Dumb-Thinking Tools

A curated collection of mental models to help you think "dumb".

What Would MacGyver Do?

A mental model for solving problems by maximizing the resources already available to you.

What it is

My dad had two great loves: Saturday morning donuts and the -80s TV show MacGyver. While the donuts vanished, the show stuck with me. Week after week, we’d watch a mulleted secret agent defuse nuclear bombs with chewing gum, duct tape, and whatever he found in his pockets.

That’s the spirit here. Instead of begging for bigger budgets or shinier tech, you scrounge through what’s already lying around—tools, scraps, half-forgotten skills—and splice them into something jaw-dropping. Velcro hitchhiked on burrs, the microwave popped out of a melted candy bar, and hip-hop sprouted from two dusty turntables. Breakthroughs rarely arrive gift-wrapped; they’re Frankensteined from leftovers.

When to use it

When you feel stuck because of a lack of resources.
When you need a quick solution but don’t have time for new investments.
When constraints are preventing you from moving forward.
When you want to approach problem-solving with an inventive mindset.

How it works

List Your Available Resources

What materials, tools, or skills do you already have?

Look for Alternate Uses

Can these be used in a way they weren’t originally intended for?

Eliminate the ‘I Need More’ Mindset

Assume what you have is enough and work within those limits.

Reframe the Problem

Instead of focusing on what’s missing, focus on what’s possible.

Prototype with What’s on Hand

Test a quick version using only available resources.

Example 1

The Invention of the Moser Bottle Light

Problem

Many communities in developing countries lacked electricity, making daytime indoor lighting difficult.

Use What You Have Question

“What if we could create a light source without electricity?”

Breakthrough

Brazilian mechanic Alfredo Moser invented a way to illuminate homes using just a plastic bottle filled with water and bleach, placed through a hole in the roof. The water refracted sunlight, creating the equivalent of a 40-60 watt light bulb during the day—without using any electricity. Today, this simple, low-cost invention has been installed in millions of homes worldwide.

Example 2

NASA Fixes Apollo 13 with Duct Tape and Socks

Problem

During the Apollo 13 mission, a damaged oxygen tank forced the crew to rely on the Lunar Module for survival—but the air filter system wasn’t compatible with their emergency setup.

Use What You Have Question

“How can we build a working air filter using only what’s available on the spacecraft?”

Breakthrough

NASA engineers on the ground improvised a CO₂ scrubber using duct tape, plastic bags, and spare socks—materials the astronauts had onboard. The crew followed their instructions, built the makeshift filter, and survived the crisis. This remains one of the most famous examples of life-saving ingenuity under extreme constraints.

Why it works

✓ Encourages creativity by forcing you to see new possibilities in everyday things.

✓ Helps overcome analysis paralysis by focusing on what can be done now.

✓ Turns limitations into strengths, often leading to innovative and cost-effective solutions

Tips for applying

👉️ Ask: “If I couldn’t buy or acquire anything new, how would I solve this?”

👉️ Look at everything around you—what’s being underutilized?

👉️ Reverse-engineer: If someone handed you only these materials, how would you make it work?

👉️ Set an artificial constraint (e.g., "Solve this problem using only what’s in this room") to spark creativity.

dumbify podcast illustration 3k x 3k 744kb.png

If you want to learn more about getting smarter by thinking dumber, subscribe to free the 'dumbify' newsletter.