In this episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles explores a fascinating concept that can transform how you make decisions—choice bracketing. Do you approach life as a portfolio of choices, where every choice impacts your long-term success? Drawing insights from iconic figures like Warren Buffett and Jeff Bezos, John reveals how you can apply the same decision-making strategies used by these business giants to improve your own life. Whether personal, financial, or career-related, understanding how to “bracket” your choices can help you make more intelligent, more intentional decisions and set you on a path to lasting success.
Want to learn the 12 philosophies that the most successful people use to create a limitless life? Order John R. Miles’s new book, Passion Struck: Twelve Powerful Principles to Unlock Your Purpose and Ignite Your Most Intentional Life.
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“Your life is a portfolio of choices. The more intentional you are about those decisions, the more diversified and fulfilling your life becomes.”
john r. miles
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Listen Notes, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. You can watch the interview on YouTube below.
Mastering Decision-Making: How Choice Bracketing and Big-Picture Thinking Transform Your Future
In today’s episode, John explores the concept of choice bracketing, a powerful decision-making framework first developed by behavioral scientist Itamar Simonson. This framework shows how the small, seemingly insignificant choices we make every day can compound over time, significantly shaping our future. Drawing on real-life examples from Jeff Bezos and Warren Buffett, John discusses how big-picture thinking can help us avoid reactive, short-term choices and instead focus on intentional actions that align with our long-term goals.
The episode also highlights the groundbreaking work of modern behavioral scientists like Erika Kirgios from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. Building on Simonson’s original research, Kirgios and her colleagues demonstrate how thinking broadly—across decisions rather than in isolation—can lead to more satisfying and meaningful outcomes, whether in career decisions, personal habits, or relationships.
John breaks down the science behind choice bracketing and explains how balancing short-term comfort with long-term success requires shifting from narrow, isolated decisions to a broader, portfolio-based approach. You’ll learn how Jeff Bezos applied the regret minimization framework to launch Amazon and how Warren Buffett’s investment philosophy is rooted in viewing choices through a long-term, cumulative lens.
With actionable takeaways—including understanding the compounding effect of daily choices, balancing immediate gratification with future rewards, and applying portfolio thinking to life—this episode equips you with practical strategies to make more intentional, meaningful decisions. Whether you want to improve your career, health, or personal growth, these insights will help you create a life aligned with your broader vision.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How choice bracketing helps shift from reactive to intentional decision-making.
- The compounding effect of small, daily choices over time.
- How Jeff Bezos used the regret minimization framework to make life-altering decisions.
- Warren Buffett’s long-term approach to balancing short-term comfort with future gains.
- The importance of viewing your life as a portfolio of decisions.
- Practical strategies for aligning your choices with long-term goals in your career, health, and personal growth.
- How to balance immediate gratification with sustainable success through big-picture thinking.
WHY IS THIS A MUST-LISTEN?
This episode is essential for anyone looking to optimize their decision-making skills, whether for personal growth or professional success. John R. Miles not only provides actionable strategies but also taps into the latest behavioral science to help you understand why we often struggle with making the right choices. By the end of the episode, you’ll have a clearer framework for organizing your decisions in a way that reduces stress, improves outcomes, and aligns with your long-term objectives. If you’re looking for a fresh approach to managing life’s complexities, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.
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Choice Bracketing: Building a Life Portfolio Through Intentional Decisions
Choice bracketing is a powerful decision-making framework that fundamentally changes how we view our everyday choices. It involves two approaches: narrow bracketing and broad bracketing. In narrow bracketing, decisions are made in isolation, focusing solely on immediate outcomes without considering long-term effects. For instance, deciding to skip a workout today might seem insignificant in the moment, but repeated over time, it could lead to serious health issues. In contrast, broad bracketing encourages us to take a step back and see the bigger picture. Instead of viewing each choice as a standalone event, we understand it as part of a larger portfolio of decisions that, together, shape our future. Each choice contributes to the life portfolio you build over time.
