When the Going Gets Tough: building systems that prevent failure, and scaling living to 100 and doing the right thing.

What truly determines success in creating lasting change?

Contrary to popular belief, it's not motivation, willpower, or even your inherent abilities. The research reveals something far more fundamental: your ecosystem shapes your outcomes far more than your genetic makeup.  

Your zipcode matters more than your genetic code.  

How do we shape ecosystems that bring the best in us?  

From Silicon Valley entrepreneurial ecosystems to Blue Zones where centenarians thrive. The social dimension of change proves particularly powerful, with studies showing proximity to high performers can boost your productivity by 15%, while nearby low performers can decrease it by 30%.  

When designing for sustainable change – whether for yourself, your team, or your organization – we often focus on motivation and clear communication. But what happens when energy wanes, time disappears, and routines get disrupted? This episode introduces the critical concept of "guardrails" – systems designed specifically to prevent failure when people are at their worst.  

Ready to transform how you approach change?  

Discover why social accountability outperforms willpower, how to design ecosystems that naturally encourage positive behaviors, and practical strategies for creating guardrails that catch people when they fall. Whether you're a leader driving organizational transformation or someone committed to personal growth, these research-backed tools will fundamentally change how you approach the change process. Listen now to build systems that make change stick – even when the going gets tough.  

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome to ChangeWired Podcast
• 2:09 Your Zip Code vs. Genetic Code
• 4:31 Designing Ecosystems for Change
• 9:03 The Ability Chain and Behavior Change
• 12:03 Guardrails: Systems To Prevent Falling
• 20:13 Closing: Be an Agent of Change