Daniel Pink

Everybody has regrets. It's one of the most common emotions that people have. Give me any regret that any of your listeners have. I'll find it in 15 seconds in the database.

Everybody has regrets. It's one of the most common emotions that people have. Give me any regret that any of your listeners have. I'll find it in 15 seconds in the database.

You know, if you hit age 50, you likely have more of your life behind you than ahead of you. We have this database now of 26,000 regrets from people in 134 countries. These four regrets are incredibly common around the world. There are foundation regrets, which are decisions that people make. They're not devastating upfront, but that accumulate to bad consequences. There's regrets about boldness.

You know, if you hit age 50, you likely have more of your life behind you than ahead of you. We have this database now of 26,000 regrets from people in 134 countries. These four regrets are incredibly common around the world. There are foundation regrets, which are decisions that people make. They're not devastating upfront, but that accumulate to bad consequences. There's regrets about boldness.

There's moral regret. And then there are, in the architecture of regret, there can be two kinds of regrets. There are regrets of action and regrets of inaction. As we age, there are more inaction regrets than action regrets.

There's moral regret. And then there are, in the architecture of regret, there can be two kinds of regrets. There are regrets of action and regrets of inaction. As we age, there are more inaction regrets than action regrets.

First of all, treat yourself with kindness. Number two.

First of all, treat yourself with kindness. Number two.

I'm so glad to be here, Alana. Thanks for having me.

I'm so glad to be here, Alana. Thanks for having me.

Well, I think the love of books preceded the love of writing. When I was growing up, I didn't say, oh, I want to grow up and be a writer. I don't think that was my main goal. A lot of life, as you know, as all of us know, is about circumstance. And I happened to, when I was six, early in first grade, my father got a new job.

Well, I think the love of books preceded the love of writing. When I was growing up, I didn't say, oh, I want to grow up and be a writer. I don't think that was my main goal. A lot of life, as you know, as all of us know, is about circumstance. And I happened to, when I was six, early in first grade, my father got a new job.

And we moved from Wilmington, Delaware, where I was born, to Columbus, Ohio, where I grew up. And It just so happens that Ohio in general and central Ohio in particular have an amazing public library system. And as a consequence, I grew up a short walk away from an excellent local public library and a very easy bus ride away from a massive and majestic library.

And we moved from Wilmington, Delaware, where I was born, to Columbus, Ohio, where I grew up. And It just so happens that Ohio in general and central Ohio in particular have an amazing public library system. And as a consequence, I grew up a short walk away from an excellent local public library and a very easy bus ride away from a massive and majestic library.

Carnegie-funded, massive public library. And so both my parents were readers as a kid. I went to the library a lot, not because I had to, not because somebody was forcing me, because it was good. I liked it. And also, truly, in the summer, the library had air conditioning, and my house did not have air conditioning. And it was cooler in there. And so I grew up going to the library a lot.

Carnegie-funded, massive public library. And so both my parents were readers as a kid. I went to the library a lot, not because I had to, not because somebody was forcing me, because it was good. I liked it. And also, truly, in the summer, the library had air conditioning, and my house did not have air conditioning. And it was cooler in there. And so I grew up going to the library a lot.

And as a consequence, I grew up reading a lot. And being a reader was actually a big part of who I was as a kid. And I think that had I not grown up in a place where I had such immediate access to fantastic public libraries, I don't think I would be a writer today. I really don't. I think I would have done something else.

And as a consequence, I grew up reading a lot. And being a reader was actually a big part of who I was as a kid. And I think that had I not grown up in a place where I had such immediate access to fantastic public libraries, I don't think I would be a writer today. I really don't. I think I would have done something else.

I don't want to have all your listeners completely click out of here. It has to do with the unique way that Ohio, unlike other states, funds public libraries. Ohio is essentially a dedicated fund for public libraries, which means that Ohio libraries are among the best in the country.

I don't want to have all your listeners completely click out of here. It has to do with the unique way that Ohio, unlike other states, funds public libraries. Ohio is essentially a dedicated fund for public libraries, which means that Ohio libraries are among the best in the country.