Forget pro and con lists — use maths and baked goods to make better decisions
It’s the scholarly way, trust me
In a way, things were easier back in the day when your only option was a steady job — the one most people in your family had held for generations.
Now that we’re surrounded by innumerable choices for creative and entrepreneurial ventures, how do we decide what’s worth adding to our already crammed plates?
I deeply admire people who it seems to me work for entirely selfless reasons, simply to create a world that is more like the one they wanted to live in, (though I’m obviously making assumptions about why they do what they do).
I’ve sometimes let go of activities when it seemed like the reason I was doing them wasn’t pure enough —being motivated by validation or a potential financial reward can feel icky.
With time, however, I’ve come to see that we are rarely motivated by one factor alone. It’s more than fine to enjoy money and acclaim when you’re fortunate enough to have them come your way. It’s OK to go the gym because you want to look good. It’s acceptable to work hard because you want a promotion.
Extrinsic motivation can be helpful when it’s one of a number of reasons why you carry out an action.
