This essay is from my new book, "Your Money: Reimagining Wealth in Simple Sketches."
It’s called “Enough Is Enough,” and in this episode, I unpack how we confuse
more with
better—and what it really means to have enough.
It’s a story about investing, dessert, and clarity.
Because enough can't be a number. If enough is a number, you'll never have enough. Enough is actually a state of being that we have to
practice.
This is my behind-the-scenes thinking that shaped essay #20 in the new book coming out in October 2025.
This is the essay:
We don’t know when to stop.
I include myself in that.
Sometimes, I stop by the grocery store, buy a pint of ice cream, and eat it.
That’s right. The whole thing.
I’ve noticed a predictable pattern when I do this:
Bite 1: Best thing ever.
Bites 2–10: Really good.
Bites 11–15: Good.
Bites 16–20: Meh.
Bites 21+: I’m sick.
I keep repeating this experiment, hoping for a different result.
This behavior is called diminishing marginal utility. It’s not just about ice cream, but getting more of anything.
Beyond a certain point, more stops making you feel better. If you keep going, more makes you sick.
More becomes “too much.”
The secret isn’t getting more.
It’s knowing when to stop.
🎁 Want a preview of the book?
Email hello@behaviorgap.com with the subject line "
Friend of Carl" and we’ll send you seven of my favorite sketches and essays in the book.
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My recommendation? One copy from Amazon and one from your favorite local bookstore!
• Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Your-Money-Reimagining-Wealth-Sketches/dp/1804091715• Local bookstores:
https://bookshop.org/p/books/your-money-reimagining-wealth-in-97-simple-sketches-carl-richards/22111257?ean=9781804091715• Bulk orders (25+ copies) — Use code YourMoney5 at checkout for an additional 5% off the already discounted bulk order pricing:
https://bulkbooks.com/products/your-money-reimagining-wealth-in-simple-sketches