WRAP Decision Framework

Apply the complete WRAP framework to make a better decision by countering the four villains of decision-making.

Instructions

Work through all four phases sequentially. Each phase targets a specific cognitive bias that undermines good decisions.

Output Format

Decision: [What are we deciding?] Context: [Key constraints and stakes]

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W: WIDEN Your Options

Counter: Narrow Framing ("Should I do X?" → "What are all my options?")

Current Framing How is the decision currently framed? (Often as "whether or not")

Expanded Options

#	Option	Why It's Worth Considering
1	[option]	[rationale]
2	[option]	[rationale]
3	[option]	[rationale]
4	[option]	[rationale]

Option-Finding Techniques

• Vanishing options test: "If you couldn't do X, what would you do?"
• Opportunity cost: "What else could you do with this time/money?"
• Find someone who solved it: "Who's had this problem?"

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R: REALITY-TEST Your Assumptions

Counter: Confirmation Bias (seeking evidence that confirms what we want)

Key Assumptions

Assumption	How Would We Know If Wrong?
[assumption 1]	[test]
[assumption 2]	[test]

Consider the Opposite For each option, what would it take to be convinced it's wrong?

Ooch Is there a small experiment we can run to test this before fully committing?

Option	Small Test	What We'd Learn
[option]	[test]	[insight]

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A: ATTAIN Distance Before Deciding

Counter: Short-term Emotion (deciding when angry, excited, or desperate)

10/10/10

Time Horizon	How will you feel about this decision?
10 minutes	[how you feel now]
10 months	[how you'll likely feel]
10 years	[long-term perspective]

What Would I Tell My Best Friend? If someone you loved faced this decision, what would you tell them?

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P: PREPARE to Be Wrong

Counter: Overconfidence ("I'm sure this will work")

Premortem Imagine this decision failed completely. What went wrong?

Failure Mode	How to Prevent/Detect
[what could fail]	[safeguard]

Tripwires Set a future point to reconsider:

Tripwire	Action If Triggered
[date or condition]	[what we'll do]

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Decision

Recommendation Based on the WRAP analysis:

[Your decision and reasoning]

Key Safeguards

• [Safeguard 1]
• [Safeguard 2]

Review Date: [When to reassess]

Guidelines

• Don't skip phases—each counters a different bias
• "Should I?" is almost always narrow framing
• Look for the third option beyond the obvious two
• Ooch when you can—small tests beat big analysis
• Set tripwires before you need them

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