Sam Thomas Davies's Blog, page 3

Words Into Works #134 | The Two-List Strategy

Have you ever sat down to work, only to feel paralyzed by the sheer number of things competing for your attention? You’re not alone. For most of us, the problem isn’t a lack of ambition—it’s the impossibility of doing everything at once. But what if the key to productivity wasn’t about juggling more but focusing […]

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Words Into Works #133 | The Paradox of Choice

Imagine a quick stop for toothpaste. Simple, right? But as your eyes scan the shelves, chaos looms: whitening, sensitivity relief, charcoal, baking soda, mint. What began as a two-minute errand now feels like a surprise quiz you’re unprepared for. You freeze, second-guessing every option. Whitening or charcoal? Sensitivity relief or cavity protection? What if I […]

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Words Into Works #132 | The Two Selves Theory

Reflect on a recent experience. What comes to mind first? It’s likely not the whole event but the moments that made it unforgettable—the peaks that thrilled you, the valleys that challenged you, and the way it all came together. Daniel Kahneman, the Nobel Prize-winning psychologist and author of Thinking, Fast and Slow, delves into this […]

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Words Into Works #131 | The Two-Way Door Decision Framework

A while back, I read a story about a professional who was offered a chance to collaborate on an exciting project. It could have been life-changing. But he hesitated—paralyzed by the fear of making the wrong choice. The opportunity was gone by the time he decided. It’s a familiar story, isn’t it? We treat every […]

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Words Into Works #130 | The Reversal Test

Imagine you’re leading a project, and your team proposes a significant change. As you listen, you feel a sense of discomfort—something about the idea doesn’t sit right. The reasons for your hesitation might not be clear, but they persist. Should you trust your gut, or are you potentially falling into the trap of status quo […]

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Words Into Works #129 | The Opportunity Portfolio

Last month, a friend of mine turned down a $50,000 consulting project because his calendar was completely booked. Two weeks later, a $250,000 opportunity emerged—but he couldn’t take that either. He had optimized himself into a corner. This scenario illustrates one of the most powerful ideas from Morgan Housel’s The Psychology of Money: The Opportunity […]

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Words Into Works #128 | Temptation Bundling

Imagine you have a workout bike gathering dust in your living room. You know using it would be good for you, but you can’t seem to make yourself hop on and start pedaling. One day, you get a brilliant idea: you’ll only let yourself binge that addictive new Netflix show while you’re spinning away on […]

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Words Into Works #127 | The Ivy Lee Method

Imagine it’s 1918. You’re an executive at the Bethlehem Steel Company in Pennsylvania, one of the largest steel manufacturers in the world. Despite the company’s success, you and your colleagues need help managing your time effectively. Enter Ivy Lee, a productivity consultant with a revolutionary idea. His method was so simple yet powerful that it […]

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Words Into Works #126 | The Commitment Device

In the labyrinth of human decision-making, we often find ourselves at odds with our future selves. We make grand plans in moments of clarity and motivation, only to have them crumble when faced with the temptations of procrastination or instant gratification. Enter the commitment device: a self-imposed constraint designed to bridge the gap between our […]

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Words Into Works #125 | The Mere Exposure Effect

In a world saturated with marketing messages and social media influence, understanding the subtle psychological forces that shape our preferences is more crucial than ever. Enter the Mere Exposure Effect, a concept that might explain why we find ourselves humming that irritating jingle or reaching for that familiar brand on the supermarket shelf. In his […]

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