The hottest Decision-making Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics
The Beautiful Mess β€’ 662 implied HN points β€’ 17 Mar 24
  1. Having firsthand experience is crucial in understanding product concepts, like observing failed launches or successful market fit.
  2. Seeing a team hit dead ends before succeeding can encourage more leeway for experimentation and resilience.
  3. Direct access to customers, effective team dynamics, and confronting false assumptions can greatly impact decision-making and product success.
The Beautiful Mess β€’ 1048 implied HN points β€’ 01 Mar 24
  1. A company strategy is actually a collection of individual strategies. Each person within a company has their own strategy they try to advocate for.
  2. The communicated strategy in a company is often a negotiated narrative, and the real strategy might not be fully disclosed. There are subtleties and contexts behind the scenes.
  3. Strategies are a negotiation. What may seem objectively right might not align with the current status quo. Different people in different roles might perceive and act on strategies uniquely.
bookbear express β€’ 385 implied HN points β€’ 18 Mar 24
  1. Effort is most useful when correctly directed. Avoid over-optimizing or under-optimizing in relationships. Appreciate what you have while recognizing when to seek more fulfillment.
  2. Understand your values and what truly matters to you in a partner. Consider daily experiences, joy, and genuine connection in assessing your relationship.
  3. Seek advice from honest friends who know you well. Remember, infinite wrong choices won't satisfy, but the right one will bring a fulfilling weight.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:
Insight Axis β€’ 632 implied HN points β€’ 18 Feb 24
  1. Resisting urges leads to increased suffering because of the pain x resistance equation. It's better to embrace a state of 'couldness' rather than fighting impulses.
  2. Changing your identity to instill good habits may not work well due to the element of restriction that still leads to some suffering. The act of choosing is more impactful.
  3. Simply 'surfing the urge' by sitting with discomfort may not completely eliminate resistance. Embracing 'couldness' with near-zero resistance can lead to better decision-making and empowerment.
The Generalist β€’ 900 implied HN points β€’ 23 Jan 24
  1. Great leadership requires making tough decisions that go against popular opinion.
  2. CEOs must prioritize what's best for the long-term success of their company, even if it means making unpopular choices.
  3. Building a successful company often means making difficult decisions that may challenge the norms and expectations of others.
Grace on Football β€’ 648 implied HN points β€’ 31 Jan 24
  1. Liverpool's journey to find structural stability after Klopp's era began with a turbulent start due to a mistaken committee approach.
  2. The success of Liverpool's recent transfers is attributed to a clear structure under Klopp's direction with Edwards as a key figure.
  3. As Liverpool faces the departure of key personnel like Edwards and Schmadtke, the focus is now on finding a new sporting director to seamlessly fit into the existing system.
benn.substack β€’ 483 implied HN points β€’ 09 Feb 24
  1. Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions have been aggressive in going for it on fourth downs
  2. Data can provide small advantages in decision-making, especially in frequent, low-leverage situations
  3. It's more effective to focus on doing what you're naturally good at and doing it consistently rather than constantly pursuing big data-driven optimizations
Five Links (and three graphs) by Auren Hoffman β€’ 243 implied HN points β€’ 26 Feb 24
  1. Different career decisions are optimized on different time scales from sub-second to months to years.
  2. Professions like athletes and speed-chess players excel in making sub-second decisions through muscle memory and pattern matching.
  3. Job interviews are typically designed for quick-time decisions, but should be adjusted based on the timescale of the job.
The Commonplace β€’ 1277 implied HN points β€’ 17 Oct 23
  1. Prudence is the queen of all virtues because it guides our actions and helps us make good decisions.
  2. The four cardinal virtues are prudence, fortitude, temperance, and justice, providing a foundation for a moral life.
  3. Cultivating prudence involves thinking, making a choice, and taking action, leading to wise decision-making in everyday life.
Inside Data by Mikkel DengsΓΈe β€’ 184 HN points β€’ 21 Feb 24
  1. Data may not reveal the best ideas, so trust your intuition and explore beyond the obvious data points.
  2. Focus on solving the big problems first, as they have a more significant impact than smaller issues.
  3. Think in small bets and iterations to make progress in the right direction, even if data may not provide immediate clarity.
A User's Guide to History β€’ 235 implied HN points β€’ 11 Feb 24
  1. Presidents have strengths and weaknesses, and age can impact their performance, but wisdom often outweighs age-related challenges
  2. Health issues can affect a president's ability to govern effectively, as seen with Wilson's stroke during the ratification of the Versailles treaty
  3. Age alone should not be a disqualifying factor for a presidential candidate; what truly matters is their ability to make sound decisions
The Breaking Point β€’ 235 implied HN points β€’ 30 Jan 24
  1. Debating involves prepared discussions, clear decision-making frameworks, and open-mindedness to change opinions.
  2. Arguing results in repetitive discussions, lack of agreement, side factions, and revisiting decisions without objective reasoning.
  3. Monitoring if a team is debating or arguing is crucial to ensure effective teamwork and progress towards goals.
Trantor Publishing β€’ 159 implied HN points β€’ 14 Feb 24
  1. The protagonist shows conflicting emotions of thrill and despair while navigating through dangerous situations in the city.
  2. The story involves themes of betrayal, redemption, and facing the consequences of one's actions.
  3. There is a sense of urgency and sacrifice as characters make tough decisions to survive and protect each other in the face of danger.
Elena's Growth Scoop β€’ 1139 implied HN points β€’ 30 Jun 23
  1. Having a data-driven culture is important for making informed decisions and connecting actions to business outcomes.
  2. In many companies, data is not well managed and can lead to frustration when trying to implement a data-driven culture too soon.
  3. Striking a balance and ensuring data accuracy is crucial before pushing for a data-driven culture.
Askwhy: UX Research, Product Management, Design & Careers β€’ 50 implied HN points β€’ 04 Mar 24
  1. Understanding business strategy helps drive alignment and focus, ensuring products contribute to company goals and avoiding feature creep.
  2. Knowing consumer trends, markets, and competitive landscape aids in developing relevant products and making informed decisions to stay competitive.
  3. Engaging with business strategy leads to better decision-making through frameworks like second-order thinking and inversion, fostering alignment within the organization.
Thinking Out Loud β€’ 31 implied HN points β€’ 14 Mar 24
  1. Familiarity can hold us back from changing for the better, as what feels right and natural may not always be the most constructive choice.
  2. Stepping into new and unfamiliar territories can feel uncomfortable and even wrong, but it's often a sign of growth and progress.
  3. It's important to distinguish between just feeling unfamiliar, which can lead to positive change, and feeling actually bad, which should be avoided.
The Beautiful Mess β€’ 927 implied HN points β€’ 07 Jul 23
  1. Hierarchy creates a chain of communication in which information gets oversimplified as it moves up, leading to an unwinnable game
  2. Passing information up the chain results in details being shaped and possibly distorted based on audience and perceived urgency
  3. The ideal conditions for a 'good game' are challenged in scenarios where goals become unclear, feedback loops are long, and motivations are dwindled
The Ruffian β€’ 288 implied HN points β€’ 04 Nov 23
  1. The use of swearing in the workplace can indicate a lack of self-discipline and quality of thought.
  2. Swearing, when used strategically and thoughtfully, can be a powerful tool for impactful communication.
  3. Maintaining a balance between reasonableness and assertiveness is crucial, knowing when to speak up even if it requires using strong language.