Welcome to The Subtle Shift, a weekly newsletter where I share small but powerful ideas to help you lead with clarity, inspire change, and create a lasting impact. Last week, I discussed the importance of giving yourself space. I explained why we should take time to think, reflect, and find moments to be intentionally unproductive. This week, I want to tackle a more practical topic: making quicker decisions.
The Downside of Indecision
I want to let you in on a secret of mine, and I hope it is OK to share something personal!
I can be incredibly indecisive.
I used to think indecision was just a minor quirk and something I could live with. I created a story in my head about the value of indecision and convinced myself that I wasn’t indecisive; I was just thoughtful and strategic. But over time, I started to bury myself in several open loops that needed to be closed. I delayed my growth and progress because I was too stubborn to make a choice. I wasted a lot of energy avoiding decisions and overthinking, and I kept pushing, striving, and grinding until I burned myself out.
Then, in one of the lowest moments of that burnout, I heard something that cracked me open.
The Root of the Problem
I was in a coaching session with Matt Church, a speaker, and mentor I deeply respect, when he said something that changed how I think about decisions forever.
He told me that the root word for decide is “cide,” which literally means to kill.
It’s the same root used in words like suicide, homicide, and genocide.
It’s not a pleasant association—but it is a powerful one.
To decide is to kill off other options.
And in that moment, I saw what had been holding me back.
The Subtle Shift
You see, for a long time, I thought that making decisions was about identifying, analyzing, and choosing the best option from a wide variety of alternatives. But that wasn’t quite right.
Making decisions isn’t about analyzing alternatives. It is about eliminating perfectly good options.
It’s not about doing more. It’s about doing less—but with more clarity, more intention, and more conviction.
That one shift in perspective unlocked several others for me:
1. Letting Go Is a Strength, Not a Weakness
I used to think that saying no was giving up. That letting go of an opportunity meant I was missing out.
But when you decide, you must say no. That’s what makes it a decision.
You don’t grow by collecting more. You grow by cutting what no longer serves you.
2. Focus Is an Act of Courage
Staying open-ended feels safe. It keeps your options available. But real progress happens when you commit.
Focusing on one path isn’t closing yourself off. It’s the only way to go deep enough to make a real impact.
Clarity requires courage. The focus is on clarity in motion.
3. Trade-Offs Are Inevitable, So Make Them Consciously
Every decision comes with trade-offs. That’s not failure. That’s life.
The best leaders don’t avoid trade-offs. They acknowledge them, own them, and navigate them with intention.
If you want to make better decisions, you have to be honest about what you’re saying no to and why.
If you’ve been feeling stuck, burned out, or torn between too many options, take a moment to consider these subtle shifts.
Stop chasing everything. Start choosing what matters.
Let go of the assumption that you can do it all.
Embrace the clarity that comes from choosing less, but better.
Because better decisions don’t come from more effort.
They come from better assumptions.
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What about you?
What decision are you putting off because you don’t want to let go of something?
Hit reply and let me know. I read every response.
P.S. If you want to learn more about decision-making, check out Dr. Sheena Iyengar’s book, The Art of Choosing. It’s a good one.
