Excellent topic. I have lived my career and life as a “satisficer.” In many situations, good is close enough. I always strive to create bandwidth for pausing and thinking - striving as a maximizer, and overthinking my decisions, would detrimentally impact my ability to contribute value to the world 🙏.
I could feel myself getting excited as I read this article because it is near and dear to my heart. One of my former ESL students--a doctor from Vietnam--told me that the most overwhelming thing for her when she came to this country was the sheer amount of choices for everything. She said that in her country, when she wanted to buy soap, she went to the store and bought soap. But here, she said, she didn't know which soap to buy because there were so many choices. And it wasn't just soap--it was every single thing!
I agree. I struggle with deciding among so many choices, often to the point of inaction, which is why I try to simplify my life when I can. Like Herbert Simon, I eat the same breakfast every day (oatmeal with blueberries, pumpkin, and chocolate chips), and when I stumble upon a recipe for a soup that I love, I can make it week after week after week. Even my shopping habits are similar to Simon's. For example, when I find a pair of walking shoes that fit me well, I buy two identical pairs, then I get the same ones to replace them when they wear out. The time saved searching for better options is time I can spend hiking or reading.
That said, when there's a big decision to make--and I need to act quickly--I really struggle. And, yes, sometimes I ruminate over an unalterable decision I've already made. But I'm getting better. In that same ESL class, when we were practicing the past conditional mood to express regrets (e.g., If I had ________________, I would(n't) have ___________________), the same Vietnamese student told me she had no regrets. I was shocked. "Have you always made the right decisions?" I asked. "Of course not," she replied, "but I don't waste time thinking about them. What's the point?"
So, I guess I would say I'm a former maximizer on the way to becoming a satisficer.
I am a satisficer. I do my best and try not to be too attached to the results meaning if things go wrong because of a decision I went with, I am not ever entirely to blame. Likewise if things go right, I can’t take full credit. There was a principle I learned in university economics referred to as decision paralysis which basically meant being overwhelmed by choices and unable to move forward because a decision could not be made due to the over analysis that transpires due to the plethora of available choices and options. This principle has stuck with me during my adult life and helped me move forward rather than getting stuck in analysis paralysis. I also enjoy living as a minimalist as much as I can in order to simplify and reduce anxiety and cognitive overload. I aim to live a simple gentle beautiful life and strive to live in a tiny home someday.
26 years ago Peter Drucker wrote: “In a few hundred years, when the history of our time will be written from a long-term perspective, it is likely that the most important event historians will see is not technology, not the Internet, not e-commerce. It is an unprecedented change in the human condition. For the first time -- literally -- substantial and rapidly growing numbers of people have choices. For the first time, they will have to manage themselves. And society is totally unprepared for it.”
I think we are even further today – the choices are made for us not by us. We hear everywhere how we should behave, what to think, what to buy, how to live. And many people agree to it. Because they can’t make their own choice. Too much freedom…
I hear and read so many advises: “you need to build your own brand (You as a brand), be the best version of yourself, always be authentic”. One can get depressed by not following all these tips.
I’m a mix: sometimes a maximizer and sometimes a satisficer. And that’s OK. As long as I feel comfortable and aligned with my values.
I agree that trying to aspire to too many self help ideals is damaging. In fact, a therapist once suggested to me that my over devotion to Oprah articles and interviews was not good for my mental health.
Lovely and great article. In ideal and stable circumstances , making decisions can be much easier compared to those in hard time. Anyway, regarding English language I can consider myself a maxmizer.
Also a big fan of David and Herbert Simon. First read about satisficing in Barry Schwartz’s The Paradox of Choice. (Another good read.) I think we go about our everyday business as satisficers and only recognize we are maximizing when we’re consciously making a big decision. At that point, we can either maximize “forever” or finally stop and decide “it’s good enough”.
I’ve been back and forth in a small way with David about constraints since he first announced the book. Happily picked up my copy at local B&N last night. $3 off!
As a person influenced by Buddhist philosophy, I relate to satisficing. Concepts like equanimity and acceptance play into making decisions. I think that a deep value for inner peace and the equanimity that comes with it inclines me to being a satisficer.
Thank you for this thought-provoking piece! I don't often stop to reflect on how I make decisions :) I used to agonize over pro and con lists until I discovered a framework called the "Whole-Body Yes" from The Conscious Leadership Group. Essentially it's an invitation to tune into the head, heart and gut when faced with decisions. This has been so helpful for me! I haven't entirely let go of pro and con lists because I think there is still value in doing that, but I do it with less intensity. As for whether I'm a “maximizer” or “satisficer”, it depends on what it is. If I'm making a bigger decision like which university program to take, I'd lean towards maximizer. For lower risk/investment decisions, I'm more of a satisficer. It also depends on how much stress I'm carrying. If I'm feeling more stressed, even small decisions can feel overwhelming and that's when I'd likely be more of a satisficer. I'm going to continue to reflect on this one during my walk later today :) Also I don't know if it sparks my *best* thinking, but I do love my gravity timer as it helps me stay focused.
