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Dr. Jim Salvucci's avatar

Not sure. I was unconscious of it until my boss pointed it out three decades ago. It may result from a combination of my being overawed by authority due to my 12 years of Catholic schooling and my being appalled by authority due to my 12 years of Catholic schooling.

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Mikey Ames's avatar

You and I could have a longggg conversation, Jim.

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Dr. Jim Salvucci's avatar

Let’s then. If you want, I would love to chat by Zoom: calendly.jimsalvucci.com.

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Mikey Ames's avatar

Appears to be a dead link on my end. Typo in it by chance?

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Dr. Jim Salvucci's avatar

Another excellent, informative, and insightful post! Many decades ago, my boss (one of a half-handful of decent ones I had) told me he liked assigning new projects to me because I always did what I was told at first and then started innovating. Although I was not aware of this tendency, he was right, and I have used that technique ever since. It is my version of first principles. Learn how something is done by doing it conventionally and then figure out how do it better.

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Admired Leadership's avatar

Where do you think this tendency came from in your own routine, Jim?

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Cindy.bristow@ucr.edu's avatar

Outstanding insight and simplification…first principles writing!

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David C Morris's avatar

Can you recommend any good references to learn more about first principles? The technique, how it is done?

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Admired Leadership's avatar

Shane Parrish references Alain De Botton and this youtube video.

"The chief enemy of good decisions is a lack of sufficient perspectives on a problem."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okdsAZUTJ94

The video appears to be juvenile, but stick with it. :)

Shane has been writing about it for some time now... https://fs.blog/first-principles/

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Admired Leadership's avatar

Great Mental Models vol 1 from Farnam Street is one that source spends a chapter unpacking it.

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