KISS Review Framework
An action-orientated review model to convert past experience into practice.
5 Whys Technique
Get to the root cause of an issue by asking "why" repeatedly.
First Principles
Start from the basics and find a new, more logical way of doing things.
FMEA Methodology
Identify failure modes and prioritize risks.
DEEP Technique
Protect your emotional boundaries.
Research Funnel Model
Understand users with clarity, even when resources are tight.
5 Sos Technique for Problem Solving and Strategic Thinking
Continuously asking “So what might happen next?” to project how one event could trigger another.
5W1H
Gather comprehensive information and provide clarity in various situations.
Brainstorming
A creativity technique designed to generate a large number of ideas.
Zoom-In and Zoom-Out Model
Allows you to handle challenges with clarity, whether you need to see the big picture or focus on the details.
Freud’s Iceberg Theory
Developed from human psychology, it help us understand how the conscious and unconscious mind interacts.
Fishbone Diagram
A simple yet powerful tool that helps you analyze and solve problems in a structured way.
SCAMPER Method
Generate new ideas by systematically remixing existing products, processes, and assumptions.
Outcome Discovery Canvas
Define measurable outcomes and success metrics before you commit to building features.
DIKW Model
Move beyond information overload and make truly wise decisions.
Magic Loop Framework
Capture feedback, act on it, make changes stick, and report back with clarity.
Four-Step Innovation Model
Turn raw ideas into market-ready products through a disciplined, four-stage innovation pipeline.
4Ps Problem-Solving Framework
Discover the real problem before solving it.
POEMS Framework
Gives teams a clear way to observe, classify, and interpret user behavior.
First Principles: The Key to Disruptive Innovation
Start from the basics and find a new, more logical way of doing things.
First Principles
Core Concept Behind Billion-dollar Businesses
The First Principles framework must be the hottest system thinking tool nowadays.
It was first proposed by Aristotle, but it gained widespread attention thanks to Elon Musk.
It is often referred to as the "ultimate secret" behind Musk's disruptive innovations, some say it’s the key to billion-dollar businesses.
Musk once explained his thought process like this:
I often think about problems from their essence, rather than comparing with others. If you're always comparing with others, you can only achieve small iterative improvements. But if you peel back the layers and look at the core, then build up from there, you may create something truly disruptive.
Aristotle described the First Principle as: "A most fundamental proposition or assumption in every system, which cannot be omitted, deleted, or violated."
About the Principle
While it may sound theoretical, the principle is actually straightforward:
Breaking down complex problems into their most basic, foundational elements, and then building up solutions from there.
What makes Musk's innovations so groundbreaking is his ability to question long-accepted patterns and paths.
He identifies cognitive structures or technological dependencies that may make sense to others but don't seem optimal to him.
For example, in reducing the cost of rockets and satellites, Musk continuously asks why certain components or functions are necessary. If they aren't essential for launching a rocket and placing it in orbit, can they be removed?
He even questioned whether satellites must be launched using rockets at all—an idea that may sound radical but challenges traditional methods.
Asking "why" repeatedly may seem naive at times, but this method of thinking is what drives his revolutionary ideas.
The disruptive approach rooted in the First Principle uses critical thinking to break down irrational assumptions and reveal new, more rational pathways.
How Can We Apply the First Principle?
Ordinary people can harness the First Principle by starting with these three fundamental questions:
- Why is it like this?
- Does it have to be this way?
- Can it be done differently?
Integrate them into your everyday life and work, and you will open the door to innovation in your own domain.