problems of options

as a marketer, i've always believed that presenting too many options to consumers will ultimately be detrimental. limit the options and force consumers to choose from a few variants will lead to focus and better purchase chances. some studies have actually demonstrated the sudden decline in total purchases beyond a fixed number of variants.

i personally hate restaurants who have super-thick menus offering everything. i hate being stumped with a million choices. i want to eat in places which focus on some gastronomic specialty or cuisine.

on the other extreme is being left with no choice. which ultimately is like curtailment of certain freedoms.

so the middle ground is best, enough options to choose from, with clear benefits positioning of each option.

last night, i was presented with many potential romantic options or at least romantic-for-the-night options. candidates to the bachelor's affections. too many options, i ended up with the one most convenient, or probably the one most interested or most assertive. that ended months of celiba-cc. it was as good as it could get. but why do i feel so... pensive and brooding? why was it that with my eyes closed, it was his lips that i was kissing, his skin i was touching, his lashes i was looking at?

hmm

i answer my own questions. in the words of the great hannibal lecter: we covet what we cannot have.

it's the option that is no longer available that i want so much.

don't you just hate that when eating out?