Mastering the Three Buckets of Knowledge: Physics, Math, and Human History

Mastering the Three Buckets of Knowledge: Physics, Math, and Human History

When it comes to seeking knowledge and understanding the world, we are often faced with the question of where to start. Which sources of knowledge are the most fundamental and useful? Peter Kaufman suggests that the three oldest and most invariant forms of knowledge - physics, math, and human history - offer us endless learning and mental models that can give us a deeper understanding of the world.

Physics and math, which Kaufman places in the first bucket, provide us with the rules that govern the universe. By studying these subjects, we can derive the fundamental principles and laws that shape our physical reality. From concepts like gradualism, which explains slow incremental change over time, to the idea of human nature as nearly fixed, physics and math offer us valuable insights into the nature of our world.

Human history, on the other hand, falls into the third bucket of knowledge. It provides us with the rules that humans have played by throughout time. By studying history, we can observe patterns and recurring themes that help us understand the fundamental problems of humanity. As Durant explains in "The Lessons of History," history repeats itself because human nature changes with geological leisureliness, and we are equipped to respond in stereotyped ways to frequently occurring situations and stimuli. However, in a developed and complex civilization, individuals become more differentiated and unique, requiring modifications of instinctive response.

Another valuable lesson we can learn from human history is the concept of resilience. Just as nature has shown us that what is fragile will eventually break under the stresses of competition, history teaches us that fragile relationships break while strong, win-win relationships have the power to endure. Understanding this concept can help us build and maintain strong relationships in all aspects of our lives.

The second bucket of knowledge, biology, bridges the gap between the physical rules of the universe and the rules that govern human behavior. Human biology gives us the rules of the chessboard, while the Earth and its inhabitants provide the environment in which we play the game. By studying biology, we can gain a deeper understanding of human nature and the factors that shape our behavior.

One important concept that emerges from the study of biology is the idea of Darwinian natural selection. As populations grow and resources become limited, there must be a way to determine who gets the spoils. This concept aligns with the principles of compounding and natural selection found in physics, math, and biology. Ideas and knowledge, like money or population, compound over time, and human ideas also go through natural selection. The ideas that are most fit for propagation are the ones that survive for a long time.

In the realm of customer experience, the Net Promoter Score (NPS) serves as the gold standard of metrics. NPS is a measure of customer loyalty and satisfaction, calculated by subtracting the percentage of detractors from the percentage of promoters. Promoters are customers who give a score of 9 or 10 and are likely to recommend the organization, product, or service to others. Passives are satisfied but not enthusiastic customers, while detractors are unhappy customers who are unlikely to repurchase and may discourage others from doing so.

NPS surveys can be deployed in two ways: relational and transactional. Relational NPS surveys provide a periodic pulse on customer sentiment towards the company overall. Transactional NPS surveys, on the other hand, focus on specific interactions with the company to gain granular insights into customer satisfaction. The goal of NPS surveys is to not only satisfy customers but to create loyal brand evangelists who will promote the company to others.

When designing NPS surveys, it is advisable to avoid unnecessary demographic questions unless they are directly relevant to the topic at hand. This ensures that the survey remains focused and provides actionable feedback.

In conclusion, by mastering the three buckets of knowledge - physics, math, and human history - we can gain a deeper understanding of the world and the rules that govern it. Physics and math provide us with the fundamental principles that shape our physical reality, while human history offers us insights into the recurring patterns of human behavior. Biology bridges the gap between the physical and the human, providing us with an understanding of human nature and the factors that shape our behavior. By incorporating these insights into our understanding of customer experience, as exemplified by the Net Promoter Score, we can create lasting relationships with our customers and foster loyalty and advocacy.

Actionable advice:

1. Invest time in studying physics, math, and human history to gain a deeper understanding of the fundamental principles that shape our world.
2. Use the principles of compounding and natural selection found in these three buckets of knowledge to drive innovation and success in your personal and professional life.
3. Implement NPS surveys in your business to measure customer loyalty and satisfaction, and use the feedback to create loyal brand evangelists who will promote your company to others.