Chapter Content
Okay, so, like, let's talk about making better decisions. It's something I've been thinking about a lot lately. You know, like, how do you actually become *good* at making choices?
One thing that's always resonated with me is the idea of, uh, like, focusing on the long term. It's, like, those old-school values, you know? Choosing what's gonna benefit you most in the long run, not just going for the quick win. It's easier said than done, right?
And, another thing is, um, being careful when you think you're, like, super successful. Because, let's be honest, cognitive biases are a real thing. You're probably not as right as you think you are. So, gotta be humble, I guess.
One of my big goals for the future is to, um, kind of shed all those old reactions and habits that I've picked up over the years. Basically, I want to, like, be able to make decisions in the moment, you know? Without all that baggage of past experiences or pre-conceived notions clouding my judgment. Just, like, clear, decisive action.
You know, most biases are there for a reason, to help us make snap judgments when we don't have all the information. But, for really important decisions, you gotta, like, ditch all that stuff β the memories, the identity β and just focus on the problem itself.
And, honesty. Honesty is huge. I try to be radically honest, because, like, I want to be free. And to me, freedom means being able to say what you actually think. They go hand in hand. There's this quote from Feynman, the physicist, that I love: "Don't fool yourself, and you're the easiest person to fool." Lying to others? That's just lying to yourself. You start believing it, and then you're, like, off track.
I try not to even think in terms of, like, "Do I *like* this?" or "Do I *dislike* that?" It's all about the facts. It's "Is this true?" or "Is this not true?" Really trying to ground myself in reality. That's so crucial.
Being an honest person is super important to me. Like, I don't want to do things that are, you know, shady. And, along with honesty, there's this advice from Buffett. It's basically, "Praise specifically, criticize generally." I try to follow that. I don't always succeed, but, yeah, it's definitely made a positive difference.
So, if you have to criticize something, don't attack the person. Criticize the process, or, like, that type of behavior. And if you're giving praise? Find a specific example and praise that specific person. It helps, like, preserve their self-esteem, their sense of identity, and, you know, get them on your side, instead of, uh, against you.
And, you know, how do you actually develop that honest attitude, that direct way of speaking? Just tell everyone what you really think. Start doing it now. Doesn't have to be brutally honest, you know, but be truthful. I think that, like, when someone is confident and caring at the same time, they're really charismatic. And that's something that, like, almost anyone can do, be honest and positive.
Because, decision-making, it's, um, yeah, it's everything. A person who makes the right decision, like, 80% of the time is worth, and gets rewarded, exponentially more than someone who's only right 70% of the time.
People don't really seem to get the leverage involved. For example, if I'm managing a billion dollars, and my decisions are 10% more accurate than someone else's, I've just created a hundred million dollars in value with, like, one decision. That's the power of it. And with modern tech and more people working and more capital around, that leverage is just getting bigger.
The rewards for making better, more rational decisions are totally non-linear. And I really like that blog, Farnam Street, because it's all about helping people improve their decision-making skills. Helping them become better decision-makers in every area. Because, yeah, remember: decisions are everything. Everything!
And, one last thought, the more you think you know, the fewer ways you have to, you know, avoid and deal with risks. So, stay humble, keep learning, and keep making better decisions.