First Principle Thinking – Is it the Best Mental Model?

While Elon Musk is probably most associated with basic thinking and business, there are other great business leaders who have approached problems from a similar perspective, such as Henry Ford, Charlie Munger, Steve Jobs, and many others. Serial entrepreneur Elon Musk says first-principles thinking allows him to delve deeply into problems and arrive at fundamental truths that lead to new ways of doing things. Elon Musk has had many successful ventures with his approach to problem solving, including SpaceX (space exploration), Tesla (sustainable energy), Hyperloop (transportation), and Boring Company (minimalist design). 

Elon Musk applied this thinking strategy to gain an unfair advantage in the development of new batteries, a key component for both Tesla and SolarCity. Reducing the problem to its most basic components, we see that Elon is not crazy enough to think he can build an electric car company. 

Thinking is considering a proposition (or problem) and considering it from the most basic prerequisites to arrive at fundamental truths. In a different way of thinking, you take a problem and break it down into basic parts and truths, so to speak, down to the bare bones. As you work through this, A Different Way of Thinking allows you to develop a unique perspective that you can develop forward rather than just reverting to the old, lazy status quo you’ve been stuck in for so long. 

This is a more complex way of thinking, but it produces better results, is much more effective, and creates recognizable change. Comparative thinking is a simple and mostly effective way of thinking, but it does not offer any innovation or major change. Using analogical thinking, we create improvised versions of what already exists, resulting in incremental rather than revolutionary change. If we want to break the existing paradigm with extreme innovation, we must get to the bottom, which is the guiding principles.

The basic idea is to get individual LEGO bricks by dividing the house (one thing) into main parts (fundamentals) and then build something new (innovation) with the same LEGO bricks, combining them in different ways. The idea behind first principles thinking is to break down a complex problem into its essential parts and then use a bottom-up approach to create a unique solution that has not been conceptualized before. First-principles thinking (also known as first-principles reasoning) entails breaking down a problem into its basic building blocks, foundations, asking important questions, understanding basic facts, separating facts from speculation, and then building a vision from scratch. It’s not always easy to think in first principles, but once you master the process of thinking in this way, rather than guessing or replacing your knowledge with simpler answers, you can innovate and come up with creative problem solving Program.

By identifying your current assumptions, breaking them down into core truths, and creating solutions from scratch, you can find those ingenious solutions to complex problems and make a unique contribution to any field. Once you have identified and disassembled your problems or their assumptions, you can start building new, comprehensive solutions from scratch. Identify and then question your assumptions—the next time you encounter a problem or challenge, write down your old assumptions about it. Write down all the reasons why you think the problem is difficult, and then for each of those reasons, ask yourself how you know it’s true.

Once you have identified and listed the main reasons why your problem is difficult to solve, you can think of a deep solution to it. Once you’ve identified your problem, your limiting beliefs associated with it, and the legitimate reasons you’re having the problem, it’s time to start creating new possible solutions. Consider why some decisions were made in the first place, and what changes made those assumptions and decisions invalid. Find out the purpose of the platform, its goals.  

You might think this is an obvious question, but if you’ve ever caught yourself believing or saying something like “that’s the way it is,” you didn’t get past the first question because you didn’t even ask it before. Simply put, when you think about something, including an idea, you might wonder if the reasons were the original starting point for that thing, the idea or concept you have in mind—these are often the pillars of the foundation.

As a rule, Elon Musk believes that there is – I mean reducing things to their basic truths and conclusions from there, and not to reasoning by analogy. Thus, first principles thinking is one of the best mental models that an entrepreneur can use to improve his thinking, because questions about components, system, and truth allow him to see where reasoning by analogy can lead him astray. First principles thinking is defined as a method of reasoning or a thought process in which a person tries to understand the fundamental truth about the various aspects of the existence of a thing or a problem, a thing or a problem, by breaking it down into parts. basic elements and build your arguments from there.  

Thinking by analogy is the creation of knowledge to solve problems based on widely held assumptions, beliefs, and best practices. Abstract thinking is one of the most important skills that makes people unique, but unfortunately, few teach how to use it to make better decisions. Follow the tactics outlined above, arm yourself with this important decision-making approach, and your chances of success will skyrocket.  

Once the creativity of this thinking strategy is released, you can become addicted to the right behavior. Any problem you struggle with will benefit from this thinking strategy because it eliminates the possibility of misunderstanding; it is impossible to move on until the first principles are understood. The first principle thought * Is to break down the problem into its fundamental facts and try to solve it from that point of view * Used mainly in engineering by reconstructing complex problems from the fundamental laws of physics * Can also be used to understand various problems and problems. 

One of the earliest accounts of the methodical use of first principles as a problem-solving method dates back to ancient Greece when it was proposed by Aristotle in the Aristotelian Metaphysics. Throughout history, innovative thinkers and entrepreneurs have used Aristotle’s approach to first principles thinking to develop new processes, solve existing problems, and launch new inventions.

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Alex Silva

Alex Silva

Alex Silva is an American Entrepreneur, Author and Finance Educator. He is the Founder of Global Wealth Hub, Master Excellence Academy & Other Companies in the Field of Finance & Personal Development. Alex also runs one of Europe's largest private Consulting institution.

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