Tell me if this sounds familiar:
You find yourself stuck on a business decision for days, going in circles with no one to bounce ideas off.
No? Just me? I didn’t think so.
I have some good news: you’re not losing it.
You’re just missing one simple small business decision making trick that successful entrepreneurs use but rarely admit to.
Welcome to the secret world of productive self-talk, where talking to yourself (or your dog) isn’t crazy.
It’s the fastest way to make better business decisions.
Why small Business Owners Struggle With Decision Making
This is something I’ve learned about decision making as a small business owner: most of it happens when it’s just you.
And your brain? It’s terrible at making decisions when all those thoughts are just bouncing around like my toddler after too much sugar.
Think about it.
When you worked for someone else, you had work buddies to bounce ideas off.
“Hey Sarah, what do you think about this client situation?” or “Does this email sound too desperate?”
Now?
It’s just you, your coffee mug, and that growing pile of business decisions that somehow all need to be made yesterday.
Meanwhile, your brain’s running like a hamster on a wheel.
Should you raise your prices?
Is that marketing thing working?
Why did that client sound weird on the call?
All these decisions are just swirling around up there, making your head feel like a browser with 47 tabs open.
Decision making gets even messier when you’re stuck on something big.
You’ll sit there thinking in circles for hours (hello, decision paralysis).
Or you’ll just avoid it completely because ugh, thinking is hard today.
How This Hack Saved My Sanity
So there I was last year, nursing my fifth cup of coffee at 2 PM, trying to make a decision about whether to take on this project.
Good money, but it felt all wrong for my business.
For three whole days, I just sat there overthinking myself into oblivion.
Finally, I’d had enough.
I started pacing around the house, literally having an argument with myself out loud.
My dog was giving me the side-eye like “Mom’s lost it again,” but I kept going.
“Okay, so the money’s great, BUT this is gonna suck up all my time for the good clients. And honestly? Do I even want people thinking this is what I do?”
And then…BOOM
Like a flash of lightning, it hit me.
Five minutes of talking to myself (with a very patient Fritz as my audience) and suddenly the business decision was so obvious I felt like an idiot for not seeing it before.
That’s when I realized that all this time I’d been trying to improve my small business decision making by thinking harder, when what I really needed was to think out loud.
Turns out, dogs make excellent business consultants.
They never interrupt with terrible advice.
The Science Behind Better Decision Making
It turns out there’s actual science behind this.
When you say stuff out loud, your brain lights up differently than when you’re just thinking.
It’s like the difference between trying to untangle Christmas lights in a dark closet versus spreading them out on the kitchen table where you can actually see what you’re dealing with.
Plus, when you have to put business decisions into actual words, you can’t get away with that vague, wishy-washy thinking we all do.
You know, where you’re like “I feel like maybe this thing might be a problem but I’m not sure why…”
When you have to say it out loud, you’re forced to get specific.
This is why making feels so much clearer when you verbalize it.
You’re literally organizing your thoughts into complete sentences, which helps your brain process information more effectively.
And honestly?
Your dog doesn’t care if your logic is messy, he’s just happy you’re talking to him!
Decision Making: My Daily Problem-Solving Routine
Okay, so here’s how I turned my random mumbling into an actual small business decision making system (and yes, my dog is now basically my unpaid business advisor).
Pricing decisions became way less painful. Now when I’m stuck on what to charge, I grab my coffee, plop down next to Fritz, and just start talking through it. “Alright buddy, so this client wants me to do X, and I’m thinking it should cost Y. But I’m freaking out because what if they think that’s too much? Wait, why am I freaking out? Because last time I charged less and then hated my life for a month…”
Client decisions don’t drag on forever. When I’m wondering whether to keep a difficult client or whether to take on a new project, I talk through all the pros and cons out loud. The dog just sits there looking wise while I work through my decision making process. Half the time, I end up with way clearer answers than I would’ve gotten just sitting there silently panicking.
My weekly planning actually works now. Instead of just making lists that I’ll ignore, I talk through my week while I’m making my morning coffee. Fritz has learned this is prime treat-begging time since I’m usually feeling generous after solving a bunch of business problems out loud.
My Secret: Weekly “Staff Meetings” with My Four-Legged Business Partner
Here’s where it gets really good (and slightly ridiculous).
Every Friday afternoon, I hold what I call a “staff meeting” with my dog.
I grab my coffee, he grabs his favorite toy, and we sit down to tackle the bigger small business decision making challenges for the week ahead.
