Commitment Part 2 - The Search Algorithm that Cures Fear of Commitment

So, how do you go about actually committing to something?

Since I have a computer science background, let me describe the solution with a surprisingly fitting metaphor: a search algorithm. Don’t worry, it’s not complicated.

If you want to get from start to exit in a maze, should you go randomly down a single path and potentially reach a dead-end (depth-first)?

Or should you look take one step in one direction, start from the beginning, take another step in another direction, and keep repeating for all directions (breadth-first)?

There are issues with both strategies, because you have

limited time, and each step in the wrong direction is wasted (program runtime).
you have limited cognitive bandwidth (RAM). You can’t do ten things at a time (breadth-first), or keep backtracking to start from scratch (depth-first).

Well luckily, there are a few things that can help.

heuristics - use rules of thumb, “educated guesses”, life values to point you in the right direction, anti-goals, and minimize regret.
time-boxing - set a time after which you re-evaluate, factoring in the sunk-cost value (iterative deepening).
compounding - you move faster as you go on and your heuristics get more accurate (memoization, cheaper edge weights).
exploration vs. exploitation - take the safe path 90% of the time, but consider completely different paths 10% of the time. Over time, decrease the likelihood of considering new options - don’t waste time (simulated annealing).
simulated outcomes - rapid prototypes - talking to mentors, reading (memoization).

Let me explain by applying this to the movie night problem.

Let’s assume that “start” is no movie selected, “end” is great movie completed, and the path is which movie selected.

When you first open Netflix, you’re met with hundreds of titles. If you keep reading descriptions and watching trailers, you’re running breadth-first search.

Here’s what you should do instead.

90% of the time, use a rule of thumb to pick a genre you know you enjoy, or a great movie you’ve seen before (exploit a working solution).
10% of the time, pick a completely different genre (explore a new solution).
Watch 10 minutes of the movie and then re-evaluate if you should keep watching. Then, watch 30 more minutes and then re-evaluate, considering the sunk cost of 40 minutes already spent.
As you watch more movies your knowledge of what movies you enjoy compounds.
You can use movie guides, reviews, or IMDb lists online to save you time and cognitive bandwidth.

Now I’ll apply it to a side hustle.

Let’s assume that “start” is you right now, “end” is bootstrap to $1000 MRR while keeping your 9-5, your relationships and your health, and the path is which side hustle to pursue.

Use educated guesses to short-list a few options. For instance, if you like using iOS apps and are into health, that’s your heuristic to make one of your own. If you love art more than others, try selling your artwork.
Simulate an outcome: talk to someone that has done exactly what you want to do before. Read about successes online. Since you want to bootstrap, ignore advice for funded startups. Make a rapid prototype in a day. Visualize the ideal day of someone with your goal.
Time-box your effort. Spend just a week first, then re-evaluate. Then, spend a month and re-evaluate. After a year, consider the sunk-cost of switching to a new side-hustle (Maybe some of your skills transfer over?)
80% of the time, work on this. 20% of the time, explore something completely different and see if it brings you closer to your end goal.
As you spend time, more you get better at the skill, gain knowledge, expand your network, gain a social media following, and more.

Now let’s apply it to the long-term goal of life satisfaction.

Let’s assume that “start” is you right now, “end” is life satisfaction at 80 years old, and the path is your health, relationships, career, location, and so on.

Use an anti-goal as a heuristic. If you don’t want to retire in a 9-5, you eliminate many options. Minimize regret at 80.
Simulated outcomes: learn from people that have done it before, through autobiographies or talking to them.
In your twenties, explore heavily. Try different projects, locations. As you get older, stick to things.
Set time limits to live in one city or to work on one project. Then re-evaluate. If your educated guess as to whether you’re closer to your goal doesn’t increase, then start from scratch.
As you advance, your finances, network, and knowledge improves.
Consider that your definition of “life satisfaction” itself may switch. You may decide that you won’t be satisfied until you have $1B in net worth. Totally different path to get there.

Throughout all of this, you should eliminate decision fatigue and automate what you can. This lets you pour your energy into high-impact decisions rather than low-impact.

In fact, I wrote an article about exactly how to do this.

Just like the method Marie Kondo uses to eliminate clutter from her life (the KonMari method), you can eliminate everything from your life that doesn’t “bring you joy.” Whatever remains, you can pour all your focus into.

This method is my educated guess on how to actually commit without regret.

Rather than chase a good great result and be disappointed if you don’t get it, make the best decisions you can in any given moment.

I hope that through Part 1 and Part 2, I’ve convinced you that commitment is important, and given you a framework to actually do it.

I truly wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide to commit to!

-Armaan