HACKING FLOW ACHIEVING ULTIMATE HUMAN POTENTIAL Maximilian Gotzler - QS Berlin - September 4, 2014

Maximilian GotzlerQS Berlin 04/09/2014

Flow is found in different situations• Competing • Performing • Socialising • Working • Meditating

Maximilian GotzlerQS Berlin 04/09/2014

Flow is a mental state of highly focused motivation

• In the zone • Runner’s high • In the pocket • Forever box • Screen presence

„Time flies. Self vanishes. Performance skyrockets.“ !Steven Kotler Head of Flow Genome Project

Photo: John Coltrane playing saxophone

Maximilian GotzlerQS Berlin 04/09/2014

Flow has been studied for several years• 150 years of research • Most progress in the past 15

years • Driven by action adventure

sports • Many questions remain

Photo: Steven Kotler of the Flow Genome Project

Maximilian GotzlerQS Berlin 04/09/2014

Flow increases productivity by 500%• Flow makes you 5-times more productive • Average population less than 5% in Flow • Only 29% reach Flow at all while working • More Flow also means more happiness • Athletes are the best Flow hackers

Maximilian GotzlerQS Berlin 04/09/2014

Athletes are the best flow hackersTremendous progress in the last two decades • Surfing • Snowboarding • Skydiving • BASE jumping

Photo: Jump record holder Mads Jonsson

Maximilian GotzlerQS Berlin 04/09/2014

Five neurochemicals induce Flow• Norepinephrine • Dopamine • Anandamide • Endorphins • Serotonin

- Speed, Ritalin - Cocaine - Cannabis - Opiates - MDMA

FLOW IS ADDICTIVE

Maximilian GotzlerQS Berlin 04/09/2014

The Flow cycle has 4 stages1. Struggle 2. Relaxation 3. Flow 4. Recovery

Maximilian GotzlerQS Berlin 04/09/2014

There currently are 17 triggers for flow

1. Focus and embodiment 2. Rich Environment 3. High Consequences

„Flow follows focus“

THANK YOU QUESTIONS ARE WELCOME