How I Make Decisions as a NASA Engineer

Summary

Ali Aluli, a post-doctoral fellow and systems engineer at NASA Jet Propulsion Lab, shares his algorithmic approach to decision-making that he credits for his successful career at NASA. The video outlines a six-step process: defining the decision, hypothesizing based on personal logic, seeking expert advice, analyzing the advice critically, comparing it with the initial hypothesis, and finally making a decision based on intuition informed by the previous steps. Aluli emphasizes the importance of not just following expert advice blindly but also trusting one's gut feeling after thorough analysis. He highlights that while his method may not always lead to the right outcome, it ensures personal satisfaction and minimal regrets as it aligns with one's inner desires and intellectual reasoning.

Takeaways

• 🔍 **Define the Decision**: Clearly understand what you are deciding on before making any decisions.
• 🧐 **Hypothesize**: Use your own logic and knowledge to form an initial hypothesis without external input.
• 🗣️ **Ask Experts**: Consult with people who have achieved the results you want; they can provide valuable insights.
• 🤔 **Analyze Advice**: Critically think about the advice you receive, don't accept it blindly.
• 📊 **Compare and Contrast**: Weigh the analyzed advice against your initial hypothesis to see if it changes your perspective.
• 🧘 **Trust Your Intuition**: After thorough analysis, make the final decision based on your gut feeling, which is informed by your intellectual reasoning.
• 💭 **Intuition is Informed**: Your intuition is a result of your deep desires combined with your intellectual analysis.
• 🛑 **Regret Minimization**: Make decisions that you won't regret, even if they are not always right.
• 🌟 **Follow Your Heart**: After intellectual work, follow your heart and intuition, as they guide you towards what feels right for you.
• 🤓 **Critical Thinking is Key**: Always maintain your own critical thinking, even when receiving advice from experts.
• 🌱 **Maintain Balance**: Ensure you are well-rested, eat well, and take care of your health to keep your intuition sharp.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is about Ali Aluli's decision-making process, which he uses to make significant life choices, including how it helped him secure his job at NASA.

What is the first step in Ali's decision-making algorithm?

The first step in Ali's decision-making algorithm is to clearly define the decision that needs to be made.

How does Ali categorize decisions in his algorithm?

Ali categorizes decisions as either short-term reversible or long-term irreversible, based on the duration and potential for reversal of the decision's impact.

What does Ali suggest doing after defining the decision?

After defining the decision, Ali suggests turning inwards and formulating a hypothesis based on one's own logic and knowledge without external inputs.

Why is it important to ask experts for advice in the decision-making process?

It is important to ask experts for advice because they have the results that you want and can provide valuable insights based on their experience and understanding of the field.

What is the role of critical thinking in Ali's algorithm?

Critical thinking is used to analyze the advice received from others. It involves not blindly trusting expert advice but questioning and evaluating it for oneself.

How does Ali suggest comparing your hypothesis with the advice received from others?

Ali suggests averaging out the advice received from others and comparing it to your initial hypothesis to see how they align or differ, which helps in making a more informed decision.

What is the final step in Ali's decision-making algorithm?

The final step in Ali's decision-making algorithm is to make the final call based on intuition, which is a gut feeling that arises from the combination of intellectual analysis and personal desires.

Why is it crucial to follow one's intuition after doing the intellectual work?

Following one's intuition after intellectual work is crucial because it combines rational analysis with personal desires and emotions, leading to more satisfying decisions that align with one's true self.

What does Ali suggest to ensure a well-calibrated intuition?

Ali suggests ensuring good sleep, eating a clean diet, and maintaining a clear state of mind to help calibrate intuition better.

How does Ali feel about decisions made against his intuition?

Ali feels regretful and resentful when he goes against his intuition, as it often leads to less satisfying outcomes and a sense of missed opportunity to listen to his inner guidance.

What is the significance of the plot twist at the end of the algorithm?

