This week, during a session with one of my long-term clients, he said something that truly resonated with me—and reminded me why I love coaching so much!

Yes, I’m here to guide and support others, but I’m also learning and growing through every conversation I have. Coaching is not just a job for me; it’s a two-way exchange of ideas, perspectives, and experiences that continues to shape the way I view the world.

He was reflecting on his MBA experience - it was his powerful mindset shift:

“One key takeaway from my MBA that reshaped my approach is the principle that there are no inherently 'bad' decisions—only outcomes, learnings, and opportunity costs.”

As he explained this concept, I could see how much it had changed his approach to work, career choices, and even daily life. And I’ll be honest—it hit home for me too.

We can spend hours overthinking, weighing up pros and cons, and trying to make the ‘perfect’ decision. I’ve been there too. Earlier in my own career, I often found myself frozen by the idea of making the wrong call. I wanted to be sure, to get it right, and to avoid any missteps that might lead to failure, embarrassment, or regret.

But what if we looked at decisions differently? What if, instead of dividing them into “good” or “bad,” we simply accepted them as choices that lead to different types of outcomes? Some might bring us success. Others might bring us lessons. And all of them come with an opportunity cost—what we gave up in choosing one path over another.

This way of thinking doesn’t mean we abandon planning or stop considering the consequences. It means we free ourselves from perfectionism and move forward with more confidence and clarity.

When I think about the clients I work with—many of whom are navigating career change, international moves, or challenging transitions—this mindset shift could be a game-changer. So many people come to me feeling stuck, waiting for certainty before they act.

They want to know with 100% confidence that the new job, city, or study program will work out before they take the first step. But in reality, we can never fully predict the future. What we can do is trust our values, make thoughtful choices, and know that whatever happens next, we’ll gain something valuable.

This is especially important for clients who are learning English as a second language or stepping into global careers. The pressure to be perfect—to speak flawlessly, to fit into unfamiliar systems, to avoid mistakes—can create a huge amount of stress. But when we reframe our choices as part of a longer journey, not a final exam, it becomes easier to take risks, explore new opportunities, and keep learning.

And that’s the beauty of coaching. I might come into a session with strategies, frameworks, and exercises, but my clients bring their own wisdom too. They challenge me to rethink my assumptions, and they often teach me just as much as I teach them.

So, if you’re facing a crossroads in your career or life, I want to encourage you to release the pressure to find the ‘perfect’ decision.

Instead, focus on making the best decision you can with the information you have right now. Be open to the outcome—whatever it may be. And remember that every step, even the messy ones, can bring growth, experience, and new possibilities.

The next time you feel stuck in indecision, ask yourself: what’s the worst that could happen—and what might I learn if it doesn’t go exactly as planned?

You might be surprised by just how much you grow.