Lessons In Decision Strategy From Rick & Morty’s Inception
This is the way to make a decision, bitch!
Yes, I know. The episode was really called Lawnmower Dog. It was actually the second episode of the series. This article has nothing to do with the Doggos however. This article is about two interesting insights on decision-making delivered by Rick Sanchez during his (and Morty’s) Inception-like adventure.
It Begins With A Dig & A Convoluted Plan
Rick: It’s a device, Morty, that when you put it in your ear, you can enter people’s dreams, Morty. It’s just like that movie that you keep crowing about.
Morty: You talking about “Inception”?Rick: That’s right, Morty. This is gonna be a lot like that, except, you know, it’s gonna may-(Belch)-be make sense.
Morty: “Inception” made sense.
Rick: You don’t have to try to impress me, Morty.
This is how Rick Sanchez provides the context for the story to follow. It is an elaborate scheme to keep Morty from getting homework, so that the two of them can go on more adventures. It involves entering the dreams of Morty’s teacher to do it. Admittedly, it seems a bit convoluted. It quickly gets worse.
Rick: Aw, geez. Looks like Goldenfold has some predilections so shameful he buries them in the dreams of the people in his dreams, including a pervy attraction to your underage sister.
The two quickly find themselves deep in the dreams of the people in the dreams of the people who’s other dreams they are in. Why? Rick has had a strategy all along.
Whoa, whoa, Morty, the trick to incepting is making people think they came up with the idea.
It is also often the trick for business decision-making. As a long time data & analytics professional with titles like Head of Decision Support and Head of Decision Science, I can not tell you how many great ideas had to be convoluted so that the right executive would believe it was theirs. This stuff happens way more than you think and way more then it should. Leave it to Rick & Morty to make a farce of it.
When they finally get to dream bedrock, they are confronted by rules.
Again, you need to love it. The bedrock of decision-making is typically a set of rules. Rick & Morty find themselves confronting a similar dilemma. Only Rick is too smart for that.
Morty: Man, he sure says “bitch” a lot!
Scary Terry: You can run, but you can’t hide, bitch!
Rick: Hold on, Morty. Y-you know what? He keeps saying we can run but we can’t hide. I say we try hiding.
Morty: But that’s the opposite of what-
Rick: Yeah, well, since when are we taking this guy’s advice on anything?
It is a somewhat practical approach, but it also recognizes another reality of decision-making. Rules are made for someone’s advantage. If it is not yours, you should really consider whether you are required to follow them. Rick also shows us another good lesson…
Morty: Hey, you know what? You got a really good point there, Rick. Like, if the truth was that we could hide, it’s not like he’d be sharing that information with us, you know? I-I-I think it’s a good idea, Rick.
Rick: Worst-case scenario we’re back to running
Always determine the impact of your decisions. So, I am not advocating breaking any laws. I am advocating analyzing the feedback loop and the repercussions of changing it. In this case, Rick’s decision to break the rules is rewarded. His convoluted plan works and… well, he returns to the title dilemma of his episode. It won’t likely surprise you to learn that he broke a few more rules and incepted a few more people.
Just another day for Rick & Morty. But honestly, not very untypical for the corporate world either. Though perhaps a bit more fun.
Thanks for reading. For more Rick & Morty consider:
