Two Approaches to Decision-Making

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Two Approaches to Decision-Making

There are two fundamentally different ways to make decisions:
“Because” and “In order to.”
The difference is vast — and it defines whether you look back or move forward.

The “Because” Approach

This one is rooted in the past — in what we’ve done, what we can do,
and what feels familiar.

  • Because we know how.
  • Because that’s how it’s done.
  • Because we have the resources.
  • Because our predecessors did it this way.

It explains why we are where we are,
but not where we’re going.

“The cat licks itself because it can.”

That’s exactly what “because-thinking” is — action for the sake of action.
Safe, predictable, and paralyzing.

The “In Order To” Approach

This mindset looks ahead.
It’s driven by goals, opportunity, and intent:

  • In order to reach new heights.
  • In order to adapt to change.
  • In order to innovate.
  • In order to stay ahead.

This is how progress happens —
not from ability, but from ambition.

Who Thinks “In Order To”

  • Netflix didn’t move to streaming because it could,
    but in order to own the future of entertainment.

  • Steve Jobs didn’t reinvent Apple because he had the tools,
    but in order to redefine how people interact with technology.

The Focus Test

Ask yourself:

Are your team’s discussions framed around “because” or “in order to”?

It’s a small linguistic difference,
but it shows whether your company lives in the past or builds the future.

Key Takeaways

  • Avoid “because” logic — it anchors you to what was.
  • Lead with “in order to” — it directs you toward what can be.
  • Re-examine goals and methods regularly.
  • Learn from leaders who build forward, not backward.

The strongest organizations don’t justify their past —
they design their future.