George Mack is a writer and entrepreneur known for his insightful threads on Twitter (now X) and his newsletter on mental models, marketing, and human nature. His work often focuses on actionable strategies for personal and professional growth, with a particular emphasis on the concept of "agency."

On High Agency

Mack has popularized the concept of "High Agency," describing it as the belief that you are in control of your life and the ability to act on that belief.

Quotes:

  1. "High agency is a sense of ownership over your life. A belief that you can mould the world to your will."
  2. "Low agency people are passengers in their own lives. High agency people are drivers."
  3. "The world is a multiplayer game. High agency people know they can change the rules."
  4. "High agency is the antidote to learned helplessness."
  5. "When you have high agency, you don't wait for permission. You give yourself permission."
  6. "High agency is not about being reckless. It's about being resourceful."
  7. "If you want to increase your agency, start by taking responsibility for everything in your life. Even the things that aren't your fault."
  8. "High agency is about playing offense, not defense."
  9. "The most successful people I know have an almost delusional sense of agency."
  10. "You can't buy agency. You have to build it."

Learnings:

  1. Take 100% Responsibility: This is the foundational principle of high agency. It means abandoning blame and focusing on what you can control.
  2. Ask "Stupid" Questions: High-agency individuals are not afraid to question assumptions and rules that others take for granted.
  3. Reframe Problems as Opportunities: Instead of seeing roadblocks, high-agency people see puzzles to be solved.
  4. Build a "Reality Distortion Field": This is the ability to convince yourself and others that the impossible is possible, a trait famously attributed to Steve Jobs.
  5. Act, Don't React: Proactively shape your environment rather than passively responding to it.

On Marketing and Persuasion

Mack's background is in marketing, and he often shares powerful insights on how to capture attention and persuade.

Quotes:

  1. "Marketing is the art of making the invisible, visible."
  2. "The best marketing doesn't feel like marketing."
  3. "Attention is the new oil. And social media is the new oil rig."
  4. "You don't sell a product. You sell a feeling."
  5. "The most persuasive people are the best listeners."
  6. "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. And the ultimate persuasion tool."
  7. "Make your customer the hero of the story."
  8. "People don't buy what you do. They buy why you do it."
  9. "The best way to sell something is to not sell anything. Earn the awareness, respect, and trust of those who might buy."
  10. "Good marketing makes the company look smart. Great marketing makes the customer feel smart."

Learnings:

  1. Focus on the Transformation, Not the Product: Customers are buying a better version of themselves.
  2. Master the Art of Storytelling: Humans are wired for stories. The best marketers are the best storytellers.
  3. Create a Category of One: Don't compete. Create a new category where you are the only player.
  4. Build in Public: Share your journey, your process, and your lessons. It builds trust and community.
  5. Understand Mimetic Theory: As proposed by René Girard, people often desire things because other people desire them. Leverage this in your marketing.

On Mental Models and Decision-Making

Mack is a proponent of using mental models to make better decisions and understand the world.

Quotes:

  1. "Mental models are the software you run on your brain's hardware."
  2. "The quality of your thinking depends on the quality of your mental models."
  3. "You don't need more information. You need better models for processing the information you already have."
  4. "Invert, always invert." - A nod to the mental model popularized by Charlie Munger.
  5. "Second-order thinking is the secret to getting ahead in life."
  6. "Think like a scientist. Have strong opinions, weakly held."
  7. "The map is not the territory. Your model of the world is not the world itself."
  8. "First-principles thinking is about breaking down a problem to its fundamental truths."
  9. "The Dunning-Kruger effect is a reminder to always stay humble and keep learning."
  10. "Occam's Razor: The simplest explanation is often the best one."

Learnings:

  1. Develop a Latticework of Mental Models: Collect and use models from different disciplines (psychology, physics, economics) to see the world from multiple perspectives.
  2. Think in Bets: Frame decisions in terms of probabilities and potential outcomes, not certainties.
  3. Avoid Confirmation Bias: Actively seek out information that challenges your existing beliefs.
  4. Understand Incentives: Almost all human behavior can be explained by incentives.
  5. Use Regret Minimization: When making a big decision, project yourself into the future and ask which choice you will regret less.

On Life and Learning

Mack's philosophy often centers on continuous learning and a proactive approach to personal development.

Quotes:

  1. "The goal of life is not to be perfect. It's to be a little less stupid every day."
  2. "You are not a finished product. You are a work in progress."
  3. "The best investment you can make is in yourself."
  4. "Read what you love until you love to read."
  5. "Your curiosity is your compass."

Sources

Much of George Mack's content is shared on his social media and through his newsletter.

  • Twitter/X Profile: The primary source for his daily insights and threads. You can find many of the quotes and concepts discussed here on his feed: https://twitter.com/george__mack
  • Newsletter: He often expands on his ideas in his newsletter, which you can typically find linked in his Twitter bio.
  • Podcast Appearances: Searching for "George Mack podcast" will bring up numerous interviews where he discusses these concepts in depth. A notable appearance includes "The Danny Miranda Podcast."