Vicious cycle? / by Alexander Lyadov

Turning evil into good is a fascinating business.

Take, for example, how slot machine developers easily hook users. Michael Easter, a professor and writer, calls this cyclical behavior the scarcity loop.

The loop has three parts:

  1. Opportunity to gain something valuable.

  2. Unpredictability of rewards.

  3. Quick repeatability.

This loop is so addictive that it’s embedded into social networks, dating apps, personal finance sites, freelancing platforms, etc.

It’s no wonder we stick to these like ants to maple syrup.

But the issue isn’t who spilled the honey—it’s the “ant’s” natural pull toward pleasure. You can fight and deny that pull all you want, but it won’t go away.

The only way out is to make that harmful factor work for us.

First, understanding the principle makes it easier to break bad habits. Next, let’s define when activity X stops being exciting for us:

  1. X offers little of personal value.

  2. Rewards are fixed in size or rarely vary.

  3. You can only try again after a long delay.

Finally, here’s how to make your important project Y irresistible:

  1. Find a deep, personal meaning in it.

  2. Expand the range of rewards—ideally, make them limitless.

  3. Break the marathon into sprints with clear results.

And that’s why entrepreneurs don’t want regular jobs. Or why they engage in corporate entrepreneurship within the company.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander


About me:
As a business therapist, I help tech founders quickly solve dilemmas at the intersection of business and personality, and boost company value as a result.

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