The tattoo I’ll never get
THE RUB
The U.S. tattoo removal market hit $162 million in 2023 and is projected to reach $300 million by 2030. That’s a lot of people who said yes before they were ready to commit.
I, on the other hand, have commitment issues. I see ink on other people and I think, "That's really cool.” I start thinking about creative designs I should get tattooed. But then I pause and think about future Todd. Would that old man like it as much I'd like it now? Probably not.
I'm confident getting a tattoo would be a decision I would later reverse. It's like the old joke. The two best days in a man's life are the day he buys a boat and the day he sells his boat.
THE FRAMEWORK
It's easy to get a tattoo on a whim, but if you decide to remove one, it's more of a commitment requiring 5 to 15 sessions. When leaders rethink a decision, it can have ripple across others and be frustrating.
So why do we change our minds?
New information. You learned something you didn't know when you originally decided.
Consequences get real. “I didn't realize that cute baby goat was going to turn into a larger goat that would eat everything and mean that I couldn't leave for the weekend on a moment's notice.”
Shift in criteria. “Losing weight isn’t as important now that I see how tasty that chocolate cake looks.”
The better question isn’t how to avoid reversals — it’s how to know which ones are worth making. Disney originally planned for Toy Story 2 to go straight to direct-to-video. When the preview reels looked strong, Disney changed the plan to a theatrical release, but the Pixar team wasn’t happy with the story.
Lasseter and the creative team redeveloped the entire plot in one weekend. The established release date meant the normal years-long development cycle had to be compressed to nine months. The movie ended up grossing over $511 million worldwide and still holds a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
THE PRACTICE
One option is to reduce decision reversals. That’s a solid strategy. The “Quality Decision Making” competency models preach: start with clear criteria, capture it in writing, conduct an information audit, gain commitment from key stakeholders, blah, blah, blah.
I’m testing a different playbook built around James Clear’s approach to reading. He’s talking about books, but the mythology applies to projects and other decisions.
“A recipe for getting more out of what you read: Start more books. Quit most of them. Read the great ones twice.”
Create a Forking Path Implementation Plan.
Instead of agonizing over the right option, start more options. Action is the key. This is the spirit of test and learn.
Quit most of them. I’ve DNF’d (did not finish) twelve ultra marathons. Some of those I regretted, but all have helped me learn how to identify when something isn’t working.
Invest in the great ones. Petal to the metal, baby! That’s what gets me back to the starting line after a DNF.
Get more temporary tattoos. Let most fade away. Commit to permanent ink for the great ones.