How Do You Make Big Decisions With Confidence?

Running a propane business means regularly facing tough choices. From equipment purchases and staffing changes to territory expansion or new service offerings, the pressure to make the right call can build fast. Getting caught in a cycle of overthinking is easy, but second-guessing your choices can slow down growth and cause missed opportunities. The key to making smart decisions is not just logic. It also involves preparation, timing, and implementing a process you trust.

Start With Clear Numbers
Before any significant move, look at the numbers that matter. This includes your monthly cash flow, customer growth rate, gross margins, delivery costs, and service call volume. When you have solid data, it’s easier to rule out gut reactions and base your choice on facts. For example, knowing how much recurring revenue you have each month can help you decide whether to buy a new truck or hold off another quarter. The more you rely on actual numbers, the less room there is for doubt to creep in.

Know the Long-Term Goal
Every key decision should push your business toward its bigger goal. If you haven’t defined what that goal looks like yet, take the time to write it down. It might be selling the company in five years, doubling your delivery routes, or becoming the go-to propane provider in a new region. When you get a clear idea of where you’re headed, it becomes easier to filter decisions. Ask yourself: Does this bring me closer to my main goal or distract me from it?

Talk It Through With the Right People
You don’t need a big boardroom to make wise decisions, but you do need feedback. Talk to people you trust – your manager, accountant, or even a fellow propane business owner. The key is to speak with those who understand both the industry and your values. They can point out blind spots or risks you haven’t seen. Most importantly, hearing your thoughts verbalized out loud helps you notice whether you’re convincing yourself or making sense.

Test the Decision Before Going All In
Find a way to test your idea without committing all your resources upfront when possible. Want to offer a new service? Try it with a small group of customers first. Are you thinking of hiring for a new role? Start with part-time or trial work. This step gives you real-world feedback and reduces the fear of failure. The more confident you are in the early stages, the easier it will be to scale up.

Give Yourself a Time Limit
One reason people second-guess their decisions is they give themselves too much time to waver. Give each big decision a deadline. It might be after three days have passed or by the end of the month. When you have a clear timeframe, you shift into action mode. You also prevent yourself from endlessly seeking more information, which often leads to confusion instead of clarity.

Why This Matters
In the fast-paced propane industry, hesitation can cost you more than peace of mind. Missed deliveries, delayed upgrades, or waiting too long to hire can all hurt both your reputation and bottom line. When you build a straightforward decision-making process, you focus on growth instead of fear. The more confident you become in choosing your path, the faster your business moves forward.

How Better Decisions Shape Your Business Future
When you make confident choices, your whole team feels it. It builds trust, improves morale, and demonstrates to your customers that you run a business that knows where it’s going. Big decisions will always carry risks, but when you learn to face them with a mix of numbers, insight, and courage, they stop feeling like a gamble and instead become a smart step forward.