Hijacking The Reward System to Change Your Life and Business with Michelle Rutkowski - MOR Studio

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Hijacking The Reward System to Change Your Life and Business with Michelle Rutkowski - MOR Studio

Sep 30, 2025 • 43 mins

Michelle Rutkowski delves into her architectural journey and the foundation of MOR Studio, focusing on the intricate balance between business growth and personal life. She explores the role of dopamine in motivation and the reward system, detailing the four pillars of reward: connection, discovery, movement, and rest, with practical applications for AEC businesses. The discussion extends to the biological underpinnings of productivity and team dynamics, including the neuroscience of endorphins. Michelle shares personal insights on dopamine regulation, emphasizing the design of spaces that foster community engagement and minimize distractions, integrating the reward system into architectural design.

Key Points

Understanding and optimizing the reward system can transform both personal well-being and professional environments by focusing on connection, discovery, movement, and rest.
Creating spaces that are aligned with the principles of the reward system can enhance productivity, engagement, and overall satisfaction for occupants.
The journey to discovering the power of the reward system began with personal challenges and evolved into a broader mission to design spaces that promote well-being and resilience.

Connect with Michelle - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-rutkowski-aia-leed-ap-645b9814/ MOR Website: https://www.morstudio.net MDB Website: https://www.mydopamineblueprint.com Connect with Justin - Justin's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justneagle/ Spot Migration: https://www.spotmigration.com NCBOI: https://ncboi.org Do you want to be a guest on the show? Go to https://buildingscale.net/guests Need to discuss your IT and Cybersecurity Strategy? Go to https://buildingscale.net/help

Speakers

Michelle Rutkowski

Guest • 75%

Justin Neagle

Host • 23%

Justin Neagle

Host • 1%

Will Foret

Host • 1%

Chapters

0:00	Introduction to Michelle Rutkowski and the reward system
2:33	Michelle's journey into architecture and founding MOR Studios
6:59	Balancing business growth with personal life and understanding the reward system
10:53	The impact of dopamine on motivation and the reward cycle
15:18	The four pillars of reward: Connection, discovery, movement, and rest
18:19	Practical examples of the reward system in AEC businesses
20:12	Biological basis of productivity and team dynamics
23:29	Neuroscience behind endorphins, mu opioid receptors, and visioning
25:04	Personal experience with dopamine regulation
27:32	The plasticity of the reward system and overcoming addiction
29:46	Leveraging the reward system for healthier lifestyle choices
31:07	Designing spaces for community engagement and reducing distractions
33:22	Integrating the reward system into architectural design
37:02	The experience and impact of well-designed spaces
38:16	Strategies for creating engaging architectural spaces
40:54	Closing thoughts and contact information

Transcript

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