Intellect PlusDecision making
29 cards. Each one is a 40-second story with a five-minute read behind it.
Are you a soldier defending a fortress or a scout mapping the land?Our brains often default to a defensive posture, treating our beliefs like fortified positions to be guarded. This mindset can blind us to reality. To make better decisions, we mu…
Why our obsession with short-term gains creates a precarious futureMost of our modern decision-making is geared toward immediate rewards, leaving long-term stability at risk. Ari Wallach explores how we can shift our perspective to plan for a fut…
Why 'real' commerce is more than just a simple transactionMost of us view economics as a series of simple exchanges, but what if the true engine of society is something far more complex? This lecture explores the hidden social and politi…
Why group decisions often fail and how to fix themGroup dynamics can lead to disastrous outcomes, but they also hold the potential for collective wisdom. Neuroscientist Mariano Sigman explores how we interact to reach conclusions…
Can computer algorithms help you make better decisions in your everyday life?Cognitive scientist Tom Griffiths explains how applying computer logic can simplify complex human choices. This talk offers three practical strategies for navigating decisions ran…- Can professional poker strategies improve your real-life decision-making process?Professional poker player Liv Boeree distills three key lessons from the card table to help navigate life's choices. This talk examines whether to rely on intuition or rigorous pr…
Why obvious disasters strike like bolts from the blueIn business, many catastrophic failures look blindingly clear in hindsight. Yet they frequently catch organizations completely off guard. This paradox suggests that while a disast…
Why we pour more resources into projects destined for failureWhen a project starts to fail, our instinct is often to double down rather than walk away. This psychological trap, known as escalation of commitment, leads us to lavish time and …
The most dangerous crises are the ones we choose to ignoreWhy do we neglect massive threats like climate change or financial collapses until they become emergencies? Michele Wucker argues that these aren't unpredictable accidents, but pr…
Why we struggle to be the good ancestors we want to beOur modern world prioritizes immediate satisfaction, making it difficult to plan for the long run. From personal health to global climate policy, we often sacrifice future stabili…
Why information alone cannot fix our unhealthy habitsWe often know which choices are bad for us, yet we make them anyway. This talk explores why human behavior is predictably irrational and how we can use that insight to improve hea…
Is the fear of better options paralyzing your ability to decide?In an era of infinite choices, we often find ourselves stuck in a loop of endless reviews. This psychological trap, known as FOBO, can lead to total indecision. Learn how to recog…
Is your career plateau a sign of stagnation or a signal to move?Quitting a job is undeniably frightening, but staying stuck on the same career rung might be even costlier. To navigate the paralyzing weight of infinite choices, you need more th…
Why knowing what is right is rarely enough to change your behaviorPsychologist Dan Ariely explores the gap between our intentions and our actions. This talk examines why humans consistently make poor choices despite having the knowledge to do be…
The hidden price of every choice is the next best alternativeWhy do we sometimes make suboptimal choices? This video explores the economic principle of opportunity cost, explaining how rational agents must account for both visible and invis…
Why scarcity and rivalry define the way we make economic choicesUnderstand the fundamental relationship between scarcity and rivalry. This video explores how these two closely related economic concepts underpin the study of individual decision…
How to visually map the value of economic trade-offsThis video explains the mechanics of indifference curves and the marginal rate of substitution, demonstrating how economists use graphs to represent how we value different combina…- Why relying solely on experts can be a dangerous way to make decisionsEconomist Noreena Hertz explains the risks of over-relying on traditional experts. She argues that we should democratize expertise by valuing the perspectives of everyday people, …
Why the best way to make good decisions is to work lessWhen Sal Khan worked at a small hedge fund, his boss gave him a surprising command: go home. It wasn't about laziness, but about protecting judgment. Discover how a lesson in avoi…
Economics is not just about money or the stock marketWhile many associate economics with trading floors and bank balances, the discipline is fundamentally about something more personal: how people navigate the world of choices. Beyo…
Why total agreement can actually be a sign of errorWhen a group reaches a unanimous decision, we tend to assume the conclusion is rock solid. However, this video explores the paradox of unanimity and why near-total consensus might…
Why diamonds are expensive but water is often cheapIf you were stranded in a desert, would you still prefer a diamond over a bottle of water? This video explores the perplexing economic phenomenon known as the paradox of value.
Is your success a result of pure luck or genuine skill?Football executive Rasmus Ankersen explores how sports analytics can help businesses distinguish between luck and skill to avoid the trap of failing to change until it is too late.- Is your insurance policy actually a tool for managing magical thinking?We often assume insurance is purely a financial safeguard. Behavioral psychologist Orit Tykocinski explores how the decision to buy coverage might be driven more by the need to sa…
Why knowing the right choice is rarely enough to make itWe often assume that providing information is the key to solving global issues. This video explores why human behavior frequently defies logic and how behavioral science can desig…
Why we mistake dramatic crisis management for truly effective leadershipWe often praise leaders for their heroic actions during a catastrophe, yet the most impactful leaders might be those who prevent the crisis from ever occurring.- Personal agency is a more powerful tool for success than intelligence or raw hustle.Former Supreme Court attorney and world-ranked poker player Cate Hall argues that true control over one's life comes from recognizing hidden degrees of freedom. This talk explores…
Why projecting past trends into the future is a fundamentally flawed strategyMost forecasting methods rely on the assumption that the future will mirror the past. This video explores why that logic fails to account for the unexpected shifts that define our…- Why expert forecasts often fail to track reality over long periods of timeThis video from MIT's Risk and Decision Analysis course introduces porcupine graphs. These visual tools reveal a common failure in expert forecasting: the persistent inability to …