Frameworks I Use to Make Decisions

Before I dive into this week’s email, a quick milestone to celebrate: Over 100 of you are now subscribed to my newsletter! 🎉

So, let me reintroduce myself:

Hi, I’m Kanishka. I write about the tools, lessons, and experiences that have helped me navigate life’s wins and losses—sometimes with grace, sometimes with grit, but always with ease.

That brings us to today’s edition: Frameworks I use to make decisions.

Decisions shape everything—our work, relationships, and the person we become.

Over the years, I’ve refined my approach to decision-making using frameworks and mental models that help me cut through noise, focus on what truly matters, and act with clarity.

Here’s a look at how I make decisions and the tools I rely on:

1. The Hell Yes or No Mindset

The easiest way to make a decision — If an opportunity doesn’t make me say, Hell yes, I want this! it’s a no.

This is my go-to rule for deciding where to invest my time and energy.

It forces me to focus on what excites or aligns with my goals. It’s not always easy to say no, especially when something feels good enough, but every time I’ve done so, it’s freed me up for something amazing.

2. Second-Order Thinking

Most decisions have consequences beyond the immediate outcome. Second-order thinking pushes me to ask:

What happens next? And then what?

It helps me realize every possible outcome of a decision - the good, the bad, the ugly.

3. Regret Minimization Framework

This one comes directly from Jeff Bezos. When faced with a big decision, I ask myself:

When I’m 80, will I regret not doing this?

Bezos explained it perfectly:

“I wanted to project myself forward to age 80 and say, ‘OK, I’m looking back on my life. I want to minimize the number of regrets I have.’ And I knew that when I was 80, I wasn’t going to regret trying something and failing. I was going to regret not trying.”

This framework pushes me to focus on long-term fulfillment over short-term comfort. .

4. Inversion Thinking

Instead of asking, How can I achieve X? I flip the question:

How could I fail at achieving X?

This approach helps me identify potential risks and pitfalls. For instance:

How could I fail at building a successful newsletter?

Answers might include:

• Lack of consistency.

• Poorly defined audience.

• Not promoting the content effectively.

By spotting these in advance, I can avoid them altogether.

5. Pattern Recognition

Over time, I’ve noticed recurring themes in opportunities, challenges, and even people.

Pattern recognition lets me:

• Learn from past mistakes.

• Spot red flags faster.

• Identify what’s likely to work based on experience.

I learned this from a quote from one of my favorite movies: “Every time you see a pattern forming in your life, ask yourself—do you want to continue it or not?”

6. The One-Way vs. Two-Way Door Rule

Another Jeff Bezos gem that I recently discovered. Decisions are either:

One-way doors: Permanent, high-stakes decisions that can’t easily be undone.

Two-way doors: Reversible decisions you can step back from if needed.

If it’s a two-way door, I act quickly and iterate as I go. If it’s a one-way door, I take my time.

These Frameworks Are for the Big Stuff

For most small, everyday decisions, I don’t spend more than a few minutes—or at most, a day—thinking about them. Not everything needs this level of analysis.

These frameworks are reserved for the big decisions—the ones that impact the direction of my work, relationships, or personal growth.

The beauty of these frameworks is that they simplify complexity. They let me focus on what matters most and make decisions with clarity and confidence.

Until then, remember: for the big stuff, think it through. For everything else? Keep moving.

Cheers,

Kanishka