Chris J Wilson 🖊️
@chris-j-wilson.bsky.social
I share big ideas in simple sketches to help people be more effective next week.
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Try my newsletter for free: https://sketchyideas.co/newsletter/
If you'd like to know more about this model and how to apply it in different situations, check out my recent newsletter with more visuals to go along.
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December 3, 2025 at 2:01 PM
If you'd like to know more about this model and how to apply it in different situations, check out my recent newsletter with more visuals to go along.
sketchyideas.co/finite-vs-in...
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If you play an infinite game like a finite one, you will make worse decisions.
- sacrifice long-term success,
- failing to adapt
- compromise on your values
Knowing what type of game you are playing can help avoid all of these.
- sacrifice long-term success,
- failing to adapt
- compromise on your values
Knowing what type of game you are playing can help avoid all of these.
December 3, 2025 at 2:01 PM
If you play an infinite game like a finite one, you will make worse decisions.
- sacrifice long-term success,
- failing to adapt
- compromise on your values
Knowing what type of game you are playing can help avoid all of these.
- sacrifice long-term success,
- failing to adapt
- compromise on your values
Knowing what type of game you are playing can help avoid all of these.
A 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲 has fixed rules, players and a time limit. It's something like football, chess or exams. Your goal here is to win.
An 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲 has known and unknown players, the rules change, and there's no clear end. Your goal here is to keep playing.
An 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲 has known and unknown players, the rules change, and there's no clear end. Your goal here is to keep playing.
December 3, 2025 at 2:01 PM
A 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲 has fixed rules, players and a time limit. It's something like football, chess or exams. Your goal here is to win.
An 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲 has known and unknown players, the rules change, and there's no clear end. Your goal here is to keep playing.
An 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲 has known and unknown players, the rules change, and there's no clear end. Your goal here is to keep playing.
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Join 2,500+ other curious minds who learn how to make better decisions, avoid cognitive biases, and be more creative each week.
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August 21, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Enjoyed this thread?
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If you'd like more details on each model, check out this post: sketchyideas.co/mental-model...
August 21, 2025 at 12:12 PM
If you'd like more details on each model, check out this post: sketchyideas.co/mental-model...
7. Missionaries vs Mercenaries:
There are two types of people you meet in business.
• Those who are genuinely passionate about their product/service (missionaries)
• Those who just want to sell things (mercenaries).
The missionaries achieve greater success.
There are two types of people you meet in business.
• Those who are genuinely passionate about their product/service (missionaries)
• Those who just want to sell things (mercenaries).
The missionaries achieve greater success.
August 21, 2025 at 12:11 PM
7. Missionaries vs Mercenaries:
There are two types of people you meet in business.
• Those who are genuinely passionate about their product/service (missionaries)
• Those who just want to sell things (mercenaries).
The missionaries achieve greater success.
There are two types of people you meet in business.
• Those who are genuinely passionate about their product/service (missionaries)
• Those who just want to sell things (mercenaries).
The missionaries achieve greater success.
6. Winning in Baseball vs Business:
Business wins can be exponentially big.
Conduct unconventional experiments and use big wins to offset many experimental losses.
Business wins can be exponentially big.
Conduct unconventional experiments and use big wins to offset many experimental losses.
August 21, 2025 at 12:11 PM
6. Winning in Baseball vs Business:
Business wins can be exponentially big.
Conduct unconventional experiments and use big wins to offset many experimental losses.
Business wins can be exponentially big.
Conduct unconventional experiments and use big wins to offset many experimental losses.
5. Work Backwards from the Customer:
Start with the customer's needs, not your solution, to create solutions people will actually pay for.
Start with the customer's needs, not your solution, to create solutions people will actually pay for.
August 21, 2025 at 12:11 PM
5. Work Backwards from the Customer:
Start with the customer's needs, not your solution, to create solutions people will actually pay for.
Start with the customer's needs, not your solution, to create solutions people will actually pay for.
4. Anecdotes Over Data:
Trust customer feedback over metrics when they disagree.
You're probably not measuring the right thing.
Trust customer feedback over metrics when they disagree.
You're probably not measuring the right thing.
