Hereâs a framework I use for A or B decisions. There are 3 scenarios:
One is clearly better than the other.
They are both about the same
Iâm not sure; more data is needed.
1 & 2 are easy. In the first case, choose the better one. In the second, choose the one that in your gut you like better (or use the âflip a coinâ trick, and notice if you have any resistance to the âwinnerâ. Thatâs a great reason to go with the âloserâ).
Itâs the third case thatâs hard. It requires more research or more analysis. But hereâs the thing: there are costs to doing this work. You have to decide if the opportunity cost to delve in is worth the investment to increase the odds of making the better choice.
My experience shows thatâespecially for people who lean heavily on logic and rationality like myself đâwe tend to overweight âgetting it rightâ at the expense of making a decision and moving on. Switching costs are often lower than you think, and failing fast is actually a great outcome. Unless you are sending a rover to Mars where there is literally no opportunity to âfix it in post-â, I suggest you do a a nominal amount of research and analysis, then make a decision and move onto other things in your life. Revisit as needed.
Hereâs a framework I use for A or B decisions. There are 3 scenarios:
One is clearly better than the other.
They are both about the same
Iâm not sure; more data is needed.
1 & 2 are easy. In the first case, choose the better one. In the second, choose the one that in your gut you like better (or use the âflip a coinâ trick, and notice if you have any resistance to the âwinnerâ. Thatâs a great reason to go with the âloserâ).
Itâs the third case thatâs hard. It requires more research or more analysis. But hereâs the thing: there are costs to doing this work. You have to decide if the opportunity cost to delve in is worth the investment to increase the odds of making the better choice.
My experience shows thatâespecially for people who lean heavily on logic and rationality like myself đâwe tend to overweight âgetting it rightâ at the expense of making a decision and moving on. Switching costs are often lower than you think, and failing fast is actually a great outcome. Unless you are sending a rover to Mars where there is literally no opportunity to âfix it in post-â, I suggest you do a a nominal amount of research and analysis, then make a decision and move onto other things in your life. Revisit as needed.
[cross-posted from a comment I wrote in response to Why CEA Online doesnât outsource more work to non-EA freelancers]