One of the most important lessons I’ve learned over my life is that indecision is still a decision.

There have been moments in my life where I hesitated, and by not acting, I effectively made the decision for myself. The outcome didn’t pause just because I did. Control shifted away from me, and the consequences played out anyway.

I saw this clearly in the years leading up to the 2008 financial crisis. Looking back, I could’ve made earlier decisions that would’ve softened the downside. Instead, I hesitated, and waiting turned out to be far more expensive than choosing a direction.

This lesson doesn’t just apply to work. It shows up in relationships, personal decisions, and life more broadly.

When you don’t choose, circumstances choose for you.

That’s why I’ve learned to interrogate hesitation when it shows up. Am I waiting because more information will genuinely lead to a better decision? Or am I hesitating because making the call feels uncomfortable?

Those two reasons look similar on the surface, but they couldn’t lead to more different outcomes.

Now, I use a simple analogy to keep myself and my team honest. If you’re standing on train tracks, the train is coming either way. You can jump right or jump left. You might pick the wrong side, but you’re still alive and able to adjust.

If you hesitate, though, you lose every option when the train rolls through.

The train doesn’t stop, and the cost of indecision is often higher than the cost of choosing imperfectly.

Mark Lester, Principal, LANDCO NEXA