Things I wish I had known for long#1: Exploit or explore

(magyar változatért katt ide vagy görgess le)

There are things I wish I had known for long.

One of these is: Exploit or explore.

Introduction – what is exploit or explore?

Imagine your ship sank and you are stuck on an uninhabited island. What do you do? Do you try to
exploit: spend the rest of your life there – and make the most of it, or
explore: you try to spend your time trying to build a ship?

Or you are in a relationship but you have debates all the time. What do you do? Do you try to
exploit: repair the relationship or
explore: you sign up to Tinder to explore new mates and mentally let go of your current relationship at the same time?

Or you have a bathtub lock drain that just does not lock anymore. What do you do? Do  you try to
exploit: repair the lock drain in your bathtub yourself or
explore: ask for friends’ or a repairman’s help?

Or you have a business but it could do much better. What do you do? Do you try to
exploit: improve what you have or
explore: you try to find something else: a new market, a new business?

Or you have just started watching a series. But it is slow and boring. But others had told you it is good. What do you do?
exploit: you keep on watching
explore: you try to find something else to spend the time on

Exploit or explore. One of the most important decisions in your life. Ever.

Exploit or explore – defined

Exploit is when you stick to what you have and try to make the most of it. 

Explore is when you look for other options.

Since time and attention is limited – you usually cannot do both. The essence is that you have to make conscious decisions: when are you in exploit and when are you in explore mode.

Note: it may hurt to state, but our limited time on Earth that makes this decision so important.