First Principles Thinking is a method of solving problems by breaking them down to their core truths, then rebuilding from the ground up. It helps you move beyond assumptions and conventional wisdom to find truly original solutions. Companies like Dyson and Liquid Death used it to redefine their categories by rethinking from scratch rather than tweaking what already existed.

MECE stands for “Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive,” and is a problem-solving framework that helps break down complex issues with clarity and structure. For a set of options, each item must be Mutually Exclusive (there’s no overlap) and Collectively Exhaustive (all possible options are present). This framework is useful to use when you have a complex problem you’re trying to solve, or you have a solution in mind and want to know how it fits into your overall goal.