the byte n

A pause before a decision

A simple flow for a reversible everyday choice.

An original practical exercise from The Byte N. Start with an everyday situation and adapt it to your context.

  1. State the actual choice

    Write the decision in one sentence. Separate the decision from a worry about every possible future.

  2. List knowns and unknowns

    Mark observations as observations and assumptions as assumptions. Do not give a guess the confidence of a fact.

  3. Try an alternative explanation

    Imagine a sensible person choosing differently. What information or priority might they have?

  4. Choose a small test

    For a reversible choice, test a version with a clear stopping point. Review what happened before expanding the commitment.

Related reading note → · All practices