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Ask better questions to get better solutions
to problems that matter to you.
Here are ten questions to bring a new perspective to the problems you encounter.
//A thread//
to problems that matter to you.
Here are ten questions to bring a new perspective to the problems you encounter.
//A thread//
1. How does solving the problem affect other people?
Think of the people your solution will positively affect.
Think of the people your solution will negatively affect.
Think of the people your solution will positively affect.
Think of the people your solution will negatively affect.
2. What are the second order consequences you would like your solution to have?
Your solution will have an effect.
Those effects will have further effects, and so on.
We often think of the effects we want.
But what effects would you like those to further cause?
Your solution will have an effect.
Those effects will have further effects, and so on.
We often think of the effects we want.
But what effects would you like those to further cause?
3. How can you modify the solution to help an infinite number of people?
Thinking how to help the most people requires you to streamline the process and think of places of generality in the solution.
Like variables in a program.
Thinking how to help the most people requires you to streamline the process and think of places of generality in the solution.
Like variables in a program.
4. How would the age of the end user affect the solution?
There are similarities between everyone in your target market
but there are also segments that are disproportionately affected by certain implementation details than others.
There are similarities between everyone in your target market
but there are also segments that are disproportionately affected by certain implementation details than others.
5. What would this look like if it was easy?
This tip comes from Tim Ferris.
We tend to overcomplicate things to satisfy our ego.
What could you do within the next 5 minutes to get started?
This tip comes from Tim Ferris.
We tend to overcomplicate things to satisfy our ego.
What could you do within the next 5 minutes to get started?
6. Is there anything you can remove?
Not every part of the solution is essential to the solution.
Is there a way to remove a specific part of the end product without altering the result?
If so, do so.
Not every part of the solution is essential to the solution.
Is there a way to remove a specific part of the end product without altering the result?
If so, do so.
7. Can you do something small to have a large impact?
Imagine the problem you're trying to solve is
how could you improve your average day
with less than ten minutes of effort?
You could try incorporating a gratitude practice. https://www.scottswhite.com/posts/daily-gratitude-practice
Imagine the problem you're trying to solve is
how could you improve your average day
with less than ten minutes of effort?
You could try incorporating a gratitude practice. https://www.scottswhite.com/posts/daily-gratitude-practice
8. How can you do the opposite?
If you want to get the best sleep of your life,
ask how you could get the worst sleep of your life.
This will generate a list of ideas.
Do the opposites.
If you want to get the best sleep of your life,
ask how you could get the worst sleep of your life.
This will generate a list of ideas.
Do the opposites.
9. What are your hidden incorrect assumptions?
Think of the sales person who doesn't offer top shelf items to a customer because of how they look.
They are alienating possible sales because of a potentially incorrect assumptions.
Find your hidden incorrect assumptions.
Think of the sales person who doesn't offer top shelf items to a customer because of how they look.
They are alienating possible sales because of a potentially incorrect assumptions.
Find your hidden incorrect assumptions.
10. What constraints can you add?
Adding a constraint gets you to think in ways you ordinarily wouldn't.
Elon Musk used this to create rockets that were vastly cheaper than the competition.
Try creating constraints around
Cost
Time
Features
Resources
Repeatability
Adding a constraint gets you to think in ways you ordinarily wouldn't.
Elon Musk used this to create rockets that were vastly cheaper than the competition.
Try creating constraints around
Cost
Time
Features
Resources
Repeatability
If you found these questions useful, please consider retweeting the top tweet.
If you have any other questions you like to ask please share them below!
If you have any other questions you like to ask please share them below!
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