Game-changing thought tools you can run in your head in seconds.
A quick mental calculation to assess an action's potential upside against its likelihood of success. It's not about precise math, but assigning rough scores to value and probability (EV = Value × Probability) to avoid low-yield activities and prioritize high-potential ones.
0–1: skip
1–3: maybe
3–6: likely worth it
6–10: priority
Ask: “Will I regret not doing this in 1 year?”
If the answer is “yes” or even “maybe” → do it. Good for career moves, convos, trips, risks.
Ask:
Will this matter in 10 minutes?
In 10 months?
In 10 years?
Snaps you out of reactive thinking. Useful for emotional moments, tough choices, or pettiness.
Ask: _“How long will this take?” vs. “How long will it matter?”
E.g. Tidying your desk: 5 mins → might impact 5 hours of focus
10-min message → might lead to a big opportunity
Do more of the high-impact, low-effort ones.
Look at your to-do list. Pick the item that:
→ Has the highest value per minute of effort.
Start there. It’s like greedy sorting for ROI.
If yes → just do it now.
Use this for admin, cleaning, calling your broadband provider, etc.
“Would I act differently if I were the highest-status person here?”
If yes → you’re shrinking. Unshrink. Speak. Ask. Joke. Be the version of you that doesn’t care who’s watching.
“If I met them today, would I want them in my life?”
Use this on old friends, clients, groups. If it’s a no — start detaching. Cuts dead weight.
When in doubt:
→ Give credit
→ Make the compliment
→ Offer help
99% upside, near-zero downside. You build social capital effortlessly.
Small daily superpower. Keeps your relationships clean and your cortisol low.
Ask for a small, easy-to-grant favor. People subconsciously justify helping by deciding they like you, which strengthens the social bond. It's a counter-intuitive way to build rapport.
When you hear an opinion you disagree with, default to asking "Why?" or "Tell me more" instead of arguing. It de-escalates conflict and opens dialogue, even if you don't change your mind.
“Does this feel boring or scary?”
If boring → ditch or delegate.
If scary → probably the right direction.
It’s a compass for growth work vs. busywork.
Let future-you be your creative director. Stops you playing small, especially when it’s easier to stall or compromise.
Done > perfect. Publish the draft. Release the feature. Share the sketch. Feedback loops are worth more than polish.
Too big? Too vague? Slice it.
Instead of “write the deck” → “write the 3 key headlines”
Instead of “start the app” → “get 1 API call working”
Scope until it’s laughably doable.
Aim for quantity, not quality. Try to come up with 10 ideas a day, no matter how bad. The pressure to be brilliant is lifted, and good ideas will emerge from the volume.
Don't just consume, analyze. Break down the work you admire to understand *why* it works. Then, combine and remix those elements into something new and uniquely yours.