321. Saying Yes Means Saying No - Understanding Opportunity Cost

Smart developers turn down work all the Smart developers turn down work all the time. Good open-source maintainers will time. Good open-source maintainers will time. Good open-source maintainers will often turn away a fully developed pull often turn away a fully developed pull often turn away a fully developed pull request for a new feature. Wise software request for a new feature. Wise software request for a new feature. Wise software development managers will build as development managers will build as development managers will build as little as possible inhouse. But why? little as possible inhouse. But why? little as possible inhouse. But why? Well, it all comes down to opportunity Well, it all comes down to opportunity Well, it all comes down to opportunity cost. Let's talk about it in today's cost. Let's talk about it in today's cost. Let's talk about it in today's episode of Dev Questions. >> Software development is more than just >> Software development is more than just writing code. So let's talk about the writing code. So let's talk about the writing code. So let's talk about the rest of it. Specifically, let's talk rest of it. Specifically, let's talk rest of it. Specifically, let's talk about opportunity cost. Now, too often about opportunity cost. Now, too often about opportunity cost. Now, too often we look at a decision on its own. We we look at a decision on its own. We we look at a decision on its own. We ask, is this a good thing or a bad thing ask, is this a good thing or a bad thing ask, is this a good thing or a bad thing on its own? And we base our answer off on its own? And we base our answer off on its own? And we base our answer off of the specific thing we're looking at. of the specific thing we're looking at. of the specific thing we're looking at. But that's not how the real world works. But that's not how the real world works. But that's not how the real world works. We need to look at the bigger picture We need to look at the bigger picture We need to look at the bigger picture for anything we do. Here's a quick for anything we do. Here's a quick for anything we do. Here's a quick example. When I was a kid and I had a example. When I was a kid and I had a example. When I was a kid and I had a little bit of money and I went to the little bit of money and I went to the little bit of money and I went to the toy store, man, it was like the whole toy store, man, it was like the whole toy store, man, it was like the whole world was in front of me, right? There world was in front of me, right? There world was in front of me, right? There was so many different things that I was so many different things that I was so many different things that I wanted to buy. But let's say I had $10 wanted to buy. But let's say I had $10 wanted to buy. But let's say I had $10 in my pocket and most of toys cost in my pocket and most of toys cost in my pocket and most of toys cost between $5 and $10. Well, if I decide to between $5 and $10. Well, if I decide to between $5 and $10. Well, if I decide to buy a $10 toy, it's not just whether or buy a $10 toy, it's not just whether or buy a $10 toy, it's not just whether or not I get that toy. It's do I get that not I get that toy. It's do I get that not I get that toy. It's do I get that toy and turn down the other ones that I

toy and turn down the other ones that I toy and turn down the other ones that I want. I can't get all the ones that cost want. I can't get all the ones that cost want. I can't get all the ones that cost $10, only one of them. So, by saying yes $10, only one of them. So, by saying yes $10, only one of them. So, by saying yes to one, I'm saying no to the others. to one, I'm saying no to the others. to one, I'm saying no to the others. That's opportunity cost. It's not just That's opportunity cost. It's not just That's opportunity cost. It's not just about whether or not this specific toy about whether or not this specific toy about whether or not this specific toy is a good thing or not. It's about is is a good thing or not. It's about is is a good thing or not. It's about is this a good thing compared to the other this a good thing compared to the other this a good thing compared to the other things I could buy instead. Now, that's things I could buy instead. Now, that's things I could buy instead. Now, that's kids and toys and my goodness, I spent a kids and toys and my goodness, I spent a kids and toys and my goodness, I spent a lot of money on basically comic books lot of money on basically comic books lot of money on basically comic books and food as a kid. But let's take this and food as a kid. But let's take this and food as a kid. But let's take this lessons and apply it to our everyday lessons and apply it to our everyday lessons and apply it to our everyday lives as software developers. Let's say lives as software developers. Let's say lives as software developers. Let's say you work at a job where you're scheduled you work at a job where you're scheduled you work at a job where you're scheduled to work 40 hours per week. We'll come to work 40 hours per week. We'll come to work 40 hours per week. We'll come back to that whole more than 40, but for back to that whole more than 40, but for back to that whole more than 40, but for now, 40 hours per week. and your boss now, 40 hours per week. and your boss now, 40 hours per week. and your boss wants you to build an application that wants you to build an application that wants you to build an application that will take 100 hours to complete. You will take 100 hours to complete. You will take 100 hours to complete. You need to be done in three weeks. So in need to be done in three weeks. So in need to be done in three weeks. So in the perfect world, you'd complete this the perfect world, you'd complete this the perfect world, you'd complete this project with about 20 hours to spare, project with about 20 hours to spare, project with about 20 hours to spare, but you got two weeks, that's 80 hours, but you got two weeks, that's 80 hours, but you got two weeks, that's 80 hours, and half the next week, so two and a and half the next week, so two and a and half the next week, so two and a half weeks would get you to your 100 half weeks would get you to your 100 half weeks would get you to your 100 hours in the perfect world.

