It’s never the right time. Here’s how to know when to act anyway
Sarah sat across from me, twisting her wedding ring. "I know I need to leave," she said, "but the timing isn't right. The kids are still in school, the market is uncertain, and..." She trailed off, her voice heavy with the weight of an impossible decision.
Literally 15 years later, she still hasn't left. She now owns a home in the country with the person she wanted to leave. She's as unhappy as she was 15 years ago—except now she's even more stuck in.
Sarah is one of the most talented people I've ever met. A preternaturally good cook whose talents are spent on a partner who'd literally prefer to eat a box of Cheez-Its (I'm not making this up). A brilliant chemist who consistently thwarts her own advancement because she's waiting for the "right time" to take the risk, to make the jump, to ask for the raise, to start her own company—to, basically, do anything besides what she's been doing for the last two decades.
My guess? You've got your own version of Sarah's story.
Cognitive biases #3: Anchoring
A few years ago, my friend Chris, a doctor, faced a lawsuit—which, well, he didn’t win. In this week’s post, we dig into why that was, how his brain sabotaged him, and how you can recognize that same sabotage in your own life.
Cognitive Biases #2: The Availability Bias
Are you always applying for (and leaving) the same jobs? Do you always date the same kinds of people, eat at the same restaurants, and find yourself stuck in patterns that don't always serve you?
It's not you; it's your brain sabotaging you. This week's post talks about how, and how to get around it.
Cognitive Biases #1: The Sunk Cost Glacier
Have you ever stayed in a job or a relationship for longer than you should have? Are you there now?
It's not you. It's your brain getting in your own way. Let's talk about how, and how to get around it.