In today’s episode, we uncover yet another dangerous psychological trap that keeps leaders pouring money and resources into failing projects—simply because they’ve already invested too much to walk away. I’m talking about the sunk cost fallacy.

Using examples from history, such as the Concorde jet, Quibi's billion-dollar flop, and Kodak's disastrous delay in embracing digital photography, we'll explore why leaders sometimes double down on doomed investments instead of cutting their losses. I'll also share actionable strategies to recognize and break free from this trap.

Don't let your past investments dictate your future. Tune in to learn how to make smarter decisions, avoid costly mistakes, and lead your business toward success. Plus, be sure to order my book, The Mammoth in the Room, for a practical roadmap on how great leaders embrace evolutionary truth for outstanding business results.

In this episode:

- Introduction to the sunk cost fallacy

- The Concorde: A case study of sunk costs

- The psychology behind the sunk cost fallacy

- Three dangerous sunk cost traps in business

- Three proven tips to escape the sunk cost trap

References:

Harvard Business Review: The Hidden Traps in Decision Making, John S. Hammond, Ralph L. Keeney, and Howard Raiffa (September–October 1998) https://hbr.org/1998/09/the-hidden-traps-in-decision-making-2

Tversky, A., & Kahneman, D. (1974). Judgment under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases. Science185,1124-1131(1974). DOI:10.1126/science.185.4157.1124 https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.185.4157.1124

Tversky, A., & Kahneman, D. (1981). The framing of decisions and the psychology of choice. Science, 211(4481), 453–458.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/1685855

Get in Touch:

Website: https://www.mammothleadershipsciences.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolaspokorny

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MammothLeadershipSciences

What if I told you the biggest threat to your business isn’t the competition but your brain? Leaders make costly decisions daily because of one mind trap— the status quo bias. It’s the reason billion-dollar companies collapse, why once-great leaders fail to adapt, and why you might be unknowingly sabotaging your success.

So, today, I take you inside the shocking failures of Kodak, Blockbuster, and Microsoft— companies that refused to adapt, believing that what worked yesterday would work forever. I’ll show you how to spot the status quo bias in your leadership, why your brain resists necessary change, and three battle-tested strategies to break free and make bold, winning decisions.

Don’t let your brain run your business on autopilot. Hit play now for new insights on decision-making biases. And for a deeper dive, grab a copy of my book, The Mammoth in the Room, and discover how to outthink your instincts for exceptional business results.

In this episode:

- Introduction to the status quo bias

- The Kodak story: A giant that refused to move

- Understanding the status quo bias and its evolutionary roots

- Market shift trap: Blockbuster vs. Netflix

- Internal process trap: Microsoft's lost decade

- Personal career trap: Steve Ballmer and mobile revolution

- How to overcome the status quo bias

References:

Harvard Business Review: The Hidden Traps in Decision Making, John S. Hammond, Ralph L. Keeney, and Howard Raiffa (September–October 1998) https://hbr.org/1998/09/the-hidden-traps-in-decision-making-2

Tversky, A., & Kahneman, D. (1974). Judgment under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases. Science185,1124-1131(1974). DOI:10.1126/science.185.4157.1124 https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.185.4157.1124

Tversky, A., & Kahneman, D. (1981). The framing of decisions and the psychology of choice. Science, 211(4481), 453–458.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/1685855

Get in Touch:

Website: https://www.mammothleadershipsciences.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolaspokorny

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MammothLeadershipSciences

Ever wondered why smart business leaders, even the best of the best, fall for irrational decisions? It’s not lack of intelligence—it’s the unseen mental shortcuts, like anchoring bias, that subtly shape their decisions. This deceptive cognitive trap influences everything from negotiations and pricing to hiring decisions, shaping your choices without you even realizing it.

So, today we are exploring how the anchoring bias manipulates your perception, sometimes to genius effect, sometimes to disastrous consequences. I’ll share three powerful strategies to break free from the anchoring effect and reveal the shocking valuation blunder that left investors shaking their heads.

Tune in now if you’re ready to take back control of your decision-making and lead with clarity. And for a deeper dive, check out my book The Mammoth in the Room, where I break down evolutionary decision-making biases and how to outsmart them for better business results.