The plot twist signifies the importance of intuition in decision-making. It suggests that while intellectual analysis is vital, the final decision should be guided by a gut feeling or intuition that takes into account both the analysis and personal desires.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 Decision Making at NASA: The Algorithmic Approach

Ali Aluli, a post-doctoral fellow and systems engineer at NASA Jet Propulsion Lab, introduces his video on the algorithmic method he uses for decision making. He shares that this method, which he learned from his own experiences and later found similarities with Elon Musk's approach, has been instrumental in securing his job at NASA. The video promises a step-by-step guide on how viewers can apply this algorithm to their own life decisions, particularly those that are significant and irreversible. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the type of decision being made, whether it's short-term and reversible or long-term and irreversible, and how this algorithm is particularly useful for the latter.

05:00

🤔 Formulating a Hypothesis and Seeking Expert Advice

The second paragraph delves into the first two steps of Ali's decision-making algorithm. The first step is to clearly define the decision at hand, which is crucial for making a well-informed choice. The second step involves turning inward and formulating a hypothesis based on one's own logic and knowledge. Ali then stresses the importance of the third step, which is seeking advice from experts who have achieved the results one desires. He shares his personal experience of interviewing 31 engineers at NASA to gain insights for his career decisions. The paragraph highlights the significance of asking the right people for advice and the relentless pursuit of understanding their perspectives.

10:01

🧐 Analyzing Advice and Comparing with Personal Hypothesis

In the third paragraph, Ali discusses the fourth step of his algorithm, which is analyzing the advice received from experts critically. He cautions against blindly following expert advice and emphasizes the need for personal critical thinking. Ali also explains that he uses first principles thinking to assess the logic and reasoning behind the advice given. The fifth step is to compare the analyzed advice with one's initial hypothesis, averaging out the information gathered, and considering how it aligns with or changes the initial assumptions. This step involves deep reflection and comparison, often aided by activities like walking or driving to allow for uninterrupted thought.

15:02

💡 Trusting Intuition for the Final Decision

The final paragraph of the script outlines the last step of Ali's decision-making process, which is trusting one's intuition. He explains that intuition is not separate from rational thought but is informed by it, combining intellectual analysis with deep-seated desires and emotions. Ali argues that following one's intuition, after thorough reasoning and analysis, is the key to making decisions that feel right and lead to no regrets. He shares personal anecdotes about how following his intuition led to his PhD, his job at NASA, and other significant life choices. The paragraph concludes with the advice to always follow one's heart after doing the intellectual work and to ensure that one's physical well-being supports a well-calibrated intuition.

Keywords

💡Algorithmic Decision Making

Algorithmic decision making refers to the process of making decisions in a systematic, step-by-step manner, similar to how an algorithm functions. In the video, Ali Aluli explains that he uses a structured algorithm to make significant life choices, such as career decisions. This approach helps in breaking down complex decisions into manageable parts and aids in reaching a well-considered outcome.

💡Post-Doctoral Fellow

A post-doctoral fellow is an individual who has completed their doctoral degree and is engaged in a temporary research position to further their studies or to gain additional experience in their field. Ali Aluli introduces himself as a post-doctoral fellow at the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab, indicating his high level of expertise and research experience.

💡Irreversible Decisions

Irreversible decisions are choices that, once made, cannot be easily undone or changed. They often have long-term consequences and require careful consideration. In the context of the video, Aluli discusses the importance of recognizing whether a decision is reversible or irreversible, as this impacts the decision-making process and the level of analysis required.

💡Hypothesis

A hypothesis is a proposed explanation or assumption made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation. In the script, Aluli describes forming a personal hypothesis as the second step in his decision-making algorithm, where he uses his own logic and knowledge to make an initial educated guess about what he should do.

💡Experts

Experts are individuals with advanced knowledge or proficiency in a particular area. Aluli emphasizes the importance of consulting experts when making decisions, particularly those who have achieved the results one aspires to. He shares his experience of interviewing 31 engineers at NASA to gather insights for his own career decisions.

💡Critical Thinking

Critical thinking involves analyzing and evaluating information to form a judgment. Aluli discusses the necessity of critical thinking in the decision-making process, where one must not blindly accept advice from others but instead analyze and assess the information to form their own conclusions.

