I saw ‘Catalyst” on the ABC last week and there was a segmant on an experiment that a Uni Professor had undertaken to determine why so many of his “well off” students failed to get a job at the end of their studies. Why did so many of them, who had all the opportunites in life, end up working at Starbucks?
The experiment was set up so that they had 24 different types of jams for tasting and for sale. Lots of people tasted, but hardly anyone bought any. When they reduced the number of jam samples to 6, they had the same number of people tasting, but sold much more jam. The concluded that in the first scenario there were too many choices and the brain doesn’t like the high proprtion of risk assocaiated with failure. Choosing 1 jam to buy would mean chancing faliure 23 times and that is too much for us. In the second scenario, with only 6 jams, the chance of failure is only 5 out of 6, and that is more acceptable odds for us to deal with.
I had a light bulb moment!! I hate making decisions when there are so many choices, because I hate the thought of not making the right one and thus facing the ridicule. For example – I never go the the video store to choose a DVD. I loathe standing in front of all the releases and having to make a choice. I would much rather someone else make that decision. I am freaking out about buying a house (we have to move with number 4’s imminant arrival) because what if we choose one and a better one comes on the market a week later. I desperately need a new mobile phone, but the number of plan choices is so overwhelming that I am just sticking with this portable brick because it is easier to do that than make a wrong choice.
I never realised that this was my problem until it was demonstrated on this show. Thank goodness I am not the only one!!!!
On a brighter note, School holidays are here and it is so nice not to have to dash off in the morning for school. Holly has a friend over today and I have not seen them since she arrived. Ahhhhhhh – the serenity!!
Hope everyone had a great Easter – I only ate 2 tiny eggs the whole weekend!
Hi Fran! I’m the same
hey, somethings funny with the code on your blog – all the numbers before the date…
Good on you for restricting yourself to “minimal chocolate intake” I couldn’t do it!!!
I also have trouble making choices sometimes and find myself weighing up the pros and cons for ages before finally deciding on somethings. I just like to be carefull I think……lol
Enjoy the school holidays and good on you for not overeating the easter eggs, well done. Have a great week and take good care of youself.
By the way good luck with the house hunting. I remember how much we went through back in 2002 when looking to buy this house. I hope you don’t get too stressed over it all. I am sure the perfect house will present itself all in good time.
Hi Fran
I ‘short list’ then get someone else (usually Scotty) to make the final decision – this works with DVDs and takeaway – not much else!
There are heaps of nice big houses up here in Toowoomba… the girls would love it!
I too was good over Easter – the bunny was looking after my best interests and bought me a book instead of chocolate!
Hope you find a house (did I mention how much SUNSHINE we get up here? and the education is billiant…), and a new mobile. Every yummy mummy needs a smart phone to keep up with demand! I discovered the pre-paid cap works for me – a direct debit of $49/month, gives me $230 worth of calls!
Talk soon
Em xx
Oh gosh Fran – that is so me too!!! DH gets cranky because I wont make a descision about dinner etc!
Enjoy the serenity! 🙂
Wow – two mini eggs, I wish I could say that!!!
Matthew is like you with the choices!!! I live with it. (Sigh) xxx