I flipped a coin to make a business decision.

Hey there Reader,

True story: last month I made a business decision by flipping a coin.

Heads, I take on the project. Tails, I pass.

It landed on tails. I did not like that. So naturally, I did what any rational, emotionally regulated business owner would do. I flipped it again.

Still tails. Flipped a third time out of pure spite. (Also tails. The universe was being extremely clear with me and I was choosing violence.)

Here's what that little coin-flipping meltdown taught me. I already knew the answer. My gut had made the call days earlier. I just didn't trust it, so I went looking for something, anything, to either back it up or override it. A quarter was not the tool for the job. Neither, honestly, was the spreadsheet I built afterward to "confirm" what I already felt.

Me, watching my gut and my spreadsheet finally agree on something

That's the trap. We treat data and instinct like they're on opposing teams, like you have to pick a side and defend it in the group chat. But the CEOs who make good calls under pressure aren't choosing between the two. They're using both, on purpose, and they know exactly when to reach for which one.

Spoiler: it was never actually a coin toss. It just felt like one because I hadn't done the work to tell the difference between my gut and my anxiety yet.

Hit reply and tell me: coin flip or spreadsheet, which one do you trust less right now?

Cheering you on,
Angela
Castle Thunder Consulting
Bold strategy. Smart systems. More sanity.

PS: The coin is retired. It's in a drawer. It has done enough damage.

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Quick Tip:

Before your next big decision, ask yourself one question: "Can I point to a specific past experience or fact behind this feeling, or am I just scared?" If yes, that's instinct. If no, that's anxiety wearing instinct's jacket.

Action:

Next time you're stuck on a call, grab a sticky note. Write "DATA" on one side, "GUT" on the other. Force yourself to fill in facts on the data side first, no feelings allowed. Then flip it. If both sides agree, move. If they don't, that disagreement is the real story, dig into it before you decide.

In the Blog

Everyone's either "just a numbers person" or "just a gut person." Cute story. Neither one is actually running their business that way, whether they admit it or not.

This week's post breaks down exactly when to trust the spreadsheet, when to trust the feeling in your stomach, and the one question that tells you the difference between instinct and straight-up anxiety in disguise.

Read the Full Breakdown

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Speaking of hard calls: today's Goochland Women in Business session is all about the conversations we'd rather flip a coin than have.

Tuesday, August 17th, 3:00 to 4:30 PM

Winery on the Ridge
5061 Broad Street Road
Louisa, VA, 23093

Workplace conflict, tough feedback, boundary-setting, the client conversation you've been avoiding, all of it. Walk out with tools you can use by tomorrow morning.

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