🔵 Construct Guide: Mental Models That Actually Work PART 1

Estimated Read Time: 6min

TL;DR

• Why knowing mental models ≠ using them

• The "heat of the moment" problem

• 1 trigger question that change everything

• AI prompt to make better decisions right now

Hey Decision Maker,

Hope you're ready to turn that dusty mental models knowledge into something that actually moves the needle in your life...

The Wall of Good Intentions

So there I was, staring at this massive list of mental models plastered on my wall—right next to my computer where I couldn't miss it. Dozens of frameworks from the smartest people who ever lived.

And you know what happened when I faced my next big decision?

I completely ignored them.

There I was, stressed about whether to take on another client project, my brain spinning in decision paralysis... and that beautiful list of mental models might as well have been invisible wallpaper.

Sound familiar?

The "Heat of the moment" Problem

Here's what I figured out: Knowing mental models and actually using them are two completely different skills.

It's like having a toolbox full of amazing tools but grabbing a rock when you need to drive a nail. When we're under pressure—making financial decisions, dealing with family drama, or facing business choices—our brains default to whatever feels fastest.

The mental models just sit there, unused.

But here's the thing: the most successful people I know don't have more mental models memorized than you do. They just have better systems for remembering to use them when it counts.

What Are Mental Models Anyway?

Before I get into the good stuff, let me explain what I mean by "mental models."

Think of them as thinking tools—frameworks that help you make sense of complex situations instead of just winging it. They're like having a Swiss Army knife for your brain.

Most successful people don't have magic intuition. They just have better thinking systems. And today, I want to share the one that's probably saved me more money and headaches than any other.

My $5K Lesson (The Hard Way)

Two years ago, I was launching a course. I looked at what all the "successful" course creators were doing: flashy sales pages, countdown timers, bonus stacks worth "thousands of dollars."

So I copied it all. Spent all week on design, copywriting, and ads.

Result? Crickets.

If I'd used first principles thinking, I would have asked: "What does MY audience actually need to hear to make a buying decision?"

Instead of copying everyone else's playbook, I would have:

• Surveyed my actual subscribers

• Looked at what questions they kept asking

• Built the sales approach around their specific concerns

The basic truth? My audience was different. They were skeptical of hype, wanted proof over promises, and needed to understand the "why" before the "what."

When I rebuilt the launch around these fundamentals, it converted 3x better.

AI-Powered Decision Framework

Ready to put this into practice? Drop this prompt into ChatGPT next time you're facing a decision:

I'm facing a decision and want to think it through using first principles thinking. Here's my situation: [DESCRIBE YOUR DECISION]
Please help me analyze this by:
1. Identifying what "everyone else" typically does in this situation
2. Breaking down the fundamental truths and core requirements for success
3. Building a solution from these basic principles
End with 2-3 specific next steps I should take.

Try it right now with whatever decision you're currently wrestling with.

The Real Game Changer

Look, I spent years thinking I was "bad at decisions" because I kept making the same mistakes. Turns out, I wasn't bad at decisions—I was just making them with the wrong tools.

This mental model has literally saved me thousands of dollars and countless headaches. Not because it's magic, but because it forces me to pause and think beyond my first impulse.

Most advice you get is someone else's solution to someone else's problem. First principles thinking helps you build solutions that actually fit YOUR situation.

Tomorrow, I'm going to show you the complete toolkit—7 more mental models that handle 90% of everything life throws at you. Including the ones that would have saved me from some seriously expensive mistakes.

-Joshua Hale

P.S. Here's a challenge: Use that AI prompt on one decision today. Just one. See what happens when you actually think through the second-order effects instead of going with your gut. The results might surprise you.

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