Sketchplanations - A weekly explanation in a sketch

Sketchplanations in a book! I think you'll love Big Ideas Little Pictures

Sketchplanations podcast photo of Rob Bell, Tom Pellereau and Jono Hey

Prefer to listen?
Try the podcast

Like Sketchplanations?
Support me on Patreon

Explaining the world one sketch at a time

what is a Phoenix tree explained with a toppled tree shown pencil-sketch style with its roots still connected at one end, side branches along the trunk becoming trees in their own right, and one putting down roots

Phoenix trees

Phoenix trees are trees that live on after toppling and that can create new trees from branches of the original with their own roots and everything. They are named after the mythical phoenix, a bird that rises from the ashes to regenerate after death, much like Fawkes from Harry Potter. In phoenix trees I've seen, a large toppled tree hasn't completely separated from its roots—where some roots are broken as the tree fell, one side of the roots has managed to remain connected. This provides a lifeline for the now horizontal tree. Remarkably, those branches along the trunk that are now growing upwards can become like trees in their own right and, at times, even put down their own roots. These side trees remain supported by the original great, toppled tree. Phoenix trees are not to be confused with nurse logs which are dead fallen trees that provide a great environment for new trees and plants to grow in.…Phoenix trees are trees that live on after toppling and that can create new trees from branches of the original with their own roots and everything. They are named after the mythical phoenix, a bird that rises from the ashes to regenerate after death, much like Fawkes from Harry Potter. In phoenix trees I've seen, a large toppled tree hasn't completely separated from its roots—where some roots are broken as the tree fell, one side of the roots has managed to remain connected. This provides a lifeline for the now horizontal tree. Remarkably, those branches along the trunk that are now growing upwards can become like trees in their own right and, at times, even put down their own roots. These side trees remain supported by the original great, toppled tree. Phoenix trees are not to be confused with nurse logs which are dead fallen trees that provide a great environment for new trees and plants to grow in.

25 May 2016

The fresh start effect

The Fresh Start Effect explains why we’re more likely to tackle meaningful goals or form new habits at the start of a day, week, month, or year. These fresh beginnings—like a birthday, moving to a new house, or even a Monday morning—are powerful mental triggers that motivate us to take action and start anew. It’s fascinating how the simple act of marking a “start” can make us more open to change and new challenges. Whether it’s the first day of the year or the start of a new chapter in life, these moments provide a sense of renewal and opportunity. We explored this idea on the podcast: Listen to The Fresh Start Effect on the Sketchplanations podcast You can also hear about it from Katy Milkman herself, Professor at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, on the Freakonomics podcast: When Willpower Isn’t Enough. Related Ideas to The Fresh Start Effect Also see: Temptation bundling Commitment devices Public commitment pledge The power of streaks Eat the frog…The Fresh Start Effect explains why we’re more likely to tackle meaningful goals or form new habits at the start of a day, week, month, or year. These fresh beginnings—like a birthday, moving to a new house, or even a Monday morning—are powerful mental triggers that motivate us to take action and start anew. It’s fascinating how the simple act of marking a “start” can make us more open to change and new challenges. Whether it’s the first day of the year or the start of a new chapter in life, these moments provide a sense of renewal and opportunity. We explored this idea on the podcast: Listen to The Fresh Start Effect on the Sketchplanations podcast You can also hear about it from Katy Milkman herself, Professor at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, on the Freakonomics podcast: When Willpower Isn’t Enough. Related Ideas to The Fresh Start Effect Also see: Temptation bundling Commitment devices Public commitment pledge The power of streaks Eat the frog

19 May 2016

How to remember if it's a Stalactite or Stalagmite (or stalagtite or stalacmite): Stalactites Cling tight to the Ceiling of a cave. Stalagmites Grow on the Ground

Stalactites, Stalagmites

How do you remember the difference between stalactites and stalagmites in a cave? And how do you spell them? A simple mnemonic that’s helped me is this: Stalactites cling tight to the ceiling. Stalagmites grow on the ground For Stalactite, the "-tite" and "tight" remind you of the ceiling connection, and the letter “C” in stalactite fits perfectly with “ceiling.” For Stalagmite, once you’ve got stalactite, stalagmites naturally become the ones that grow up from the ground, with their cheeky “G” matching “ground.” Easy, right? With this trick, you’ll never mix them up again, whether you’re exploring caves or acing a quiz. Sorted.…How do you remember the difference between stalactites and stalagmites in a cave? And how do you spell them? A simple mnemonic that’s helped me is this: Stalactites cling tight to the ceiling. Stalagmites grow on the ground For Stalactite, the "-tite" and "tight" remind you of the ceiling connection, and the letter “C” in stalactite fits perfectly with “ceiling.” For Stalagmite, once you’ve got stalactite, stalagmites naturally become the ones that grow up from the ground, with their cheeky “G” matching “ground.” Easy, right? With this trick, you’ll never mix them up again, whether you’re exploring caves or acing a quiz. Sorted.

