Embrace Uncertainty with a Test and Learn Mindset

Have you ever done something for the first time?

How did you feel? Were you nervous or uncertain about whether you'd succeed or fail?

Consider these scenarios:

• At work, there’s an opening in a different team. You’re interested, but you’re unsure if you have the necessary experience. Your current role isn’t challenging enough, but you’re hesitant about the change.
• Your current position is evolving, and you’re not sure if the new team will support your growth. How comfortable are you with this transition?
• You’ve learned a new recipe for your family but worry about whether it will turn out well.

Life often presents us with situations where we must choose between embracing change and sticking to what we know.

No one can tell us what the right decision is. We must trust our intuition, follow our path, and learn from our experiences.

You may have heard about best practices from friends, colleagues, or online sources. But how do you know which approach is right for you?

One effective way to handle uncertainty is to adopt a "test-and-learn" approach.

Start with an idea or new method and set a feedback loop of ten days. Every ten days, review your progress, identify mistakes, and focus on what you’ve learned. Make adjustments in the next feedback cycle.

The key is not to be too hard on yourself for mistakes. The goal of “test and learn” is to see how change is working for you, how it’s helping you grow, and how you’re managing your emotions.

Use the feedback loop to identify what’s working and where you’re gaining benefits.

Discipline is also crucial in this process. Without it, you may never know if your decisions are helping or hurting you.

This approach to uncertainty—taking things as they come, learning, and using your decisions to your advantage—is a secret ingredient for a successful and happy life.

Practice test and learn. It will give you more options to succeed in life.

Wouldn’t you feel more confident in your choices after testing your options?