In this clip from Don Juan: the mentor email you never send.

Alan recounts Derek Sivers’ move: when a hard problem shows up, write an email to your mentors — situation, options, thinking. Don’t send it. Ask what they would say. Rewrite for those imagined replies. After a few rounds the answer is obvious and you don’t need to bother them. Most of those “mentors” don’t even know they are mentors — one doesn’t know he exists.

Founder translation: you already have more judgment than you use. Before you ping advisors, investors, or group chat for a product fork, write the decision as if they will reply. Force the tradeoffs onto the page. Most “I need advice” is unfinished thinking. Finish it alone first.

Write the email. Don’t send it. Ship the decision.