I love this simple model from Taki Moore. It applies to almost anything:
“You’ve got three options [to solve problems]…”
1. Hard work
Bang your head against the wall until you figure it out.
→ Good for building depth, but it’s time-consuming. Don’t live here.
2. Guesswork
Try a bunch of things and hope something sticks.
→ Useful for exploring, but wasteful if unchecked. Timebox it.
3. Framework
Use a proven playbook (or a coach with one).
→ Learning from your own experience is good; learning from others’ is smarter.
→ Someone’s likely done what you want—study it, adapt it.
→ Books are cheat codes. Don’t skip them.
How do I use it? Default to frameworks, sprinkle in time-boxed guesswork to discover edges, and reserve hard work for the parts that deserve deep thought.
Lately, Cynefin, Extreme Ownership, and Shape Up have helped me a lot. What framework has saved you the most time lately? 👇
