Nassim Taleb in Anti-fragile talks about the importance of optionality. In an increasingly volatile and uncertain world, you want to always have options.

That’s why an entrepreneur should always order a take-away coffee, even for sit-down meetings. Other than the consistent taste of coffee out of a cardboard cup, a take-away gives you options.

What happens if you feel like walking and talking?

What happens if there’s a fire alarm?

What happens if you want to pretend to go to toilet but in fact rapidly exit the building to escape person you’re meeting?

If you use a regular coffee mug, you’re trapped. Faced with a choice to abandon coffee or do what you don’t want to do, most people will go with the former.

Take-away coffee gives you options.

Entrepreneurs need options.