What do athletic coaches, politicians, and preachers have in common? They are expected to give inspirational pep talks, speeches, or sermons that fire up powerful emotions. They are supposed to motivate their listeners to “give 110%,” overcoming all obstacles to victory no matter what the cost.

Coaches know that the best pep talk can only get athletes through the first football collision, the first gymnastics tumbling pass, or the first baseball at bat. Politicians know that the most stirring speech is forgotten when the auditorium clears or the channel is changed. Preachers know that emotions raised in the most energizing sermon quickly dissipate with the last chords of the final hymn.

Emotions fire and fizzle without a game plan. With specific directions to follow, athletes, voters, an…