part0013

It seems we have come to the end of Mental Models: The Secret Weapon to Master Problem Solving, Boost Your Productivity, and Make Better Decisions . We hope that you were able to capture solid information that can assist you in improving your own processes as well as your teammates. It’s almost enlightening to find out that the biases in our minds are not abnormal at all in human beings. That we all have a story, but that story does not have to define us in the future. The tactics and best practices you have just read through will allow you to drown out that subconscious thought and focus solely on the decisions and problems that you are facing. It will allow you to remember the important goals in your life so that you can be as productive as possible.

Our brains, full of vitality and always yearning for more information, no longer have to be classified as stubborn or controlling. When you are able to take control of your own mind, and implement the tools to create pathways to better time management, cleaner desks, and thorough input and output within your mental models, you become free to push forward in your personal life and your professional one. You don’t have to be weighted down by the ideals that were pushed into you as a child, you can be your own person. Even the biased thoughts simmer in your head, you will be in control over your life, your body, and everything you had planned for the future.

The mental model’s structured internal framework allows us to move through and process decisions and issues anytime and anywhere. Once you are mastering those tasks, you can begin to spread out, creating your own mental models to specifically fit the problems and your brainstorming tactics perfectly. Almost every product in the country is fitted for personal taste, why wouldn’t the one thing we create on our own be the same? Remember to always keep that glossary of mental models locked up in your brain so you are quickly and efficiently able to implement the one that works the best with whatever situation you are facing. Let’s take a quick review of what we went through in Mental Model: The Secret Weapon to Master Problem Solving, Boost Your Productivity, and Make Better Decisions.

We started the discussion from the very basics of Mental Models, and that was defining exactly what they were and what they were used for. Those problem solving techniques are tried and true, having helped to create solutions to problems spanning the ages. Even our own system of financial wealth was deeply affected by mental models, giving rise to financial empires and personal wealth beyond most people’s comprehension. Even if the weren’t officially named, mental models have been part of the human psyche since our creation.

Within Chapter One we learned about the psychological aspects of mental models and how they affect our psyches. We learned about the seven Principles of Reason, the basis to the continuing research into mental models by the psychological research community. This chapter gave us a full understanding of the inner workings of mental models and how the implementation of them in our private and professional lives can give us an edge on productivity, problem solving, and decision making. They why’s of mental modeling are now completely laid out so that you understand the pertinent nature of their construct within our society. With the broad spectrum of industry and science that implement and study mental modeling, you are almost certain to come in contact with their functions and placement at some point in your career and life.

Having a solid understanding and full comprehension of the background of these models you can now begin to connect the dots to the thousands of different classifications of the tools. You will be able to implement them into your daily routine, your large scale projects, and your everyday decision making processes and all without anything other than you own brain. Most people won’t even know that you are implementing these time tested processes, but they will begin to see your ability to bring forward the best options, decisions, and productive reasoning that is available. Not only did it not cost you a dime, but it could push you higher up in your professional career, as well as your personal financial independence.

The versatility of the mental model structure can range from difficult and complex to extremely simplistic, allowing anyone, at any age, from any walk of life to use them in their daily chores. The information in this book took any doubt from your mind that you could implement the processes yourself, and show you exactly how to do so in the most efficient manner. In Chapter Two we explained how, through mental modeling your vision could be changed and perfected using specific but simple techniques. You began to understand that the process you used when making all the decisions you have made up to that point were all based around a very simple example of metal modeling created by you during the course of your life. And now you know, you’re not confined to just that mental model anymore.

Chapter Two dove into the concept of immersing yourself in the different variations of mental moods. Those variations are now allowing you to take your own evolved mental model and create opportunities to open up the broad arena of options when making decisions, strengthening your productive mindset, and facing problems head on. You are beginning to open your mind to a world of information and opportunity that hadn’t been accessible before. You can now find color to your flat unassuming process of decision making, bringing options and color to the projects you work through.

It is true, sticking with one method of modeling can bring down an idea, goal, or even company. Having blinders on leaves you with little choices for growth, both personally and professionally. The mental models that you are beginning to test out in your own mind are showing you the pathway to the broader thought process. Further into Chapter Two we talked about several of the more widely used mental models and the principles of each one. Common knowledge and its often negative thought process on the creative mind was discussed as we attempted to show you how your own mind may have been blocking opportunities in the past. We thoroughly discussed diversification, game theory, anchoring heuristic, the illusion of control, tribalism, working backward, and homeostasis. From there it is up to you to continue to explore the thousands of other modeling options out there, or even begin to create your own.

We, as human beings, evolved, traveling by rockets to the moon, curing diseases, discovering species so small only technological advances could see them, still have something we share with our Neanderthal brothers and sisters. We have the same exact brain. Our human brains have not evolved from the first human being, but the way we use them, and our ability to reason has. Cognitive bias, however, has become stronger since the beginning of human life. With the complexity of the society we have created for us, we are more likely to have stronger cognitive biases than any other human generation in history, and it will only get worse. That is why fully understanding Cognitive Bias is pertinent but also why there is no use looking behind you into the past, wondering what decisions you might have made differently had you known. What has been will stay and your only option is to move forward with this new tool and ability.

