How Outsourcing Your Thinking Sabotages Your Life (Insights from The Eternaut)

If you're reading this, you're likely not content with simply going along with the crowd. You seek an edge, yearn to improve, and intuitively sense that real success and fulfillment demand something more than following society's prescribed paths.

I first encountered the perils of blindly trusting authority in Héctor Germán Oesterheld's iconic comic, El Eternauta. The story vividly portrays a military commander whose overconfidence and unquestioned acceptance of appearances lead his soldiers into a tragic ambush. His inability—or refusal—to think independently proves catastrophic, illustrating a stark lesson about the dangers of surrendering our critical thinking to those in power.

This lesson resonated deeply with my own experiences during college. Everywhere I turned, engineering was touted as the ultimate career—prestigious, stable, and financially rewarding. My mother even placed a condition on her support for my community college tuition: pursue engineering or lose financial backing. Many of my peers followed this advice, reluctantly entering a field they neither enjoyed nor loved, driven solely by external pressures and the promise of a paycheck.

However, my journey unfolded differently. After cycling through six majors—psychology, biology, and others—I discovered economics. Unlike anything I had studied before, economics fascinated me profoundly. Instead of drifting into sleep, I found myself staying awake late into the night, absorbing articles in The Economist and delving deeply into behavioral economic theories.

The Comfort Trap of Outsourcing Thought

Why do we willingly give away our power to think independently? Simply put, it's comfortable and easy:

• Career Choices: Opting for careers deemed prestigious by society rather than those aligning with our genuine interests.
• Investment Decisions: Unquestioningly following investment fads without proper research.
• Social Pressures: Letting peers dictate our relationships and personal choices.

My friends who pursued engineering solely due to societal pressure now find themselves in positions they openly describe as miserable. What appeared as security quickly turned into confinement, a stark reminder of what happens when personal dreams and passions are sacrificed for external approval.

Building the Skill of Independent Thinking

Independent thought isn’t a trait we’re born with—it's a skill deliberately developed through practice:

• Question Assumptions: Regularly challenge societal norms and your internal biases.
• Mental Frameworks: Engage with deeper analytical thinking processes, often referred to as "System 2" by psychologist Daniel Kahneman.
• Reflective Journaling: Document decisions, rationales, and outcomes consistently to refine your judgment.

Choosing to follow my interests against societal norms opened doors I could never have imagined. At 19, I found myself backpacking alone across Europe. In my early twenties, I traveled solo throughout China and Japan. These experiences enriched my understanding of the world, profoundly shaping the person I am today.

Action: The Essential Companion to Thought

Yet, independent thinking alone is insufficient. Thought must be accompanied by action to bring about meaningful change. In El Eternauta, Favalli, a thoughtful and analytical character, repeatedly saves his companions by not just theorizing but acting decisively, even without official authority.

Reflecting on your social circles, you'll likely observe how decisions early in life significantly influence present circumstances. Those who courageously acted upon their independent decisions often enjoy fulfilling lives, while those who succumbed to groupthink face continuous struggles. Even when building my startup, Jobsolv, I witnessed friends doubting its viability—not due to any real flaws, but from their fears and internal limitations.

Navigating Independent Thought in an AI-Driven Era

The temptation to outsource our thinking grows with the rise of artificial intelligence. AI can indeed enhance our lives immensely, but it must serve as an assistant rather than a replacement for our critical faculties.

In my role as a CRO & UX specialist, AI tools inform and augment my decision-making processes. Nevertheless, ultimate responsibility remains firmly mine, ensuring my strategies are innovative, effective, and human-centered.

Embrace Your Unique Path

Outsourcing your thinking is ultimately detrimental, limiting your life's potential to societal expectations. My journey from resisting the engineering route to passionately embracing economics, behavioral science, and entrepreneurship exemplifies the immense rewards of independent thinking.

Actionable Steps to Strengthen Your Independent Thought:

• Continually question popular beliefs and societal norms.
• Utilize mental models and structured reasoning frameworks.
• Act courageously on your insights, even against the grain.
• Leverage technology like AI thoughtfully, enhancing rather than replacing your judgment.

Visit my site for more resources on sharpening your decision-making skills. Remember, your independent thoughts and actions uniquely shape a rewarding and extraordinary life that only you can create.