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Hi All,
I hope you had a great weekend.
It's the end of 2025, and you look back on the year with a deep sense of fulfillment.
You've become a better thinker, made some better decisions, and tackled challenges more confidently.
Sounds amazing, right?
The good news is that you can start building that version of yourself today by tweaking how you think.
The power of questions
Thinking better starts with asking better questions.
Most of us drift through life, asking ourselves basic questions like.
"What should I do next?"
"Why is this happening to me?"
Instead, try questions that grow your perspective:
What would this look like if it were easy? (Credit: Tim Ferriss!)
What am I optimizing for?
What am I assuming that might not be true?
Great questions lead to great answers.
Carry a small notebook or use your smartphone to jot down any thought-provoking questions you come across.
Develop a mental toolkit
Every great thinker has a toolkit.
These aren't physical tools but mental models and frameworks that help you break down problems and make sense of complexity.
Here are 3 to add to your arsenal:
First Principles Thinking
Break problems into their fundamental truths.
Instead of accepting things at face value, ask questions.
What is this really made of?
Why does this exist?
Second-Order Consequences
Before making a decision, consider not only the immediate result but also the ripple effects.
What will happen next?
Occam's Razor
When faced with multiple explanations or solutions, start with the simplest one.
Thinking time -- Practice
Thinking is like exercise.
If you don't carve out time for it, it won't happen.
One habit that's changed my life is dedicating 45-60 minutes a week to "thinking time."
Here's how it works:
Find a quiet spot where you won't be interrupted.
Write down one big question you're wrestling with. For example, "What's one part of my life that I could drastically improve?"
Spend the next 45 minutes brainstorming, reflecting, or simply letting your mind wander.
You'll be surprised at the clarity this simple practice can bring.
Reading
Your mind is like a computer.
The books you read are the software updates for your brain.
Make it a point to read books that challenge your assumptions. Some recommendations to kick off 2025:
"Range" by David Epstein – Learn why generalists often succeed in a specialized world.
"Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman – Understand how your brain makes decisions.
"The Art of Thinking Clearly" by Rolf Dobelli – A quick guide to avoiding common cognitive biases. TKs links
Set a goal to read at least one book per week/month.