"Razors" are principles that amplify your decisions.
The most powerful razors I've found:
The most powerful razors I've found:
Skinner's Law
If procrastinating on a task, you only have 2 options:
1. Make the pain of not doing it greater than the pain of doing it.
2. Make the pleasure of doing it greater than the pleasure of not doing it.
Remind yourself why you're doing the task.
If procrastinating on a task, you only have 2 options:
1. Make the pain of not doing it greater than the pain of doing it.
2. Make the pleasure of doing it greater than the pleasure of not doing it.
Remind yourself why you're doing the task.
Bragging Razor
If someone brags about their success or happiness, assume itโs half what they claim.
If someone downplays their success or happiness, assume itโs double what they claim.
Winners don't feel the need to tell you they're winning, it's dead obvious.
If someone brags about their success or happiness, assume itโs half what they claim.
If someone downplays their success or happiness, assume itโs double what they claim.
Winners don't feel the need to tell you they're winning, it's dead obvious.
Duck Test
If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.
If something seems a certain way, it probably is that way.
Appearances can deceive, but there's generally no need to deny reality.
Usually, what you see is what you get.
If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.
If something seems a certain way, it probably is that way.
Appearances can deceive, but there's generally no need to deny reality.
Usually, what you see is what you get.
Tarzwell's Razor
High emotion leads to high bias.
Both science and the justice system hold that dispassion is at the core of their intentions.
โWhere there is passion the truth cannot be trusted.โ
โJames Tarzwell
High emotion leads to high bias.
Both science and the justice system hold that dispassion is at the core of their intentions.
โWhere there is passion the truth cannot be trusted.โ
โJames Tarzwell
Bezos' Who to Work With
If unsure who to work with, pick the person (or people) that would have the best chances of breaking you out of a 3rd world prison.
People who could do this might be described as 'relentlessly resourceful.'
Two dangerously good traits.
h/t @paulg
If unsure who to work with, pick the person (or people) that would have the best chances of breaking you out of a 3rd world prison.
People who could do this might be described as 'relentlessly resourceful.'
Two dangerously good traits.
h/t @paulg
Luck Razor
If stuck with 2 equal options, pick the one that feels like it will produce the most luck later down the line.
Should I stay in tonight or should I go and meet this interesting stranger?
Choose to increase your surface area of luck when you have the choice.
If stuck with 2 equal options, pick the one that feels like it will produce the most luck later down the line.
Should I stay in tonight or should I go and meet this interesting stranger?
Choose to increase your surface area of luck when you have the choice.
Naval's Razors
If you have 2 choices to make, and theyโre relatively equal (50โ50), take the path that is more difficult and more painful in the short term.
If the two are even and one has short term pain, it means it has long term gain.
h/t @naval
If you have 2 choices to make, and theyโre relatively equal (50โ50), take the path that is more difficult and more painful in the short term.
If the two are even and one has short term pain, it means it has long term gain.
h/t @naval
Occam's Razor
Simpler explanations are more likely to be true than complicated ones.
We tend to come up with complicated narratives to explain the world around us.
But explanations with the fewest moving parts are more likely to be true.
Simpler explanations are more likely to be true than complicated ones.
We tend to come up with complicated narratives to explain the world around us.
But explanations with the fewest moving parts are more likely to be true.
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You can join here: alexbrogan.beehiiv.com
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