The Door Test
What is it:
The door test is used to distinguish between decisions that are difficult to reverse or have long-lasting consequences (one-way door) and those that can be easily reversed or corrected (two-way door).
One-way door decisions need to be made carefully whereas two-way door decisions can be made quickly or automated using rules.
Jeff Bezos, one of the world's most renowned business leaders, is often celebrated not just for his entrepreneurial acumen but also for his exceptional ability as a thinker and innovator. His remarkable success in building Amazon into a global e-commerce and technology giant is a testament to his strategic vision and pioneering mindset.
But arguably his chief skill is the ability to make a number of smart decisions and make them as quickly as possible. As Bezos wrote in a shareholder letter:
Some decisions are consequential and irreversible or nearly irreversible -- one-way doors -- and these decisions must be made methodically, carefully, slowly, with great deliberation and consultation. If you walk through and don't like what you see on the other side, you can't get back to where you were before. We can call these Type 1 decisions.
But most decisions aren't like that -- they are changeable, reversible -- they're two-way doors. If you've made a sub-optimal Type 2 decision, you don't have to live with the consequences for that long. You can reopen the door and go back through. Type 2 decisions can and should be made quickly by high judgment individuals or small groups.
Many of us place equal value on almost every decision, typically for the fear of being wrong. But sometimes it is fine being wrong - or at the very least you don’t have to worry about being wrong because these decisions can be reversed relatively quickly.
For every decision you make, the first thing to do is decide if this is a one-way door or two-way door decision
One-Way Door Decisions:
These are significant, high-impact choices that are difficult to reverse.
They involve substantial commitments of resources, time, and effort.
It is therefore important to make time for careful consideration, data analysis, and thorough evaluation before making one-way door decisions.
Once you've gone through a one-way door, it's hard to turn back, and the effects are long-lasting.
Examples include: Choosing a college major, getting married, purchasing a home, relocating for work.
Two-Way Door Decisions:
These are choices that can be easily reversed or undone.
They are lower-risk decisions that allow for experimentation and learning.
These decisions should be made as quickly and efficiently as possible.
If a two-way door decision turns out to be the wrong choice, you can easily reverse it without significant consequences.
Examples include trying a new brand of shampoo, changing your workout routine, choosing a new route to go to work, taking a friend’s recommendation to try a new restaurant.
Prompts for application:
If this doesn’t work out, how easily can I course correct?
Do I need careful planning or can I experiment and learn quickly?
Sources:
Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos: This Is How Successful People Make Such Smart Decisions
One-way & Two-way Door Decisions
