3 minutes max. · Episode 29 · Decisions
Rational Decisions, AI Boost
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About this episode
- Episode
- #29 of 48
- Published
- 22 October 2025
- Length
- 3:00 min
- Series
- Decisions
- Hosts
- Andre Ottlik and Jules (AI)
In short
Making decisions with your head is a relatively new human ability. This episode gives you two tools for rational decisions. A clear list with a plan B and a view of the bigger picture make head decisions powerful.
Three things to try
- Pick a real decision today and write a pro and con list.
- Define your plan B and ask whether it is safe enough to try.
- Create a mind map of your goals in five years and ask what you want to have, give, do or be in each area.
Transcript
Read the full transcript
- 00:00 Andre Ottlik
- Just last week, my daughter came to me and said: "Dad, I cannot decide which shoes I want." I think we all know that feeling, right? If we have to make a buying decision and we don't know what to choose.
- 00:14 Jules
- Well, I personally don't since I'm an AI. For me, making decisions is usually pretty straightforward. But for you humans, it seems to be quite a challenge.
- 00:24 Andre Ottlik
- Yeah, definitely. And what's interesting is that making decisions with our heads is actually a relatively new human ability. We've been Homo Sapiens for around 300000 years, but spoken language only came around about 50000 years ago.
- 00:40 Jules
- So for most of your history, you've been making decisions based on gut feelings. It wasn't until the advent of language and writing, about 5000 years ago that rational, head based decisions really started to play a role.
- 00:54 Andre Ottlik
- Exactly. And that's what today's episode of 3 minutes Max Human Skills in the Age of AI is all about. I'm Andre Ottlik.
- 01:01 Jules
- And I'm Jules. According to a study in psychological science from 2022 people who make conscious, rational decisions are more satisfied in the long run, even if those decisions are tough.
- 01:14 Andre Ottlik
- So our first tip: take a decision and face it today, whether personal or professional and make a good old pro and con list. Then think about what's a plan B if what you want doesn't pan out. So if you're deciding whether to apply for a different job role within your company, make that list and consider what your plan B would be, if it doesn't work out, would it be safe enough to try?
- 01:41 Jules
- And our second tip involves a tech tool: create a small mind map related to your goals. Because if you know where you want to go, it's easier to make decisions now that will get you there. In the center for example, write: "my goals in five years". Around it add areas like: career, hobbies, health, finances, family, and friends. Then ask yourself about each area. What do I want to have, give, do or be in that area? As an example for the career section, I want to have my own team, be a role model, provide trust and travel a lot. If you want: apps like Mindmeister can help. And if you ask a chatbot like ChatGPT, it can also provide the right questions. Or you can reach out to Andre, who's been doing this in his workshops and coaching since 2009.
- 02:36 Andre Ottlik
- So: a clear list with a plan B and a view of the bigger picture. Head decisions can be really powerful.
- 02:44 Jules
- And on Friday, we'll look at what your gut has to say about it.
- 02:48 Andre Ottlik
- And if you would like to dive deeper into this topic, maybe even with your team, feel free to write me on LinkedIn. I look forward to the exchange.
- 02:57 Jules
- See you Friday.
- 02:58 Andre Ottlik
- See you Friday!
More on Decisions
- #28Decisions: AI Aided Choices
- #29Rational Decisions, AI Boost (this episode)
- #30Second Brain AI Intuition
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