Fun pattern-matching toolkit to help construct models of the world. ## Elon Algorithm 1. Make the requirements less dumb 2. Delete the part or process step 3. Optimize 4. Accelerate 5. Automate General Elon Advice: - work hard - signal over noise - first principles - take risks ## Feynman Technique 1. Pick and study a topic 2. Explain the topic using simple language 3. Identify gaps in your understanding 4. Return to literature ## Bezos 1. Start with the customer (goal) and work backwards 2. Classify the decision 1. irreversible → decide carefully 2. low stakes → move quickly, experiment 3. Debate hard, then if needed disagree and commit ## Eisenhower Matrix | | Urgent | Not Urgent | | ----------------- | ----------- | ---------- | | **Important** | Do it today | Schedule | | **Not Important** | Delegate | Eliminate | ## Peter Thiel - What important truth do very few people agree with you on? - Make something 10x better than the next best alternative - Go all-in on your best shot | | Definite | Indefinite | | --------------- | -------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------- | | **Optimistic** | ***build the exciting future you envision*** | exciting future, no specific plans | | **Pessimistic** | bleak future, must prepare for it | bleak future, nothing can be done | ## Occam’s Razor The simplest explanation is usually correct. ## Hanlon’s Razor Never attribute to malice what can be explained by incompetence. ## Chesterton’s Fence Don’t remove a rule/system until you understand why it was put there. ## Hofstadter’s Law It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter’s Law. ## The Paradox of Choice The more options we have the less happy we are with our decision ## [Paradox of Unamity](https://phys.org/news/2016-01-evidence-bad.html) The more people agree, the less likely they are thinking for themselves. [[survivor bias.jpg]] [[bell curve.jpg]] [Actual DK](https://danluu.com/dunning-kruger/) [[mental models.png]] [[arbitrary goals.jpg]] [[unknown unknowns.png]] and [[solar installations.png]]