In our modern age of endless options, we are plagued by the paradox of choice, which often makes it impossible to feel truly satisfied. The book introduces a vital mental model to combat this: “Satisfiction”—a blend of the words “satisfy” and “suffice”.
Decision-makers generally fall into two camps: maximizers and satisficers. A maximizer is picky to the point of frustration, researching every possible variable to ensure they get the “best” result. Yet, despite their effort, they are often unhappy because they can’t stop imagining “greener pastures”. Conversely, a satisficer identifies what they need, finds an option that meets those criteria, and moves on.
The model of “Satisfiction” is best exemplified by the 37% Rule. If you are interviewing 100 candidates for a job, you will likely understand the full range of quality after the first 37. After that point, you should stop and pick the next candidate who is better than what you’ve already seen.
To apply this daily, set boundaries. If you are shopping for a jacket, decide on the color and price range beforehand. This allows you to eliminate “noise” and find an option that “suffices”. By choosing a “default choice” up front, you save your mental bandwidth for the few decisions where maximization actually matters.