Decision Science
What Arguments Are Worth Your Time
In response to the story I shared last week, many of you disparaged yourselves for not having the courage to say what I said. I realized I didn’t add an important distinction: That wasn’t courage. I rarely speak up when adults say inane and cruel things anymore. Not because I don’t want to, but because (…)
Red or Yellow?
This is ridiculous but here it is: I was gifting myself a pair of loafers and when it came time to actually choose a pair, I couldn’t decide. For weeks, I was paralyzed with indecision about a pair of freaking shoes I was buying for fun. The rational side of my brain got stuck on practical (…)
What Would You Do If You Had All The Money In The World?
There is a question they ask in self-help groups that drives me crazy. The question is: “What would you do with your time if you had $10 million in cash?” The first problem with this question is it assumes the people who struggle with what they’re doing in their lives don’t have $10 million in cash, which is (…)
Predictably Irrational Behavior
How. How do you actually get people to calm down? What is something ACTIONABLE people can do. Give me the tactics, Margo, the answers!! Tell me what to do and I’ll do it. Since my article came out last week, I’ve gotten a lot of questions about tactics. How to reduce anxiety. How to make your parents listen. How to read (…)
Slow Down
One of the greatest American contradictions is, “more is better.” We know it is not. We know, “a greater variety of choices actually makes us feel worse.” Schwartz, Barry. The Paradox of Choice, pp122-3. It’s why the best retailers, merchandisers, and marketers all seek to reduce your options. Choose this one – is the message at the heart (…)