Opportunity Costs at All Costs: A Framework for Decisive Action

By Austin Shaw

At some point, nearly every high performer asks the question:

“Am I wasting my time in this job?”

It’s a question that sneaks up quietly and then won’t let go. You start to notice the meetings that drain you, the projects that feel redundant, the small daily choices that leave you wondering if this is really how you want to be spending your life.

It’s also a question that reveals something deeper: we all feel the pressure of time. And time, unlike money, status, or even energy, is something we can’t recover. You can’t bank it, reinvest it, or hedge against its loss. Every hour spent in one place is an hour you’re not spending somewhere else. That’s the essence of opportunity cost—not just as a concept in economics, but as a deeply personal and often emotional experience.

The challenge is that most high achievers are wired to optimize. They gather data. They analyze options. They weigh every possible outcome. And then… they wait. Not because they’re complacent, but because they don’t want to make the wrong move.

But what if the greater cost isn't choosing the wrong path?

What if the greater cost is choosing indecision?

A Framework for Moving from Indecision to Action

Here’s a simple framework I use with clients who are stuck in the analysis spiral—who are thinking deeply, but not moving meaningfully. The goal isn’t to rush the decision. It’s to reintroduce clarity, agency, and timing.

Define Your “What by When”

The most effective leaders I work with don’t just wonder if they’re in the right role—they decide when they’ll know.

They create a checkpoint in the future. A simple formula:

If by [X date], [Y problem] still exists, I will [Z action].

For example:

If my current firm’s legacy issues are still blocking progress by July, I’ll begin networking outside.

If I’m not getting visibility on strategic work by Q4, I’ll update my materials and reconnect with recruiters.

The point isn’t to create pressure—it’s to take the guesswork out of the moment when something becomes clear. If you wait until you’re 100% certain it’s time to leave, you’ve probably waited too long. Clarity often comes after momentum, not before.

Focus on What You Can Control

Once that checkpoint is set, shift your attention from what’s outside your control—macro conditions, office politics, cultural friction—and back toward what you can influence.

Here’s where I see people regain their power:

• Double down on growth: Build your skills. Deliver results. Create optionality.

• Stay in conversation: Don’t just scroll job boards. Talk to trusted peers. Keep channels open with recruiters.

• Reframe the story: You’re not stuck. You’re either growing where you are or preparing for a better fit. Either way, you’re building something.

This shift moves you out of a passive “wait-and-see” posture and into one where you’re shaping your next chapter—even if you’re not sure what it is yet.

Make Peace with Uncertainty

Even with a plan, you might still feel unsure. That’s normal. Sometimes, nothing is technically “wrong.” But something inside you is asking for more—more alignment, more growth, more meaning. And that’s valid, too.

The biggest opportunity cost isn’t always staying in the wrong job. It’s staying in the right-sounding job while second-guessing yourself for years.

So instead of trying to fix the feeling, try holding the paradox:

• You can be both grateful for your current role and curious about what else is possible.

• You can stay engaged and open.

• You can act with intention, even before you’re 100% sure.

In executive coaching, we talk about shifting the internal condition. It’s not about “fixing” your job or finding the one perfect move. It’s about shifting your posture—from fear to trust, from rumination to experimentation.

When that shift happens, the next steps often reveal themselves.

The Real Cost of Inaction

It’s easy to tell yourself you’ll act when the path is clearer. When the market improves. When the next bonus lands. When you’re a little more certain.

But in my experience—both personally and in my work with clients—the deeper regret is not acting sooner. Not because the move would’ve been perfect, but because waiting drained the energy you needed to make it confidently.

The truth is, you already have everything you need. You have instincts. Experience. Results. You’ve navigated change before, and you’ll do it again.

So if you’re asking whether you’re wasting time, maybe the better question is:

What’s the opportunity cost of standing still?