First Principles Decision Analysis

Categories: Problem-Solving & Critical Thinking Brainstorming & Ideation Problem Solving & Decision Making (Primary) Mental Models & Thinking Tools

I need to make a decision about [describe your decision/situation]. Help me apply first principles thinking like Elon Musk to break this down to its fundamental elements and rebuild a solution from the ground up.

Please follow this structured approach:

1. PROBLEM DECONSTRUCTION:
- What is the core problem I'm trying to solve?
- What are the fundamental truths or principles that apply to this situation?
- What conventional wisdom or assumptions might be clouding my thinking?

2. QUESTION ASSUMPTIONS:
- List the 5-7 key assumptions most people make when facing this type of decision
- For each assumption, explain:
a) Why this assumption is commonly held
b) Whether this assumption is actually valid in my specific case
c) What happens if we discard or invert this assumption

3. FUNDAMENTALS ANALYSIS:
- What are the non-negotiable factors or constraints in this situation?
- What are the fundamental metrics of success?
- What basic resources, capabilities, or principles can be leveraged?

4. SOLUTION RECONSTRUCTION:
- Based only on verified fundamental truths, what approaches emerge?
- How do these approaches differ from conventional wisdom?
- What novel solutions appear when combining these fundamental elements?

5. IMPLEMENTATION PATHWAY:
- What would be the first principles approach to implementing the best solution?
- What experiments could validate this approach with minimal resources?
- How can the solution be iteratively improved?

Please avoid generic advice and focus on applying rigorous first principles thinking to my specific situation.
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