Tell What You Want Apart from What You Need
Added 2026-11-06
Wants set the direction; needs set the floor. Mixing them loses both.
I am torn on this choice: [choice and situation]. Separate wants from needs: 1) list up to five of each; 2) mark the "needs" that are really wants in disguise; 3) describe what the choice looks like if only needs are met; 4) say which needs get sacrificed if only wants are pursued; 5) propose a middle option that partly serves both; 6) say when to drop the wants and keep only the needs.
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[choice and situation]
How to use
Needs can be verified; wants can only say "I just want it".
Try tweaking it
- Ask what evidence would overturn the judgement.
- Have it argue both sides with three reasons each.
What you should get
- A decision table: assumptions, evidence, counter-evidence
- A next action with an observable signal
Common mistakes
- Asking only "should I?" and getting equally valid answers both ways.
- Never asking for counter-examples, so you only hear support.
How to check the output
- It states what evidence would overturn the conclusion.
- Both sides are argued, with assumptions marked as such.
Where it works
- Good for: splitting a decision into assumptions, evidence and counter-cases, leaving the call to you.
- Watch out: ask what evidence would overturn the judgement, or you will only hear supporting reasons.