Stop Spinning Your Wheels:
Outsmart the Noise and Take Control
Let’s face it, you feel stuck.
Like a gear stuck in neutral, dreams in your head and frustration in your gut.
You see successful people around you, and a nagging voice whispers, “Maybe you’re just not smart enough.”
Hold on right there.
Stop letting that voice win.
The truth is, success has less to do with some magical “smart gene” and more to do with avoiding stupidity – the kind that keeps you spinning your wheels and getting nowhere.
Here’s the liberating secret.
You’re not alone.
Carlo M Cippola, an Italian economic historian, wrote a whole book about it – “The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity.”
He talks about five kinds of people:
- the stupid
- the helpless
- the intelligent
- the bandits (the malicious ones)
- the ineffectual (those who just don’t get it)
He argues that the number of truly stupid people is vastly underestimated, and the damage they do is staggering.
But here’s the good news.
You don’t have to be one of them.
You can become a leader, a master of your own destiny, by learning a few simple mental models.
Think of them as tools in your success toolbox.
Tool #1: The Five Whys
Digging Deeper Than Surface Goals
Ever feel like you’re chasing shiny objects?
Goals that seem cool but don’t quite light your fire?
The Five Whys help you uncover the “why” behind your goals, ensuring they align with your deepest desires.
Let’s say you want a promotion.
Ask yourself, “Why is that important?”
More money?
Okay, why?
Security?
Why?
To travel the world!
Aha!
Now we’re getting somewhere.
By peeling back the layers, you discover the true purpose behind your desire for a promotion – travel.
This clarity allows you to focus your efforts and avoid wasting time on things that ultimately don’t matter.
Now it’s called the The Five-Fold Why but you may require more (or less).
The key is digging deep enough so that it resonates to your core.
When I’ve used this exercise, it will often connect so deeply with my most important values that it will literally bring tears to my eyes.
The exercise is that powerful!
Tool #2: The Five Hows
Turning Dreams into Action Steps
So, you know what you truly want (travel the world!), but how do you get there?
The Five Hows break that seemingly impossible dream into bite-sized, actionable steps.
For any goal ask, “And how will I accomplish that?”
Repeatedly asking and breaking it down into ever-smaller and easier steps.
How do you travel the world?
Save money.
How do you save money?
Track your spending and cut back on unnecessary expenses.
See?
Each “how” becomes a manageable task you can tackle today.
Suddenly, that dream trip doesn’t feel so far-fetched anymore.
Like The Five-Fold Why, it may take more than 5 asks to break it down small enough into the daily actions you can do each day.
Tool #3: Second and Third-Order Thinking
Avoiding the Stupid Pitfalls
Remember those stories I shared of the construction site I used to work at?
Yeah, the one where I was surrounded with coworkers who would have those “accidents”?
A lot of them could have been avoided with a little second and third-order thinking.
Second-order thinking considers the immediate consequences of your actions.
Third-order thinking goes a step further, asking “What then?”
Maybe you were about to move a ladder without checking if someone was underneath.
Second-order thinking: Someone could get hurt.
Third-order thinking: You could get fired, sued, or even worse.
Suddenly, that shortcut doesn’t seem so tempting anymore.
Applying These Tools to Your Life:
- Use the Five Whys on your current career path. Are you on the right track to achieve your travel dreams?
- Use the Five Hows to craft a concrete savings plan. How much do you need to save per month? How can you create a budget to make that happen?
- Practice second and third-order thinking before making any major decisions. Consider both the immediate and long-term consequences of your actions.
Martial Arts:
The Ultimate Training Ground
Think martial arts are just about kicking and punching?
Think again.
The dojo, the training space, is a controlled environment where you learn valuable lessons about cause and effect.
You mess up, you might get a bruise, but it’s a safe space to learn from your mistakes.
The best thing about martial arts is that you are with other people who are working on being better, not just getting by.
And certainly, not stupid.
The Takeaway:
Stop letting others, or your own inner critic, tell you you’re not smart enough.
Learn these mental models, hone them like a martial artist hones their skills, and watch your life transform.
You are capable of achieving great things.
Now, go out there and prove them all wrong.
Remember, success isn’t about being a genius, it’s about being smart enough to avoid stupidity and take control of your destiny.
Leave a Reply