It's Time To Stop Living On Hard Mode

The video is about the concept of "hard mode" and "easy mode" in life and how they affect independent thinking. The host, Chris Williamson, argues that in order to think independently, one must be able to withstand pain, financially, emotionally, and mentally. He also emphasizes the importance of having a position in life where failure will not make a huge difference. The host uses the example of a teenager who received a bad grade on an exam and how their conversation with their parents or friends on the car ride home affected their decision to quit sports. The host argues that by rewinding 96 hours and examining the events leading up to the test, one can determine whether they played on "hard mode" or "easy mode" and how they can put things on "easy mode" in the future.

This video by Chris Williamson was published on Dec 2, 2023.
Video length: 55:27.

In this video, Chris Williamson discusses the concept of independent thinking and how it can be valuable.

He argues that divergent thinking, or thinking that goes against the crowd, is necessary for independent thinking to be valuable. He also emphasizes the importance of withstanding pain and being able to financially, mentally, and emotionally handle failure in order to think independently. Williamson uses examples from his own life and the lives of others to illustrate these points. He also discusses the importance of psychological safety, or feeling safe to think independently without fear of punishment.

Overall, Williamson argues that independent thinking is important for personal growth and development.

• The host, Chris Williamson, argues that in order to think independently, one must be able to withstand pain, financially, emotionally, and mentally.
• He emphasizes the importance of having a position in life where failure will not make a huge difference.
• The host uses the example of a teenager who received a bad grade on an exam and how their conversation with their parents or friends on the car ride home affected their decision to quit sports.
• The host argues that by rewinding 96 hours and examining the events leading up to the test, one can determine whether they played on "hard mode" or "easy mode" and how they can put things on "easy mode" in the future.
• The host suggests that the word "positioning" is more appropriate than "preparation" because it accounts for things that one cannot anticipate.
• Preparation implies that one knows what will happen, while positioning implies being prepared for multiple possible futures.
• The host believes that when one is in a position to manage the inevitable emotional ups and downs, they are in a much stronger position to go through those.
• The host uses the example of a patch of grass between two people, and how watering it every day will prevent it from drying out and starting a fire.
• The host mentions a series of books called "The Great Mental Models" that put the 101 that one would have learned in most University introductory classes in a more plain language and easily accessible.

It's Time To Stop Living On Hard Mode - YouTube

Section 1: The Concept of "Hard Mode" and "Easy Mode"

• The host, Chris Williamson, argues that in order to think independently, one must be able to withstand pain, financially, emotionally, and mentally.
• He emphasizes the importance of having a position in life where failure will not make a huge difference.
• The host uses the example of a teenager who received a bad grade on an exam and how their conversation with their parents or friends on the car ride home affected their decision to quit sports.
• The host argues that by rewinding 96 hours and examining the events leading up to the test, one can determine whether they played on "hard mode" or "easy mode" and how they can put things on "easy mode" in the future.

Section 2: Divergent Thinking

• The host argues that independent thinking for it to be valuable has to be Divergent thinking.
• Divergent thinking is advantageous Divergence, which means going against the crowd and being right.

Section 3: Managing Urges

• The host discusses how one can manage the urges that get other people into trouble, including the social default.
• He argues that one needs to manage the urges that get other people into trouble in order to think independently.

It's Time To Stop Living On Hard Mode - YouTube

Section 4: Positioning and Control

• The host discusses how one's position in life determines whether they are playing on "easy mode" or "hard mode".
• He argues that one's position in life determines whether they are playing on "easy mode" or "hard mode" and that those things determine whether they are playing on "easy mode" or "hard mode".

The concept of "hard mode" and "easy mode" in life

• The host, Chris Williamson, argues that in order to think independently, one must be able to withstand pain, financially, emotionally, and mentally.
• He emphasizes the importance of having a position in life where failure will not make a huge difference.
• The host uses the example of a teenager who received a bad grade on an exam and how their conversation with their parents or friends on the car ride home affected their decision to quit sports.
• The host argues that by rewinding 96 hours and examining the events leading up to the test, one can determine whether they played on "hard mode" or "easy mode" and how they can put things on "easy mode" in the future.

Preparation vs positioning

• The host suggests that the word "positioning" is more appropriate than "preparation" because it accounts for things that one cannot anticipate.
• Preparation implies that one knows what will happen, while positioning implies being prepared for multiple possible futures.
• The host believes that when one is in a position to manage the inevitable emotional ups and downs, they are in a much stronger position to go through those.
• The host uses the example of a patch of grass between two people, and how watering it every day will prevent it from drying out and starting a fire.

The development of thinking tools

• The host believes that there is a pivot or maturity in the development of thinking tools from just looking at rules and the thermodynamics of how our mind works to something more integrated and holistic.
• The host thinks that this development is related to how one deals with the various vicissitudes of life and the urges that get in our way.
• The host suggests that being angry or upset does not fit within a mental model, and that these emotions need to be dealt with in a different way.
• The host mentions a series of books called "The Great Mental Models" that put the 101 that one would have learned in most University introductory classes in a more plain language and easily accessible.

Eliminating blind spots and dealing with emotions

• The host believes that eliminating blind spots is one part of life, and reducing them is another part of life.
• The host suggests that dealing with our emotional self and dealing with social situations are also important in life.
• The host mentions that anger and other emotions inevitably happen to us, and we can't change the fact that they're going to happen.
• The host suggests that mental models can help us see something, but they could also create paralysis where one overanalyzes a situation and doesn't take action.

