Cognitive Razors to Optimize Decision Making

Simplifying your decision-making = drastically improved outcomes.

“Razors” are guidelines that help streamline your decision-making.

Simplifying your decision-making = drastically improved outcomes.

Here are 5 cognitive razor’s to help optimize your decision making process.

1. Occam’s razor

“Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.” — Albert Einstein.

When in a dilemma to select a solution from multiple probable solutions, select the one with minimum assumptions, simplest in nature, & appears most believable.

Min risk -> Max substance.

2. Hitchen’s razor

“What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence.” — Christopher Hitchens

As a founder, be it, investors or customers, refrain from making claims that can’t be backed by facts.

Separate self-belief from projections and ideation.

3. Alder’s razor (Newton’s Flaming Laser Sword)

“That which cannot be settled by experiment is not worth debating” — Mike Alder

Remember small asymmetric bets? What can’t be experimented on in real life, don’t cushion it with far-fetched assumptions

Avoid wishful thinking.

4. Sagan standard

“Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence” — Carl Sagan

Founders are often enthusiastic about their claims but don’t go overboard.

Sounding too good to be good repulses investors the most, even if it manages to fetch a few initial customers.

5. Grice’s razor

“Conversational implications are to be preferred over semantic context for linguistic explanations.” — Paul Grice

In simple words, entrepreneurs must be skilled at reading between the lines.

Don’t take things at face value, or else you’ll lose valuable insights.