Making decisions fast? Making them careful? Or just frozen between the two? Brian spent three months analyzing a new product line nobody in the industry had ever done. Endless scenarios that led nowhere. He finally said screw it and pulled the trigger anyway. Now people ask him how he decided to do something nobody else can replicate. Brad runs the opposite problem. His team moves so fast they don't think through consequences.

This is episode 38. How to know when to trust your gut and when to slow down. In this conversation, you'll discover:

• The two questions that determine instinct versus analysis: How much time do you have and what happens if you're wrong

• Why "I don't know" is a legitimate answer when your boss asks you something

• How to tell if someone's instinctual or just impatient This isn't startup theory.

Brian sold his company after making gut calls nobody else would touch. Brad runs 550 employees and watches young leaders freeze or rush daily.

*WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS* • The timeline test: Before any decision, ask when it's actually due. Most people rush decisions that could wait. • The consequence check: Walk through what happens if you're wrong. If damage is minimal, make the call now.

*WHO THESE GUYS ARE* Brian Balduf co-founded and sold VHT Studios. Brad Balduf runs By Your Side Autism Therapy with 550 employees across 11 centers. Matt Croke keeps it honest and pulls out the chaos. They've been there, survived it, and have the scars to prove it.

*THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH* "If you over-rotate one direction or the other, it will have negative consequences. Someone that is too instinctual is typically impulsive and doesn't follow through." Which one are you? Stuck analyzing or moving too fast?

👇 SUBSCRIBE for new episodes every Friday. Real stories, real disasters, no LinkedIn energy. ———————————— *

TIMESTAMPS* 1:18 - Instinctual vs Analytical: What We're Actually Talking About

2:31 - The Three-Month Analysis That Led Nowhere

3:23 - "Analysis Paralysis" Finally Shows Up

4:27 - When Brian Said "I Don't Care, We're Doing This"

8:40 - Brad's Problem: Leaders Who Don't Think Through Consequences

11:00 - The Two Questions That Determine Every Decision

13:26 - Why You'll Never Have 100% of the Information

16:51 - When Data Becomes a False Security Blanket

18:29 - Brad's Reverse Problem: Too Much Impulse, Not Enough Thinking

21:36 - How to Interview for Decision-Making Without Caring What They Decide

24:12 - The Instinctual Hire: Why They Didn't Interview 10 More Candidates ———————————— *

ABOUT CEO BROS AFTER HOURS* CEO Bros After Hours is an entertaining weekly podcast hosted by three entrepreneurs: Brian Balduf (co-founder of VHT Studios), Brad Balduf (CEO of By Your Side Autism Therapy), and Matt Croke (host and entertainer). Every Friday, they share real business challenges, failures, and successes with vulnerability and humor. From customer onboarding disasters to scaling strategies, they deliver actionable insights for entrepreneurs and business leaders while mixing cocktails and keeping it real. ———————————— 🍸

*WIND DOWN WITH THE BROS: THIS WEEK'S COCKTAILS* Three drinks for three decision-makers. Pick yours.

🍸 *THE PARALYSIS PROOF* Brian Balduf - The storyteller who finally pulled the trigger Recipe: • 2 oz bourbon • 0.75 oz lemon juice • 0.5 oz honey syrup • 2 dashes Angostura bitters • Shake with ice, strain over cube The Vibe: Three months analyzing got nowhere. Sometimes you just make the call. Simple, direct, doesn't overthink it.

🍸 *THE CONSEQUENCE CALCULATOR* Brad Balduf - The operator coaching his team to slow down Recipe: • 2 oz rye whiskey • 0.75 oz sweet vermouth • 0.5 oz Aperol • 2 dashes orange bitters • Stir with ice, strain into coupe The Vibe: Brad's team moves fast without thinking through tomorrow. This drink makes you pause and appreciate balance.

🍸 *THE ASSUMPTION AUDIT* Matt Croke - The host calling out bad data Recipe: • 1.5 oz gin • 0.75 oz Aperol • 0.75 oz lime juice • 0.5 oz simple syrup • Club soda • Shake, strain, top with soda The Vibe: Everyone's trusting data built on assumptions nobody checked. Trust your gut when the spreadsheet feels wrong. Make all three and figure out which decision-maker you are this week. Tag us. ————————————

*JOIN THE CONVERSATION*

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#entrepreneurship #decisionmaking #startuplife #leadership #smallbusiness

Music: "Back to Black" by Rockin' For Decades (licensed through Epidemic Sound)