As I was reading this I was thinking I could apply it to dating apps!! I’m never getting the full attention of men , they have half a foot in and it’s obvious they are talking to lots of women at the same time , no one ever commits and there are a lot of ethical non monogamous guys out there, or guys that state ‘intimacy without commitment’ … Then I came to your chapter on it !! Having severe dating app fatigue and written lots of posts on it , I like your app idea 🤣🤣 TikTok has made our kids obsessed with Starbucks ! I pay a £5 for a small strawberry drink my daughter likes 😁
I can only commiserate, it must be hard out there, what's supposed to make things easier makes them harder.
I think social media has been Starbucks biggest advertising win. I can imagine the marketing meeting where they asked "How can we sell coffee to kids?"
It’s like the cereal aisle! We used to have corn flakes , rice Krispies, special K, Cheerios, now there is several different Cheerios , corn flakes , and a whole lot more! How can kids decide?
Really never knew about Starbucks choices, that is crazy!
Thank you AnnaMarie, yes you're right, at least when I was a child you could choose cereal by what was the best free gift inside the box, they don't even do that anymore!
Starbucks is more like a hundred actual menu items but the amount of customisation, extras and sizes compounds the size exponentially!
satisficed - I love this concept. Yourself post reminds me of analysis paralysis, which so many people struggle with. When narrowing down options feels impossible, it’s easier to avoid making decisions altogether. Decision fatigue is a very real phenomenon, and part of the problem is that people focus so much on the small things that the big decisions feel overwhelming.
I think of big decisions like a funnel. I give myself a set amount of time to narrow them down, working through the process. The problem is, many people stay stuck at the top of the funnel, spinning in circles like a tornado, unable to move forward. 🌪️
It’s difficult even when you know about it. I took my kids to a dessert place today and there were hundreds of options. I pretty much picked something at random, decision made, no regrets, my kids took ages weighing up pros and cons, then when theirs came they wanted to swap. Making good choices should be taught in schools!
I totally get that! I usually decide quickly, but then often change my mind last minute when ordering. It's like I’m processing everything up until the moment I have to make the final choice. It’s funny how even when we think we know what we want, the decision-making process can still feel like a last-minute rush!
Thanks for this, Mark! The Paradox of Choice illustrates how having too many options can result in decision fatigue and dissatisfaction. In a world filled with overwhelming choices, the goal would be to simplify our options, commit to our decisions, and focus on the joys of our choices, alignments, and goals. Keep up your great work 🙌
Nothing like a bit of ADHD accountability and pressure to get the job done. 😂😉 What an amazing read, so insightful and has left with me so much value. I can't thank you enough for this article, was worth the wait!
I'm glad you think so, thanks for reading! And for the accountability, I might have ended up kicking the can down the road longer otherwise. If you ever need the favour returning, just say!
Gordon Ramsay always said that restaurants with a big, extensive, varied menu will probably suck, food won't always be fresh. And that truly stands.
Same for things: you don't need choice. I needed a hot water bottle... did you know that there's more than 12 designs at Primark? Grinch, Christmas-themed Stitch, grey leopard, pink leopard. I just needed something normal! We don't need these many things! Choosing is difficult because there's a lot of things.
I don't have the habit of watching TV or streaming nowadays, but I remember struggling to find things on Netflix. Having too much to choose from proves to just... invite you not to choose.
Great one Mark :) And glad your kid has a present now! Let's hope he doesn't read your newsletter hehe
Thanks for reading Francisca, I hope he does read it, eventually, but not for a while yet!
It stands to reason if there are hundreds of menu items they're likely prepacked elsewhere and warmed up, if there is a small menu then it's likely fresh and those dishes are practiced so much they'll all be really good. I'll have to remember that! It makes sense.
Lastly hot water bottles... The smell before you put the stopper in, hot rubber, is possibly my favourite smell of all time, I love it! Makes me remember winter as a child and getting cozy in bed! If only they sold candles with that scent!
This happens with a lot of people (including me), like my sister wastes so much time over choosing clothes. This is not just our fault, it's the nature of resources around us. I try to make quick choices & don't regret over them, doing it repeatedly makes it easier over time. Big decisions should be given more time as they're irreversible.
Thanks for reading Mayank, that's a good point about clothes, I'm lucky that I wear a uniform to work and I pretty much have a uniform that I wear at home too, a self imposed one, khaki pants and black t-shirts. I don't have to mess about deciding then. That would have made a good additional point in the post I think.
You're definitely right about the big decisions though, buying a house v a pair of shoes. Or dating a person V marrying them!
