While reflecting on this witty advice, I found that Berra's quote could be interpreted in a few different ways, all of which seemed to still have a profound impact on how we as entrepreneurs, and humans in general, can view life & business through this paradoxical lens…

1. There is More Than One Way To Do Things: In the entrepreneurial world, I often hear people saying things like: You have to go all-in! If you’re not working 12 hour days when you first start your business, you’re going to fail. You have to do whatever it takes! I honestly don’t doubt that this is true, and maybe I’m just too scared or risk averse to commit to something so wholeheartedly. When I start to feel these emotions of inadequacy though because I don’t want to go all in, or work 12 hour days, or do whatever it takes, and I am afraid that I will fail if I don't do these things, my innovative mind starts to think - “there’s gotta be a better way…” What if you didn’t have to go all in? What if you didn't have to give 110% every day? What if you could keep your day job and slowly build your company on the side? Maybe this is just wishful thinking, but to me, this is what building a sustainable business is all about. It’s about structuring things in a way where you can still build a successful company, but you don’t have to sacrifice everything in order to do it. Even if it takes more time, I really think that’s okay! Playing the long, but less risky game, could actually make sense too because guess what, I’ve heard that (depending on the way you slice it) up to 90% of startups still fail! It really is worth asking sometimes, what’s the point of going all in or sacrificing precious years of your life if there’s a strong probability that your business could fail? Now, I could write entire articles about the question above, why I think startups fail, or what I’ve seen (and have also done wrong myself) first hand over the years, but the main thing I often think about is that maybe if startups were built more sustainably and they adopted more of a “both/and” mindset instead, even if the success rate wasn’t any better (which I hope maybe it could be), at least the failure may not be as catastrophic or devastating?

   
   

2. You're In Control (And You Can Trust Your Instincts): Even if you knew what the future held, or that both paths could take you to the same destination, it's human nature to have that “what if” mindset every once in a while. “What if I took the other route?” Would it have been faster? More enjoyable? It's easy to have a bit of FOMO or simply just self-doubt along any journey, but knowing that you're in control, and that you chose the path you did for a reason should be all the conviction you need to stay the course and ultimately get to your destination.

   
   

3. Take Action: The most damaging thing you can do at a fork in the road is to stand still. The core meaning behind Berra's humorous remark holds a deep truth: ultimately, the path forward is a matter of action, not endless deliberation. Indecision is a silent killer of dreams. The only way to find your way is to take things one step at a time. Taking action, even a small, imperfect step, will always bring you closer to your destination than waiting for a perfect sign.