Step 18: Decide how to carry it forward

Okay, the clarity is gathered. Now, what to do with it? How to make sure it doesn't get lost in a forgotten document? This isn't about creating elaborate systems. It's about choosing a simple way to keep your work alive and accessible, whether you're building immediately or coming back to it later.

Some people will move straight into action. Others need time for circumstances to shift. Both paths are valid, but both need a clear plan for what happens next.

This taps into what's called implementation intentions - the psychological principle that you're far more likely to follow through when you've specified exactly when, where, and how you'll act. Vague plans ("I'll work on this when I have time") rarely happen. Specific triggers ("Every Monday at 9am, I'll review my one-page summary") turn intention into action.

If you're moving forward, you'll want to reference this work regularly - not as a script, but as a reminder of why you made this choice when doubt creeps in.

If you're pausing, you'll want to set specific conditions for revisiting - not "someday," but actual markers that signal when circumstances have changed enough to reconsider.

The key is making this decision feel complete, not open-ended. You're either building now, or you're pausing with intention. No more limbo.

An optional test: Are you ready to share it?

Are you ready to talk about this idea with other people? This isn't about launching. It's about whether you can speak about your decision naturally, without cringing or over-explaining. Whether you've chosen to pursue, pivot, or pause - can you own that choice in conversation?

Some people need to keep their thinking private. Others find that talking about it builds confidence. Neither approach is wrong, but it's worth knowing which one serves you right now.

  • If you're ready to share: Start small - not with strangers, but with people who will give you honest feedback. The goal isn't validation; it's reality-testing your reasoning.
  • If you're not ready: That's equally valuable information. Maybe you need more certainty, or the idea needs more private development time. Knowing this stops you from sharing too early.

What's next

You've decided how to carry this forward. Now: confirm where you go from here, whether that's building, pivoting, or pausing with intention.

This isn't about creating perfect documentation. It's about making sure the clarity you've created stays connected to your actual life, not trapped in a document you'll never look at again. You're bridging from thinking to living.

It's also about testing whether your reasoning holds up when you have to articulate it to another human being. Sometimes ideas that feel solid in your head reveal gaps when you try to explain them out loud. You're not looking for cheerleading; you're looking for clarity.

Implementation intentions are a concept from social psychology, extensively researched by Peter Gollwitzer. The core finding: people are 2-3x more likely to follow through on goals when they create specific "if-then" plans rather than vague commitments. Instead of "I'll work on my business," you say "If it's Monday at 9am, then I'll review my one-page summary and identify one action."

This works because it removes the need for motivation or willpower in the moment. Your brain recognizes the trigger (Monday, 9am) and automatically initiates the behaviour. The decision is pre-made, reducing friction and decision fatigue.

Example: A founder who chose "Pursue" created this implementation intention: "Every Friday at 4pm, I'll spend 15 minutes reviewing my one-page summary and writing down one thing I learned this week." Six months later, she had a running record of insights and progress that would have otherwise been lost. The habit stuck not because she was disciplined, but because the trigger was specific.
Practical takeaway: Don't just decide to "pursue" or "pause." Create a specific trigger. If you're pursuing: "Every [day/time], I'll [specific action]." If you're pausing: "I'll revisit this decision when [specific condition happens]." The specificity is what makes it real.

Plain English: Vague plans stay vague. Specific triggers turn intentions into habits. Write down exactly when, where, and how you'll engage with this work - or when you'll know it's time to revisit it.

The Spark: In The Office (US), there's a quietly devastating moment when Jim Halpert confesses in an after-hours interview that he's not sure he's doing the right thing. He's just bought a house; he's committed to a job. But he doesn't know if it matches the life he wants anymore. The truth surfaces not in action - but in conversation.

The Real Lesson: Saying it out loud changes the weight of a decision. When you tell someone else what you're doing next - pursue, pivot, or pause - it stops being a thought experiment. It becomes real. You need to hear how it sounds. You need to feel how it lands.

The Spark: Neuroscientist Dr. Matthew Lieberman's research shows that when we put feelings and thoughts into words, it activates the brain's prefrontal cortex and calms the emotional centres. Speaking an idea aloud can make it more concrete and manageable.

But there's a flip side: once you've spoken something, your brain treats it as more "real" - which means you're more committed to it, even if the feedback suggests you shouldn't be.

The Real Lesson: Choose your first conversation carefully. Too-early sharing with the wrong person can shake healthy confidence. Waiting forever can starve you of useful insight.

Not all feedback is created equal. Watch out for patterns that derail clarity:

  • Borrowed doubt: someone projects their fears onto your situation
  • Different values: advice from a person optimising for goals you don't share
  • Wrong timing: "how to scale" advice when you're still deciding "whether to start"
  • Misunderstood constraints: advice that ignores your real life
Trust feedback that sharpens your thinking. Ignore feedback that muddies it without offering a better path.
  • "I've completed THiNK! and want to make sure I'm capturing the most important elements. Can you help me identify what's essential versus what's just thinking-out-loud notes?"
  • "Looking at my complete journal, help me spot any contradictions or gaps in my reasoning that I should address before moving forward."
  • "I want to test talking about my decision but I'm not sure who to choose or how to approach it. Can you help me think through who might give me useful feedback?"
  • "I shared my decision with someone and their reaction made me doubt everything. Help me figure out if their feedback is worth considering or if it's just derailing me."

The value isn't in having perfect notes - it's in having connected thinking. You've moved from scattered wondering to grounded deciding. That's rare and worth protecting.

The right person will help you think more clearly about your choice, not talk you out of it. If someone's reaction makes you question your entire process rather than refine your approach, you probably chose the wrong sounding board.

Reflection: Who in your life would you trust to give you honest feedback about a big decision without projecting their own agenda onto it?