Love the idea of a gravity timer! Also, I agree with the whole body yes which seems similar to tuning into your body because doing so means you are listening to your very powerful intuitive subconscious.
I try to be intentional about my decisions, which frequently means I fall somewhere between the two categories discussed. I do know, however, that I also try to pay attention to when a decision - no matter how long it took to make, or what criteria I used to make it - isn't working, because if possible that's when I don't hesitate to change course. When I do, I try very hard not to do so with guilt. Regrets sometimes occur, which I think can be instructive and helpful, whereas guilt tends to punish.
On a different note, I remember traveling in the UK when buying breakfast cereal meant either Corn Flakes or Wheatabix. Now their supermarket aisles are as overflowing as ours in the US, leaving everyone who isn't a satisficer spoilt for choice and short on time:-)
Thanks Marcia. I recently cut an out-of-state class short and while I knew I was sacrificing what I might have learned, I knew that what I was trading that possibility for was a known, and this instance I needed the known.
The idea reflects a life philosophy of an imperfect human living simply in an uncertain world, where "Satisfactory" suffices and "Excellence" overreaches. Making choices expresses deeper values, sparing one from overanalyzing the mind beforehand and from agonizing over the heart's regrets afterward. Living otherwise is courting trouble, or making one crazy, or tempting fate. Consider packing for travel, which is itself a journey of personal growth over the years. I reframe it as the practice of undoing the maximizer and redoing the satisficer. I am getting there. Let the first thought prevail without second-guessing, which requires courage but ultimately brings freedom.
As I look back on my life of 71 years -at least what I can remember of it😀 - I think I always espoused to be a maximizer initially but wound up being a satisficer cause I either tired of the decision making process, or saw what was in my opinion something that was basically futile in the end and not really productive. I've never really experienced any real angst over the decisions I've made, but this article was fascinating to ponder in it's implications.
An excellent writing! There's so much advice floating around, about "expanding our consciousness" and "thinking outside the box". However, we can speed decisions along by eliminating things that won't work, and spend valuable time among things that might work. We should embrace genuine limitations, not disdain them. We can't manage all the stars, but we can follow the North Star.
P.S. Occam's Razor doesn't deal with exactly the same issue, but I'm reminded of it.
P.P.S. I'm a great believer in "sleeping on a problem". Our subconscious minds can often solve problems that we analyzed ad nauseum while awake.
I too am a believer in the power of the subconscious mind. If I don’t feel an immediate YES when faced with an idea or opportunity, I always “sit on it” first a day or two or three.
I'm interesting in learning if there is a connection between addiction and maximizer-mentality. Intuitively, it seems so.
Fascinating to reflect on, as it points to the life energy required to always make sure one is making the best decision, eating the best food, wearing the best outfit, being the best that we can be! As it relates to food, I can relate.
Look forward to reading the book! I think I’ve probably made decisions both as a “maximizer” and “satisficer” as various periods in my life. But for me, given that bigger decisions in life are made generally under conditions of considerable uncertainly, I’ve come to adopt intentionality as the criteria of good decision-making. So for example, based on what I know now, is this the right job to take, even if it’s not “ideal” because its "good enough"? It’s the good enough part that I think requires careful thought. What’s the risk of “settling”? What’s the risk of going for something better? Can I live with the outcomes of either? As, I look back at some of the major decisions I’ve made in life (most that have worked out but some that haven’t), I tend to appreciate those made out of genuine conviction and intention, rather than out of unconscious fears or a desire meet outside expectations. For me, making those kinds of intentional decisions has gotten much easier as I’ve gotten older.
Loved David's book "Range" and will read this one, as well.
Proud satisficer here. Carbon footprint aside, this is why Costco is so satisficing: it gives us two (instead of 32) products of comparable quality/price/appearance. The staggering quantity means more $ upfront, but we'll live with imperfect choices bc we've saved time, which with a book at home beckoning, is precious. An introvert win!
Very good point. Yesterday while grocery shopping at the supermarket I spent way too much time deciding between 7 or 8 different apple cider vinegar’s available and on display across three shelves.
Excellent topic. I have lived my career and life as a “satisficer.” In many situations, good is close enough. I always strive to create bandwidth for pausing and thinking - striving as a maximizer, and overthinking my decisions, would detrimentally impact my ability to contribute value to the world 🙏.
