Righty Tighty, Lefty Loosey

“Righty tighty, lefty loosey.”

You may have not said it recently but the moment you grab a screwdriver, it’s there. No analysis. No hesitation. Just turn right to tighten, left to loosen.

That little rhyme is doing the heavy lifting. It’s saving you brain cells.

We like to think we reason through every decision. We don’t. Most of us rely on shortcuts that help us move quickly without re-solving basic problems. Mnemonics (a simple phrase used as a memory aid) are ready to use wisdom. They package experience into something portable and sticky.

We use them constantly:

“Measure twice, cut once.”
“Cash is king.”
“Under promise, over deliver.”

These phrases act like guardrails. They reduce errors. They steady us when things get noisy.

In business, especially startups, that matters. When emotions run high and information is incomplete (there is never enough information and time), a simple principle can prevent an expensive mistake.

But here’s the caution: mnemonics are guidelines, not absolutes.

Not every bolt tightens clockwise. For example, some propane tanks and bicycle pedals use reverse threading. If you blindly apply “righty tighty,” you’ll strip the threads. Whoops.

The same thing happens in business. “Trust your gut” can override data. “Growth fixes everything” can hide a cash-flow problem (we will make it up with volume). A shortcut applied blindly becomes a blunder.

The skill isn’t memorizing more phrases. It’s knowing when the rule applies and when you’re dealing with an exception.

Most of life is a standard thread. That’s why the rhyme works.

But wisdom is recognizing the reverse-thread moments before you turn the wrench.

Four simple words can tighten a bolt.

Used thoughtfully, they can also tighten your judgment.

John Bradley Jackson
© Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.

P.S. Mnemonics: Hard to spell and I don't know how to say it. But, if you know, you know.