On careers, startups, technology, and life.

20 Ideas I Can’t Stop Thinking About by @SahilBloom

byJeph Maystruck/May 2, 2022/inBlogging, Social Media, Strategy

I found this thread on Twitter and I LOVED it. I knew about some of the ideas he presents but also learned a lot. So much so that I was going back to it again and again and then I was like, shiiiiiiiiit I’ll write a blog post about it! It’s THAT good.

I found this thread on Twitter and after saving it and going back to it multiple times I decided to make it into a blog post. Here are 20 ideas from Sahil Bloom.

20 ideas I can’t stop thinking about:

— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 23, 2022

1. THE FEYNMAN TECHNIQUE

To learn anything:
Step 1: Identify a topic
Step 2: Try to explain it to a 5-year-old
Step 3: Study to fill in knowledge gaps
Step 4: Organize, convey, and review True genius is the ability to simplify, not complicate. Simple is beautiful.

2. Intellectual Sparring Partners

Most of us need fewer friends and more intellectual sparring partners. Friends are easy to come by. Intellectual sparring partners are harder to find. They will call you on your BS, question your assumptions, and push you to think deeply.

3. Boredom Alpha

Experiencing regular periods of boredom is a competitive advantage. Your most creative moments come during bouts of boredom. In the shower, on a walk, at a dinner by yourself. You’re bored, your mind wanders, and creative insight strikes. Boredom creates alpha.

4. Paths Open vs. Closed

Black Lines = paths closed
Green Lines = paths open
We spend too much time focusing on what might have been (black) and not enough time focusing on what may be (green). Never underestimate the density of opportunity that lies ahead. (h/t @waitbutwhy)

(Image Source)

5. Luck Surface Area

Much of what we call “luck” is the macro result of 1,000s of micro actions. Your habits put you in a position where luck is more likely to strike. If you want to create more luck, increase your luck surface area. Open up the aperture to let more luck in.

6. The Cobra Effect

When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure. Fearing the cobras in India, the British offered bounties for cobra heads. So locals bred cobras to turn in their heads. A policy designed to reduce the cobra population had the opposite effect.

7. Fermi Paradox

Where is everybody?! The basic logic is as follows:

Billions of stars
Many will have Earth-like planets
Intelligent life would rise on some
Tech would advance to interstellar travel on some

So why haven’t we encountered any alien life? Are we alone?

8. Time Billionaire

Time is our most precious asset. When you’re young, you are a “time billionaire”—rich with time. Too many people fail to realize the value of this asset until it is gone. Treat time as your ultimate currency—it’s all you have and you can never get it back.

9. Hedonic Treadmill

Humans have a tendency to quickly return to a baseline level of happiness after positive or negative events. We believe that “more” will make us happier. It won’t. We get there, feel a moment of happiness, and reset to thinking about the next “more” ahead.

10. The Locksmith Paradox

As the locksmith improves at his craft, the customers become increasingly upset by the lower time input required to deliver a fixed output. The results are the same, but the perception of value has changed. The locksmith is penalized for proficiency!

11. The Peter Principle

Employees in hierarchies are steadily promoted for competence—until they reach a level where they’re incompetent. People are promoted up to the level of peak *incompetence*. Devised as satire, it may explain a lot about senior management at large orgs…

12. Parkinson’s Law

Work expands to fill the time available for its completion. Work longer, get less done. When you establish fixed hours, you find unproductive ways to fill it. If your goal is to do inspired, creative work, work like a lion instead: Sprint. Eat. Rest. Repeat.

13. The Cantillon Effect

The early recipients of new money entering an economy will benefit more significantly than those it trickles down to. In other words, the “flow path” of the new money matters. New money creates distributional effects based on where it enters the system.

14. BS Asymmetry Principle

The energy required to refute bullshit is much larger than the energy required to produce it. This is why BS spreads so easily—especially on social media. It’s also why we need to make a deliberate effort to fight back against it.

15. Entrepreneurial Golden Age

It’s the best time in history to be a builder—the 2020s are a golden age. Things in your favor:

An abundance of no-code tools
Open, accessible internet
Cracking walls of credentialism
Decentralization of hiring hubs

The time is now.

16. Fundamental Attribution Error

Humans tend to: (1) Attribute someone else’s actions to their character—and not to their situation or context. (2) Attribute our actions to our situation and context—and not to our character. We cut ourselves a break, but hold others accountable.

