Regret is about the process
People rarely regret a well-made decision that went badly through bad luck. What stings is knowing you skipped something obvious — a call you didn't make, a document you didn't read.
Before any big decision
- Write the worst case in one sentence.
- List what must be true for this to work out.
- Check the most important of those with an independent source.
- Choose a first step you could undo or recover from.
- Write down why you decided — so future you can see you were careful.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I take on a big decision?
Long enough to check the key facts and sleep on it once — rarely longer. Deadlines set by someone else are a reason for more care, not less.
Should I go with my gut?
Use your gut to spot what worries you, then check that worry with evidence. Gut plus one check beats either alone.