Find yourself stuck again?

Indecision—it’s the silent killer when it comes to adopting new, more fruitful business practices.

For most of us, it's easy to stick to what we know. What feels familiar. It’s wired into our very nature as living beings. It’s the same reason you hit snooze instead of going for that 6 AM workout—change is hard. We cling to routines because they feel safe, and even a perceived sense of safety is comforting.

But playing it safe rarely leads to breakthrough value in business.

There are two key factors at play here: great execution and the decision to move forward.

Loss vs Gain

In life and business, the feelings of loss and gain are not created equal. Let’s break it down.

Imagine you have a brilliant new project that could save your company $5 million but requires a $1 million investment. Sounds like a no-brainer, right? You’re already counting the savings.

Not so fast.

The mind often perceives the potential loss of that $1 million as far more painful than missing out on the $5 million by doing nothing. Why? Because sticking to the status quo is less stressful. Taking action means taking on risk—and risk feels like an open invitation for failure.

If you’ve found yourself in this trap, don’t worry. It’s more common than you think. But there’s a way out, and it starts with understanding the three major barriers that hold us back from moving forward:

1. Valuation Problems 

2. Lack of Information 

3. Outcome Uncertainty

Let’s dive in

Valuation Problems

Stuck in the weeds? Debating endlessly over which feature is better, whether to choose a 2-year or 3-year contract, or whether to handle something in-house or outsource it?

Yep, welcome to paralysis by analysis.

These endless debates happen at every level of decision-making. The finer details matter, sure, but too often we get hung up on them, stuck in a loop of procrastination. It’s not about covering all the bases—it’s about the fear of making a final decision.

Here’s how to break free:

- If the issue isn’t mission-critical, let it go.

- If the risk is low, remove it from your decision process.

- If it’s not impacting the overall outcome, discard it as a variable.

- And most importantly, set a strict deadline—in days, not weeks or months.

Make the call and move forward.

Lack of Information

How many times have you heard, “We need more research before making a decision”? Months go by, and you’re still in the research phase, never quite ready to pull the trigger.

Here’s the reality: business moves fast, and so should you.

Yes, information is key, but if you’re using it as a crutch to delay action, it’s time to step back. Are you really still researching, or are you just stalling?

Sometimes, you won’t know everything until you actually start. You can plan for weeks, but you’ll learn far more by diving in and doing the damn thing.

The truth is, planning has its limits. You’ve gotta take that first step. You’ll find the answers along the way.

Outcome Uncertainty

Ah, the fear of the unknown. We all want to move forward with the guarantee that things will work out. But here’s the catch: that certainty doesn’t exist.

If you’re waiting for a promise that everything will go perfectly, you’re already choosing the status quo. And where has that gotten you?

The only certainty is that doing nothing means nothing will change.

You can forecast, track, diagram, and test—but none of that guarantees the future. Does this mean you shouldn’t hedge your bets? Absolutely not. It just means that at some point, you need to take a step.

Sure, there’s risk involved. But what’s riskier? Staying stuck in the same place, playing it safe, and wondering what could’ve been?

Time to Start Winning

The faster you take action, the faster you’ll see value. Speed matters—especially in the early phases of a project. If you can show a quick win, you’ll buy yourself the runway to tackle the bigger, more complex stuff down the line.

So, if you find yourself stuck in a holding pattern, start small, pick a clear target, and move fast. Show that initial value, and you’ll have the momentum you need to drive real, meaningful change.

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In the end, it all boils down to this: don’t let indecision kill your potential. Find your first win, break the cycle of inaction, and start climbing. Every Everest starts with one step.

Now, let’s get to work.