master the most common
thinking errors that have the
biggest impact on your
decision-making
(in one box)
START RATIONAL THINKING NOW
40 Illustrated Cards
01
FACTS
YOUR BELIEFS
WHAT
YOU SEE
YOU SEE
Confirmation Bias
Seeking out info that supports your beliefs, while ignoring facts that prove you wrong.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Actively search for one credible piece of evidence that contradicts your strongest opinion.
02
$
Sunk Cost Fallacy
Continuing an endeavor because of previously invested resources, even if it's no longer beneficial.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Ask yourself: 'If I hadn't invested anything yet, would I start doing this today?'
03
$999
→
$499
Anchoring Effect
Relying too heavily on the first piece of information offered when making decisions.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Deliberately seek out alternative starting points or ranges before estimating.
04
SKILL
CONFIDENCE
Dunning-Kruger Effect
When people with low ability or knowledge at a task overestimate their competence.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Ask for brutally honest feedback from a proven expert on a skill you think you're good at.
05
SPACE IN
YOUR BRAIN
YOUR BRAIN
ACTUAL
PROBABILITY
PROBABILITY
Availability Heuristic
Thinking dramatic events are extremely common simply because they are scary and easy to remember.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Before panicking over a terrifying headline, force yourself to look up the actual, boring statistics.
06
THEY ARE LATE
9:15 AM
"SO LAZY!"
YOU ARE LATE
9:15 AM
"TRAFFIC!"
Fundamental Attribution Error
Believing someone's mistake is due to their bad character, while ignoring the stressful situation they are in.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Assume the best. If someone snaps at you, they might just be having a really bad day.
07
1. THE ONE GOOD TRAIT
"WOW, SO
CHARMING!"
CHARMING!"
2. THE HALO EFFECT
"I TRUST THEM
COMPLETELY!"
COMPLETELY!"
TOXIC
Halo Effect
Letting a person's single positive trait completely blind you to their glaring flaws in other areas.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Separate the trait from the person. Just because they are charismatic doesn't mean they are competent.
08
A+
1. WHAT OTHERS SEE
"WOW, AN
EXPERT!"
EXPERT!"
SUCCESS
A+
2. WHAT YOU FEEL
"I'M A TOTAL
FRAUD..."
FRAUD..."
SUCCESS
Imposter Syndrome
Doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud, despite clear evidence of your competence and success.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Keep a 'brag document' of your actual achievements, and read it when you feel unqualified.
09
1. YOUR SENSES
"IT'S A
BLUE SQUARE."
BLUE SQUARE."
2. THE CROWD
"A FLAWLESS
RED CIRCLE!"
RED CIRCLE!"
"YES...
SO ROUND."
SO ROUND."
Bandwagon Effect
Adopting a belief or behavior simply because others are doing it, ignoring the underlying evidence.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
When evaluating a trend, ask yourself: 'Would I still do this if absolutely nobody else was doing it?'
10
"WE'LL NEED HEAVIER ARMOR WHERE THEY'RE GETTING HIT MOST."
"OR PERHAPS PLANES HIT IN THE VULNERABLE PARTS DON'T RETURN."
Survivorship Bias
Focusing on the things that 'survived' a process while overlooking those that failed due to lack of visibility.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Always ask yourself: 'What data am I NOT seeing? Where are the invisible failures?'
01
FACTS
YOUR BELIEFS
WHAT
YOU SEE
YOU SEE
Confirmation Bias
Seeking out info that supports your beliefs, while ignoring facts that prove you wrong.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Actively search for one credible piece of evidence that contradicts your strongest opinion.
02
$
Sunk Cost Fallacy
Continuing an endeavor because of previously invested resources, even if it's no longer beneficial.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Ask yourself: 'If I hadn't invested anything yet, would I start doing this today?'
03
$999
→
$499
Anchoring Effect
Relying too heavily on the first piece of information offered when making decisions.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Deliberately seek out alternative starting points or ranges before estimating.
04
SKILL
CONFIDENCE
Dunning-Kruger Effect
When people with low ability or knowledge at a task overestimate their competence.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Ask for brutally honest feedback from a proven expert on a skill you think you're good at.
