What Do You Do When You Don't Know What to Do?

The Universal Uncertainty

Let's start with good news and somewhat ironic news. At some point, no one knows what to do. Despite the fact that so many entrepreneurs and business leaders are dead set on pursuing certainty, the only thing certain is the existence of uncertainty.

So, good news. You're normal.

But that doesn't make the discomfort of those overwhelming moments any easier—those moments when you know what you're doing isn't working, but you aren't sure how to pivot to what's next.

In fact, if you're like me, those moments feel like confronting your biggest fears. I'd much rather live in ritual and routine. But even the best systems eventually stop producing results.

So here we are. Feeling stuck, scared, and unsure what to do next. If you've ever been here, you are my people.

The Conventional Wisdom Falls Short

What do you do to get out and get back on track?

The conventional idea is to look for answers. This generally means studying what's working for others. Logical, but flawed. First, the data shows it rarely works. Second, if it does anything, it usually just produces distraction—a state where you get busy, but rarely produce meaningful results.

The next common approach is to work harder. Grind through. Maybe if you just do this but better, it will resolve the problem. So you double down. Now you're working twice as hard on something that was underproducing. It improves, but your effort has also doubled.

The last idea—and the rarest one—is to try something new. But this time, something you created. The problem? Creativity is nearly impossible during high-stress periods.

The Reset: A Paradigm-Shifting Alternative

So try this instead: a reset.

One day, one weekend, or as long as you need. Break every routine.

Step out of your rituals. Out of your comfort zone. Out of your habits and systems. This can be as simple as going to a place like a library or an Airbnb for the weekend, or it can be a whole sabbatical. You're going to do this for one reason: Horizon.

The Physiology of Perspective

In periods of high effort, our physiology changes. Field of view narrows, frame rate quickens, we enter fight or flight. This state shuts down valuable states like curiosity and creativity. For obvious reasons—curiosity isn't exactly certain and not good at immediate survival.

However, the antidote to this state is the horizon. When you move your focus from what's right in front of you to a distant horizon, the same physiology shifts, and so does your mental state.

This applies to physiological states as well as psychological ones.

In your business, you need to shift focus from daily reaction to distant horizons. And to do this, you have to first step outside.

The Clarity Break Process

The point of this clarity break I'm proposing is to do just that. Wherever you go and for how long is irrelevant. But while you're there, you're going to focus only on the horizon—the future. You're going to zoom out, not zoom in.

At first, this will seem impossible and even irresponsible. Borderline whimsical. But fear not, you aren't playing pretend. You're shifting states. And to do this, you need to get outside the stimulus for at least a moment.

Once you are out, you have to stay out. For the entire time you are where you are. You need to step into the character of who you want to become. How you'd move through space when you're them, think, speak, feel, create when you are them.

Yes, this is imagination, but it's a practice constructively referred to as future setting.

When you book a vacation to the beach, you do so because you have expectations of how it will feel. The same is true of life. This time, the vacation you're booking is your future.

The Three-Step Process

Step 1: Get Out
Remove yourself from your regular environment and routines.

Step 2: Immerse Yourself
Step into the character of your future self.

Step 3: Create
In this new state, watch how easily creativity returns.

Use this space and moment to set new goals and vision, not worrying about how you'll achieve them at this point.

From Vision to Action

With a renewed clarity of the horizon complete, now you can break that down into action.

With your renewed vision of the horizon, break it down first into manageable chunks of time. Then identify the necessary work to achieve it. You start to form the outline of a plan—not a rigid one, but a framework.

With this framework, you can return to your regular environment and evaluate what fits inside this framework and what is just busy work. Begin the process of eliminating what's non-essential.

Transform Your Perspective

At Paradigm Solutions, we specialize in helping entrepreneurs and business leaders shift their perspective when they're stuck in the "I don't know what to do" phase. Our Executive Apex Program guides you through this exact process—stepping out, gaining clarity, and creating a framework for transformative action.

Don't stay stuck in the uncertainty. Transform your perspective and create a clear path forward.

Ready to shift your paradigm? Schedule a consultation today.