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No-Regret Decisions: Making Good Choices During Difficult Times
Every one of us will face an unexpected decision crisis in our lives. Whether it’s a life-changing situation—job loss, illness, divorce, death—or a happier event—a new job opportunity, buying a first home, or other important occasion—there are times when you will be forced to make big decisions under great pressure.
When you feel overwhelmed, it’s difficult to be confident in your decision-making. Uncertainty is scary. Sometimes it seems that the options are endless—or non-existent. You don’t want to make the wrong choice, but you don’t want to be paralyzed by indecision either.
No-Regret Decisions is a decision crisis playbook that will help you to make sound choices when the emotional and financial stakes are high. From the initial shock of Panic Mode to the insecurity of the Messy Middle, and finally, the acceptance of Your New Normal, Shannon Lee Simmons will teach you how to approach your decision crisis methodically, step by step.
No-Regret Decisions will show you how
create a circle of carefind your deciding valuescreate time and money guardrailspivot your plans embrace change Simmons’s practical advice, wisdom and humour will help you navigate through the emotional, psychological and financial upheaval that comes with a decision crisis, so that—once the stressful situation is over—you will be proud of the choices you’ve made, you have hope for the future, and you emerge from the crisis stronger and more confident than before.
When you feel overwhelmed, it’s difficult to be confident in your decision-making. Uncertainty is scary. Sometimes it seems that the options are endless—or non-existent. You don’t want to make the wrong choice, but you don’t want to be paralyzed by indecision either.
No-Regret Decisions is a decision crisis playbook that will help you to make sound choices when the emotional and financial stakes are high. From the initial shock of Panic Mode to the insecurity of the Messy Middle, and finally, the acceptance of Your New Normal, Shannon Lee Simmons will teach you how to approach your decision crisis methodically, step by step.
No-Regret Decisions will show you how
create a circle of carefind your deciding valuescreate time and money guardrailspivot your plans embrace change Simmons’s practical advice, wisdom and humour will help you navigate through the emotional, psychological and financial upheaval that comes with a decision crisis, so that—once the stressful situation is over—you will be proud of the choices you’ve made, you have hope for the future, and you emerge from the crisis stronger and more confident than before.
296 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 3, 2023
21 people are currently reading
240 people want to read
About the author
Shannon Lee Simmons
4 books53 followersShannon is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Investment Manager (CIM), media personality, personal finance expert and founder of the New School of Finance.
Simmons is widely recognized as a trailblazer in the Canadian financial planning industry and an expert in Millennial personal finances and money in the digital world. She was named one of Canada’s Top 30 Under 30, the 2014 Notable Award for Best In Finance and New School of Finance recently won the 2016 Wealth Professional Award for Digital Innovation. She is a regular financial expert in the media and has a monthly column for Globe and Mail personal finance section and is the host of Coral TV’s Money Awesomeness.
Shannon has put a dollop of red nail polish on the top right of EVERY SINGLE calculator she’s ever had since high school…… why? We aren’t sure, and neither is she.
Simmons is widely recognized as a trailblazer in the Canadian financial planning industry and an expert in Millennial personal finances and money in the digital world. She was named one of Canada’s Top 30 Under 30, the 2014 Notable Award for Best In Finance and New School of Finance recently won the 2016 Wealth Professional Award for Digital Innovation. She is a regular financial expert in the media and has a monthly column for Globe and Mail personal finance section and is the host of Coral TV’s Money Awesomeness.
Shannon has put a dollop of red nail polish on the top right of EVERY SINGLE calculator she’s ever had since high school…… why? We aren’t sure, and neither is she.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 2, 2023
shannon, if you’re reading this, I just want to say you are an absolute genius, and I feel like I owe you so much. this book came to me at a time where I felt I was in a crisis, about to pull the trigger and make a panic decision. you taught me so much, from creating 60% normalcy in my life to buy some time before decision making, to creating financial and time guardrails. NONE of this I knew about prior to reading. you offer so many intelligent and thoughtful perspectives that I would have never dreamt of on my own. i love how you are also very gentle at the end, letting us know that even if certain decisions are out of our control, or we have to make many pivot points in life, etc, we don’t have to live with regret. I have read many self-help books, but more on the health/wellbeing and spiritual spectrum. this is my first book relating to finances, personal development and planning. I can say this book is now my BIBLE. I have highly annotated it. I will never completely “finish” this book, I will be referring to it throughout my life like a textbook.
once again shannon, you are a light in this world. not only did you help all people in the case studies from your book, but you helped everyone lucky enough to stumble upon this book. I wish you nothing but success and peace for as long as you live!! (and more books please)
once again shannon, you are a light in this world. not only did you help all people in the case studies from your book, but you helped everyone lucky enough to stumble upon this book. I wish you nothing but success and peace for as long as you live!! (and more books please)
May 29, 2023
Great book. I liked the idea of values-based decisions and separate the decision from the outcome. Reinforce that good decisions can end on poor outcomes and t is ok. Importance of creating guardrails amd pivot points
March 22, 2024
Loved it. Very helpful.
