Tendency to Want to Do Something

Questions

What is Tendency to Want to Do Something?

The Tendency to Want to do Something is our powerful drive to take action, even when patience would serve us better. Action feels productive while waiting feels weak, so we tinker and intervene, sometimes making things worse, as Rome learned at Cannae and frequent traders learn from their returns.

How do you use Tendency to Want to Do Something?

To use it, write down your plans in advance, pause before reacting at work, and let simple problems resolve on their own. Inaction is also a choice. Act when it truly helps, not just to ease anxiety.

When does Tendency to Want to Do Something matter?

Tendency to Want to Do Something is one of the 35 mental models for decisions, the situations where you ask: Which way should I go? Within that, it belongs to “When choosing gets hard”, alongside Analysis Paralysis, False Dilemma and Grey Thinking.

What is an example of Tendency to Want to Do Something?

Two stories show it at work: Fabius the Delayer (217–216 BC) and Robinhood (2020–2021). Both are told in full in The Mental Models Daily Almanac, which has two stories for each of its 365 models.

Which mental models are related to Tendency to Want to Do Something?

Nudging, Analysis Paralysis and Loss Aversion. Tendency to Want to Do Something itself comes from human nature and judgement.