Ever notice how the same bloody decisions keep showing up like a bad rash?
"Should I take this client?" "Do I need another meeting?" "Is this worth my time?"
You're not indecisive—you're just making the same decision over and over instead of making it once and being done with it.
🔗 Stuff Worth Clicking
Mental Models and Smart Decisions - Farnam Street breaks down how to make intelligent decisions without getting lucky. Includes why Obama wore the same suit every day.
The Hungry Judge Effect - Israeli parole board study shows judges grant 65% of requests in the morning, nearly 0% by afternoon. Food breaks reset the rate back to 65%.
Ray Dalio's 5-Step Decision Algorithm - The specific method behind Bridgewater's success. Turn your decisions into "if-then" algorithms you can actually use.
Derek Sivers on Hell Yes or No - Two words that'll save you hours of mental tennis matches with yourself.
💸 One Worthy Tactic: The Pre-Decision List
Stop deciding the same thing 47 times. Here's how:
Step 1: List the recurring decisions that eat your brain
Client types you work with
Meeting requests you accept
Projects you take on
Interruptions you entertain
Step 2: Make the decision once, write it down
"I only work with clients who pay 50% upfront because I'm running a business, not a charity"
"I don't take meetings on Fridays because that's my deep work day for client deliverables"
"I don't do projects under $5K because I want to buy a house, not pay rent forever"
"I don't take meetings or events on Thursday night because that's family night"
Step 3: When the situation comes up, check your list No thinking required. Decision's already made.
Bonus: Tell people your boundaries upfront. "I don't take calls after 5pm" isn't rude—it's professional.
🐺 The Wolf's Rant: My $30K Boundary Lesson
Three years ago, I spent six months dancing around a nightmare client who kept changing scope, missing payments, and treating my calendar like their personal entertainment system.
Why? Because I never pre-decided what behaviour I'd tolerate.
Every boundary violation became a fresh decision: "Should I push back this time?" "Maybe they're just having a bad day?" "What if they leave?"
Cost me $30K in opportunity cost and about three years off my life.
Now? I've got a two-page document of non-negotiables. Client acts up? I check the list. Usually takes 30 seconds to know what to do.
The decision's already made. I just follow the instructions I gave myself when I wasn't emotionally compromised.
📣 The Plug
Episode 2 of the Lone Wolf Unleashed Podcast dropped today. It covers how to avoid the 15% higher divorce rate if you’re an entrepreneur. Afterall, what’s success if you drive your loved ones away whilst trying to achieve it?
That's all for this week. Stop deciding everything twice.
How did you like today's newsletter?
Enjoy this post, refer new subscribers and get the Time Flux Method - what I use to help people save 2+ hours a day.