Deciding Without Perfect Information

Eanna McGowan
Mar 11
2 min read

The closer Everest gets, the more obvious it becomes that decisions rarely come with perfect information.

There’s always something you don’t know. Weather forecasts change. Training weeks don’t land exactly how you imagined. Logistics shift. Plans evolve.

Work isn’t much different. Priorities move, information arrives late, and decisions still need to be made.

At some point you realise that waiting for everything to feel certain usually means waiting too long.

Preparation Gives You Enough

Preparation doesn’t remove uncertainty, but it does change how you deal with it.

Most of the work around Everest happens long before you ever step onto the mountain. Training blocks, equipment choices, planning, routines. None of it guarantees an outcome, but it gives you a base to work from when decisions need to be made.

It’s the same in work. You do the thinking early, understand the context as best you can, and trust that when the moment comes you’ll have enough to move forward.

Not perfect clarity — just enough.

Too Much Information Can Be Its Own Problem

One thing I’ve noticed more recently is that the challenge isn’t always a lack of information. Sometimes it’s the opposite.

Weather forecasts from multiple sources. Advice from people who’ve climbed before. Different training views. Endless online content. Even tools like AI offering opinions on almost everything.

All of it can be useful. But taken together it can also create noise.

If you try to process every possible input, you can end up stuck between too many options. At some point you have to filter what matters, trust your preparation, and make a call.

Standing Still Isn’t Neutral

Delaying decisions can feel safe, but it often comes with its own cost.

Momentum slows. Small issues grow. The clarity you were waiting for rarely arrives in the way you hoped.

Preparing for Everest has made me more comfortable deciding with the information I have and adjusting if needed. Not rushing decisions, but not waiting indefinitely either.