hours in the perfect world. hours in the perfect world. But that's not the real world, right? But that's not the real world, right? But that's not the real world, right? And and you probably know this because And and you probably know this because And and you probably know this because you've tried to do this. The real world you've tried to do this. The real world you've tried to do this. The real world is you need to attend a 15-minute daily is you need to attend a 15-minute daily is you need to attend a 15-minute daily standup plus 15 minutes to get back in standup plus 15 minutes to get back in standup plus 15 minutes to get back in the groove. That's seven and a half the groove. That's seven and a half the groove. That's seven and a half hours over the three weeks. And maybe hours over the three weeks. And maybe hours over the three weeks. And maybe you have to attend a 2-hour all hands you have to attend a 2-hour all hands you have to attend a 2-hour all hands meeting. And you have 1-hour status meeting. And you have 1-hour status meeting. And you have 1-hour status meetings with the stakeholders once a meetings with the stakeholders once a meetings with the stakeholders once a week. That's three hours total. All of a week. That's three hours total. All of a week. That's three hours total. All of a sudden, your 20 hours of buffer time is sudden, your 20 hours of buffer time is sudden, your 20 hours of buffer time is down to 7 and 1/2 hours. That down to 7 and 1/2 hours. That down to 7 and 1/2 hours. That technically still leaves you enough technically still leaves you enough technically still leaves you enough time, but meetings aren't the only thing time, but meetings aren't the only thing time, but meetings aren't the only thing that takes your time. Your boss needs that takes your time. Your boss needs that takes your time. Your boss needs you to fix some serious bugs that made you to fix some serious bugs that made you to fix some serious bugs that made it to production. That's, let's say, 3 it to production. That's, let's say, 3 it to production. That's, let's say, 3 hours a week for a total of nine hours. hours a week for a total of nine hours. hours a week for a total of nine hours. There's a bad update on your machine and There's a bad update on your machine and There's a bad update on your machine and it takes it four hours to fix it. And it takes it four hours to fix it. And it takes it four hours to fix it. And you're asked to add a quick feature to you're asked to add a quick feature to you're asked to add a quick feature to an app which took took you only four an app which took took you only four an app which took took you only four hours. I can go on, but these are just a hours. I can go on, but these are just a hours. I can go on, but these are just a few examples of how you're over your few examples of how you're over your few examples of how you're over your time budget because of these other time budget because of these other time budget because of these other things. In this case, you're about 10 things. In this case, you're about 10 things. In this case, you're about 10 hours over. That means instead of hours over. That means instead of hours over. That means instead of deploying in 3 weeks, you're going to deploying in 3 weeks, you're going to deploying in 3 weeks, you're going to spill over into the fourth week. Now, spill over into the fourth week. Now, spill over into the fourth week. Now, I'm going to take a quick pause right I'm going to take a quick pause right I'm going to take a quick pause right here to say yes, I know that what's here to say yes, I know that what's here to say yes, I know that what's going to happen instead is your boss is going to happen instead is your boss is going to happen instead is your boss is going to say, "We need that done in going to say, "We need that done in going to say, "We need that done in three weeks, so therefore work an extra three weeks, so therefore work an extra three weeks, so therefore work an extra 10 hours." But the reality is every one 10 hours." But the reality is every one 10 hours." But the reality is every one of those things, what it did is it took of those things, what it did is it took of those things, what it did is it took away from the time that you could have away from the time that you could have away from the time that you could have spent on the project. And it's just like

