Defeat Indecision For Good With These 7 Simple Tactics

Read time: 2 minutes

In 99% of situations, the self-imposed agony of an unmade decision is far greater than the consequences of a poorly made one.

Why?

• Because most decisions can be reversed

• Because we gain new data from taking action

• Because shorter cycle time is a competitive advantage

We can know this intellectually.

And yet, we wait. Ponder. Analyze. Triangulate. Debate.

The virtue of these steps quickly devolves into the vice of procrastination.

But no more.

Here are 7 simple tactics I’ve used to beat indecision:

1. Burn the Boats

Sail to an island and burn your ship upon landing. Guess what you'll do?

Figure it out.

How can you irreversibly commit?

• Commit publicly?

• Write the check?

• Set the date?

Remarkable stories of human ingenuity start this way.

2. Empty the Buckets

Write down every factor swimming in your head.

• Bucket them into categories.

• Rank the buckets in importance.

• Eliminate all buckets but the Top 3.

Which direction do the remaining three favor?

We often let details distract from the obvious direction.

3. Flip a Coin

Leave the decision to pure chance?

Not exactly.

Flip it, and while that coin turns, listen to the quiet voice in your heart:

Are you rooting for heads or tails?

That's your answer.

4. Sell Nothing

Many hard decisions are rooted in fear of committing capital:

Your money, reputation, or time.

So sell the concept. Then build the product: