Learn to Think in Color

Why Is Changing How We Power the World So Hard? Switching Costs Replacing the world’s engine while it is still running Framing the Question The energy transition sounds simple when reduced to a slogan: stop using dirty energy and use clean energy instead. But changing how we power the world is not like swapping a battery; it is more like replacing the foundation of a building while everyone is still living inside. The question matters because it reveals a basic truth about large systems: the best answer on paper is rarely the easiest answer in reality. Why This Question Matters Here is the answer: changing how we power the world is hard because energy is not one industry. It is the hidden input behind every industry. Electricity, heat, transport, food, construction, data centers, hospitals, shipping, and manufacturing all depend on energy being available at the right moment, in the right form, at a price people can afford. A power plant can be replaced. A civilization’s operating syst...

Why Are Some Products So Hard to Leave? Even when better options are right in front of you Big picture Some products feel “sticky” because of  product stickiness —a mix of psychology, design, and context that makes staying feel safer than switching. Even when a better option exists on paper, your brain quietly tallies hidden costs: effort, risk, loss of progress, social dynamics, and identity. This isn’t just about apps and software; it’s the same reason people keep using a clunky tool at work or sticking with a bank they don’t love. To answer this question well, you have to zoom out from features and ask what the product is  actually doing  for you: reducing uncertainty, simplifying decisions, connecting you to others, or reinforcing who you believe yourself to be. Once you see those layers, you can explain—without hand-waving—why some products are harder to leave than others, when stickiness is actually  good , and how to tell when it’s time to walk away. The psych...