Models
Dec 22, 2024 mental-modelsthinking
A mental model is a simplified representation of how something works. The map is not the territory, but a good map helps you navigate. Models trade accuracy for usability.
The value of a model is predictive power. If the model lets you anticipate what happens next, it’s working. When predictions fail, the model needs updating or replacing.
Collecting models creates optionality. Different situations call for different lenses. The person with one model forces every problem into that shape. The person with many models can match the tool to the terrain.
In this section
- Useful Fictions Mental models that are wrong but work