You've delayed 11 product decisions this quarter.
Not because they're hard.
Because you called it validation.
You seek opinions from investors. You ask mentors. You wait for another LinkedIn DM.
That's seeking approval.
Real validation is binary: Will they pay? Yes or no. Everything else is you delaying the decision you're scared to own.
The real question: Is this decision reversible?
Low-cost mistakes? Set a 48-hour window. Collect signal. Not consensus. Make the call.
High-cost mistakes? Your first 3 hires. Your core positioning. Your tech foundation. These deserve deliberate diligence. But even here, you're not seeking approval. You're covering your own blind spots.
Harsh truth: Over-collaboration is cowardice. "We need full alignment" means "No one wants to own this if it fails."
Own more calls. Fewer people in the room. Faster cycles.
That's how you separate builders from stallers.