I was watching an episode of The Profit a year or so ago.
If you’ve never seen it, it’s a show where entrepreneur Marcus Lemonis meets with business owners, evaluates their strategy, and decides whether he wants to invest in helping them grow.
Some businesses already have it figured out.
He encourages them to keep going.
Some owners are so committed to doing things their own way that they’re unwilling to change.
He walks away.
But my favorite part is when he picks WHO he wants to partner with.
It’s normally the owners who have a great idea. They’re hardworking. They’re coachable. They’re willing to learn. They just need someone to help them see what they can’t yet see.
Watching an episode is like a masterclass in profitability and scaling.
In one episode, Marcus was coaching a business owner who struggled to make decisions.
Not because she lacked intelligence. Because she lacked confidence. Every decision felt heavy. Every choice felt risky. And that hesitation was slowing down her business. He team was losing trust in her.
He shared a simple way to evaluate decisions.
It wasn’t complicated. But it got her making good decisions, quick.
Over time, I’ve adapted that idea into a filter I use regularly.
Whenever I’m wrestling with a decision, I ask myself three questions.
Let’s Simplify It
Is it good for the business?
Will this move us forward?
Does it improve the health of the business, not just today, but over the long term? Will it help us minimize expenses, drive revenue, will it impact the bottom line?
Leaders are responsible for protecting the future, not just the present.
Is it good for the people?
This isn’t about making everyone happy. It’s about taking care of the people who make the business possible. Ask yourself these questions:
- Will this help them grow?
- Will it make their job easier?
- Will it remove unnecessary frustration?
- Will it create more opportunity, better support, or a healthier work environment?
Sometimes the kindest decision isn’t the easiest one. Accountability, feedback, and change can all be uncomfortable.
But if a decision helps people become better, serve customers better, or build a more fulfilling career, it’s worth considering.
I’ve found that when leaders genuinely care for their people, the business usually benefits too.
Because when people grow, businesses almost always follow.
Does it set us up for the future?
Some decisions solve today’s problem.
Others prevent tomorrow’s. Great leaders think beyond this week.
They ask:
“What are we building?”
“Will this get us closer to the future vision we are heading toward or farther away.”
You need to multiple the decision out a few quarters or years sometimes to see if the future impact will outweigh the current disruptions, if any. It’s easy to live in today and make a quick snap judgement but someone needs to zoom out and insure it also sets us up down the line.
The future is often created by the decisions we make today.
The Magic Isn’t Three Yeses
People often assume the goal is to answer yes to all three.
And when you can…
That’s fantastic.
But leadership isn’t always that clean.
- Sometimes a decision is clearly good for the business but difficult for the people in the short term.
- Sometimes investing in people creates short-term pain but long-term growth.
- Sometimes you have to weigh competing priorities.
The filter doesn’t eliminate hard decisions.
It gives you confidence that you’ve considered what matters most.
I’ve used these three questions for a while now.
They’ve helped me make decisions faster. They’ve helped me stop chasing perfect. They’ve given me peace of mind when the answer wasn’t obvious. And maybe most importantly…
They’ve reminded me that leadership isn’t about finding the perfect decision.
It’s about making a thoughtful one.
One Final Thought
If there’s a decision you’ve been sitting on…
Run it through the filter.
Is it good for the business?
Is it good for the people?
Does it set us up for the future?
If you can confidently answer yes to any or all of those questions…
Trust yourself. And make the call.
Leadership requires action.
Let’s lead with more clarity and less noise.
— Abby
