Leaked Decision-Log: Deciding on Decision-Making Masterclass
My private notes on whether to launch the masterclass.
I almost said no to this. But then I did what I always do with important decisions:
Write down as much as you can about what you are deciding on.
Here’s the actual decision log, but compressed and slightly edited for clarity. Keep in mind that’s part of my personal notes:
Dilemma: Should I organise Decision-making masterclass? Options: Yes/No
Context: I published more than 100 articles around mental models, decision-making and taking perspectives. But I miss a condensed and practical approach to it. The idea to prepare a dedicated masterclass was seeded when I was teaching a decision-making session during workshops in autumn 2025.
Perspectives for Yes:
I believe that predicting future outcomes based on incomplete information (which is the definition of decision-making) is one of the most important and timeless skills, but we are not learning it at school.
I was co-hosting a course for engineering managers under the brand of Manager.dev. My lesson “Real problems, Real time”, was a basic version of the masterclass I had in mind. Participants rated the session highly, which indicates interest.
I already drafted an idea for the 5 Laws of Decision-making, which works better than many isolated models.
Perspectives for No:
Decision-making is a meta-skill, and we learn best by making our own mistakes. Each decision is distinct, and “it depends” can be a repeated mantra. It’s impossible to decide for someone and be sure it’s right.
Providing the highest quality experience for everyone over a video is difficult. If I decide on it, I want to make it the best decision-making course out there, so I need to level up from what I did recently.
It’s difficult to target an audience of meta-skills like decision-making. I have many examples from the domain of engineering leadership, but it might be a limiting factor.
I don’t want to make it just a lecture, but ask via survey about their needs, focus on the interactive part and adjust my framework in their workflows, which may be logistically hard and time-consuming.
Pass through my Clear Thinking filter:
Defaults of Human Nature:
Emotions: I wrote this on January 12th, that’s when I was close to saying no because of my philosophical disputes on “1st No”. I’m reading it again on January 14th after sleeping on it twice. Checking emotional state across multiple days prevents impulse decisions driven by a swinging mood.
Ego: What if no one will be interested? I have a desire to be right, but it might not be the best offer.
Force other Possibilities
What is beyond YES/NO — It’s a different format (async/sync, video/written, interactive/static).
Pass through relatable mental models:
Reversibility: When the cost to reverse the decision is low, and the consequences are low, make it as soon as possible. That’s the case, it’s reversible and the consequences are low.
Inertia/Activation Energy: I’ve already drafted the outline of the course, to be sure I can deliver actionable lessons, which broke the activation energy.
Circle of Competence: I’m a writer and engineering manager, and being an educator who can entertain during the lectures is going beyond my circle of competence, but that’s where growth happens.
#decision: YES — I’m organising the Decision-Making masterclass.
Why? The reversibility is low-risk, I’ve overcome activation energy, with possible interest given other cohorts. It’s slightly outside of my circle of competence, which means it’s exactly where growth happens.
When the task is big, focus on the next small step to deliver: I’ve already brainstormed possible curriculum, format, timing, and the date.
That’s where my decision log ends. Now, the details
Details:
After writing 100+ articles on decision-making and mental models for Perspectiveship, I keep getting the same question: “How do you actually apply all of this?”
So I’m running a live 90-minute masterclass on January 27th at 6 pm CET (9 am PST, 12 pm EST/noon).
It’s called “Get Unstuck: 5 Decision-Making Laws for Engineering & Product Leaders”
Here’s what you’ll walk away with:
The 5 decision-making laws that separate decisive leaders from overthinkers (like Reversibility, and 4 others are a blend of known mental models)
A framework to cut decision time (no more week-long debates).
How to apply these to prioritisations, hiring, tech choices, and career moves.
It’s for 15 people, to keep it interactive. I’ll reach out to you before the session to use as many real examples as possible.
This is for managers, tech leads, and product leaders making decisions with team-wide impact. If that’s you, you’ll walk away with a framework you can apply immediately.
Investment: €97
Everyone gets: 90-minute masterclass + recording.
First 7 who sign up get: + 30-min 1:1 session with me to apply this to your actual decisions.
I’m testing the format with this cohort. Once I validate it works, the price goes to €297. You’re getting the founding member discount for being early.
P.S. Not sure if this is for you? Come to the session. If it doesn’t deliver, I’ll refund you the same day. Zero risk
See you there,
— Michał