Shane Parrish: Clear Thinking in Everyday Life | Rational Reminder 280

In this episode, we delve into the complexity of navigating life's challenges, taking risks, fostering self-confidence, and honing problem-solving skills. Joining us is Shane Parrish, a best-selling author, to help us unpack this nuanced topic through the lens of his new book, Clear Thinking. His latest publication is a roadmap for recognizing pivotal moments for clear thought and exposing how our defaults often drive us. He aims to empower readers to intervene, harness reasoning, and apply cognitive tools for better decision-making. Shane is also the founder of the website blog Farnam Street and the venture capitalist firm Syrus Partners. In our conversation, we explore the steps to becoming a clear thinker and how the mantra can be applied to our daily lives. We discuss how ordinary moments influence our decisions, the definition of true goals, and how to build self-confidence. We also unpack the barriers that hinder clear thinking, the difference between playing on hard and playing on easy, the value of continual growth, and much more. Tune in and discover how to master risk, confidence, and problem-solving with Shane Parrish!

Timestamps:

0:00:00 Intro
0:03:44 Shane explains why the title of his book refers to ordinary moments
0:09:03 How important it is to define your true goals
0:12:00 How clear thinking is connected to achieving goals
0:20:01 How one learns to control the four defaults
0:26:55 Shane's opinion regarding following best practices as a decision-making tool
0:35:22 How important good habits are to clear thinking
0:47:24 The importance of defining the problem before solving the problem
0:52:11 How Shane determined that he values time over money
0:57:21 How someone can curate the information that is best for them
1:02:00 Shane defines success in his life

Links From Today’s Episode:
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[RamGuy-zq]

Such an incredible episode, what a gem! Now I am spamming my family and friends with the link to this 😊.

[albertotoia]

Just WOW! This episode stands out as one of the most engaging discussions on life setupand well-being. Once again, the founder of fs has exceeded high expectations.

[scottmuc]

Hehe, I loved the section of rules 🙂. I've been pretty good at setting a few:

* everyday I must leave my home before noon (I've worked from home since 2018). This means I'm dressed, presentable to the public, and allows for easy subsequent decisions to visit the bake or grab fresh produce for smoothies.
* never go to bed after midnight. When I'm out with friends and I announce I need to leave, they will reinforce my rule by saying "Oh, I guess it's getting close to midnight".
* I only eat from my favourite burger place on Fridays, and I walk there and pick it up... no delivery.
* I never make a big decision unless I've slept on it (applied when applying for jobs, and when I bought my flat)

No one ever argues with me about these rules. It's wonderful.

[Stranger]

what a profoundly inspiring and informative episode... Ben was correct, this video changed a part of me by the end. i wish i could articulate this feeling i have right now, the word invigorated comes to mind. this was greatly, greatly appreciated. thank you, Shane.

[lukk]

I love it. I read his newsletter every Sunday and watch you guys all the time. Glad to see you both together. I am about to start the book this weekend.

[Andrei.Joldos]

To me, Ben and Shane feel a bit intimidating in their focus for excellence, as I feel I am more reserved in this aspect now at 37. I like Cameron's presence and quiet. To me, it brings a balance I prefer.