6 ways to think like a high performer

Ever caught yourself making a choice that, in hindsight, seems less than logical?

It happens.

• Perhaps you clung to a project, driven not by its merits but by the money and time you'd already invested into it.

• Or maybe you charged ahead with a bad idea simply because it felt familiar, ignoring the niggling doubts in your mind.

• Or you found yourself viewing opportunities through a win-lose lens, hesitant to extend a hand for fear of coming up short.

Welcome to the world of mental models, the subconscious frameworks steering our decisions – sometimes right off the cliff. 🥲

In these instances, they morph into success-saboteurs:

• The sunk cost fallacy: throwing good money (or effort) after bad, trapped by past investments.

• Confirmation bias: cherry-picking information that props up our pre-existing beliefs, conveniently ignoring the rest.

• The zero-sum game: the misguided belief that life is a pie with only so many slices, where helping others inherently means less for you.

Mental models are the invisible architects of our reality.

They are our subconscious thoughts and beliefs that shape our interactions and outcomes.

They can be our greatest allies or our most formidable foes.

In this issue of The Productivist, we dive deep into the mental models that set high performers apart.

Discover strategic thinking approaches that can dramatically boost your success and performance.

Now is the time you leverage these unseen drivers to your advantage.

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Before we begin: Here’s what you might have missed in the past few weeks:

• In issue #32 of The Productivist, I shared my happiness toolkit with you. Check it out here.

• In issue #31, you learnt how you can master stress to boost performance and productivity. Read it here.

• In issue #30 you discovered my 3-step guide to creating the environment that helps you succeed. Access the full issue here.

Which one has been your favourite? Reply to this email to share. 🫶

Mental model #1: Everything is figureoutable

"Everything is figureoutable" is a powerful mantra that I learnt from Marie Forleo (and yes, she's written a compelling book titled exactly that - highly recommend! ⭐️)

At its heart, this mindset combines two principles:

• a growth mindset

• and self-efficacy.

A growth mindset embodies a belief that, with effort and perseverance, our abilities and intelligence can expand.

This contrasts sharply with the restrictive belief that our skills are fixed and immutable.

Self-efficacy is about believing in our ability to navigate challenges, even when the way forward isn't clear.

It's about having confidence in our capacity to gather the resources needed to find solutions.

Applying this mental model to real life:

1. Stay curious.

   In your domain, there's an infinite landscape of knowledge to traverse. Embrace each day with the zeal of a novice, always keen to uncover new insights and techniques.

   
   

2. Don’t say “I can’t do this.” Say “I can’t do this yet!”
   Don't measure your first attempt against someone else's milestones. Mastery is a process; every effort, no matter how imperfect, is a step toward refinement. Remember, repetition is the key to skill enhancement.

   
   

3. Less assumptions. More questions.

   Approach others' experiences with curiosity rather than assumptions. Questions unlock new perspectives and possibilities.

   
   

4. Faced with obstacles? Don't give up.
   Every problem has a solution.
   Ask yourself, "What's the first step?" and take it.
   Remember, everything is figureoutable!

   
   

This isn't just advice — it's a call to action.

Adopt this mindset, and watch as doors open and opportunities unfold.

Mental model #2: Compound interest of effort

Just as compound interest grows wealth exponentially over time, consistent, incremental efforts in our daily lives can lead to remarkable improvements.

This principle is vividly illustrated by the Japanese concept of Kaizen, which means "change for the better" or continuous improvement.

Kaizen advocates for making small, regular changes that, when accumulated, result in significant advancements.

Imagine getting 1% better every day.

1% better for 365 days = 1.01³⁶⁵ = 37.783

In a year, this doesn't just add incrementally; it multiplies, making you 37 times better by the year's end.

What does this 1% improvement look like in practical terms?

• It could be engaging in something 1% more challenging.

• Or dedicate 1% of your day towards your growth.

1% of the day = 14 minutes 24 seconds = so, let’s round to 15 minutes.

Consider investing just 15 minutes a day towards growth:

• Engage in a challenging activity.

• Discover something new.

• Do something bold.

Applying this mental model to real life:

1. Break your goals into daily actions.
   Big accomplishments hide in your small daily actions. Show up even if you don’t feel like it.
   

   
   

2. Schedule your growth time.

   Just like anything else, if it’s not on your calendar, it’s not happening. All you need is 15 minutes a day to dedicate to learning and improving.

   
   

3. Start using a habit tracker.

   Try the one I use! I sent it to you in your welcome email. It’s under High Performance HQ system in Notion. If you’d like me to forward you the link to it again, reply to this email with one word “Notion”.

   
   

4. Be patient. Stay consistent.

   Compound interest offers exponential results only to those who stick with the habit long enough.
   

   
   

5. Be intentional with where you choose to invest your time.

   You are the product of your habits. Every choice you make in life is a vote for the kind of person you want to become. Most choices are habitual. That’s why it is so crucial to be intentional with building the right habits.

   
   

Remember, first you create habits, then habits create you.

What’s one small habit that will change your life?

Mental model #3: Second-order thinking

Second-order thinking pushes you to look beyond the immediate effects of your decisions, considering the longer-term impacts and consequences.

This mental model is essential for high performers who understand that true success requires evaluating the ripple effects of their actions.

Applying this mental model to real life:

1. Extend your decision-making horizon.

   When making a decision, don't limit your consideration to the immediate outcome of a choice. Consider the impact of this choice a few hours from now, a few weeks from now, and a few years from now. This foresight can significantly influence the choices you make today.

