The word choice comes from the old French word chois, meaning selection or option. Choices are the fundamental building blocks that shape our lives, define our paths, and determine our destinies. At every juncture in life, we are confronted with choices—choices about our education, careers, relationships, beliefs, and actions. These decisions encapsulate our desires, values, fears, and aspirations, revealing our true selves to the world and, perhaps more significantly, to ourselves.
It seems like a piece of cake, right? You’ve got a bunch of options, and you just need to pick one. That’s what I used to believe, too. Choosing seems like a no-brainer because, hey, you’ve got choices. All you need to do is list the good stuff and the not-so-good stuff, and voila, you’ve made a decision. I was in that boat too, once upon a time.
Kunal Shah‘s Q&A sessions really got my brain gears turning; they were like a feast of fresh perspectives. His insights were like a breath of fresh air, shaking up my usual way of thinking. I remember one question he tackled about success (I can’t recall the exact words). What caught my attention was how he tied his answers back to the whole concept of choices. I couldn’t help but crack a smile as I read through his responses before getting back to my everyday tasks.
After that, it seemed like everywhere I looked, I started noticing how choices played a mammoth role in the whole success game, and honestly, in pretty much everything. Let me spell it out a bit.
Picture this: There’s a student who’s super keen on studying abroad. Now, there are a ton of universities spread out across different continents, all with different things to offer. So, our student has to consider things like what they want to study, where they want to live, how much it’s going to cost, if there are any scholarships, and also what’s up with family finances. Having all these choices can give them the power to pick a path that sets them on the right track towards their goals.
The job market works the same way. For someone on the hunt for a job, having lots of choices in terms of what they could do, where they could work, and how much they could make can be a real game-changer. They can think about things like salary, benefits, how they’ll fit into the company vibe, and where they could go from there before they decide.
But here’s the twist: not everyone has this luxury of tons of choices. Some folks might be stuck in situations where they can’t see all those options clearly—maybe because of money stuff, not getting the right information, or other roadblocks. So, you see, not everyone’s playing on the same field when it comes to choosing.
Alright, let’s dive into another scenario: credit cards. Back in the day, I was all like, “No way, credit cards mean debt. But boy, was I in for a surprise. Once you peel back the layers and check out all those perks and cool stuff you can get with these cards, it’s like stepping into a whole new world.
But hold up a sec. Not everyone has the same ticket to this credit card party, especially here in India. It’s not like everyone can just waltz in and grab a credit card with all those perks. Nah, it’s a bit more complicated than that.
You see, getting your hands on one of these cards means you’ve got to have a solid credit score, a steady paycheck, and some proper proof of your income tax returns. It’s like this secret code that says, Hey, I’m financially responsible enough to handle this. (Lol)
You got it, the same dance happens when it comes to building wealth. These choices? Speaking of which, there’s this incredible podcast episode in the “Diary of a CEO” series, featuring a professor named Scott Galloway. Specifically, he shed light on how a scarcity of potential female partners can alter the game.
Having lots of choices lets us really think things through, which helps us chase our dreams. But here’s the thing: not everyone gets the same chances, which makes success uneven. Whether it’s about school or jobs, each choice matters a lot. And we need to remember that not everyone has the same pile of choices to pick from.
But the cool part? We can help level the playing field by creating equal opportunities and understanding each other’s journeys. By doing that, we’re not just shaping our own success but also making the road smoother for everyone else aiming for their dreams. So, let’s remember that not only do we choose our paths, but we also have the power to create choices for those who might not have them readily available.
Cheers!
I do send out my posts to very few people. Join my mailing list if you enjoy what you read.
Random Whys 