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Business & Strategy

Conjoined Triangles of Success

Model #0589Category: Business & StrategyDepth to apply:
4 min read

On this page

  • Core Idea
  • How to See It
  • How to Use It
  • Founders & Leaders
  • Connected Models
  • One Key Quote
  • Summary & Further Reading

Contents

  1. 1. Core Idea
  2. 2. How to See It
  3. 3. How to Use It
  4. 4. Founders & Leaders
  5. 5. Connected Models
  6. 6. One Key Quote
  7. 7. Summary & Further Reading
·Business & Strategy
Section 1

Core Idea

The Conjoined Triangles of Success is a satirical framework from Silicon Valley (HBO): two triangles representing "Failure" and "Success" that share a base — the joke is that the diagram is meaningless but sounds profound. As a mental model, it stands for the risk of strategy theatre: frameworks and diagrams that look rigorous but don't constrain decisions or predict outcomes. Real strategy requires testable logic and clear causal links, not just impressive shapes. The trap is mistaking alignment (everyone nods at the slide) for execution (everyone knows what to do Monday). Use the concept as a filter: if a framework can't be tied to a specific decision or metric, treat it as decoration until it can.
Section 2

How to See It

Strategy
You're seeing Conjoined Triangles of Success when a deck or offsite produces a 2x2, pyramid, or "triangle of X" that everyone nods at but no one uses to make a specific go/no-go or prioritisation call.
Culture
You're seeing Conjoined Triangles of Success when leadership repeats a catchphrase or diagram ("we're at the intersection of…") that doesn't map to measurable levers or next actions — alignment without accountability.
Consulting & Decks
You're seeing Conjoined Triangles of Success when a strategy deck is full of 2x2s, pyramids, or "pillars" that sound impressive in the room but no one can recall or use to make a specific decision the next week.
Section 3

How to Use It

Use it as a reality check: if your strategy can be drawn as impressive triangles but not as "if we do X, then Y, and we'll know by Z," it's closer to theatre than strategy. Demand that every framework ties to a decision, a metric, or a test. Avoid adopting jargon-heavy models that don't change what you ship or how you allocate resources.
Decision filter
"Does this framework tell us what to do differently Monday morning, or does it just sound good? If we can't point to a lever and a metric, we may have conjoined triangles — not strategy."
As a founder
Push for strategy that is falsifiable and actionable. When someone proposes a new "triangle" or "pillar," ask: What decision does this change? What would we stop doing? How do we measure success? If there are no clear answers, simplify or replace with something that drives behavior.
Section 5

Founders & Leaders

Reed HastingsCo-founder & Executive Chairman, Netflix
Hastings has emphasised context over control and clear principles (e.g. "freedom and responsibility") that translate into actual decisions — what gets funded, how people are evaluated. Netflix's strategy is expressed in choices and metrics, not in decorative frameworks, which is the antidote to conjoined-triangles-style strategy.
Section 7

Connected Models

Reinforces
Strategy vs Tactics
Strategy should guide tactics; tactics without strategy are random. Conjoined triangles are the opposite failure: strategy that doesn't guide tactics — it just looks good. Both remind you to connect high-level framing to concrete action.
Tension
Product/Market Fit
PMF is a clear, testable concept: the market pulls the product. The tension: PMF can be diluted by wrapping it in vague "triangles" of success. Keep the definition sharp and measurable.
Leads-to
Moats
Real strategy often reduces to "how do we build and sustain advantage?" Moats are a concrete answer. The triangles warning: if your strategy doc doesn't eventually point to a moat (or equivalent), it may be decoration.
Section 8

One Key Quote

"The key insight of behavioral economics is that we are not rational actors. We are easily swayed by framing, including the framing of fancy diagrams that look scientific."
— Richard H. Thaler, Misbehaving (2015)
Section 11

Summary & Further Reading

The Conjoined Triangles of Success is a stand-in for strategy theatre: impressive-looking frameworks that don't drive decisions or outcomes. Counter it by demanding testable logic, clear levers, and metrics. Tie every model to what you'll do and how you'll know it worked.
01
Good Strategy Bad Strategy — Richard Rumelt (2011)
Book
Distinguishes real strategy (diagnosis, guiding policy, coherent action) from fluff and "conjoined triangles" style presentations.
02
Silicon Valley (HBO) — Conjoined Triangles clip
Video
The original satire of strategy theatre; useful as a team reminder to keep strategy actionable.
03
The Lean Startup — Eric Ries (2011)
Book
Build–measure–learn as a substitute for vague strategy: explicit loops and tests instead of static diagrams.

Why this matters next

mental modelsProduct/Market Fit

Conjoined Triangles of Success applied the Product/Market Fit mental model

mental modelsStrategy vs Tactics

Conjoined Triangles of Success applied the Strategy vs Tactics mental model

mental modelsDistribution

Conjoined Triangles of Success applied the Distribution mental model

mental modelsMoats

Conjoined Triangles of Success applied the Moats mental model

mental modelsSimplify

Conjoined Triangles of Success applied the Simplify mental model

mental modelsFlywheel

Conjoined Triangles of Success applied the Flywheel mental model

Frequently asked questions

What is Conjoined Triangles of Success?+

Conjoined Triangles of Success is a mental model used for better thinking and decision-making.

How do you apply Conjoined Triangles of Success?+

To apply Conjoined Triangles of Success, identify situations where this framework is relevant, then use it as a lens to evaluate your options and decisions. The model is most useful when combined with other complementary mental models.

What category does Conjoined Triangles of Success fall under?+

Conjoined Triangles of Success falls under the Business & Strategy category of mental models. Other models in this category can be found on the Business & Strategy hub page.

Why is Conjoined Triangles of Success important?+

Conjoined Triangles of Success is important because it provides a structured way to think about problems that would otherwise be approached with intuition alone. Understanding this model helps you avoid common reasoning errors and make better decisions.

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On this page

  • Core Idea
  • How to See It
  • How to Use It
  • Founders & Leaders
  • Connected Models
  • One Key Quote
  • Summary & Further Reading

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