Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, has a great framework for making decisions. I’ve used it both unknowingly and then more deliberately over the last ~6 months.
Basically, there are two types of decisions in life: one-way doors and two-way doors.
Most decisions are two-way doors: meaning, they have little real consequence; you can always change your mind and walk back through the door.
But some are one-way doors: once you go through you can never go back – at least not without significant consequences.
If you’re bad at making decisions, chances are you tend to get the two mixed up in one way or another.
The first step to making better decisions is to become aware of the type of decision you are facing (one-way or two-way). The second, and most powerful step is to actively apply a different strategy for each of the two types of decision:
Two-way doors: go fast
The strategy for two-way doors is simple: since they are easily reversible, you should push yourself to make these decisions as fast as possible.
If you’re a neurotic over-thinker like me, this will be uncomfortable at first. When you’re doing it right it will feel borderline reckless. In fact, a good rule of thumb is that you should be making every two-way door decision before you’re comfortable making it.
According to Alex Hormozi, the biggest difference between someone like him and a person just getting started in business is that he’s making a decision every four hours that would take a month for the beginner to make. Obviously, the consequences compound massively.
This resonated with me because decision-making speed was one of the biggest reasons my last company didn’t succeed to the extent I wanted it too. And I’ve since improved greatly on this, partly by using this framework.
The main benefit of learning to see two-way door decisions for what they are is it allows you to move through life much quicker.
One-way doors: go slow
Just as you should surprise yourself with the speed at which you run through two-way doors, you should be impressed by how patiently you walk through one-way doors.
If you’re familiar with Daniel Kahneman’s work, this is where much of the “slow thinking” should be allowed into the decision making process.
Aim to leave no stone unturned before entering a one-way door. As Bezos says in this interview: “as long as there is another possible solution, it should be evaluated”.
The biggest unlock here is realizing it’s OK to take time.
The process must be allowed to come to a natural conclusion.
People often screw this up because they think they have to make a decision. So they rush into things. Classic example: “We’ve been together for 2 years now – I have to marry them, right?”.
But this is not the right strategy for one-way door decisions. They cannot be rushed. In the words of Ryan Holiday: “Don’t just do something – stand there!”
This framework has proven super useful to me, so I wanted to share it with you.
Mostly, I think many of us lack enough awareness of the nature of each decision we make, so we overthink situations that would benefit from moving quickly, and rush into major decisions then get stuck dealing with the consequences.
I’ve found that having clarity on the two types of decisions and a deliberate strategy for each just makes decisions making 10x easier.
Side note I: If you think about it, all experiences are one-way doors. This means that any decision to have an experience should be taken seriously, and carefully weighed against our tendency to regret not what we did, but what we didn’t do.
Side note II: The interview mentioned above is the first of that kind of public appearance Bezos has made. I find it interesting how ultra successful entrepreneurs / inventors / contrarians are often villainized and alienated by the masses, when in person they are most often (but not always) some of the most curious, warm, and brilliant people. If you watch the interview you’ll find Jeff is no exception.
Ps. if you found value in this essay, please share it with one curious friend.