MENTAL MODEL · M7039

Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage

BehaviorHigh supportOrganizational Behavior

Included

Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

Liu Bei personally visited Zhuge Liang three times to invite him to come out of seclusion.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

Extraordinary sincerity. For top talent (like Zhuge Liang), conventional recruitment processes (posting job descriptions, HR interviews) are ineffective. The CEO must personally engage, investing significant time (three visits) to attract asymmetric talent.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

Top talent has extreme scarcity and high choice, reversing the power dynamic between recruiter and candidate. Conventional processes signal 'you come to me,' which can deter them. Extraordinary personal sincerity (three visits) signals 'I value you extremely and am willing to pay unusual costs for you,' reducing the risk of underestimation and increasing their willingness to join.

MINIMUM ACTION

In progress 0/4

Practice this model in one real situation:

Identify asymmetric talent: their addition brings leverage far beyond ordinary people.
Top leader personally engages: CEO/decision-maker directly connects, not outsourcing to process.
Pay unusual costs: time, sincerity, customized solutions (the 'frequency' and 'sincerity' of three visits).
Provide a stage: clarify the decision-making authority and resources they can exercise.

Check to track your progress (stored locally)

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Source support: Explicit

link
en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Three_VisitsZH · Explicit
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