36 - Choice Inflation: Why More Options Are Exhausting Us

Feeling overwhelmed by decisions? You're not alone. In this episode, we welcome back Emily Papps from RemakeTheRules.com to discuss "choice inflation" - a term she's coined to describe the modern phenomenon of having exponentially more choices to make AND vastly more information to process for each decision.

Emily breaks down the "cycle of exhaustion" that traps so many of us: uncertainty leads us to create information management tools, but those tools actually create choice inflation, leading to information overload, then decision fatigue, and ultimately back to uncertainty - without resolving any of our original discomfort.

In this episode, we explore:

• What choice inflation is and why it's affecting everyone from individuals to small business owners
• The gap between data quantity and decision quality
• How to think probabilistically without becoming a statistician
• Why dating apps and hiring processes make us value the wrong information
• The difference between describing a job and understanding what it takes to do it well
• Practical strategies for cutting through information overload
• How to verify if the problems you're solving are actually real problems

Emily offers invaluable insights on managing the overwhelming volume of choices in modern life, whether you're navigating online dating, hiring employees, or making strategic business decisions. Her key message? Every choice has consequences - the question is whether you're okay with them. Perfect for entrepreneurs, small business owners, hiring managers, and anyone feeling paralyzed by too many options.

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