If the Why Doesn’t Click, Neither Do I

I was passing by two cafes near the train station. One of them had this massive line, people were standing there for fancy croissants, all nicely decorated on the counter, and you could tell the marketing was clever. The other café, right next door, had no line. Their croissants looked good, tasted good, and were cheaper. But no one was going there.

And I just stood there thinking…what is this? Is it human psychology of fear of missing out? Mixed with great marketing? For me, it didn’t make sense. I went straight to the other café. Same croissant, no line, and I got what I wanted without waiting. I wanted more value of time and money.

That moment got me thinking about how I make decisions in life. I’ve always been the type to question the crowd. If something doesn’t feel right, if the why doesn’t make sense to me, I’m not going to follow it. It’s not about being different for the sake of it; it’s about understanding what’s actually valuable.

Think about the U.S. a hundred years ago. Everyone was moving there, chasing gold, land, and opportunity. And in that case, following the crowd actually made sense. It wasn’t just hype; there were shared opportunities and resources. People were building something together, and the payoff was real.

If I’d been around back then, I might have joined the movement but because the why clicked for me, not just because everyone else was doing it.

That’s how I approach life. Whether it’s a croissant or a big decision, I need to see the purpose, value.

If the why doesn’t click, neither do I.