Get unstuck through having a bias for action & making two-way door decisions

I think about stuff a lot, which is both a strength and a weakness. The bright side is to be introspective and do things with intention. The dark side is to overthink unnecessary things and dwell on trivial matters. This led to indecisions on what to do, what to eat, or what to buy.

The solution to this decision paralysis + perfectionism + optimization mindset bundle could very well be having “a bias for action.” Instead of being in unproductive thinking loops, taking an action unlocks insights and gets you unstuck.

Having a bias for action

This is also one of Amazon’s core leadership principles, and something I saw almost too frequently last summer:

Bias for Action: Speed matters in business. Many decisions and actions are reversible and do not need extensive study. We value calculated risk taking.

The mindset applies both professionally and personally. This is a good reminder to optimize for action so we can find more information. Action is better than inaction.

Decide if a decision is a one-way door or two-way door

One-way doors are irreversible decisions. Once it’s made, you can’t go back. For example, promising your customer something. If you don’t end up delivering, you’d destroy the customer’s trust.

On the other hand, two-way doors are reversible decisions. You can reopen and go back through the door if things didn’t go as expected.

When making a decision, optimize for speed if it’s a two-way door! And tread carefully when it’s a one-way door!