I literally say things like, “Okay team, let’s review what we’ve got coming up.”
Then I’ll walk through each decision that’s been nagging at me.
Should I raise my prices for that service?
Is it time to hire help?
Should I pivot that marketing strategy that’s not working?
The magic happens because I’m forced to present each decision clearly, like I’m briefing an actual business partner.
“So here’s the situation with the Henderson project…” and I’ll lay out all the details, the pros and cons, what I’m worried about, what I’m excited about.
Fritz just sits there, occasionally tilting his head like he’s really considering the options.
Sometimes he’ll get up and walk around, which I’ve decided means “think about it more and get back to me.”
If he settles back down with a contented sigh, that’s clearly a “go for it.”
These weekly decision making sessions have become the most productive part of my whole week.
I come out of them with a clear action plan, and my stress level drops dramatically because I’m not carrying around a bunch of half-made decisions in my head.
Plus, my dog gets quality one-on-one time and usually a few treats for his excellent consulting work.
It’s a win-win business decision making strategy.
Decision Making That Reduces Entrepreneur Stress
I’m not even kidding.
This one little habit completely flipped how I handle business decisions.
I stopped making dumb choices. When you have to explain your small business decision making process out loud (even to a dog who’s more interested in belly rubs than business strategy), the bad ideas become super obvious. Like, embarrassingly obvious. You can’t hide behind “it just feels right” when you have to actually say the words.
I catch problems in my decision making before they blow up. Last month I was talking through a launch plan to my very attentive four-legged audience, and I realized I’d completely forgotten about a huge piece of the client experience. Fritz probably had no idea what I was talking about, but just saying it out loud made the problem crystal clear.
Better business decisions just pop up out of nowhere. There’s something about the rhythm of talking that gets your creative brain going. I’ve solved more small business decision making puzzles during these little chats with my furry consultant than in any official brainstorming session.
Decision-making stress disappeared. Getting all those worried thoughts out of your head and into the world makes business decisions feel so much more manageable. Choices that seemed huge and scary in my brain turn into normal Tuesday challenges once I say them out loud. Plus, dogs are naturally calming. They’re like built-in stress relief.
Solo Entrepreneur Tips for Better Decision Making
Okay, so you can’t just start having animated conversations with yourself in the coffee shop.
But there are tons of ways to make this decision making technique work.
Car rides are perfect for decision making. Pop in your earbuds so people think you’re on a call, then just start talking through whatever business decision is bugging you. Your commute becomes productive decision-making time instead of just road rage time.
Walking improves decision making. I take “phone calls” all the time that are just me working through business decisions out loud. Find a quiet path or just walk around your neighborhood. Fresh air + talking out loud = magic combo for decision making.
Home office perks are real for solo decision making. If you work from home like me, you can talk through business decisions all day long. My dog’s heard more business plans than some investors. He’s a great listener, never judges my ideas, and occasionally provides moral support in the form of chin rests on my lap during particularly tough decisions.
Voice memos capture your best decision making. Sometimes I’m in the middle of talking through a business decision (usually with my dog staring at me like I’m the most fascinating human alive) and I have this brilliant insight. I’ll just hit record on my phone so I don’t lose it in the chaos of my brain.
Decision Making Strategies That Actually Work
Running your own show means you don’t get those water cooler conversations or team meetings where business decisions just flow naturally.
But that doesn’t mean you have to figure out every choice in the echo chamber of your own head.
The entrepreneurs who make it long-term?
They’re not necessarily the smartest cookies in the jar.
They’re just really good at small business decision making under pressure.
And sometimes the best thinking partner you’ve got for business decisions is you, and maybe a loyal dog who thinks you’re brilliant no matter what you decide.
Next time you’re wrestling with a tough choice, grab your favorite coffee, find your furry friend (or just a private spot), and start talking it out.
I bet you’ll be shocked at how fast business decisions get clear when you give your thoughts some room to breathe.
What business decision is eating at you right now?
Maybe it’s time to have that chat with yourself about it.
Trust me, your decision making is better than you think, you just need to hear yourself work through it out loud.
Your dog will be happy to supervise.
Now go refill that coffee, give your pup a pat (and a treat), and start talking through those decisions.
You’ve got this!
Here’s your next decision to talk through: Should you keep grinding all summer or strategically slow down? My Summer Slowdown Strategy Pack in my Etsy store has the answers.
