Abby Davisson

Cohort 2

Part of making better big life decisions is knowing what NOT to do. Learn five common pitfalls that can lead to decision-making regret.

Mistakes to Avoid When Making Big Life Decisions

Broad professional audience — content relevant across many roles and functions.

Getting promoted, navigating job transitions, and advancing to the next level in your career.

Facing a professional crossroads? Apply an evidence-based framework to get unstuck and move forward with confidence.


Make Mid-Career Decisions with More Ease and Less Angst

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Co-Founder, Global Business Leader

Only 5% of human behavior is truly intentional; 95% of our desires, actions, and decisions come from our unconscious mind. That means all too often, we "slide" into a choice, rather than "decide."&nbsp;Or we get stuck, paralyzed by the possibilities. Neither sets us up for success, especially when it comes to big life decisions that impact our finances, affect our most important relationships, and change the course of our lives. What if instead of sliding or getting stuck, you could apply a proven decision-making framework, informed by evidence and experience, to your specific choice (regardless of whether it's a personal one, a professional one, or a combination)? So that you could get clarity about what you want and make progress towards your goals while avoiding the pitfalls that lead to regret. For example, you could finally answer the question that's been nagging you (whether it’s moving, making a career pivot, marrying your person, or something else) and feel a sense of peace, even if you don’t know how the decision will turn out in the end. And that's not all. You could tackle it in a structured way over four weeks, in partnership with a trusted guide who wrote the book on making big life decisions AND a supportive community of others who can offer valuable outside perspective (because they have no stake in your choice). In this course, you’ll learn the five-step framework that Annie Duke, bestselling author of Thinking in Bets, called "brilliant" and Nir Eyal, bestselling author of Indistractable, called "life-changing." I’ve personally relied on it to make my own life-altering decisions (including making the leap from corporate leader to author and entrepreneur), and now I'm excited to be your guide as you apply it yourself. Together, we’ll work through the 5Cs decision-making framework in the book I co-authored, Money and Love: An Intelligent Roadmap for Life's Biggest Decisions, which was named one of the top 5 business books of 2023. Through short lessons, practical reflection exercises (many of which aren't in the book), personal stories, and interactive conversations, you’ll learn how to: &gt;&gt; CLARIFY what’s most important to you;&gt;&gt; COMMUNICATE with those most affected by the decision;&gt;&gt; Consider a broad range of CHOICES;&gt;&gt; CHECK-IN with trusted resources; and&gt;&gt; Explore likely CONSEQUENCES across different time horizons. In five weeks, you'll gain confidence in your decision-making process and develop a clear plan for making the choice that's right for you. You'll also get lifetime access to the course materials, so you can apply them to big life decisions you'll face in the future.

Go from daunted and overwhelmed to reassured and empowered

Course syllabus

We start with background on why these decisions are so tough; how a framework can be useful; and the importance of framing the right question. You'll clarify the question you'll focus on during the course (even if you're facing several). *All live sessions will be recorded.

Module 1: Context and Framework

The first two steps of the framework are all about getting clear on what's most important to you and communicating that to those most affected. You'll come away with a sense of your values and priorities and a gameplan for sharing with your most important stakeholders.

Module 2: Clarify and Communicate

Steps three and four are about broadening your consideration set and getting outside perspective. You'll brainstorm expansive choices and get valuable input from peers. You'll come away with potential paths that avoid binary thinking and take your constraints into account.

Module 3: Choices and Check-in

We end with a deep dive into how to forecast the outcomes of your decision before actually making it. You'll come away with ideas for experiments to test your hypotheses and develop a document that pulls the pieces together and serves as an important decision touchstone.

Module 4: Consequences and Conclusion

Extend your learning through asynchronous lessons, which include reflection exercises and worksheets that help you apply the concepts to your own specific situation.

Additional exercises and projects

Live Q&amp;A with Abby to ask questions (optional). I've grapped with and helped others with questions like:<ul><li>What if my values conflict? How do I decide which to prioritize?</li><li>How do I weigh my own wishes alongside my family's needs?</li><li>How much information is "enough" to take a big leap?</li></ul>

Weekly office hours

Course schedule

You're facing a big choice that feels scary, daunting, and exciting (a career pivot, a move, investing in a relationship or leaving one)

You're seeking time, space, and thought partnership to help you make an informed decision about something you care deeply about

You're looking to feel more confident and at ease about making a big decision, especially when the outcome is uncertain or unclear

This course is for you if:

In this course, you will:

Break down a complicated decision into manageable pieces by utilizing a proven, research-backed process. You'll walk away with a clear roadmap detailing the five steps needed to make a sound decision, customized to your specific situation.

Analyze a complex choice using a trusted, evidence-based framework

Prioritizing your core values leads to better decisions, but it can be challenging to identify them. Through worksheets and self-assessments, you'll identify your values, decision-making tendencies, and mindsets that can serve as useful guides on your decision-making journey.

Clarify what matters most to you in order to make values-aligned decisions

No one makes big life decisions in a vaccuum, but few approaches acknowledge this reality. You'll create an action plan that takes your particular circumstances and constraints into account and minimizes stumbling blocks that can lead to regret.

Craft an approach that honors your constraints and avoids common pitfalls

A cohort-based model can help you make progress when other methods haven't worked. Beyond the live sessions and self-paced material, you'll get benefits from others facing their own big life decisions (including perspective from those who have no stake in your decision).

Gain perspective, accountability, and community through other ambitious professionals

You'll inevitably face big decisions again; the resources from this course can be applied to future decisions. You can even join a future cohort for free if you wish!

Learn directly from Abby Davisson

Abby Davisson

Courses

Make Mid-Career Decisions with More Ease and Less Angst

Resources

Mistakes to Avoid When Making Big Life Decisions