Walk into a grocery store, and the cereal aisle alone could keep you occupied for half an hour. Browse Zillow and suddenly you’re buried under 50 “maybes” that each have something right and something wrong. Scroll Yelp long enough and you’re not even hungry anymore.
This is the conundrum of choice: too many options can make us worse at deciding.
The Law of Diminishing Returns
Economists talk about the law of diminishing returns… how each additional unit of something produces less benefit than the last. This applies to decision-making too.
- Three to five strong options is where humans make the best choices.
- Beyond that, satisfaction declines, confidence erodes, and analysis paralysis sets in.
In fact, a famous Columbia University study showed that shoppers were more likely to buy (and be happy with) jam when offered 6 flavors versus 24. Too many choices made people less likely to choose at all.
The Fear of Missing Out on “Perfect”
Underneath all of this is fear. Fear of making a bad decision. Fear of regretting it later. Fear of settling when the “perfect” option might be just around the corner.
But here’s the reality: perfect doesn’t exist in these scenarios. Every real decision has trade-offs. The best house still needs repairs. The most reliable car doesn’t have every feature. The perfect restaurant doesn’t exist because someone at the table will always want something different.
And yet, that chase for perfect keeps people from choosing anything at all.
How This Shows Up in Hiring
Hiring is no different.
I see companies meet a candidate who checks the boxes: skills, culture fit, motivation. But instead of moving forward, they hesitate. “Let’s see more candidates, just to be sure.”
Weeks pass. Momentum stalls. The candidate, who could have been thriving in the role, accepts another offer. And the opening remains.
In chasing “perfect,” the company loses out on “great.”
And it’s not just a lost candidate… it’s lost productivity, added workload on the existing team, and a signal to the market that decisions drag.
Living in Growth Instead of Fear
The real conundrum of choice isn’t making the wrong decision. It’s waiting for a decision that never comes.
The way through?
- Breathe.
- Look at what’s in front of you.
- Recognize that growth happens by choosing and moving forward, not by waiting endlessly for something flawless.
When it comes to hiring (or houses, or cars, or dinner), remember: progress beats perfection every time.