I could feel myself getting excited as I read this article because it is near and dear to my heart. One of my former ESL students--a doctor from Vietnam--told me that the most overwhelming thing for her when she came to this country was the sheer amount of choices for everything. She said that in her country, when she wanted to buy soap, she went to the store and bought soap. But here, she said, she didn't know which soap to buy because there were so many choices. And it wasn't just soap--it was every single thing!
I agree. I struggle with deciding among so many choices, often to the point of inaction, which is why I try to simplify my life when I can. Like Herbert Simon, I eat the same breakfast every day (oatmeal with blueberries, pumpkin, and chocolate chips), and when I stumble upon a recipe for a soup that I love, I can make it week after week after week. Even my shopping habits are similar to Simon's. For example, when I find a pair of walking shoes that fit me well, I buy two identical pairs, then I get the same ones to replace them when they wear out. The time saved searching for better options is time I can spend hiking or reading.
That said, when there's a big decision to make--and I need to act quickly--I really struggle. And, yes, sometimes I ruminate over an unalterable decision I've already made. But I'm getting better. In that same ESL class, when we were practicing the past conditional mood to express regrets (e.g., If I had ________________, I would(n't) have ___________________), the same Vietnamese student told me she had no regrets. I was shocked. "Have you always made the right decisions?" I asked. "Of course not," she replied, "but I don't waste time thinking about them. What's the point?"
So, I guess I would say I'm a former maximizer on the way to becoming a satisficer.
Meant to include that one of my life mottos is “good enough is good enough.”
I am a satisficer. I do my best and try not to be too attached to the results meaning if things go wrong because of a decision I went with, I am not ever entirely to blame. Likewise if things go right, I can’t take full credit. There was a principle I learned in university economics referred to as decision paralysis which basically meant being overwhelmed by choices and unable to move forward because a decision could not be made due to the over analysis that transpires due to the plethora of available choices and options. This principle has stuck with me during my adult life and helped me move forward rather than getting stuck in analysis paralysis. I also enjoy living as a minimalist as much as I can in order to simplify and reduce anxiety and cognitive overload. I aim to live a simple gentle beautiful life and strive to live in a tiny home someday.
Barry Schwartz has an excellent TED Talk, and book, on “The Paradox of Choice.”
Barry Schwartz: The paradox of choice
https://www.ted.com/talks/barry_schwartz_the_paradox_of_choice
26 years ago Peter Drucker wrote: “In a few hundred years, when the history of our time will be written from a long-term perspective, it is likely that the most important event historians will see is not technology, not the Internet, not e-commerce. It is an unprecedented change in the human condition. For the first time -- literally -- substantial and rapidly growing numbers of people have choices. For the first time, they will have to manage themselves. And society is totally unprepared for it.”
I think we are even further today – the choices are made for us not by us. We hear everywhere how we should behave, what to think, what to buy, how to live. And many people agree to it. Because they can’t make their own choice. Too much freedom…
I hear and read so many advises: “you need to build your own brand (You as a brand), be the best version of yourself, always be authentic”. One can get depressed by not following all these tips.
I’m a mix: sometimes a maximizer and sometimes a satisficer. And that’s OK. As long as I feel comfortable and aligned with my values.
I agree that trying to aspire to too many self help ideals is damaging. In fact, a therapist once suggested to me that my over devotion to Oprah articles and interviews was not good for my mental health.
Lovely and great article. In ideal and stable circumstances , making decisions can be much easier compared to those in hard time. Anyway, regarding English language I can consider myself a maxmizer.
Also a big fan of David and Herbert Simon. First read about satisficing in Barry Schwartz’s The Paradox of Choice. (Another good read.) I think we go about our everyday business as satisficers and only recognize we are maximizing when we’re consciously making a big decision. At that point, we can either maximize “forever” or finally stop and decide “it’s good enough”.
I’ve been back and forth in a small way with David about constraints since he first announced the book. Happily picked up my copy at local B&N last night. $3 off!
As a person influenced by Buddhist philosophy, I relate to satisficing. Concepts like equanimity and acceptance play into making decisions. I think that a deep value for inner peace and the equanimity that comes with it inclines me to being a satisficer.
Yes! Agree! Protecting my peace is always forefront in my decision making.
No surprise that we're both HSPs!
Thank you for this thought-provoking piece! I don't often stop to reflect on how I make decisions :) I used to agonize over pro and con lists until I discovered a framework called the "Whole-Body Yes" from The Conscious Leadership Group. Essentially it's an invitation to tune into the head, heart and gut when faced with decisions. This has been so helpful for me! I haven't entirely let go of pro and con lists because I think there is still value in doing that, but I do it with less intensity. As for whether I'm a “maximizer” or “satisficer”, it depends on what it is. If I'm making a bigger decision like which university program to take, I'd lean towards maximizer. For lower risk/investment decisions, I'm more of a satisficer. It also depends on how much stress I'm carrying. If I'm feeling more stressed, even small decisions can feel overwhelming and that's when I'd likely be more of a satisficer. I'm going to continue to reflect on this one during my walk later today :) Also I don't know if it sparks my *best* thinking, but I do love my gravity timer as it helps me stay focused.
