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Reader,

Have you every stayed up late sewing a Halloween costume, wondering if you're making the right choice with every stitch? (Ok, maybe that's just me...)

That's exactly where I found myself last month, crafting costumes for my kids. And you know what? It reminded me of something crucial about decision-making: sometimes we overcomplicate the simplest choices, while rushing through the ones that deserve more thought.

Fall has been a whirlwind, and I'm excited to share what's been happening...

Recent Highlights 🎯

Last month, I had the privilege of presenting at Offsite for Offsites, an incredible event organized by Jenny Sauer-Klein of The Culture Conference and The Primary Shift.

Here's the thing about offsites in our hybrid world: they're more valuable than ever, but every minute needs to count. I shared core decision-making frameworks that teams can use to make better choices together. My favorite moment? Watching participants furiously taking notes! (h/t Adam Rosendahl)

(PS: I'm booking workshops and talks through June 2025. Want to bring these frameworks to your team? Let's chat!)

Big News: AADE is Back! 🎙️

After a year-long break (yes, that was a deliberate decision), Ask a Decision Engineer podcast returns for Season 5 next week. And this time, it's different.

Why? Because I'm finally sharing the stories I've never told:

• The friend's dare that started this whole podcast journey
• The frameworks I developed through 15+ years of coaching
• The decisions that kept me up at night (yes, even decision engineers struggle!)
• The surprising lessons from coaching thousands through their toughest choices

Want to be part of the show? Share your questions:

• 🎙️ Leave a voice message on Speakpipe​
• ✉️ Email your question​

💡 Decision Tool of the Month

This month's featured tool: The Front-Loading Framework - inspired by leaders like Barack Obama and Steve Jobs who minimize daily decision fatigue.

Here's a quick start:

1. List your 5 most draining daily/weekly decisions
2. For each decision, ask:
   • Can this be decided in advance?
   • Could a simple rule handle this?
   • Is this delegable or automatable?
3. Create weekly "decision blocks" for planning ahead
4. Set up systems for recurring choices (meal plans, workout schedules, work outfits)

(Want the deep dive? Check out S2E3: "​The Basics - How to Stop Wasting Time and Energy on Decisions​")

Until next time,

Michelle