The Shoe Tree Effect

When I read The Tipping Point, I really bought into the idea of the Broken Window Theory. Basically what the theory says is that a broken window in a neighborhood that goes unfixed will turn into a neighborhood that goes unfixed. People look at the broken window and realize no one cares, and so they graffiti the building You might not take your gum and stick it to the bottom of a table in the White House, but you might do it in a run down coffee shop. It just takes maintenance to make sure the graffiti never gets on the building.

What I have come to believe is that its fair less expensive to maintain something nice than it is to neglect it and have to fix it. One example: shoes. I have two nice pairs of shoes: one with shoe trees and one without. The one with a shoe tree has aged a bit, but it's still in relatively good condition. The one without a shoe tree has a permanent crease in the front and are already in need of replacement. It's cheaper to put in the shoe tree each day, but it definitely takes more effort.

The shoe tree doesn't just apply to shoes though - it applies to anything that needs maintenance. Women who use the anti-aging creams actually do age more slowly than women who do not. My dad refuses to go out in the sun, and while that makes him paler than others, it also make him look about 10 years younger. Sun tans really do age your skin. The same can be said about eating right, keeping the shower clean, or keeping your brain fresh - a little bit of maintenance saves a lot of pain, but it does take more effort.

I talk about this effect not to be preachy, but rather because I find that it's a pretty big driver in why I keep my room so clean, why I pack a lunch when all my co-workers look at me strangely, why I keep a close eye on how much I'm spending versus how much I'm earning - it's because I really believe in the power of maintenance and habits. I believe in the Shoe Tree Effect, and so it's worth the extra effort to me.