The Concept of "Hard Mode" and "Easy Mode" in Life

• The concept of "hard mode" and "easy mode" in life refers to the idea that in order to think independently, one must be able to withstand pain, financially, emotionally, and mentally.
• The host argues that in order to think independently, one must be able to withstand pain, financially, emotionally, and mentally.
• The host uses the example of a teenager who received a bad grade on an exam and how their conversation with their parents or friends on the car ride home affected their decision to quit sports.
• The host argues that by rewinding 96 hours and examining the events leading up to the test, one can determine whether they played on "hard mode" or "easy mode" and how they can put things on "easy mode" in the future.

The Importance of Having a Position in Life Where Failure Will Not Make a Huge Difference

• The host emphasizes the importance of having a position in life where failure will not make a huge difference.
• The host uses the example of a teenager who received a bad grade on an exam and how their conversation with their parents or friends on the car ride home affected their decision to quit sports.

The Importance of Clear Thinking

• The host argues that in order to think independently, one must be able to withstand pain, financially, emotionally, and mentally.
• The host uses the example of a teenager who received a bad grade on an exam and how their conversation with their parents or friends on the car ride home affected their decision to quit sports.

The Enemies of Clear Thinking

• The main enemies of clear thinking are emotion, ego, social situations, ritual or inertia.
• The host uses the example of a teenager who received a bad grade on an exam and how their conversation with their parents or friends on the car ride home affected their decision to quit sports.

The concept of "hard mode" and "easy mode" in life

• The host, Chris Williamson, argues that in order to think independently, one must be able to withstand pain, financially, emotionally, and mentally.
• He emphasizes the importance of having a position in life where failure will not make a huge difference.
• The host uses the example of a teenager who received a bad grade on an exam and how their conversation with their parents or friends on the car ride home affected their decision to quit sports.
• The host argues that by rewinding 96 hours and examining the events leading up to the test, one can determine whether they played on "hard mode" or "easy mode" and how they can put things on "easy mode" in the future.

Tactical justifications for things

• The host argues that the tactical justifications for things are such huge game changers.
• He gives the example of texting friends when one thinks about them as a trigger to keep on top of friendships.
• The host argues that these justifications are practical and applicable in real life and help people in scenarios that are difficult.

Creating defaults around desired behaviors

• The host argues that in order to create defaults around desired behaviors, one must first identify their desired behaviors.
• He gives the example of paying invoices as soon as possible as a rule that helped prioritize work.
• The host argues that creating defaults around desired behaviors is a powerful way to make them a habit and increase their likelihood of being followed.

Practical examples of creating defaults

• The host gives the example of working out every day as a rule that helped him maintain a consistent exercise routine.
• He argues that creating practical examples of creating defaults is important because they are specific to the individual and can be tailored to their needs.

The importance of having a position in life where failure will not make a huge difference

• The host argues that having a position in life where failure will not make a huge difference is important for independent thinking.
• He gives the example of a teenager who received a bad grade on an exam and how their conversation with their parents or friends on the car ride home affected their decision to quit sports.

Morning Routine

• The host argues that the most valuable time of the day is the morning.
• He suggests blocking off every day from whenever he leaves the house until 12 o'clock to work on the most important opportunity at hand.
• The host emphasizes the importance of not getting interrupted during this time.
• He suggests that this routine allows him to work on the most important opportunity at hand.
• The host also suggests that this routine allows him to take a break when needed and not feel guilty about it.

Investing

• The host suggests investing in an index fund every month as a rule.
• He argues that this is a no-brainer and that it helps avoid getting bored with investing.
• The host suggests that organizations can devise rules to avoid getting bored with solving problems.
• He argues that solving the wrong problem can cause a lot of stress and anxiety.
• The host suggests that breaking the problem definition from the problem solution meetings into separate meetings can help ensure that the right problem is being solved.

Problem Solving

• The host argues that people often jump into solving problems without pausing to determine if they are solving the actual problem.
• He suggests that this can cause a lot of stress and anxiety and lead to miscommunication.
• The host suggests that breaking the problem definition from the problem solution meetings into separate meetings can help ensure that the right problem is being solved.
• He argues that committees don't make decisions, people do and that assigning one's name to a decision can help take the process more seriously.
• The host suggests that people should assign their name to decisions and take responsibility for them.

The concept of "hard mode" and "easy mode" in life

• The host, Chris Williamson, argues that in order to think independently, one must be able to withstand pain, financially, emotionally, and mentally.
• He emphasizes the importance of having a position in life where failure will not make a huge difference.
• The host uses the example of a teenager who received a bad grade on an exam and how their conversation with their parents or friends on the car ride home affected their decision to quit sports.
• The host argues that by rewinding 96 hours and examining the events leading up to the test, one can determine whether they played on "hard mode" or "easy mode" and how they can put things on "easy mode" in the future.

Accountability and decision making

• The host argues that having accountability in decision making is a big difference.
• He gives an example of how if someone is accountable for a form that needs to be filled out, it can be streamlined and completed more quickly.
• The host also mentions that if nobody is accountable for a form, it can be tedious and time-consuming.

Building strength in thinking

• The host suggests that people need to build more strength in their thinking.
• He mentions that learning by doing and developing all of the ideas of what do I what can I do to put myself in a position to play on easy mode is important.
• The host also emphasizes the importance of confidence around next step confidence, which means having the confidence to take the next step and create momentum.

Watch the video on YouTube:
It's Time To Stop Living On Hard Mode - YouTube