Learn why the greatest CEOs do not bother spending time picking what to wear for the day.
Reading time: 1 minute
Black turtleneck, jeans, and New Balance.
If you have ever heard about a certain brand called Apple, this outfit combination should make your brain click and think about a specific person: Steve Jobs.
Besides being a stylistic choice used to maximize recognition from Apple fans and customers, there is also another important strategic reason behind it.
In 1998 Jobs ordered more than 100 identical black turtlenecks to the Japanese designer Issey Miyake. (Yes, it is not always the same one)
Wearing the same kind of outfit is one of the easy ways to reduce what is called “decision fatigue”.
We live in a world where we are constantly required to make decisions. A very simple example? Try to order a coffee at Starbucks. Would you like skim milk or a normal one?
Maybe soy or almond?
Any sugar?
Just one shot of coffee?
Caramel on top?
Extra cup?
Just to order a coffee.
What we normally ignore is that our ability to make great decisions deteriorates with time.
Steve knew that well so he preferred saving the energies for the kind of decisions that really had an impact on his life.
Decision fatigue is the reason why we tend to feel mentally tired at the end of the day so, after a long day of (mostly useless) small decisions, we are more likely to sit on the couch and watch TV instead of working out.
Willpower and great decision making are both finite sources.
Stay curious, Mindset Lab. Family!
[To learn more about Willpower, click here: Willpower, cookies and radishes]
Comments