05
SPACE IN
YOUR BRAIN
YOUR BRAIN
ACTUAL
PROBABILITY
PROBABILITY
Availability Heuristic
Thinking dramatic events are extremely common simply because they are scary and easy to remember.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Before panicking over a terrifying headline, force yourself to look up the actual, boring statistics.
06
THEY ARE LATE
9:15 AM
"SO LAZY!"
YOU ARE LATE
9:15 AM
"TRAFFIC!"
Fundamental Attribution Error
Believing someone's mistake is due to their bad character, while ignoring the stressful situation they are in.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Assume the best. If someone snaps at you, they might just be having a really bad day.
07
1. THE ONE GOOD TRAIT
"WOW, SO
CHARMING!"
CHARMING!"
2. THE HALO EFFECT
"I TRUST THEM
COMPLETELY!"
COMPLETELY!"
TOXIC
Halo Effect
Letting a person's single positive trait completely blind you to their glaring flaws in other areas.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Separate the trait from the person. Just because they are charismatic doesn't mean they are competent.
08
A+
1. WHAT OTHERS SEE
"WOW, AN
EXPERT!"
EXPERT!"
SUCCESS
A+
2. WHAT YOU FEEL
"I'M A TOTAL
FRAUD..."
FRAUD..."
SUCCESS
Imposter Syndrome
Doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud, despite clear evidence of your competence and success.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Keep a 'brag document' of your actual achievements, and read it when you feel unqualified.
09
1. YOUR SENSES
"IT'S A
BLUE SQUARE."
BLUE SQUARE."
2. THE CROWD
"A FLAWLESS
RED CIRCLE!"
RED CIRCLE!"
"YES...
SO ROUND."
SO ROUND."
Bandwagon Effect
Adopting a belief or behavior simply because others are doing it, ignoring the underlying evidence.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
When evaluating a trend, ask yourself: 'Would I still do this if absolutely nobody else was doing it?'
10
"WE'LL NEED HEAVIER ARMOR WHERE THEY'RE GETTING HIT MOST."
"OR PERHAPS PLANES HIT IN THE VULNERABLE PARTS DON'T RETURN."
Survivorship Bias
Focusing on the things that 'survived' a process while overlooking those that failed due to lack of visibility.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Always ask yourself: 'What data am I NOT seeing? Where are the invisible failures?'
11
"BUT WE HAVE SO MANY WINS!"
Negativity Bias
The phenomenon where negative events have a much stronger impact on our mental state than positive ones.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
When dwelling on a negative comment, force yourself to write down three positive ones.
12
$4.00
$8.00
✖
THE DECOY
$8.50
Decoy Effect
The tendency to change your preference between two options when presented with a third, symmetrically dominated option.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Evaluate options based strictly on what you actually need, not what looks like the best deal.
13
YOUR PLAN
REALITY
🔥
💣
⚔️
⛈️
🦖
Planning Fallacy
The tendency to underestimate the time, costs, and risks of future actions and overestimate the benefits.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Break tasks down. Use past experience as a baseline rather than optimistic best-case scenarios.
14
"I SAW IT COMING."
Hindsight Bias
Thinking 'I knew it all along' after an event occurs, even though you couldn't have predicted it.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Log your decisions as you make them. Compare outcomes to your past notes, not your current memory.
15
?
"IT'S SO SIMPLE!"
Curse of Knowledge
The tendency to unknowingly assume that whoever you are talking to has the background to understand your point.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Know your audience. Strip away jargon and explain things as if speaking to a beginner.
16
Barnum Effect
The tendency to accept vague character assessments or horoscopes as true, even when they apply to anyone.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Look for 'one size fits all' statements. Ask: 'Could this also apply to my exact opposite?'
17
"WE CAN'T LOSE, I HAVE MY LUCKY SOCKS."
Illusion of Control
The tendency to overestimate your ability to control events, like believing 'lucky socks' affect a match.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Focus on what you actually control (your effort) and accept what you cannot (random chance and outcomes).
