How it works

A method for
hard decisions

DECIDE is not a pros and cons list. It uses structured scoring against your actual values to show you what the decision looks like through the lens of what matters most to you.

The problem it solves

Most decision tools either ask you to list pros and cons (which treats all factors as equal) or rely on your gut (which is useful but not always trustworthy under pressure).

DECIDE does neither. It asks you to name the factors that matter, rate how much each one matters relative to the others, and then score each option on those factors. The result is a weighted picture of where your options actually land, against criteria you chose.

You supply the judgment. The method supplies the structure.

The 8 steps
1
Decision type
Choose from career, relationship, place, money, business, or other. This loads the right factors and dealbreaker categories for your situation.
2
Your values
If you have completed a My Values assessment, your ranked values are pulled in automatically. Otherwise you pick and rank a short list. Your top values determine how factors are pre-weighted.
3
Your options
Name 2 to 4 options with short labels. No private details, no full names. The Free Check works with 2 options. The Full Report supports up to 4.
4
Dealbreakers
Optional. Pick up to 3 hard requirements. Any option that fails a dealbreaker is removed from the score, no matter how well it performs on everything else.
5
Factors
Select the factors that are genuinely relevant to this decision. Each factor is tagged as stability, fulfillment, or neutral, and linked to the values it tends to express.
6
Advantages
For each factor: which option has the least advantage? Then for each other option: how strong is their edge? None, slight, clear, strong, or decisive.
7
Weights
Adjust how much each factor matters to you. Your highest-rated factor anchors at 100. All others are rated against it. Your values pre-fill these, but you can override.
8
Context
Reversibility, current lean, cost level (Full only), and fear level (Full only). These feed into the lenses and the narrative.
The scoring method

The scoring is transparent. Here is exactly how it works.

Edge levels
None
0 points
Slight advantage
25 points
Clear advantage
50 points
Strong advantage
75 points
Decisive advantage
100 points

Each factor's contribution to the final score is: normalized weight × edge points / 100. The option with the highest total score across all factors is the top option.

The score shown in the report is a percentage of the maximum possible score given your weights. A 74% does not mean 74 out of 100 in some absolute sense. It means that option captured 74% of the available points given the factors and weights you set.

What the full report adds
FeatureQuick Check (Free)Full Report ($19)
Weighted score per optionYesYes
Top factors per optionYesYes
Head vs values vs gutYesYes
What would change the resultYesYes
Written narrativeNoYes
Stability vs fulfillment frame testNoYes
Contextual lensesUp to 2Up to 3
Cost comparison (up to 4 options)NoYes
Fear assessmentNoYes
90-day check-inYesYes
Common questions
Does DECIDE give me an answer?
No. DECIDE shows you what the decision looks like through the lens of your stated values. The final choice is yours. The tool exists to make your reasoning visible, not to make the decision for you.
What if I disagree with the result?
That is useful. If the score points one way and you feel the other, it usually means a factor is missing, a weight is off, or your gut knows something the framework does not. Go back and adjust. The framework is not the authority. You are.
Is my decision stored anywhere?
Option labels and decision content are never stored on our servers. Your draft lives in your browser's local storage only. The only data we store is a record that a payment was made (for Full Report access) and, if you opt in, your email for the 90-day check-in.
Do I need a My Values account?
No. DECIDE is standalone. If you have completed a My Values assessment, your values profile will be pulled in automatically during step 2. If not, you pick your own values in the flow.
What kinds of decisions does DECIDE not cover?
Medical decisions, investment decisions, and legal decisions. These require qualified professionals. DECIDE is for personal life decisions where the answer depends on who you are and what you value, not on clinical or financial expertise.
Can I redo the decision?
Yes. Hit "Start a new decision" at the bottom of the report. Your previous draft will be cleared. If you paid for a Full Report, that payment applies to that draft only.
How DECIDE differs from The Conversation

The Conversation explores who you are. DECIDE applies that to one choice.

The Conversation is open-ended: it moves through your values, your history, your patterns, and the beliefs underneath them. There is no destination. It follows what you surface.

DECIDE is specific: you bring a real decision, name the options, and get back a structured analysis of which one fits your values best and where the tension is. It does not explore who you are. It applies who you are to one question.

They work together. If you have not done an assessment or The Conversation, DECIDE still works. If you have, your values load automatically and the analysis is sharper.

Ready to use
the method?

The Quick Check is free and takes about 10 minutes.

Start DECIDE Back to overview