Struggling to finish your projects?
The answer might be simpler than you think.
Try the Inversion Mental Model.
Instead of asking, "How can I finish this project?", ask yourself:
“What could make me fail to finish this project?”
Instead of thinking, “How can I be happy?”, ask:
“What makes me unhappy?”, and work to remove those sources.
Instead of thinking, "How can I build wealth?", ask:
“What mistakes or habits would guarantee I stay poor or lose money?”
I like to think about it like this: when I’m running a marathon or doing an Ironman, kilometer 38 is the hardest.
Your body is exhausted, and doubt starts to creep in.
That’s the point where failure is most tempting.
But when I think about failing at km 38, I can pinpoint exactly what would stop me:
lack of focus, getting too tired, or losing my pace.
By using the Inversion Mental Model, I flip my focus onto avoiding failure instead of just aiming for the finish line.
This helps me stay on track.
Inversion for Healthy Eating
Instead of asking, “How can I eat healthy?”, ask:
“What eating habits would slowly harm my body and energy?”
Avoiding things like overeating, processed foods, and sugary sweets naturally leads to better health.
Inversion for Projects
Here’s how it works:
Identify potential problems:
What could stop you from finishing?
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Procrastination?
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Distractions?
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Overwhelm?
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Anxiety?
Fix the root causes:
Once you see the obstacles, you can create strategies to prevent them and keep going.
The Inversion Mental Model to Build Financial Success
I don’t ask, “How do I get rich?”
Instead, I ask: “What could make me fail financially?”
That question has guided almost every decision I make with money.
When I started getting serious about building wealth, I stopped asking:
"How do I get rich?"
and started asking:
"What consistently keeps people from building wealth?"
This shift in thinking is based on the Inversion Mental Model—a way of solving problems by first asking what would guarantee failure, and then doing the opposite.
Here’s what I avoid to stay on track:
1. Debt
Debt is the easiest way to lose momentum.
It adds pressure, limits freedom, and compounds against you.
I avoid consumer debt completely—no credit card balances, no car loans.
If I can’t afford it in cash, I don’t buy it.
Wealth grows faster when you’re not busy paying for the past.
2. Impatience
Most people don’t fail to build wealth because they lack knowledge.
They fail because they’re in a hurry.
I’ve learned to think in decades, not months.
I don’t chase market timing or trends.
I invest steadily, let compounding do the work, and stay out of my own way.
Real financial wealth is built by those willing to wait.
3. Noise
Distraction is expensive.
The more options, headlines, and hype you follow, the harder it is to stay focused.
I don’t trade crypto, flip houses, or jump from one strategy to another.
I invest in businesses—primarily through stocks—and stick to value.
Focus is leverage. Simplicity compounds.
4. Speculation
I don’t gamble. I don’t chase hype.
I invest in companies with real earnings, real value, and long-term potential.
Speculation might look exciting, but it rarely leads to lasting wealth.
Wealth is quiet. Hype is loud. I choose quiet.
The Takeaway
I build financial wealth by focusing on what to avoid:
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Debt – Avoid debt and focus on living within your means.
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Impatience – Treat your wealth-building journey like an Ironman—with patience and consistency.
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Distraction – Keep your investment strategy simple and focus on stocks, especially value stocks.
My key figures:
Margin of safety, PEG (Price-Earnings to Growth) near 1, dividend, smart CEO, long-term thinking—products I believe people will still buy in 10, 20, or 30 years. -
Hype – Don’t fall for hype—use value investing to buy and hold solid businesses at a fair price.