All You Need to Know About
Decisions
How to eliminate irrelevant decisions, and how to make recurrent, important and life-changing decisions.
To live an interesting life, you must choose interesting problems, have the right tools to solve them, and enjoy the process. When that happens, you approach challenges with curiosity instead of fear.
In this book, you’ll learn to ask relevant questions, find creative solutions, turn ideas into action, and prepare to be wrong.
But you can’t always be solving problems. I’ll also show you how to cut through noise and avoid decision fatigue using simple rules that may not be perfect, but are practical.
What about the big, life-changing decisions? I’ll explain why the journey matters more than the choice itself.
COMING SOON
CONTENTS
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Before we start
Solving problems and making decisions are two different things
Some decisions are like tattoos
What you'll find here
The story of my life
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Create space for the decisions that truly matter
Sometimes, the best decision is to ignore the problem
Asymmetric decisions: don’t hesitate, and don’t be foolish
Reversible decisions: leave the door open
Repetitive decisions: choose speed over precision
Know when to experiment — and when to play it safe
Equivalent decisions: stop overthinking and just hit play
Postponing decisions is usually a bad idea. Except when it isn’t
Commit on behalf of your future self
Delay the decision (on purpose)
Don’t make decisions when you’re off balance
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Trust the process, even if the answer isn’t clear yet
A well-defined problem is 80% of the solution
Separate the problem from its impact
Define the context and boundaries of the problem
I can’t stand Brussels
Reframe your problem using precise language
Adapt your action plan according to the type of problem
Lay out your plan of attack
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In real life, you don’t get the question or the data
Spot problems with the “always negative, never positive” technique
Step into someone else’s shoes
Divide and conquer: idea maps and the five whys
Distinguish facts from interpretations and hypotheses
You don’t know what you don’t know
Search online for information, ask people for direction
Bangkok? Hong Kong? Mexico City?
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Creativity thrives in difficulty and chaos
Decide whether you need an evolution or a revolution
Reframe the problem to unlock new possibilities
Think outside the box — or inside it
Embrace disagreement
Use brainstorming to bring others into the decision
Use TRIZ like a playlist when you get stuck
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You’ll never be 100% sure
The paradox of choice: more is worse
First method: comparing alternatives
Second method: pros and cons
Third method: the six thinking hats
And the winner is...
With great power comes great responsibility
“Resultism”: luck is also a variable
Learn to make decisions like you’re placing bets
Get comfortable with risk
It’s not black or white — but how grey is it?
Where does ethics fit into decision-making?
How do you know when it’s time to choose?
Identify risks and remove obstacles
Ask yourself if it’s time to quit
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Get ready to be wrong
Explain your reasoning — and listen to yourself
Break one big decision into several smaller ones
Run a test
Au revoir, Brussels
Who does what? When?
Communicate with a story — and an FAQ
Share your decision before you start doubting it
Execute the decision
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Did you solve the problem? What did you learn?
Check back from time to time
The outcome doesn’t always reflect the quality of the decision
Hello Singapore
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Life-changing decisions change you
Life-changing decisions aren’t measured by their usefulness
Life-changing decisions are measured by how they change you
Life-changing decisions aren’t made overnight
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Final thoughts: don’t wish for a life without problems
Summary
Other ideas related to decision-making you’ll find in my other books
References
📖 All the Books in This Series