Felix on Nostr: Hi #Bookstr, I wanted to share one of the most practically useful books I’ve read ...
Hi #Bookstr, I wanted to share one of the most practically useful books I’ve read in the past 3 years: Decisive, written by Chip and Dan Heath.
Key takeaway: before making any big or difficult decision, use the WRAP process.
Widen your options: we often mistakenly think we have limited options. For example, when buying a car, we might think should I have this extra nice feature that costs $1,000 more, or not? Instead, widen the options. Should I have this extra nice feature or use that money for a trip, a new TV, or to send a butt-load of zaps?
Reality-test your assumptions: Talk to people who have done what you want to do. Talk about your expectations and see if they match up. Also, a thought experiment can help: “what must be true for the alternative to be better”?
Attain distance before deciding: Sleep over the decision for however long you need (if time allows). And use the “10 method”: how will you feel about the decision in 10 minutes, 10 days, 10 months, and 10 years?
Prepare to be wrong: Have a backup-plan if your decision was wrong. Thought that you would enjoy backpacking in Thailand for 6 months but hate it? Don’t hesitate to change location or go back. This step is extra important if the potential downsides are big.
For me, widening the options has been the most useful. Whenever I find myself thinking “should I do this or that”, I try to swap “or” with “and”. It doesn’t always work but when it does, it feels great! Just thinking about “and” gives a bigger sense of freedom.
Key takeaway: before making any big or difficult decision, use the WRAP process.
Widen your options: we often mistakenly think we have limited options. For example, when buying a car, we might think should I have this extra nice feature that costs $1,000 more, or not? Instead, widen the options. Should I have this extra nice feature or use that money for a trip, a new TV, or to send a butt-load of zaps?
Reality-test your assumptions: Talk to people who have done what you want to do. Talk about your expectations and see if they match up. Also, a thought experiment can help: “what must be true for the alternative to be better”?
Attain distance before deciding: Sleep over the decision for however long you need (if time allows). And use the “10 method”: how will you feel about the decision in 10 minutes, 10 days, 10 months, and 10 years?
Prepare to be wrong: Have a backup-plan if your decision was wrong. Thought that you would enjoy backpacking in Thailand for 6 months but hate it? Don’t hesitate to change location or go back. This step is extra important if the potential downsides are big.
For me, widening the options has been the most useful. Whenever I find myself thinking “should I do this or that”, I try to swap “or” with “and”. It doesn’t always work but when it does, it feels great! Just thinking about “and” gives a bigger sense of freedom.