Chapter three helped you understand the infinite universe of knowledge and how our cognitive bias actually takes up space that could be filled with opportunities and options instead of fears, judgments, and personal opinions. You will now begin to understand the overload of information and the tools you can use to simmer that, pull the pertinent information from it, and extrapolate only the data you will need to fill your mental model and find those options that you need to complete your projects successfully. Those chemical endorphins you once got thinking about your next vacation or the gossip column in your local paper will now be pumping around the ideas and processes that you are able to create using mental modeling.

The four main causes of cognitive bias need to be considered by you on a daily basis. You need to take the concepts learned in this chapter and remember them. That way, when you are in a brainstorming session, using mental modeling, you are able to push aside the distractions that usually plague you and continue forward.

The multitude of ways that our own cognition, our past, our learned behaviors can distract us from our daily lives. You can now see how they become a distraction and how that not only affects the amount of information you are sifting through as well as your ability to focus. Since mental modeling can be processed anywhere at any time, allowing you to push back those biases even before you begin structuring your model for processing.

Confirmation bias can be a heavy player in your modeling processes. Releasing the need to hold onto the information you thought was truth, can put you at a disadvantage. If you add a weight into the process, you may be unable to look past the main components of the project. This brings you right back to the start. But now you have a really good understanding of the most widely infecting cognitive biases. We discussed Ambiguity Effect, Confirmation Bias, Availability Heuristic, Halo Effect, the Self-Serving Bias, Attentional Bias, Actor-Observer Bias, Functional Fixedness, Anchoring Bias, Misinformation Effect, False Consensus Effect, Optimism Bias, Automation Bias, and finally, Courtesy Bias.

Taking a step back out of your own head allows you to see the biases for what they truly are, manifestations of years of societal constructs etched into your mind. Change them. Make them into the types of functional processes that you need to rid yourself of these thoughts and memories. Use your strength, experience, and wisdom to change the way your mind actually processes. With this you will now be able to push past any biases that your mind has refused to let go of and improve your quality of life, relieve that unneeded stressors, and improving on the work environment that you spend years with.

Cognitive bias is a very in-depth category of the human psyche. It doesn’t just affect your mental modeling, but with the ability to recognize your own biases, you may be able to fix the other aspects of your life that were touched by these biases. The processing speed of these mental models are going to be completely up to you and how you want to process them. But regardless of the small details, you know that even when you are on the go, you will be able to do that freely, without the stress of bias on your back. You can use your basic human skill of productivity, problem solving, and decision making to create opportunities for yourself and for your family. The sheer depth of the mental model can be intimidating but the beautiful thing about it is your new ability to appreciate it, but still control yourself and step through one moment at a time.

The problem you have on your hands will be the first thing that you will always define. From that, using knowledge, and inference, you will be able to begin the process of pulling these issues, problems, and decisions apart. However, you know that you don’t have to be so proficient and in depth when it comes to the smaller processes in life. There is no need to create a specialized mental model and begin breaking down the process of grocery shopping or laundry. Those things, and all of the little stuff, can continue to be taken care of by the initial mental model that you have had your entire life. While it most likely will change over time as your biases disappear and your realization of the process grows stronger, it is meant for the simple tasks.

The generation of solutions, after understanding the scope of the project or issue you are facing, could take a while depending on how much information you have gathered. That information became those solutions. If you were to go with the first possible solution that popped into your head, you could cheat the process of a possible perfect answer to your decision or project. Once the plethora of solutions are gathered, then you simply choose the best solution and implement it. This whole process could take days or it could literally take just a few seconds. This is why the simplest form of your mental model should be used for inconsequential questions or decisions.

The Productivity and two of the Mental Models that were used the most were the Pareto Principle and the 2-Minute Rule. They can give a good solid base for you to come from, moving right into the problem solving realm of things. The Inversion Mental Model and Occam’s Razor are skilled and unforgiving in their implementation but can bring you some of the best problem solving techniques out there. Make sure to study their implementation before trying them out on any problem of dire circumstance. That goes the same for decision making process.

The background and history of Warren Buffett gave you a break from the technical to really see how implementation of solid business practices combined with theoretical theories played a huge role in his success. He was and is just a man, a man that used the mental models amongst other psychological theories to change our financial system and history for years to come.

Throughout the book you learned implementation techniques, best practices, and most importantly things to avoid in order to stay successful in your strides toward problem solving and decision making success. We got a glimpse at the world of team mental models, and discussed the challenge that mental models placed on your own thought process. Remember, nothing in your biases are irreversible. You have to study and trust the process, keeping your eye out for those distractions and biases that sneak up on us when we least expect it.

We hope that you enjoyed this book, finding a solid grasp on the process of mental models, best practices, avoidable actions, and everything in between. Whether you are a CEO or a Mom at home, mental models can be pertinent in your own life.