10% Add-Back Rule

Elon Musk's 10% add-back rule is a principle for optimizing systems through aggressive removal of elements, with a built-in feedback mechanism to ensure proper calibration.

Core Concept

• If you're not adding back removed elements at least 10% of the time, you haven't been aggressive enough in removing things
• Similar to goal-setting where hitting 100% means goals weren't ambitious enough
• Aims to overcome natural human tendency to hoard and resist removal

Why It Works

• Humans are natural hoarders due to limbic system wiring
• People remember the one time they needed something they removed
• This memory causes overcorrection and future hesitation to remove things
• Setting a 10% add-back target helps override this natural bias

Examples of Success

• iPhone removed multiple core features successfully:
  • Physical keyboard
  • Home button
  • Headphone port
• Best companies consistently remove features/elements
• Similar to Amazon's 70% goal-hitting philosophy:
  • Want to hit 70% of goals
  • 100% means too cautious
  • 0% means too unrealistic

Implementation Process

1. Question the requirements first
2. Delete/remove elements
3. Simplify what remains
4. Automate last

• Common mistake: Starting with automation before questioning requirements

Cautions

• Can be challenging to implement due to resistance
• People often react negatively to removal
• Need to overcome "if it's working, why break it" mentality
• Must be willing to occasionally be wrong and add things back