Outside View

The outside view is judgment from people not entangled in your day-to-day politics, emotions, or sunk costs — advisors, mentors, or peers who can see your situation as a class of problems they've watched before.

Inside view thinking focuses on your story's uniqueness ("my startup is different"). Outside view asks base rates: What usually happens when someone makes this jump, hires this role, or stays in this job one more year?

Personal boards exist primarily to supply outside view. To get it, share data not drama: options considered, constraints, timeline. Then listen when the outside view conflicts with your gut — document why you accept or reject it.