A Persuasive Question I Learned From Scott Adams — Daily Persuasion with Joshua Lisec Ep. 317

Would you like to write a persuasive BOOK? One that changes minds and influencers behavior for years to come? Start with a GOLDEN book idea. Let NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Joshua Lisec teach you: https://lisecghostwriting.com/golden

ABOUT TODAY'S EPISODE:

What if the smartest thing you could ask wasn’t an answer, but a question?

In Daily Persuasion with Joshua Lisec Ep. 317: “A Persuasive Question I Learned From Scott Adams,” Lisec explores a deceptively simple yet powerful tool for sharper thinking, better decisions, and stronger persuasion. This episode builds on lessons from Scott Adams, author of Gods Debris and Reframe Your Brain, who has long taught the art of practical wisdom. Here, Lisec shows you how asking a persuasive question—“What are the likeliest consequences of that?”—changes conversations, business deals, and even personal relationships.

Instead of living in certainty, where people declare “this will happen” or “that can’t happen,” Lisec explains why the right question cuts through assumptions and feelings. By focusing on probabilities, you encourage people to think more deeply. This approach combines decision making tips, risk management strategy, and persuasion psychology in a way that anyone can apply. It’s not about predicting the future—it’s about reasoning more usefully.

Lisec credits Scott Adams for popularizing this approach, one rooted in thinking about risk vs reward and evaluating odds rather than clinging to black-and-white certainty. As Lisec notes, this kind of probabilistic thinking is at the heart of persuasion techniques and effective communication.

Whether you’re trying to improve your personal growth, negotiate in business, or make a difficult life choice, learning how to think smarter often starts with asking better questions.

Throughout Daily Persuasion Ep. 317, Lisec unpacks real-world persuasion examples that show how a single well-timed question shifts the frame. Instead of emotional reactions, people begin to reason in terms of odds, outcomes, and probabilities. This creates a richer conversation and lays the groundwork for how to persuade someone to do something without pressure—because they reach a more thoughtful conclusion themselves.

This is the essence of practical wisdom: moving from raw knowledge to applied insight. Lisec shows how to bridge that gap using self improvement tips that aren’t just motivational slogans but actionable thinking tools. The episode demonstrates how techniques of persuasion in writing and in conversation alike depend on asking the right questions, not delivering the right speeches.

Lisec also reflects on his work with Scott Adams on recent books, sharing insights into how Adams approaches risk management strategy and decision making. By thinking in terms of probabilities, you stop seeing only best- and worst-case scenarios and start evaluating the likely middle ground. That shift alone can improve your thinking and help you make more grounded choices.

The brilliance of A Persuasive Question I Learned From Scott Adams is that it’s simple enough to use in everyday life. Whether you’re managing a project, considering a career risk vs reward, or navigating a personal relationship, asking, “What are the likeliest consequences of that?” forces clarity. People move beyond vague hopes and confront realistic outcomes. This is persuasion at its best—guiding others to reason themselves into wiser decisions.

Lisec reminds us that persuasion isn’t manipulation; it’s communication that brings others closer to truth. By mastering this one question, you not only gain a tool for influence, but also a practice for personal growth and self improvement.

By the end of Daily Persuasion with Joshua Lisec Ep. 317, you’ll have a fresh lens for evaluating choices, conversations, and arguments. You’ll see why examples of persuasion in advertising often work by reframing expectations, and how you can adapt the same strategy in your life.

👉 Subscribe to Daily Persuasion with Joshua Lisec to keep learning the questions, strategies, and persuasive techniques that sharpen your thinking and strengthen your voice.