The most useful laws, razors and mental models I wish I learned in college (No. 12 is scary!):
Aurelius's razor
Before saying or doing anything
Ask yourself:
Is this truly necessary?
If the answer is not a straight yes, don't waste a single minute on it.
Before saying or doing anything
Ask yourself:
Is this truly necessary?
If the answer is not a straight yes, don't waste a single minute on it.
Second order Thinking
Think beyond immediate karma.
Before making a decision -
Consider the secondary and indirect repercussions of your actions.
This will force you to make more informed choices.
Think beyond immediate karma.
Before making a decision -
Consider the secondary and indirect repercussions of your actions.
This will force you to make more informed choices.
Einstein's razor
"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."
Oversimplification is just as bad as unnecessary sophistication.
Find the sweet spot where you can no longer simplify without sacrificing essential details.
"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."
Oversimplification is just as bad as unnecessary sophistication.
Find the sweet spot where you can no longer simplify without sacrificing essential details.
Parkinson's law of triviality:
People tend to spend disproportionate time on small, unimportant tasks.
Focus more of your time and energy on lever-moving activities.
Delegate or eliminate less important ones.
Keep meetings brief and relevant.
People tend to spend disproportionate time on small, unimportant tasks.
Focus more of your time and energy on lever-moving activities.
Delegate or eliminate less important ones.
Keep meetings brief and relevant.
Parkison's law of work:
"Work expands to fill the time available for its completion."
To become more productive
Set tighter deadlines for yourself.
This will force you to find the most time-effective way to get things done.
"Work expands to fill the time available for its completion."
To become more productive
Set tighter deadlines for yourself.
This will force you to find the most time-effective way to get things done.
Brandolini's law (The Bullshit Razor):
It takes more energy to refute BS than to create it.
Remember this when getting into arguments with strangers online.
Find something better to do with your time.
It takes more energy to refute BS than to create it.
Remember this when getting into arguments with strangers online.
Find something better to do with your time.
Newton's Flaming Laser Sword:
Anything that cannot be settled by experiment or direct observation is not worthy of debate or consideration.
Choose your beliefs wisely.
Anything that cannot be settled by experiment or direct observation is not worthy of debate or consideration.
Choose your beliefs wisely.
Seneca's razor:
"We suffer more in imagination than in reality"
Pain is inevitable
Suffering is self-inflicted.
The quickest cure for pain is to let it go.
The quickest cure for anxiety is to live in the moment.
"We suffer more in imagination than in reality"
Pain is inevitable
Suffering is self-inflicted.
The quickest cure for pain is to let it go.
The quickest cure for anxiety is to live in the moment.
Law of inversion
It's easier to solve problems in reverse.
To know what you desire in a partner
Write down the things you don't want.
To become more productive
Write out the things you do that make you unproductive.
It's easier to solve problems in reverse.
To know what you desire in a partner
Write down the things you don't want.
To become more productive
Write out the things you do that make you unproductive.
Regret Minimization
When unsure
Choose the path that minimizes future regrets.
It's better to try and fail
Than to live wondering what could have been if you took a chance.
When unsure
Choose the path that minimizes future regrets.
It's better to try and fail
Than to live wondering what could have been if you took a chance.
Skinner's law
The longer you delay taking action, the harder it becomes to go through with it.
There are 2 ways to avoid procrastination:
1. Make the pain of inaction > Pain of action
2. Make the pleasure of action > Pleasure of inaction
The longer you delay taking action, the harder it becomes to go through with it.
There are 2 ways to avoid procrastination:
1. Make the pain of inaction > Pain of action
2. Make the pleasure of action > Pleasure of inaction
Probabilistic thinking
Consider the probabilities of various outcomes and make choices based on these probabilities.
Wishful thinking is dangerous.
Assess risks and make investments through statistics.
Consider the probabilities of various outcomes and make choices based on these probabilities.
Wishful thinking is dangerous.
Assess risks and make investments through statistics.
Jocko's razor
Simple execution is often more effective than complicated plans.
When Ronnie Coleman, 8 times Mr. Olympia, was asked the secret to his success
He said:
"I ate oats for breakfast every day for 10 years"
Simple execution is often more effective than complicated plans.
When Ronnie Coleman, 8 times Mr. Olympia, was asked the secret to his success
He said:
"I ate oats for breakfast every day for 10 years"
Rohn's law
"You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with."
You are also the average of the 5 things you spend the most time on.
Your future is designed by your current habits and relationships.
"You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with."
You are also the average of the 5 things you spend the most time on.
Your future is designed by your current habits and relationships.
Dunbar's razor:
There is a cognitive limit to the number of stable social relationships you can maintain.
Prioritize relationships with people who mean the most to you.
In relationships, quality trumps quantity.
There is a cognitive limit to the number of stable social relationships you can maintain.
Prioritize relationships with people who mean the most to you.
In relationships, quality trumps quantity.
Naval's razor
"No one is going to value you more than you value you. Set a high personal hourly rate, and stick to it."
Automate, outsource, or delete anything that isn't worth your time.
"No one is going to value you more than you value you. Set a high personal hourly rate, and stick to it."
Automate, outsource, or delete anything that isn't worth your time.
Murphy's law
"Anything that can go wrong will go wrong."
Anticipate problems and obstacles.
Better to be mentally prepared for adversities than to be caught by surprise.
Have contingencies for unforeseen circumstances and problems that may arise.
"Anything that can go wrong will go wrong."
Anticipate problems and obstacles.
Better to be mentally prepared for adversities than to be caught by surprise.
Have contingencies for unforeseen circumstances and problems that may arise.
Hanlon's Razor
"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity or incompetence."
Give people the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise.
It's reasonable to assume that their wrongdoing is due to a mistake, lack of knowledge, or incompetence rather than intentional malice.
"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity or incompetence."
Give people the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise.
It's reasonable to assume that their wrongdoing is due to a mistake, lack of knowledge, or incompetence rather than intentional malice.
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