Shane Parrish

Principles are our summary of their public statements.

• Adopt a Historical Perspective

  Learning

  Understand how a field or situation evolved into its current state rather than assuming it has always been and will always be the same.

  1 more supporting quote is in the member records.

  Source Feynman Take The World From Another Point Of View, 2012  (opens in a new tab)

• Recognize Subtle Nonverbal Cues

  Management

  Understand that subordinates and even animals respond to subtle, involuntary body language that signals what is expected of them.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Pygmalion Effect, 2018  (opens in a new tab)

• Develop the Will to Act

  Leadership

  A useful temperament involves the courage to take action or speak up when others are passive, even if it leads to social friction.

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Temperament Matters, 2013  (opens in a new tab)

• Start with High Stakes

  Marketing

  When creating content for a paying audience, start the narrative from a position of relative prosperity or health to maintain engagement.

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Kurt Vonnegut The Shapes Of Stories, 2011  (opens in a new tab)

• Navigate by Culture Not Plans

  Strategy

  Set a direction using a shared worldview and core values rather than exhaustive plans that become obsolete when roadblocks appear.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Principles Age Acceleration, 2017  (opens in a new tab)

• React Rather Than Predict

  Strategy

  Since the future is often unpredictable, focus on reacting rapidly to changing circumstances and reallocating resources to what works.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Is Everything Obvious Once You Know The Answer, 2011  (opens in a new tab)

• Beware of Sycophantic Personalization

  Learning

  Algorithms tend to show users only what they want to hear, which creates a distorted view of reality and prevents growth.

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source The Filter Bubble What The Internet Is Hiding From You, 2012  (opens in a new tab)

• Focus on Consequences

  Strategy

  Shift focus from searching for what to do to analyzing where a specific action will lead and what its long-term implications are.

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Solution By Recognition, 2010  (opens in a new tab)

• Seek Chaos Instead of Avoiding It

  Learning

  Progress in complex fields comes from recognizing that chaos is an inherent part of the system to be studied, not an error to be ignored.

  Supporting quotes

  • “Despite our best efforts we're not that great at prediction.”

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

• Combine Models with Human Intuition

  Decisions

  Computers struggle with the big picture and literal patterns, so experts should interpret and adjust model outputs based on known biases.

  Supporting quotes

  • “Despite our best efforts we're not that great at prediction.”

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

• Treat attention like a muscle

  Mindset

  Attention can wither if used poorly or grow if exercised well through intentional practice.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source The Impoverishment Of Attention, 2014  (opens in a new tab)

• Avoid the Mundanity Trap

  Marketing

  In a world where the internet makes the improbable seem normal, businesses must push beyond the average to capture attention.

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Extraordinary Is The New Ordinary, 2013  (opens in a new tab)

• Treat Life Like a Corporation

  Strategy

  One must recognize that time, energy, and talent are limited resources that must be strategically allocated across various life 'businesses' like family, career, and community.

  Supporting quotes

  • “Your decisions about allocating your personal time, energy, and talent ultimately shape your life's strategy.”

  1 more supporting quote is in the member records.

• Leverage Fresh Perspectives

  Learning

  A person can look at a problem for hundreds of hours and miss the obvious until an outsider points it out.

  Supporting quotes

  • “I'd observed pigs on treadmills for hundreds of hours and had never thought about this. So Dennis and I started talking about how, when these pigs ran, their heads bobbed every which way”

  1 more supporting quote is in the member records.

• Value Discipline Over Instant Gratification

  Learning

  True mastery requires long-term effort and craftsmanship, which should not be abandoned for the ease provided by technology or cheap production.

  1 more supporting quote is in the member records.

  Source How Feeling Powerless Directs The Narratives Of Our Mind, 2013  (opens in a new tab)

• Own Your Fate

  Resilience

  Avoiding action to minimize the chance of failure creates a false sense of security; taking responsibility for outcomes is essential for real power.

  1 more supporting quote is in the member records.

  Source How Feeling Powerless Directs The Narratives Of Our Mind, 2013  (opens in a new tab)

• Avoid Irritable Reaching

  Learning

  A man of achievement tolerates the confusion of not knowing rather than grasping for ready-made answers.

  1 more supporting quote is in the member records.

  Source John Keats Quality Man Of Achievement Negative Capability, 2014  (opens in a new tab)

• Seek Non-Obvious Information

  Learning

  To develop a unique perspective, one must read materials that are not part of the mainstream conversation.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source 5 Books That Will Change Your Life, 2014  (opens in a new tab)

• Curate Wisdom from Top Performers

  Learning

  Shane Parrish identifies and shares the reading habits of successful CEOs to understand the mental models and information they value.

  Source Fortunes Summer Ceo Reading List, 2010  (opens in a new tab)