What if We Made Each Decision as if it’s Our Last

What if We Always Chose the more Interesting Option?

Where you have ended up today is the result of hundreds of thousands of discrete choices compounded over time. As a thought experiment I wondered what would happen if we always chose the more interesting branch. In the space of most inconsequential decisions, only a small life direction shift would be noticeable.

Risky or Risk Averse

Boring choices may lead to extremely interesting opportunities later on, but this thought riff is about always choosing what is more intriguing to us at the time. For the sake of survival we have developed a healthy fear of self destructive behaviors which may conflict with interesting. Always choosing a more interesting path could quickly end in one’s demise or other non viable long term lifestyles, so it appears a flawed decision making criteria. But what if there were an optimal interest decision tree just shy of immediate self extinction or self destruction?

My hypothesis is that many of us err on the side of saftey and security by choosing what is known all too often. This form of decision making leads to an over paranoid life style, along with a false sense of security. Life isn’t safe. Each of us has a limited duration that will likely end outside of our control. You won’t see me hopping on a motorbike or taking life destroying chemicals too often (the downside is a cliff). But I’m pretty certain I won’t be on my deathbed looking back thinking I wished I lived a safer life.

Take a walk on the wild side. Give a good friend a bear hug :) . There’s gotta be a correlation between the people we feel comfortable bear hugging and our joy.

  • http://techneur.com/ JP

    I couldn't agree with this point more. People often think that by being comfortable and not taking action, they are safe. I often hear “You want to quit your job for your startup? Why would you want to give up all the safety of a stable paycheck?” To which I reply: “My day job is one customer. They can decide to stop utilizing my services at any time. Whereas in my business, I have hundreds customers and what are the chances that they'll all stop paying?”

    Often times the safest road is anything but safe.

    -JP

  • http://www.victusspiritus.com/ Mark Essel

    Right on JP, thanks for stopping in to say so. I use funds from my part time day job to fuel development costs (and keep the lights on). Can't wait until the day when I can count on the business to pay the mortgage.

  • Jared McKiernan

    I think one of the key issues is actively noticing that everything is a decision. Most people ignore choices because they complicate things. I recently became unemployed which I am viewing as a good thing, because I sort of liked my job but in hindsight it was slowly becoming less and less interesting-yet it probably would have taken me another year or two before I considered seriously looking for another job. People who think they're safe may not actually be as safe as they think; and those on the other side are rarely taking as much of a risk as the safe side perceives. Not taking action IS action, whether you realize it or not. Great topic.

  • http://www.victusspiritus.com/ Mark Essel

    Now's a great opportunity to seek out freelancing work if you're so inclined. oDesk is an up and coming service or use your social network to get a first referral. On the other side there may be a small business opportunity you can afford to explore.

    Wherever your life takes you, don't forget to bring your passion and enthusiasm. I did for far too long, and I had no idea what I was missing.

  • Leland

    Inspiring words Mark.

  • Leland

    Just to add JP, I think the decision of whether to go with a more risky path in our career must always be balanced upon our current situation in life.

    I would put forth that the prudent choice is to attempt to reach a state of financial safety as soon as possible. More specifically, I mean forgoing luxuries in our daily lives until we have a “safety net” of financial resources built up. This would mean working for one or two years in a generic day job, saving money as much as possible and skimping on things such as a new TV, luxury car, etc..

    By living below our means for a nominal period of time, we can create a safety net for ourselves allowing us social, emotional, and geological mobility. When it comes down to it, someone with no savings and massive debt cannot afford to do risky things such as start their own company/startup. I would understand if you said that this person should give up everything in order to pursue a more risky choice such as following their dreams, but you must also remember that this person's emotional well-being is also at stake. Living with one's parents in the pursuit of a dream may be too large of an emotional burden to bear for many.

    There is a right time to take chances, and there is a wrong time. The best course of action is to start safe, stockpile resources, and then go more risky.

  • http://techneur.com/ JP

    Leland, I couldn't agree more. Mark Cuban wrote a post on this: http://blogmaverick.com/2010/02/23/how-to-get-r… To summarize, live below your means, and save cash for opportunities.

    -JP

  • http://www.victusspiritus.com/ Mark Essel

    Right on Leland. You've got get yourself into the position to make a go of it. That's why I'm still working part time at my day job, speaking of which I better get going (I walk before walk)

  • http://www.victusspiritus.com/ Mark Essel

    I dig Mark's blog, thanks for dropping the link JP. I hadn't read that one.