Originally developed by Itamar Simonson nearly 30 years ago, the concept of choice bracketing has since been expanded by a group of leading behavioral scientists, including Katy Milkman, Erika Kirgios, Edward Chang, and Aneesh Rai. Their research demonstrates why we often default to narrow bracketing—it feels easier and more convenient in the moment.
However, broad bracketing shifts our focus to the cumulative impact of each decision, much like managing a financial portfolio. Just as investors consider how each individual investment fits within a broader financial strategy, broad bracketing pushes us to think about how our everyday choices fit into our overall life portfolio. For example, when you think about what you eat today as part of your long-term health portfolio, it encourages healthier and more thoughtful decisions rather than indulging in momentary cravings.
A powerful real-world example comes from the investing world, where Warren Buffett views every investment decision as part of a broader financial strategy. He doesn’t treat choices as isolated events; instead, he understands each decision as a contribution to his overall portfolio. This is the essence of broad bracketing: realizing that each choice, when viewed collectively, contributes to long-term success. We can apply this same portfolio mindset to our lives, whether in our careers, relationships, or personal growth, allowing us to make more intentional and meaningful choices.
Incorporating choice bracketing and the concept of a portfolio of choices into your decision-making process means shifting from a reactive mindset to one of intentionality. Recognizing that every choice—no matter how small—builds toward a larger portfolio of life decisions empowers you to align your actions with long-term goals. This approach helps create a life portfolio that reflects your values and aspirations, shaping a future driven by purpose and thoughtful decisions rather than by chance or short-term impulses.
A key highlight from this episode is the groundbreaking research of Erika Kirgios, Katy Milkman, Edward Chang, and Aneesh Rai. Their work sheds light on the importance of thinking about decisions as part of a broader portfolio. Their findings show that adopting this broader perspective leads to more satisfying and meaningful outcomes, whether in your career, health, or relationships. This big-picture thinking aligns seamlessly with the principles of choice bracketing and reinforces the idea that our decisions should be informed by a comprehensive understanding of their long-term impact on our lives.
RESOURCES FROM THE SHOW “Do You See Life as a Portfolio? Choice Bracketing Can Help”
Please note that some of the links on this page (books, movies, music, etc.) lead to affiliate programs for which The Passion Struck podcast receives compensation. It’s just one of the ways we keep the lights on around here. Thank you so much for being so supportive!
- American Psychological Association (APA) – Resources on resilience and coping: apa.org
- Psychology Today – Articles on mental health, resilience, and personal growth: psychologytoday.com
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Check My solo episode on The Power of Choice — Why Our Choices Are Powerful.
Catch My Episode with Katy Milkman on How We Create Lasting Change In Our Lives
Watch my interview with Alex Edmans on Critical Thinking in a Post-truth World.
Can’t miss my episode with Jeffrey C. Walker On The Criticality of Collaboration in Systems Change
My episode with Lori Gottlieb on Embracing Self-Compassion for a Better Life
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About John R. Miles
John R. Miles is a transformative leader, blending military precision with entrepreneurial flair to ignite purpose and intentional living in millions. A former U.S. Navy officer and Fortune 50 executive, John transitioned from the C-suite to become an international bestselling author and host of the globally acclaimed Passion Struck® podcast, which has ranked as the #1 alternative health podcast in over 25 countries.
John writes about the science of behavior change, personal mastery, and purpose-driven leadership, drawing from his extensive research in neuroscience, psychology, and over 700 interviews with trailblazing experts. His book, Passion Struck: Twelve Powerful Principles to Unlock Your Purpose and Ignite Your Most Intentional Life, has earned accolades including Best Business Book at the 2024 International Business Awards.
With a mission to inspire others to live with passion and intention, John’s quirky blend of deep insight and approachable wisdom makes him a sought-after voice in leadership and personal development.
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