Zero to One.
During my college days, I was part of a foodie group, and together, we explored various restaurants across Thiruvananthapuram(a city in Kerala, India). Whenever we sat down at a restaurant, I found myself observing how people made decisions about what to order. Some restaurants boasted extensive menus with a wide variety of dishes, while others kept it simple with just the basic dishes, either way leaving us in a confused state of deciding what to order. Everyone had their own unique decision-making process when it came to choosing their meals. For some, the primary concern was whether a dish justified its price tag. Others leaned towards ordering their tried and tested favorites, seeking comfort in the familiar. And then there were those caught in a mental tug-of-war, torn between the excitement of trying something new and the fear of potential disappointment if the dish didn’t meet their expectations.
Let’s delve further into this inner struggle. Imagine you’re at a Chinese restaurant, scanning the menu. You spot your beloved Mixed Non-Veg Hakka noodles, a known favorite. Yet, alongside it, there are Mee Hoon noodles, Kway Teow noodles, and Hokkien noodles — none of which you’ve ever tasted. Now, a dilemma brews within you: Should you give it a try and order the Kway Teow noodles (or any unfamiliar option)? What if it turns out to be a pleasant surprise, a meal that’s worth every penny and leaves you with the joy of discovering a new favorite? That’s the upside of trying new food. However, there’s a flip side. What if the new dish disappoints? You’d not only have a meal that isn’t as good but also the regret of your decision to experiment, possibly leading to a feeling of buyer’s remorse. This fear of the potential downsides of trying something new might dissuade you from giving it a shot in the first place. Within our group, we had individuals who leaned in both directions, sparking ongoing discussions and debates about choosing the familiar versus embracing the unknown.
The first soup I ever tasted in my life was Sweet Corn Chicken Soup. It was so delicious that I wondered why I hadn’t tried soup before. From then on, I started exploring different kinds of soups. However, most of my soup adventures didn’t leave a good impression; I still found Sweet Corn soup to be the best. But that didn’t stop me from trying new soups each time. Trying something new for the first time always gave me a sense of excitement and a rush of adrenaline. There’s a special joy in tasting Pomegranate Lime for the first time compared to having Mint Lime for the 206'th time. It’s not just the actual moment of trying something new that’s thrilling; even the anticipation of experiencing something fresh adds an exciting spark to our moments.
Trying something new, something we haven’t experienced before, is a Zero to One moment. It’s a transformation from having no prior experience to gaining fresh perspectives, ideas, and knowledge. Such experiences are unique and only happen once in our lives. In my favorite business book, “Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future” Peter Thiel effectively conveys this concept regarding startups:
Doing what we already know how to do takes the world from 1 to n, adding more of something familiar. But every time we create something new, we go from 0 to 1. The act of creation is singular, as is the moment of creation, and the result is something fresh and strange.
Often, there are things we desire to do but hesitate due to the unfamiliarity and uncertainty attached to them. Yet, this uncertainty and unfamiliarity only apply to the first time. When we gain the courage to move from having no experience to our first experience, we gain valuable knowledge and a better sense of what to expect. Such “zero to one” moments are turning points that can expand our horizons. They can have a significant impact on our lives. Opting for the Kindle we’ve been eyeing instead of upgrading an iPhone 13 to 15 can have a much more impact in our lives. Experiencing something for the first time becomes so special because we approach it without any prior knowledge or expectations, allowing us to fully embrace the unknown.
