The Power of Moments: Why Certain Moments Have Extraordinary Impact

by Chip Heath

Level 1: Order a meal in Spanish. Level 2: Have a simple conversation in Spanish with a taxi driver. Level 3: Glance at a Spanish newspaper and understand at least one headline. Level 4: Follow the action in a Spanish cartoon. Level 5: Read a kindergarten-level book in Spanish. And so on, leading up to . . . Destination: Be able to have full, normal conversations in Spanish with Fernando in accounting (not just “Cómo está usted?”) Compare that plan with the typical way we think about pursuing goals: Level 1: Try to squeeze in a Spanish study session. Level 2: Try to squeeze in a Spanish study session. Level 3: Try to squeeze in a Spanish study session. Level 4: Try to squeeze in a Spanish study session. Level 5: Try to squeeze in a Spanish study session. Destination: Someday, eventually: “Know” Spanish.