Reversible or Not? Choose Like Bezos

Not all decisions are created equal.
Some are one-way doors. Others swing both ways.

The trick? Knowing the difference.

We often treat every decision like it’s life-or-death.
We hesitate. Overthink. Delay. Consult five people. Make a spreadsheet. Sleep on it. Repeat.

And while that level of caution might make sense for high-stakes choices…
It slows you down when applied everywhere.

The secret isn’t to be more decisive — it’s to know which decisions deserve more time.

Jeff Bezos calls this the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 decisions.

Understand this lens — and you’ll make better decisions faster, with less stress.

Explain and Expand

Here’s how Bezos frames it:

• Type 1 Decisions: Irreversible, high-impact, hard to undo.
  These are one-way doors. Once you walk through, there’s no easy turning back.
  Examples: selling your company, getting married, moving countries, making a massive capital investment.
• Type 2 Decisions: Reversible, lower-stakes, easy to test or undo.
  These are two-way doors. You can step through, try it out, and return if needed.
  Examples: trying a new pricing model, testing a new marketing channel, exploring a side hustle.

BEING WRONG IS OK. THERE IS NO SHAME IN IT. IT JUST MEANS YOU TRIED SOMETHING AND IT DID NOT WORK

Most decisions in life and business are Type 2.
But most people treat them like Type 1 — and that leads to unnecessary delays.

The goal isn’t to be reckless.
It’s to match the decision-making effort with the actual risk and reversibility.

What this really gives you is momentum clarity.

• Type 1 = Strategic gate. Take your time.
• Type 2 = Tactical experiment. Move fast.

The long-term advantage of this mindset is enormous:

• You make more decisions, which means you learn faster
• You preserve brainpower for what truly matters
• You stop mistaking hesitation for wisdom

The smartest people aren’t always the most careful — they’re the most calibrated.

You’re considering whether to:

A) Change your career path
B) Try a new productivity app

Which one deserves more thought?

Let’s run the Type 1 vs Type 2 Filter.

• Reversible?
  A: No — you may need years to recover
  B: Yes — delete the app if it sucks
• Worst-case cost?
  A: High — income loss, professional reputation, stress
  B: Low — wasted 2 hours, minor distraction
• Can I test it first?
  A: Maybe — with a side project
  B: Yes — instantly

Conclusion:

• A = Type 1 → Take your time, test if possible
• B = Type 2 → Try it. Move on.

Now you’re not just thinking clearly — you’re deciding efficiently.

Make Personal

Before you spend hours overthinking, pause and ask:

• Is this decision reversible?
• Can I test it before committing fully?
• What’s the real risk if it goes wrong?

If the downside is small or fixable, decide fast and move.

If the downside is big and sticky, slow down and think deeply.

Key Insight: Not every decision is high-stakes. Knowing which ones are reversible helps you decide faster and smarter.
Tool: Type 1 vs Type 2 Decision Filter — Ask: Is it reversible? What’s the cost of being wrong? Can I test it first?
Why it matters: When you stop overthinking low-stakes choices, you preserve your energy and attention for the decisions that actually shape your future.

You don’t need to slow down.
You need to sort better.

Decide like Bezos:

• Save your deepest thinking for one-way doors.
• Sprint through two-way ones.

Because when you master the art of decision calibration, you stop fearing choices — and start building velocity.

Not just speed for the sake of it.

Speed with strategy.

And that’s how clarity compounds.

Think of your daily mental energy as a limited resource — a bandwidth budget.

If you treat every decision like it requires maximum scrutiny, you burn through your bandwidth on low-impact moves… and leave little room for real strategy.

Smart thinkers apply more energy to Type 1 decisions — and speed through Type 2 ones.

That’s not laziness. It’s leverage.

Your best decision isn’t the most carefully made.
It’s the most appropriately framed.