Say Hello to Optimal Think

A structured approach to extracting maximum value from any situation.

I’ve created Optimal Think out of my own needs for problem solving and better thinking. Using techniques and methods from various well established cognitive-focused fields, this helps you to:

• Break down complex problems into their basic parts (First Principles Thinking).

• Reflect on your own thinking to improve your decision-making (Meta-Cognition).

• Anticipate long-term consequences and ripple effects (Second-Order Thinking).

• Recognize and overcome cognitive biases to make better choices.

• Identify patterns and apply insights across different situations.

• Focus on actions that bring the most significant results with the least effort.

• Prepare for unlikely but impactful events to stay adaptable (Black Swan).

• Use creative constraints to drive innovation when faced with limitations.

• Learn to grow stronger from stress and unexpected challenges (Antifragility).

• and much more.

In today’s AI-driven world, it’s quite obvious I couldn’t have created and refined this framework without AI.

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How to use:

• Formulate your problem/dilemma/etc. => Run it through the entire framework.

Obviously, you can do this with pen/paper or generic computer tools. However, you’re going to get 100x results if you use it with AI. And here are my top 2 ways to use this with AI:

1. I’ve created a GPT for Optimal Think. You can use it for free.

   1. Formulate your problem in one paragraph and ask the GPT to run it through the entire framework.

2. (Best way) Use it with o1-preview/o1 or other AI reasoning models:

   1. Copy the entire framework (from below) into the AI model.

   2. Add the Input (your one-paragraph problem).

   3. Add the Input Optimizer. I’ve created the Input Optimizer so that the AI will take your input and optimize it for being processed through the entire framework.

Here’s how #2 would look like in ChatGPT with the o1-preview model. Notice I’ve delimited the framework, the Input, and the Input Optimizer using a line:

You could also use Optimal Think with Anthropic’s Claude model. Alongside the text output, Claude often generates artifacts in the response (mindmaps, etc).

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Here are some examples of good inputs (formulations of problems/dilemmas/queries/etc.):

• Should I quit my secure engineering job, where I’m paid well but feel stagnant, to move into the unpredictable field of AI research, where I’ll need to start at the bottom and potentially struggle financially for the next couple of years?

• My direct reports at work have started taking sides over recent departmental changes, which is creating a toxic atmosphere. How do I get them aligned without being seen as playing favorites or stepping on their autonomy?

• My partner and I are planning to move across the country, but our budget is tight, and we want to avoid taking out a loan. How do I make sure the logistics are efficient while keeping our stress levels manageable, especially since one of us will have to leave their job?

• I have this passion for storytelling, and I want to start a podcast focused on personal growth stories, but I only have Sunday afternoons free, no budget, and I’m not very tech-savvy. How do I pull this off without compromising on quality and reach?

• I have an idea for a niche online store selling eco-friendly camping gear, but there are already a lot of established players in this market. What’s the best way to differentiate myself, especially since I don’t have big marketing dollars to compete with them?

• I recently inherited some money, and I’m torn between buying a rental property that could give steady income or using it to fund a passion project—creating an online platform for peer-to-peer mentoring in niche careers. How do I evaluate which path is right without falling into regret or fear-driven decisions?

• I’ve been having constant arguments with my sister about how to care for our elderly mom, especially since she lives closer and feels overwhelmed while I try to contribute remotely. How can I find a way to better support her without making her feel like I’m overstepping or dictating her life?

• My stress is through the roof from work, and yet, I’ve been wanting to lose 20 pounds and get fit because it’s affecting my health and confidence. With limited time and energy, what’s the most practical approach to balance these goals without adding extra pressure that might break me?

• My small consulting business is just getting off the ground, and it’s finally gaining clients, but I keep hearing about an impending economic downturn. How do I make sure I can weather a potential financial crisis without losing the traction I’ve worked so hard to build?

