Are You a Good Boss to Yourself? I'm Not, Darn It.

Our ability to choose wisely begins with a fundamental question: are we our best ally when it comes to decision-making?

Before answering that, we’d first need to be in control. Yet, between cognitive biases and choices driven by emotions, it’s not always easy to bring reason into the process. And it’s not just my opinion—it’s backed by science.

But no, I’m not talking about choosing between strawberry or chocolate ice cream.

Isn’t it easier to strategize for others than it is for ourselves?

Are we sometimes our own worst saboteur when faced with tough choices?

An external perspective can be invaluable—but not just any perspective. I don’t believe Aunt Raymonde is the best person to help us decide whether to integrate AI into our workflow.

We often turn to people in our circles whom we consider “knowledgeable,” imagining them to be impartial and well-intentioned. Ah, perceptions…

The ideal is to approach these decisions with someone who’s truly neutral, someone who understands their own emotions, biases, and tendencies—and knows how to manage them so they don’t interfere. Someone whose role is to tell you everything, no sugarcoating, someone who minimizes their influence on you and knows how to do so. Someone who considers every obstacle but, more importantly, understands the entire system—your mindset, the context—and is committed to finding your solutions.

But in moments like these, when the stakes are high, what you’re looking for is something even more than that.