The Cost of Not Deciding

The Cost of Not Deciding 💸

Have you ever found yourself agonizing over a decision that should have taken five minutes?

A tool to choose. A post to publish. A direction to commit to.

You circle the options. Make a pros and cons list. Ask five different people for input. And then... still feel unsure.

You tell yourself:

“I just need more time to think it through.”

But days turn into weeks. And clarity never comes.

Sound familiar?

❗️Why We Delay Decisions (Even When We Know Better)

Let’s be honest - this isn’t just a productivity problem. It’s a human one.

We delay because we don’t want to fail. Or be judged. Or waste time or money.

We think:

“If I choose wrong, I’ll lose something.”

So we wait. We overthink. We research just one more thing. We pretend we’re being “careful” - when really, we’re just scared.

But here's the twist:

Not choosing doesn’t protect you. It just guarantees you stay exactly where you are.

Even high performers fall into this trap.

We make fear feel smart. We call it “being strategic” or “waiting for the right time.”

But most of the time?

We’re just stuck in the safety of maybe.

🧠 The Neuro + Hormone Cocktail That Makes it 10x Harder

In people with ADHD, studies show the prefrontal cortex - the part of the brain responsible for decision-making and regulation - functions differently, especially under pressure or fatigue. (National Institute of Mental Health, 2022)

And in perimenopause (with no ADHD), declining estrogen levels directly affect executive function, making it harder to think clearly and feel confident about even small decisions. (Harvard Health)

So what feels like “overthinking” is often a mix of:

• Executive dysfunction

• Hormonal disruption

• Fear of getting it wrong

That’s a lot for one decision.

📌 The Truth About Delaying

Here’s what most people don’t realize:

Avoiding a decision feels safe. But it’s secretly costing you more than choosing ever could.

🧭 Every time you delay, you:

• Drain mental energy (it sits in your brain like a browser tab left open)

• Block momentum (nothing moves forward without a choice)

• Build pressure (which only makes the decision feel bigger)

• Undermine your self-trust (you stop believing you can choose confidently)

As James Clear puts it:

“Most of the time, the cost of being wrong is less than the cost of doing nothing.”

🧩 Why This Matters for Entrepreneurs

In business, delayed decisions = delayed results.

The funnel doesn’t launch.

The product doesn’t sell.

The audience or client list doesn’t grow.

You don’t learn, because you don’t do.

Indecision is the most expensive habit in your business.

Not because of what you choose - but because of how long it takes to choose anything at all.

🔄 The Owner Mindset Shift

Owners don’t wait for 100% certainty.

They know:

• Clarity comes from action, not analysis.

• There’s no “perfect” decision - only next steps.

• The faster they decide, the faster they can adapt.

It doesn’t mean being impulsive or reckless either…

It means choosing with intention.

And trusting that you’ll figure it out as you go.

“If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you’ll never get it done.”  

- Bruce Lee

✅ Try This: A 3-Step Owner Decision Filter

The next time you’re stuck in the swirl, ask:

1. What’s the worst-case scenario - and can I recover from it?

2. What would I do if I fully trusted myself to figure it out?

3. Will waiting give me more clarity - or just more fear?

And then?

Choose. Move.

Adjust as needed.

That’s how you build momentum - and self-trust.

💬 What’s one decision you’ve been sitting on?

Reply and tell me - I’d love to hear.

You’ve got this.

Mel x

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