Think Bigger, Better, and Faster

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Read time: 4 minutes

Surprisingly, he asked, “What’s a mental model?”

I was momentarily stumped, considering my friend’s brilliance.

I replied, “Oh, you’re in for a treat. Mental models are recurring concepts and frameworks that make it easier to navigate decision-making and problem-solving. They are like mental shortcuts to apply one topic (that you know) to a decision or problem to formulate a clear mental picture in seconds.”

My adrenaline spiked. I felt lucky to be the one to introduce him to the two words that would change his worldview forever — mental models.

(The energy rush could have also been from the caffeine running through my veins — but who knows?)

Most people already use some variation of mental models without realizing it. While it is better than nothing — having a defined set of these super-thinking tools readily available has a greater impact.

Adding a single mental model will make you think exponentially bigger, better, and faster – quite literally compounding knowledge. It’s because you can connect so many more dots.

Frankly, I can't imagine making decisions or solving problems without them.

Here are 4 mental models I use (without fail) to power sharper thinking and business growth.

#1 — The Bell Curve (for spreading ideas and marketing new products or services)

Remember back in high school when you hoped your tests would be graded on a curve?

In mathematics, that curve is another word for distributions. These distributions measure the probability of an event occurring (including how much they vary from the average).

One of the most known distributions is the “bell curve” (and yes, the one used for grading tests).

This mathematical mental model applies to technology adoption and how ideas spread through markets, systems, or networks.

Not everyone adopts technology or an idea at the same speed; some leap early for innovation's sake, while others wait until they are forced to do so.

It looks like this:

Businesses can leverage this when introducing new products or services. Instead of marketing to everyone, target the innovators and early adopters first to get the most bang for your buck. Then, parlay the social proof from the first group to attract the majority (early and late).

Ideas don’t spread because they are good; they spread because they are contagious (from person to person in a specific order).

It's like getting the cool kids on board before others follow suit.

#2 — The Scientific Method (for making smart experiments…instead of “throwing spaghetti” at the wall)

There is a common phrase – throw spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks.

Great image, lousy method.

Let’s time-travel back to 7th-grade science class.

Do you remember the scientific method? Embedded in the method was the process of experimentation. We were taught to change one variable at a time to isolate the change that made the impact.

Well, it's not just for labs; it's for businesses too.

If you change too many simultaneously (throwing spaghetti), you’ll never identify which change drives the greatest outcome. Instead, tweak your ads, emails, sales pitches, or pricing one variable at a time.

It might be slower, but it's more effective in spotting the changes that truly matter.

#3 — Catalysts (for leveraging the action that creates the impact or outcome)

In chemistry, a catalyst is what kickstarts a reaction.

Similarly, in business, a catalyst is what kickstarts a specific action (to create an outcome). It’s a forcing function.

For example, my promise to send a letter (to you) every Thursday is a weekly catalyst to sit down and think critically about business.

Another way I think about catalysts as a mental model is with drivers and levers.

• Drivers represent a push force — actions that propel your business from nothing to something.

• Levers represent a pull force — actions that alter an existing outcome from one state to another.

Both drivers and levers are the catalysts for answering, “What are the actions I need to take to make progress happen?”

#4 — Inversion (for thinking about problems differently)

Consider thinking upside down.

Not physically speaking, I mean flipping your thought pattern. Inversion is a cognitive tool that focuses on avoiding unwanted outcomes rather than achieving desired ones.

The best reference I have come across comes from the book Super Thinking.

In decision-making, instead of trying to be “more right,"— invert — figure out how to be "less wrong" over time.

It forces a different perspective.

Just last week, I wrote about how it’s harder to become the person you aspire to be but easier to avoid being the person you don’t want to be.

That’s inversion.

As you tackle today's challenges, consider leveraging these mental models for a fresh perspective.

Here are 3 more mental models worth adding to your playbook (but only if you're ready for a mind-bending rollercoaster).

• The Lindy Effect

• Paradox of Choice

• The Sunk Cost Fallacy

Thanks for reading,

Peter

P.S. It’s no surprise that this is one of my favorite posts so far — it is even better to have a sponsor for this letter (shoutout to Beehiiv).

P.P.S. If you liked this post, here’s my call to action for you — please forward this letter to a business owner who can benefit from diving deeper into mental models.

If you missed last week’s post:

Last week, I wrote:

Want To Make A Meaningful Contribution? Use The "Man in the Arena" Razor

It’s about building the mindset to choose the option that puts you in the arena because it will make for greater outcomes and a more meaningful contribution.

Forwarded this email?

Welcome to Impact Thinking.

Hi, I’m Peter, a former Harvard strategist turned entrepreneur. I’m in the business of thinking.

I believe learning how to think with impact creates an unfair advantage — it improves your mental agility while decreasing the threat of overthinking.

You think faster, better, and shaper with greater impact — which means big results for less energy spent.

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