It’s the framing discussion, and here’s how it should go, or rather the points to address.

You’ve decided to help them navigate, ask themselves the right questions, and intelligently define their professional project. You’re absolutely right.

The first step is to create a precise framework.

You need to have an initial discussion with them with the objective of making a serious moral contract, in which you will specify a framework.

Otherwise, it’s going to be a mess, they’ll stall, drag their feet, and make no progress.

The contract is simple:

1. You must choose a career path by March. To choose it, you need to define the job you want to do.

Yes, I’m clarifying this again, and I won’t explain it all over again every time, but a career path is not motivating; a job is. Especially to start getting interested in it on their personal time, if it’s not already the case. Example already used: between someone who wants to become a "Meilleur Ouvrier de France" in pastry making and someone who wants to work in the restaurant industry, which one will get up at 6 a.m. to make macarons next weekend?
Surely neither, but you get the idea.

Let’s continue.

2. Choosing this job will require a certain amount of introspection, reflection, self-questioning, and evaluating all this rigorously — your values, your desires, etc.
   (Grades? Not always a reliable indicator. You alone will be able to evaluate this question, based on the real gaps and the requirements needed to achieve a professional goal. There’s no general rule here.)

3. I suggest that every week we check in on a fixed day and time, and each time you will identify what you need to think about to progress by our next check-in, including doing the necessary research, etc.

Hold them accountable in a simple and straightforward way. Don’t get into any discussions, debates, bargaining, or arguments.

4. The final goal is for you to be as sure as possible about your choice, knowing why you want to do this job and not another. You should proceed as if you were able to convince anyone, even the most skeptical interviewer, in an entrance interview for the school you’re aiming for.

5. This doesn’t mean you’re necessarily choosing a job for your whole life. It simply means that you’ve reached a key stage where you will have to make a choice, and you need to do it knowingly, because it will impact your life for the next 5 to 10 years at a minimum.

Go, don’t wait until next week. Time will fly quickly from one week to the next.

The equation: Context X Problem / Situation - Personality = Your Solution.

For the principle, or to praise the merits of a method, of an offer, you are presented with formulas of concepts, in mathematical form. Why not, if it makes things clearer.

But be careful, because sometimes, in addition to wanting to complicate simple things that do not require anything more in themselves to promote understanding, approval or action, the use of certain logics and certain terms looks good.

It’s borrowed from mathematics because even if you understand nothing it seems to have something reassuring, like it’s the result of a long study and scientific reflection.

The terms “science,” “research,” “source,” “validated,” “proven” contribute to supporting a point of view.

The creation of new words also looks very professional.

I generally have a scientific approach as much as possible.
But science doesn’t explain everything either, and in some contexts and uses, it’s just ridiculous.

Sometimes simple common sense is enough.
A quality in danger of extinction.

Take “thinking” as an example.
It’s a simple, natural, and conscious process.

I’m thinking about the color I want to choose to repaint my wall.

Do you think you need science to help you?
Your thinking may be biased or influenced and therefore not scientific… but can science help you choose the shade of pink to use for Bastien’s bedroom? Yes, I switched the gender for fun.

And, you must pay attention to the articulation of ideas or the lack of precision because some statements could insinuate, without saying it so directly, that:

Thinking is scientific.

Oops.

Thinking can become scientific if it respects a rigorous process, a precise framework, verifiable hypotheses, etc.
Studying thinking and its processes can be done scientifically through research.

So, for Bastien’s bedroom, does it make sense or not?

Well, why would you want me to complicate a simple thing…

Not every element of a whole that can be explained by science turns the whole into a science.

Your reflection and your choices belong to you, and you are also responsible for them.

Recently, I explored the concept of the cost of our choices and the belief that to choose is to give something up. Today, I want to focus on a possible consequence of not choosing or not taking action: the cost of non-resolution.

The cost of non-resolution often manifests in situations where someone, despite identifying a problem or limitation, chooses not to address it. This conscious or unconscious decision can lead to significant, though sometimes invisible, consequences—especially in the professional realm.

Let me share two striking examples from clients I have worked with.

Example 1: Lack of Social Skills and Public Speaking

An experienced engineer, highly competent in his technical field, struggles with public speaking and expressing himself in meetings due to a lack of developed "soft skills."

This difficulty directly limits his opportunities for advancement: he may be perceived as lacking leadership or confidence, which hinders his chances of moving into higher-responsibility roles.

If he is aware of this issue but chooses not to invest in training, such as a public speaking workshop or theater classes, he incurs a double cost:

• Opportunity cost: Promotions and rewarding projects slip through his fingers. He doesn’t receive the recognition he could achieve, leading to personal and professional consequences.

