Hi,

A recurring theme in the ideas I share this week is that we should have well-examined beliefs. Even if it means revising long-held opinions. Famous philisopher Bertrand Russel seems to agree:

Reviewing beliefs is uncomfortable, especially if we have been privately and publicly supportive of them. But if there is one thing that should make us sceptical of our beliefs it is the observation that even in rigorous pursuits like science beliefs change over time. Philosophers of science call this pessimistic induction. And it’s a reminder that our beliefs are provisional and require constant revision.

As our thinking evolves, we may adopt beliefs that are unconventional. Leading to another fear: sounding ridiculous. One of the ideas I share this week takes aim at the idea that ridicule is a sign of irrational thought. Sometimes it’s perfectly reasonable to be ridiculous.

Hope you enjoy this week’s summary.

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1. Authentic freedom

Your sense of freedom is an illusion.

Unless you’re deliberate about your defaults.

You’re not free if you:

• Choose compliance over reason

• Robotically execute outdated habits

• Copy mainstream beliefs without question

• Follow self-imposed rules and stick to poor decisions made long ago

Freedom is:

• Having beliefs supported by evidence, and not plagiarised from society

• Accepting short-term discomfort as the way to avoid long-term regret

• Valuing an authentic life over blind obedience

• Seeing everything as optional

2. Updating my beliefs

Here are 5 things I’ve changed my mind about after 15 years as a start-up founder.

1. Interviews when hiring

I used to believe that those who interview well perform best.

I now believe that the artificial performance of talking in an interview is a poor approximation of the ability to do a job that isn’t simply talking in an interview.

2. The value of business plans

I used to believe that a business plan is the ultimate playbook for how we’ll make a success of the business from start to end.

I now believe that “the plan” is fluid, and needs to be seen as a rough guide to be continuously updated and far from the final word on what’s going to work.

3. More hours = more output

I used to believe that the more hours I worked the more I’d achieve.

I now believe that there is a diminishing return beyond a certain point where the quality and quantity of work deteriorate. And that I (and others) perform better when rest is part of the plan.

4. Bespoke is beautiful

I used to believe that as a professional services business, personalised delivery beats one-size-fits-all.

I now believe that a foundation of standardisation of best practices eases training, improves efficiency and creates freedom for creative consultation on top.

5. More is more

I used to believe that complexity increased in a growing business and we had to accept this as part of scaling up.

I now believe that simplicity should be a core value in businesses of all sizes. And that complexity is an unwelcome artifact, and not a feature, of larger companies.

3. Limit options to improve decisions

In “How to decide” Annie Duke explains the importance of our decisions:

"...there are only two things that determine how your life turns out: luck and the quality of your decisions."

Not much we can do about luck.

But here’s one thing that holds us back from making better decisions: too many options.

Turns out, an abundance of choices can backfire. Research reveals that we stick to the default or avoid choosing when presented with too many alternatives. But playing it safe means missing out on better alternatives.

Luckily, there's a way to break free from “same old” rut and elevate our decision-making:

Limit your options.

By intentionally narrowing down the possibilities to a manageable number, you can make more informed choices without succumbing to inertia. This approach allows you to strike a balance between exploring new possibilities and avoiding decision paralysis.

4. Popular and wrong

“Hire for attitude, train for skills”

Ever imagined a surgeon or pilot hired just for their attitude?

Even if my life didn’t depend on it I’d prefer a team who can back up their good attitude with the right skills.

Entry-level jobs and quick-learning roles exist, but some positions require years of mastery.

Catchy mantras may sound great, but many are pretty thin once you take a closer look.

Build your business on well-examined beliefs, not mindless slogans.

5. Defying gravity by being ridiculous

When high jumper Dick Fosbury introduced the world to his revolutionary technique, the Fosbury Flop, he was mocked as "The World's Laziest High Jumper."

Now, his back-first approach is the gold standard in the sport.

In the 1960s, Fosbury was ridiculed for his innovation. But being the first to take a bold stance or endorse an uncommon perspective can be just what's needed to create radical change.

Defying the gravity of the mainstream way requires rational ridiculousness.

If you have any feedback on this newsletter or rational and ridiculous ideas to share let me know. Just reply to this email.

Thanks for reading.

Henk