There are 99 tips in this book that teaches you how to think better and clearer. I really enjoyed reading this book as some of the tips really resonate with me in work, in life and also in art. Here are 10 of my favourite tips:
- The swimmer’s body illusion – Thinking of buying that expensive set of skincare product after seeing the glossy advertisement and the beautiful model with the perfect glowing skin, thinking that you will also achieve the same results? Think again, the beautiful model is in the advertisement not because she used the products, rather the brand uses the model because she is already beautiful. Moral of the story is to look at yourself in the mirror before plunging your hard-earned money into unrealistic expectation.
- Social proof – If 50 million people say something foolish, is it still foolish? With the proliferation of social media, stupidity becomes even more apparent with a herd mentality. Humans are social creatures, sometimes not very smart ones. Guys, humans are born with “thinking” brains. Do not blindly follow or believe anything that people say on social media. Often social media is filled with over-sensationalised news. We are not cows being led by the nose with a nose ring.
- Authority Bias – Don’t bow to authority. Bosses, if you are reading this, don’t get me wrong. I will still be compliant and do things that are best for the company as long as it is legally and morally right. The point is, the authority is not always correct. It is our job to advise and set things right within our capacity. I have seen many times that people remain silent and go with the flow when things are not right, just because of the fear of authority. Have the courage to speak up, your boss may thank you for averting a corporate disaster.
- The paradox of choice – Less is more. Ever gone to a restaurant with a huge selection of cuisine. Everything looks delicious. A big headache starts, an analysis paralysis ensues….what to choose?? Guess what, sometimes I ended up with the most boring and familiar choice because my brain just cannot take it any more.
- Groupthink, the calamity of conformity – Humans like to be agreeable, unanimous and united in a group. Everyone wants to be accepted and be part of a group. The danger is that reckless decision is often made with a common consensus. Risk being branded a dissident if you disagree or have a different idea. Be a devil’s advocate. Have the courage to be different, to think different.
- Social loafing, why teams are so lazy – The energy of 1 horse pulling a cart is not equal to 2 horses pulling the same cart. Apparently, 2 horses pulling a cart result in less energy output than 1 horse. The 2 horses seem to work less hard, knowing the other horse is also pulling. This, I have seen in many large companies where resources are abundant. Work tends to be more diffused. People tend to get away with things without being noticed and the tendency to slack off becomes higher. Sometimes, having more people in the team does not equate to more output.
- The problem with averages – Averages do not tell the full story. Drinking an average of 1 bottle of wine a month can mean drinking a whole bottle a day or drinking a small glass every day for the whole month. Which one is healthier? Distribution should always be considered when we talk about averages.
- Strategic misinterpretation – The act of blowing hot air in order to reach an aim. Does this constitute deceit? Yes and no, depending on the context. I have seen the incredulous looks of men looking at beautiful girls removing their makeup to reveal the real faces below. Talk about the magic of makeup. Is this fraud or just a girl putting her best face forward? On a more serious note, beware of executives who exaggerate, sugar-coat or over-promise on outcomes but fail to deliver in the end. Their short term objective is just to impress, to influence and to achieve a short term outcome at that point in time. The only word I can use for people on the receiving end is to discern, discern, discern.
- Overthinking – Analysis paralysis often results in indecision and inaction. I have worked with people who needs to have 100% information and to be completely risk-free before anything gets done. This is useful for things like an investment. However, some times our gut instinct is more accurate than the intensive information gathering. We need to learn how to activate and trust your gut instinct. The world is moving at lightning speed, we will miss the boat if we cannot stop mulling and start taking action.
- Envy – Humans tend to envy other humans of similar demographics and background. There is the constant need of comparing ourselves with our peers. Being envious, cause us to make decisions and take actions based on what we covet, not necessarily what is beneficial for us. Stop keeping up with the Joneses. Walk your own path. Build your own castle.