What To Do When There’s No Perfect Answer

Summary

Help Wanted Podcast Summary
Episode: What To Do When There’s No Perfect Answer
Release Date: April 24, 2025
Hosts: Jason Feifer (Editor-in-Chief, Entrepreneur) & Nicole Lapin (Money Expert)
Produced By: Money News Network

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Introduction to the Episode

In this insightful episode of Help Wanted, hosts Jason Feifer and Nicole Lapin tackle the challenging dilemma many professionals face: making decisions when there’s no perfect answer. The episode delves into navigating the murky waters of unsatisfying yet familiar situations versus venturing into the unknown, potentially more rewarding paths.

The Dilemma: Familiar vs. Unknown

Jason opens the discussion by presenting a common predicament:

Jason Feifer [02:42]:
"You are stuck between two bad options. Option number one, something unsatisfying but familiar. And option number two, something scary and unknown."

He elaborates on how individuals often cling to the familiar despite its drawbacks, fearing the uncertainties that come with change. This fear is rooted in the old adage:

Jason Feifer [03:15]:
"The devil you know is better than the devil you don't."

Real-Life Example: Jim's Struggle

To illustrate this dilemma, Jason shares a story about his friend Jim:

Jason Feifer [04:00]:
"Jim has been in the same company for years and it just reorganized. So now Jim is on a new team with a new boss. And this boss sucks. This boss is constantly blaming Jim for things and telling Jim that he's done a bad job. And Jim is miserable every day."

Jim confides his fears:

Jim (Case Study) [04:30]:
"I think I'm going to be fired. It's driving me crazy."

Jason challenges Jim's mindset:

Jason Feifer [04:45]:
"Why not just leave?"

Jim hesitates, valuing the stability his job provides. Jason then shifts the perspective:

Jason Feifer [05:10]:
"What if leaving is actually the more stable choice? We need to redefine what stability really means."

Redefining Stability: Control vs. Familiarity

Jason argues that true stability is not merely about holding onto a job but having control over one’s circumstances:

Jason Feifer [05:30]:
"Jim doesn't know what'll happen next. He doesn't see a path to success. He doesn't know what actions will improve his situation. And every day feels like a mystery. That is not stability. That is familiar instability."

Conversely, taking proactive steps offers a different kind of stability rooted in control:

Jason Feifer [06:00]:
"He would update his resume, he'd call his network, he would apply for jobs, he would develop new skills, and so on. These actions are firmly within his control."

The Framework for Decision-Making

To aid listeners in navigating similar dilemmas, Jason outlines a three-step framework:

Step 1: Define Stability for Yourself

Jason Feifer [06:30]:
"Be realistic about it. We can't be idealistic here."

Using Jim's case, he emphasizes setting achievable definitions of stability:

Jason Feifer [06:45]:
"Jim's ideal stability would be to get a better boss and stay at his old job. But that's not possible. He's already tried. He is stuck where he is."

Step 2: Evaluate Each Path

Assess the clarity and controllability of each option:

Jason Feifer [07:10]:
"Ask yourself, which situation is in front of me has a clearer path to success and which path do I have more control over? Whatever your answer is, that is your stable path."

For Jim, the path to a new job presents clear, actionable steps compared to the murky prospects of staying.

Step 3: Identify the First Three Actions

Plan concrete steps to mitigate the fear of the unknown:

Jason Feifer [07:50]:
"Identify the first three things you can do when you make a decision to change."

In Jim's scenario, these steps might include:

1. Put in Notice or Start Job Hunting
2. Inform Professional Network of Job Search
3. Engage Actively on LinkedIn

Jason emphasizes that these actions provide a sense of direction and reduce the anxiety associated with change.

Final Insights: Stability Through Control

Wrapping up, Jason reinforces that true stability is about having control rather than clinging to the familiar:

Jason Feifer [08:45]:
"Sometimes leaving something is the stable option. That's because true stability lies on the other side of whatever we're trapped in. So choose the path of control. That is what's stable."

He also introduces a pivotal question for listeners to consider:

Jason Feifer [09:00]:
"Is my new problem better than my old problem?"

This introspection ensures that the chosen path leads to genuine progress rather than merely trading one set of issues for another.

Conclusion

In this episode of Help Wanted, Jason Feifer and Nicole Lapin provide a compelling framework for making tough decisions when faced with imperfect choices. By redefining stability as control and offering actionable steps, they empower listeners to navigate their professional and personal lives with confidence and clarity.

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Notable Quotes:

• Jason Feifer [02:42]:
  "You are stuck between two bad options. Option number one, something unsatisfying but familiar. And option number two, something scary and unknown."

• Jason Feifer [03:15]:
  "The devil you know is better than the devil you don't."

• Jason Feifer [05:10]:
  "What if leaving is actually the more stable choice? We need to redefine what stability really means."

• Jason Feifer [08:45]:
  "Sometimes leaving something is the stable option. That's because true stability lies on the other side of whatever we're trapped in. So choose the path of control. That is what's stable."

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For more insights and assistance with your work-related challenges, consider reaching out via [e-mail] and follow Help Wanted on Instagram and TikTok at @MoneyNewsNetwork.

Transcript

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[Nicole Lapin]

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[Jason Pfeiffer]

This is help Wanted, the show that makes your work your work for you. I'm Jason Pfeiffer, editor in chief of.

