‘Any customer can have a car painted any colour that
he wants, so long as it is black.’ - Choice offered on the Ford Model T.
In the late 16th century, Thomas Hobson rented out
horses to university students at Cambridge. The students picked up their
favourite steeds, and hence a few of Hobson's horses were overworked. To remedy
the situation, Hobson began a rotation system, giving the customer the choice
of taking the mount nearest the stable door or none at all. This rule became
known as ‘Hobson's choice’.
Although, the term is used to mean ‘no choice at
all’, Hobson’s choice is not an illusion of choice. Also, it is not the same as
Morton’s fork which is a choice between two unfavourable options. It is a free
choice in which only one option is offered. A person may refuse to take that
option. The choice is therefore between taking the option or not. It is about
aligning with either of the two alternatives: take it or leave it!
So often, we find ourselves in a vise over a
situation of free choice. We feel cornered as we think we have no choice.
However, it is pertinent to note that every road offers the option to walk or
not. If we consider the option of opting out, we are liberated from the
situation of single choice. Many people have made a successful paradigm shift
in their lives and careers because they chose to be better at understanding the
second option in free choice.
To BE BETTER at tackling the free choice…
have the courage to take or leave the vise!
have the courage to take or leave the vise!
- Pravin K. Sabnis
Goa, India.
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