August 21, 2025 at 12:11 PM
4. Anecdotes Over Data:
Trust customer feedback over metrics when they disagree.
You're probably not measuring the right thing.
Trust customer feedback over metrics when they disagree.
You're probably not measuring the right thing.
3. Reversible vs Irreversible Decisions:
Make reversible decisions quickly (you can always go back and gather valuable data).
Approach irreversible decisions with caution.
Make reversible decisions quickly (you can always go back and gather valuable data).
Approach irreversible decisions with caution.
August 21, 2025 at 12:11 PM
3. Reversible vs Irreversible Decisions:
Make reversible decisions quickly (you can always go back and gather valuable data).
Approach irreversible decisions with caution.
Make reversible decisions quickly (you can always go back and gather valuable data).
Approach irreversible decisions with caution.
2. The Two-Pizza Rule
Keep teams lean — small enough to be fed by two pizzas — so they can easily collaborate.
Keep teams lean — small enough to be fed by two pizzas — so they can easily collaborate.
August 21, 2025 at 12:11 PM
2. The Two-Pizza Rule
Keep teams lean — small enough to be fed by two pizzas — so they can easily collaborate.
Keep teams lean — small enough to be fed by two pizzas — so they can easily collaborate.
1. Regret Minimization.
Make decisions today that minimise regret tomorrow. This encourages a bias towards action and helps overcome fear of the unknown.
Make decisions today that minimise regret tomorrow. This encourages a bias towards action and helps overcome fear of the unknown.
August 21, 2025 at 12:11 PM
1. Regret Minimization.
Make decisions today that minimise regret tomorrow. This encourages a bias towards action and helps overcome fear of the unknown.
Make decisions today that minimise regret tomorrow. This encourages a bias towards action and helps overcome fear of the unknown.
Each week I publish a visual essay to help you make better decisions.
Join 2,500+ other curious minds who get it for free: sketchyideas.co/newsletter/
Join 2,500+ other curious minds who get it for free: sketchyideas.co/newsletter/
August 8, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Each week I publish a visual essay to help you make better decisions.
Join 2,500+ other curious minds who get it for free: sketchyideas.co/newsletter/
Join 2,500+ other curious minds who get it for free: sketchyideas.co/newsletter/
Want more details (and how to avoid it)?
Head over to this post to for a full breakdown: sketchyideas.co/sunk-cost-fa...
Head over to this post to for a full breakdown: sketchyideas.co/sunk-cost-fa...
August 8, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Want more details (and how to avoid it)?
Head over to this post to for a full breakdown: sketchyideas.co/sunk-cost-fa...
Head over to this post to for a full breakdown: sketchyideas.co/sunk-cost-fa...
Enjoyed this thread?
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And reply to let me know your favourite.
Join 2500+ curious readers who get a new visual thread each week: sketchyideas.co/newsletter/
And reply to let me know your favourite.
July 30, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Enjoyed this thread?
Join 2500+ curious readers who get a new visual thread each week: sketchyideas.co/newsletter/
And reply to let me know your favourite.
Join 2500+ curious readers who get a new visual thread each week: sketchyideas.co/newsletter/
And reply to let me know your favourite.
7. Focus on the Joy of Missing Out, not FOMO
By worrying about all the things you’re not doing, you can’t appreciate what you are doing.
By worrying about all the things you’re not doing, you can’t appreciate what you are doing.
July 30, 2025 at 1:00 PM
7. Focus on the Joy of Missing Out, not FOMO
By worrying about all the things you’re not doing, you can’t appreciate what you are doing.
By worrying about all the things you’re not doing, you can’t appreciate what you are doing.
6. Time is the only non-renewable resource there is.
You can earn money you spend back, you can't gain back your time.
You can earn money you spend back, you can't gain back your time.
July 30, 2025 at 1:00 PM
6. Time is the only non-renewable resource there is.
You can earn money you spend back, you can't gain back your time.
You can earn money you spend back, you can't gain back your time.
5. Stop saying “I don’t have time for that” and replace it with “It’s not a priority right now.”
July 30, 2025 at 1:00 PM
5. Stop saying “I don’t have time for that” and replace it with “It’s not a priority right now.”