⚡ Promptolis Original · Decisions & Reasoning
🚪 Irreversible Decision Checklist — Bezos One-Way Door
One-way doors deserve 10× more analysis than two-way. Bezos's framework.
Why this is epic
Bezos's Amazon framework: Type 1 decisions (one-way doors, irreversible) require careful analysis. Type 2 (two-way doors, reversible) should be made fast.
Most people treat decisions symmetrically — slow + careful on everything. That's overkill for reversible decisions AND often insufficient for irreversibles. Classification matters.
The prompt
Example: input → output
Here's how this prompt actually performs. Real input below, real output from Claude Opus 4.
<decision>Accept promotion offer that requires move to another city</decision> <perceived-reversibility>Feels pretty irreversible — kids would enroll in new schools, wife quits her job, sell house</perceived-reversibility>
Reversibility Classification
Type 1B — Substantially irreversible with significant cost to reverse.
Not truly one-way (you CAN move back if you hate it) but costs of reversal are high:
- Kids enrolled in new schools; disruption to move back mid-year or next year
- Wife quit her job; may not be available at same level when returning
- Sold house; buying back in original market may be cost-prohibitive (especially if market appreciated)
- Social network / friendships disrupted; rebuilding takes 2-3 years in original location
- Signaling to employer: accepted-then-left-within-year signals instability
Reasonable reversal cost: 1-3 years + $50-150K + significant family friction.
This isn't 'can't reverse' — it's 'costs 1-3 years of family life to reverse.' Type 1B: treat as irreversible for decision purposes even though technically reversible.
If Reversible (Type 2) — Not This Case
For actually-reversible decisions: decide fast. Over-deliberating reversibles costs opportunity.
If Irreversible (Type 1) — Your Case
Full-analysis protocol:
1. Pre-mortem: 12 months post-move, it went wrong. What happened specifically?
2. Wife's career assessment: not just 'she can find something.' What does her specific career look like in new city? Industry depth, network, growth potential?
3. Kids' specific school / friendship status: current + projected new. School quality, peer-group, extracurricular fit.
4. Reversal cost assessment: if we needed to move back in 6 months, 12 months, 24 months — what would it cost specifically? Family relationships, marriage stress, finances.
5. New-city stress-test: have you spent significant time there? Visit 1-2 weeks before deciding (if possible).
6. Compensation beyond salary: total package, benefits, cost-of-living difference, tax difference. Often the 'raise' is smaller post-adjustment.
7. Role specificity: beyond 'promotion,' what are specific responsibilities, team, boss? Interview those explicitly before deciding.
8. Timeline: employer wants answer quickly. Can you negotiate more? (Usually yes; asking demonstrates thoughtfulness.)
9. Family vote: spouse + older kids (if applicable) have real stake. Unified decision beats imposed decision.
10. Pre-committed re-evaluation: if you take it, when will you assess honestly? ('At 6 months, 12 months, 24 months — is this working for family + me?')
Minimum 3-week deliberation. Pushback on '10 days to decide' for this magnitude.
Cost-to-Reverse Estimate
Rough:
- Year 1 reversal: $80-150K + 6 months family stress + reputation ding
- Year 2 reversal: $100-200K + year of family stress + reputational more severe
- Year 3+: substantially harder; kids entrenched, finances reset, returning harder than initial move
This cost estimate should be in your decision analysis. Option A (take + risk 1-3 year reversal) vs. Option B (stay + opportunity cost of promotion) both have financial signatures.
Common use cases
- Any decision where reversibility is unclear
- Distinguishing 'cannot undo' from 'expensive to undo'
- Decision-making speed calibration
Best AI model for this
Sonnet 4.5 for classification; Opus 4 for irreversible analysis.
Pro tips
- Most decisions ARE reversible with effort. True irreversibles are rarer than we feel.
- 'Expensive to reverse' ≠ 'irreversible.' Can still reverse; just costs.
- Irreversible ≠ bad. Some of best decisions are irreversible (children, marriage) — just deserve deliberation.
- Reversible decisions should be MADE. Over-deliberating reversibles = lost opportunity cost.
Customization tips
- For business decisions: Bezos framework directly applicable. Most business decisions reversible; few are truly one-way. Launch/abandon product is usually reversible with costs.
- For marriage / children decisions: genuinely irreversible in core ways. Deliberation matters more than in business.
- For investment decisions: nominally reversible (can sell) but often Type 1B with tax + timing consequences. Classification adjusts deliberation.
- For medical decisions: varies hugely. Elective surgery usually Type 1. Medication trial usually Type 2. Specific reversibility varies.
- For legal decisions: often Type 1 with specific consequences. Consult attorney before classifying yourself.
Variants
Default Classification
Standard reversibility analysis
Business Decision Context
Startup/business-specific reversibility
Life Decision Context
Personal life decisions
Frequently asked questions
How do I use the Irreversible Decision Checklist — Bezos One-Way Door prompt?
Open the prompt page, click 'Copy prompt', paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini, and replace the placeholders in curly braces with your real input. The prompt is also launchable directly in each model with one click.
Which AI model works best with Irreversible Decision Checklist — Bezos One-Way Door?
Sonnet 4.5 for classification; Opus 4 for irreversible analysis.
Can I customize the Irreversible Decision Checklist — Bezos One-Way Door prompt for my use case?
Yes — every Promptolis Original is designed to be customized. Key levers: Most decisions ARE reversible with effort. True irreversibles are rarer than we feel.; 'Expensive to reverse' ≠ 'irreversible.' Can still reverse; just costs.
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