LET'S MAKE A DEAL

In the 1960s to 1980s television game show, Let’s Make a Deal, hosted by Monty Hall, the contestant would be asked to choose between three doors – Door #1, Door #2, and Door #3.  Behind one of the doors would be a new sports car. Behind the other two doors would be a “Zonk” or simply something no one would want to bring home.  

After the contestant selected a door, for example Door #1, Monty Hall would then open one of the two remaining doors, for example, Door #2. When Door #2 opened, it would always be a “Zonk.” Monty Hall would then ask the contestant if he or she would like to switch to Door #3.  

With the audience yelling, and the contestant looking up to heaven for some divine guidance, the contestant would either stick with their original selection of Door #1 or switch to Door #3.

Should the contestant switch to Door #3? The answer is “yes.” The contestant should always switch from the door they originally picked. 

Why?

The answer lies in the law of probability. At the start of the game, the contestant’s chance of picking the door with the new sports car is one-third. When Monty Hall opens up a door without the car, two-thirds probability is now assigned to the door the contestant did not originally select. The contestant now has a much greater chance of winning if he or she selects Door #3. 

Does this now guarantee that if the contestant switches he or she will win the new car? No. However, if played enough times, contestants will win a new sports car two-thirds of the time with this approach.  

So what?

In our lives, we make deals with ourselves each day. We may eat more than we should by convincing ourselves that we will exercise more - tomorrow. We may leave a little early from work, rationalizing that we only took fifteen minutes for lunch, and besides - we ate lunch at our desks. We may hold back from giving to a charity, convinced that someone else will surely give - and how could twenty dollars make a difference, anyway? We may not apply for a new job, ask for a raise, or volunteer for a new assignment because we could be turned down. We may not visit a friend or family member in the hospital because it’s too far, we are afraid we will get sick, or we convince ourselves a call or card will do just fine.

These are the deals of mediocrity, fear, and failure. We have all fallen victim to one or more of these deals in our lives. One after another, picking the wrong door, holding back from our potential, getting the “Zonk” and going home as a loser.    

But it does not need to be this way! There is a way to always win; to pick the door with the new sports car; to go with the law of probability; to go home a winner.

Select the Door of Service. Teach, heal, counsel, build, pray, write, hope, forgive, listen, invent, lead, create, and love. Open just one of these doors, and you will step into a life worth living, a fulfilling purpose, contributing to the well-being of others.  

Let’s Make a Deal! 

Until Next Friday,