inversion
Instead of asking how to achieve something, ask how to avoid failing at it. Flip the problem upside down. Many hard problems become easier when you work backwards from what you want to avoid.
key principles
- 01
Define the opposite
Instead of 'How do I build a great relationship?' ask 'What would destroy this relationship?' Then avoid those things.
- 02
Identify the failure modes
Before launching a project, list all the ways it could fail. Then systematically address each one before starting.
- 03
Subtract before adding
Instead of asking what to do more of, ask what to stop doing. Removing the bad often has more impact than adding the good.
applications
The Principle
Carl Jacobi, the 19th-century mathematician, was famous for solving difficult problems by stating them in inverse form. Charlie Munger adopted this as a core mental model: “Invert, always invert.”
The insight is that it’s often easier to avoid stupidity than to achieve brilliance. You can’t always know what will work, but you can often identify what definitely won’t.
Key Quote
“It is remarkable how much long-term advantage people like us have gotten by trying to be consistently not stupid, instead of trying to be very intelligent.” — Charlie Munger