How to get unstuck when facing difficult business decisions?

You've Been Staring at This Decision for Weeks

You've been staring at this decision for weeks. Second-guessing every angle. Reading more articles. Asking more people. And somehow you're more confused than when you started.

I know that feeling. You're not stuck because you're dumb—you're stuck because you're smart enough to see all the ways this could go wrong. But all that analysis? It's usually making things worse, not better.

Why Smart People Get Stuck (And It's Not What You Think)

Smart people get stuck because they're trying to solve the wrong problem. You think you need more information, but what you actually need is clarity about what you're choosing between.

Most business decisions aren't stuck because they're complex. They're stuck because nobody's willing to name what we're actually deciding.

The 4-Step "What Am I Actually Deciding?" Framework

1. Name the Real Decision (Not the Symptoms)

Stop talking about the situation. Start talking about the choice.

• Write down what you think you're deciding
• Now ask: "What am I actually choosing between?"
• Keep asking until you get to a choice, not a problem

2. Challenge What You "Know"

Half your "facts" are probably assumptions. Time to find out which half.

• List everything you believe to be true about this situation
• For each item, ask: "How do I know this is true?"
• Separate what you know from what you're interpreting

3. Set Your "Good Enough" Criteria

Perfect decisions don't exist. Good decisions do.

• What would success look like? (Be specific)
• What are your absolute non-negotiables?
• What would be nice to have but isn't essential?

4. The 10-10-10 Reality Check

Most decisions that feel huge right now won't matter in 10 years. Some will. Figure out which one this is.

• How will you feel about this decision in 10 minutes?
• How about in 10 months?
• What about in 10 years?

When It's Time to Get Help

Sometimes you need someone who isn't emotionally invested to ask the uncomfortable questions. I know it feels like you should be able to figure this out yourself, but here's when you shouldn't:

• You've been stuck for more than 2 weeks
• You're too close to the problem to see it clearly
• The decision affects multiple stakeholders who all want different things
• You find yourself going in circles
• The stakes are high and you can't afford to wing it

The Hidden Cost of Not Deciding

Not deciding is still a decision. Every day you delay is a choice to maintain the status quo. And sometimes the cost of a "wrong" decision is less than the cost of no decision at all.

I've seen businesses miss opportunities, lose good people, and waste months of momentum because someone couldn't pull the trigger on a decision that was "good enough."

FAQ: Common Questions About Getting Unstuck

Q: What if I make the wrong decision?

A: Most business decisions are reversible or adjustable. The question isn't "What if I'm wrong?" It's "What if I never decide?" Focus on making a good decision with the information you have, not a perfect decision with information you'll never get.

Q: How long should I spend gathering information?

A: Set a deadline. If you don't have 80% of the information you need within a week, you're probably asking the wrong questions or looking in the wrong places.

Q: What if my team disagrees with the decision?

A: Disagreement isn't the problem—lack of clarity about who decides is. Make sure everyone knows who has input versus who actually makes the call.