Hey friends,
I make fewer decisions now than I did 5 years ago.
My results have never been better.
I used to think good leaders made fast decisions.
So I made everything fast.
But first, here’s a quick building-in-public update:
🕕 The 15-minute mistake that changed how I build
I used to spend entire weekends building things nobody asked for.
Beautiful, polished, completely untested things.
By Monday I would have a finished product and zero proof anyone actually wanted it.
That is the most expensive mistake in building.
Not the bad idea.
The beautiful version of the bad idea that took you 40 hours to make.
Now when I get an idea, I open AI.
Not to do the thinking.
To get me to a rough version in 15 minutes that I can put in front of a real person before I fall in love with it.
Most of the time, the feedback changes the idea completely.
Sometimes it kills it. And when it kills it, I just saved myself a weekend.
That is the whole philosophy behind creatyl .
Stop spending 3 months building something you could have tested in an afternoon.
One quick test will teach you more than a year of planning.
Maybe it's your turn
Speaking of testing ideas fast, that is literally what we do every Thursday in my workshop.
You come in with an idea (or no idea at all), and in 90 minutes you leave with a finished product and a checkout page ready to start selling.
If you have been sitting on something, stop perfecting it alone and come build it with me.
The quality of your next year will come down to a handful of decisions you have not made yet and whether you ask the right questions before you make them.
Today we are going to help you master this by using:
‘Decision Checklist'
Let’s dive in!
Download This PDF + my Top 90+ Cheat Sheets At Bottom of Email
4 Ways To Make Better Decisions At Work
1. When Your Team Can't Agree
Scenario: A meeting has gone on for 30 minutes. Everyone has a different opinion, and the discussion keeps going in circles without a decision.
Don't ask, "Which idea is best?"
First ask, "What problem are we actually trying to solve?"
Write the problem on the board so everyone is solving the same thing.
Ask each person to share their best option in one minute or less.
Choose one person to make the final call if the team can't agree.
End the meeting by saying exactly who owns the next step and when you'll review it.
2. When You Don't Have Enough Information
Scenario: You're about to make an important decision, but someone keeps saying, "Let's wait until we have more data."
Ask what information would actually change the decision.
If the answer is "probably nothing," stop waiting.
Separate facts from guesses before deciding.
If the risk is small, run a quick test instead of debating for another week.
Set a review date so you can adjust if needed.
Good decisions come from learning quickly, not waiting forever.
3. When A Team Member Wants Your Answer
Scenario: An employee comes to you with a problem and immediately asks, "What should I do?"
Don't answer right away.
Ask, "What do you think are your best two options?"
Ask what they believe could happen with each one.
Let them recommend the solution first.
Step in only if they miss an important risk.
This builds better decision-makers instead of creating people who depend on you for every answer.
4. When A Decision Doesn't Work Out
Scenario: Your team made a decision that didn't go as planned, and people start pointing fingers.
Don't spend the meeting looking for someone to blame.
Ask, "What did we learn that we didn't know before?"
Write down one lesson everyone can use next time.
Update your team's checklist or process while it's still fresh.
Share what you'll do differently on the next project.
Strong teams don't avoid mistakes. They improve after every one.
1. Turn One Good Idea Into A Week Of Content
Scenario: You have one helpful idea, but you don't know what to post on LinkedIn, Instagram, or your newsletter.
Ask ChatGPT to turn your idea into five different posts.
Use Canva to create matching graphics in minutes.
Use Grammarly to give everything a final polish before you publish.
One idea can become multiple pieces of content instead of disappearing in your notes.
2. Stop Letting Meetings Go To Waste
Scenario: Your team has great conversations, but no one remembers what was decided or what happens next.
Record the meeting with Fellow to capture notes and action items automatically.
Drop the key points into Notion AI and ask it to create a summary and follow-up email.
Use Perplexity to quickly fact-check anything that came up during the discussion.
You'll spend less time writing notes and more time getting work done.
3. Turn What You Know Into Something You Can Sell
Scenario: People keep asking you the same questions, and you realize your knowledge could become a digital product.
Use ChatGPT to organize your ideas into a guide, checklist, or template.
Then go to creatyl.com and let the AI help you build your product, create your sales page, and get it ready to sell.
In just a few steps, you'll have a finished product that people can buy instead of answering the same questions over and over again.
Want to read more? Go here to download the infographic.
Here's how you can make it real today:
Step 1: Pick your decision
Think about one decision you've been avoiding at work.
It could be replying to an email.
Choosing between two ideas.
Giving feedback.
Starting a project you've been delaying.
Pick just one. That's your focus today.
Step 2: Get clear
Before you decide, ask yourself:
What problem am I actually trying to solve?
What facts do I know for sure?
What outcome am I hoping for?
Write your answers in one or two short sentences if it helps.
Step 3: Make the call
Set a 10-minute timer.
Choose the best option with the information you have today.
If the decision isn't permanent, remind yourself:
"I can adjust later if I learn something new."
Once you've decided, take the very next action immediately.
Step 4: Notice what happened
After you've taken action, ask yourself:
Did making the decision feel easier than I expected?
Did I spend less time overthinking?
What's one thing I learned from taking action instead of waiting?
Step 5: End your day with one sentence
Before you finish work, complete one of these:
"The decision I'm most glad I made today was ______."
"Tomorrow I'll make decisions faster by ______."
AI Prompt: “Act as a workplace decision coach. Help me make one work decision today using a simple, structured process instead of overthinking it.
Decision I Need To Make: [Describe the decision.]
Background: [Explain the situation, including any deadlines, people involved, and why you're unsure.]
What I'm Considering: [List the options you're thinking about.]
My Biggest Concern: [Describe what you're worried about.]
Provide:
A clear summary of the real problem I'm trying to solve.
The facts I know versus the assumptions I'm making.
The strengths and risks of each option in simple language.
Any important information I'm missing before deciding.
The option you would recommend and why.
The smallest next step I can take today to move forward.
Three questions I should ask myself to make sure I'm making a smart decision instead of reacting to emotions.
A one-sentence action plan I can follow immediately after reading your advice.”
Every choice moves you closer to where you want to be or keeps you exactly where you are.
Waiting for certainty often costs more than making a small mistake.
Good judgment is built one decision at a time.
The people who grow the most aren't always right.
They simply keep deciding and learning.
Until next time and with lots of love,
Justin
This Week’s Growth Recommendations
Book To Read:
“Thinking, Fast and Slow” by Daniel Kahneman (see it here)
TED Talk to Watch:
“3 Ways to Make Better Decisions" by Tom Griffiths (see it here)
Quick Reads:
“Leading Change Successfully” → Make change easier for everyone involved (see it here)
“12 Platforms to Build Your Own Business” → The tools every entrepreneur should know (see it here)
“Top 30 Leadership KPIs” → Measure what matters most as a leader (see it here)
“Pareto Principle One Pager” → Focus on the 20% that matters most (see it here)
“Time to Let Them Go” → A leader's guide to tough decisions (see it here)
It's waiting for the perfect moment. Join my free workshop and learn how to build your first digital product faster than you think.
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