You give your best employee a $5,000 raise. Month one, they're thrilled. Month three, it feels completely normal β and the motivation is gone. Same money. Zero effect. This lesson explains the science behind why raises stop working, why bonuses outperform salary increases dollar for dollar, and how to design rewards, products, and personal habits that actually sustain satisfaction over time. π WHAT STUDENTS WILL LEARN Why humans rapidly adapt to any change in circumstance β and why the hedonic