Thread
How To Think For Yourself
19 questions that will improve the quality of your ideas:
19 questions that will improve the quality of your ideas:
Is This An Opinion Or Fact?
While it seems trivial, many people mistake opinions for fact.
It’s critical to differentiate empirical knowledge from value-based interpretations of the world.
Just because you want life to be a certain way doesn’t mean it is that way.
While it seems trivial, many people mistake opinions for fact.
It’s critical to differentiate empirical knowledge from value-based interpretations of the world.
Just because you want life to be a certain way doesn’t mean it is that way.
Where Did Your Opinion Come From?
Most of our opinions are spoon-fed by the media.
I used to read the same newspaper every day and noticed that my ideas were the same as everyone else who reads that newspaper.
We place too much faith in monolithic sources.
Most of our opinions are spoon-fed by the media.
I used to read the same newspaper every day and noticed that my ideas were the same as everyone else who reads that newspaper.
We place too much faith in monolithic sources.
What Incentives Are At Play?
Liberal or conservative, most news sources are incentivized to reinforce polarizing narratives.
If the news were boring, no one would read it.
And they wouldn't make money.
Liberal or conservative, most news sources are incentivized to reinforce polarizing narratives.
If the news were boring, no one would read it.
And they wouldn't make money.
Are You Consuming Useful Information?
24-hour news + social media have created a never-ending stream of low value content.
Most tweets and posts are forgettable.
Limit your intake and you’ll see zero downside.
24-hour news + social media have created a never-ending stream of low value content.
Most tweets and posts are forgettable.
Limit your intake and you’ll see zero downside.
What Do The Classics Say?
Good ideas tend to stick around.
As the Lindy Effect states, an idea that’s been around 100 years is likely to have more staying power than today's bestseller.
Look to the thinkers of the past who are still valued in the present.
Good ideas tend to stick around.
As the Lindy Effect states, an idea that’s been around 100 years is likely to have more staying power than today's bestseller.
Look to the thinkers of the past who are still valued in the present.
What’s The Opposing Argument?
Charles Munger is famous for having said “I never allow myself to have an opinion on anything that I don’t know the other side’s argument better than they do.”
If you haven’t considered a different view, then you can’t properly gauge your own.
Charles Munger is famous for having said “I never allow myself to have an opinion on anything that I don’t know the other side’s argument better than they do.”
If you haven’t considered a different view, then you can’t properly gauge your own.
To What Degree Is This True?
It’s easy to lose sight of nuance in the digital world.
But most of life is not black and white.
Ask yourself if something is always true, or only sometimes true.
This can be a powerful way to reveal the complexity of a topic.
It’s easy to lose sight of nuance in the digital world.
But most of life is not black and white.
Ask yourself if something is always true, or only sometimes true.
This can be a powerful way to reveal the complexity of a topic.
Could You Be Wrong?
No one likes being wrong.
But reflecting on whether you COULD be wrong opens a door to more objective insight.
Once you allow the possibility, you’ll find it's a lot easier to see new angles.
No one likes being wrong.
But reflecting on whether you COULD be wrong opens a door to more objective insight.
Once you allow the possibility, you’ll find it's a lot easier to see new angles.
Are The "Experts" Really Experts?
Humans are prone to attribute legitimacy in the presence of flimsy evidence.
We’re easily fooled by credentials and appearances.
Just because someone is on TV doesn't make them an expert.
Humans are prone to attribute legitimacy in the presence of flimsy evidence.
We’re easily fooled by credentials and appearances.
Just because someone is on TV doesn't make them an expert.
Are YOU Really An Expert?
Most of us aren't experts in much beyond our own experience.
This question forces you to acknowledge your limits.
It’s easy to mistake passionate opinion for expertise.
In the age of outrage, we mistake caring for authoritativeness.
Most of us aren't experts in much beyond our own experience.
This question forces you to acknowledge your limits.
It’s easy to mistake passionate opinion for expertise.
In the age of outrage, we mistake caring for authoritativeness.
What Are You Afraid Of?
Fear can shape our beliefs in profound but unacknowledged ways.
If you’re afraid to fail, you may write off a course of action as a bad idea.
But perhaps you’re just afraid of facing your own limitations.
Fear can shape our beliefs in profound but unacknowledged ways.
If you’re afraid to fail, you may write off a course of action as a bad idea.
But perhaps you’re just afraid of facing your own limitations.
What Are Your Biases?
We all have biases that affect how we form opinions.
You probably give more credibility to people who belong to your “tribes”, whether these are political, social or economic.
We all have biases that affect how we form opinions.
You probably give more credibility to people who belong to your “tribes”, whether these are political, social or economic.
Are You Being Intentional?
Many beliefs are inherited, not chosen.
Other ideas form in our subconscious throughout the course of life.
But if something is important, it’s worthwhile to stop and say - is this an intentional belief?
Many beliefs are inherited, not chosen.
Other ideas form in our subconscious throughout the course of life.
But if something is important, it’s worthwhile to stop and say - is this an intentional belief?
Is There Really A Wrong Answer?
Some questions don’t necessarily have a wrong answer.
They’re either opinions, values or speculation on something beyond your knowledge.
If there’s no wrong answer, then you probably don’t need to worry about it.
Some questions don’t necessarily have a wrong answer.
They’re either opinions, values or speculation on something beyond your knowledge.
If there’s no wrong answer, then you probably don’t need to worry about it.
Would You Be Proud To Explain This In Public?
Imagine having to articulate your belief out loud.
If it makes you squirm, you probably have ill-formed ideas or are acting on biases that you’d rather not look at.
Imagine having to articulate your belief out loud.
If it makes you squirm, you probably have ill-formed ideas or are acting on biases that you’d rather not look at.
Can You Write It Down?
Writing doesn’t just capture clear thinking...
It brings clarity to your thoughts.
If you don’t know what you believe, or want to examine it fully, try writing it down.
Writing doesn’t just capture clear thinking...
It brings clarity to your thoughts.
If you don’t know what you believe, or want to examine it fully, try writing it down.
Does This Really Matter?
Life is short. Energy is limited.
Are you wasting time on opinions and beliefs that sap your time with little to no return?
There’s a reason Steve Jobs wore the same outfit everyday.
To him, it was a trivial decision that he preferred not to repeat.
Life is short. Energy is limited.
Are you wasting time on opinions and beliefs that sap your time with little to no return?
There’s a reason Steve Jobs wore the same outfit everyday.
To him, it was a trivial decision that he preferred not to repeat.
What Does Your Gut Say?
Our instincts are almost always right.
But be careful to distinguish instinct from bias.
Bias is liable to creep into factual decisions.
Instincts are powerful for value-based decisions and matters of preference.
Our instincts are almost always right.
But be careful to distinguish instinct from bias.
Bias is liable to creep into factual decisions.
Instincts are powerful for value-based decisions and matters of preference.
Should You Even Have An Opinion?
You don’t need to have an opinion on everything.
In many cases, the best answer is “I don’t know.”
Try giving up the need to be right, or even well-informed, on topics beyond your life’s focus.
You don’t need to have an opinion on everything.
In many cases, the best answer is “I don’t know.”
Try giving up the need to be right, or even well-informed, on topics beyond your life’s focus.
These are 19 questions to help you think for yourself.
If you found this useful, why not share so others can benefit?
Follow me at @bbourque for threads on startups, marketing and making better decisions.
If you found this useful, why not share so others can benefit?
Follow me at @bbourque for threads on startups, marketing and making better decisions.