[Nicole Lapin]

Entrepreneur magazine, and I'm money expert Nicole Lapin. On Tuesdays, Jason and I answer the helpline and help callers solve their work Problems.

[Jason Pfeiffer]

And on Thursdays, I give you one way to improve your work and build a career or company you love.

[Nicole Lapin]

And it starts now.

[Jason Pfeiffer]

You are stuck between two bad options. Option number one, something unsatisfying but familiar. And option number two, something scary and unknown. Maybe this is a job that drains you, or a relationship that fizzled, or a business strategy that plateaued. All of these things are unsatisfying but familiar. You know them and they're not helping you. But you know what's on the other side of that? Leaving. And leaving is the scary and unknown thing. So you don't leave. You just kind of keep going with it. You tell yourself, well, at least I know what I'm dealing with. Because as the old saying goes, the devil you know is better than the devil you don't. Right? But what if that conventional wisdom is completely backwards? What if sometimes the most stable choice is actually to leave? Today, I will help you clarify a difficult choice. And let's start with a real life example from a friend of mine. I was talking with my friend Jim recently. Not his real name, but we'll just go with Jim. Jim has been in the same company for years and it just reorganized. So now Jim is on a new team with a new boss. And this boss sucks. This boss is constantly blaming Jim for things and telling Jim that he's done a bad job. And Jim is miserable every day. Jim told me, I think I'm going to be fired. It's driving me crazy. So I said to him, why not just leave? And he said, because he appreciates that at least the job gives him stability. And when I heard that, something clicked. Wait a second. I told him, what if leaving is actually the more stable choice? We need to redefine what stability really means. Because here's the thing about Jim's situation. Yes, he has a job and yes, that is a form of stability. But his day to day experience at work is deeply unstable. Jim doesn't know what'll happen next. He doesn't see a path to success. He doesn't know what actions will improve his situation. And every day feels like a mystery. That is not stability. That is familiar instability. Now let's talk about what would happen if Jim left. He would know exactly what to do next. He would update his resume, he'd call his network, he would apply for jobs, he would develop new skills, and so on. These actions are firmly within his control. Currently, Jim is equating stability with having a job. Instead, he needs to equate stability with having control. That small shift Changes Jim everything. The next time you are caught between these two forces, something unsatisfying and familiar versus something that's, you know, unknown and scary, try evaluating your options with this simple framework. Step one, I want you to define stability for yourself. Be realistic about it. We can't be idealistic here. For example, Jim's ideal stability would be to get a better boss and stay at his old job. But that's not possible. He's already tried. He is stuck where he is. That new boss not going anywhere. So Jim needs to ask himself, what is achievable stability? Is it keeping his old job or is it working somewhere that makes him happy? Now, after that, after step one, define stability for yourself, we're going to move on to step two. Evaluate each path. Ask yourself, which situation is in front of me has a clearer path to success and which path do I have more control over? Whatever your answer is, that is your stable path. For Jim, the path to success at work is unclear. He does not understand his boss, and he doesn't know what will happen next. But the path to a new job has clear, actionable steps, even if it comes with its own frustrations. So, all right, step one, define stability for yourself. Step two, evaluate each path. Now, step three, identify the first three things you can do when you make a decision to change. To be clear, I am not saying that you will succeed after these first three things you do. But this helps you visualize the starting point. For Jim, for example, it could look like this. He puts in his notice, or at least he starts looking for a new job. Then he tells his professional network that he's on the market and he starts engaging regularly on LinkedIn. He can do all these things now. Again, the point isn't to say that just doing these will immediately lead to success. The point is to just be able to envision what things you will do after making a hard choice. It doesn't feel like nothing. You're not out in the void, completely disoriented. There are specific things that you can do, and the more that you can imagine doing them and knowing what they are, the more in which it will feel less scary to actually make the leap. Look, stability isn't the same as perfection. Let's imagine that Jim leaves his job, and let's imagine that you take your own leap. Changing your business plan, leaving a relationship, whatever. The next phase will feel uncertain. I do not mean to downplay that leaving a job has financial implications, which is especially challenging in an economy like we're in right now. Leaving a relationship is hard and emotional. These things cause ripple effects across your life. You must choose the path that is most appropriate and realistic for you. But let me remind you of one of my favorite questions you must ask yourself. Is my new problem better than my old problem? There is no perfect option. Every path requires work. So we cannot measure our choices against an imaginary ideal. Instead, we we must track our progress more realistically, choosing the problems that also contain progress. Sometimes leaving something is the stable option. That's because true stability lies on the other side of whatever we're trapped in. So choose the path of control. That is what's stable. Help Wanted is a production of Money News Network. Help Wanted is hosted by me, Jason.

[Nicole Lapin]

Pfeiffer, and me, Nicole Lapin. Our executive producer is Morgan Lavoy. Do you want some help? Email our [e-mail] for the chance to have some of your questions answered on the show. And follow us on Instagramoneynews and TikTok MoneyNewsNetwork for exclusive content and to see our beautiful faces. Maybe a little dance?

[Jason Pfeiffer]

Oh, I didn't sign up for that.

[Nicole Lapin]

All right, well, talk to you soon. It.