Stuff About Money: Decision-Making Under Pressure

As a leader, decisions are part of your daily rhythm. But not all decisions are equal—and some carry more weight than others. Under pressure, even seasoned leaders can fall into traps: overthinking, reacting too quickly, or second-guessing themselves after the fact. Stress clouds clarity, and fatigue makes it harder to trust your gut or your process. In this episode, Erik Garcia, CFP®, ChFC®, BFA™, and Dr. Matt Morris, LMFT break down the hidden costs of poor decision-making and offer tools to help you slow down, stay grounded, and make confident choices—even in high-stakes moments. Because the quality of your decisions shapes the direction of your leadership. Episode Highlights: Erik shares wisdom from a mentor on why stepping away from the office can enhance decision clarity. (01:21) Matt discusses how minimizing trivial decisions, like wardrobe choices, can preserve mental energy for high-stakes calls. (03:39) Erik explains how decision fatigue impacts professionals, citing studies on judges and doctors. (05:24) Matt outlines three major decision pitfalls: analysis paralysis, emotional bias, and tunnel vision. (06:34) Erik and Matt explore how leisure, nature, and rest aid complex decision-making clarity. (13:27) Erik breaks down Ben Franklin’s pros/cons method and introduces an 80/20 rule for data sufficiency. (18:26) Matt explains the OODA Loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) as a tactical decision-making framework. (27:00) Erik offers three confirmation techniques to ensure a decision is sound before acting. (30:00) Matt concludes that consistent, value-aligned frameworks beat perfectionism when making decisions. (37:03) Key Quotes: “ Since we have to make so many decisions, it's important to create time in our day to make decisions.” - Dr. Matt Morris, LMFT “Oftentimes we tend to be in a better state of mind to make hard decisions when we're not necessarily thinking about the very thing that we're trying to decide on” - Erik Garcia, CFP®, ChFC®, BFA™ “Every decision maker has to develop processes for making decisions over time.” - Dr. Matt Morris, LMFT Resources Mentioned: Cultivate Success Podcast Series Companion Handouts Dr. Matt Morris, LMFT Matt Morris & Associates Erik Garcia, CFP®, ChFC®, BFA™ Xavier Angel, CFP®, ChFC, CLTC Plan Wisely Wealth Advisors