LinkedIn Voices: Shane Parrish

There are no shortcuts to wisdom, but there are frameworks for thinking more clearly. Shane Parrish, the founder of the popular blog and media company Farnam Street, has dedicated his career to building those frameworks. He’s a former intelligence expert who has become a leading voice in helping people master the art of effective decision-making.

Shane Parrish

From Intelligence to Insight

Shane Parrish’s unique journey began not in an office, but in a high-stakes intelligence environment. He worked for a Canadian intelligence agency where he learned firsthand the consequences of poor decision-making.

This experience lit a fire in him to understand why smart people sometimes make bad choices. It was this curiosity that led him to create Farnam Street as a personal project, a blog where he could share his own learnings on what he calls "worldly wisdom." The blog quickly grew into a global resource for CEOs and entrepreneurs, a testament to the universal desire for better thinking.

The Art of Wise Decisions

At the core of Parrish’s philosophy is the idea that true mastery comes from understanding how things work. He champions the use of mental models, fundamental concepts from different disciplines, such as physics, biology, and economics, as tools for better thinking. His bestselling book series, The Great Mental Models, is essentially a practical guide to building this essential toolkit.

He also emphasizes "second-order thinking," which means considering not just the immediate results of a decision, but also the consequences of those consequences. His work, including his podcast The Knowledge Project, provides a powerful toolkit for anyone looking to go beyond surface-level analysis and make wiser choices.

Metrics & Impact

• Platform Reach: 55,070 followers on LinkedIn, over 750,000 subscribers to his weekly newsletter; over 10 million podcast downloads; featured in major publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes.
  

• Business Impact: Built a multi-million dollar business through books, courses, and digital content.
  

• Client Base / Influence: Reached audiences in over 30 countries; has worked with individuals from diverse backgrounds; featured in major media outlets.
  

• Growth & Legacy: Continues to influence the personal development space through books, podcasts, and digital content.

Screenshot of Shane Parrish's LinkedIn Profile

Content Strategy & Teaching Approach on LinkedIn

Shane Parrish has a significant presence on LinkedIn, sharing content related to mental models, decision-making, and personal development. His content strategy includes:

• Regular Posts: Sharing articles, reflections, and insights on topics related to personal growth and mental well-being.

• Engagement with the Community: Responding to comments and engaging with followers, promoting constructive discussions.

• Multimedia Content: Utilizing videos and podcasts to address topics in a dynamic and accessible manner.

His teaching approach is characterized by:

• Clear and Accessible Language: Simple and direct explanations, making complex concepts easy to understand.

• Philosophical Approach: Incorporating philosophical insights to provide depth to personal development discussions.

• Evidence-Based Content: Utilizing scientific knowledge to support his guidance and recommendations.

Examples of his Featured Posts on LinkedIn

www.linkedin.com

The myth of "work smarter, not harder" | Shane Parrish posted on the topic | LinkedIn

Telling someone to “work smarter” is useless because it assumes they already know what smarter looks like. If they did, they’d be doing it. “Work smarter, not harder” is often framed as the opposite of hard work, but working smart is itself a derivative of hard work. You have to work hard just to figure out what working smart means. Beginners can’t work smart because they don’t yet know what smart looks like. They have to work hard first, building the pattern recognition that makes smart possible. It’s like a chess master spotting the best move instantly, it looks like working smart, but it’s built on thousands of hours of working hard to earn that intuition. Smarter approaches aren’t universal shortcuts; they’re contextual insights uncovered through deep, sustained effort. | 32 comments on LinkedIn

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Why startups can beat incumbents: Ryan Petersen | Shane Parrish posted on the topic | LinkedIn

What if everything you believed about competition was wrong? Most people don't understand why startups can outcompete incumbents. In this clip, Ryan Petersen shares why velocity matters more than mass, and it will change how you think about competition. Search “The Knowledge Project Ryan Petersen” or click the link in the comments to watch the full episode.

