Want to lower stress, boost output, and avoid burnout? Positive Intelligence (PQ) and Thrive Global both use solid science and smart tech. But they take different paths to achieve their goals. Learning how they differ will help you pick the best fit for you.

Thrive Global: The Power of Small, Sustainable Change

Thrive Global focuses on “Microsteps.” These are small daily actions that help you build better habits without requiring much time.

What Thrive Global Offers

Microsteps for Habit Formation

Thrive believes small, easy actions create lasting change. Microsteps might include taking a 60-second breathing break before meetings. Or putting your phone in another room at night. Or writing down three things you’re grateful for. These actions fit right into your day.

AI Health Coach and Real-Time Support

The platform mixes Microsteps with quick Reset videos. It also has a library of content on well-being. Plus, it has an AI Health Coach built with OpenAI. This AI gives you real-time nudges and custom tips to help you build better habits. It puts well-being right into your daily work. Human coaching is available as an add-on in company plans.

Proven Results

Clients report 76% higher output and 104% better burnout prevention. Thrive shares overall business metrics like gains in output and engagement across large groups.

Positive Intelligence: Mental Fitness Training

Positive Intelligence takes a different path. It offers a seven-week PQ Program that targets the root causes of stress. Mental fitness is your mind’s ability to respond to problems with clarity and strength instead of stress and anxiety.

Why Positive Intelligence Creates Different Results

Fixes Root Causes

The PQ Program helps you find your specific Saboteurs. These are automatic negative thought patterns like the Judge, Pleaser, Controller, or Avoider. They cause stress, damage relationships, and limit results. By stopping these patterns at their source, you create less stress. You don’t just manage it when it shows up.

Clear Training Program

The 7-week PQ Program includes weekly video modules with founder Shirzad Chamine. It also has daily app-based exercises. And small Pods, which are groups of 4 to 6 people, give you group support and accountability. This structured approach builds new brain pathways through regular practice. It creates lasting changes in how your mind works. The program weakens your Saboteurs and strengthens your Sage (your inner source of wisdom, calm, and clarity).

Real Results

Among PQ Program participants, 91% report better stress management. 92% show improvement in teamwork. And 85% report increased happiness.

The Positive Intelligence Advantage: Built-In Coaching

Thrive offers optional coaching or AI nudges, while Positive Intelligence offers Certified PQ Coaches. Your coach helps you apply PQ tools to your specific challenges. These might be workplace stress, building leadership skills, or improving relationships.

PQ Coaches help you identify your Saboteur patterns. They help you strengthen your Sage responses. And they help you see blind spots. They make sure you’re building lasting mental strength, not temporary improvements. Most PQ Coaches offer a free discovery call so you can explore how mental fitness applies to your goals. Find the right coach on the PQ Coach Marketplace. They have specialties in leadership, relationships, health, parenting, and more.

For teams, a Certified PQ Coach can run the PQ Program for your group. This creates shared language and tools that improve how teams work together and handle stress.

Key Differences: Thrive Global vs. Positive Intelligence

Micro-Habits vs. Mental Fitness Training

Thrive builds better habits through small, sustainable actions that take 1-2 minutes. Positive Intelligence rewires your brain’s response patterns through daily practice. This includes 10-second exercises that reduce the stress your brain creates at the source.

AI Nudges vs. Live Coaching Support

Thrive uses AI-powered reminders and tips. Human coaching is an optional add-on. Positive Intelligence offers PQ Coach sessions as a core part of the program.

Flexible Timeline vs. Intensive Program

Thrive works on an ongoing basis with no fixed timeline. Engage whenever it fits your schedule. Positive Intelligence offers a 7-week program with a clear structure. It creates momentum and accountability through daily practice and weekly accountability meetings.

Overall Metrics vs. Personal Growth

Thrive tracks company-wide metrics like output and burnout prevention across large groups. Positive Intelligence tracks personal mental fitness growth through assessments and the app. It focuses on individual mental fitness growth that leads to measurable gains in performance, better relationships, and greater well-being.

Choosing the Right Path for Your Goals

Choose Thrive Global if you want to:

• Add wellness with minimal time (1-2 minutes)
• Use AI-powered nudges for real-time habit support
• Focus on small changes that don’t disrupt your schedule
• Roll out flexible wellness across large teams
• Track overall business metrics
• Build better habits without a structured program

Choose Positive Intelligence if you want to:

• Build lasting mental fitness that reduces stress at its source
• Follow a proven program with measurable results
• Learn specific tools to stop negative thought patterns
• Have the option to work with a trained coach from day one
• Join an accountability group for shared support
• Fix the root causes of performance problems
• Complete a change program with a clear structure

Can You Use Both Platforms?

Yes. Many people use Thrive Microsteps for quick daily resets. And they complete the PQ Program to develop lasting mental fitness. The approaches work well together.

You might complete the 7-week PQ Program to build a foundation of mental fitness. Then use Thrive’s Microsteps to keep practicing healthy habits. Or start with Thrive to set up basic wellness practices. Then deepen your work with Positive Intelligence’s structured training.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much time does each platform require?

Thrive’s Microsteps take 1-2 minutes. There’s no minimum time commitment. The PQ Program requires just minutes a day of practice, plus one hour weekly for interactive modules.

Can my company use either platform for our team?

Yes. Thrive offers company plans that scale across large groups. They include team dashboards and overall metrics. Positive Intelligence offers team programs. Everyone starts with the 7-week PQ Program with a PQ Coach. This creates shared language and tools.

What if I don’t have time for a 7-week program right now?

Thrive’s flexible approach might be better if you’re in a busy season. But many PQ participants find that the 7-week program actually saves them time in the long run. By reducing stress and gaining mental clarity, they improve their efficiency.

Do I need my whole team to take part?

Thrive works well alone or company-wide. Positive Intelligence offers both individual and group enrollment. You can complete the program alone, but participating in groups creates shared language around Saboteurs and mental fitness. This makes it easier to apply the tools in workplace situations.

Which Solution Delivers on Your Goals?

Thrive Global gives you bite-sized actions and AI guidance that boost well-being metrics. It focuses on habit formation and small changes. It’s ideal for adding wellness into daily workflow without major time commitments.

Positive Intelligence provides a coach-supported program that changes thinking patterns. It uses structured lessons and daily practice. This program with built-in coach support addresses the root causes of stress and performance problems, not just temporary improvements.

If your goal is to address the root causes of stress and performance issues from the inside out, Positive Intelligence’s structured lessons and coaching options offer a clear path to building lasting mental fitness.

Ready to understand what’s really causing your stress? Take the free Saboteur Assessment to find your specific mental patterns. Then explore how the PQ Program can help you build lasting mental strength.

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