Complete strategic thinking & mental models toolkit. 50+ decision frameworks organized by situation type — business strategy, investing, hiring, pricing, risk, negotiations, product, and personal life. Use when facing any important decision, analyzing a situation, or building a decision culture. Includes scoring rubrics, templates, anti-patterns, and real-world application guides.
The comprehensive decision-making methodology for founders, operators, investors, and leaders. 50+ mental models organized by when to use them, with templates and scoring systems.
When the user says "help me decide" or "analyze this decision":
Score the current decision process (1-5 each):
| Dimension | Score | Signal |
|---|
| Problem clarity | _ /5 | Can you state the decision in one sentence? |
| Options explored | _ /5 | Have you considered 3+ alternatives including "do nothing"? |
| Evidence quality | _ /5 | Data-backed or gut feeling? |
| Bias awareness | _ /5 | Have you actively looked for disconfirming evidence? |
| Reversibility mapped | _ /5 | Do you know the cost of being wrong? |
| Stakeholders consulted | _ /5 | Has anyone challenged this? |
| Second-order effects | _ /5 | What happens AFTER this decision plays out? |
| Time-appropriateness | _ /5 | Are you spending the right amount of time on this? |
≥32: Strong process — proceed with confidence 24-31: Decent — address weak dimensions before committing 16-23: Gaps — slow down and fill them ≤15: Stop — you're about to wing a consequential decision
Not all decisions deserve the same process. Classify first.
| Type 1 (One-Way Door) | Type 2 (Two-Way Door) | |
|---|---|---|
| Reversibility | Irreversible or very costly to reverse | Easily reversible |
| Process | Full analysis, multiple perspectives, sleep on it | Decide fast, iterate, don't overthink |
| Who decides | Senior person or group | Individual closest to the information |
| Time budget | Hours to weeks | Minutes to hours |
| Examples | Acquisition, firing someone, pricing model, market entry | Feature priority, tool selection, meeting format, hiring channel |
The #1 mistake: Treating Type 2 decisions like Type 1. This creates organizational paralysis. Speed on Type 2 decisions is a competitive advantage.
Before choosing a framework, map consequences: