Systems Thinking & Interdisciplinary Logic · Part 2A — Applied Systems Mapping: Turning Life into Diagrams

You now know the concepts (Part 1A–C). This module shows you how to map the real systems you live in—workflows, money, health, relationships—so you can see leverage instead of noise.

The goal is not “pretty diagrams”. The goal is a drawing that makes you say: “Oh… that’s why this keeps happening.”

1. Why Draw at All? (The Point of Mapping)

Systems thinking lives in your head until you draw. Once you sketch:

• Hidden assumptions become visible.
• Conflicts between mental models show up on paper, not in arguments.
• Leverage points stand out: small changes with big downstream effects.

The map is not the territory—but a good map lets you argue about structure instead of personalities.

2. The “Minimum Viable Map” (MVM)

An MVM is a diagram with:

• 3–7 key variables (not 50).
• Arrows for influence (→) between them.
• Loop labels: R for reinforcing, B for balancing.
• Optional: notes for stocks, flows, and delays.

If you can’t explain the map in 60 seconds, it’s too big. Shrink until a friend can follow it with no prior context.

Template — Minimum Viable Map (Text-Only Version)

SYSTEM NAME (one sentence):
______________________________________

KEY VARIABLES (3–7):
1) ______________________________
2) ______________________________
3) ______________________________
4) ______________________________
5) ______________________________
6) ______________________________
7) ______________________________

INFLUENCE LINKS (A → B means “more of A tends to increase/decrease B”):
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________

LOOPS (name and type):
Loop 1: [R/B] Name: ___________________
Loop 2: [R/B] Name: ___________________
Loop 3: [R/B] Name: ___________________
  

3. Choosing Boundaries (What’s Inside Your Map?)

Every system map draws an invisible line: “inside” vs “outside”.

• Too tight a boundary and you blame individuals for structural issues.
• Too loose a boundary and you drown in complexity.

A good starting rule:

• Include variables you can observe reasonably well.
• Include variables you can influence, or must respond to.
• Treat the rest as external drivers or background conditions.

Exercise — Boundary Setting

SYSTEM I WANT TO MAP:
______________________________________

WHAT IS DEFINITELY INSIDE (I can influence this):
- ___________________________________________
- ___________________________________________
- ___________________________________________

WHAT IS DEFINITELY OUTSIDE (I can’t control, only respond):
- ___________________________________________
- ___________________________________________
- ___________________________________________

WHAT I’M UNSURE ABOUT (might move inside later):
- ___________________________________________
- ___________________________________________
  

4. Step-by-Step: Mapping a Real Situation

Use this 7-step procedure for any life or work system.

Step 1 — Name the System in Plain Language

Example: “How my creative work actually gets done”, “Why our customer response times keep slipping”, “How my fitness and stress interact”.

Step 2 — List 5–10 Variables

Use nouns that can go up or down:

• “Time spent on deep work”
• “Interruptions per hour”
• “Reported bugs per week”
• “Trust with manager”
• “Sleep quality”

BRAINSTORM VARIABLES (DON’T OVERTHINK):
1) ______________________________
2) ______________________________
3) ______________________________
4) ______________________________
5) ______________________________
6) ______________________________
7) ______________________________
8) ______________________________
9) ______________________________
10) _____________________________
  

Step 3 — Circle the 3–7 Most Important

Ask:

• “If this variable changed a lot, would the whole story change?”
• “Do I care about this over months/years, not just days?”

Step 4 — Draw Influence Arrows

For each pair, ask:

• “If this goes up, does it push that one up or down?”

Use a simple notation when writing:

• A → B (+) means “more A tends to increase B”.
• A → B (–) means “more A tends to decrease B”.

LIST YOUR KEY LINKS:

__________ → __________  (+ / -)
__________ → __________  (+ / -)
__________ → __________  (+ / -)
__________ → __________  (+ / -)
__________ → __________  (+ / -)
__________ → __________  (+ / -)
  

Step 5 — Hunt for Loops

Start from any variable and trace a path that eventually returns to it.

• If the number of negative (–) links in the loop is even, it’s reinforcing (R).
• If the number of negative (–) links is odd, it’s balancing (B).

LOOPS I CAN SEE:

Loop 1: [R/B] Name: ___________________
Variables involved:
______________________________________

Loop 2: [R/B] Name: ___________________
Variables involved:
______________________________________
  

Step 6 — Mark Stocks, Flows, and Delays

Circle any variable that represents an accumulation (stock): energy, money, trust, backlog, skill, reputation.

Mark any relationships that clearly have a lag with “(delay)”.

STOCKS IN MY MAP:
______________________________________

FLOWS CHANGING THOSE STOCKS:
______________________________________

RELATIONSHIPS WITH DELAYS:
______________________________________
  

Step 7 — Ask: “Where Could a Small Change Echo?”

Look for:

• Stocks that many arrows feed into (high leverage).
• Places where you could shorten a delay or adjust expectations about it.
• Points where a small rule or habit change would affect many flows.

POSSIBLE LEVERAGE POINTS:

1) Variable / rule / habit:
   ___________________________________
   WHY THIS MIGHT BE HIGH LEVERAGE:
   ___________________________________

2) Variable / rule / habit:
   ___________________________________
   WHY THIS MIGHT BE HIGH LEVERAGE:
   ___________________________________
  

5. Worked Micro-Example (Text Version)

System: “Why my learning projects keep stalling.”

Variables:

• Perceived progress
• Motivation
• Time spent in focused study
• Distraction time
• Sleep quality

Key links:

• More time in focused study → (+) more perceived progress.
• More perceived progress → (+) more motivation.
• More motivation → (+) more time in focused study. (Reinforcing loop.)
• More distraction time → (–) less time in focused study.
• Poor sleep quality → (–) less motivation and (–) less focus time.

Loop:

• Focus time → perceived progress → motivation → focus time. (R1: “Motivation coil”.)

Leverage point: Instead of forcing more hours, design a daily “progress receipt” that makes perceived progress visible. That increases motivation at constant hours, which then organically pulls focus time up.

6. Typical Mapping Mistakes (And Fixes)

• Mistake: Too many variables. Fix: Limit yourself to 3–7 for any first map. Make a second map later if needed.
• Mistake: Vague labels like “culture”, “stuff”, “life”. Fix: Rename variables so you can imagine them going up or down.
• Mistake: Arrows that say “correlates with” instead of “tends to cause”. Fix: Be explicit: “If A changes, does it push B one way more than the other?”
• Mistake: Redrawing forever without testing anything. Fix: Every finished map must produce at least one experiment.

7. Mapping Across Domains (Personal · Work · Money · Community)

Practice by mapping different areas of your life:

• Personal: sleep, stress, energy, relationships.
• Work: tasks, interruptions, quality, deadlines.
• Money: income, spending, buffers, risk, skills.
• Community: trust, communication, shared resources, conflict resolution.

Exercise — Four Small Maps Over Four Weeks

WEEK 1 — PERSONAL SYSTEM:
Name: _________________________________
One leverage experiment:
______________________________________

WEEK 2 — WORK SYSTEM:
Name: _________________________________
One leverage experiment:
______________________________________

WEEK 3 — MONEY SYSTEM:
Name: _________________________________
One leverage experiment:
______________________________________

WEEK 4 — COMMUNITY / RELATIONSHIP SYSTEM:
Name: _________________________________
One leverage experiment:
______________________________________
  

8. Integrating with Other Tracks (Cognition, Finance, Ethics)

This mapping skill links directly to other Made2Master tracks:

• Cognitive Engineering & Self-Mastery: Your routines are systems; mapping them reveals where dopamine, focus, and fatigue loop together.
• Financial Systems & Asymmetric Investing: Markets, portfolios, and personal finances are classic examples of interacting feedback loops and delays.
• AI Philosophy & Human Ethics: Tech, law, and behaviour are nested systems—mapping them clarifies where ethical tension actually arises.

9. A 14-Day “Mapping Sprint” (Practice Plan)

To lock in Part 2A, run this sprint:

1. Days 1–3: Map one personal habit loop; run one small experiment.
2. Days 4–6: Map one work-related process; propose one structural tweak.
3. Days 7–9: Map one money or learning system; identify one long-term leverage point.
4. Days 10–14: Pick the most important map and refine it with a friend or mentor, then update your experiment list.

10. Future-Proof AI Prompt — “Systems Mapping Coach”

You can use this prompt with any capable AI model now and over the next decade.

You are my "Systems Mapping Coach" for
"Systems Thinking & Interdisciplinary Logic — Part 2A (Applied Systems Mapping)".

GOAL
Help me:
- turn real situations into simple systems maps,
- identify stocks, flows, feedback loops, and delays,
- find 1–3 leverage points that are small but real.

ASK ME FIRST
1) Briefly describe one situation I want to understand better.
2) Tell you the domain (personal, work, money, relationships, community, etc.).
3) Say what keeps repeating or frustrating me.

PROCESS
1) Help me name the system in one sentence.
2) Brainstorm 5–10 possible variables with me, then narrow to 3–7 key ones.
3) Work with me to define directional links:
   - A → B (+) or A → B (–)
4) Identify:
   - at least one reinforcing loop (R),
   - at least one balancing loop (B),
   - any obvious stocks, flows, and delays.
5) Highlight 1–3 possible leverage points:
   - variables, rules, or habits where small changes echo widely.
6) Help me design a 7–14 day experiment:
   - what I will change,
   - what I will track,
   - what would count as “better”.

STYLE
- Use plain, concrete language.
- Keep diagrams textual (since we’re working in text), but structured.
- When you suggest a leverage point, explain why it might matter.

LIMITS & SAFETY
- Stay within everyday behavioural, organisational, and planning changes.
- If I raise serious health, legal, or safety issues, remind me
  you are not a doctor, therapist, or lawyer, and advise me
  to seek appropriate professional support.
    

Version: v1.0 · Track: Systems Thinking & Interdisciplinary Logic · Module: Part 2A (Applied Systems Mapping) · Brand: Made2MasterAI™ · Educational only; not clinical, financial, or legal advice.

Apply It Now (5 minutes)

1. One action: What will you do in 5 minutes that reflects this essay? (write 1 sentence)
2. When & where: If it’s [time] at [place], I will [action].
3. Proof: Who will you show or tell? (name 1 person)

You are my Micro-Action Coach. Based on this essay’s theme, ask me:
1) My 5-minute action,
2) Exact time/place,
3) A friction check (what could stop me? give a tiny fix),
4) A 3-question nightly reflection.
Then generate a 3-day plan and a one-line identity cue I can repeat.

🧠 AI Processing Reality… Commit now, then come back tomorrow and log what changed.