And sometimes, a decision creates panic.
The fear that comes before the step turns, after you have decided, into doubt ("did I really do the right thing?").
And the doubt turns into a large doubt ("I'm about to lose everything!").
And the large doubt turns back into… fear.
And the fear paralyses you.
And then you don't act.
And the decision is not carried out, or is carried out badly.
And then failure is created.
And that isn't the worst.
The worst is that you think: I was wrong to gamble on that step in the first place. It would have been best to stay in the stinking, safe place.
There's a magic circle with no magic in it.
So here is what is going to happen after you decide:
Nothing.
At first nothing happens. It will take reality and the people around you time to respond to your decision.
The world around us is sceptical. It always was sceptical.
It doesn't like changes and it treats them with suspicion.
And even when the world wakes up and starts responding to the change you made, it does so sluggishly.
And you will experience something worse than failure.
Partial success. An unclear middle state. People will ask you "how's it going with that?", and you will have to answer "so-so."
Because ambiguity is harder for us than failure.
In failure there is at least something clear, unequivocal. A bright marking of what needs to be fixed.
Twenty per cent success leaves us in chaos. It isn't clear to us how to relate to it.
So here is a very simple recommendation.
Wait.
Go on doing it.
And then wait a bit more.
And only then measure.
And then — make an updated decision.
First decisions and first plans usually fail. I've told you that.
But their enormous advantage is that they exercise the decision muscle and the planning muscle.
And pave the way to the next decisions, which will be far better.
So since life has taught me again and again that happiness is a long-term project, I want to end with one recommendation to you.
Don't break.