NORTHERN PLANNER

This is a fascinating article from the Observer. Geraldine Bedell argues that despite women having more choices than ever before, they’re not as happy as they should be. It’s actually the sheer scale of choice that’s the problem. We’ve lost sight of how to be happy because we’re always worrying about the alternatives we didn’t choose.

This has implications for lots of things. You only have to consider a trip to the supermarket and the time you waste deciding between the thousands of lines on offer to see that. I went to a financial services  conference a while back and a big theme was the shift in responsibility onto the individual. People have to make their own decisions on things like pensions and mortgages like never before. They have never been given so much choice, yet the quality of information to let them make a decision isn’t there. So they make bad decisions quick, or just put it off.

It’s certainly an argument for brands, what are they if they are not a way to help people choose? Maybe the brands themselves should be considering offering a simpler life. 

It gives me pause for thought when I think about my job. I’ve always liked talking to people who have lots of ideas, but sometimes they don’t know when to stop. It’s easy to change your mind and do something else just because your bored, instead of working on what you already have. It’s hard to pick one thing and do it well. Perhaps I should talk to more people who find it hard to get an idea, because if they get ideas rarely, they’ll make sure they work.