The interesting thing about mental models is that even people who seem to have achieved their self-actualization use them. Jeff Preston Bezos, the founder of Amazon, also struggled with the decision of whether to enter into the business of selling books online. Bezos was not afraid to speak his mind, even to his boss, regarding the decision that he was about to take.
Before making the big leap, he wanted to use a framework that would help him to make effective decisions. As a result, he came up with what he termed as the regret minimization framework. This framework is based on the idea that you should project yourself in a certain number of years and picture whether you will regret the decision or not. The mental model can be illustrated using the following figure.
When using this model, if you think that you will regret not doing something after a certain period, then you should do it without hesitation.
Bezos used the model to decide whether or not to start Amazon. He pictured himself 80 years after making the decision that he was about to make. Since he thought that his move would be a big deal, he convinced himself that he was not going to regret starting a company that is now regarded as one of the best in the global marketplace.
Building on this mental model, Bezos found it easier to make the jump. Likewise, you can use the framework to look yourself into the future before making any decisions. Thinking long-term allows you to override any doubts that you might have now. If Bezos did it, you can also make a difference in your life using this framework.
