At Startup Decoder, we’re clear advocates for the value of experience in the workplace. But sometimes that very experience can self-sabotage. Certain business situations, particularly in tech, can require stripping away every assumption and tradition you’ve gained over time. If you’ve ever said or thought, “But that’s the way we’ve always done it,” you may need to take a lesson in putting experience aside for first-principles thinking.
What is first-principles thinking?
First-principles thinking is a mental model that can be traced back to Aristotle, and has been used throughout history by thinkers in various fields. Today, notable advocates include Elon Musk and Charlie Munger.
First-principles thinking is usually considered to have three steps:
- Gain a full understanding of the problem.
- Pull apart all the components of the problem.
- Then put these components together in a new way.
One method to get to first principles is an exercise called the Five Whys. It goes like this: First, state the problem, then ask “why?” Take the answer to that, and ask “why?” again. Ask “why?” five times. James Clear puts it another, simpler way—deconstruct then reconstruct. However you arrive at it, the goal is to solve the problem in a new way.
Tech: Companies built on first principles
Most technology companies are built on first-principles thinking, with founders asking, “How can we use technology to solve a problem or need in a brand new way?” These new ideas may sound irrational at first because they so cut across our “that’s how we’ve always done it” biases:
- A taxi company where drivers supply their personal cars? Doesn’t make sense. Then Uber.
- An alternative to hotels where you stay in people’s homes? Unimaginable. Then Airbnb.
- A rocket that returns to earth for reuse by landing on a ship? Crazy. Then SpaceX.
This can be risky, though. With a completely new, untested idea, the chance of failure is high. This can be an uncomfortable reality for experienced leaders whose careers were built on successes and tend to move towards security.
Experience can be a blocker
That feeling when you just know something will work or won’t work? It’s a common one for highly experienced leaders. Which is exactly why it can feel especially risky to strip aside all you know in order to think completely differently. So yes, you already know a solution. And maybe you have even put it in place already. But is it the best solution? And is it the best solution for today? Time to consider first principles.
Career benefits of first-principles thinking
The ability to reconstruct in a creative way is a real career asset. Markets and technology are changing faster than ever before, so you’ll be better able to adapt if you know how to rely on first principles. Take what you’ve learned through decades and the pattern recognition that more experienced employees tend to excel at. Then filter it through the lens of first-principles thinking. Now you’ve unlocked exceptional creativity. You have become the ultimate problem-solver in your company.
You’ll also reap more internal benefits. Mid-career doldrums can sap your energy and interest. Stretching yourself to engage in first-principles can jolt you from complacency. And of course, nothing’s more energizing than creating something new and enjoying success.
No one said it would be easy
For most people, this does not come naturally. Breaking apart long-held assumptions can take real focus and commitment. And there are no guarantees. You need to be comfortable not knowing the answers or not having an idea work out—which more experienced leaders have often become unaccustomed to.
But it’s worth it
Develop the skill of deconstructing and then reconstructing, and you become an invaluable member of the team. Not only do you bring the experience of age, but you’re also able to call upon the “blank slate” thinking that comes more easily to youth. You’ll be infinitely more hireable and retainable, able to demonstrate a flexibility too often presumed to be impossible for those over a certain age. Learning to practice first principles-thinking is an investment well made.