• I’m constantly feeling torn—work demands keep piling up, my side project is half-done, and I feel guilty about not spending enough time with my partner. How can I create a schedule or prioritize in a way that doesn’t make me feel like I’m failing everyone, especially myself?

You just put this input into the GPT or AI reasoning model and then have it processed through the framework. Here’s how an output looks like:

Remember, the more specific and thorough you are in formulating the input, the better the results.

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And now, here’s the Optimal Think framework:

1. First Principles Thinking
   Instruction: Deconstruct complex problems into their most basic components, eliminating assumptions to uncover fundamental truths.
   Goal: Build solutions from the ground up to find innovative and non-obvious pathways.

2. Meta-Cognition
   Instruction: Reflect on your own thought processes to enhance understanding and decision-making.
   Goal: Increase self-awareness to refine thinking strategies and improve insight extraction.

3. Logical Reasoning and Fallacy Avoidance
   Instruction: Employ analogy, deductive, and inductive reasoning while remaining vigilant about logical fallacies.
   Goal: Strengthen arguments by ensuring they are logically sound and free from errors.

4. Heuristics and Biases
   Instruction: Recognize common cognitive shortcuts and biases that affect decision-making.
   Goal: Mitigate biases by understanding and adjusting for them in your thinking processes.

5. Pattern Recognition and Fractal Thinking
   Instruction: Identify recurring patterns at various scales within data or systems.
   Goal: Apply insights across different domains by recognizing structural similarities.

6. Root Cause Analysis
   Instruction: Investigate underlying causes of problems rather than just addressing symptoms.
   Goal: Develop effective and lasting solutions by resolving issues at their source.

7. Structured Frameworks (SWOT, TRIZ, Mental Models)
   Instruction: Utilize systematic tools for analysis and problem-solving.
   Goal: Organize thinking and generate innovative solutions using frameworks like SWOT and TRIZ.

8. Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA)
   Instruction: Evaluate complex decisions involving multiple conflicting criteria.
   Goal: Make transparent and justifiable choices by systematically weighing different factors.

9. Data Triangulation and Probabilistic Modeling
   Instruction: Validate conclusions using multiple data sources and statistical methods.
   Goal: Enhance decision robustness by accounting for uncertainty and variability.

10. Backcasting and Prospective Hindsight
    Instruction: Start with a desired future outcome and work backward to identify steps to achieve it.
    Goal: Anticipate potential obstacles and plan proactively to mitigate them.

11. High-Leverage Activities (Pareto)
    Instruction: Focus on the vital few inputs that produce the majority of results.
    Goal: Maximize efficiency by concentrating efforts on high-impact activities.

12. Opportunity Cost Thinking
    Instruction: Consider the value of the best alternative forgone when making decisions.
    Goal: Allocate resources effectively by weighing the benefits of different options.

13. Second-Order Thinking
    Instruction: Think beyond immediate effects to consider long-term consequences and ripple effects.
    Goal: Anticipate unintended outcomes to make more informed decisions.

14. Game Theory and Strategic Interaction
    Instruction: Analyze scenarios where outcomes depend on the actions of others.
    Goal: Plan strategies by anticipating others' decisions and reactions.

15. Framing Effects
    Instruction: Be aware of how the presentation of information influences perceptions and choices.
    Goal: Reframe problems to uncover new solutions and avoid cognitive biases.

16. Inversion Technique and Negative Visualization
    Instruction: Focus on potential failures and what to avoid.
    Goal: Identify risks and weaknesses to develop strategies that preempt problems.

17. Systems Thinking and Interconnectedness
    Instruction: Understand how components of a system interact and influence one another.
    Goal: Identify leverage points by seeing the bigger picture.

18. Leverage Points in Systems
    Instruction: Recognize strategic areas where small changes can produce significant effects.
    Goal: Focus efforts on these points to drive systemic improvement.

19. Emergence and Adaptation
    Instruction: Acknowledge that complex systems have properties not evident from individual parts.
    Goal: Adapt strategies to accommodate evolving system behaviors.