Love the idea of a gravity timer! Also, I agree with the whole body yes which seems similar to tuning into your body because doing so means you are listening to your very powerful intuitive subconscious.
I try to be intentional about my decisions, which frequently means I fall somewhere between the two categories discussed. I do know, however, that I also try to pay attention to when a decision - no matter how long it took to make, or what criteria I used to make it - isn't working, because if possible that's when I don't hesitate to change course. When I do, I try very hard not to do so with guilt. Regrets sometimes occur, which I think can be instructive and helpful, whereas guilt tends to punish.
On a different note, I remember traveling in the UK when buying breakfast cereal meant either Corn Flakes or Wheatabix. Now their supermarket aisles are as overflowing as ours in the US, leaving everyone who isn't a satisficer spoilt for choice and short on time:-)
Yes! Drop the guilt. Always. It is not a healthy or helpful emotion IMO. And I relate to your words regarding the need to pivot or change your mind.
Thanks Marcia. I recently cut an out-of-state class short and while I knew I was sacrificing what I might have learned, I knew that what I was trading that possibility for was a known, and this instance I needed the known.
take care,
Vicki
The idea reflects a life philosophy of an imperfect human living simply in an uncertain world, where "Satisfactory" suffices and "Excellence" overreaches. Making choices expresses deeper values, sparing one from overanalyzing the mind beforehand and from agonizing over the heart's regrets afterward. Living otherwise is courting trouble, or making one crazy, or tempting fate. Consider packing for travel, which is itself a journey of personal growth over the years. I reframe it as the practice of undoing the maximizer and redoing the satisficer. I am getting there. Let the first thought prevail without second-guessing, which requires courage but ultimately brings freedom.
Oh so many wise words packed into your concise comment. Love all of it!
As I look back on my life of 71 years -at least what I can remember of it😀 - I think I always espoused to be a maximizer initially but wound up being a satisficer cause I either tired of the decision making process, or saw what was in my opinion something that was basically futile in the end and not really productive. I've never really experienced any real angst over the decisions I've made, but this article was fascinating to ponder in it's implications.
I agree that the agonizing is usually futile. Very good word choice you made. Thanks! ❤️
An excellent writing! There's so much advice floating around, about "expanding our consciousness" and "thinking outside the box". However, we can speed decisions along by eliminating things that won't work, and spend valuable time among things that might work. We should embrace genuine limitations, not disdain them. We can't manage all the stars, but we can follow the North Star.
P.S. Occam's Razor doesn't deal with exactly the same issue, but I'm reminded of it.
P.P.S. I'm a great believer in "sleeping on a problem". Our subconscious minds can often solve problems that we analyzed ad nauseum while awake.
I too am a believer in the power of the subconscious mind. If I don’t feel an immediate YES when faced with an idea or opportunity, I always “sit on it” first a day or two or three.
I'm interesting in learning if there is a connection between addiction and maximizer-mentality. Intuitively, it seems so.
Fascinating to reflect on, as it points to the life energy required to always make sure one is making the best decision, eating the best food, wearing the best outfit, being the best that we can be! As it relates to food, I can relate.
I think you’ve hit on something profound! Fascinating and I believe there probably is a correlation between the two.
Look forward to reading the book! I think I’ve probably made decisions both as a “maximizer” and “satisficer” as various periods in my life. But for me, given that bigger decisions in life are made generally under conditions of considerable uncertainly, I’ve come to adopt intentionality as the criteria of good decision-making. So for example, based on what I know now, is this the right job to take, even if it’s not “ideal” because its "good enough"? It’s the good enough part that I think requires careful thought. What’s the risk of “settling”? What’s the risk of going for something better? Can I live with the outcomes of either? As, I look back at some of the major decisions I’ve made in life (most that have worked out but some that haven’t), I tend to appreciate those made out of genuine conviction and intention, rather than out of unconscious fears or a desire meet outside expectations. For me, making those kinds of intentional decisions has gotten much easier as I’ve gotten older.
I too, with age, have been able to make decisions with much less emphasis on expectations or societal norms.
Loved David's book "Range" and will read this one, as well.
Proud satisficer here. Carbon footprint aside, this is why Costco is so satisficing: it gives us two (instead of 32) products of comparable quality/price/appearance. The staggering quantity means more $ upfront, but we'll live with imperfect choices bc we've saved time, which with a book at home beckoning, is precious. An introvert win!
Very good point. Yesterday while grocery shopping at the supermarket I spent way too much time deciding between 7 or 8 different apple cider vinegar’s available and on display across three shelves.