Using Elimination Effectively

Apply eliminative reasoning to improve your decisions:

• Start by eliminating, not selecting — it is easier to spot what does not work than what works best
• Define dealbreakers explicitly — list the criteria that automatically disqualify an option, regardless of its other qualities
• Be comprehensive — spend more time generating options than evaluating them; missed possibilities are the method's greatest weakness
• Keep eliminated options visible — do not discard them, since new evidence might change things.