max, mL per kg per minute.
Target 42 plus.
Source: Apple Health or lab test.
Progressive overload applies even if you start sedentary.
Target 42 plus.
Source: Apple Health or lab test.
Progressive overload applies even if you start sedentary.
November 3, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Outcome metric: VO2 max, mL per kg per minute.
Target 42 plus.
Source: Apple Health or lab test.
Progressive overload applies even if you start sedentary.
Target 42 plus.
Source: Apple Health or lab test.
Progressive overload applies even if you start sedentary.
Do 4x4 minute intervals at hard pace twice weekly.
Lift heavy lower body once weekly for power.
Track VO2 max every week from lab or wearable.
Lift heavy lower body once weekly for power.
Track VO2 max every week from lab or wearable.
November 3, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Do 4x4 minute intervals at hard pace twice weekly.
Lift heavy lower body once weekly for power.
Track VO2 max every week from lab or wearable.
Lift heavy lower body once weekly for power.
Track VO2 max every week from lab or wearable.
The Norwegian 4x4 trains capacity at the cellular level.
Four reps of four-minute high-intensity intervals at 75 to 80 percent max heart rate.
Three-minute recovery between reps.
Too hard to talk. Sustainable for four minutes.
Four reps of four-minute high-intensity intervals at 75 to 80 percent max heart rate.
Three-minute recovery between reps.
Too hard to talk. Sustainable for four minutes.
November 3, 2025 at 8:43 PM
The Norwegian 4x4 trains capacity at the cellular level.
Four reps of four-minute high-intensity intervals at 75 to 80 percent max heart rate.
Three-minute recovery between reps.
Too hard to talk. Sustainable for four minutes.
Four reps of four-minute high-intensity intervals at 75 to 80 percent max heart rate.
Three-minute recovery between reps.
Too hard to talk. Sustainable for four minutes.
Trials report 10 to 15 percent VO2 max gains with 4x4 intervals in 6 to 8 weeks.
UT Southwest study: untrained 50-year-olds reverted cardiac structure to 30-year-olds!
Small protocol, outsized return.
UT Southwest study: untrained 50-year-olds reverted cardiac structure to 30-year-olds!
Small protocol, outsized return.
November 3, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Trials report 10 to 15 percent VO2 max gains with 4x4 intervals in 6 to 8 weeks.
UT Southwest study: untrained 50-year-olds reverted cardiac structure to 30-year-olds!
Small protocol, outsized return.
UT Southwest study: untrained 50-year-olds reverted cardiac structure to 30-year-olds!
Small protocol, outsized return.
This isn't about wellness.
It's about WINNING.
Structure beats sentiment.
Function beats feelings.
Training beats fantasy.
Say Good. Breathe. Act.
It's about WINNING.
Structure beats sentiment.
Function beats feelings.
Training beats fantasy.
Say Good. Breathe. Act.
October 28, 2025 at 2:16 PM
This isn't about wellness.
It's about WINNING.
Structure beats sentiment.
Function beats feelings.
Training beats fantasy.
Say Good. Breathe. Act.
It's about WINNING.
Structure beats sentiment.
Function beats feelings.
Training beats fantasy.
Say Good. Breathe. Act.
The reps compound over quarters.
Each clean action under pressure thickens your grit architecture.
While they're still composing a feeling, you've already executed and moved the ball forward.
Each clean action under pressure thickens your grit architecture.
While they're still composing a feeling, you've already executed and moved the ball forward.
October 28, 2025 at 2:16 PM
The reps compound over quarters.
Each clean action under pressure thickens your grit architecture.
While they're still composing a feeling, you've already executed and moved the ball forward.
Each clean action under pressure thickens your grit architecture.
While they're still composing a feeling, you've already executed and moved the ball forward.
Who needs this?
Anyone responsible for OUTCOMES when everyone else is responsible for excuses.
CEOs. Defense attorneys. Managing partners. Sales leaders who make 50 decisions before lunch.
Anyone responsible for OUTCOMES when everyone else is responsible for excuses.
CEOs. Defense attorneys. Managing partners. Sales leaders who make 50 decisions before lunch.
October 28, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Who needs this?
Anyone responsible for OUTCOMES when everyone else is responsible for excuses.
CEOs. Defense attorneys. Managing partners. Sales leaders who make 50 decisions before lunch.
Anyone responsible for OUTCOMES when everyone else is responsible for excuses.
CEOs. Defense attorneys. Managing partners. Sales leaders who make 50 decisions before lunch.