spent on the project. And it's just like spent on the project. And it's just like that kid in a toy store where by doing that kid in a toy store where by doing that kid in a toy store where by doing this thing, you can't do that thing. And this thing, you can't do that thing. And this thing, you can't do that thing. And even if you say, "Well, we're going to even if you say, "Well, we're going to even if you say, "Well, we're going to work overtime. We're going to get it work overtime. We're going to get it work overtime. We're going to get it done." What you're doing is you're done." What you're doing is you're done." What you're doing is you're taking away then your boss is taking taking away then your boss is taking taking away then your boss is taking away your your personal time or you're away your your personal time or you're away your your personal time or you're burning your employees out, but you're burning your employees out, but you're burning your employees out, but you're doing something in exchange because of doing something in exchange because of doing something in exchange because of the fact that you decided that 2-hour the fact that you decided that 2-hour the fact that you decided that 2-hour all hands meeting was important and it all hands meeting was important and it all hands meeting was important and it could be, but that's an opportunity lost could be, but that's an opportunity lost could be, but that's an opportunity lost towards your project. it pushes your towards your project. it pushes your towards your project. it pushes your product out two hours. And all these product out two hours. And all these product out two hours. And all these things, you know, they're probably okay things, you know, they're probably okay things, you know, they're probably okay in their own right. And if you say, "Is in their own right. And if you say, "Is in their own right. And if you say, "Is it good to fix those bugs?" Yeah, it's it good to fix those bugs?" Yeah, it's it good to fix those bugs?" Yeah, it's really good to fix those bugs, but you really good to fix those bugs, but you really good to fix those bugs, but you have to know it's pushing out the have to know it's pushing out the have to know it's pushing out the project by that many hours or more. And project by that many hours or more. And project by that many hours or more. And you know what? Someone's going away and you know what? Someone's going away and you know what? Someone's going away and we're going to celebrate with a a long we're going to celebrate with a a long we're going to celebrate with a a long team lunch. Really good thing. It is an team lunch. Really good thing. It is an team lunch. Really good thing. It is an opportunity loss towards the project.

opportunity loss towards the project. opportunity loss towards the project. That can be okay, but [snorts] it is an That can be okay, but [snorts] it is an That can be okay, but [snorts] it is an opportunity cost. opportunity cost. opportunity cost. So, every decision we made had an So, every decision we made had an So, every decision we made had an opportunity cost. And because you're opportunity cost. And because you're opportunity cost. And because you're fixing those critical bugs, the time fixing those critical bugs, the time fixing those critical bugs, the time frame for launching your app got pushed frame for launching your app got pushed frame for launching your app got pushed back. So, again, bosses can try to make back. So, again, bosses can try to make back. So, again, bosses can try to make you work more. And there can be some of you work more. And there can be some of you work more. And there can be some of this pressure and this is what happens a this pressure and this is what happens a this pressure and this is what happens a lot of times but it at some point you lot of times but it at some point you lot of times but it at some point you can't go any further right you cannot can't go any further right you cannot can't go any further right you cannot keep pushing employees to work 80 hours keep pushing employees to work 80 hours keep pushing employees to work 80 hours a week at some point the decisions you a week at some point the decisions you a week at some point the decisions you make impact the date at which something make impact the date at which something make impact the date at which something can be shipped you can't just say can be shipped you can't just say can be shipped you can't just say forever well I don't care it's all a top forever well I don't care it's all a top forever well I don't care it's all a top priority so how should we understand priority so how should we understand priority so how should we understand opportunity costs and how it affects opportunity costs and how it affects opportunity costs and how it affects software developers well we need to software developers well we need to software developers well we need to learn to say no in order to say yes to learn to say no in order to say yes to learn to say no in order to say yes to something better. something better. something better. Now again, you cannot control Now again, you cannot control Now again, you cannot control everything. You can't control your boss.

