Options Versus Cash Flows

Here we have the economic tug-of-war that makes "Tidy First?" such an interesting question:

• Discounted cash flow tells us to make money sooner with greater likelihood & spend money later with less likelihood. Don't tidy first. That's spending money sooner & earning money later. Maybe don't even tidy after or later.

• Options tells us to spend money now to make more money later (even if we don't currently know exactly how). Absolutely tidy first (when it creates options). Tidy after & later too.

Tidy first? Yes. Also no.

Now there are times to tidy first for sure. When cost(tidying) + cost(behavior change after tidying) < cost(behavior change without tidying), then absolutely tidy first. It's still easy to get carried away & tidy too much, but set & maintain boundaries for how far you'll go and you'll be fine.