Podcast Summary: Help Wanted — “How to Stop Deciding and Start Experimenting”

Date: September 25, 2025
Hosts: Jason Feifer (Entrepreneur Editor-in-Chief), Nicole Lapin (Money Expert)
Episode Theme:
How to break free from decision paralysis and use experimentation—as inspired by behavioral science and business strategy—to make progress in your work and life.

Episode Overview

This episode of Help Wanted dives into the common struggle of getting stuck when considering a new path, whether it’s a small choice like taking a class, or a major one like changing careers. Jason Feifer leads a concise, actionable exploration into how reframing our choices as “experiments” rather than permanent decisions can help us move forward, reduce anxiety, and drive meaningful growth—even (and especially) when we fail along the way.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Paralysis of Premature Permanence [01:28 - 03:26]

• Problem Identified: People hesitate to make changes because they fear every new step is permanent, not reversible.
• Quote:

  “When we consider new things, we start to fear premature permanence. Which is to say we think of every change as a long term commitment...That is why we hold ourselves back. We're not afraid of new things. We're afraid of committing to them before knowing if they're right.”
  — Jason Feifer (quoting Katie Milkman), [02:25]

2. The Power of Framing as Experiments [03:27 - 05:06]

• Mindset Shift: Instead of thinking in terms of long-term decisions, label new pursuits as experiments with a defined scope.

• Advice:

  • “When you frame something new as an experiment, you remove the pressure. The goal isn't to find the perfect solution anymore, it's just to test a hypothesis, actually label it. This is an experiment. It's not the end, it's just you exploring.”
    — Jason Feifer, [03:55]

• Practical Steps:

  • Define the duration of your experiment.
  • Clarify what data or outcomes you hope to collect.

• Example:
  Jason describes negotiating a three-month collaboration, with clear criteria for evaluation at the end, allowing a guilt-free exit if it doesn’t fit ([04:33]).

3. Failure as the Mark of True Experimentation [05:07 - 06:15]

• Corporate Insight:
  • Aman Bhutani, CEO of GoDaddy, actively tracks experiments and wants to see frequent failures as evidence of true risk-taking.
  • Quote:

    “If you're pushing lots of new ideas and you're doing really innovative things, then your success rate is going to be lower than a third. If win rates are very high, that means people are just doing whatever they want and calling it an experiment.”
    — Aman Bhutani (quoted by Jason Feifer), [05:48]

• Key Takeaway:
  • High failure rates mean genuine growth and innovation.
  • "When your experiments fail, you are doing it right." — [06:07]

4. Personal Story: The Value of Failed Experiments [06:16 - 06:56]

• Jason's College Memory:
  • His girlfriend tried out neuroscience not through classes, but with a six-month hospital internship and quickly realized it wasn’t for her.
  • Quote:

    “She was very satisfied because imagine the alternative. She said she could have spent years studying neuroscience and only then discovered that she didn't like the work. She was right. Her six month internship was a valuable experiment and the failure was a great success.”
    — Jason Feifer, [06:40]

5. Actionable Recap: Start Experimenting Now [06:57 - 07:11]

• Concrete Advice:
  • Don’t wait for perfect certainty.
  • Label efforts as “experiments,” set parameters, and embrace learning from failure.
  • Quote:

    “The world is unpredictable, but it is also testable...The goal isn't to succeed at everything. It is to learn from everything. Failure means that you're doing it right and that is all that matters.”
    — Jason Feifer, [06:58]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We’re not afraid of new things. We’re afraid of committing to them before knowing if they’re right.”
  — Jason Feifer (summarizing Katie Milkman), [02:25]

• “When your experiments fail, you are doing it right. That is one of the most liberating ideas I've ever heard.”
  — Jason Feifer, [06:07]

• “Her six-month internship was a valuable experiment and the failure was a great success.”
  — Jason Feifer, [06:46]

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:28 | Introducing today’s work/life dilemma: decision paralysis | | 02:25 | Katie Milkman’s insight on “premature permanence” | | 03:35 | Framing new pursuits as experiments | | 04:33 | Example: Negotiating experimental collaboration | | 05:43 | Aman Bhutani on the value of failure in experimentation | | 06:40 | College anecdote: internship as a tested (failed) experiment | | 06:57 | Actionable recap: Start experimenting, embrace failure |

Tone and Style

• The episode is friendly, encouraging, and strongly practical. Jason Feifer’s storytelling is approachable and direct, while actionable advice is always grounded in real-life examples and memorable summaries.

In Summary

This episode of Help Wanted urges listeners to stop getting stuck in indecision by reframing new pursuits as “experiments”—defined, temporary, low-pressure tests—rather than high-stakes, permanent commitments. Drawing on behavioral science and insights from innovative companies, Feifer’s key message is that real progress comes from trying, failing, and learning, not from waiting to find the perfect, risk-free choice. Failure is not just acceptable, but a sign that you’re growing.