You Already Know What to Do

(Now you just need to do it.)

It’s February.

Remember that list of things you were going to take on this year? The new hire, the firing of that person who just wasn’t right for where the company is? The new investor, the new board member?

How’s it going?

If you’re like me (and like a lot of my clients), you resist big decisions, thinking you can figure out exactly how they are going to work out before you make them.

I have bad news for you.

There is No Fork in the Road

So many of the founders that I work with create a narrative that looks something like this—

There is a critical decision to make. There is a “right” path and a “wrong” path. If I study the data enough I can figure out which way to do.

I can figure out the result in advance.

There are two problems with this approach—

You will never think you have enough data, and—

More importantly, there is no “right” path. There is no path at all.

If you think you are following a path, chances are you’re not doing anything very original (or “ground-breaking,” another made-up concept). You’re just doing the same thing that someone else did.

The only path is to try things, see how they work, and adjust. Over and over again.

This is the “path,” and it is deceptively easy until you try it. Which is why the willingness to be a founder, to do something “ground-breaking,” is rare in our culture.

For most people, the fear and uncertainly is just too great.

How do you know what to do?

Notice the Quiet Knowing

Ever hear that voice that says “I knew I should have…”?

How would your life be different if you started following it more? Even if it’s unreasonable? Even if it’s a bit uncomfortable?

That knowing, that sense, came uniquely to you. It is your gift, and it will show up for you just a little bit different than anyone else.

I have said “Desire is a gift from God.” Whether or not those words resonate for you, the truth is that you made every major decision with your gut. I have never met a person who picked their spouse based on a spreadsheet.

You won’t make major business decisions that way, either.

Learn by Taking Action—Quickly

You won’t figure out anything without taking action, and the faster you figure this out the better you will do.

In the startup world, people urge you to “fail fast.”

If that feels too rash, take action when you are about 80 percent certain. And then see what happens and figure out what to do next.

The big secret in all of this is that you will make much faster progress failing over and over than you could ever make trying to succeed the first time.

Thoughts on this?

Drop a comment below.