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Why do we keep looking for answers in the easiest places, even when we know they aren’t there? This is the Streetlight Effect, a mental trap that makes us search for solutions where it’s convenient, not where they’re most useful. It shapes everything from career choices to how the Michelin Guide decides the “best” restaurants. And the results aren’t always what you’d expect.
The Drunkard’s Search: A Classic Illustration of the Streetlight Effect
The Streetlight Effect, sometimes called the drunkard’s search principle, is a bias that causes us to look for solutions where the search is easiest, not where they’re most effective.
It gets its name from a well-known story:
A police officer finds a man searching for something under a streetlight late at night.
“What are you looking for?” the officer asks.
“My keys”, the man replies.
“Did you lose them here?”
“No”, the man admits. “I lost them in the park.”
“Then why are you looking here?”
“Because the light’s better here.”
It’s a funny story, but it reveals a serious problem.
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The Michelin Guide Example: How Bias Shapes What We Consider “The Best”
Take the Michelin Guide1The Michelin Guide was conceived simply to encourage more motorists to take the road and over time, became a way for the French tyre company to encourage their rich French customers to buy more tyres., the global authority on fine dining. For over a century, it has awarded stars to the best restaurants in the world, or so we’re led to believe.
Here’s what most people don’t know: the Michelin Guide started as a marketing ploy by the Michelin tyre company. Its early goal was simple, get people to drive more and, in doing so, wear out their tyres faster.
The guide evolved into a prestigious rating system, but the Streetlight Effect is still at play. Most Michelin inspectors are trained and based in France2Apparently, there are 90 Michelin Inspectors spread across 3 continents– 15 Michelin Inspectors based in France🇫🇷, 10 in the USA, and the remaining 65 in the rest of the world. The inspectors are also trained in France, before going to their assigned location., and unsurprisingly, French cuisine dominates the rankings3There are 2,817 Michelin-starred spots around the globe. And guess who’s leading the star race? France🇫🇷 sitting pretty with 632 stars, followed by Japan, Italy, Germany, and Spain.. Even in countries like Japan, 40% of top Michelin-starred restaurants serve French dishes.
Are those restaurants truly the best, or are inspectors simply sticking to what they know best?
The culinary world focuses its streetlight on a narrow range of cuisine and geography. And it’s not just a Michelin problem, it’s a human problem. We all have our own streetlights, and they’re constantly shaping our decisions.
Why Does the Streetlight Effect Happen?
There are three main reasons for Streetlight Effect to happen:
Convenience Bias
It’s human nature to prefer the easy path. Why search in the dark when the well-lit area is right there?
At work, this means focusing on the most accessible data rather than digging into deeper (but more meaningful) insights.
For instance, sales teams often prioritise short-term revenue figures because they’re easy to measure, while they overlook long-term customer satisfaction, which is far harder to track.
Jeff Bezos talks about the important of long-term thinking in the book, Invent and Wander.
Long-term thinking is both a requirement and an outcome of true ownership.
Jeff Bezos
Fear of Failure
Venturing into the unknown is risky. Sticking to what’s familiar feels safer, even if it means missing out on a better outcome.
Think about your last career decision. Did you choose the option with fewer unknowns because it felt less risky? That’s the Streetlight Effect protecting you from immediate failure, but also keeping you from real growth.
It’s also why so many individuals get stuck in the Zone of Average.
Cognitive Overload
When faced with complex problems, we default to the easiest solution. It’s a survival mechanism.
Our brains are wired to conserve energy, which means we gravitate toward information that’s readily available.
What Should You Do About the Streetlight Effect?
Breaking free from the Streetlight Effect requires deliberate effort. Here’s how to start:
Define Your End Goal
Before diving into a problem, ask yourself: What am I really trying to achieve?
Keep your focus on the outcome, not just the available data.
This simple habit helps you avoid wasting time searching in the wrong place.
Beware of Supporting Biases
Watch out for the sneaky traps of:
- Availability heuristics, our tendency to overestimate the importance of information that’s readily available; and
- Confirmation bias, our habit of favouring information that confirms our existing beliefs.
These mental shortcuts might feel like shortcuts to success, but they’re really detours that keep us circling the same old ground.
Embrace the Uncomfortable
True growth lies outside your comfort zone.
Whether it’s a career move, a strategic pivot at work, or even your personal development, don’t just stick to what feels safe. Push beyond what’s familiar.
Final Thoughts: Step Beyond the Light
The Streetlight Effect is a powerful metaphor for how we often limit ourselves. What’s easy to see isn’t always what matters most.
So next time you’re faced with a tough decision, ask yourself: Am I searching where the light is or where the answer really is?
Footnotes:
- 1The Michelin Guide was conceived simply to encourage more motorists to take the road and over time, became a way for the French tyre company to encourage their rich French customers to buy more tyres.
- 2Apparently, there are 90 Michelin Inspectors spread across 3 continents– 15 Michelin Inspectors based in France🇫🇷, 10 in the USA, and the remaining 65 in the rest of the world. The inspectors are also trained in France, before going to their assigned location.
- 3There are 2,817 Michelin-starred spots around the globe. And guess who’s leading the star race? France🇫🇷 sitting pretty with 632 stars, followed by Japan, Italy, Germany, and Spain.
