6.1 Your Collection of Thinking Superpowers - The Ultimate Mental Toolbox for Smarter Decisions
The world is full of confusing problems - now you’ve got the brain tools to handle anything. Here’s how to keep sharpening them!
Congratulations, you've been gathering some serious brain gear! Over the past posts, we've talked about a bunch of mental models – fancy term for thinking tools – from First Principles to Diminishing Returns. Now it's time to put them all together into your personal mental model toolbox. Think of it like having an arsenal of different power-ups or skills you can use whenever you're facing a problem, making a decision, or just trying to understand the world a bit better. The more tools in your toolbox, the more situations you can handle like a pro.
What is a Mental Model Toolbox?
It's basically a set of useful thinking frameworks that you carry in your mind. When you encounter a challenge, you can pull out one (or a few) of these models to help you tackle it. Just as a gamer switches weapons or strategies for different enemies, or a builder uses different tools for different tasks, you use different mental models for different kinds of thinking situations.
Having a toolbox also reminds us that no one tool works for everything. If all you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail, right? But what if the problem is a screw? You'd need a screwdriver instead. Similarly, first principles thinking is great for creative problem solving, but maybe not sufficient if you're dealing with a personal bias issue – that's where confirmation bias awareness might come in. With a full toolbox, you can approach problems from multiple angles.
Using Multiple Mental Models
Let's say you're working on a big science project (or any challenge really):
You might start with First Principles Thinking to break the project down to basics (what are we really trying to do? what do we know for sure?).
Then use Second-Order Thinking to plan ahead (if we do this experiment, what are the knock-on effects? any side consequences to prepare for?).
Maybe throw in Inversion by asking "how could this project totally fail?" to make sure you avoid those pitfalls.
Check Confirmation Bias by making sure you're not only looking for info that supports your initial hypothesis – try to poke holes in it to test its strength.
Use Occam’s Razor to keep your approach simple and not overcomplicate the procedure.
Be aware of Sunk Cost Fallacy as you go: if a part of the project isn't working despite lots of effort, be willing to change course instead of sticking with a bad idea just because you started it.
And so on... you get the idea. These tools can combine to help you think smarter!
In everyday life, you can mix and match models too:
Facing a tough decision? Consider Opportunity Cost (what you give up with each choice) and Probabilistic Thinking (what's likely to happen with each).
Dealing with people? Keep Hanlon’s Razor and Confirmation Bias in mind to give others grace and check your own assumptions.
Keep Adding to Your Toolbox
The 18 models we've discussed are a fantastic start, but they're not the only ones out there. Curious thinkers (like you!) keep learning new frameworks throughout life. Each model is like learning a new life hack or strategy for your brain. And the more you practice using them, the more naturally they'll come to mind when you need them.
Challenge: Use Your Toolbox
Time to flex those mental model muscles. Your challenge:
Pick a real problem or goal in your life right now (big or small – could be "how do I manage my time better?" or "how do I resolve an argument with a sibling?" or anything).
Identify 2 or 3 mental models from our toolbox that might help with it. Jot down how each could apply. For example, for time management: use First Principles (identify what's truly important to spend time on), use Diminishing Returns (know when studying stops being effective and take breaks), maybe Opportunity Cost (recognize if I play one more hour of games, I'm giving up an hour of sleep).
Try implementing your plan using those models and see what outcome you get.
Write about the experience. Which models did you use, and did they help you see the problem differently or arrive at a solution? How did combining them work out?