The Power of Moments: Why Certain Moments Have Extraordinary Impact

by Chip Heath

5. Moments that break the script are critical for organizational change. They provide a demarcation point between the “old way” and the “new way.” • VF Corporation ended its leadership meeting after a few minutes and challenged people to “go outside,” participating in surfing classes or improv comedy. 6. The most memorable periods of our lives are times when we break the script. • Recall the “reminiscence bump,” a period full of novelty: our first kiss, our first job, etc. • Novelty actually seems to slow down time. That’s why we feel like time goes faster as we age. 7. Caution: Even with the simple three-part recipe, moments of elevation can be hard to build. They are no one’s “job” and they are easy to delay or water down. • Beware the soul-sucking force of reasonableness: “Couldn’t we just put the Popsicles in a cooler by the ice machine?” 8. But building peaks is worth the struggle. They provide some of the most memorable moments of our lives. • Eugene O’Kelly, in his dying days, found fulfillment in his “Perfect Moments.”