Deciding between hitting the beach on June 28th or 30th? You’d think it’s simple, but nope, it’s like a mind-bending puzzle! And let’s be honest, we could go down the rabbit hole of every single variable here, but then we’d risk drowning in decision fatigue. And no one wants to be stuck in that mess, right?

Yes, there are a gazillion books dedicated to the art of decision-making (hold on, we’ll dive into one shortly), but here’s the deal: gather the info, make your choice, and get on with it. Sounds simple, right? Still, it’s a lesson I need to keep on learning.

So, here’s a gentle nudge from me to you (and definitely me) – we often build up the decisions before us into these towering behemoths. And I’m not talking about picking out a candy flavor. I mean the kind of decisions that have weight and repercussions. It’s just that sometimes, it might help to peek over the fence and see how others have navigated this tricky terrain. And not just any decisions – the kind that have changed the course of history.

With that, let’s briefly recap one such story, courtesy of an absolute must-read book, ‘The Art of Clear Thinking’. Don’t worry, I’ll point you straight to the relevant section. Trust me though, the entire book is a journey worth taking.

“The Art of Clear Thinking” by Hasard Lee is a real gem. Lee, a U.S. Air Force combat pilot and instructor, released this book in May 2023, and it’s already earned its stripes as a New York Times Bestseller. Using captivating stories to anchor his points, Lee takes the reader on a fascinating and fast-paced learning experience. One standout story involves President Eisenhower’s decision to hold off on storming the beaches of Normandy. Yes, you read that right. On June 4th, 1944, Eisenhower delayed D-Day due to the pesky British weather. Two days later, he gave the green light.

Let’s put this into perspective: today, we can pretty much predict if it’s a good day to go boating, play golf, hit a trail, or fly a plane. And yes, we love a good laugh at the expense of our weather forecasters, but in reality, they’ve got a pretty good grip on predicting storms. But back then, Eisenhower was banking on a single person’s predictions while the Nazis were blissfully unaware of the incoming weather change. And that weather ignorance was a key factor in their defeat at Normandy.

Consider this: Eisenhower made two monumental decisions based on sketchy information. Today, we’re swimming in a sea of data, yet making a decision can feel like holding the fate of a nation in our hands.

But the truth is, it’s usually not that dramatic.

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