DREIESKIVA​|Roald Kvam

A clearer path through complexity

Every leader, creator, or professional eventually stands at a crossroads, facing a high-stakes decision that seems to have no clear right answer. These moments can feel overwhelming — filled with uncertainty, time pressure, and the fear of future regret. But what if there were a practical framework to approach such decisions with greater clarity?

Based on a simple yet powerful decision-making model, this article breaks down how to master big decisions by asking a series of thoughtful questions — not to predict the future, but to make confident, resilient choices regardless of the outcome.

Let’s explore…

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1. Start here: Is the decision reversible?

This is the most important first question — because it changes everything.

• If the decision is reversible (you can course-correct, change your mind, or walk it back), you have much more freedom to experiment.
• If the decision is irreversible, the stakes are higher, and caution becomes more important.

This filter helps separate “one-way doors” (permanent moves) from “two-way doors” (decisions you can adjust or undo). Most decisions in life and work are more reversible than we think — and realizing that helps reduce fear and increase action.

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2. Consider your timeframe: Do you have time to decide?

Time pressure can blur our judgment. So, if you’ve identified the nature of the decision, the next step is assessing how much time you have to make it.

• If you don’t have time, default to simplified strategies: gut instinct for reversible choices, and safety-first for irreversible ones.
• If you do have time, you earn the opportunity to go deeper: analyze risk, ROI, and long-term regret.

This step introduces urgency without panic. It helps you understand when speed is more valuable than perfection — and when to slow down and think things through.

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3. For irreversible decisions with time: Manage risk intelligently

Big, one-way decisions require careful analysis. But not all uncertainty is equal.

• If there’s a lot of uncertainty, ask: What’s the potential downside — and can I recover from it?
  If yes: Take the risk. Growth often lies on the other side of calculated discomfort.
• If there’s only a little uncertainty, focus on long-term ROI. Which option will likely produce the greatest return in energy, fulfillment, or value over time?

Don’t take risks you haven’t thought through. But don’t avoid all risk, either — especially if it’s manageable and holds future value.

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4. For reversible decisions with time: Ask the regret question

This is perhaps the most powerful mental reframe in the decision-making toolkit:

What will I regret not doing 10 years from now?

Reversible decisions allow for boldness. They’re invitations to experiment — and often, the only thing holding you back is fear of embarrassment or judgment.

• If something keeps calling to you, even quietly, ask whether you’ll regret not trying it.
• If the answer is yes: Always take the risk. Time, not fear, is the greater teacher.

Judgment fades. Regret lingers.

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5. When time is short: Trust your instinct or choose safety

Let’s face it — not every decision allows for deep analysis. Deadlines approach, opportunities arise quickly, and sometimes you need to act now.

• If the decision is reversible: Go with your gut. Trust the instincts built from experience.
• If the decision is irreversible: Choose the safest option — the one with the most stability and lowest downside.

In the absence of time, don’t overreach. Protect your baseline — your energy, your people, your progress.

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Why this model works

This framework isn’t about being perfect — it’s about being intentional. It helps you:

• Filter big from small decisions
• Shift between boldness and caution depending on context
• Use time as a strategic variable, not just a constraint
• Center your values (regret, recovery, ROI) in every decision

More importantly, it quiets the noise — the fear, the doubt, the pressure to have it all figured out — and replaces it with confidence grounded in clarity.

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Closing thoughts: Big decisions are how you grow

Ultimately, the quality of your life and leadership will be shaped by the decisions you make — and how you make them. With a simple mental model like this, you can stop spinning in indecision and start moving forward with intention.

The next time you face a fork in the road, ask:

1. Is this decision reversible?
2. How much time do I have?
3. What’s the risk I can recover from?
4. What will I regret not doing?

Because clarity is power — and your future is shaped by the choices you make today.