17. The Effort Paradox

You have to put in more effort to make something appear effortless. Effortless, elegant performances are often the result of a large volume of effortful, gritty practice. Small things become big things. Simple is not simple.

18. Second-Order Thinking

Imagine a rock is thrown into a lake. The splash is the first-order effect. The ripples are the second-order effects. The world is filled with first-order thinkers—it’s easy. Dig deeper. Always ask “and then what?”—consider the layers of consequences.

19. Free Time as a Call Option

You’ve incorrectly been told that free time is bad. The reality: Free time is a call option on future interesting opportunities. When you have free time, you have the headspace to pursue exciting opportunities. Free time creates non-linear outcomes.

20. The Persuasion Paradox

Have you noticed that the most argumentative people rarely persuade anyone? The most persuasive people don’t argue—they observe, listen, and ask questions. Argue less, persuade more. Persuasion is an art that requires a paintbrush, not a sledgehammer.

Work With Us

Ready to take the stress out of marketing and website building? Contact us today and discover how Stratlab can help you become more findable, trustable, and remarkable. Together, we’ll create something amazing.

"*" indicates required fields

    Top Rated Service 2026
   
 4.9
 4.9
 verified by Trustindex 
 Trustindex verifies that the company has a review score above 4.5, based on reviews collected on Google over the past 12 months, qualifying it to receive the Top Rated Certificate.
  Write a review 
 
 
 
   
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Mark Johnston 
 24 September 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. A great group that does great work! High recommend!!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Paula Estin 
 15 September 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The Stratlab team has been fantastic. In the last 2 years Stratlab has helped us to overhaul our website.  I am not a tech person, but in working with Carter, Dustin, or Brandon, bit-by-bit we've been able to revolutionize our Events Guide from what it previously was. With pretty much every idea I've had, some I didn't even know if they were technically possible, these wizards have found a way to make them happen. They are also usually super quick to make requested changes or fix any weirdness that may arise.
We've had one of the best-looking and most user-friendy tourism Events Guides in the country that even our residents are getting excited about using!
You can tell these guys are passionate about their work and care about getting their customers exactly what they need & want. I'm sad that I'll no longer be working with this crew due to transitioning to another department at work, but I highly recommend the Strat Lab team for any web design project 👍👍
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   M. Tolley 
 28 August 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I recently had the privilege of working with Brandon at StratLab, and the quality of his work is truly next‑level. After one quick call to share my vision for a bat demo video, he understood exactly what I needed, and delivered something far beyond what I imagined.

His attention to detail, creative precision, and top‑tier expertise show what real professionalism looks like. Every frame, every transition, every moment was crafted with intention. He respected timelines, communicated clearly, and made the entire process effortless.

I can only hope to work with Brandon again.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Ben Hebert 
 28 April 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I have been doing business with Strat Lab and since 2020. These guys have always been A1, put their best foot forward and delivered for all my personal or business needs. Thanks Team!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   ReginaFlyerExpress 
 24 April 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Called StratLab for some questions regarding my website and had the pleasure of speaking with Jeph. More business's need people like Jeph. Hope I can work with you guys down the road.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Kyle Halvorson 
 31 March 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The StratLab team are top shelf humans! (and pretty decent marketers ;) that understand how to set your organization up for online (and in person) success, as well as help position you as a reputable and trusted source within your market.  Always great dealing with Jeph & Brandon!

"If you are awesome online, you better be awesome offline."
~Jeph Maystruck
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Garrett McMillan - GMAC Golf 
 13 December 2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. What an awesome group of people to work with! Great energy and genuinely excited to help you promote your business. 12/10 recommend.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Annette M Frazier 
 11 November 2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Strategy Lab is great to work with! I’ve had the opportunity to hire them to design our webpage, create sections, and upload over 3,000 photos and documents. I give them a 5- Star review-the work they did exceeded my expectations! I look forward to our continued collaboration-thank you Strat Lab!! Annette M. Frazier-Cowessess First Nation.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Northland Forest 
 23 October 2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We have used Strategy Lab for years now, built 2 websites and many logos with them. Amazing team, great design, always helpful and very friendly! Will be using them for years to come great job team.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Tanner Ewashko 
 23 October 2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Strategy Lab is the best!