⚡ Promptolis Original · Decisions & Reasoning
🎁 WRAP Framework Decider (Heath Brothers)
Widen options / Reality-test assumptions / Attain distance / Prepare to be wrong.
Why this is epic
Heath brothers' Decisive (2013) synthesizes decision research into 4 steps: Widen Options, Reality-Test Assumptions, Attain Distance, Prepare to Be Wrong. Each counters a specific decision error pattern.
Research validation: businesses + individuals using structured framework outperform intuition-only. 50%+ reduction in decision-regret.
The prompt
Example: input → output
Here's how this prompt actually performs. Real input below, real output from Claude Opus 4.
<decision>Whether to accept job offer from competitor</decision> <current-framing>Take new job OR stay at current job</current-framing> <stakes>High</stakes>
W - Widen Options
Binary framing hides options:
1. Take new job as-is
2. Stay at current job as-is
3. Negotiate with new job for different role/terms
4. Take new job + negotiate current as fallback (not recommended ethically — signals wavering)
5. Counter-offer at current company using new offer as leverage
6. Request 3-month sabbatical at current + try new; return if fails (may be possible)
7. Take new job with explicit 1-year reassessment commitment to self
8. Decline both + seek 3 more offers to benchmark
Options 3, 5, 7 are often unexplored.
R - Reality-Test Assumptions
Assumptions you're making that need data:
- 'Current company will always be there as backup' — test: what's company trajectory / layoff risk?
- 'New job role is as described' — test: backchannel with 2 people at new company not in interview loop
- 'Culture will fit' — test: shadow a day if possible, talk to recent hires (1-2 years in)
- 'Compensation difference is substantial' — test: run actual post-tax + benefits math, not gross
- 'Responsibility will accelerate career' — test: talk to 3 people who took similar offers at similar companies
1-2 week reality-testing sprint before Day 10 decision.
A - Attain Distance
10-10-10 rule:
- How will I feel in 10 minutes? (Nervous about decision)
- In 10 months? (Probably settled in either choice; still figuring out if right)
- In 10 years? (Decision largely invisible in long-term career arc. One of many.)
Knowing 10-year perspective reduces catastrophizing current decision.
Friend perspective: You're advising a friend with identical facts. What would you tell them? Usually you'd lean more cautiously than you do for yourself, OR notice trade-offs the self-advocate-brain minimizes.
P - Prepare to Be Wrong
If take new job: pre-committed tripwire at 6 months: 'Am I learning + energized + respected? If no to 2+ of 3, reassess.'
If stay: pre-committed tripwire at 1 year: 'Has my role / compensation / growth aligned with what I need? If no, actively job-search.'
Tripwires prevent 'ride it out' drift. Specific re-evaluation points.
Revised Decision Path
Don't decide today. Run 10-day process:
- Days 1-4: reality-test assumptions above
- Day 5: self-audit revised options list — is one clearly emerging?
- Day 6-7: friend-perspective + 10-10-10
- Day 8: pre-commit tripwires for whichever path
- Day 9: sleep on it
- Day 10: decide + communicate
WRAP's value: structural process replaces rumination. Decision-research shows structured process produces fewer post-decision regrets regardless of which option chosen.
Common use cases
- Any significant decision — WRAP is broadly applicable
- Teaching decision-making to others
- Group decisions where structure prevents dominant-voice capture
Best AI model for this
Opus 4 for thorough application.
Pro tips
- Widen: 'whether to X' is too narrow. Force 3-5 options including 'do nothing' and 'combine.'
- Reality-test: get data from people who've actually done the thing.
- Distance: advice you'd give a friend + 10-10-10 rule.
- Prepare to be wrong: pre-commit to re-evaluation trigger + honest tripwire.
Customization tips
- For time-pressured decisions: compress WRAP to 2 hours. Widen (15 min) → Reality-test (45 min rapid calls) → Distance (30 min) → Prepare-wrong (30 min tripwires).
- For group decisions: each member does WRAP individually first; then group shares. Prevents group-think and dominant-voice capture.
- For teaching teenagers decision-making: WRAP simplified. 'Could I think of 3 other options?' 'Have I talked to someone who's done this?' 'What would I tell a friend?' 'How will I know if this isn't working?'
- For decisions you've been avoiding: WRAP is sometimes the unlock. Avoidance often = binary-framing + not-wanting-either = paralysis. Widening reveals middle paths.
Variants
Default Full WRAP
Complete 4-step application
Quick WRAP (30 min)
Compressed for time-pressured decisions
Group WRAP
Multi-stakeholder application
Frequently asked questions
How do I use the WRAP Framework Decider (Heath Brothers) 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 WRAP Framework Decider (Heath Brothers)?
Opus 4 for thorough application.
Can I customize the WRAP Framework Decider (Heath Brothers) prompt for my use case?
Yes — every Promptolis Original is designed to be customized. Key levers: Widen: 'whether to X' is too narrow. Force 3-5 options including 'do nothing' and 'combine.'; Reality-test: get data from people who've actually done the thing.
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