Feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just plain over it? In this episode, Ashley and Dave tackle the kind of chaos that doesn’t come with easy answers—messy work situations, unexpected leadership changes, and the creeping urge to quit. Instead of defaulting to “stay or go,” they introduce a smarter way to sort through the mess: Situation Analysis. You’ll laugh (cabinet paint colors and cats are involved), you’ll think (about comfort vs. growth and of course Dave drops the mic on us 🎤), and you’ll walk away with a framework that can make even the gnarliest problems feel manageable. They also discuss why binary thinking ("should I stay or should I go?") limits your choices—and how reframing the decision can open up new, better options. Whether you’re overwhelmed at work or navigating personal frustration, this episode offers a calm, clear way to find your next move. Bonus: Dave and Ashley talk about their Decision-Focus course, where you can learn these tools at your own pace—plus get coaching when real life gets tricky. Hit play and find out why this just might be the best tool you’ve never used.

🛠 Learn more about the process (and get your own downloadable worksheets): www.FocusTools.com/Decision-Focus

💡Want to book a workshop with us or have a question for Ash & Dave? Email team@focustools.com or find us on Instagram @thestuffweknowshow

Mentioned in this episode:

Ashley’s amazing retractable sliding screen door: https://g.co/kgs/kciek8c

Her favorite green for kitchen cabinets: https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-colors/color/509/cypress-green

Is your life a mess? Figure it out with Situation Analysis: https://focustools.podia.com/situation-analysis

Choose how to make better decisions with Decision Analysis: https://focustools.podia.com/decision-analysis

PS: We wrote a book! Here’s what people are saying so far about 5 Things You Need to Know About Decision Making…

• “You don’t know what you don’t know until you read this book.”

• “This is an example of something we all think we’re good at it…and we’re not.”

• “Very practical and immediately usable. The decision-making framework and tools are outstanding resources for business and everyday life decisions.”

We’ll be discussing each of the 5 things in our upcoming episodes, so make sure to click that subscribe button so you’ll get notified! Grab your copy of the book: https://www.focustools.com/5things

What’s the second thing we need to know about making decisions? In this conversation, Ashley and Dave explore intricacies of decision-making, focusing on different styles and the impact of personality on choices. They discuss the concepts of maximizing versus satisficing, the DiSC model, and the importance of self-awareness in making effective decisions. You’ll learn how to get consensus if one person is a slower decision maker than you, how valuing harmony impacts the decisions you make, and whether or not crowdsourcing is a good idea. You’ll also hear Dave’s super deep unintentional question that cracked Ashley up and briefly made her question all her life’s choices.

Spoiler Alert: She’s a maximizer.

"If you're getting buy-in for the sake of just avoiding conflict rather than seeking an optimal solution, then that might not be a good thing.” - Dave

Want to know more about how your DiSC style impacts your decision making? Take the assessment for yourself: https://bit.ly/DiSCstyle

Get a promo code to find out your decision making DiSC style when you buy our ebook 5 Things You Need to Know About Decision Making. Here’s what people are saying so far …

· “This is an example of something we all think we’re good at it…and we’re not.”

· “Very practical and immediately usable. The decision-making framework and tools are outstanding resources for business and everyday life decisions.”

Get your copy here! https://www.focustools.com/5things

Takeaways

· Understanding decision-making styles is crucial for effective choices.

· Maximizers seek the best options, while satisficers settle for good enough.

· Self-awareness plays a key role in how we make decisions.

· The DiSC model can help identify decision-making tendencies.

· Crowdsourcing opinions can lead to confusion without clear boundaries.

· Decision fatigue can impact our ability to make choices.

· Different situations may require different decision-making approaches.

· Knowing your style can improve team dynamics and decision outcomes.

· Emotional factors often influence decision-making processes.

· It's important to balance speed and quality in decision-making.

In this episode you will learn:

• The Difference between Type 1 and Type 2 decisions
• What RAPID Roles stands for and how it helps you get to a decision faster
• How to move forward when your partner says no to whatever you want to do
• The key thing you're doing wrong when making (or not making) the decision; aka the life changing nugget that blew Ashley's mind

In this conversation, Ashley and Dave explore the intricacies of decision-making, focusing on the distinction between type one and type two decisions. They discuss how understanding these types can alleviate the stress associated with decision-making, particularly in personal and professional contexts. The conversation also delves into the importance of defining decision roles within teams and the accountability that comes with having veto power. By reframing failure as an opportunity for evolution, they provide insights into making more effective decisions and learning from past experiences.

PS: We wrote a book! Here’s what people are saying so far about 5 Things You Need to Know About Decision Making…

• “You don’t know what you don’t know until you read this book.”
• “This is an example of something we all think we’re good at it…and we’re not.”
• “Very practical and immediately usable. The decision-making framework and tools are outstanding resources for business and everyday life decisions.”

We’ll be discussing each of the 5 things in our upcoming episodes, so make sure to click that subscribe button so you’ll get notified!

Grab your copy of the book: https://www.focustools.com/5things

Have some fun & work with us: https://www.focustools.com

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestuffweknowshow

Leave a review on Apple: https://bit.ly/StuffWeKnowShowOnApple

Rate us on Spotify: https://bit.ly/StuffWeKnowShowOnSpotify

Takeaways

• Type one decisions are reversible and less costly.
• Type two decisions require careful consideration and expert input.
• Understanding decision types can reduce anxiety in decision-making.
• Decision roles clarify who has authority in the process.
• Veto power comes with the responsibility to propose alternatives.
• Emotional costs should be factored into decision-making.
• Organizations often confuse type one and type two decisions.
• A good decision now is better than a great decision later.
• You can give yourself permission to fail in personal decisions.
• Learning from past decisions can improve future outcomes.

Sound Bites

• "The cost of failure is no big deal."
• "You can give yourself permission to fail."
• "The cost of the internal struggle is high."

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Decision Types

03:05 Navigating Type Two Decisions

05:58 The Importance of Decision Roles

09:11 Managing Veto Power in Decisions

11:54 Personal Decision Dynamics

14:56 Learning from Decision-Making Experiences