💡Intuition

Intuition is the ability to understand or know something without conscious reasoning. It is often seen as a gut feeling or a hunch. In the video, Aluli describes intuition as the final step in his decision-making algorithm, where after thorough analysis and consideration, one should make a decision based on their gut feeling, which is informed by both rational thought and emotional desires.

💡PhD

A PhD, or Doctor of Philosophy, is the highest academic degree awarded by universities in most fields of study. Aluli mentions his decision to pursue a PhD as a significant life decision that he made using his algorithmic decision-making process. It represents a long-term, potentially irreversible commitment that shaped his career trajectory.

💡NASA Internship

A NASA internship is a work experience opportunity offered by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to students and recent graduates. Aluli refers to his first NASA internship at the age of 19, which was a pivotal moment in his career. It allowed him to apply his decision-making algorithm to real-world situations and contributed to his eventual job at NASA JPL.

💡YouTube Channel

A YouTube channel is a platform on YouTube where users can upload, share, and view videos. Aluli mentions growing his YouTube channel as part of his decision to diversify his professional pursuits. It represents his intuitive decision to share his knowledge and experiences, which aligns with the theme of the video about making significant life decisions.

💡First Principles Thinking

First principles thinking is a philosophical approach where one breaks down complex problems into their most fundamental, basic elements. Aluli uses this concept in his decision-making process, particularly during the analysis phase, to deeply understand the reasoning behind the advice he receives and to form his own conclusions.

Highlights

Ali Aluli, a post-doctoral fellow and systems engineer at NASA Jet Propulsion Lab, shares his decision-making process that helped him secure his job at NASA.

His decision-making algorithm has been recognized with high engagement on LinkedIn, receiving 16,000 likes and 1.3 million views.

The algorithm is applicable to anyone, regardless of their background, and can be used for significant life and career decisions.

Decisions should be categorized as either short-term reversible or long-term irreversible to apply the algorithm effectively.

Jeff Bezos' concept of reversible and irreversible decisions is highlighted as a key learning for Aluli.

The importance of defining the decision clearly before proceeding with the algorithm is emphasized.

Aluli suggests turning inward and hypothesizing based on one's own logic and knowledge before seeking external advice.

When seeking advice, it's crucial to consult with experts who have achieved the results you desire.

Aluli's experience of interviewing 31 engineers at NASA to inform his career decisions is shared.

The necessity of critical thinking when analyzing advice received from others is discussed.

Aluli stresses the importance of not outsourcing your thinking to coaches or gurus and maintaining personal responsibility for decision-making.

Comparing your initial hypothesis with the analyzed advice from others is a key step in the algorithm.

The final decision should be made based on intuition, which is informed by both rational thought and emotional desire.

Intuition is described as a combination of intellectual analysis and deep-down desires, creating a 'gut feeling' about the right decision.

Aluli shares personal anecdotes about following his intuition in major life decisions, such as studying in Spain and pursuing a PhD.

He emphasizes that while not every intuitive decision is correct, following one's heart leads to fewer regrets.

Maintaining good physical health through sleep and diet is advised to ensure intuition is well-calibrated.

The video concludes with Aluli encouraging viewers to engage with his content and follow his journey on YouTube.