18
Spotlight Effect
The tendency to believe that other people are noticing or paying attention to you more than they actually are.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Remind yourself that everyone is mostly focused on their own lives and insecurities, not yours.
19
Base Rate Fallacy
The tendency to ignore general statistical information in favor of specific, vivid anecdotes.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Look at the broad statistics first before being swayed by a single dramatic story or isolated event.
20
80%
LEAN
20%
FAT
Framing Effect
Drawing different conclusions from the same information depending on how it's presented.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Look past the presentation. If this was phrased the exact opposite way, would you make the same choice?
11
"BUT WE HAVE SO MANY WINS!"
Negativity Bias
The phenomenon where negative events have a much stronger impact on our mental state than positive ones.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
When dwelling on a negative comment, force yourself to write down three positive ones.
12
$4.00
$8.00
✖
THE DECOY
$8.50
Decoy Effect
The tendency to change your preference between two options when presented with a third, symmetrically dominated option.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Evaluate options based strictly on what you actually need, not what looks like the best deal.
13
YOUR PLAN
REALITY
🔥
💣
⚔️
⛈️
🦖
Planning Fallacy
The tendency to underestimate the time, costs, and risks of future actions and overestimate the benefits.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Break tasks down. Use past experience as a baseline rather than optimistic best-case scenarios.
14
"I SAW IT COMING."
Hindsight Bias
Thinking 'I knew it all along' after an event occurs, even though you couldn't have predicted it.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Log your decisions as you make them. Compare outcomes to your past notes, not your current memory.
15
?
"IT'S SO SIMPLE!"
Curse of Knowledge
The tendency to unknowingly assume that whoever you are talking to has the background to understand your point.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Know your audience. Strip away jargon and explain things as if speaking to a beginner.
16
Barnum Effect
The tendency to accept vague character assessments or horoscopes as true, even when they apply to anyone.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Look for 'one size fits all' statements. Ask: 'Could this also apply to my exact opposite?'
17
"WE CAN'T LOSE, I HAVE MY LUCKY SOCKS."
Illusion of Control
The tendency to overestimate your ability to control events, like believing 'lucky socks' affect a match.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Focus on what you actually control (your effort) and accept what you cannot (random chance and outcomes).
18
Spotlight Effect
The tendency to believe that other people are noticing or paying attention to you more than they actually are.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Remind yourself that everyone is mostly focused on their own lives and insecurities, not yours.
19
Base Rate Fallacy
The tendency to ignore general statistical information in favor of specific, vivid anecdotes.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Look at the broad statistics first before being swayed by a single dramatic story or isolated event.
20
80%
LEAN
20%
FAT
Framing Effect
Drawing different conclusions from the same information depending on how it's presented.
MIND TRAP DEFENSE
Look past the presentation. If this was phrased the exact opposite way, would you make the same choice?
✓
Identify BS. Get better at spotting all kinds of nonsense, drivel, baloney and BS.
✓
Recognize when you or others are making decisions that are influenced by thinking errors
✓
Better understand the sales and marketing tactics being used around you.
✓
Improved communication. Being aware of cognitive biases can enhance communication with others
✓
Rational thinking. Become a more rational human being.
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METHODS OF PLAY
HOW TO USE THE DECK
Play Solo
Keep the deck on your desk. Draw one card every morning to build a habit of identifying cognitive biases in your own daily decision-making.
With Friends
Use the cards as a party game. Read a bias out loud and have everyone share a funny story of when they or someone else fell into that trap.
In Teams
The ultimate corporate icebreaker. Start meetings by drawing a card, or use them as a neutral, blameless vocabulary to resolve workplace conflicts safely.
Most people will go through life, completely unaware of the thinking errors they are carrying around in their minds.
The first step to understanding your mind and becoming a more rational thinker is to become aware of the thinking errors that we all have within us.
You can't know what you don't know.
It isn't any fault of your own, minus signing up for a behavioral psychology class, no one sits you down and explains all the ways your brain likes to give you shortcuts, jumps to conclusions or does the heavy lifting (thinking) for you without your conscious input.
We simply aren't taught to better understand our minds and the cognitive limitations they have.