How much trust do you put in your estimates?

How much information do you have at your disposal?

Are you maybe guessing even?

Is it a hunch?

Guesses and estimates are similar to gambling. Don't get too attached to your estimates and guesses. Be prepared to be wrong.

Estimates and guesses help to get momentum. Be prepared to change direction.

Have you played through future scenarios?

Which directions can things take?

How can you impact the direction?

Are you prepared for what can happen?

Thinking through scenarios is crucial for strategic planning.

However, do not let it cripple you, keep momentum, while preparing.

When pressure at work increases, what do you do?

Do you increase your workload?

Do you decrease sleep time?

Do you decrease social engagements?

It is counterintuitive, but with rising pressure, self-care becomes crucial.

Effectivity paired with self-care beats pressure every time.

Do you apply the Pareto principle to yourself?

Do you know the 20% that delivers 80% of the benefits?

Do you know the 20% that delivers 80% of the damage?

You can apply Pareto to your habits and your mindsets.

Identify the habits and mindsets that do the most harm.

When do they happen? How do they happen? Why do they happen?

Now go about changing them!

You are diagnosed with cancer.

It is not looking good.

What would you do?

What project would you quit?

What things would you start doing?

Who would you contact?

What would you change?

Why wait till a diagnosis? Why not do these things, right now? What is stopping you?

How much do you trust in information?

How objective is information?

How does your opinion flavor information?

How does other people‘s perspectives paint information?

Any piece of information can change its meeaning depending on the perspective.

Evaluate where it came from and from whom before deciding.

How much trust do you put in models and theories?

How much trust do you put in humanities knowledge?

What about science?

Models and theories are approximations. All we know are approximations, theories and models.

Use them where they work and be weary of them where they do not.

For example, Relativity Theory does not work in black holes.

Do you take things at face value?

How often are things miscommunicated?

What can you do to mitigate the issues?

It helps to always ask for clarification especially if you have a bit of doubt.

It is worth the effort as unclear situations always lead to disputes.

How seriously do you take yourself?

Can you laugh about your own misfortune?

Are you able to make fun of your own mistakes?

Gallows humour is a great tool.

People who use it are more resilient.

Enjoy the ups and downs of life.

You don't know which option to choose.

What do you need to make the decision?

Are you lacking information?

Maybe you can get a taste before deciding.

Often there is a way to try something without a hard commitment.

You are anxious about something.

You consider your options.

Consider some more.

And more...

Ruminating won't help. Make a plan.

A plan is not final, it can change. Decide a course of action. Get momentum and figure it out from there.

Do you like to save money on your equipment?

Making do more with less?

How much can you improve efficiency with better equipment?

How much is a 5% productivity increase worth?

Only a small percentage increase in your productivity is already worth thousands.

Invest in your equipment, it is worth it. A good craftsman never blames his tools, but having crap tools doesn't help to produce great work.

Look around yourself.

What do you see?

Strangers?

Annoying people?

Siblings, parents, children?

They are all potential teachers. Everyone you see has something to teach you.

You want to change something...

What do you do?

There are many strategies.

"Be the change you wish to see in the world" - Arleen Lorrance

Go about it as if it has changed already and thus lead the way to the change.

This works for things about yourself and for matters concerning groups.

Do you sometimes feel stupid in hindsight?

The right choice is obvious?

Your behaviour in the past seems silly?

That idea was bound to never work?

Seeing your flaws in hindsight is a sign of growth. At the time your decisions were the best you could do.

Have compassion for yourself and rejoice, for the experience made you grow.

Some days you feel confused.

Some days you are forgetful.

Some days you are clumsy.

Some days are simply horrible.

It is all right. Everyone has them.

Keep your sights on tomorrow. A fresh day, a new chance, go get it.

Got a stupid idea?

Maybe you have many stupid ideas?

Who rates them as stupid?

You? Your family? Your friends? Your colleagues?

Your stupid idea might be genius in the eyes of someone.

Your stupid idea can lay the foundation for a great idea.

There are no stupid ideas. Only possibilities, options and opportunities.

How much does your personal opinion influence your decisions?

Be honest here, it influences your decisions greatly.

How often does your opinion stand in the way?

Probably more often than you want to admit.

Try to look at problems in an as unbiased as possible way.

If you cannot, then ask someone else to.

How do you define failure?

As something permanent or temporary?

As something all-encompassing or limited?

As something purely your fault?

Failure is a learning experience. It is neither permanent, nor all-encompassing, nor is it entirely your fault.

You are responsible for learning from failure. You are responsible for how you react to failure.

What do you do in hard times?

Do you turn inwards?

Do you focus on your troubles?

Do you reduce social time?

In crises, we tend to turn inwards and reduce time with social connections.

This increases stress. Talk to friends, family, partners or acquaintances about your troubles. It is a balm for the soul.