The Great Mental Models

Tommy Tedford

Language: English

Publisher: Tommy Tedford

Published: Jun 2, 2020

Description:

The world's greatest problem-solvers, forecasters, and decision-makers all rely on a set of frameworks and shortcuts that help them cut through complexity and separate good ideas from bad ones.

Mental models are like giving a treasure map to someone lost in the woods. They provide instant understanding, context, and most importantly, a path to the end destination.

How can mental models help you? Well, here are just a few examples...

  • If you've ever been overwhelmed by a to-do list that's grown too long, maybe you need the Eisenhower Decision Matrix to help you prioritize.
  • Use the 5 Whys model to better understand people's motivations or get to the root cause of a problem.
  • Before concluding that your colleague who messes up your projects is out to sabotage you, consider Hanlon's Razor for an alternative explanation.
  • Ever sat through a bad movie just because you paid a lot for the ticket? You might be falling prey to Sunk...