"Push The Button Before the timer runs out, else another will press it for you. 'The Claw Catcher' Analysis on Decision Making:" By- Kanishk Widhani

Oh! What do we have here? I am not talking about the boring title or the verbose article we are going to get to that in just about 35 seconds from now. Look at the cute ducky image I found after so much research. I must say writing the article was easier than finding the perfect image to pair it with!

By deductive logic, a good majority of the readers, would have, at some point in their lives, played the claw or doll catcher games at an arcade, mall etc. during their childhood. It is so funny, to think that such a trivial and childish game could inspire me to write an article that is perhaps going to cover a leading reason why even giants in their field have lost millions in revenue or could have saved it in opportunity cost.

The claw catcher machine or game very rightly explains to us. Here, you have a certain set of plush toys (i.e. strategies/ products/ services/ pathways) to choose from, you get a timer of about 30-40 seconds. Now, if you are able to choose which plush toy you want ( again i.e. strategies/ products/ services/ pathways) and aim the claw catcher in the correct position inside the cube ( i.e. most optimal approach/ distribution channel/ right resource allocations) in the given timer duration ( i.e. deadlines/ timelines), then you are able to press the button and wait to see the outcome of your judgement.

However, if you are unable to decide or keep getting distracted and shifting to another plush toy (i.e. overthinking too much, doubting yourself too much or even keep waiting for the right moment) then the timer will simply run out forcing the claw to just drop and pick whatever comes at its hand, if at all (i.e. you lose on the opportunity/ the decision gets taken by someone else on your behalf/ you miss out the feeling of control).

A very creative and beautiful illustration by Pejman Milani Sir on the Buridan's donkey paradox makes the concept even more clear. The donkey paradox, or a situation in which one who is hungry and thirsty is placed between bundles of hay and pails of water will die as it has no reason to choose other resource over the another. It was originally proposed by Jean Baudrillard, a French sociologist and philosopher. It lays great emphasis on the negative implications that can arise as a result of delaying important decisions.

In our current world scenario- it is very evident for the need of strategic decision making and focusing more on the outcomes or the processes and pathways to develop ahead to optimize rather to be stuck in a time loop and lose on the opportunity altogether. This extends to not just the claw catcher game but to all aspects of our life today. Be it choosing the right university or program for higher studies, your next job transition, perhaps a merger or a new acquisition with a firm or even planning the final exit amount from your startup venture with the right fiscal components.

Therefore, to be succinct, I will conclude by giving the following quote from Ratan Naval Tata Sir, a visionary from our time: