Mental Models are the multitool your brain needs
Josef Scarantino
Program Advisor, Startup Colorado | Founder, Truss Cooperative | ex-Techstars, HubSpot Ventures | Startup Coach & Mentor | Neurodiverse Advocate
TL;DR — Mental models are amazing tools that can help you think more clearly and better understand the world around you. I'm opening up my (growing) personal library of mental models for your use. Enjoy!
* You can find my mental models library here .
I’m a huge fan of mental models. Turns out, so is James Clear , author of the bestseller Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones .
James Clear offers an approachable definition of mental models:
A mental model is an explanation of how something works. The phrase “mental model” is an overarching term for any sort of concept, framework, or worldview that you carry around in your mind.
Mental models are a treasure trove of new ways of thinking and approaching challenges from simple everyday decision-making and time management to understanding macro-level economics. The powerful utility of mental models is they can be applied to the simplest of ideas to the most complex. The other non-obvious benefit of mental models is that most of them can be described and understood in a couple sentences, making them very accessible to most anyone, no PhD required.
Another notable fan of mental models is Charlie Munger , Vice Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, who has stated:
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80 or 90 important (mental) models will carry about 90% of the freight in making you a worldly?wise person.
Charlie Munger has become legendary, not only for his success with investment partner Warren Buffett, but also for his method of using mental models in understanding (and explaining) countless worldly ideas. A quick search online reveals numerous examples of Munger using mental models throughout his career. You'll find lots of nuggets in Munger's writings and videos.
When I caught the mental models bug, I started archiving as many as I could find in my personal Notion-based library. I finally decided to begin sharing my collection of mental models to entrepreneurs, builders, investors, innovators, and basically anyone looking for new perspectives on approaching life.
* You can find my mental models library here .
Caveat: My library is a work in progress with new models and helpful resources being added regularly. I hope it captures your intellectual curiosity and provides insight wherever you may need it.
Two Asks: 1) If you've found insight in a particular mental model you'd like others to know about, post it in the comments below, and 2) spread the love by sharing the link above to those in your network who may find it helpful.
Before you go! Here are a few tips on using these mental models:
Designing Better Entrepreneur Ecosystems through Program Management, Facilitation & Coaching
1 年Daaaaaaaaang.... so much goodness!
Stanford | FP&A | Financial Modeling
1 年Love this! Bookmarked your library faster than you can say "80/20". One mental model that's been helpful for me is the distinction between Finite and Infinite Games (from the book by the same title, by James P Carse). TLDR: The goal of a finite game is to win, whereas the goal of an infinite game is to continue play. Thanks for sharing, Josef!