- The Introverted Path
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- hats, haircuts, and tattoos
Welcome to The Introverted Path!
Happy Thursday - hope everyone has had a fantastic week so far.
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This week, I came across a great framework for making decisions. I have been thinking about it a lot and wanted to share it with y’all.
In today’s email:
Hats, haircuts, and tattoos
Why this framework is important
Links to other content I enjoyed this week
Let’s dive in 🤙
Hats 🎩 , haircuts 💇♀️ , and tattoos 🧑🎨
In one of James Clear’s recent newsletters, he talked about this decision making framework.
It was one of those things you read and it just sticks with you. So simple, yet extremely helpful.
Here it is below:
“I think about decisions in three ways: hats, haircuts, and tattoos.
Most decisions are like hats. Try one and if you don’t like it, put it back and try another. The cost of a mistake is low, so move quickly and try a bunch of hats.
Some decisions are like haircuts. You can fix a bad one, but it won’t be quick and you might feel foolish for awhile. That said, don’t be scared of a bad haircut. Trying something new is usually a risk worth taking. If it doesn’t work out, by this time next year you will have moved on and so will everyone else.
A few decisions are like tattoos. Once you make them, you have to live with them. Some mistakes are irreversible. Maybe you’ll move on for a moment, but then you’ll glance in the mirror and be reminded of that choice all over again. Even years later, the decision leaves a mark. When you’re dealing with an irreversible choice, move slowly and think carefully.”
What does this framework mean for introverts?
As introverts, we take in all necessary information before making a decision. And we typically don’t rush into things.
That is good for tattoo decisions, and maybe some haircut decisions…but not for hat decisions.
The key is determining what decisions fall under which label.
I know I am guilty of overthinking the small things.
If we consciously identify decisions that are hats, then we can make a quick decision, knowing we can try on another hat if needed.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized one of the common traits among successful people is a bias to action.
As in, get started immediately and figure the rest out as you go.
Most people don’t get past that first step of getting started, which means they aren’t giving themselves any chance at succeeding.
I’ve always had a hard time getting started with things. I overthink it, worry about what people may think, wonder how it could go wrong, etc.
But I’ve tried to push past that.
A perfect example - this newsletter.
I could have talked myself out of doing this 1,000 different ways.
But I just decided to get started. Send out one issue, then another, then another, and figure it out as I go.
And now here I am, 30 some newsletters later 😁
Links that I enjoyed this week 💥
That’s it for today - hope you enjoyed this week’s newsletter!
Best,
BG