As a trained economist, I feel every decision made should have expected value and include opportunity cost at least at a mental or back of napkin calculation. E

As a trained economist, I feel every decision made should have expected value and include opportunity cost at least at a mental or back of napkin calculation. Everything compounds so make the highest EV decisions today. What this really drives home is how much effort to put into your full-time job where progression (and the rewards) are heavily influenced by thing you cannot control like office politics or the broader economy. Even if I don't get a promotion, a job switch should yield 20% every couple of years. I'll do the the bare minimum advised by my boss to get him to recommend a promotion, everything else is spent on my side projects which have potential to replace my job and multiple promotions. Live life too so block out time for leisure or recreation. Don't use this to analyse if you should watch a movie with your friends on the weeked or do work. Generally: EV = Probability of Outcome x Value of Outcome Cost = $ or time/labour/effort EV of next best opportunity (choice) forgone