When you're a solo founder, every decision rests on your shoulders. Here are five frameworks that can help you make better choices faster.
1. The 10/10/10 Rule
Ask yourself: How will I feel about this decision in 10 minutes? 10 months? 10 years?
This framework helps you balance short-term emotions with long-term impact. It's particularly useful for decisions that feel urgent but may not be.
2. Reversibility Assessment
Not all decisions are created equal. Some are one-way doors (hard to reverse), while others are two-way doors (easy to change).
For two-way door decisions, move fast and learn. For one-way door decisions, slow down and deliberate.
3. The Pre-Mortem
Before making a major decision, imagine it's a year later and things went terribly wrong. What caused the failure?
This exercise surfaces risks you might otherwise overlook.
4. Opportunity Cost Analysis
Every "yes" is a "no" to something else. Before committing to a direction, explicitly list what you're giving up.
This is especially important for solo founders who can't pursue multiple paths simultaneously.
5. The Advisor Simulation
Ask yourself: "What would a CFO/CTO/CMO advise here?" Even imagining expert perspectives can surface considerations you'd otherwise miss.
Better yet, use tools that can actually provide those expert perspectives on demand.
Putting It Into Practice
The best framework is the one you actually use. Pick one or two that resonate and make them habits. Over time, better decision-making becomes automatic.