everything. You can't control your boss. everything. You can't control your boss. And your boss may say, "I hear you. We And your boss may say, "I hear you. We And your boss may say, "I hear you. We can't have five top, you know, top can't have five top, you know, top can't have five top, you know, top priorities, but we have top five top priorities, but we have top five top priorities, but we have top five top priorities. Just get it done." Like, you priorities. Just get it done." Like, you priorities. Just get it done." Like, you can't always control that. But what you can't always control that. But what you can't always control that. But what you can control, you need to work on can control, you need to work on can control, you need to work on controlling by saying no to certain controlling by saying no to certain controlling by saying no to certain things in order to say yes to something things in order to say yes to something things in order to say yes to something else. Even if it's in your personal time else. Even if it's in your personal time else. Even if it's in your personal time because maybe you want to learn a new because maybe you want to learn a new because maybe you want to learn a new language, but also deepen your skills in language, but also deepen your skills in language, but also deepen your skills in a current language while also looking a current language while also looking a current language while also looking for new jobs. Well, everything you do is for new jobs. Well, everything you do is for new jobs. Well, everything you do is an opportunity cost. If you decide, hey, an opportunity cost. If you decide, hey, an opportunity cost. If you decide, hey, that's that cool new technology. Let me that's that cool new technology. Let me that's that cool new technology. Let me learn more about that. Well, by doing learn more about that. Well, by doing learn more about that. Well, by doing that, that's could be fine, but you're that, that's could be fine, but you're that, that's could be fine, but you're not deepening your skills in your not deepening your skills in your not deepening your skills in your current language. You're not out current language. You're not out current language. You're not out applying in those hours. So, everything applying in those hours. So, everything applying in those hours. So, everything you do has an opportunity cost. Just you do has an opportunity cost. Just you do has an opportunity cost. Just watching Netflix is an opportunity cost. watching Netflix is an opportunity cost. watching Netflix is an opportunity cost. Again, not necessarily a bad thing Again, not necessarily a bad thing Again, not necessarily a bad thing because you do need to have a break. You because you do need to have a break. You because you do need to have a break. You do need to have downtime, but you need do need to have downtime, but you need do need to have downtime, but you need to think about how much downtime, how to think about how much downtime, how to think about how much downtime, how much of a break because everything you much of a break because everything you much of a break because everything you do has an opportunity cost. So let's do has an opportunity cost. So let's do has an opportunity cost. So let's give some examples here in a software give some examples here in a software give some examples here in a software developer's life. The example I developer's life. The example I developer's life. The example I mentioned the open an open- source mentioned the open an open- source mentioned the open an open- source project they turn down pull requests. It project they turn down pull requests. It project they turn down pull requests. It may feel like that's a bad thing like I may feel like that's a bad thing like I may feel like that's a bad thing like I just gave you free work. I just built a just gave you free work. I just built a just gave you free work. I just built a new feature which your app definitely new feature which your app definitely new feature which your app definitely needs or your project definitely needs needs or your project definitely needs needs or your project definitely needs and you decide not to implement. All you

and you decide not to implement. All you and you decide not to implement. All you have to do is hit merge and it's done. have to do is hit merge and it's done. have to do is hit merge and it's done. Well, the reality is no, that's not Well, the reality is no, that's not Well, the reality is no, that's not true. Because first of all, that pull true. Because first of all, that pull true. Because first of all, that pull request has to be reviewed and it request has to be reviewed and it request has to be reviewed and it probably has to have work put into it to probably has to have work put into it to probably has to have work put into it to make sure it's up to speed and it has make sure it's up to speed and it has make sure it's up to speed and it has the right formatting and it's going to the right formatting and it's going to the right formatting and it's going to merge with the rest of the code and it merge with the rest of the code and it merge with the rest of the code and it doesn't have duplicate code or or bad doesn't have duplicate code or or bad doesn't have duplicate code or or bad code or anything else. But even if all code or anything else. But even if all code or anything else. But even if all of that is done, they still may not want of that is done, they