Note from "The Lean Startup"

I have recently finished reading "The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries. It takes an experimental (as in scientific method of testing hypothesis) approach to make the work more efficient (does not waste valuable time/cost) and efficient (working on the right thing).  It emphasize on the importance of rapid learning and adjustment based on that learning. In this aspect, it seems to use the same foundation of Agile Software Development i.e: make small iterations and adjust/improve process/prediction after each iterations.

Below is summary of the process on Lean Startup:

• Make leap of faith. Make your hypothesis that you think is true, just make your best guest what will be useful and interesting to user so they will use it. Assume for now that it is true.
• Develop Minimum Viable Product. Work on smallest possible set of feature that will have significant effect first. The smallness is important for having rapid feedback for learning
• Validated Learning. Review the reesult of the above using actual/verifiable data
• Pivots. Decide based on the learning above what is the best course to take next. This could be improving things, discarding things or drop it and do something else entirely

In essence, the process actually useful in many areas of life. Having a rapid feedback can minimize our accumulated errors.

Book Notes : Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz

I have recently finished reading "Paradox of Choice" by Barry Schwartz. Below is my personal notes of it.

The book is centered around reminding us on how the larger number of choices does not always means more happiness. It is true that low number of choice is limiting and certain number of choices can empower us. However, when the choices has grown large several factors started to come out that could limit our effectiveness to utilize those choices. Factors like regrets, opportunity costs can ruin our lifes as much as, if not worse than, the lack of choices.

Regarding the above issues, the book can be quite repetitive. It discuss the same matters several times although using different studies and perspective. I am already quite convinced that too much choices is problem by half of the book, so the additional facts add little to it although still quite informative. The book finally closes itself by summarizing some things we can do to manage the explosion on the number of choices to our advantage. It discusses the "trick" along the previous chapters but it gave one chapter to lay it out in a summarized format. It is useful for reviews and make some plan of action.

Below is some of what you can do when faced with choices so you can utilize it optmally :

• Choose when to choose. Decide on which area the choice is important and then spend time energy to make a good choice there. Still, limit the number of choice, so you can choose effectively. As for other areas, just stick to safe defaults.
• Be a chooser. Have time to reflect and not being pressured. Can choose to not choose and create new options and opportunity instead. Decide substantial goal and evaluate choice based on it
• Satisfice more and maximize less. Choose things that is "good enough", fulfill your needs and be happy with it, do not worry about loosing the ultimate best, it might not worth your time
• Think about opportunity cost of opportunity cost. Do not worry too much about what you miss
• Make decisions non reversible. You'll regret less
• Practice an “Attitude of Gratitude”
• Regret Less
• Anticipate Adaptation. Be aware that you will finally get used to what you choose. It might not get as exciting as you experience initially. Remind ourselves about the intrinsic quality of the choice that we have made
• Control Expectations
• Curtail Social Comparison
• Learn to Love Constraints. Choices within constraints is better then having none or having infinite one

Now that I think about it again, the above items might not have the same impact to the reader if the book does not repeat the ideas throughout the book on a different light. With all the books, blogs, news, apps, musics, movies, games, gadgets and with the current flood of "stuff" in our world today, this book can serve well as a reminder to not get carried away and lost ourselves and our sense of purpose in the middle of it.