the 5-step framework for making clear choices
when you have too many decisions
It's not just the sheer volume of work that leads to burnout among solo founders; rather, it's the constant barrage of decisions that must be made on a daily basis.
From responding to client requests and determining pricing strategies to prioritizing which task deserves immediate attention, solo founders are faced with hundreds of choices each and every day.
Each decision, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, chips away at your mental energy, leaving you drained and exhausted by the time afternoon rolls around.
It's at this point, when your decision-making ability is severely compromised, that bad choices are more likely to happen, potentially jeopardizing the success of your business.
Fortunately, there is a solution to this common problem, and it comes in the form of a simple yet effective framework.
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The Decision Stack Framework
Imagine your daily decisions as a stack of blocks, with the bigger, more significant blocks forming the foundation at the bottom and the smaller, less consequential ones sitting on top.
By organizing your choices in this manner, you can prioritize and streamline your decision-making process, ultimately reducing the mental strain that comes with running a solo operation.
Step 1: Create Your Foundation Decisions
The first step in implementing the Decision Stack Framework is to establish your non-negotiables - those decisions that only need to be made once and will serve as the bedrock of your business.
These foundation decisions may include things like determining your working hours, defining your core services, and setting minimum pricing thresholds.
Once you've made these decisions, write them down in a visible place and commit to never questioning them again during your daily operations.
For example, if you decide that "I don't take calls before 10 AM," this becomes an automatic rule, eliminating the need for mental debate each time someone requests an early meeting.
Step 2: Build Your Decision Templates
The next level up in the Decision Stack involves creating templates for recurring decisions that follow predictable patterns.
By establishing simple if/then statements for common situations, you can streamline your decision-making process and save valuable mental energy.
For instance, you might create a template that states, "If a project is under $1000, use the standard contract," or "If a client asks for a rush job, multiply the price by 1.5x."
You can even apply this principle to smaller tasks, such as "If a task takes less than 2 minutes, do it immediately."
The key is to make these templates once and then use them consistently, eliminating the need to start from scratch each time a similar decision arises.
Step 3: Batch Similar Decisions
Another effective strategy for reducing decision fatigue is to group similar decisions together and make them all at once.
By batching related choices, you can avoid the mental strain that comes with constantly switching between different contexts.
For example, you might dedicate Sunday evening to content planning, 10 AM each day to responding to client emails, and Friday morning to reviewing invoices.
By compartmentalizing your decision-making in this way, you can maintain a clearer focus and make more efficient use of your mental resources.
Step 4: Implement The 24-Hour Rule
For any decision that will cost you more than $100 or take more than 5 hours to implement, institute a mandatory 24-hour waiting period.
This rule should be applied without exception, as it allows your future self - who is likely to have a clearer perspective than your excited present self - to weigh in on the decision.
By giving yourself time to step back and consider the implications of your choices, you can avoid impulsive decisions that may not align with your long-term goals.
Step 5: Create a Decision Journal
To help you track and learn from your decision-making process, consider keeping a simple decision journal.
Dedicate one page per major decision, and record the choice you made, why you made it, what you expected to happen as a result, and a date to review the outcomes.
Set aside time each month to review your journal entries, looking for patterns and insights that can help you refine your decision templates and improve your overall decision-making skills.
Real World Example
To see how the Decision Stack Framework can be applied in practice, let's imagine a fictitious example of Tom, a freelance developer who was on the verge of burning out due to constant client negotiations.
He started by establishing a foundation decision:
"No custom features outside my core tech stack."
He then created a decision template:
"If feature request is outside core stack, refer to partner developer."
To further streamline his process, Tom began batching all project scope discussions on Tuesday afternoons and applying the 24-hour rule to all custom project quotes.
Finally, he started keeping a decision journal to track which types of projects were most likely to cause scope creep.
As a result of these changes, Tom was able to make faster, better decisions, freeing up more energy for actual work.
How to implement
If you're ready to start implementing the Decision Stack Framework in your own business, start small and build slowly.
Begin by identifying one type of decision that consistently drains your mental energy, and create a template for it this week.
Commit to using that template for seven days straight, and then add another template the following week.
Remember, consistency is more important than perfection, so focus on establishing a sustainable habit rather than trying to overhaul your entire decision-making process overnight.