Addiction or just a bad habit?

We all have habits—some harmless, some less so. I’ve been thinking about mine.

Three of them (there are more!) are Twitter, Takeaway Coffee, and Alcohol.

Twitter – I enjoy it, I don’t get drawn into comment threads, and I’m definitely not an opinion leader.
It’s great for news and interesting perspectives.
But my wife raises an eyebrow when she sees me scrolling.
I caught myself thinking: “I could give it up if I wanted to…” — which made me wonder, “Am I sounding like an addict?”
So last week, I went cold turkey.
Answer? A doddle.
Just a bad habit.

Alcohol – we know it can be addictive, and some of us are definitely more susceptible.
Come six o’clock, I can hear a little monkey on my shoulder whispering: “Are we having a drink tonight? You know you’d like one.”
And often, I do.
Definitely addictive.

Coffee – now that’s a genius business model. Mildly addictive (thanks to caffeine), socially acceptable, all wrapped up in a warm, milky drink.
I feel that 10 a.m. pull to nip out for a coffee, but half of it is habit and an excuse for a break.

Interestingly, the original Coca-Cola formula contained coca leaf extract—cocaine was legal in medicines at the time.
By 1903, the psychoactive component was removed, and since then, Coca-Cola has used decocainized coca leaves for flavor.

The takeaway? If you can create a product that people habitually reach for without chemical addiction, you’ve got the basis of a strong business.