diff --git a/assets/writings/2026/decision.jpeg b/assets/writings/2026/decision.jpeg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2793dd1 Binary files /dev/null and b/assets/writings/2026/decision.jpeg differ diff --git a/writings/_posts/2026/2026-08-07-decision.md b/writings/_posts/2026/2026-08-07-decision.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9eccac1 --- /dev/null +++ b/writings/_posts/2026/2026-08-07-decision.md @@ -0,0 +1,94 @@ +--- +layout: writings +title: How to Make Big Decisions +permalink: decision +categories: writings +description: Illustration by Michael Beepath +image: /assets/writings/2026/decision.jpeg +--- + +Most people don’t really make big decisions. +They just delay them. + +They tell themselves they are “thinking about it,” “weighing the options,” or whatever. +It's just procrastination parading as being "thoughtful". +Avoiding a decision can feel responsible because you have not yet made a mistake. + +Most decisions are reversible. +Most are not as consequential as they feel in the moment. + +But there will be moment's in life where you will need to make big ones. +And you can use this guide to help with that. + +## Rule 1: Use Marc's Formula + +For the really big life decisions that do matter, I think the key is not certainty. +It is direction. + +A lot of things in life you really have no control over. +Which is why I think detailed, strict, long term plans are largely useless. +I do however believe you can have a very clear idea on the general direction you are working toward. + +However, a decision can put you in the right direction and still keep you stagnant. +Which is why I think there is another component to the formula: growth. + +You need both, and often times you need consistency over a long period for things to work out. + +Let's call it Marc's Decision Formula: +``` +Good Decision = Right Direction x Growth in that Direction +``` + +## Rule 2: Make Decisions for Yourself + +People optimise for different things in their lives. +Some for stability, some for money etc. +Some people are at different stages in their lives than you are. +It would be dumb to assume everybody cares about the same things you do. + +The goal is not to make choices about your life that sound good at a dinner table. +The goal is to make choices that get you to where you want to get to. + +## Rule 3: Keep Big Decisions Private (sometimes) + +You should not make a habit of explaining everything to everyone. + +Some plans are too personal, too multi-step, or too early to survive being publicly dissected. +Sometimes explaining a decision too soon weakens your confidence, not because the decision is wrong, but because other people will project their own uncertainty onto it. + +Your family and friends will naturally care about you. +They will question your decisions and you should allow trusted people to challenge your thinking. +But you have to differentiate between useful input and noise. + +If someone consistently challenges your choices in a way that feels less like care and more like control, you are allowed to politely tell them to fuck off. + +The only person who truly needs to be convinced is you. + +## Rule 4: Decide on what you DON'T want + +Sometimes you will not have a clear vision of what you want next. +That is fine. +Clarity often starts in reverse. +You may not know your ideal career, but you might know you do not want work that consumes your entire life. +You may not know where you want to live, but you might know you do not want to stay somewhere that makes you feel stuck. +You may not know exactly who you want to become, but you might know the version of yourself you refuse to turn into. + +--- + +Decision-making is not always about choosing your dream life in one clean move. +More often, it is about making a series of choices that keep you alive, keep you growing, and keep you pointed in the right direction. + +So when you are faced with a decision that matters, don't bother asking, "How can I gurantee this is a correct move?” + +You probably can’t. + +Ask instead: + +- Is this pointing me in the right direction? +- Will this help me grow in that direction? + +If the answer to both is yes, that may be enough. + +Not perfect. +Not certain. +But enough to move. \ No newline at end of file