Bezos's Thoughts on Decision Making

One of the things I like to model are the decision making practises of successful people like Jeff Bezos.

Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, has shared various insights on decision-making, stress management, and leadership. Here are a few quotes from Bezos that reflect perspectives on decision-making and dealing with stress:

1. On Decision-Making and Simplicity:

- "If you can’t tolerate critics, don’t do anything new or interesting."

- This quote emphasizes the importance of being resilient and decisive, even under pressure. Critics and challenges can cause stress, but avoiding decisions isn't the solution.

2. On Being Flexible and Open to Change:

- "Be stubborn on vision but flexible on details."

- Bezos highlights the importance of maintaining a clear vision while being adaptable in the execution. This flexibility can reduce stress and improve decision-making by allowing for adjustments based on new information.

3. On Prioritizing and Managing Time:

- "We all have 24-hour days. It's about how we choose to spend our time and energy."

- This quote underlines the significance of prioritization in decision-making. Effective time and energy management can alleviate stress and lead to better decision outcomes.

4. On Embracing Failure and Learning:

- "Failure and invention are inseparable twins."

- Recognizing that failure is a natural part of the innovation process can reduce the fear of making decisions and the stress associated with potential negative outcomes.

5. On Long-Term Thinking:

- "If we think long term, we can accomplish things that we wouldn’t otherwise accomplish."

- Bezos advocates for long-term thinking in decision-making. This approach can help mitigate stress by shifting focus from immediate pressures to broader, strategic goals.

6. On Focusing on What You Can Control:

- "One of the only ways to get out of a tight box is to invent your way out."

- This quote suggests that proactive problem-solving and innovation are key to overcoming stressful situations and making effective decisions.

7. On Risk Management:

- "I knew that if I failed I wouldn’t regret that, but I knew the one thing I might regret is not trying."

- Bezos emphasizes the importance of taking risks and making decisions despite the potential for failure. This perspective encourages action and reduces decision paralysis caused by stress.

8. On the Speed of Decision-Making:

- "Most decisions should probably be made with somewhere around 70% of the information you wish you had. If you wait for 90%, in most cases, you’re probably being slow."

- This emphasizes the importance of not getting paralyzed by the need for complete information, which can reduce stress and speed up decision-making.

9. On Experimentation and Innovation:

- "If you double the number of experiments you do per year, you’re going to double your inventiveness."

- Encourages a mindset where frequent experimentation is key, which can reduce the stress of seeking perfection in every decision and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

10. On Adapting to Change:

- "What’s dangerous is not to evolve."

- Highlights the necessity of being adaptable and evolving, which can help mitigate the stress associated with stagnation and falling behind.

11. On Customer Obsession:

- "We see our customers as invited guests to a party, and we are the hosts. It’s our job every day to make every important aspect of the customer experience a little bit better."

- Stresses the importance of focusing on customer satisfaction, which can guide decision-making processes and reduce stress by prioritizing clear objectives.

12. On Making Big Bets:

- "We are willing to go down a bunch of dark alleys and occasionally find something that really works."

- Reflects the importance of being bold and taking risks, acknowledging that not all decisions will lead to success but some will have significant positive outcomes.

13. On Maintaining High Standards:

- "Setting the bar high in our approach to hiring has been, and will continue to be, the single most important element of Amazon’s success."

- Emphasizes the importance of high standards in hiring and decision-making, which can alleviate stress by ensuring that capable, competent people are making and executing decisions.

14. On Handling Criticism and Adversity:

- "If you never want to be criticized, for goodness' sake don’t do anything new."

- Encourages embracing criticism as a natural part of doing innovative work, which can reduce the stress associated with fear of negative feedback.

15. On Long-Term Commitment:

- "It’s not an experiment if you know it’s going to work."

- This quote underscores the necessity of taking risks and making decisions even when the outcomes are uncertain, fostering a mindset of long-term thinking and resilience.

16. On Focus and Prioritization:

- "Focus is about saying no."

- Emphasizes the importance of prioritizing and focusing on key objectives, which can help reduce the stress of overcommitment and distraction.

17. On Operational Excellence:

- "We are stubborn on vision. We are flexible on details… We don’t give up on things easily."

- Highlights the balance between having a clear vision and being flexible with the details, which can lead to better decision-making and reduced stress in the face of challenges.