the fallacy of optionality

What to expect...

Tone: outdoor voice

Snark level: existent

Other special provisions: you may want ice cream after reading this post

people don't want an abundance of choices; they want to know they've made the right choice
— Scott Galloway (I'm too lazy to find the source. just trust me on this one.)

the 21st century is supposedly about choice.

linkedin and job boards promise your choice of job, with ever listing aggregated for you in one or a few convenient places.

dating apps promise your choice of partner or one-time hookup.

and Baskin Robbins still promises 31 flavors. if not more.

this abundance of choice is what most of us would call 'having options'. the finance bros call it 'optionality'. (finance bros like words with a little syllables. don't ask me why. I don't make the rules—I just report them when I see them.)

optionality promises the power of to choose-your-own adventure your way through your problems.

need a new job? you'll find plenty options on linkedin! but if you know yourself and what you really need in a job, you'll see you have fewer viable options than the aggregate numbers would make you think.

the same goes with dating. what good is having all these options just one right-swipe away if you're incompatible with most of them?

and in the examples of job hunting and dating, you must also be chosen by another party. these options are options only as long as the other party sees you as an option.

but what about Baskin Robbins? surely you have the options of 31 flavors when the ice cream needn't choose you.

but do you really want 31 flavors? you probably spend your time balancing only two: chocolate and vanilla.

when you know what you want and need, you see you have only a few options, because only a few of the options can meet your wants and needs.

but if you're willing to take whatever you can get—then, yeah, I guess you've got some optionality. if you want it.