July 3, 2024–Making decisions might go smoother if we shaved them using Occam’s Razor.
Occam’s Razor is a philosophical rule, which I’ve always understood as the simplest solution is usually the correct one. More accurately stated, Occam’s Razor is “a principle of evaluation where explanations that require fewer entities are to be preferred to explanations that require more.” In other words, the best path to a solution is the shortest one.
In any case, the whole point of any “razor” is to help simplify the decision process, by reducing the number of possible options. The fewest number of options, by definition, is two. In our current obsession with non-binary and everything-is-fluid mindset, it almost seems quaint to think that everything we do ultimately comes down to two options. We need only look to technology–computers can solve every problem in the universe using 1’s and 0’s.
Thought leader Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom), who bills himself as an Investor/ Entrepreneur/ Creator, listed 20 Razors that lead to successful decision making. Here are some of my favorites:
The Feynman Razor
Complexity and jargon are used to mask a lack of deep understanding.
If you can’t explain it to a 5-year-old, you don’t really understand it.
I learned this one in grad school, when our physics professor challenged us to explain the concept of “mass” to a 5th grader. In a room full of future science teachers, we struggled. But I’ve adhered to the concept through every career since, from teaching to music to marketing to writing. In today’s short-attention-span-theater, it’s proven more important than ever. No one’s going to read your thousand-page treatise. Or even your 280-character tweet.
The Arena Razor
When faced with two paths, choose the path that puts you in the arena.
Teddy Roosevelt said this in a more oratorical fashion:
“It is not the critic who counts… The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena… who, at the best, knows… the triumph of high achievement, and who, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly.”
The Invested vs. Spent Razor
Time is either “invested” or “spent.”
This one strikes close. Bloom equates invested time with actions that compound, such as reading, working out, building relationships.
“Spent” time is the opposite–performing actions that don’t lead to growth. I think of it as anything you do to “kill time”–binging TV shows, staring at cell phones, looking at social media… oops.
Speaking of social media as a waste of time, he presents:
Newton’s Flaming Laser Sword
If something cannot be settled by reasonable experiment or observation, it’s not worth debating.
This can be applied to every online post pertaining to politics, religion, where to get the best hamburger, and whether Michael Jordan would beat Lebron James in a game of H-O-R-S-E.
Another one that is observed quite frequently online:
The Boasters Razor
Truly successful people rarely feel the need to brag about their success.
We see this a lot with self-absorbed social media influencers who document their 10,000 daily steps or 100-mile uphill-both-ways bike ride online with hashtags such as #godgoddess #freespirit #beast #hearherroar #slayer #warrior and so on. “Real” people who exhibit those attributes do not need to keep reminding you. After all, do Superman or Wonder Woman ever brag about their superpowers?
Here’s one that I’ve embraced unconsciously:
The Lion Razor
If you have the choice, always choose to sprint and then rest. Most people are not wired to work 9-5.
I’ve learned that I work much more efficiently using that strategy. Seems incredible that anyone gets through 30 years holding down a “full-time” job.
Bloom lists many more razors, including:
The Uphill Decision Razor
When faced with two options, choose the one that’s more difficult in the short-term.
The Time Billionaire Razor
When choosing between two paths, choose the path that places the highest appreciation on the value of your time.
The Rooms Razor
If you have a choice between entering two rooms, choose the room where you’re more likely to be the dumbest one in the room.
That one is not a problem for me.
I tried to think of my own Razors that have guided me over the years. Couldn’t do it, hence:
The Originator Razor
If you can’t say something better than the person who said it first, stop trying.