Principles & Theories
Discover 21 core guidelines for personal growth, decision-making, and daily focus. Filter or search rules by name or category.
The Zeigarnik Effect
The Zeigarnik Effect is the tendency of the mind to remember unfinished or interrupted tasks more clearly than comple...
Spotlight Effect
The spotlight effect is the tendency to overestimate how much other people notice and pay attention to us. It makes u...
Parkinson’s Law
Parkinson’s Law states that work expands to fill the time available for its completion. When more time is given for a...
2 Minute Rule
The 2 Minute Rule states that if a task takes less than two minutes to complete, you should do it immediately instead...
Law of Diminishing Returns
The law of diminishing returns states that after a certain point, putting more effort, time, or resources into someth...
5 by 5 Rule
The 5 by 5 rule is a simple mindset principle that says if something won’t matter in five years, don’t spend more tha...
Reciprocity Rule
The reciprocity rule states that people naturally feel the need to return a favor, kindness, or gesture that they rec...
Learned Helplessness
Learned helplessness is a psychological condition where a person starts believing they have no control over a situati...
North Star Principle
The North Star principle is the idea of having a single clear goal or guiding direction that helps you make decisions...
The Hedgehog Concept
The Hedgehog Concept is the idea that true success comes from focusing deeply on one thing where passion, skill, and ...
The Gorilla Effect
The gorilla effect, also known as inattentional blindness, is the tendency to miss something obvious because your att...
Diderot Effect
The Diderot Effect is the tendency for one new purchase or upgrade to trigger a chain of additional purchases, as we ...
Axe Theory
The axe theory is the idea that preparation and sharpening your skills are more important than just putting in more e...
The Arrival Fallacy
The Arrival Fallacy is the belief that reaching a specific goal will finally bring lasting happiness or fulfillment. ...
Mary’s Room Paradox
Mary’s Room paradox is a thought experiment that shows the difference between knowing everything about something and ...
Time Blocking Rule
The time blocking rule is a method of planning your day by dividing it into fixed time segments, where each block is ...
Broken Window Theory
The Broken Window Theory states that small signs of neglect or disorder, if left unaddressed, can lead to bigger prob...
70% Rule (Jeff Bezos rule)
The 70% rule suggests that decisions should be made when you have about 70% of the information you wish you had, inst...
Festinger’s Law (10/90 Rule)
Festinger’s Law, often called the 10/90 rule, states that 10% of life is made up of what happens to you, while 90% is...
Emotional Bank Account Rule
The emotional bank account rule is the idea that every interaction in a relationship either builds trust or withdraws...
Domino Effect
The domino effect is a concept where one small action or event triggers a chain of similar actions, leading to a larg...