November 26, 2025/
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When someone calls you “so kind” because you always say yes, always offer help, and never complain, they might be...
Powerful Thinking Tools Every Business Professional Should Know
We’re drowning in information, but making good decisions feels harder than ever.
Feeling stuck or unsure how to handle big challenges? You’re not alone.
Top thinkers use mental models to cut through the noise and make smarter choices — and now you can too.
Dick Richardson has pulled together the key frameworks every business professional should know to make better decisions at work and in life.
This book is part of a powerful series — and it’s available now on Amazon.
“How Smart People Think” is a book designed for clarity, coaching, and reflection, one chapter at a time.
This isn’t a book you read once and shelve. It’s a thinking companion, crafted to be explored in one sitting or revisited in small doses. Whether you flip to a random chapter or follow the structured flow, each section offers a powerful mental model, a story from someone who’s succeeded, and a coaching insight you can apply immediately.
Book One is your gateway to better decisions, clearer thinking, and personal effectiveness. It weaves together foundational concepts, cognitive biases, decision tools, and dynamic strategies, all grounded in real-world examples from high performers across industries.
Inside, you’ll find:
- Foundations of Thinking: Learn how models like Fast and Slow Thinking, Circle of Control, and Map vs. Territory shape how we perceive and act.
- Avoiding Common Pitfalls: Spot and sidestep traps like Anchoring Bias, Sunk Cost Fallacy, and Loss Aversion before they derail your judgment.
- Principles of Clarity: Discover tools like First Principles Thinking, Occam’s Razor, and Inversion to cut through complexity.
- Decision Analysis Tools: Apply frameworks like Expected Value, Scenario Planning, and Second Order Thinking to make smarter choices.
- Dynamic Environments: Navigate change with models like the OODA Loop, Eisenhower Matrix, and Bezos’ Two-Way Doors.
- Personal Effectiveness: Build resilience and growth through Self-Efficacy, Anti-Fragility, and the Stockdale Paradox.
- Weaving It All Together: Reflect on the journey with chapters like Cruel Sea and So What, Now What?—designed to help you integrate and act.
Whether you’re a leader, learner, or lifelong thinker, this book meets you where you are, and moves you forward. No fluff. Just frameworks, stories, and strategies that stick.
Personal Empowerment
In How Smart People Think, Dick Richardson guides us through a challenge we all face, often without even being aware of it.
He also equips us to rise to it. This book is a must-read tour-de-force in personal empowerment. Richardson has curated a collection of powerful mental models and, more importantly, breathes life into them with vivid real-world examples to show us how these models can lead to genuine personal transformation.
15 days ago
Think more Clearly and Precisely
This book is filled with a wide variety of mental models that help the reader think more clearly and precisely about problems they may face in their own personal growth and in working with others. Each model is succinctly explained, followed by a multitude of examples of people and organizations who have used these models to achieve success. Examples are also given where lack of use of this model led to a personal or business failure. Dick also cross-references the models to show how other models could complement or perhaps replace the model they are currently using to analyze a situation or problem.
10.04.2018
Sharper Thinking
“Thinking”, said Henry Ford, “is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it.” Dick Richardson’s book How Smart People Think gives all of us an edge in thinking. Dick has catalogued dozens of mental models then shows how people applied those models to real-world problems and then acted on their decision to change history. Thinking is a craft, and Dick provides a set of tools so we can sharpen our approach to thinking.
6 Month Ago
Catalyst for Better Thinking
For anyone who wants to solve problems this book is an indispensable guide. This is not just a book, it’s a catalyst for better thinking
5 Month Ago
As Seen In...
Master the Art of Letting Go
Sometimes the hardest step forward is letting go of goals that no longer serve us. Discover how to release what doesn’t fit and make space for what truly matters by downloading a complimentary chapter of How Smart People Think, complete with a powerful workbook.
Here’s What Other People Are Saying…
A game-changing book, packed with powerful decision-making and problem-solving frameworks for business professionals.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to sharpen your skills, boost your career, and make smarter decisions!
The truth is, even great leaders and successful individuals face the same struggles.