still may not want of that is done, they still may not want to merge it because it's still an to merge it because it's still an to merge it because it's still an opportunity cost. Every feature that you opportunity cost. Every feature that you opportunity cost. Every feature that you add to a project, every line of code you add to a project, every line of code you add to a project, every line of code you add to a project is another line of code add to a project is another line of code add to a project is another line of code or another feature you have to support or another feature you have to support or another feature you have to support long term. The more features, the more long term. The more features, the more long term. The more features, the more code you have to support, the less new code you have to support, the less new code you have to support, the less new features you can add because you don't features you can add because you don't features you can add because you don't have time. You're just fixing bugs. have time. You're just fixing bugs. have time. You're just fixing bugs. You're just maintaining what you have. You're just maintaining what you have. You're just maintaining what you have. At some point you transitioned from At some point you transitioned from At some point you transitioned from adding new things to just only keeping adding new things to just only keeping adding new things to just only keeping your head above water to maintain what your head above water to maintain what your head above water to maintain what you have. And so what you've done is you have. And so what you've done is you have. And so what you've done is you've said these are the features I'm you've said these are the features I'm you've said these are the features I'm going to support because that's all I going to support because that's all I going to support because that's all I can support. So turning down pull can support. So turning down pull can support. So turning down pull requests sometimes is a way for an open requests sometimes is a way for an open requests sometimes is a way for an open source maintainer to say you know what source maintainer to say you know what source maintainer to say you know what that might be a great feature. I can't that might be a great feature. I can't that might be a great feature. I can't put that in my my pile of features of put that in my my pile of features of put that in my my pile of features of support. I'm going to choose a better support. I'm going to choose a better support. I'm going to choose a better something because maybe a better something because maybe a better something because maybe a better something is just not having any feature something is just not having any feature something is just not having any feature or maybe it is a different feature they

or maybe it is a different feature they or maybe it is a different feature they support instead of this one. For your support instead of this one. For your support instead of this one. For your side projects, side projects, side projects, a lot of developers start a project and a lot of developers start a project and a lot of developers start a project and then kind of get tired of it and you then kind of get tired of it and you then kind of get tired of it and you know they get close or they they do the know they get close or they they do the know they get close or they they do the one thing but they just you know it's so one thing but they just you know it's so one thing but they just you know it's so hard. they got stuck in a place and hard. they got stuck in a place and hard. they got stuck in a place and there's something new like a new idea there's something new like a new idea there's something new like a new idea pops up in their brain and they start pops up in their brain and they start pops up in their brain and they start building a different side project and a building a different side project and a building a different side project and a different one and a different one. Well, different one and a different one. Well, different one and a different one. Well, that's opportunity cost because what that's opportunity cost because what that's opportunity cost because what happens is by not finishing the first happens is by not finishing the first happens is by not finishing the first one, what you do is you never finish one, what you do is you never finish one, what you do is you never finish that first one and so all that work that that first one and so all that work that that first one and so all that work that you put into it is kind of lost. And so you put into it is kind of lost. And so you put into it is kind of lost. And so you then put in the second one and that you then put in the second one and that you then put in the second one and that one's never finished and the third one one's never finished and the third one one's never finished and the third one and the fourth one instead of putting and the fourth one instead of putting and the fourth one instead of putting all that energy into one and having one all that energy into one and having one all that energy into one and having one done. So by skipping from one to the done. So by skipping from one to the done. So by skipping from one to the next to the next, you lose the next to the next, you lose the next to the next, you lose the opportunity of having any one actually opportunity of having any one actually opportunity of having any one actually make it into production.

