Chapter 8

Dear Diary: Making the Decision Right

10/21/25

Dear Diary,

What if?
Coulda. Shoulda. Woulda.
If I only did that, then this would have happened.
 
Sound familiar?
 
We all go there. Replaying decisions, wondering what could have been, wishing for a different outcome. It’s human nature to reflect, but sometimes that reflection turns into regret. And regret can keep us stuck in a loop that robs us of the very thing we can control: what we do next.
 
Lately, I’ve been thinking about what it really means to make “the right” decision.

Because here’s the truth. We can’t always choose the perfect option in the moment. We make choices with the information, energy, and courage we have at the time. The magic happens not in making the right decision, but in making the decision right.
 
When I look back at the biggest decisions I’ve made, starting The Admin Effect, hiring my first team member, saying yes to new opportunities. Not one of them came with absolute certainty. Each decision was a leap of faith, followed by a whole lot of learning, adjusting, and believing.
 
That’s the beauty of it. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to commit to the path you’ve chosen and do the work to make it right for you.
 
So, if you’re sitting in a “What if?” season right now, I want to invite you to shift your focus:
Instead of replaying the past, start reimagining what’s still possible.
 
Ask yourself:
What can I learn from this decision that will make me stronger next time?
How can I take what I’ve chosen and shape it into something that works for me — not against me?
What if the decision I made was actually the one I needed to make to get here?
 
The next time you catch yourself spiraling in the Coulda Shoulda Woulda, pause and remind yourself: You’re still in control of how the story ends.
 
Make the decision right, and watch your confidence, clarity, and courage grow with it.
 
Until next time,
Katelyn