The World of an Optimizer

This is an exciting topic for me to write about because it involves decoding my brain's unconscious routines and how it evolved to optimize everything that comes it's way. Even dreams and wild thoughts must account for optimization, or else I don't feel the dream is viable 😂. This is because there is no thriving optimization or overall upside from the situation without my masterstroke.

Let's explore the pros and cons of optimization. Optimizing everything that comes your way requires a high level of mental effort. For instance, deciding how to wisely spend your weekend, choosing the best restaurant for dinner, selecting a gift for your girlfriend that offers the most value for your money and is appreciated by her, and making purchases that are not average choices. These are all conscious and unconscious optimizations that someone with optimization phobia will have to deal with day in and day out. Sometimes, optimizing offers great returns, but often it costs you mental energy for things that won't matter in an hour or a day. Therefore, it's important to consciously consider whether a specific optimization truly matters to you in the short or long term before pursuing it.

Optimization for Good

This is one of my life experiences. Ever since I was a kid, I wanted my family to own a car. At one point, I got tired of hiring ad-hoc tuk-tuks since services like Lyft and Uber weren't available at that time, and buses weren't ideal since they weren't available on all routes. Owning a car became a long-awaited necessity for me. As it was that important and I had been dreaming of it for a long time, I wanted nothing less than the best-in-class buy. Regretting even a bit after the purchase would be a huge guilt for me. I would feel like I didn't do something different or put in enough effort. I know myself, so I consciously test-drove 6-8 cars, shortlisted to 3, then 2, and finally 1. This took 6 months of physical and mental effort for me. I test-drove the final car 3 times, with a break of a week between each time, to affirm that this was the one I wanted.

To delve deeper into my decision-making process, I was looking for a car that was fully connected to the web, so that I could take advantage of features like remote locking and other tech features. Additionally, I needed a car that was low maintenance, fun to drive, and aligned with the tastes of young men in their 20s like myself and my brother. After considering these factors, I narrowed my search down to three promising options: the Hyundai Venue N Line, the Hyundai Creta, and the Tata Nexon. The reason for considering only compact SUVs is that they provide my parents with greater comfort during long drives, which is not typically offered by hatchbacks or sedans.

The Hyundai Venue N Line was an enjoyable car to drive and fell within my allocated budget. The Hyundai Creta, on the other hand, had superior seating with increased height and fabulous interiors, but stretching my budget by another 7,00,000 INR was out of my reach. After multiple rides, I didn't see a significant difference in the Creta that was worth stretching 7L. The Tata Nexon's lower price tag and maintenance costs were tempting, but its gearbox did not offer the grunt I needed. Based on my research, its automatic variants had an unreliable gearbox, which was a deal-breaker for me. Evaluating the ride quality of multiple vehicles in different terrains multiple times was time-consuming and required careful consideration.

Finally, I consulted with my closest critics to hear their thoughts on my decision. I asked for any potential downsides, just to ensure that I had accounted for them and was prepared to live with them if any. On a side note, after evaluating all options, my final choice was the Hyundai Venue N Line.

At one point, I started questioning myself if I should really invest so much time and energy into this. Do other people do the same? Does it really matter? Will I regret all my time and energy logged into this? I do not want to disappoint my future self. Surprisingly, all my efforts turned into a well-thought-out choice for me. It has been six months since I bought a car, and it reaffirms that it was the best choice. It brings a smile to my face whenever I take a look at it. All the effort I put in feels totally worth it because I paid for my future self to smile and pat myself on the back for the experience I get while driving it.

Optimization for Bad

This is a personal experience of mine. I'm not a big fan of coffee, but Third Wave coffee has become very popular in Hyderabad. I enjoy the ambiance of Third Wave cafes, so that's how I got introduced to coffee. At first, it was just a beverage that I neither liked nor disliked. Over time, I realized that coffee helps me focus better and gives me energy for long days.

As I started having more coffees, I fell into the typical pricing trap of Third Wave and Starbucks. For example, the pricing for regular, medium, and large were as follows: 245, 265, and 285. When I see this pricing, my unconscious mind automatically optimizes that the difference between regular and medium is 20 and between regular and large is 40. It suggests that if I can afford 245, I should definitely be able to afford 285 for the large cup as the difference is less than 20% of base price. It also feels like by paying 20% more, I'm getting almost twice as much of the drink. My optimization-centric brain falls into this trap and picks the large size. However, I realized that I was consuming larger quantities of caffeine and sugar, which was affecting my focus and productivity. This was contrary to my need for coffee and its benefits. This is a true example of how we can exploit optimizations without considering our actual needs.

It's important to remember that optimization doesn't always work in your favor. In fact, it can sometimes be a weakness, as it may be exploited by people who use optimization to hack or sell something to you. If they know that you prioritize optimization, they may use it to manipulate your decisions. Therefore, it's important to be careful when relying solely on optimization as a key differentiator, as it may not always lead to the best outcome.

Summary

Optimization is a double-edged sword. It can do more harm than good if not used carefully and consciously. Therefore, only put optimization into action when you truly need it and care about the outcome, as it requires mental energy to pursue. It's crucial to remember that optimization cannot guarantee the desired outcome, but it does increase the odds. You are essentially doing your part and hoping that the other factors in play work in your favor. If you believe that optimization is not necessary, it is best to let your mind rest, wander, and enjoy its relaxed state.

Cheers!