3 Ways I Make Sense of the Unexpected & Perplexing

In the last episode (written version), we talked about how "sensemaking starts with chaos" and that chaos arises when our expectations don't match reality. That mismatch occurs because the mental model we have that creates our expectations doesn't work for the situation at hand. To alleviate the frustration (or at least make sense of it), we need a new mental model.

Well, in this episode, I want to share 3 mental models that I use to make sense of things that frustrate people I care about.

These models aren’t even the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the different ways we can make sense of the world. But I do think they’re ones you can apply broadly and start using quickly. Or, you might notice that they’re models you’re already using and now can be more conscious of how you deploy them.

Speaking of which, if you want to communicate with more clarity, create more persuasive messaging, and stand out from the crowd with rigorous thinking, check out Making Sense. Making Sense is my 8-week interactive workshop that walks you step-by-step through creating media that helps others make sense of the world. Whether you’re a writer, podcaster, creator, academic, marketer, or any other kind of media maker, you’ll learn new tools for producing content that offers others some relief from the confusion and frustration they feel.

To learn more and register, go to makingsense.fyi.

Footnotes:

• Read the written version of this episode.
• "Wait, I Think You're Platform-Pilled" by Tara McMullin
• "Normalization" via Wikipedia
• "Buying Freedom and the Freedom to Buy" by Tara McMullin
• "Refund Policies" by Tara McMullin
• "The Dark Side of Fitness Trackers" by John Toner
• "Value Capture" by C. Thi Nguyen

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (05:38) - "Man Behind the Curtain" Framework
• (12:53) - The Process of Normalization
• (19:50) - The Theory of Value Capture
• (27:33) - Last Thing
• (29:14) - Making Sense: An 8-Week Interactive Workshop
• (29:57) - Credits

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What is What Works?

Work is central to the human experience. It helps us shape our identities, care for those we love, and contribute to our communities. Work can be a source of power and a catalyst for change. Unfortunately, that's not how most of us experience work—even those who work for themselves. Our labor and creative spirit are used to enrich others and maintain the status quo. It's time for an intervention. What Works is a show about rethinking work, business, and leadership for the 21st-century economy. Host Tara McMullin covers money, management, culture, media, philosophy, and more to figure out what's working (and what's not) today. Tara offers a distinctly interdisciplinary approach to deep-dive analysis of how we work and how work shapes us.