12 May 2016

The IKEA effect

The IKEA effect is the increase in value we feel towards self-made products—products that required our effort to create them. Or, less formally, we love it more if we made it. The effect is named after the odd sense of satisfaction many of us feel after spending more time and sweat than expected putting together IKEA's famous flat-pack creations. Yet not only does more effort equal more love. If we've put effort into something ourselves, we're also more likely to, often mistakenly, think that others will value it more, just as we do. Together with others, Dan Ariely, a professor of behavioral economics, conducted several experiments leading to these conclusions. Ariely also points out that kids are the ultimate expression of the IKEA effect: they're very hard, don't come with instructions and take a lot of effort. Watch Dan Ariely do a great job explaining some experiments that lead to this conclusion, or read the full paper, The “IKEA effect”: When Labor Leads to Love (pdf), Norton, Mochon, Ariely HBS working paper, 2011. Related Ideas to the IKEA Effect The Betty Crocker Effect, or ‘the egg theory.’…The IKEA effect is the increase in value we feel towards self-made products—products that required our effort to create them. Or, less formally, we love it more if we made it. The effect is named after the odd sense of satisfaction many of us feel after spending more time and sweat than expected putting together IKEA's famous flat-pack creations. Yet not only does more effort equal more love. If we've put effort into something ourselves, we're also more likely to, often mistakenly, think that others will value it more, just as we do. Together with others, Dan Ariely, a professor of behavioral economics, conducted several experiments leading to these conclusions. Ariely also points out that kids are the ultimate expression of the IKEA effect: they're very hard, don't come with instructions and take a lot of effort. Watch Dan Ariely do a great job explaining some experiments that lead to this conclusion, or read the full paper, The “IKEA effect”: When Labor Leads to Love (pdf), Norton, Mochon, Ariely HBS working paper, 2011. Related Ideas to the IKEA Effect The Betty Crocker Effect, or ‘the egg theory.’

5 May 2016

Volunteer your own booking fee

Whenever I think of the convenience of someone doing something for me I usually conclude it’s easily worth a tip. So I have taken to adding one. Then hopefully they’ll be happy to do it again in the future too.…

27 Apr 2016

The frequency illusion explained in a sketch with an expecting couple suddenly seeing babies everywhere

The frequency illusion: we notice what’s top of mind

The frequency illusion is the phenomenon where, when we become aware of something, we are more likely to notice it, and it appears to be more frequent. The reason may simply be that previously, we weren’t tuned in to notice what was always there. The frequency likely hasn’t changed at all, but our awareness of it has. Examples of the Frequency Illusion When you are expecting, you may notice others who are expecting a child or have small kids. If you buy an electric car, you may suddenly be very aware of the number of charging stations. When you get glasses, you may suddenly notice all the opticians. When you have children, you may notice more schools. The Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon The frequency illusion is also known as the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon. The Baader-Meinhof gang, also known as the Red Army Faction, was an urban guerrilla group in Germany during the 1960s and 1970s. The name Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon was suggested in 1994 after a commentator on a bulletin board saw two references to the group in quick succession. No, it's not related to scientists or psychologists, just a surprising and memorable example of the phenomenon in action. Related Ideas to the Frequency Illusion The frequency illusion can lead to an availability bias where we overestimate the prevalence of what we notice more easily. The Availability Heuristic Unknown unknowns Survivorship bias The moon illusion Cognitive bias, heuristic, logical fallacy The Beard Cycle The Lucretius Problem The Firehouse Effect Black swan events…The frequency illusion is the phenomenon where, when we become aware of something, we are more likely to notice it, and it appears to be more frequent. The reason may simply be that previously, we weren’t tuned in to notice what was always there. The frequency likely hasn’t changed at all, but our awareness of it has. Examples of the Frequency Illusion When you are expecting, you may notice others who are expecting a child or have small kids. If you buy an electric car, you may suddenly be very aware of the number of charging stations. When you get glasses, you may suddenly notice all the opticians. When you have children, you may notice more schools. The Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon The frequency illusion is also known as the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon. The Baader-Meinhof gang, also known as the Red Army Faction, was an urban guerrilla group in Germany during the 1960s and 1970s. The name Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon was suggested in 1994 after a commentator on a bulletin board saw two references to the group in quick succession. No, it's not related to scientists or psychologists, just a surprising and memorable example of the phenomenon in action. Related Ideas to the Frequency Illusion The frequency illusion can lead to an availability bias where we overestimate the prevalence of what we notice more easily. The Availability Heuristic Unknown unknowns Survivorship bias The moon illusion Cognitive bias, heuristic, logical fallacy The Beard Cycle The Lucretius Problem The Firehouse Effect Black swan events

21 Apr 2016

Search·Categories·Archive