Here’s a scientific curiosity that few people know — and that perfectly shows a particular type of thinking.
In 1982, scientists discovered that plants “talk” to each other — in a very different way than we do. When attacked by insects, some plants release volatile chemical compounds into the air that serve as a warning to neighboring plants, which then begin producing defensive substances even before being attacked. This discovery was initially met with skepticism, but several controlled experiments over the years confirmed the phenomenon. This knowledge is now being used to protect comercial crops and produce higher yields.
This kind of discovery was only possible because scientists did four things:
1. Observed patterns
2. Created hypotheses or ideas to explain what they observed
3. Tested those ideas
4. Formulated the findings into a conclusion or mental model
It’s a reminder that applying the scientific method can reveal truths that we didn’t notice before. are invisible to the naked eye — including in how we deal with problems and make decisions in everyday life.
There are two ways you can acquire mental models to help you solve problems and make desisions.
· You can learn the patterns that other people such as Elon Musk, Warren Buffett and Nassim Taleb have already documented.
· You can find the unique patterns of your life and work.
You don’t need a lab coat.
You already do this. Let’s say you drive to work every day and you notice that traffic is often congested at a certain spot. You think “I wonder is the another route to avoid this. A coworker suggests another way. You try it. It shortens your time. You now have a new mental model of how to go to work.
You do need to do this more.
We’re suggesting that you apply this approach more consciously to your work and even your personal life.
Start by becoming more observant. Look for the patterns. When do problems occur? When does one event follow another? What are patterns of human behavior? What actions appear to make things run smoother?
If you become more adept at observation you’ll start to see how your world functions e.g. sequences, patterns, cause and effect. Like the “driving to work” exemple you may notice that some meetings are more productive than others, or that there are cycles in the flow of work that you didn’t notice before.
Then you can apply the “What if?” question of forming a hypothesis. “What if you changed the way you run meetings?” “What if you altered the work flow?”
And of course you test those ideas. It might just lead you to a breakthrough in your business. Let’s try a case study.
Practical Application: Launching a Healthy Meal Delivery Service
Let’s say you had the idea of launching a healthy meal delivery service for freelancers who work from home.
The first step is observation: you noticed that many freelancers complain about poor eating habits, lack of time to cook, and difficulty maintaining healthy routines.
The investigative question might be: “Would freelancers order healthy meals delivered to their homes during the week?” From that, you create a hypothesis like: “If I offer healthy meals with good presentation and on-time delivery, freelancers working from home will subscribe weekly.”
The next step is testing the hypothesis. Instead of investing in an industrial kitchen or hiring a team, you can create a minimum viable product (MVP): a simple menu, prepare meals at home, promote them in local groups or online, and offer them to a limited number of people.
You collect real data: number of orders, feedback on taste, pricing, packaging, delivery time.
From analyzing the results, you’ll see what worked, what needs to change, and you’ll decide the next steps with more confidence — maybe improve the menu, shift your target audience, or invest more in marketing.
This process might seem simple, but it’s incredibly powerful: it reduces risks, avoids guesswork, and teaches you more about your business in one week than months of just planning. The secret lies in testing early, observing closely, adjusting quickly, and repeating. As they say in the startup world: “Fail fast, learn faster.” The scientific method helps you do exactly that — turn a good idea into a viable project based on evidence, not just excitement.
We just explained the do-it-yourself version. But some really smart people have already done this work on the most common problems and decisions. We’ve assembled the mental frameworks that are most needed by high-powered professionals in one place for you.
Join the waitlist for my upcoming book, “How to Think Smart,” and be among the first to unlock these valuable insights!
