Alternative

Core Idea

When facing a decision we often only think of a few paths. This is good for a lot of decisions but a certain number of decisions benefit greatly by exploring more ideas.

By doing this practice your mind will be able to come up with more possibilities.

Practice

1. Frame a problem you're facing. Personal, work, strategic, it doesn’t matter.
2. List obvious solutions. Include the reasonable, the boring, the practical.
3. Push further: write 3 absurd options.

Example 1

1. Frame the problem: "Team meetings always run long and feel pointless."
2. List obvious solutions:
   - Shorten the agenda
   - Assign a timekeeper
   - Cancel low-priority meetings
3. Push further - Absurd alternatives:
   - Replace the meeting with a group walk
   - Use silent meetings with only shared docs
   - Flip a coin to decide who attends

Example 2

1. Frame the problem: "I want to get more visibility for my product launch."
2. List all the obvious solutions:
   - Run Facebook ads
   - Partner with influencers
   - Post daily on social media
3. Push further - Absurd alternatives:
   - Send a cold email to a late-night TV host
   - Drop flyers from a drone
   - Create a fake protest about your own product

Other Considerations

People stop too soon. The illusion is thinking “more options = confusion.”
The real trap is mistaking familiar for better. Don’t search for the perfect answer, generate enough alternatives so better judgment has room to work.