We tell ourselves a story. "We make data-driven decisions." It sounds good. It sounds professional. It sounds like the right answer.

But here's what I've learned: it's mostly fiction.

The Gap Between Story and Reality

I'm a data guy. I genuinely believe in numbers, evidence, and logic. So when I see organizations making "dumb decisions" (the kind that don't hold up to any scrutiny) it frustrates me. There's no logical explanation. Politics won. Convenience won. Personal ambition won over what was actually right.

And the worst part? Everyone knows it. But nobody says it.

We dress it up. We create OKRs. We run "analysis." We present dashboards. But underneath? The decision was made based on feelings, impressions, and who spoke loudest in the meeting.

I'm Guilty Too

This is the part that took me a long time to admit.

I like to think I'm different. That I'm the guy with the spreadsheet who fights for what's correct. But the truth is, I make plenty of feeling-based calls too. My gut. My mood. My impression of someone.

Looking back, some of them were good, or even great decisions. Others not so much. But data-driven decisions can also suffer a similar faith.

The problem I'm facing is that I haven't made peace with it.

The Cost of Not Accepting It

When you can't accept that you're not as rational as you think, something weird happens. You stop performing at your best. You get stuck. You're so focused on "what's right" that you miss the actual game.

More importantly — you make it harder for everyone else.

Your cofounders don't need you to be right all the time. They need you to be present. To move. To trust that good enough > perfect. When you're stuck in "but the data says..." mode, you're not leading. You're just blocking.

So What Do We Do?

I don't have a clear answer. I'm still figuring this out.

But here's what I'm trying:

1. Admit it — I don't make all my decisions with data. Neither do you. Neither does anyone.
2. Ask better questions — Instead of "what does the data say?" maybe ask "what are we really optimizing for?"
3. Let go sometimes — Not every decision needs your input. Trust the team."

The Real Enemy

Making decisions based on feeling is not the enemy here. It is not knowing you're doing it.

Once you accept that humans are irrational creatures who happen to use spreadsheets, everything gets easier. You stop fighting reality. You start working with it.

And your cofounders will thank you.