# 🔁 Cue, Routine, Reward

By [Let Them Eat Cake](https://paragraph.com/@ltecake) · 2022-06-16

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**TL,DR: Financial literacy matters. Financial concepts put you to sleep. Both these statements hold some truth, but only the latter statement can change.**

The word “investing” kills the appetite. It triggers images of a bore, a traditional suit, a bank, or a combination of the three. “Food” on the other hand, stimulates the senses. Just the thought of it can get you through a bad situation, and have you looking forward to a good one. In fact, our bodies actually release endorphins in anticipation of enjoying something salty or sweet, eliciting a chemical message well before the first bite. The second the aroma of fresh waffles enters your nose, the body derives satisfaction from the possibility that the actual waffles could enter your mouth. This phenomena exists as a part of what Charles Duhigg calls the “Cue, Routine, Reward” power of habits.

First we encounter a cue - the lovely smell of fresh baked waffles. Next we enter the routine - walking over to the waffle cabin and making a purchase. Finally we get the reward. Biting in to something crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, and smothered in molten chocolate. 

All habits follow this pattern, and habit breaking involves changing the “routine”  component. Cues, like the temptation of a sweet snack, are not going anywhere. And our bodies are constantly seeking reward. The routine however can change, and the reward can be reimagined.

A less fun habit exists whenever investing or finance comes up in discussion, but you don’t understand the topic. This has happened to me countless times and follows a familiar pattern.

First we encounter a cue - someone brings up a foreign financial topic like “taking a long position in a SPYDR ETF”. Next we enter the routine - digging into our memory to try to rationalize, but ultimately misunderstanding the topic. Finally we get the reward. Putting the mind at ease by shifting the conversation to something we do understand. 

In the following pages you will discover relatable food based associations for confusing financial topics - and will find yourself replacing the aforementioned routine of misunderstanding with a much more rewarding habit of knowing enough to engage in a meaningful conversation. ’SPYDR ETF’ will trigger a new routine, where ETF reminds you of a cold and refreshing smoothie, composed of an assortment of common stocks that are safe to eat and easy to find. You’ll then remember the SPYDR, with many legs, represents the many companies inside the S&P. The reward is understanding just enough to be dangerous.

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*Originally published on [Let Them Eat Cake](https://paragraph.com/@ltecake/cue-routine-reward)*