Transcripts

hey guys my name is Ali aluli I am a

post-doctoral fellow and a systems

engineer at the NASA jet propulsion lab

in this video I'm going to show you how

I make decisions and how my decision-

making ability got me my NASA job in the

first place I actually tell the story in

a Linkin post I wrote um a while back

that got 16,000 likes and 1.3 million

views which was crazy and then I tell a

similar story in another post this one

got 7,000 likes where I was talking

about how a space interview actually

helped me get uh my job at Nasa but um

the idea is that when I make big

decisions in life such as career

business things of that nature I'm very

very algorithmic about it and actually

later on when I read Elon musk's

biography I realized that Elon Musk uses

a very very similar algorithm but the

cool part is that this algorithm is

something you can learn it's something

anybody can use you don't have to be an

engineer you don't have to be a

physicist and I'm going to walk you

through step by step how what what this

algorithm is how you can use it to make

decisions in your life especially the

big uh decisions and so you can start

enjoying amazing results and towards the

end is going to be actually a plot twist

to this algorithm and I'll provide some

stories and examples um as I build up

towards that but before I go ahead and I

go through the uh six step algorithm uh

it is very very uh important that you

categorize the type of decision that you

are making right so when it comes to

decision making um you want to

understand is your decision something

that that is short-term reversible or

like long-term irreversible and this is

something I learned from Jeff Bezos is

that there are two types of decisions

ones that are reversible ones that are

irreversible right a reversible one is

like what am I going to wear to work

today that's something you don't have to

overthink as much like at worst case

like you can just change your clothes or

you can just wear something new tomorrow

but something that is irreversible uh

for example I'm getting a tattoo um and

like all over my body that's an

irreversible decision that's something

you have to like sit through and and

think for a very very long time or where

am I going to go for college or like am

I should I get a PhD should I not get a

PhD should I start this business

obviously these are like long-term

reversible but like if something is

going to suck away like five years 10

years of your life uh like marriage for

example is a big one I would place these

things in the like irreversible category

or like very tough to reverse basically

this algorithm works really well when

something is irreversible or really

really tough to reverse and needs a lot

of thinking and a lot of input if

something is very easily reversible

then you can basically just give it a

shot and if it doesn't work out who

cares try something else but so um

suppose the decision you're trying to

make is something very big and again

I'll give you an example when I was

still in college I was trying to

understand uh what major should I choose

in college should I study electrical

engineering mechanical engineering

should I do a medicine should I do law

that's a big decision right because that

sets your career trajectory I use that I

use the algorithm to help me figure that

out when I was deciding on whether I

should do a PhD or not I Ed this

algorithm to help helped me get the PHD

when I got my very first NASA internship

when I was only 19 years old I used this

algorithm to to figure that out and when

I um got my job at NASA JPL and figured

out that this is what I actually want to

do and build my business part-time grow

my my YouTube channel whatnot I use this

exact same algorithm so the very first

thing you want to do step one is to

Define exactly what it is that you're

trying to decide on right so now that

we've established that okay we have a

pretty serious decision to to make what

is it that you trying to do right are

you trying to decide on a college career

are you trying to decide on a business

for example in the case of Elon Musk uh

one of the big decisions he had to make

very early on is when he was uh when he

when when he was about to enroll in

Stanford to do a PhD but then the

internet was booming and then the the

step one for him was Define the decision

okay I have to Def decide between either

continuing my PhD or between uh joining

the internet and and and being part of

the internet Revolution Step One is you

want to Define what the actual decision

is and get crystal clear on it okay a

lot of people skip this step a lot of

people don't even know what they're

deciding on right so first step is

clarity as always second step is you

turn inwards and you hypothesize right

and you use your own logic your own

ration you ask okay suppose I have no

other external inputs what do I think

right and and again a very simple

example is uh Elon musk's own um body of

knowledge at the time was telling him oh

like the PHD is good but man the

internet is booming like I probably

should join an internet company right so

that's a hypothesis that he made like

based on an observation he thinks okay

maybe I should I should this is probably

what I should do this is what I think

with my limited body of knowledge I

should do for example in my case when I

was deciding between doing a PhD or

going to get a get get getting a job at

some boring corporate company um I I was

telling myself man like corporate job

sounds

like not the thing for me like I I I I

imagine myself getting bored yes the PHD

is very risky yes I'm going to slave

away and not make money for a few years

but eh like based on my initial logical

thinking again rational thinking um ah

maybe I should I should just do the PHD

right um and then basically hypo

hypothesis is something you come up with

on your own based on your body of