As I was reading this I was thinking I could apply it to dating apps!! I’m never getting the full attention of men , they have half a foot in and it’s obvious they are talking to lots of women at the same time , no one ever commits and there are a lot of ethical non monogamous guys out there, or guys that state ‘intimacy without commitment’ … Then I came to your chapter on it !! Having severe dating app fatigue and written lots of posts on it , I like your app idea 🤣🤣 TikTok has made our kids obsessed with Starbucks ! I pay a £5 for a small strawberry drink my daughter likes 😁
I can only commiserate, it must be hard out there, what's supposed to make things easier makes them harder.
I think social media has been Starbucks biggest advertising win. I can imagine the marketing meeting where they asked "How can we sell coffee to kids?"
Thanks for reading Francis
It’s like the cereal aisle! We used to have corn flakes , rice Krispies, special K, Cheerios, now there is several different Cheerios , corn flakes , and a whole lot more! How can kids decide?
Really never knew about Starbucks choices, that is crazy!
Great piece Mark! Really enjoyed it!
Thank you AnnaMarie, yes you're right, at least when I was a child you could choose cereal by what was the best free gift inside the box, they don't even do that anymore!
Starbucks is more like a hundred actual menu items but the amount of customisation, extras and sizes compounds the size exponentially!
satisficed - I love this concept. Yourself post reminds me of analysis paralysis, which so many people struggle with. When narrowing down options feels impossible, it’s easier to avoid making decisions altogether. Decision fatigue is a very real phenomenon, and part of the problem is that people focus so much on the small things that the big decisions feel overwhelming.
I think of big decisions like a funnel. I give myself a set amount of time to narrow them down, working through the process. The problem is, many people stay stuck at the top of the funnel, spinning in circles like a tornado, unable to move forward. 🌪️
It’s difficult even when you know about it. I took my kids to a dessert place today and there were hundreds of options. I pretty much picked something at random, decision made, no regrets, my kids took ages weighing up pros and cons, then when theirs came they wanted to swap. Making good choices should be taught in schools!
I totally get that! I usually decide quickly, but then often change my mind last minute when ordering. It's like I’m processing everything up until the moment I have to make the final choice. It’s funny how even when we think we know what we want, the decision-making process can still feel like a last-minute rush!
And those last minute decision changes are the ones that really make you wonder if you should have stayed the course!
Most of the time I’m good with it but every now and then I wish I would have stayed with the original! lol
Thanks for this, Mark! The Paradox of Choice illustrates how having too many options can result in decision fatigue and dissatisfaction. In a world filled with overwhelming choices, the goal would be to simplify our options, commit to our decisions, and focus on the joys of our choices, alignments, and goals. Keep up your great work 🙌
Thanks Alexandra 😁
Nothing like a bit of ADHD accountability and pressure to get the job done. 😂😉 What an amazing read, so insightful and has left with me so much value. I can't thank you enough for this article, was worth the wait!
I'm glad you think so, thanks for reading! And for the accountability, I might have ended up kicking the can down the road longer otherwise. If you ever need the favour returning, just say!
Great article.
Appreciate that James.
Gordon Ramsay always said that restaurants with a big, extensive, varied menu will probably suck, food won't always be fresh. And that truly stands.
Same for things: you don't need choice. I needed a hot water bottle... did you know that there's more than 12 designs at Primark? Grinch, Christmas-themed Stitch, grey leopard, pink leopard. I just needed something normal! We don't need these many things! Choosing is difficult because there's a lot of things.
I don't have the habit of watching TV or streaming nowadays, but I remember struggling to find things on Netflix. Having too much to choose from proves to just... invite you not to choose.
Great one Mark :) And glad your kid has a present now! Let's hope he doesn't read your newsletter hehe
Thanks for reading Francisca, I hope he does read it, eventually, but not for a while yet!
It stands to reason if there are hundreds of menu items they're likely prepacked elsewhere and warmed up, if there is a small menu then it's likely fresh and those dishes are practiced so much they'll all be really good. I'll have to remember that! It makes sense.
Lastly hot water bottles... The smell before you put the stopper in, hot rubber, is possibly my favourite smell of all time, I love it! Makes me remember winter as a child and getting cozy in bed! If only they sold candles with that scent!
This happens with a lot of people (including me), like my sister wastes so much time over choosing clothes. This is not just our fault, it's the nature of resources around us. I try to make quick choices & don't regret over them, doing it repeatedly makes it easier over time. Big decisions should be given more time as they're irreversible.
Thanks for reading Mayank, that's a good point about clothes, I'm lucky that I wear a uniform to work and I pretty much have a uniform that I wear at home too, a self imposed one, khaki pants and black t-shirts. I don't have to mess about deciding then. That would have made a good additional point in the post I think.
You're definitely right about the big decisions though, buying a house v a pair of shoes. Or dating a person V marrying them!
Nice piece Mark. Really appreciate the mention too!
Thanks Lewis, I wanted to delve into lots of related concepts that all go into why choices can be so hard and as usual you had one that fit.