Mental Models

Howdy from Raleigh,

Over a year ago, I published a piece on a list of 3 mental models that guide my thinking.

I’m here to update that list with 3 additional models.

What the heck is a mental model?

Mental models are frameworks that people use to help interpret the world around them.

They serve as tools to simplify the complexities of life.

They're not perfect or all-encompassing, but I still find them useful when solving problems.

3 Original Mental Models

1. P/PC Balance - (P) = production of desired results. (PC) = production capability. Focus too much on production and you'll gain short-term results at the expense of long-term, sustainable growth. Focus too much on production capacity and you'll have a great long-term plan without the short-term resources to execute that plan. The key is to find the balance between (P) and (PC). Credit - 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey.

2. 1% Better Everyday - .99^(365) = .03 -but- 1.01^(365) = 37.78. This math breaks down the exponential growth you stand to gain by getting 1% better every day vs. getting 1% worse every day. We often think small, steady habits won't amount to much. This couldn't be further from the truth. You don't need to tackle everything today. Just get 1% better. Credit - Atomic Habits by James Clear

3. Time, Timing, & Regret - Time = how many hours can you allocate to the objective? Timing = does the objective align with this season of your life? Regret = will I regret not taking action when I look back on my life at age 80? Find the answer to 2 of these variables, and the answer to the third becomes clear.

3 Additional Mental Models

4. Group Chat Accountability - Systems of accountability with metrics you can measure and check-ins with people who will hold your feet to the fire are essential to achieving your goals. Do not complicate the system. Make a group chat of friends who are interested in your goal (and ideally share similar goals). Clearly state your goal, define metrics of success, and determine a time each week to text the group chat with updates. You don't need a fancy app or planner. You need low barriers to operating your system of accountability, like sending a simple, weekly text update.

5. Luck Surface Area - There are two variables - doing (D) and telling (T) - that can increase your luck. If you do (D) great work but don't tell (T) people about it, then it is hard for your work to gain traction. If you tell (T) people about something but haven't done (D) the work to back it up, then it is also hard for your work to gain traction. You most efficiently allocate your effort to both D and T for your work to gain traction. More on this here.

6. Mental Cigarettes - No, I don't smoke and this has nothing to do with tobacco. This is something I learned as a ropes course instructor in Montana. If there was a crisis on the ropes, we'd give ourselves 1-2min to breathe and think through the appropriate action to resolve the issue - about the time it takes to smoke a cig. Acting immediately when your body is filling up with cortisol (stress hormone) may cause you to take a wrong step that could further endanger yourself or others. Breathing will help you lower cortisol levels, think more clearly, and take the appropriate next step. You'll lose 1-2min but immediately gain that time back + more by making the correct first move.

Thanks for reading

What mental models would you add to the list?

Josh

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