The Power of Inaction: Why Not Deciding Is Still a Choice
Choosing not to make a decision is absolutely a decision, and it’s a powerful tool that you can utilize daily. Sometimes, it’s the right choice.
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One day, I asked my son, Cole, if he wanted to do something. His response was, "Sure. Sure, Dad." When I pressed him for more clarity, asking, "Cole, what does 'sure' mean?" he replied, "Well, Dad, it means yes and no." We got a little chuckle out of it, and since then, "sure" has become a running joke in our house.
Whether it's asking, "Do you want to do something?" or "What do you want for dinner?" the answer is often, "Sure." It’s his way of saying, “I don’t really care, Dad. You make the decision. I trust you.” This got me thinking about something important: a decision not to make a decision is still a decision. It’s an active choice to abstain from choosing, and this simple word, "sure," encapsulates that perfectly.
The Apple Stock Lesson
For those of you who’ve been following my blog for a while, you might remember a story I shared about losing out on $1 million by selling Apple stock over 20 years ago. If I had literally done nothing—if I had chosen not to make a decision and just held onto the stock—I would be significantly wealthier today due to Apple’s exponential growth.
This story is a perfect example of how choosing not to make a decision and doing nothing is an active choice. It’s a decision to maintain the status quo. Sometimes, we forget that inaction is an option, often to our detriment. So, let's dive deeper into this concept.
Accepting the Status Quo
Choosing not to decide means accepting things as they are. I like to ask myself, "Is the juice worth the squeeze?" In other words, is taking action better than doing nothing? Inertia can be a powerful force. Think about how many software products have been invented to try and replace spreadsheets—yet spreadsheets still reign supreme in many cases because people stick with what they know.
On weekends, I often joke that my wife is my planner. When someone asks me, "What are you doing this weekend?" I typically respond, "I don't know, whatever my wife tells me to." When she asks what I want for dinner, I often say, "You choose." By not making a decision, I’m effectively delegating that power to her. I’m giving up my choice, trusting her to make a good decision.
Delegating Decisions
When we choose not to decide, we empower others and acknowledge that we will accept whatever outcome comes from their decision. We might do this because the matter isn’t that important to us or because we trust the person making the decision. However, it’s important to remember that delegating a decision doesn’t mean we’re neutral or unbiased. Sometimes, my wife chooses something I’m not crazy about, but I accept the consequences because I value her happiness more than my own in that moment. It’s a little bit of selflessness—if she’s happy, I’m happy.
Timing and Opportunity Cost
Timing can play a crucial role in decision-making. Delaying a decision might allow for more context, more research, or a better overall choice. However, it can also mean losing the opportunity to decide altogether. Timing is everything, as they say, and it can significantly influence the outcomes of our decisions.
Another important factor to consider is opportunity cost—one of the most valuable lessons I learned from my early economics classes. Every decision has a cost. By choosing not to decide, we might miss out on potential benefits or positive outcomes that could have been achieved through decisive action. On the flip side, we might also avoid making huge mistakes that could waste time and money. So, opportunity costs can be another reason to slow down and consider inaction as a viable choice.
The Power of Inaction
In conclusion, remember that when making decisions, don’t leave the option of inaction off the table. Keep it in your toolkit, knowing it’s available whenever you need it. I’d even venture to say that the majority of decisions we make are in this "null state." Think about how many hours and minutes in a day we spend choosing to do nothing because we’re content with the current state of things.
Choosing not to make a decision is absolutely a decision, and it’s a powerful tool that you can utilize daily. Sometimes, it’s the right choice. So, don’t forget about the power of inaction in your decision-making process.
And with that, have a great weekend!