A “razor” is a rule of thumb that simplifies decision making.

The origin of the term comes from philosophy, where any principle that allowed one to quickly remove unlikely explanations or avoid unnecessary steps became referred to as a philosophical razor. A razor literally allowed its user to “shave off” explanations or actions. Examples include:

Occam’s Razor

When you’re weighing alternative explanations for something, the one with the fewest necessary assumptions should be chosen.

Put simply, the simplest explanation is often the best one.

The Lion Razor

If you have the choice, always choose to sprint and then rest.

If your goal is to do inspired, creative work, you have to work like a lion: Sprint when inspired. Rest. Repeat.

Most people are not wired to work 9-5—long periods of steady, monotonous work. It’s a remnant of the Industrial Age.

Parkinson’s Law states that work expands to fill the time available for its completion. When you establish fixed hours to do your work, you find unproductive ways to fill it—you work longer, but get less done.