So, Bezos went to his boss to let him know his plans, and that he would be leaving the company. … The boss then persuaded Bezos to think about it for 48 hours before making a final decision.  …

To help him decide whether or not to leave his very stable, very financially rewarding job to pursue a crazy dream, Bezos projected himself forward to age 80 and looked back on his life with the goal of minimizing regrets. …

This regret minimization framework can be useful when you’re trying to manage emotions, cut through the noise, and make difficult decisions. …

 Here’s how it works. When navigating your emotions as you attempt to make a major decision, ask yourself the following:

How will I feel about this in:

  • a day?
  • a week?
  • a month?
  • a year?
  • Five, 15, or 20 years? …

By asking yourself the golden question, you use your brain as a whole, balancing rational thought and emotions. Yes, you have the ability now to carefully and thoughtfully imagine how things will play out in the years to come, but you also keep emotions as part of the equation. 

Because regret is a powerful feeling that no one wants to experience, it can help you make a decision that reduces regret and helps you move forward, without looking back (Inc.)

Question: What do you think about this “golden question” method?