Decisions are like hats, haircuts or tattoos
Summary
- Most decisions are easy to make, and easy to reverse
- Some decisions are a bit harder to make, and take a bit longer to reverse. But they are reversible
- Some decisions are very hard to make and can not be reversed
Details
- Easy to make, easy to reverse is like choosing a hat or article of clothing
- Medium hard to make, takes a bit longer to reverse - new haircut. Its worth trying something new, even if you will be embarrased for a bit if it goes wrong
- Hard to make, and irreversible - like a tattoo. You will live with the results for a very long time, so think long and hard about making this decision
References
- James Clear, 3-2-1 email
Quotes
- "I think about decisions in three ways: hats, haircuts, and tattoos.
Most decisions are like hats. Try one and if you don’t like it, put it back and try another. The cost of a mistake is low, so move quickly and try a bunch of hats.
Some decisions are like haircuts. You can fix a bad one, but it won’t be quick and you might feel foolish for awhile. That said, don't be scared of a bad haircut. Trying something new is usually a risk worth taking. If it doesn't work out, by this time next year you will have moved on and so will everyone else.
A few decisions are like tattoos. Once you make them, you have to live with them. Some mistakes are irreversible. Maybe you'll move on for a moment, but then you'll glance in the mirror and be reminded of that choice all over again. Even years later, the decision leaves a mark. When you're dealing with an irreversible choice, move slowly and think carefully."