knowledge based on your own passionate

uh uh Bas based on your own rational

thinking step three once you have done

this step is you go and you ask other

people and it is very important that you

ask people who are experts who have the

results that you want I cannot emphasize

this enough a lot of people mess up this

step because they go ask someone who

does not have the results like if

someone is poor do not ask them on how

to get rich if someone's very unhealthy

do not ask them like health related

questions right don't go like don't go

to a sick doctor right uh like that's a

very common saying obviously it's not

literal if your doctor is sick please by

all means still like say hi to them and

and and check on them and make sure

they're okay but the idea is you want to

ask people that know what they're

talking about when I was doing my NASA

internship at JPL in 2019 I went and I

interviewed 31 engineers at Nasa and

every single one I would ask them

questions why do you choose this field

why did you do this career why did you

do this thing what made you decide on

this and they would tell me and then I

would say okay if you are in my shoes

what would you do what would you do all

that so I I I was I was very very

Relentless about this ask step and again

to my surprise which was very pleasant

surprise when I was reading Elon mus

biography Elon was also very Relentless

about this ask step so once he would

make his own hypothesis for example

there was one time where he was doing an

internship in the Bank of Nova Scotia I

believe in Canada uh he would go and ask

all his mentors there about hey I have

this um I'm trying to decide what I want

to do what do you think here's uh what

what do you think I should do

uh when he was deciding about when he

was about to drop out of Stanford and

not do his PhD program and go start a

company with his brother he went and he

spoke with the professor that he would

have worked under and he told him hey

this is what I'm thinking these are my

options and the professor told him hey

like you can like uh defer the the

admission put on hold although I have a

feeling you're not you're not going to

get back so it is very important you go

and ask people who have experience who

have the thing that you're trying to go

after and get knowledge from them and

that's that's very very very important

right now once you ask people and once

you get the knowledge from these people

on what you should do and a very

important step in the algorithm step

number four is to go and analyze like

what you what you just what you just

received from from from uh other people

and and and and think very carefully

about what it is that they told you

right uh this this step involves a lot

of critical thinking right again even if

someone's an expert even if someone

really knows what they're talking about

do not take their advice at face Valley

do not just blindly trust people you are

responsible for your own critical

thinking you have to think everything

through for yourself and this is

something that very dis uh is very

disheartening for me for example in this

like online coaching industry or in like

online courses is very often people

Outsource their thinking to the coach or

to the guru or to the whoever it is that

they're like try taking advice from and

I I I I hate that idea like if someone

has the results and someone has the

thing that you want and gives you advice

they are still not immune right like

they they are still they are still

suspect everybody is suspect you have to

question everyone and you have to

question everything you have to have

your own filters for critical thinking

you have to think everything through and

that's something I would do even when I

was interviewing NASA Engineers I would

even even when I was talking to SpaceX

Engineers even when I was talking to

very accomplished professors every every

piece of advice they would give me

everything they would tell me I would go

and think through it very thoroughly

myself I would go for a walk I would go

like I don't know I would always go and

think about why did they say that H what

is the what is the logic behind that

what is the reasoning behind that and

here is is where I use uh first

principles thinking I use critical

thinking and these are things I plan on

making videos about in more detail so

stick around for that but the idea is

that I would I would use my own critical

thinking I would turn in words and I

would analyze the advice that I have

just received right now obviously I

would spend a lot of time acquiring a

lot of advice so then I would need a lot

of time to analyze it as well right but

this is a very very important step is

whenever you find someone especially

powerful person or person of authority

and they give you advice do not take

their advice at face value you have to

analyze it all the way through for

yourself okay now fifth step the last

logical step which is very very

important is once you have analyzed what

other people have told you and then once

you have um uh once you have analyzed

what other people have told you then you

can go ahead and compare that to your

hypothesis right so you take what other

you ask around and people tell you

things and then you analyze and you

average out what people are telling you

and then you go back and you compare

that to your own hypothesis right and

you say Okay based on my initial

assumption what I thought initially

based on the information I was just

presented with and now that I've

analyzed how do these two things compare

to each other right like how does my

hypothesis lead to what I have just

analyzed right how does how does that

does that change my initial hypothesis

has my hypothesis changed um what what

what do I think I should do or should

not do with this new information is it's

very important you again go and and look

