My “silver” dollar

Whenever you're called on to make up your mind,
and you're hampered by not having any,
the best way to solve the dilemma, you'll find,
is simply by spinning a penny.
No - not so that chance shall decide the affair
while you're passively standing there moping;
but the moment the penny is up in the air,
you suddenly know what you're hoping.

- Piet Hein, “A Psychological Tip”

Sometimes …

… all the pros and cons seem equal.

… competing priorities seem equally valuable.

… all the options seem equally risky.

What to do?

Just pick one. Any one. Take action. Move.

If you can’t pick: find a coin, and flip it.

I keep this 1976 Eisenhower dollar on hand for just such occassions. (And because I’m a hopeless “good old days” romantic.)

Technically, it’s a “clad-copper dollar”, not a “silver dollar”. Meh.

As Piet Hein hinted, a coin flip doesn’t always completely make the decision for you. Often you’ll find, if you pay careful attention, that you’re hoping for heads or tails. And once you notice that, it’s fine to just “go with your gut.”

But either way, make a decision, and then take action.

There’s usually little value in waiting.

All the best,
A.