12. The Paradox of Consensus

When it comes to getting things done, options aren’t always a good thing.

When everything is a possibility, it actually becomes harder to make the right choice. Meanwhile, when we place a constraint on ourselves, it can become much easier to get something done.

Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet not to glorify romance, but to criticize how irrational and reckless it can be. The play highlights the dangers of impulsive love, serving as a warning rather than a celebration.

It happens when we make small, rational decisions that end up removing options over time.
Small decisions can lead to bad outcomes. At some point, alternatives disappear, thus we lose our optionality.