at your initial assumption and then you

look at what you have just analyzed from

other people right and you kind of

average them out in your brain you

compare them in your brain and again a

really good way to do that is to go for

a walk is to go for a ride I usually

like I love going for walks like usually

ideally like by a lake or by by a body

of water or in a forest or something of

that nature um or I like to go for a

late night drive like midnight 1 in the

morning two in the morning I would just

drive around um and I would just like

think very deeply I I would compare all

the stuff that I have just learned all

the advice versus what I was thinking

initially and then here's where things

get magical here's where

there's a trump card there's there's

there's there's something that happens

in the end of this algorithm which in a

way kind

of takes takes all this and turns it

into something that is truly magical uh

which is the final call how do you

actually decide how do you like what

what decision do you act on and what has

worked for me and what has worked for

someone like Elon Musk based on what

I've read what has worked for someone

like Steve Jobs in the back over there

is you always go by your intuition

the final call is always a feeling it's

a gut feeling it's a I feel like this

this feels right and most people got

have this complete completely backwards

most people think like intuition like

feeling and thinking R ration rational

thought are two separate things but

actually your

intuition is built on your intellectual

reasoning like whatever it is you have

spent a lot of time analyzing comparing

thinking deeply about whatever it is you

have been doing that that is calibrating

your intuition right your intuition is

basically taking all of this and

combining it with what you want deep

down right like you as a human you're an

emotional creature you have a heart and

you have a soul and you have things that

you crave deep down right and these

things cannot be harnessed these things

I'm sorry these things cannot be

manufactured these things have to be

harnessed so you have a desire deep down

whether it is you want to accomplish

something you want to grow a company you

want to go uh I don't know find like the

right partner you want to build

friendship there's a desire you have

deep down and that desire or whatever it

is that you're trying to go after in

life combined with everything that

you've just analyzed learned talked to

other people these two things will

always can uh add up to H to to create

your intuition and and guys if there's

one advice I have for you to have an

enjoyable life is to follow your heart

follow your intuition once you have done

the critical thinking and the reasoning

and that's exactly what I talk about in

my post over here I basically tell a

story of how I got my PhD at 26 years

old and got my dream jobs at Nasa and

then I I basically say that um

well a lot a lot of a lot of these

decisions that I took that led me here

had were were very intuitive decisions

right like when I was an undergrad I

wanted to study in Spain and um even

though it was expensive at the time and

it didn't make sense my in told me go

for it and I did and then I met a cool

professor in the process and meeting the

cool Professor um got me exposed to

electrical engineering research and I

did uh a PhD with him and then through

that work I met my current adviser at

Nasa and I did my very first internship

and through that I landed my my job at

Nasa and even though I had a lot of

struggle a lot of things that I went

through when I when I was going through

that every single step of the way I was

following my intuition I was following

my heart when I'm making uh when I

decided to make this YouTube channel uh

this was more of a heart feeling when I

decided to again finish my PhD uh like

get my job do all these things these are

all intuition heart decisions do I get

it right every single time no absolutely

not but here's the beauty even if I get

it right I have zero regrets because it

is my decision I do what I want I do

what feels good to me and and and even

if I get it right then that's okay I I I

brush it off but when am I resent ful

and what am I regretful I am only

regretful and and and ah like like

really wish I could go back in time when

I go against my intuition and I get it

wrong right that is the the the least

Pleasant feeling in my opinion is when

your intuition tells you something and

you go listen to some Guru or you go

listen to someone else's advice and you

mess mess up the situation and then

you're like oh man if only I had like

listened to my to myself if only I had

listened to what I was thinking about

deep down but again that is only

something that is doable once you have

done the intellectual work so you cannot

separate the Mind from the heart they

work together in harmony do the

intellectual work first of figuring out

what it is you're trying to make um in

terms of a decision defi Define your

decision make your own intellectual

hypothesis ask around analyze people's

inputs compare people's inputs to your

initial input and then based on all that

information you will get a feeling for

what you should do right make sure well

arrested make sure you slept well make

sure you're eating a Clean Diet all

these things help calibrate your

intuition uh even better if you if

you're like on very very poor sleep uh

your intuition is not going to be very

good you're going to be more people

confuse intuition with impulse intuition

is this just kind of calm Serene feeling

that you should do something when all

else is equal and you you exhausted all

the intellectual options but anyway that

being said um if you're here for the

first time again welcome leave a comment

saying hi go ahead and watch watch the

rest of my videos with that being said

I'll see you in the next one Peace Love