Often I end up on Facebook once a year on my birthday and did so a few days ago not to be that rude guy who fails to thank those who wish me.

While at it, I wanted to make some profile setting changes and was stymied by the complexity of what the user needs to review and change.

I remember reading an article some time back on how Mark Zuckerberg keeps his wardrobe simple so that he is not burdened with decision making and choices - so that he can conserve his energies to give us “this”… (see photo below)

A settings screen with a 1000 different options - with no cognizance of your energies - energies of 2 billion people. Who cares about what you do with your account? One can spend all their energies to figure things out, or not figure things out - either way, it is fine and dandy for Facebook!

That is when it struck me - Mark keeps his daily decision-making simple so that he can focus on making money at our energy and expense.

Contrast this Steve Jobs (he had a similar dress code to reduce decision making) who invested his energies in helping Apple innovate their range of products - by constantly trying to limit the product options to a smaller range of products and services that the users can buy or use.

What do you like more? More options that confuse you and drain you of your energy or fewer options and simplicity (and an extraordinary focus on customer privacy) to help you get on with your life with the least of interruptions?

Two contrasting use of the same decision-making applied to a standardized wardrobe - but drastically two completely different applications of that energy…