Right Time, Right Place: Amazon Decision-Making Magic

In 2015, Amazon’s no longer that scrappy little startup, but they’ve still got that sharp edge. Their decision-making framework? Pure gold, especially for founders hustling in the chaos.

Now, when you’re in the thick of it, making decisions faster than you can say “Prime shipping,” here’s the deal:

Reversible Decisions → Speed, Baby! 🚀

Make those calls quick and dirty. You want to be smart, sure, but speed trumps perfection here. Done is better than perfect.

Irreversible Decisions → Slow and Steady Wins the Race. 🐢

For these, precision is key. Take your time, gather your intel, and make sure you’re hitting the bullseye.

Jeff Bezos dropped this wisdom in his 2015 shareholder letter, talking about Amazon’s “invention machine.” He knew that nailing the decision-making process was all about knowing when to be fast and when to be careful—right time, right place.

And hey, isn’t that what life’s all about? Timing is everything.

Which got me thinking about the other day.

I was scrolling through the usual online rabbit holes, when I stumbled across this crazy story about a road in France that just… vanishes.

Seriously.

One minute it’s there, and the next it’s swallowed up by the ocean like some kind of magic trick.

Naturally, I had to dig deeper—’cause who doesn’t love a good disappearing act, right?

This road, the Passage du Gois, stretches out like a bridge to nowhere between Beauvoir-sur-Mer and the island of Noirmoutier.

But here’s the kicker: you can only drive on it for two hours a day.

Yep, twice a day, when the tide is low, this 2.6-mile strip of asphalt appears, all “Come on, let’s do this.”

But if you’re late to the party, the ocean takes it back, and you’re left staring at 13 feet of water, wondering what the heck just happened 😲.

As I’m reading about this, I couldn’t help but think, “Man, this is exactly like business and sales.”

Sometimes, an opportunity pops up out of nowhere, just waiting for you to jump on it.

But if you hesitate or drag your feet, it’s gone—just like that road under the sea. Timing, baby, it’s everything ⏰.

And here’s the twist: even Porsche knew this road was something special.

They tested their cars here in “Wet Mode”—because who doesn’t want to see if their ride can handle a road that vanishes?

Oh, and it even made the cut for the Olympic torch tour in 2024 🏅.

Talk about legendary.

So, next time you’re thinking about taking a leap in your business, just remember that French road.

When the tide is low and the opportunity is right in front of you, don’t wait.

Hit the gas, because the road won’t stay open forever.

It’s all about being in the right place at the right time—and knowing when to make your move.

Dan