make it into production. make it into production. With learning, it's the same thing. When With learning, it's the same thing. When With learning, it's the same thing. When you chase new features, where you have you chase new features, where you have you chase new features, where you have this like, oh, that's new. I want to this like, oh, that's new. I want to this like, oh, that's new. I want to learn about that. I want to learn about learn about that. I want to learn about learn about that. I want to learn about that. and you keep kind of skipping from that. and you keep kind of skipping from that. and you keep kind of skipping from thing to thing to thing instead of thing to thing to thing instead of thing to thing to thing instead of taking your time practicing applying it. taking your time practicing applying it. taking your time practicing applying it. What happens is you know about a lot of What happens is you know about a lot of What happens is you know about a lot of things but you don't know how to use a things but you don't know how to use a things but you don't know how to use a lot of things. You don't have experience lot of things. You don't have experience lot of things. You don't have experience using those things. And so you're never using those things. And so you're never using those things. And so you're never actually making any progress as a actually making any progress as a actually making any progress as a developer because yeah, you've watched a developer because yeah, you've watched a developer because yeah, you've watched a lot of training and you you know a lot lot of training and you you know a lot lot of training and you you know a lot of buzzwords, but you don't actually of buzzwords, but you don't actually of buzzwords, but you don't actually have the experience of applying those have the experience of applying those have the experience of applying those things and understanding how they things and understanding how they things and understanding how they actually work. So your opportunity is actually work. So your opportunity is actually work. So your opportunity is lost because you spent a little bit in a lost because you spent a little bit in a lost because you spent a little bit in a whole bunch of different areas instead whole bunch of different areas instead whole bunch of different areas instead of spending a lot in one area. of spending a lot in one area. of spending a lot in one area. Now at work this is where again coming Now at work this is where again coming Now at work this is where again coming back to the idea of maybe you don't have back to the idea of maybe you don't have back to the idea of maybe you don't have control over everything about setting us control over everything about setting us control over everything about setting us setting the priorities but you can have setting the priorities but you can have setting the priorities but you can have the conversation where you say listen I the conversation where you say listen I the conversation where you say listen I can only work on one thing at a time so can only work on one thing at a time so can only work on one thing at a time so let's order these things because if I let's order these things because if I let's order these things because if I stop doing what I'm doing on this stop doing what I'm doing on this stop doing what I'm doing on this project to work on this other thing for project to work on this other thing for project to work on this other thing for a couple hours that means the first a couple hours that means the first a couple hours that means the first project loses a couple hours of progress project loses a couple hours of progress project loses a couple hours of progress and it pushes it out a couple of hours and it pushes it out a couple of hours and it pushes it out a couple of hours and have that logical conversation with and have that logical conversation with and have that logical conversation with your boss where you say listen I can

your boss where you say listen I can your boss where you say listen I can only work on one thing at a time. only work on one thing at a time. only work on one thing at a time. Therefore, if you say step away to do Therefore, if you say step away to do Therefore, if you say step away to do this other thing because that's top this other thing because that's top this other thing because that's top priority, well then that's fine. But priority, well then that's fine. But priority, well then that's fine. But what you're saying is the project is not what you're saying is the project is not what you're saying is the project is not a top priority. it gets number two in a top priority. it gets number two in a top priority. it gets number two in line and that's going to push it back line and that's going to push it back line and that's going to push it back and it's have that logical conversation and it's have that logical conversation and it's have that logical conversation where you say I can only do one thing at where you say I can only do one thing at where you say I can only do one thing at a time and and try and work with your a time and and try and work with your a time and and try and work with your boss and helping them understand that. boss and helping them understand that. boss and helping them understand that. Now, if you're in leadership, Now, if you're in leadership, Now, if you're in leadership, budgeting time is like budgeting money. budgeting time is like budgeting money. budgeting time is like budgeting money. So, if you have $1,000 to spend or if So, if you have $1,000 to spend or if So, if you have $1,000 to spend or if you're that kid in the toy store has $10 you're that kid in the toy store has $10 you're that kid in the toy store has $10 to spend, well, you have to budget. You to spend, well, you have to budget. You to spend, well, you have to budget. You