I love to read - both real books and on my Kindle, a mix of all kinds of things.
I have authors I auto buy, books that come recommended from friends or on social media, suggestions that pop up on an algorithm.
Each may sound like something I’d want to read. I might already like the author, the idea of the book, or the sound of the reviews - so how to decide which to invest the time and energy in?
If I’m not sure, and sometimes even if I am, I Try a Sample. It’s so useful to read the first pages, have a small taste, get a sense of what’s it’s about in real life.
Often it’s just as I imagined and I go onto buy it. Sometimes it’s just not my cup of tea and I don’t. And both are absolutely fine.
It’s such a gift to have tried it and know whether to say yes, no, or maybe later.
So often we can get stuck in indecision trying to figure out if something is right, or guess and hope for the best (and then realise it’s not for us).
We forget that there’s another option - to try a sample and figure it out from there.
This might look like having a conversation, finding out what the path forward is and taking an exploratory first step, running a small, contained experiment, testing and learning.
In many cases it gives us the information we need to make the next choice.
If we keep going, we have more clarity that we’re on the right path.
If we stop, at least we’ve had what my sister so brilliantly calls a ‘no thank you’ taste.
Wishing you all a week of testing and learning,
