Risk and its discontents
Mark Shrime Mark Shrime

Risk and its discontents

About 8 years ago, I first stepped on the American Ninja Warrior course. An obsession was born, one that lasted until a bad knee injury (and, let’s be honest, becoming more than twice as old as the most successful competitors) took me out of competition.

Getting into ninja warrior was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done. The sport pits you against obstacles that are three times your size, suspended sixteen feet above a shallow pool that’s the only safety net you have.

It was risky as heck.

And it changed my life.

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Cognitive Bias #4: Loss Aversion
Mark Shrime Mark Shrime

Cognitive Bias #4: Loss Aversion

After I lost my 20-year-old cat, Max, a friend of mine—someone who cares deeply for me, despite how callous this next line might sound—said,

This is why I never want pets. Getting a pet always means you’re automatically signing up for grief.

In this week’s post, I explore that line—why it makes sense, why we’re so averse to loss.

And why that leads to worse decisions

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Cognitive biases #3: Anchoring
Mark Shrime Mark Shrime

Cognitive biases #3: Anchoring

A few years ago, my friend Chris, a doctor, faced a lawsuit—which, well, he didn’t win. In this week’s post, we dig into why that was, how his brain sabotaged him, and how you can recognize that same sabotage in your own life.

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Cognitive Biases #2: The Availability Bias

Cognitive Biases #2: The Availability Bias

Are you always applying for (and leaving) the same jobs? Do you always date the same kinds of people, eat at the same restaurants, and find yourself stuck in patterns that don't always serve you?

It's not you; it's your brain sabotaging you. This week's post talks about how, and how to get around it.

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