$6,000 or goodbye forever—what would you choose?

It was supposed to be a routine vet visit.

But instead, I found myself staring at a clipboard, trying to process what the vet had just said:

"We can perform the emergency surgery today—it’ll cost $6,000 upfront. Or… we can euthanize her tonight for $450."

Two options. One choice. And a clock ticking louder in my head than in the sterile exam room.

Here’s the thing about decisions like that:

You don’t get time to analyze spreadsheets. You don’t get to workshop pros and cons. You just act.

I handed over my credit card.

Because, in that moment, I realized something:

When it matters most, hesitation is the most expensive choice of all.

The funny thing is, this lesson applies far beyond a vet’s office.

How many times do we find ourselves frozen, staring at our own version of that clipboard?

• Launching that new product.
• Letting go of an underperforming employee.
• Making the big investment we know will pay off… but feels terrifying upfront.

We tell ourselves we need “just a little more time.”

But here’s the truth:

The right decision, made decisively, is almost always less costly than waiting.

So whatever clipboard is in front of you right now—

What’s it going to be?

If you’ve got a clipboard moment sitting in front of you, and you’d rather not face it alone… There’s always an option to talk it through with someone who’s been there before.

-CJ