The “One Decision Away” Rule

5 March 20254 min readBy Jack Alexander
The “One Decision Away” Rule

Most founders don’t crash because they pick the wrong path. They crash because they pick no fucking path at all.

Hesitation. Overanalyzing. Begging for five more opinions. Wasting weeks “validating” shit that should’ve hit the ground running yesterday.

Meanwhile, some bastard—who isn’t smarter, just faster—is already executing and taking what’s yours.

The One Decision Away Rule cuts the bullshit. It’s about finding the one decision that actually fucking matters right now, making it, and forcing momentum. This isn’t reckless—it’s surgical.

If you’re stuck, it’s because you’re dodging one call. Make it, and everything shifts.


Why Too Many Decisions Fuck You Over

Your business is one decision away from ripping forward—or sitting there, rotting, while someone else eats your lunch.

Here’s how hesitation screws you:

  • Too many choices = brain-dead gridlock. Options don’t make you smarter—they paralyze you.
  • Overthinking kills action. You’re daydreaming about moves instead of making them.
  • Fear strangles speed. You’re waiting for a “perfect” moment that doesn’t exist.
  • Validation loops waste time. More input isn’t clarity—it’s procrastination.

Fast operators don’t chase perfect. They move, then fix. If you’re not moving, you’re avoiding the one decision that’s holding you back.


The One Decision Away Rule: 5 Steps to Unfuck Your Momentum

This rule smashes complexity into one brutal move that forces shit to happen. Here’s how you do it:

Step 1: Pinpoint the Bottleneck Decision

Every stall has a choke point. Find the ONE decision blocking 80% of your progress.

  • You’re not stuck because of a dozen problems. It’s one fucking thing.
  • Ask: “What’s the ONE call I could make today that’d kick momentum into gear?”

Don’t know? That’s your first failure. Dig it out.

Step 2: Pick One Path and Fucking Commit

Got the bottleneck? Stop jerking around with alternatives like some spineless rookie.

  • Kill the backups. Plan B is for losers who can’t decide.
  • Own your call. No more polling the room—just pick and go.

Step 3: Act. Right Fucking Now.

A decision that doesn’t hit the ground is a fucking fantasy.

  • Hiring? Send the damn offer today.
  • Pricing? Push it live now.
  • New project? Start it this fucking second.

Every hour you “tweak” is an hour lost. Ship it. Sort it later.

Step 4: Lock It In

Make it damn near impossible to back out, because second-guessing is a momentum killer.

  • Go loud. Tell your team, your customers, someone who’ll call you out.
  • Set a hard line. No bullshit extensions, no wiggle room.
  • Push forward. You can adjust later—don’t stall now.

Step 5: Adjust on the Fly

Perfect decisions are a myth. Fast decisions win.

  • Wrong move? Pivot quick.
  • Right move? Hammer it harder.
  • No move? That’s how you die.

Proof Speed Crushes (And Hesitation Buries)

This isn’t some feel-good theory—it’s how real operators dominate while the rest choke on indecision.

Amazon: Speed on Reversible Shit

Bezos splits it clean:

  • Two-way doors: Reversible, low stakes—move fast as fuck.
  • One-way doors: High stakes, rare—think, then strike.

Most decisions are two-way. You can fix them later—so why the hell are you stalling?

Elon Musk: Launch First, Fix Later

Musk’s brutal: Test fast, fail fast, win fast.

  • SpaceX: Rockets blow up? Good data.
  • Tesla: Software’s rough? Ship it, patch it live.
  • X: Bold move flops? Kill it, move on.

Speed creates feedback. Feedback creates dominance.

Netflix: One Bet That Slaughtered Blockbuster

Netflix picked streaming—raw and risky. Blockbuster clung to their dying stores, too scared to shift.

One moved. One stalled. One’s still here.


Make This Daily (Or Stay Fucked)

Don’t use this once and forget it. Make it your every-damn-day ritual, or you’ll keep circling the same shitpile.

Every morning, hit these:

  • What’s the ONE decision I need today?
  • What action does it force?
  • How do I lock it down so I don’t pussy out?

No answers? You’re hiding from the real call. Face it.


Your Next Move: Execute or Rot

Your business is one decision away from ripping ahead—or staying stuck, watching someone else take it all.

What’s the call you’re dodging?

  • Decide. Act. Adjust later.

Master this, and decisions become your weapon. Speed and focus will carve your path.

Clock’s ticking. Move.

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