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The most useful razors and rules I've found.
Rules of thumb that simplify decisions:
Rules of thumb that simplify decisions:
The Bloom-Bilal Rule:
If bored and struggling with ideas -- keep walking until the day becomes interesting.
(via @sahilbloom + @bzaidi)
If bored and struggling with ideas -- keep walking until the day becomes interesting.
(via @sahilbloom + @bzaidi)
Bragging Razor:
• If someone brags about their success or happiness, assume it’s half what they claim.
• If someone downplays their success or happiness, assume it’s double what they claim.
The map is not the terrain.
• If someone brags about their success or happiness, assume it’s half what they claim.
• If someone downplays their success or happiness, assume it’s double what they claim.
The map is not the terrain.
Instagram Razor:
When you see a photo of an influencer looking attractive on Instagram -- assume there are 99 worse variations of that photo you haven't seen.
They just picked the best one.
When you see a photo of an influencer looking attractive on Instagram -- assume there are 99 worse variations of that photo you haven't seen.
They just picked the best one.
Gell-Mann Razor:
Assume every media article contains a % of false information.
Sandbox the article from your worldview until you've:
1. Seen primary sources
2. Spoken to 3 domain experts
Assume every media article contains a % of false information.
Sandbox the article from your worldview until you've:
1. Seen primary sources
2. Spoken to 3 domain experts
Taleb's Surgeon:
If presented with two equal candidates for a role, pick the one with the least amount of charisma.
The uncharismatic one has got there despite their lack of charisma.
The charismatic one has got there with the aid of their charisma.
If presented with two equal candidates for a role, pick the one with the least amount of charisma.
The uncharismatic one has got there despite their lack of charisma.
The charismatic one has got there with the aid of their charisma.
Network Razor:
If you have 2 quality people that would benefit from an intro to one another, always do it.
"Networks don't divide as you share them, they multiply" - @ChrisWillx
If you have 2 quality people that would benefit from an intro to one another, always do it.
"Networks don't divide as you share them, they multiply" - @ChrisWillx
High Agency Razor:
If unsure who to work with, pick the person that has the best chances of breaking you out of a 3rd world prison.
If unsure who to work with, pick the person that has the best chances of breaking you out of a 3rd world prison.
Mack's Rule:
Break down the investments your parents made in you: Time, Love, Energy, and Money.
If they are still alive, aim to hit a positive return on investment (or at least break even.)
Break down the investments your parents made in you: Time, Love, Energy, and Money.
If they are still alive, aim to hit a positive return on investment (or at least break even.)
Narccism Razor:
If worried about people's opinions, remember they are too busy worrying about other people's opinions of them.
99% of the time you're an extra in someone else's movie
H/T - @waitbutwhy
If worried about people's opinions, remember they are too busy worrying about other people's opinions of them.
99% of the time you're an extra in someone else's movie
H/T - @waitbutwhy
Luck Razor:
If stuck with 2 equal options, pick the one that feels like it will produce the most luck later down the line.
I used this razor to go for drinks with a stranger rather than watch Netflix.
In hindsight, it was the highest ROI decision I've ever made.
If stuck with 2 equal options, pick the one that feels like it will produce the most luck later down the line.
I used this razor to go for drinks with a stranger rather than watch Netflix.
In hindsight, it was the highest ROI decision I've ever made.
Cummings Razor:
When confused by politicians' decision-making, remind yourself of this tweet.
They rarely use metrics or dashboards to guide decisions like CEO's.
Instead, they react to random news stories each day.
(h/t @balajis)
When confused by politicians' decision-making, remind yourself of this tweet.
They rarely use metrics or dashboards to guide decisions like CEO's.
Instead, they react to random news stories each day.
(h/t @balajis)
Munger's Law:
• Never allow yourself to have an opinion on a subject unless you can state the opposing argument better than the opposition can.
Steelman Arguments > Strawman Arguments
• Never allow yourself to have an opinion on a subject unless you can state the opposing argument better than the opposition can.
Steelman Arguments > Strawman Arguments
Everyday Razor:
1. If you go from doing a task weekly to daily, you achieve 7 years of output in 1 year.
2. If you apply a 1% compound interest each time, you achieve 54 years of output in 1 year
1. If you go from doing a task weekly to daily, you achieve 7 years of output in 1 year.
2. If you apply a 1% compound interest each time, you achieve 54 years of output in 1 year
Skinner's Law:
If procrastinating, 2 ways to solve it:
1. Make the pain of inaction > Pain of action
2. Make the pleasure of action > Pleasure of inaction
If procrastinating, 2 ways to solve it:
1. Make the pain of inaction > Pain of action
2. Make the pleasure of action > Pleasure of inaction
Bezos Razor:
If unsure what action to pick, let your 90-year-old self on death bed choose it it.
If unsure what action to pick, let your 90-year-old self on death bed choose it it.
Branding Rule:
The more tattoos people have of something, the bigger the brand is.
People branding themselves is the best sign a brand exists.
The more tattoos people have of something, the bigger the brand is.
People branding themselves is the best sign a brand exists.
Deutsch's Rule:
If it doesn't deny the law of physics, it's possible.
Do not confuse society's current lack of knowledge -- with this knowledge being impossible to attain.
E.g. The smartphone seems impossible to someone from the 1800s -- but it was just a lack of knowledge.
If it doesn't deny the law of physics, it's possible.
Do not confuse society's current lack of knowledge -- with this knowledge being impossible to attain.
E.g. The smartphone seems impossible to someone from the 1800s -- but it was just a lack of knowledge.
Buffett's Law:
"The value of every business is 100% subject to interest rates" - Warren Buffett
via @FoundersPodcast
"The value of every business is 100% subject to interest rates" - Warren Buffett
via @FoundersPodcast
Perell's Hotel Bathroom Principle:
If unsure what to wear:
"Always dress well enough to walk into any bathroom at a hotel you're not staying at and get away with it." - @david_perell
If unsure what to wear:
"Always dress well enough to walk into any bathroom at a hotel you're not staying at and get away with it." - @david_perell
Naval's Razor:
If a task is worth less than your ambitious hourly rate - outsource, automate, or delete it.
If a task is worth less than your ambitious hourly rate - outsource, automate, or delete it.
Jocko's Razor:
• The more uncomfortable the activity, the more likely it will lead to growth.
• The more comfortable the activity, the more likely it will lead to stagnation.
1000 uncomfortable hours > 10,000 comfortable hours
• The more uncomfortable the activity, the more likely it will lead to growth.
• The more comfortable the activity, the more likely it will lead to stagnation.
1000 uncomfortable hours > 10,000 comfortable hours
Graham's Rule:
Combat identity bias by identifying publicly as having a small identity.
Identity bias will work in your favor -- and prevent you from getting identity bias.
Combat identity bias by identifying publicly as having a small identity.
Identity bias will work in your favor -- and prevent you from getting identity bias.
The Early-Late Razor:
If it's a talking point on Reddit or Twitter, you might be early.
If it's a talking point on LinkedIn or Facebook, you're definitely late.
If it's a talking point on Reddit or Twitter, you might be early.
If it's a talking point on LinkedIn or Facebook, you're definitely late.
Walt Disney's Rule:
• If struggling to think clearly about a subject, draw it out.
Here's Walt Disney's drawing he made in 1957 of the Media Empire he wanted to build.
It's iconic.
• If struggling to think clearly about a subject, draw it out.
Here's Walt Disney's drawing he made in 1957 of the Media Empire he wanted to build.
It's iconic.
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