Falkland’s Law: Why doing nothing sometimes takes more skill than doing something

Making decisions. Some are easy. Some are tough. Some people simply say, ‘What the heck?’ and pick a direction. For others, the process can feel closer to a panic attack.

But what if not every fork in the road needs to be taken as quickly as it appears? Maybe sometimes it behooves us to pull the car over, think about where we want to go, see which way the wind blows, and then proceed.

This is Falkland’s Law.

Falkland’s Law is best defined as: ‘When it is not necessary to make a decision, it is necessary not to make a decision.’

At first glance, it sounds lazy and makes corporate America cringe. Like a philosophy invented by someone letting their car tires go bald while endlessly shopping for the lowest price and hoping things work out.

But Falkland’s Law is not polished procrastination. It’s strategic restraint.

And in markets, business, and life, that distinction matters more than people think.

Humans have an odd relationship with decisions. We tend to believe movement equals progress—that we must react to every development immediately.

The weather forecast says there’s a 50% chance of rain? Better cancel the plans.

The market was down this week? Better rebalance.

One has to wonder whether the world we live in has made this tendency better or worse.

If our ancestors all of a sudden got social media would they have fired back at every heckler online? Would they have pulled the wagon over at every warning sign—or just ridden it out? What has made modern society so jumpy? I don’t think it is the coffee.

Falkland’s Law quietly suggests something uncomfortable:

Not every question deserves an immediate answer.

Sometimes the highest-quality decision is letting the problem age like a good bourbon.

Many of us see uncertainty and immediately try to eliminate it. Falkland’s Law says: if nobody is going to die from this decision, chew on it. Act when ready.

Because sometimes our rush to squash uncertainty doesn’t just hurt us—it affects others, too.

There are really three categories of decisions:

1. Decisions that require action now

Fire alarm. Emergency room.

Move.

2. Decisions where information meaningfully improves over time

Hiring staff. Financial markets. Relationships. Choosing a college major or career path.

Wait and see.

3. Decisions that never needed to exist

Spending 30 minutes choosing between two nearly identical shades of white paint at Lowe’s.

Delete.

The challenge is that waiting feels emotionally expensive.

Action gives us the illusion of control.

For those who feel they need an immediate answer to everything, waiting can feel like vulnerability. For those who believe in “sleeping on it,” waiting can feel like an asset.

History is full of examples of Falkland’s Law.

When the United States discovered Soviet missiles in Cuba during the 1960s, disciplined patience likely contributed to a more peaceful outcome.

And for investors who rushed to sell their portfolios in early 2020, many may have later wished they had practiced patience before hitting the sell button instead of waiting for a ‘feel-good’ signal to get back in. Obviously easier said than done when you see your balances dropping like a bowling ball off of a roof.

The Humor Hidden Inside Falkland’s Law

Falkland’s Law may explain why:

• The email you nearly sent at 10:47 PM becomes embarrassing by 8:12 AM.

• The Amazon purchase sitting in your cart suddenly becomes unnecessary after one night of sleep.

• That coffee and conversation after a disagreement with a friend leaves you grateful you never posted that angry Facebook message.

Although many of us learn and adapt, humanity remains undefeated in making permanent decisions to solve temporary emotions.

Maybe if we had a jar containing only a limited number of decisions each day, we’d spend them more carefully.

One Important Warning:

Falkland’s Law can become a trap.

Waiting is powerful. Avoidance is expensive.

Ignoring health symptoms is not patience.

Never starting the business you dream about because conditions aren’t “perfect” isn’t strategy—it’s indecision with good branding.

The law only works when time increases clarity.

Sometimes eight hours of sleep or a walk with your pup can do the trick.

If time increases risk, get moving.

Final Thought:

We often assume great decision-makers simply decide faster. Or is it that many of the best ones simply decide less often? Sometimes the most sophisticated move isn’t pulling the lever. It is realizing the machine never required a pull at all.