What is First Principles Thinking?
First principles thinking is one of the best ways to discover new solutions. Sometimes called “reasoning from first principles,” it’s a tool to help break down complicated problems by separating what …
Elon Musk
Fiction that Influences and Inspires
Reading nonfiction is a fantastic way to expand your mind and give you an edge in this world. It’s especially useful when we have a specific idea or concept that we’d like to learn more about. …
Hares, Tortoises, and the Trouble with Genius
“Geniuses are dangerous.” — James March How many organizations would deny that they want more creativity, more genius, and more divergent thinking among their constituents? The great …
Elon Musk on Regulators
The Federal Aviation Administration had a meeting with Elon Musk they won’t forget. Musk met with them to discuss some approvals for the work one of his companies, SpaceX, was doing. The meeting …
Elon Musk on How to Tell if People Are Lying
Elon Musk shares a valuable insight on evaluating job applicants: asking them to explain their thinking at multiple levels helps him determine if they worked on the problem themselves or they’re …
Elon Musk: A Framework for Thinking
Elon Musk has two frameworks I use all the time. The first is the algorithm, which helps you solve problems. The second is his framework for thinking, which he outlines below: I do think there is a …
Elon Musk on How To Build Knowledge
Elon Musk recently did an AMA on reddit. Here are three question-and-response pairs that I enjoyed, including how to build knowledge. He knows how to say I don’t know. Previously, you’ve …
Elon Musk Recommends 12 Books that Changed his Life
Elon Musk, the billionaire behind Tesla and SpaceX, is often praised for his brilliance, bold vision, and problem-solving approach. After meeting him, people often say, “He’s the smartest …