0 saved
10K views
Remember Activation Energy and how it's hard to get started or overcome that ...
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Facillimum id quidem est, inquam. Duo Reges: constructio interrete. Quid igitur dubitamus in tota eius natura quaerere quid sit effectum? Nam si beatus umquam fuisset, beatam vitam usque ad illum a Cyro extructum rogum pertulisset. At modo dixeras nihil in istis rebus esse, quod interesset. Ergo, inquit, tibi Q.
Iam in altera philosophiae parte. Duarum enim vitarum nobis erunt instituta capienda. Aeque enim contingit omnibus fidibus, ut incontentae sint. Suam denique cuique naturam esse ad vivendum ducem. Invidiosum nomen est, infame, suspectum. Negat enim summo bono afferre incrementum diem. Iis igitur est difficilius satis facere, qui se Latina scripta dicunt contemnere. Vitiosum est enim in dividendo partem in genere numerare. Omnes enim iucundum motum, quo sensus hilaretur.
Ait enim se, si uratur, Quam hoc suave! dicturum. Quae diligentissime contra Aristonem dicuntur a Chryippo. Suam denique cuique naturam esse ad vivendum ducem. Quae ista amicitia est? Duae sunt enim res quoque, ne tu verba solum putes. Universa enim illorum ratione cum tota vestra confligendum puto. Sed quid sentiat, non videtis. Dat enim intervalla et relaxat.
- Discover what Activation Energy levels get you started
For some people, the beginning of a prod ...
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Mihi, inquam, qui te id ipsum rogavi? Cum id fugiunt, re eadem defendunt, quae Peripatetici, verba. Quod non faceret, si in voluptate summum bonum poneret. Nam memini etiam quae nolo, oblivisci non possum quae volo. At ille non pertimuit saneque fidenter: Istis quidem ipsis verbis, inquit; Ut enim consuetudo loquitur, id solum dicitur honestum, quod est populari fama gloriosum.
Quam si explicavisset, non tam haesitaret. Non laboro, inquit, de nomine. Duo Reges: constructio interrete. Huic mori optimum esse propter desperationem sapientiae, illi propter spem vivere. Utrum igitur percurri omnem Epicuri disciplinam placet an de una voluptate quaeri, de qua omne certamen est? Sed quot homines, tot sententiae; Non dolere, inquam, istud quam vim habeat postea videro; Itaque eos id agere, ut a se dolores, morbos, debilitates repellant.
Vitae autem degendae ratio maxime quidem illis placuit quieta. Hanc quoque iucunditatem, si vis, transfer in animum; Quodsi vultum tibi, si incessum fingeres, quo gravior viderere, non esses tui similis; Nam illud vehementer repugnat, eundem beatum esse et multis malis oppressum. Quis Aristidem non mortuum diligit? Et nemo nimium beatus est; Quid enim possumus hoc agere divinius? Id enim volumus, id contendimus, ut officii fructus sit ipsum officium. Sed quid attinet de rebus tam apertis plura requirere? Atque hoc loco similitudines eas, quibus illi uti solent, dissimillimas proferebas. Et harum quidem rerum facilis est et expedita distinctio. Atque haec coniunctio confusioque virtutum tamen a philosophis ratione quadam distinguitur.
Catalysts can help to transform a situation faster, but the ingredients for that change must already exist. A catalyst then can’t solve for inadequate preparation or misjudging the broader context.
Another challenge with catalysts is that while theoretically, they do not become reactants, they often will impact on a change, particularly in business and life applications. This needs to be considered when removing catalysts, which might not just slow a change process down, but transform the nature of what is happening.
Examples of economic Catalysts as a business model
The multi-sided platform strategy as described above is best represented by companies such as eBay, Uber and Airbnb. By nature, the development of these businesses often disrupts existing business models. They tend to represent some of the fastest-growing and largest businesses over the last decade.
Social movements.
Many social movements have had a catalyst, a particular event that triggers broader social protests and change. In 1955 when Rosa Parks refused to give her front-row seat up for a white passenger it led to her arrest. This led to a bus boycott and was the ‘spark’ or catalyst for a broader civil rights movement. In more recent times, the tragic killing of George Flloyd by a white police officer was the catalyst for the Black Lives Matter movement to gain mainstream coverage and impact.
Catalytic converters in your car.
There are many chemistry examples of catalysts. Perhaps one that will be most familiar is how vehicles use catalytic converters to reduce toxic gases and pollutants in exhaust gas from combustion engines into less-toxic pollutants by catalyzing a redox reaction.
Catalysts as a mental model can apply to a broad range of domains that relate to change.
Use the following examples of connected and complementary models to weave catalysts into your broader latticework of mental models. Alternatively, discover your own connections by exploring the category list above.
Connected models:
- Activation energy: intrinsically tied to the conversation of catalysts.
- The scientific method: as a broader framework and backdrop to the field.
- Butterfly effect: a different model that has some conceptual similarities.
- Leverage: again, different, but similar in that it aims to create a bigger impact from a smaller action.
- Critical mass: as the point at which change happens.
Complementary models:
- Systems vs goals: catalysts can provide a critique of the ‘slow steady’ approach of systems.
- Inversion: consider what might act as a catalyst for change by asking what would prevent it.
- Overton window: events can act as catalysts to shift the Overton window.
The concept of a catalyst can be traced back to Ancient Greece, though the term itself was first used by Scottish chemist Elizabeth Fulhame in her 1794 publication of An Essay on Combustion. See more about her story in this Physics Today article.
See David Evans, Catalyst Code: The Strategies Behind the Most Dynamic Companies for an exploration of economic catalysts.
My Notes
Oops, That’s Members’ Only!
Fortunately, it only costs US$5/month to Join ModelThinkers and access everything so that you can rapidly discover, learn, and apply the world’s most powerful ideas.
ModelThinkers membership at a glance:
“Yeah, we hate pop ups too. But we wanted to let you know that, with ModelThinkers, we’re making it easier for you to adapt, innovate and create value. We hope you’ll join us and the growing community of ModelThinkers today.”
You Might Also Like:
- Actionable summaries of the world's most powerful ideas.
Subscribe now and download this practical guide to transform your thinking, plus recieve one short, powerful and actionable idea in your inbox each month.