One of my goals of the year is to cross the 40 books read mark. Last year I got to about 37, and this year I’m at 17 over the half way mark. But I’ve discovered that I have a habit that’s holding me back. Historically, I’ve always tried to finish a book once I start it.
I usually end up reading a book a week. But twice this year I’ve stalled and ended up reading the same book for almost 3 weeks. The first was Disco for the Departed which is about a medical practitioner/shaman who is trying to solve a murder mystery. Good book, but man I just couldn’t get into it. So I ended up reading less and less daily, and avoiding it on the weekend, so it just didn’t get read. Then over the last couple of weeks I’ve been reading “Does Ethics have a chance in a world of consumers”, I liked the principle and I really wanted to like the book but it’s too philosophical, too slow and too academic. I just couldn’t get into a rhythm with this book, and so, 100 pages in, I’ve dropped it.
Next, I picked up Flip by Peter Sheahan, which you can read for free for the next couple of weeks. I’ve ended up reading over half the book in two days. Can’t put it down. It’s a really good book, with great examples (although some have already become dated since it was published in 07/08).
The point is that the economic principle of sunk costs (according to wikipedia – “While sunk costs should not affect the rational decision maker’s best choice, the sinking of a cost can”, i.e. sinking in makes it difficult to pull the plug) applies to a lot more then just business. Sunk costs can apply to a lot in life. Reading for one, you can stop reading a book that you’re not enjoying. The bee and I had this discussion about reading with kids as well, if you force children to read books they’re not enjoying then they may not enjoy reading. If you allow kids to drop books and pick up others that they might enjoy more then hopefully they can continue enjoy reading.
Exercise, writing, music (learning to play instruments, bands/records, even concerts), and a lot more can have sunk costs applied to them. If you’re not enjoying something, or if it’s not showing you any value, progression, stop doing it. Start doing something you like and you’ll get more out of it.