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Interview with Daniel Kahneman: 11 Key Insights | Shane Parrish posted on the topic | LinkedIn

11 Key Takeaways from my interview with Daniel Kahneman: 1. Delay Your Intuition: Most people form an impression in seconds and spend the rest of their time confirming it. The best wait for all the information before letting their intuition speak. 2. Loss Aversion Creates Permanent Programs: When you own something, losing it hurts twice as much as getting it felt good. Once people have a benefit, you can’t easily remove it. When you try, they fight like crazy. The 100 people losing a government subsidy scream louder (and organize better) than the million paying for it. That’s why the government only grows. Every program creates fierce defenders. Nobody fights as hard for lower taxes. Once you give people something (a perk, a feature, a benefit), it’s nearly impossible to take back. Small groups lose something specific, while large groups gain something abstract. Every time. 3. Your Rules Become Your Default: Kahneman’s phone rang during the interview. Someone wanted a book review. “My rule is I never say yes on the phone,” he said. This wasn’t about being difficult. Danny was human just like us. He often said yes to things he didn’t want to do. So he created a rule. Not a goal, not an intention, a rule. It reprogrammed his unconscious mind, turning his desired behavior into his default behavior. 4. Facts Don’t Form Beliefs: “I believe in climate change,” Kahneman said. “I believe in the people who tell me there is climate change. The people who don’t believe in climate change, they believe in other people.” This is how we form all beliefs. We don’t examine evidence and reach conclusions. We trust people we like, then adopt their views. “The reasons are not the causes of our beliefs,” he explained. They’re stories we tell ourselves afterward. Want to change someone’s mind? Facts won’t do it. They need to trust you first. If they admire you, they’ll find reasons to agree. If they dislike you, the best evidence won’t matter. Smart people believe opposite things because they trust different people. See comments for link to the rest. (P.S. If you like these takeaways, please hit the like button to let me know.) | 53 comments on LinkedIn

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Nearly everyone successful is lying to you. Not on purpose. They actually believe their own story about timing and talent and luck. They've forgotten the thousands of hours they worked for free. The… | Shane Parrish | 52 comments

Nearly everyone successful is lying to you. Not on purpose. They actually believe their own story about timing and talent and luck. They've forgotten the thousands of hours they worked for free. The nights they chose learning over leisure. The weekends they built things no one asked for. Here's what's actually happening: Every night, you choose between Netflix and building something. Every weekend, you choose between long dinners with friends and learning something. Every evening, you choose between endless scrolling and creating something. Those choices compound. Faster than you think. | 52 comments on LinkedIn

Shane Parrish''s LinkedIn Account

www.linkedin.com

Shane Parrish - Fortress Insurance Company | LinkedIn

I spent years working for a three-letter intelligence agency doing cool stuff I can never… · Experience: Fortress Insurance Company · Location: Ottawa · 500+ connections on LinkedIn. View Shane Parrish’s profile on LinkedIn, a professional community of 1 billion members.

Some of His Talks

Shane Parrish: How To Live Life On Your Own Terms

Rules for Better Thinking, How to Reduce Blind Spots, & More | Shane Parrish | The Tim Ferriss Show

Shane Parrish - Mental Models, Good Decisions & Better Content | Modern Wisdom Podcast 334

Why He Matters

Shane Parrish is a prominent figure in the personal development space, known for his candid and no-nonsense approach to self-help. Through his bestselling books, podcast, and engaging content, he has influenced millions to rethink their perspectives on life, happiness, and personal growth. His ability to blend humor, philosophy, and practical advice has made him a trusted voice for those seeking meaningful change.

Quick Profile Summary

Info	Detail
Name	Shane Parrish
Title	Entrepreneur, Investor, Author, Founder of Farnam Street
Focus	Mental Models, Decision Making, Personal Development
Experience	Former cybersecurity expert at Canada's top intelligence agency; founder of Farnam Street, a platform dedicated to mastering mental models and improving decision-making; author of The Great Mental Models series; host of The Knowledge Project podcast .
Funding / Wealth	Self-funded; has built a multi-million dollar business through books, courses, and digital content.
Platform Reach	Over 750,000 subscribers to his weekly newsletter; over 10 million podcast downloads; featured in major publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes .
Client Base / Influence	Reached audiences in over 30 countries; has worked with individuals from diverse backgrounds; featured in major media outlets.
Notable Achievements	Author of multiple bestselling books; host of The Knowledge Project podcast; featured in major media outlets; has worked with high-profile individuals.
Website	fs.blog