In this episode:

-just Introduction to the anchoring bias

- The 999 iPhone trick

- The science behind anchoring bias

- Trap 1: The negotiation trap

- Trap 2: The pricing trap

- Trap 3: The hiring trap

- 3 strategies to overcome anchoring biases

Grab your copy of Nicolas' book, The Mammoth in the Room, here: https://mammothleadershipsciences.com/book

Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

Harvard Business Review: The Hidden Traps in Decision Making, John S. Hammond, Ralph L. Keeney, and Howard Raiffa (September–October 1998)

https://hbr.org/1998/09/the-hidden-traps-in-decision-making-2

Tversky, A., & Kahneman, D. (1974). Judgment under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases. Science 185,1124-1131(1974). DOI:10.1126/science.185.4157.1124

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.185.4157.1124

Tversky, A., & Kahneman, D. (1981). The framing of decisions and the psychology of choice. Science, 211(4481), 453–458.

https://sites.stat.columbia.edu/gelman/surveys.course/TverskyKahneman1981.pdf

Get in Touch:

Website: https://www.mammothleadershipsciences.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolaspokorny

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MammothLeadershipSciences

As leaders, we like to think we’re in control, but millennia of evolution have wired us to react on instinct, often leading us straight into decision-making traps. In this episode, we expose the hidden biases that can derail even the smartest leaders and share three powerful strategies to outthink your own brain.

From the anchoring trap that skews salary negotiations to the status quo bias that made Blockbuster ignore Netflix, we break down how these cognitive biases play out in real business scenarios.

Don’t let your instincts run your business unfiltered. Tune in now and discover how to challenge your biases, strengthen your leadership, and drive better results. And if you want to dive deeper, grab my book, The Mammoth in the Room, for a roadmap on how great leaders use evolutionary truths to achieve outstanding success.

In this episode:

- Introduction to decision making biases

- The anchoring trap

- The status quo bias

- The sunk cost fallacy

- Learn 3 proven strategies to outsmart biases

- Conclusion and next steps to improve decision making

Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

Harvard Business Review: The Hidden Traps in Decision Making, John S. Hammond, Ralph L. Keeney, and Howard Raiffa (September–October 1998)

https://hbr.org/1998/09/the-hidden-traps-in-decision-making-2

Tversky, A., & Kahneman, D. (1974). Judgment under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases. Science 185,1124-1131(1974). DOI:10.1126/science.185.4157.1124

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.185.4157.1124

Tversky, A., & Kahneman, D. (1981). The framing of decisions and the psychology of choice. Science, 211(4481), 453–458.

https://sites.stat.columbia.edu/gelman/surveys.course/TverskyKahneman1981.pdf

Get in Touch:

Website: https://www.mammothleadershipsciences.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolaspokorny

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MammothLeadershipSciences

What if the key to becoming a better leader wasn’t found in boardrooms or business schools—but in the survival instincts of our ancestors? In this episode, we explore The Mammoth in the Room by Nicolas Pokorny, a groundbreaking look at how evolutionary psychology shapes modern leadership. We break down the fundamental drivers of human behavior—self-interest and collaboration—and how they shape company culture.

Pokorny’s leadership-followership matrix will help you assess your influence, while his four-level transformation framework offers a roadmap for sustainable growth. We also discuss why personal leadership—your health, mindset, and ability to manage stress—is the foundation of great team leadership.

So, what’s the mammoth in your room? What’s the challenge that requires you to lean into collaboration and trust? Join us as we unpack these evolutionary leadership principles and explore how to build high-performing, resilient teams. Plus, be sure to grab a copy of the book The Mammoth in the Room—it will change the way you lead!

In this Episode:

- Connecting ancient practices to modern leadership

- The crucial role of company culture

- Evolutionary psychology in leadership

- The importance of personal leadership and self-care

- How to build and lead effective teams

- Understanding trust and power dynamics in teams

- Leading by example and clear communication

- Navigating cognitive biases in leadership

- The four levels of continuous transformation

- Evolutionary pitfalls in leadership

- The leadership-followership matrix

- How to implement effective leadership

- Final thoughts on evolutionary leadership

Get in Touch:

Website: https://www.mammothleadershipsciences.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolaspokorny

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MammothLeadershipSciences

Some leaders leave office and fade into history—others redefine what leadership means long after their tenure ends. In today’s episode, we explore the legacy of Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, a leader who proved that true influence isn’t confined to a title.

