Comments on: Option overload http://bondchristian.com/option-overload/ A practical guide for serving others . . . Sun, 13 Nov 2011 18:03:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Idea production overload « Marshall Jones Jr. http://bondchristian.com/option-overload/comment-page-1/#comment-825 Idea production overload « Marshall Jones Jr. Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:44:42 +0000 http://bondchristian.com/?p=347#comment-825 [...] 2, 2010 I’ve talked about option overload before on my other blog. I’d like to now talk about a more specific version of option [...] [...] 2, 2010 I’ve talked about option overload before on my other blog. I’d like to now talk about a more specific version of option [...]

]]> By: How do I connect in a small group, Bible study? http://bondchristian.com/option-overload/comment-page-1/#comment-741 How do I connect in a small group, Bible study? Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:13:34 +0000 http://bondchristian.com/?p=347#comment-741 [...] already talked about gathering information ahead of time – but don’t overload. It’s easy to get [...] [...] already talked about gathering information ahead of time – but don’t overload. It’s easy to get [...]

]]> By: The Option Detox: A guide for when you have 12 godzillion choices http://bondchristian.com/option-overload/comment-page-1/#comment-483 The Option Detox: A guide for when you have 12 godzillion choices Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:05:11 +0000 http://bondchristian.com/?p=347#comment-483 [...] the post on Option Overload, you might think this is about eliminating options by cutting them out. It’s [...] [...] the post on Option Overload, you might think this is about eliminating options by cutting them out. It’s [...]

]]> By: Nick the Geek http://bondchristian.com/option-overload/comment-page-1/#comment-158 Nick the Geek Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:24:21 +0000 http://bondchristian.com/?p=347#comment-158 I have recommended to at least a dozen couples but none of them have taken my suggestion seriously. I think all instances involve concern over "the special day" and what the family will think. In the half dozen or so that I've been closer to the bride is inevitably overwhelmed the last week or so before the wedding right up to the wedding day. They end up saying, "I wish I had just eloped." After the fact, though, they are happy about the wedding and moving on with life. My warning about eloping is more about knowing that all those details aren't really important. If everything is perfect that is nice but if everything goes horribly wrong and the couple endures that is better so long as they understand the important part and learn to laugh. I have recommended to at least a dozen couples but none of them have taken my suggestion seriously. I think all instances involve concern over “the special day” and what the family will think. In the half dozen or so that I’ve been closer to the bride is inevitably overwhelmed the last week or so before the wedding right up to the wedding day. They end up saying, “I wish I had just eloped.” After the fact, though, they are happy about the wedding and moving on with life.

My warning about eloping is more about knowing that all those details aren’t really important. If everything is perfect that is nice but if everything goes horribly wrong and the couple endures that is better so long as they understand the important part and learn to laugh.

]]> By: bondChristian http://bondchristian.com/option-overload/comment-page-1/#comment-157 bondChristian Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:05:58 +0000 http://bondchristian.com/?p=347#comment-157 Nick, I love the business example. So aptly put: benefits, not options. This "option overload" idea is true across many different topics. Another, now classic example involves two jelly stands. One stand had like 100 different flavors. One stand had only three. The stand with 100 options attracted more people, who were then able to sample the flavors. However, overall, the stand with only three flavors sold more jellies. Of course the reason why is up for interpretation, but many researchers concluded that the stand with 100 flavors offered too many options. People were stuck having to choose between one or more very good flavors and one or more other very good flavors. In the end, many people couldn't decide and would end up not buying any. The risk of not buying the right jelly was too great. Sounds insane when you're just talking about jelly, right? But if it works there, you've got to wonder how much more powerfully it works in other, more important decisions. As a side note too, I love how much business, marketing in particular, can teach about the decisions we make. Good stuff. On the eloping topic, I'm skeptical. As a guy, I'm all about it. Sure, how 'bout tomorrow, right? I think it's the bride who really cares about the wedding, so it's difficult for me to suggest it from a completely others-oriented perspective. Not sure though. Do you have any thoughts about that (wife's vs. husband's perspective on eloping)? -Marshall Jones Jr. Nick,

I love the business example. So aptly put: benefits, not options. This “option overload” idea is true across many different topics.

Another, now classic example involves two jelly stands. One stand had like 100 different flavors. One stand had only three. The stand with 100 options attracted more people, who were then able to sample the flavors. However, overall, the stand with only three flavors sold more jellies. Of course the reason why is up for interpretation, but many researchers concluded that the stand with 100 flavors offered too many options. People were stuck having to choose between one or more very good flavors and one or more other very good flavors. In the end, many people couldn’t decide and would end up not buying any. The risk of not buying the right jelly was too great.

Sounds insane when you’re just talking about jelly, right? But if it works there, you’ve got to wonder how much more powerfully it works in other, more important decisions.

As a side note too, I love how much business, marketing in particular, can teach about the decisions we make. Good stuff.

On the eloping topic, I’m skeptical. As a guy, I’m all about it. Sure, how ’bout tomorrow, right? I think it’s the bride who really cares about the wedding, so it’s difficult for me to suggest it from a completely others-oriented perspective. Not sure though. Do you have any thoughts about that (wife’s vs. husband’s perspective on eloping)?

-Marshall Jones Jr.

]]> By: Nick the Geek http://bondchristian.com/option-overload/comment-page-1/#comment-140 Nick the Geek Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:07:35 +0000 http://bondchristian.com/?p=347#comment-140 Yep I can say you are totally right, people tend to freeze when confronted with too man options. That is one reason why there are fewer options for buying Windows 7 and why I was trained to present benefits not options. You don't say, "product x has features abcd and product y has features bceg" you ask a person what they need using the right kind of open ended questions and then tell them what the product you think is going to be best will do for them, "great, so if I understand you need a widget that will do bce, I have product y that does that and will help you by ..." If they want more options then expand but only as much as they want. As for marriages, I only half jokingly recommend that everyone elope. After going through our wedding I wish we had. Rather I wish we had literally gone to Vegas (we got married near there anyways) and invited friends and family but no reception or other such craziness, just simple and fun. Yep I can say you are totally right, people tend to freeze when confronted with too man options. That is one reason why there are fewer options for buying Windows 7 and why I was trained to present benefits not options. You don’t say, “product x has features abcd and product y has features bceg” you ask a person what they need using the right kind of open ended questions and then tell them what the product you think is going to be best will do for them, “great, so if I understand you need a widget that will do bce, I have product y that does that and will help you by …” If they want more options then expand but only as much as they want.

As for marriages, I only half jokingly recommend that everyone elope. After going through our wedding I wish we had. Rather I wish we had literally gone to Vegas (we got married near there anyways) and invited friends and family but no reception or other such craziness, just simple and fun.

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