If you've ever tried to change something about yourself, failed, tried again, and concluded you must just be broken, here's some good news: you're probably not broken. You've just been aiming at the wrong target for years. Who you are is actually a layered system. Most people fail at change because they treat behaviors like permanent traits and traits like behaviors they can flip overnight, spending years aiming at the wrong layer.
In this episode, Drew and I map out the full system. This is the longest and most personal episode we've ever done.
Get the free PDF episode guide: https://solvedpodcast.com/change/
CHAPTERS
Chapters
- 00:00:00 Introduction: What Does It Mean to Change?
- 00:13:18 The Dictionary Study: How 17,953 Words Led to the Big Five
- 00:49:06 Why the Myers-Briggs Is Basically a Horoscope for Smart People
- 01:02:17 The Barnum Effect: Why We Believe Tests That Tell Us Nothing
- 01:20:52 The Maturity Principle: How Personality Drifts With Age
- 01:36:08 Layer Two: Your Adaptations Are Not Who You Are
- 02:25:55 Why Relationships Are Adaptation Machines
- 02:37:55 Layer Three: Why We Don't Do What We Know We Should Do
- 02:44:06 The Checklist That Saved 1,500 Lives
- 02:56:57 The Do Something Principle: Start With the Smallest Step
- 03:04:32 Environmental Design: Make the Right Thing Easier Than the Wrong Thing
- 03:20:18 Social Pressure, Strong Whys, and the CrossFit Effect
- 03:44:35 Quantum Change: The Night Josh Died
- 03:54:55 Values Collapse: What Actually Changes in a Quantum Change
- 04:17:55 Bill Wilson: The Man Who Invented AA (And Still Struggled)
- 04:32:00 The Messy Middle Nobody Shows You
- 04:50:27 Should You Even Change at All? The Three Selves
- 04:57:13 Final Takeaways: Pain Is a Great Teacher
CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS
⏹ Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at: https://www.shopify.com/solved
⏹ Factor: Head to https://www.factormeals.com/solved202650off and use code solved202650off to get 50% off and free daily greens per box, with new subscription only
⏹ Wealthfront: Wealthfront’s high-yield cash account: http://cash.wealthfront.com/solved See full offer details below.
⏹ Quo: Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to https://www.quo.com/solved
⏹ Brain.fm: Get 30 days free of unlimited access at https://www.brain.fm/solved
⏹ Waking Up: Start your 14 day free trial at https://www.wakingup.com/solved
⇨ Sign up for my newsletter, Your Next Breakthrough. It will help make you a less awful person: https://go.markmanson.net/cdi1xzha
⇨ Get clarity on what actually matters. Try Purpose, Mark's AI mentor app that learns your patterns, challenges your blind spots, and helps you take action. Get started at https://go.markmanson.net/217i5ys5
FOLLOW MARK
Mark's IG: https://www.instagram.com/markmanson
Twitter: https://x.com/markmanson
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmanson/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IAmMarkManson
Wealthfront Details and Disclosure:
This experience may not be representative of other Wealthfront clients, and there is no guarantee of future performance or success. Experiences will vary. Mark Manson receives cash compensation from Wealthfront Brokerage for paid endorsement in his podcast, creating a conflict of interest. The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The base APY is 3.30% on cash deposits as of January 30, 2026, is representative, subject to change, and requires no minimum. If eligible for the overall boosted rate of 4.05% offered in connection with this promo, your boosted rate is also subject to change if the base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period. Additional terms and conditions apply, which can be found on wealthfront.com/solved. Funds in the Cash Account are swept to program banks, where it earns the variable APY. Same-day withdrawal or instant payment transfers may be limited by destination institutions, daily transaction caps, and by participating entities such as Wells Fargo, the RTP® Network, and FedNow® Service. New Cash Account deposits are subject to a 2-4 day holding period before becoming available for transfer. Investment advisory services are provided by Wealthfront Advisers LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser. Securities investments: not bank deposits, bank-guaranteed or FDIC-insured, and may lose value.
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
Stay Connected
