The same logic applies when you’re approaching more abstract problems.
This post originally appeared onJames Clear’s blog.
Richard Feynman won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1965.
He is widely regarded as one of the greatest physicists of all-time.
(He was a pretty solid bongo player as well).
Feynman received his undergraduate degree from MIT and his Ph.D. from Princeton.
(one of my favorite books that I read last year).
How did he do it?
It turns out that’s not taught very much in the universities; they don’t emphasize it.
So because I was self-taught using that book, I had peculiar methods of doing integrals.
Put simply, mental models are the set of tools that you use to think.
For example, let’s say that you’d like to avoid procrastination and have a productive day.
When your set of mental models is limited, so is your potential for finding a solution.
Interestingly, this problem can become more pronounced as your expertise in a particular area grows.
Smart people can easily develop a confirmation bias that leaves them stumped in difficult situations.
Brilliant people like Richard Feynman have more mental models at their disposal.
This is whyhaving a wide range of mental modelsis important.
You can only choose the best tool for the situation if you have a full toolbox.
In other words, look for answers in unexpected places.
We tend to view knowledge as separated into different silos.
Don’t take a stab at tighten a screw with a hammer.
The problems of life and work are much easier to solve when you have the right tools.
Image adapted fromRandall ReedandJiripravda(Shutterstock).
Additional photos byChase Elliot Clark,Sylvain Moreau(Flickr).
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