First Principles Thinking

When messages get tangled, overworked, or stuck in internal loops, it’s often because we’re responding from habit. We’re following what’s always been done, or what someone expects, rather than starting with what the situation calls for.

First Principles Thinking offers a different approach. It asks you to forget the format, ignore the precedent, and focus on what you actually know—and what people genuinely need.

This model comes from science and engineering, but it’s just as effective in communication. The idea is simple: break something down into its most fundamental truths, and build up from there. You’re not polishing the process. You’re questioning whether the process makes sense at all.

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