Daily Mental Models

[Daily Mental Models @MentalModDaily]

mental model of the day - Liking

Liking bias is when we judge ideas, products, or people more favorably just because we like the person or source behind them.

[Daily Mental Models @MentalModDaily]

eg

A coworker you get along with pitches a plan and it sails through. A stranger pitches the same plan and gets picked apart.

You're more likely to trust a review or recommendation from an influencer you already like, even when the product is average.

[Daily Mental Models @MentalModDaily]

mental model of the day - Liking

Liking bias is when we judge ideas, products, or people more favorably just because we like the person or source behind them.

[Daily Mental Models @MentalModDaily]

mental model of the day - Halo Effect

One standout positive trait, like looks, intelligence or success, colors our whole impression of a person, so we assume they're good at everything else too.

[Daily Mental Models @MentalModDaily]

eg

A candidate interviews with confidence and a great school, so you assume they'll be great at the job too.

A founder with a huge following gets their product ideas treated as smart before anyone checks them.

[Daily Mental Models @MentalModDaily]

mental model of the day - Halo Effect

One standout positive trait, like looks, intelligence or success, colors our whole impression of a person, so we assume they're good at everything else too.

[Daily Mental Models @MentalModDaily]

eg

At work, a small handful of tasks usually drive most of your results, while the rest is busywork.

On your phone, a few apps eat most of your screen time and battery.

[Daily Mental Models @MentalModDaily]

mental model of the day - Pareto's Principle

Also known as the 80/20 rule: roughly 80% of outcomes tend to come from 20% of causes. Named for Vilfredo Pareto, who observed that roughly 80% of Italy's land was owned by 20% of its population.

[Daily Mental Models @MentalModDaily]

eg

Before launching an app feature, imagine it flopped in 3 months: confusing signup, slow loads, support never briefed.

Before a big purchase, picture regretting it in a year: hidden fees, a longer commute, a tight budget.

[Daily Mental Models @MentalModDaily]

mental model of the day - Pre-Mortem

Assume a project has already failed, then work backward to figure out what caused it. It surfaces risks you'd otherwise miss before you commit.

[Daily Mental Models @MentalModDaily]

Assume a project has already failed, then work backward to figure out what caused it. It surfaces risks you'd otherwise miss before you commit.

[Daily Mental Models @MentalModDaily]

eg

A two-step confirmation before you send money looks annoying until you’ve watched someone transfer cash to the wrong person.

A workplace approval that feels like red tape often exists because someone already got burned skipping it.

[Daily Mental Models @MentalModDaily]

mental model of the day - Chesterton's Fence

Don't tear down a rule, process, or structure until you understand why it was put there. What looks pointless often exists because someone already paid the cost of learning a hard lesson.