#8. Action Leads to Insight
Tags:
personaldecision-making
Date Published: 2026-03-21
Analysis Paralysis
In the twenty-first century, we are bombarded with information from the internet and real life.
Social media tells you to do one thing, your parents, another, your friends, another.
The solution is simple to grasp, but difficult to implement.
Action leads to insight, insight doesn't lead to action.
To combat analysis paralysis, you need to understand that your decisions aren't set in stone, although it may appear so at first glance.
You can quit after making a decision.
You can pivot toward something else after making a decision.
Or, maybe that decision was the right one.
You should only quit or pivot when your brain gives you a strong enough signal.
That signal could be:
- Burnout
- A sense of dread that hasn't subsided for a few days
- In the case of athletic pursuits, your muscles, bones, and joints will give you plenty of signals
But you won't be able to make these decisions if you don't stick with them. The sweet spot for pivots or quits is one to six months. One month for low-stakes decisions. For example, I'll know in one month whether I enjoy swimming, or if I should switch to another fitness hobby. Six months for high-stakes decisions. For example, I'll know in six months whether I'll enjoy working on that business, or if I'm forced to close it because it isn't profitable.
Not everything is for everybody.
Memento Mori.
The bad news is that you won't be able to be proficient in swimming, cycling, art, music production, math, physics, history, etc.
The good news is that you do have the time to try them all.
And that is the secret to forging your own path. Try everything, even if it fails. Stick with it for one to six months. Trust in your own judgement, and that your mind and body will know when to quit or pivot.
Related Notes
- If you want to stick with a decision over the long term without burning out, check out this note: Embrace Radical Incrementalism.