Algorithms to Live By

Some ideas that I liked from the book:

• The 37% Rule of Optimal Stopping - When evaluating options sequentially (apartment hunting, hiring, dating), examine 37% of possibilities as exploration phase before committing. The traveling salesman’s secret - mathematically proven to maximize probability of best choice while avoiding analysis paralysis. I apply this to time management: 37% of allocated time for research before decision-making.

• Exploit/Explore Triage - The book’s restaurant selection algorithm: try new places 37% of dining occasions, return to known favorites otherwise. My adaptation - 3 months exploring new productivity methods before locking in routines. Surprisingly aligns with quarterly planning cycles in tech.

• Antifragile Applications - While the rule assumes static options, I modify it for dynamic environments by treating the 37% as volatility buffer. Job searching: reject first 37% of offers not to find “the one”, but to calibrate market reality against expectations. Contrast with modern “swipe right” culture that optimizes too early.