Decision Blindness: Why Your Best Advice Is the Advice You Never Take

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Decision Blindness: Why Your Best Advice Is the Advice You Never Take

Ever notice how you're basically Yoda when solving your friend's business problems, but when your own startup hits turbulence, you transform into a panicking mess who can't decide what to order for dinner?

Welcome to Solomon's Paradox—the bizarre brain glitch where we're brilliant strategists for others but bumbling novices for ourselves.

The Ancient Wisdom Gap That's Still Wrecking Your Decision-Making

King Solomon could settle international disputes with the wisdom of a sage, yet his personal life resembled a reality TV disaster. Sound familiar?

Science backs this up: researchers found we're literally 72% wiser when solving other people's problems than our own. When helping others, we access cool, rational thinking. But for ourselves? We're trapped in an emotional hurricane of fear, identity, and worst-case scenarios.

The Brain Hack Smart Brands Use Against You

This psychological quirk isn't just fascinating—it's being weaponized by the world's smartest brands:

The Third-Person Illusion Spotify Wrapped doesn't just show your music habits—it presents you as the main character in your own story. "Look at you, what an interesting listener!" It bypasses your inner critic by creating distance between you and your choices.

The No-Commitment Commitment Netflix's free trial works because starting something as "just an experiment" removes the pressure. Your brain isn't making a commitment—it's just testing a hypothesis. That's why telling someone to "just try it" is so much easier than taking your own advice.

The Pre-Emptive Objection Killer Apple's 14-day return policy isn't just generous—it's psychological judo. By removing risk, they're silencing the "what if I regret this?" voice in your head. Your customers have this same voice screaming doubts at them.

Flipping the Script: Using the Paradox to Your Advantage

The good news? You can hack this mental glitch:

1. The Email Trick: Write your problem as if a friend emailed it to you, then respond with advice. The mental distance unlocks your inner guru.

2. The Avatar Method: When stuck, ask "What would [insert your hero] do in this situation?" This creates the psychological distance needed for clarity.

3. The Pre-Mortem: Imagine your decision failed catastrophically one year from now. Write the autopsy report. Now you can see the pitfalls clearly—and avoid them.

For your business: Become the calm, third-person voice that helps customers navigate their emotional fog. Give them permission to be imperfect while trying your solution.

For yourself: Start treating your problems like a high-paying client's issues. You'll be amazed how quickly your advice improves when you remove yourself from the equation.

After all, your best consultant has been living in your head all along—you just need to change how you ask the questions.