10-10-10 Rule
How will I feel in 10 minutes, 10 months, 10 years?
Explanation
Writer Suzy Welch created this rule after making an impulsive decision she later regretted. Our brains are wired to focus on immediate feelings and ignore long-term consequences. This simple question helps you zoom out and see the bigger picture by imagining how you'll feel at different points in the future.
Real-World Example
Quitting job in anger: 10 min: Satisfaction, relief. 10 months: Financial stress, regret. 10 years: Career gap hard to explain. Vs Starting exercise: 10 min: Uncomfortable, want to quit. 10 months: Visible results, habit formed. 10 years: Healthy, confident, avoided disease. Bezos leaving Wall Street: 10 min: Terrifying. 10 months: Exciting progress. 10 years: Amazon worth billions.
How to Apply
Draw three columns. Fill each with emotions AND practical outcomes. Weight them: 10min=10%, 10months=40%, 10years=50%. If 10-year you would thank you, do it. If 10-year you would regret it, don't. Remember: we overestimate short-term pain and underestimate long-term gain.