Decision fatigue is real—and I’m living it. Between growing my business, planning summer travel, organizing my mom’s 80th birthday (from a distance!), and helping clients make high-stakes decisions, the last thing I want is to choose what’s for dinner.
Sound familiar?
As business owners, we are the chief decision-makers. Yet ironically, we often delay the very decisions that will shape our future—hiring, restructuring, investing, pivoting. These decisions feel heavy, so we avoid them. But here’s the thing:
Indecision is still a decision. And it has a cost.
Why Business Owners Procrastinate
Decision avoidance often wears the disguise of caution:
- “I need more data.”
- “Let’s revisit this next quarter.”
- “I’ll figure this out after the kids go back to school.”
These sound strategic—but over time, they stall progress and erode momentum. Inaction doesn’t protect your business. It freezes it.
The Truth About Business Leadership
- You won’t always have all the answers.
- The timing will never be perfect.
- Clarity often comes after you take action—not before.
Leadership isn’t about having certainty. It’s about moving forward—even when you feel uncertain. It’s about choosing progress over perfection. When your to-do list is full of pending decisions, ask yourself:
Am I leading… or lingering?
6 Decision-Making Strategies That Build Momentum
If you’re stuck in summer slowdown or decision overwhelm, here are six strategies that can help you move from indecision to action:
1. Define What’s “Good Enough”
Perfection is a trap. Set clear criteria for what a “good enough” decision looks like. This frees you from chasing unattainable certainty and builds momentum.
2. Create Decision Deadlines
Treat your decisions like projects: set a due date. Deadlines limit overthinking and create urgency. Bonus: share the deadline with a coach or accountability partner.
3. Use the 80/20 Rule
Prioritize decisions that produce the most impact. Focus on the 20% of choices that drive 80% of results. Let low-impact tasks take a back seat.
4. Practice “Mini Decisions”
Break big decisions into micro-steps. Instead of “Should I hire?” ask, “Can I define the role this week?” Smaller steps make large decisions less overwhelming.
5. Talk It Out
Your thoughts don’t need to be fully formed. Talk through ideas with a mentor, peer, or coach. Externalizing muddled thinking often leads to surprising clarity.
6. Journal Through Resistance
Not a journaler? Try “brain dump” writing. Get your fears, hesitations, and stuck thoughts on paper. When you name the fear (failure, judgment, rejection), you lessen its grip.
Final Thoughts: Business Rewards Movement
Decision-making is a muscle. And business ownership is a daily workout.
You don’t need perfect conditions to take action. You just need forward motion.
So this month, don’t wait for the “right time.” Make the call. Test the idea. Send the offer.
Because business doesn’t reward perfect timing—it rewards movement.