Adam Alter – Anatomy of a Breakthrough-How to Get Unstuck When It Matters Most

A groundbreaking guide to breaking free from the thoughts, habits, jobs, relationships, and even business models that prevent us from achieving our full potential.

Almost everyone feels stuck in some way. Whether you’re muddling through a midlife crisis, wrestling writer’s block, trapped in a thankless job, or trying to remedy a fraying friendship, the resulting emotion is usually a mix of anxiety, uncertainty, fear, anger, and numbness. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Anatomy of a Breakthrough is the roadmap we all need to escape our inertia and flourish in the face of friction.

Adam Alter has spent the past two decades studying how people become stuck and how they free themselves to thrive. Here he reveals the formula he and other researchers have uncovered. The solution rests on a process that he calls a friction audit — a systematic procedure that uncovers why a person or organization is stuck, and then suggests a path to progress. The friction audit states that people and organizations get unstuck when they overcome three sources of friction: HEART (unhelpful emotions); HEAD (unhelpful patterns of thought); and HABIT (unhelpful behaviors).

Despite the ubiquity of friction, there are many great “unstickers” hidden in plain sight among us and Alter shines a light on some exceptional stories to share their valuable lessons with us. He tells us about the sub-elite swimmer who unstuck himself twice to win two Olympic gold medals, the actor who faced countless rejections before gaining worldwide fame, the renowned painter who became paralyzed and had to relearn to paint with a brush strapped to his wrist, and Alter’s own story of getting unstuck from a college degree that made him deeply unhappy.

Artfully weaving together scientific studies, anecdotes, and interviews, Alter teaches us that getting stuck is a feature rather than a glitch on the road to thriving, but with the right tweaks and corrections we can reach even our loftiest targets.

Adam Alter – Anatomy of a Breakthrough: How to Get Unstuck When It Matters Most

Everyone gets stuck—whether it’s a stalled career, a creative block, or a personal rut. What separates those who stay stuck from those who surge forward is not just motivation, but method. In Anatomy of a Breakthrough, acclaimed behavioral science professor Adam Alter offers a profound and actionable guide to overcoming inertia and reigniting momentum when it counts most.

This isn’t another “just push through” motivational pep talk. Instead, Alter draws from psychology, neuroscience, business case studies, and real-world stories to decode the anatomy of stagnation—and more importantly, how to dislodge yourself from it strategically.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur facing a plateau, an artist seeking creative clarity, or simply someone in search of your “next step,” this course illuminates the mental shifts, tools, and systems that make forward motion possible—even in the toughest moments.

31What You’ll Learn Inside This Breakthrough Blueprint

This program goes beyond theory to deliver a practical framework for navigating stuck points with clarity and purpose.

The Science Behind Getting Stuck

Understand the biological and psychological reasons we hit blocks—so you can stop blaming yourself and start working with your brain, not against it.

The Friction Audit

Learn how to identify invisible barriers—emotional, environmental, structural—that quietly sabotage progress, and replace them with levers of momentum.

From Plateau to Progression

Discover strategies to move from inertia to action—whether you’re stuck in overthinking, decision paralysis, burnout, or fear of failure.

The Creative Recovery Toolkit

Unlock techniques used by high-achievers to break through creative dead zones and reignite imagination.

Breakthroughs in Real Life

Analyze real-world examples of individuals and companies that turned stagnation into rapid, exponential growth—applying principles you can adopt immediately.

Who This Is For

• Professionals navigating career crossroads or uncertain transitions

• Creatives, writers, and thinkers facing mental roadblocks or burnout

• Entrepreneurs battling growth ceilings or lost momentum

• Students, freelancers, and everyday individuals who feel like they’ve hit a wall—and want a path forward grounded in insight and science

About Adam Alter

Adam Alter is a bestselling author (Drunk Tank Pink, Irresistible), a professor of psychology and marketing at NYU’s Stern School of Business, and a leading voice in human behavior and decision-making. With a gift for turning academic insight into practical tools, Alter’s work has been featured in The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, and TED Talks viewed by millions.

In Anatomy of a Breakthrough, he presents his most powerful and personal work to date—an essential guide for anyone ready to reclaim momentum and reshape their life’s direction.

Why This Course Delivers More Than Motivation

• Grounded in research, not just feel-good advice

• Tackles the root causes of being stuck—mental, emotional, situational

• Offers step-by-step solutions for diverse life and work challenges

• Blends academic rigor with everyday relevance

• Encourages lasting behavioral change, not short-term hype

It’s Time to Move Again. Start Here.

Stagnation is not failure. It’s a phase—and one you can move through with the right knowledge and action. Anatomy of a Breakthrough is your practical guide to navigating uncertainty and building the next version of your story—with confidence, clarity, and forward motion.

👉 Get started today and learn how to get unstuck—right when it matters most.