have to figure out what's most important have to figure out what's most important have to figure out what's most important because you only have a limited amount because you only have a limited amount because you only have a limited amount of money. Well, the same thing is true of money. Well, the same thing is true of money. Well, the same thing is true when it comes to your employees time. when it comes to your employees time. when it comes to your employees time. You only have a limited amount of that You only have a limited amount of that You only have a limited amount of that time. It does not matter how much you time. It does not matter how much you time. It does not matter how much you say we need to get all of it done. We say we need to get all of it done. We say we need to get all of it done. We all this is top priority. It doesn't all this is top priority. It doesn't all this is top priority. It doesn't matter how much you say that. The matter how much you say that. The matter how much you say that. The reality is your employees only have so reality is your employees only have so reality is your employees only have so many hours in the day. And if you try many hours in the day. And if you try many hours in the day. And if you try and push them too hard, they rebel. They and push them too hard, they rebel. They and push them too hard, they rebel. They they leave. they go find a better place they leave. they go find a better place they leave. they go find a better place to work. So at some point you burn them to work. So at some point you burn them to work. So at some point you burn them out. You make them go slower because out. You make them go slower because out. You make them go slower because you're just working them too hard and you're just working them too hard and you're just working them too hard and you're not actually getting what you you're not actually getting what you you're not actually getting what you want done anyway. So you have to work on want done anyway. So you have to work on want done anyway. So you have to work on setting up a budget for your time just setting up a budget for your time just setting up a budget for your time just like your money. you to say this is most like your money. you to say this is most like your money. you to say this is most important then this then this because

important then this then this because important then this then this because that way you get the opportunity to do that way you get the opportunity to do that way you get the opportunity to do the right the best thing first and get the right the best thing first and get the right the best thing first and get something completed. something completed. something completed. So in general ask yourself what am I So in general ask yourself what am I So in general ask yourself what am I giving up in order to get this. Always giving up in order to get this. Always giving up in order to get this. Always ask yourself what am I giving up in ask yourself what am I giving up in ask yourself what am I giving up in order to get this other thing. It can be order to get this other thing. It can be order to get this other thing. It can be good it can be great but you are giving good it can be great but you are giving good it can be great but you are giving up something. [snorts] If you spend a up something. [snorts] If you spend a up something. [snorts] If you spend a day at the beach, that's great. I love day at the beach, that's great. I love day at the beach, that's great. I love going to the beach, but I also give up a going to the beach, but I also give up a going to the beach, but I also give up a day in the mountains or I give up a day, day in the mountains or I give up a day, day in the mountains or I give up a day, you know, working or I give up a day, you know, working or I give up a day, you know, working or I give up a day, you know, with my my sons. Like, I'm you know, with my my sons. Like, I'm you know, with my my sons. Like, I'm giving up something. That may be okay. giving up something. That may be okay. giving up something. That may be okay. And you may say that's the right choice And you may say that's the right choice And you may say that's the right choice for this day. But just know that for this day. But just know that for this day. But just know that everything you do means you're giving up everything you do means you're giving up everything you do means you're giving up something else. You're always going to something else. You're always going to something else. You're always going to pay the opportunity cost. The only pay the opportunity cost. The only pay the opportunity cost. The only question is if you're going to do it question is if you're going to do it question is if you're going to do it intentionally or if you're going to do intentionally or if you're going to do intentionally or if you're going to do so randomly and inefficiently. Because so randomly and inefficiently. Because so randomly and inefficiently. Because if you don't choose, then it just if you don't choose, then it just if you don't choose, then it just happens. So the more efficient you can happens. So the more efficient you can happens. So the more efficient you can be about choosing the best thing over be about choosing the best thing over be about choosing the best thing over just good things, the better off you just good things, the better off you just good things, the better off you will be. Make sure to look for what is will be. Make sure to look for what is will be. Make sure to look for what is the opportunity cost and what am I the opportunity cost and what am I the opportunity cost and what am I willing to pay. All right, thanks for willing to pay. All right, thanks for willing to pay. All right, thanks for listening. And as always, I am Tim listening. And as always, I am Tim listening. And as always, I am Tim Corey.