From his bold honesty during his presidency to his post-office humanitarian work that nearly eradicated Guinea worm disease, Carter demonstrated that true leadership is measured by the lives we touch, not just the positions we hold. The question is: What will your legacy be when your current role ends?

Well, great leaders never stop learning. Tune in now to discover how Carter’s leadership principles can inspire your own journey—because the impact you make today determines the legacy you leave tomorrow.

In this episode:

- Authenticity over popularity

- Building a lasting legacy

- The power of empathy

- Final takeaways and conclusion

Grab your copy of Nicolas' book, The Mammoth in the Room, here: https://mammothleadershipsciences.com/book

Resources Used in the Episode:

Hogan, R., & Kaiser, R. B. (2005). What we know about Leadership. Review of General Psychology, 9(2), 169-180. https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2680.9.2.169

Vugt, M. van, & Ronay, R. (2014). The evolutionary psychology of leadership: Theory, review, and roadmap. Organizational Psychology Review, 4(1), 74-95. https://doi.org/10.1177/2041386613493635

Get in Touch:

Website: https://www.mammothleadershipsciences.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolaspokorny

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MammothLeadershipSciences

Most leaders obsess over their own abilities, but the real magic happens when you unlock what your team can do. Here's the truth. The best leaders don't create clones; they cultivate champions by recognizing and amplifying individual strengths. So today, we’re exploring why every team member is already a champion—and how you can help them prove it.

We’ll break down the evolutionary psychology behind why appreciation fuels performance, how great leaders like Oprah Winfrey and Satya Nadella built high-impact cultures, and the step-by-step framework you need to create a thriving, strengths-based team.

Tune in now for a roadmap to transform your team into a powerhouse of collaboration and results.

In this episode:

- Recognizing team members as champions

- The psychology of appreciation and performance

- Practical steps to building a champion culture

- Key takeaways and conclusion

Grab your copy of Nicolas' book, The Mammoth in the Room, here: https://mammothleadershipsciences.com/book

Resources Used in the Episode:

Gratton and Erickson (2021), "Eight Ways to Build Collaborative Teams" (Harvard Business Review): https://www.researchgate.net/publication/5689232_Eight_ways_to_build_collaborative_teams

Baumeister and Leary (2019), "The Need to Belong: Desire for Interpersonal Attachments as a Fundamental Human Motivation" (Psychological Bulletin): https://www.researchgate.net/publication/15420847_The_Need_to_Belong_Desire_for_Interpersonal_Attachments_as_a_Fundamental_Human_Motivation

Get in Touch:

Website: https://www.mammothleadershipsciences.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolaspokorny

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MammothLeadershipSciences

Imagine leading a team that’s fully engaged, motivated, and driven by a shared purpose. The secret? It’s not about assigning tasks or managing checklists—it’s about igniting a deep desire for the mission. Today, we explore why the most effective leaders don’t just tell people what to do; they inspire them with a vision that fuels action.

Drawing from historical moments, neuroscience, and business insights, we uncover how great leaders—from Eisenhower to NASA’s janitor—created cultures of commitment, not compliance. We’ll explore why humans are hardwired to seek purpose, how dopamine fuels motivation, and what evolutionary science teaches us about leadership.

Whether you’re leading a startup, scaling a business, or managing a high-performance team, this episode gives you practical steps to boost employee motivation and engagement. If you want to go even deeper, check out my book, The Mammoth in the Room, for a roadmap for turning evolutionary insights into powerful business strategies.

In this episode:

- Introduction to purpose-driven leadership

- Lesson 1: Purpose – The Eisenhower example

- Lesson 2: Paint a vision, not just a task list

- Lesson 3: Connect tasks to meaning

- Lesson 4: Empower instead of micromanaging

- The science behind purpose-driven leadership

- Summary of key takeaways and call to action

Grab your copy of Nicolas' book, The Mammoth in the Room, here: https://mammothleadershipsciences.com/book

Resources Used in the Episode:

Hamid, A., Pettibone, J., Mabrouk, O. et al. Mesolimbic Dopamine Signals the Value of Work. Nat Neurosci 19, 117–126 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.4173

Mark van Vugt and Anjana Ahuja, 'Naturally Selected: The Evolutionary Science of Leadership' (2011). https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006CDDSIU

Get in Touch:

Website: https://www.mammothleadershipsciences.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolaspokorny

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MammothLeadershipSciences