Would you carry a beer in your backpack?

Colleagues,

MVP: M=V/E (motivation = value divided by effort)
I enjoy a quality beer, especially after a long day of hiking. However, I do not carry beer on my backpacking trips. It is too heavy.

One of my backpacking buddies also likes a good beer after a long day of hiking. He does carry beer on his trips.

So, am I lazier than my friend? Of course not.

Am I less motivated to carry beer than my friend is? Absolutely.

Here’s why…

Although I enjoy beer, I also enjoy hot chocolate, which I can carry as a powder that is much lighter. As a side note, bourbon is also lighter than beer. 🤔 Additionally, I don’t like to drink a lot of liquid before I go to sleep in a tent, because getting up in the middle of the night is a hassle. Finally, my knees are wearing out, and a heavy pack creates pain.

My buddy is a bit younger and has much better knees. Having a beer in the evening plugs him into relaxation mode, and he has many great memories of drinking beers with friends around the campfire. And he has a bigger bladder.

For me, the value of carrying the beer isn’t worth the effort. For my friend, the effort is less than the value.

Motivation = value/effort

It isn’t about being lazy, it is just an economic calculation.

Today's intention: Think about a change or new requirement coming into your workplace. Think about how both the value and the effort may be different for different people. Then think about the implications for how motivated different people might be for the changes.

Cheers!

Frederick