• Indirect financial cost: His salary stagnates, even though he could earn significantly more if he had the opportunity to advance.

This inaction—whether motivated by a desire to save money, a lack of awareness of the potential impact, or a psychological block—results in cumulative losses over several years.

Let’s talk numbers, since they tend to resonate. The real cost of a public speaking training course, ranging from €3,000 to €5,000, can be recouped many times over if it leads to a salary increase of €10,000 or more annually.

I should clarify that I no longer offer this type of coaching. I’ve done it extensively, and I only take on such cases if the situation is particularly high-stakes—for instance, a one-of-a-kind promotion or a rare position available only once every five years.

Example 2: An Underutilized Expertise

A highly specialized developer with rare expertise and solid experience finds himself in a job that underutilizes his skills. He took this position out of necessity rather than choice, but the reasons behind his situation are irrelevant to this discussion.

By not seeking to leverage his expertise—whether through a job change, salary negotiation, or a shift to freelancing—he incurs the following costs:

• Devaluation of his specialization: In a role where his specific skills are not further developed, he fails to capitalize on what makes him unique. His expertise generates less value in the long run than it would in a more suitable context, such as working as a freelancer or for a company that recognizes his true worth.

• Personal satisfaction cost: Feeling undervalued can lead to decreased motivation and disengagement.

• Monthly financial cost: He could potentially double his salary by positioning himself in a role aligned with his specialization.

These examples demonstrate that the cost of non-resolution goes beyond immediate stagnation. It affects professional and financial trajectories over the long term.

Three Steps to Overcome Non-Resolution

1. Identify the Situation and Blockages: Take time to honestly assess limiting skills or situations, potentially with input from objective third parties (mentors, advisors, or coaches).

2. Act Quickly: Invest in tailored solutions, such as training or coaching, to overcome these obstacles.

3. Leverage Your Skills: If your current environment doesn’t offer sufficient recognition, explore alternative options.

The cost of inaction is often higher than the investment required to grow and evolve.

The concept of Giftedness, referring to highly gifted individuals and all related acronyms, revolves around the notion of intelligence and its assessment. This topic intrigues, fascinates, and sparks both admiration and misconceptions. Being gifted means having a unique cognitive functioning that some refer to as "atypical," characterized by intelligence above the average, according to a curve defined by IQ test results. However, behind this label lie complex realities that standard IQ tests do not always fully capture. So, how can one know if they are gifted? Between questionable self-assessments and evaluations based on criteria and tests, here are some insights to better understand.

1. What Does Giftedness Mean?

In France, giftedness is defined by an IQ score above 130, which represents approximately 2% of the population. But this figure does not tell the whole story. Giftedness encompasses much more than mere test performance: it is about a different mental functioning, often associated with various traits, some of which are debated, such as nonlinear thinking. However, it can include enhanced performance in academic tasks, such as problem-solving or memorization, a high processing speed, a strong curiosity, and emotional hypersensitivity.

There are many misconceptions: a gifted person is not necessarily a genius or a perfect student. Similarly, not all precocious children become well-adjusted gifted adults, and not all gifted adults have socialization issues or other difficulties. Cognitive intelligence is an indicator, but it is only one facet of personality. No generalizations should be made.

2. Signs That May Raise Questions

Certain characteristics may suggest gifted functioning:

• A high learning speed.

• A highly critical and analytical mindset.

• A tendency to get bored with routine tasks or linear learning.

• Strong empathy and emotional hypersensitivity.

• An overflowing imagination.

• A strong emotional attachment to objects.

• A feeling of being out of sync with others, their thoughts, or their methods.

• The impression of considering more variables in reasoning, with many describing a "3D vision" when others seem to operate in "2D."

• Insatiable curiosity and a need to deeply understand things.

• A tendency to question the "why" behind most topics.

However, these signs are not exclusive to gifted individuals. Everything depends on the overall picture and the intensity of these traits.

There are many other signs available online.

3. The Limits of Self-Diagnosis

Today, there are numerous IQ tests available online. However, they are rarely reliable. Scientifically validated tools are administered by psychology professionals, such as the Wechsler test (WAIS) for adults.

Self-diagnosis can lead to interpretation errors. Many people identify with descriptions of gifted profiles because the mentioned characteristics are very general and can be found in individuals with different psychological functioning (anxiety, attention disorders, hypersensitivity). In today's context, with so many atypical profiles identified, it becomes even more complicated.

Only a psychologist trained in IQ tests can provide a reliable diagnosis.

In itself, the diagnosis will not drastically change how you perceive yourself, and the journey toward self-acceptance in all your uniqueness will not necessarily become simpler.

4. Why Take an IQ Test?

Taking an IQ test is not a mere formality. For some, it can address deep questions about their way of functioning and the difficulties they encounter in their daily lives (boredom at work, feeling out of sync, misunderstanding from others).

However, it is important to ask yourself:

• Why do you want to know if you are gifted?

• Are you seeking answers to personal or professional difficulties?

• Is it an identity quest or mere curiosity?

In any case, a well-conducted test must be followed by an in-depth debriefing to understand the results beyond the raw IQ score. It is essential to remember that it will only evaluate your cognitive performance and that many factors can influence the result on the test day. False positives and false negatives are not uncommon, especially among children.

5. Beware of Societal Biases

The concept of giftedness has gained increasing popularity, particularly through the media and social networks, and even on TV screens with a French series called "HPI" and its American remake. However, this media exposure has often perpetuated clichés, such as the myth of the solitary genius or the idea that all gifted individuals are socially awkward or eccentric characters.

It is therefore essential to place the diagnosis of giftedness within a rigorous clinical framework, far from oversimplifications. Giftedness does not define a person as a whole. It is one of the many dimensions that make up an individual.

A diagnosis can shed light on certain behaviors or feelings.

Understanding one's own functioning makes it possible to adapt learning, work, or emotional management strategies.

However, be careful not to fall into the label trap: It is essential not to limit oneself to the gifted label. It is one piece of information among many that should enrich self-knowledge rather than confining one to a rigid framework.

Knowing if one is gifted is a personal journey that should be approached with rigor and discernment.

Questioning giftedness is, above all, about questioning one’s own functioning, feeling out of sync with others, and understanding one’s expectations from the world. While this approach can be useful, it should be undertaken with caution to avoid falling into the simplifications or biases that the popularization of the concept may have generated.

I decided to question this well-worn phrase. Not choosing might seem like a way to keep all options open, but it’s actually an implicit choice to let circumstances or other people decide for you.

Let’s simplify with an example and some context to avoid tautologies and sophisms.

Let’s take a central example: choosing a career—a domain where the implications of both choices and non-choices are particularly significant. And indeed, this is one of the most common contexts where this phrase is used.

We’re looking at this question from the perspective of a professional goal and the desired outcome.

Inevitably, regardless of the circumstances, a situation or a state will materialize:

1. You will actively choose a career.
2. You will end up in a career you didn’t consciously choose.
3. You won’t have a career at all.

Could not choosing lead you to a career you didn’t choose?

Yes, that’s where we often end up, though thankfully not always. In most cases, you’ll end up making a choice later, which means many other options will have become harder to access along the way.

That’s right—at some point, you’ll have to follow a path and make a choice, unless you decide to take several months “off” and do nothing.

This leads us to a related issue: the problem of “open doors,” which I’ve already discussed in several articles.

And yes, because not choosing also means not engaging in a process of evaluation and exploration that could at least confirm whether you’re on the right track.

I’ve encountered plenty of computer engineers, law students, or medical students who hit the brakes in their second year. Even PhD candidates sometimes ask themselves, “How did I even get here?”

When it comes to a career or any kind of activity, not choosing is therefore nonsensical.

Choosing or not choosing, depending on timing, simply has different effects and costs.

Both are part of the same process but not the same action. The difference lies in how we perceive them and how we justify them.

What do you think?

When making decisions, you most likely focus on the most obvious aspect: its immediate cost. That’s perfectly normal. We often operate this way to move quickly, simplify, or avoid confronting more complex uncertainties. Yet, by doing so, you often overlook an essential component: hidden costs.

These costs are not invisible; they’re simply outside your radar, like those details that only appear to those who know where to look. For your decisions—especially those with significant stakes—it’s crucial to broaden your perspective.

You must also recognize that inaction is a “non-choice”, and as such, it can also lead to cascading repercussions.

The Costs You Don’t Think About (But That Impact You Anyway)

Beyond the immediate financial cost, have you considered the following?

Deferred Financial Cost

A poorly calibrated decision today can lead to unexpected expenses tomorrow. For example, choosing an economical but rigid solution will cost you far more in adjustments and limitations in the long run.

Emotional Cost

You might underestimate the psychological weight of an unsatisfying choice. Dissatisfaction can creep in insidiously, leading to stress, frustration, and sometimes a profound sense of failure.

Time Cost

You might think you’ve “saved time” by choosing a quick option. In reality, you could lose much more time later when corrections inevitably become necessary.

