Episode 5: The Decision Stool -- How to Measure Decision Quality Before You Act

How do you know if a decision was actually good BEFORE the outcome happens? In this episode, Ben introduces a powerful framework from decision analysis, The Decision Stool. Most of us judge decisions by how things turn out. But outcomes involve luck and things beyond your control. Good decisions can lead to bad outcomes, and bad decisions can sometimes lead to good outcomes. So, if outcomes don't let us know if we made a good decision, what does? The Decision Stool gives you a way to evaluate decision quality in advance, by checking the strength of three essential legs: Values: What do you truly care about, and across which categories? Alternatives: What options do you actually have, and can you create better ones using a value-focused approach? Information: What do you know, what don’t you know, and is it worth learning more? Ben walks you through how he used the decision stool framework from his own 20s when he bought his first home in Northern California. He had to balance affordability, family, location, schools, and risk. You’ll see how a value-focused, hybrid alternative led to a creative solution that satisfied competing priorities. Yes, Ben does enter the Matrix in this episode and turns his decision to buy a house into an opportunity to become a landlord! You’ll walk away with: A practical checklist for evaluating decision quality A way to diagnose why you feel stuck An exercise to design alternatives that aren’t “on the menu” A preview of the next tool: decision trees, which make complex choices visible When a decision feels wobbly, don’t guess. Instead, notice which leg of the stool needs strengthening AND stabilize. A solid decision stool translates to more confident decisions also known as "Clarity of Action" which means you evaluate your decisions based on what you can control.   Now It’s Your Turn Think about a decision you are currently facing, big or small. Take 5–10 minutes and evaluate it using the Decision Stool. Values. What truly matters in this decision? What outcomes are most important to you? Alternatives. Have you clearly defined the options? Can you create an alternative based on your values? Information. What do you know, what don’t you know, and what assumptions are you making? If one leg feels weak, strengthen it. If this exercise changes your approach to a decision, share what you discovered in the comments!