The Standard Corey Decision Framework

Author: Corey Naas
Date: 2023-08-24

What is a "Standard Corey Decision" (SCD), and why is it distinct?

A Standard Corey Decision is a decision that generally follows these steps:

  1. It may start long before one realizes they're thinking about it.
  2. If so, then it simmers in the head as relevant and connected data is collected.
  3. If enough data is collected and a go decision reached, or if timing requires a decision sooner than later and Gut feeling says go, then:
  4. Results in a firm kick-start that flows smoothly throughout the day, requiring some Hamlet-esque 'antic dispositions', where every scene, every move and every line feels cinematic-like in progression and soundtrack. The decision is usually unforeseen even by close friends and aquaintances unless explicitly told, and often seen as concerning and seemingly out of the blue. An impending SCD affects one's outside behavior minimally, not in any way that would make anyone suspect anything, or couldn't be played off instinctually if disguise is required. There's a certain satisfaction and confidence in always being right, or at least in rigging the definition of "plan" to ensure "success" regardless of the actual series of events.
    1. One often doesn't know themselves they're going to execute a SCD until they're in the process of doing it or has already done it. They surprise themselves, a lot.
  5. Is often seen by others as impulsive, nonsensical, or at minimum, a strange twisting path of decisions that don't make sense. But given enough time, one can explain it in a way that at least demonstrates that they understand what their intent and path forward is, even if others don't. And the, in reassuring others that the understands it, reassures themself in return.
  6. Usually depends on having developed a general "framework", an outline of a goal made by framing without filling, rather than developing a full "plan", which is more specific and filled. Where every step is not laid out and instead it lays out the "nominal" Major points and allows for maximum adaption as needed, as reality is observed and events outside our control and influence change the environment. It also helps maintain personal morale throughout by not relying on specifc, hard-set goals that could become demotivating if failing them becomes a trend. Re-evaluate and re-adjust.
    1. This has the negative effect of unintentionally making people nervous with the lack of a step-by-step plan, or the lack of a concise explanation. Most of the time it turns out okay. Because the success criteria for an SCD is determined using the Major points reached, which are all up for grabs for re-rating as Minor points or vice versa, the priority is placed on consistent satisfaction and positive rate-of progress over time, "the destination is the journey, enjoy it", rather than "the destination is the destination, the journey is just in the way", which relies on there being a Big Finale that make the sacrifices of the journey worth it.
    2. This also makes it likely that any two explanations or plans given will differ slightly. Unless it was written down because the [likelyness of change was low], one should be re-deriving the likely course of events each time they're asked, based on whatever information they have at that moment, rather that relying on a static plan that's unaware of changing situations.
  7. Relying primarily on a loose framework rather a tight plan allows for one to imagine and entertain numerous possible scenarios as the framework is being executed, always mentally working through all possible steps to success despite external forces constantly changing the present conditions of a situation.

It's kind of like planning a hike from one place to another on a topographical map. You can get a general idea of the routes you're going to take, and you can pencil in possible lines to follow the terrain, but you can't plan with too much precision because there's no telling what the terrain actually looks like. Nor can you constantly be looking at the map or a GPS or a phone to see how far off you are from the path when the terrain forces you off, so you can get back on the line as soon as possible. Instead, you choose landmarks in between your two points that you know you'll be able to see throughout your trek to it, and you choose the next landmark only after you arrive at the current one and have a better idea both of what you've hiked so far and what the immediate next hike looks like. Eventually you'll get to your destination, and while your track might look nothing like the initial pencil plan, you made it regardless, and that was your singular goal in the end.

Previous SCDs:

The common thing between all of the above is that they're all adventures out of my comfort zone. Most of them are last-minute road trips and such, but those were the times where I was going to be at my most vulnerable: driving, or camping, or making large impactful decisions.

The Major/Minor Points Framework

The Major/Minor Points framework is a planning and thinking structure that emphasizes consistent morale and consistent rate of progress over consistent overriding of instinct and consistent progress.

Major points are the goals or tasks that you consider to be the "success criteria" that you're aiming to achieve and will become a satisfying Standard Corey Decision.

Minor points are the goals and tasks that you would like to achieve if able, but not at the expense of any of the Major points.

The trick is that you are free to re-arrange and re-prioritize goals and tasks between Major and Minor, at any time. The idea isn't to guarantee "success" by moving the goalposts, but rather to realize that everything you can control is surrounded by things you can't, so we want to guarantee success by "fooling" our brain into being satisfied by discrete conclusions in a constant analog path of time. [Too esoteric; what I mean to say is that Life's gonna keep going even after you achieve your S.M.A.R.T goals anyway, so focus on the journey and your mental health on the way just as much as the reaching the goal, because reality might extend your journey for you, and there's no reason to be anxious about that because you can't control it. go with the flow and enjoy the water on the way.]

Example: Corey's 2023 Sabbatical

Example: my Sabbatical from professional work for a few months, with no job lined up before resigning from my previous one.

Major Points:

  1. Resign from Vertech on good terms.
  2. Visit two out-of-state friends for an extended period (7+ days).
  3. Do a not-unsubstantial amount of volunteer work. Measure by hours per week. Habitat for Humanity, etc. Also consider part-time temporary jobs from City of Tempe, emphasizing those that directly impact the community.
  4. Job search. Secure interviews and phone screenings through contacts and applications, develop professional resume, and improve website presentation for technical skills. Request letters of recommendation from colleagues.
  5. Take Himalayan north for multi-day trip to Flagstaff and the national forests.
  6. Resume work, preferably locally in Tempe or in the East Valley.

Minor Points

A lot of these might sound like things I could have achieved without quitting my job. and that's true! But I've found out about myself that if my work becomes a stressor, one of the first things I do is cut out or minimize any stressors or inconveniences in my personal life as to not get overwhelmed. The things above are almost all things I've attempted numerous times in the past, only to fail when work or school became too much and the above had to go to maintain sanity. So this time developing these personal-life habits, traditions and routines will succeed because they will then pre-date any job I do in the future, giving them the priority and the seniority-over-my-time they deserve even when the stress is high.