Opportunity Cost

With every choice, you unknowingly forgo potentially better alternatives. What you didn’t choose might, in hindsight, represent exactly what you truly wanted.

Relational Cost

Have you considered the impact of your decisions on your personal or professional relationships? A poorly anticipated choice can weaken crucial connections, and often, its full effect is only realized after the fact.

Physical Cost

What you might overlook is how your choices affect your health. Decisions related to your work rhythm, diet, or environment can have lasting consequences, such as chronic stress or more severe health issues.

Cost of Inaction

You might tend to wait or “let things settle.” However, by remaining passive, you lose what you could have gained. For instance, keeping a significant amount of money in a checking account without investing it results in a loss due to inflation. Inaction often costs more than a mistake.

Cost of Non-Resolution

When you allow a problem to persist, it doesn’t remain static—it worsens. You lose time, money, energy... and even opportunities you may never be able to recover.

Your High-Stakes Decisions Require a Systemic Vision

One thing remains constant: costs are never isolated. Every decision—or lack of decision—fits into a complex network of interrelated consequences that need to be identified and addressed. To navigate this web, a systemic approach is essential: it allows you to anticipate impacts on all levels, act at the right time, and maximize results.

What does this mean for you? It frees you from superficial decision-making—the kind that focuses only on the immediate or the obvious—and helps you adopt a broader perspective, enabling your choices today to consciously shape your reality for tomorrow.

No, this isn’t clickbait. Let me explain.

Sinek: inspiring, hammering his message with a reassuring voice, but his concept of the "Why" and its amplified effects since then could pose two major problems for solopreneurs.

This is pure fresh brain juice, not something read elsewhere. It’s "in-house" inspiration—just an evolution of a first article on my blog from a few years ago about the concept of the "WHY." Here’s the next step in its development.

I’ll start from the premise that this issue with the WHY, as I’m presenting it, stems from Simon Sinek. He didn’t invent the idea, but he turned it into a central, even cult-like, concept with three tips. But that’s not today’s debate.

His concept can be summed up as: "People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it!"

I belong to the group of people who believe that customers buy an object, a service, a tool, a method, or knowledge that has utility and solves a problem, no matter how small. Not a reason for being. Even if it touches on emotions.

No, Mr. Sinek, I don’t buy a Mac because of Steve Jobs’ Why.

And neither do you. You buy it for your own reasons.

How many people have bought a Mac without knowing or thinking about Steve?

I’m also not going to pay a fitness coach because they’ve figured out that sports equals health, that someone in their family didn’t exercise enough, that it made them sad, and that’s how they found their Why to help people.

As for me, aka "the client": You seem to match what I’m looking for, and you look healthy. I just want to lose 4 kilos while eating Tyrell’s chips, please. How much does it cost? Is it going to be hard? How long will it take?

No client has ever asked me or chosen me to work on their orientation decisions because of my Why. They didn’t know it, and it wasn’t written anywhere.

The Two Major Problems Your "Why" Will Create

1) The first problem has two sides.

On the surface, it’s an attempt to base part of your entrepreneurial success on your Why. The implication is that if you find your reason for being, the rest is just action. Well, no. Reflection shouldn’t stop there.

Subtly, finding your Why makes you more tempted—or reassured—to dive into entrepreneurship and leave your stable job behind.

2) The second problem.

This plunges entrepreneurs into difficulty letting go, even when everything shows that the results (revenue or clients) are not what they hoped for. Why? Because their Why is their primary driver, the reason for their action.

Pivoting and admitting the failure of their Why under these conditions is much harder.
And this is where you can sink your business. Without your Why, the weight of disappointment and all the wasted efforts will keep you from reinventing yourself—or doing so quickly enough.

Many remain stuck with additional excuses to cling on:

• "I’m only good at this."
• "This is really what I want to do."

And now, a bonus third problem (aka over-delivery).

Whether it’s your first problem or a snowball effect, you end up in the paralyzing fear of no longer doing something aligned (based on whatever meaning you give to that term—I don’t fully get the concept myself, but that’s for another article).
Being aligned: yet another dictate in work or entrepreneurship.

What truly matters

Marrying desire, vision, and results are the three pillars of solopreneur fulfillment. The next step in development takes us into something else entirely.

What should matter most—what should matter most (What? I’m repeating myself like Simon ; Fun right ?...)—is the process and the results you deliver to your client.

The Why is just one element among others; it is not universally central to the process or the system.

However, as a driver to push yourself and take on challenges: of course.

If reflecting deeply on your project makes sense to you, explore my method and offer. It might resonate with you.