What sets them apart is their ability to leverage mental frameworks that help them navigate challenges with confidence and speed.
These frameworks empower you to:
- Solve problems faster.
- Make decisions with clarity.
- Pivot when the situation demands it.
- Test and refine solutions seamlessly.
Now, you can access these powerful strategies too.
The first book in this transformative series is set to launch by December 2025.
It’s packed with insights that will help you rethink decision-making and problem-solving in a completely new way.
Don’t miss your chance to take control and thrive.
Let´s Think Smart
"Simplifying decision-making and problem-solving for business professionals using powerful mental frameworks”
We are here to inspire smarter thinking by distilling the wisdom of successful individuals from diverse industries. Our goal is to equip you with proven frameworks and insights that empower you to manage your workload efficiently, make confident leadership decisions, and navigate challenging times with resilience and clarity.
By using powerful mental frameworks, you can break down problems, anticipate outcomes, and make informed decisions with confidence.
This fosters innovation and adaptability, helping you thrive and succeed.
What are mental frameworks, and why are they important for business professionals?
Mental frameworks are mental models or cognitive tools that help individuals understand and interpret the world, and they are particularly valuable for business professionals.
These models simplify complex situations, enabling leaders to make informed decisions, adapt to changes, and innovate effectively.
We have been fortunate to learn from remarkable leaders, past and present, who have shaped impactful frameworks of thought. These frameworks empower us to think smarter, make informed decisions, and pave the way toward meaningful success.
Here are some concise expressions that capture the essence of their line of thinking—an approach often composed of multiple mental frameworks working together to coordinate their efforts:
- “Start with first principles” – Elon Musk
- “Think across disciplines” – Charlie Munger
- “Prioritize what truly matters” – Dwight D. Eisenhower
- “Empathize, ideate, prototype” – Tim Brown
- “Thrive in uncertainty” – Nassim Nicholas Taleb
- “Align goals for success” – Peter Drucker
- “Habitually effective” – Stephen Covey
- “Adapt and act swiftly” – John Boyd
- “Think creatively” – Edward de Bono
- “Cultivate a growth mindset” – Carol Dweck
Life doesn’t come with a manual, but success leaves tracks, and that is the essence of smart thinking in action. By grasping better frameworks, we equip ourselves to review, apply, and adapt diverse strategies to thrive under different circumstances.
By using powerful mental frameworks, you can break down problems, anticipate outcomes, and make informed decisions with confidence.
This fosters innovation and adaptability, helping you thrive and succeed.
Which professionals can benefit from adopting smarter thinking strategies and mental frameworks?
Professionals from a wide range of fields can benefit from adopting smarter thinking strategies and mental frameworks.
Entrepreneurs can refine their vision and innovate, executives can make confident leadership decisions, and project managers can prioritize tasks effectively.
Marketing specialists, financial analysts, and consultants can enhance problem-solving and strategic planning, while human resource managers can foster resilience and adaptability within teams in an ever-evolving marketplace.
Whether you’re navigating high-pressure situations, managing heavy workloads, or striving for long-term success, these tools are invaluable for staying focused, efficient, and empowered.
How Can You Grasp Successful Mental Frameworks?
You can learn from your experiences to identify what truly works, delve into insightful books, and benefit from mentorships.
You can read our regular blog articles or, for a limited time, download the preview of How Smart People Think, Volume 1.
It’s not just a comprehensive guide, it’s a practical toolbox featuring top mental frameworks, designed for easy reading in a single sitting or chapter-by-chapter for inspired action and quick consultation whenever needed. While we encourage all types of reading to broaden your perspective, this toolbox is crafted to make smarter thinking actionable and accessible.
Secure yours now
Dick Richardson is a leadership visionary, educator, and survivor whose life blends innovation, resilience, and storytelling. A former IBM executive and founder of Experience to Lead, Dick has shaped how leaders learn, designing patented adult learning systems and immersive programs with NASA and the Smithsonian. His insights are grounded in decades of global experience and a personal journey that includes surviving the “Miracle on the Hudson.” Through his writing and mentorship, Dick continues to inspire others to think smarter, lead boldly, and live with purpose.
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