   
   

2. Apply it to everyday decisions.

   Take exercise, for example. While the prospect of lifting weights might seem unappealing at the moment, think about the subsequent benefits: the endorphin rush post-workout, an improved mood throughout the day, and the cultivation of a healthy habit that enhances your overall experience of life.
   

   
   

3. Please an 88-year-old version of yourself.
   Imagine yourself at 88 evaluating your decisions today, are they happy with your choices? In my opinion, that’s the only people-pleasing you need to do.

Mental model #4: Inversion thinking

Inversion thinking, a mental model that flips traditional goal-setting on its head, emphasizes not just on what you aim to achieve but also on what you wish to avoid.

This reverse approach aids in uncovering potential challenges and enhancing strategic planning.

Applying this mental model to real life:

1. Get clear on what you don’t want.

   Begin by identifying what you don’t want out of a situation. Understanding what you want to avoid can be even more motivating and actionable than knowing what you want to achieve.

   
   

2. Learn from others’ mistakes.

   When speaking with mentors or professionals you respect, inquire about their most significant missteps. These stories serve as valuable lessons, providing a checklist of scenarios to sidestep.

   
   

3. Try a pre-mortem exercise.

   Imagine a scenario where your idea has failed. Explore every reason for this hypothetical failure, list them, and then prioritize these reasons based on their likelihood. This exercise fosters a proactive mindset, allowing you to address and mitigate risks before they materialize.

Incorporating inversion thinking into your decision-making process allows for a more holistic view, ensuring you're not just charging forward blindly but are also sidestepping potential pitfalls that could derail your progress.

Mental model #5: Parkinson’s law

Have you ever allocated an entire day to an important task, only to find yourself procrastinating until the final hour, at which point you actually completed it?

Have you ever pulled an all-nighter right before a final?

Embracing Parkinson's law is about mastering the art of time management by recognizing that work will stretch to fill the time allotted for its completion.

Applying this mental model to real life:

1. Implement strict deadlines.

   Assign firm deadlines to tasks, especially those that inherently lack a specific due date. Self-imposed deadlines force you to focus and prioritize, preventing procrastination.

   
   

2. Shorten meeting times.

   No more hour-long meetings. Limit them to only the necessary duration. This encourages everyone to be more focused and efficient in their communication, making meetings more productive.

   
   

3. Work in short sprints.

   Break down larger projects into manageable chunks of 25-50-minute focused work sessions. This method keeps momentum high and promotes a sense of achievement as you complete each segment.

   
   

4. Enforce deadlines for others.

   When you need something from someone, set a clear deadline. This helps minimize procrastination on their part and ensures you receive what you need in a timely manner.

   
   

5. Schedule inbox checking time.

   Designate specific times in the day for checking and responding to emails. This prevents constant inbox monitoring from interrupting your workflow and eating into time that could be spent on more pressing tasks.

Remember, done is better than perfect.

Mental model #6: Antifragility

Antifragility goes beyond mere resilience or robustness.

It’s a concept introduced by Nassim Nicholas Taleb to describe systems that actually improve under stress.

But just like systems, people can also be antifragile.

Unlike merely bouncing back, antifragile individuals grow stronger in the face of:

• volatility,

• randomness,

• and challenges.

High performers harness this principle not by only enduring challenges but also by leveraging them for growth.

Applying this mental model to real life:

1. Reflect on your past.
   Consider moments of adversity that have ultimately made you stronger or more capable. How did these challenges contribute to your growth? Acknowledge that these hardships have been instrumental in building your character and abilities.

   
   

2. Reframe challenges.

   When confronted with difficulties, shift your mindset from victimhood ("Why me?") to empowerment ("I am built for this!"). Notice how this change in perspective alters your energy levels, transforming obstacles into opportunities for growth.

   
   
   

3. Remember, there are no failures, just lessons.

   View failures not as setbacks but as valuable feedback. Analyze what went wrong and why, and use these insights to adapt and improve. This iterative process is key to becoming antifragile.

   
   
   

4. Seek challenges.

   Proactively put yourself in situations that stretch your capabilities. This could mean taking on projects outside your comfort zone, pursuing new learning opportunities, or engaging in physical challenges. The goal is to continually expose yourself to stressors in a controlled manner to foster growth.

This mindset doesn't just prepare you to handle adversity; it ensures that you emerge from it stronger and more capable than before.

Tiny habit: Journal to discover your own mental models.

Mental models shape our decisions silently from behind the scenes.

Understanding the productive mental models that I shared is valuable, but recognizing your already ingrained ones is crucial.

Uncover your hidden influencers through journaling.

Through journaling you can peel back layers, exposing the frameworks guiding your thoughts and actions.

It also sharpens your emotional intelligence, enhancing your ability to identify and manage emotions effectively.

Dedicate a few minutes daily to journaling, and notice a significant shift in your perspective and decision-making process.

The Productivist Question

Here’s where you can start with your journaling practice.

Next time you need to make an important decision or resolve a conflict, here’s your journaling prompt:

• What assumptions am I making?

It must be a regular part of your decision-making to identify and challenge the assumptions you have about the situation.

Why?

Recognizing and questioning your assumptions:

• Uncovers hidden biases.

• Fosters open-mindedness.

• Reduces errors and missteps.

• Prevents jumping to conclusions.

• Leads to better decisions/resolutions.

• Supports personal & professional growth.

• Improves communication and relationships.

Make it a habit to question your assumptions.

It is a powerful tool for critical self-reflection, encouraging you to live more consciously and intentionally.

Are there any more mental models that have helped you in decision-making?

Have a productive week ahead!

Valeriya

PS: Would love to learn which one is your favourite. Please reply to this email or DM me on LinkedIn with your thoughts!

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