20. Edge of Chaos and Phase Transitions
    Instruction: Operate at the threshold between order and disorder where innovation thrives.
    Goal: Encourage creativity by balancing stability with flexibility.

21. Network Theory
    Instruction: Analyze the connections and interactions within networks.
    Goal: Leverage network dynamics to enhance communication and influence.

22. Antifragility
    Instruction: Identify how systems can grow stronger through volatility and stress.
    Goal: Benefit from challenges by extracting value from unpredictable environments.

23. Divergent and Convergent Thinking
    Instruction: Alternate between generating multiple ideas (divergent) and narrowing them down (convergent).
    Goal: Foster creativity and develop practical solutions through this iterative process.

24. Lateral Thinking and Contrarian Approach
    Instruction: Challenge conventional thinking by approaching problems from new angles.
    Goal: Uncover hidden opportunities and insights missed by traditional methods.

25. Radical Innovation and Creative Constraints
    Instruction: Pursue groundbreaking ideas while using constraints to fuel creativity.
    Goal: Transform limitations into advantages that drive innovative solutions.

26. Identification and Exploration of Blind Spots
    Instruction: Actively seek out areas of ignorance or bias.
    Goal: Address blind spots to achieve a more comprehensive and accurate understanding of situations.

27. Serendipity and Unexpected Discovery
    Instruction: Remain open to and create conditions for unplanned beneficial events.
    Goal: Leverage unexpected findings to enhance outcomes beyond initial goals.

28. Strategic Foresight and Horizon Scanning
    Instruction: Continuously monitor for emerging trends and potential disruptions.
    Goal: Anticipate future changes to inform proactive strategy development.

29. Wild Cards and Black Swan Events
    Instruction: Recognize and prepare for low-probability, high-impact occurrences.
    Goal: Build flexibility and contingency plans to capitalize on unexpected opportunities.

30. Step-by-Step Explanations (Feynman Technique, GoT, CoT)
    Instruction: Simplify complex concepts by explaining them in your own words, step by step.
    Goal: Enhance understanding and identify knowledge gaps through teaching.

31. Signal vs. Noise Filtering
    Instruction: Distinguish essential information (signal) from irrelevant data (noise).
    Goal: Focus on actionable insights to make efficient and effective decisions.

32. Extract Multiple Benefits and Identify Hidden Opportunities
    Instruction: Seek to derive various forms of value from any situation.
    Goal: Identify and exploit hidden or counterintuitive opportunities for maximum gain.

33. High-Leverage Points for Maximum Impact
    Instruction: Find actions that produce significant benefits with minimal effort.
    Goal: Prioritize tasks that offer the greatest return on investment.

34. Opportunity Cost and Resource Allocation
    Instruction: Always consider the next best alternative when allocating resources.
    Goal: Ensure resources are directed toward the most valuable activities.

35. Second-Order Effects and Long-Term Thinking
    Instruction: Consider broader implications and future consequences of actions.
    Goal: Make decisions that optimize long-term outcomes and sustainability.

36. Complexity Theory and Emergence
    Instruction: Understand that complex systems exhibit unpredictable behaviors due to interactions among their parts.
    Goal: Embrace uncertainty and leverage emergent properties for innovative solutions.

37. Adaptation at the Edge of Chaos
    Instruction: Recognize that systems are most adaptable at the boundary between order and chaos.
    Goal: Balance stability with flexibility to foster an environment conducive to growth and innovation.

38. Innovation through Creative Constraints
    Instruction: Use limitations as a stimulus for creativity.
    Goal: Turn constraints into opportunities that drive innovative thinking.

39. Futures Thinking and Visioning
    Instruction: Create detailed visions of possible futures to guide planning.
    Goal: Explore different scenarios to prepare for a range of possibilities.

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Feel free to use Optimal Think and tell me how it makes a difference in your life. I’d love to see some interesting use cases. Also, feedback, critique, and suggestions for improvement are warmly welcomed. Reach me out on X.