🌎 Mental Models

Mental models are frameworks for thinking. They’re tools that help you understand how the world works and make better decisions. Think of them as cognitive shortcuts that reveal patterns, simplify complexity, and sharpen your judgment.

Why Mental Models Matter

The quality of your thinking determines the quality of your decisions. Mental models give you:

• Better perspective - See problems from multiple angles
• Faster pattern recognition - Identify similar situations quickly
• Improved decision-making - Reduce cognitive bias and avoid common pitfalls
• Cross-domain insights - Apply lessons from one field to another

How to Use Mental Models

1. Learn the core concepts - Understand the fundamental principle
2. See examples - Study how the model applies in different contexts
3. Practice application - Use the model in your own thinking
4. Combine models - Use multiple models together for richer understanding

The most effective thinkers have a latticework of mental models spanning multiple disciplines - physics, biology, economics, psychology, and more.

Models Library

Browse the available models:

• Compounding - Small, consistent efforts create exponential results
• First Principles - Break problems down to fundamental truths
• Inversion - Think backwards to avoid failure
• Second-Order Thinking - Consider consequences of consequences
• Circle of Competence - Know what you know and what you don’t
• Leverage - Maximize output per unit of input
• Optionality - Keep your future options open
• Systems Thinking - See the whole, not just the parts

Building Your Mental Models

Start with one or two models that resonate with you. Use them deliberately in your daily thinking. Over time, add more models to your toolkit. The goal isn’t to memorize definitions - it’s to internalize the patterns so they become automatic.

Remember: A mental model is only valuable if you actually use it.