Ever noticed how little decisions can take just as long as big ones? How it can take just as much effort to decide what colour to paint your bedroom as it does to decide which model of car to buy?At first this doesn't make sense. Surely we should take a lot longer over a decision to spend $40,000 on a car than $40 on a tin of paint? But often we don't - and there is a simple reason why.
-----------------
Let's explore these two examples.
The hardest thing about deciding on a paint colour for any purpose is that we can't actually see
result until we have made investment (in time and/or money) and finished job.
Those of us with an untrained eye know only too well that, despite test-pots and computer simulations, initial perceptions can be very different from reality which strikes as last few roller strokes are made.
Contrast car. This is easy to visualise. A test-drive puts us behind wheel of a brand new car. A car which is clean, shiny and devoid of crumbs and wrappers all over floor. A car without rattles. A car with that characteristic 'new car' smell.
The perception created by advertising becomes reality, our emotions kick in and we just want to keep on driving. Before we know it we are signing papers!
-----------------
The key difference between these two examples is not relative size of decisions, nor differing levels of emotional investment.
The key difference is contrasting degrees of CLARITY about ultimate outcome at time decision is made. In case of car, test-drive experience provides almost surreal clarity well before we need to make a decision, hence 'easy' decision. In case of colour choice, clarity is not achieved until well after decision has been made: 'hard' decision.