January 1, 2025
Not worth finishing, was not interested
February 12, 2023
An excellent read, wide variety of case studies and very practical steps to take to calm down and manage decision making in times of upheaval. Highly recommended.
February 10, 2025
Some of the client stories were a little long…
My favorite TLDR takeaways:
“Understanding what is truly most important to you, not what you think should be important, will lead to decisions based on something I call your “deciding value(s)” and, therefore, long-term happiness on the other side of the decision crisis.”
“During times of transition, when your life is in flux, you don’t know what your next normal will look like. But the cool thing is, you have the power to design it right now.”
“Thriving after a decision crisis is not about being right. It’s not about winning or losing. It’s about living without regret, so you don’t look back and wish you had done something differently.”
“That’s often what’s so unsettling about a decision crisis. When you find yourself in one, deep down you know that there’s no going back to exactly to how things were before. A new version of your life has begun. A next normal is already underway.”
“The point is, talking about important things with people who want different things than you, have different goals from yours, or have very different resources and constraints than you, isn’t helpful. It can make you feel isolated, inadequate, and maybe even resentful.”
“You need to find your people so you can feel understood and validated for the choices you’ve made and the choices you’re about to make.”
“ When resentment creeps in, it robs you of your optimism. Without optimism, you start to believe you’re bound to fail, your choices become illogical, and you mistakenly believe the only practical step is to leave the path you’re on.”
“And remember, this is a micro timeline. This isn’t your life. This is just for now.”
My favorite TLDR takeaways:
“Understanding what is truly most important to you, not what you think should be important, will lead to decisions based on something I call your “deciding value(s)” and, therefore, long-term happiness on the other side of the decision crisis.”
“During times of transition, when your life is in flux, you don’t know what your next normal will look like. But the cool thing is, you have the power to design it right now.”
“Thriving after a decision crisis is not about being right. It’s not about winning or losing. It’s about living without regret, so you don’t look back and wish you had done something differently.”
“That’s often what’s so unsettling about a decision crisis. When you find yourself in one, deep down you know that there’s no going back to exactly to how things were before. A new version of your life has begun. A next normal is already underway.”
“The point is, talking about important things with people who want different things than you, have different goals from yours, or have very different resources and constraints than you, isn’t helpful. It can make you feel isolated, inadequate, and maybe even resentful.”
“You need to find your people so you can feel understood and validated for the choices you’ve made and the choices you’re about to make.”
“ When resentment creeps in, it robs you of your optimism. Without optimism, you start to believe you’re bound to fail, your choices become illogical, and you mistakenly believe the only practical step is to leave the path you’re on.”
“And remember, this is a micro timeline. This isn’t your life. This is just for now.”
September 25, 2023
A fantastic book on difficult decisions. The book is short, clear, and concise. The stories are varied, relatable, and emotionally engaging, and really help sell the concepts presented.
Best of all, each chapter is clearly labeled, and ends with a summary of the process described, complete with step by step instructions. Having the key information so accessible really elevates this book by making it very easy use as a reference book. I doubt I'll ever want to re-read the story of the messy divorce, but I'll definitely want to re-read the rubric they used to solve their dilemma. And not having to dig through one to get to the other is truly a stroke of brilliance. I hope more books use this format in the future!
Highly recommended to anyone facing big decisions. And probably more so to those who aren't as I'd rather have the tools going into a crisis, than trying to figure them out as the chaos is unfolding.
Best of all, each chapter is clearly labeled, and ends with a summary of the process described, complete with step by step instructions. Having the key information so accessible really elevates this book by making it very easy use as a reference book. I doubt I'll ever want to re-read the story of the messy divorce, but I'll definitely want to re-read the rubric they used to solve their dilemma. And not having to dig through one to get to the other is truly a stroke of brilliance. I hope more books use this format in the future!
Highly recommended to anyone facing big decisions. And probably more so to those who aren't as I'd rather have the tools going into a crisis, than trying to figure them out as the chaos is unfolding.
July 31, 2023
I would like to bulk buy this book and hand it out to all friends, family, and strangers. Incredibly useful book, interestingly and engagingly written. She put me right in the feelings of every story, even though I haven't experienced most of these situations personally, and that really helped the connection.
September 14, 2025
for anyone who struggles with anxiety, both in the present and future — this book offers some helpful exercises to work through. it’s a good guide especially if you’re facing tough decisions, whether in life, financially, or beyond. definitely worth a read if you’re looking for some direction in uncertain times.
March 1, 2023
I really liked this book. It was a good balance between story telling and what to do book around how to make decisions when it feels impossible to do so. The “homework” and supports are a nice supplements.
April 20, 2023
Such a lovely insightful read. Shannon helps you find yourself in those moments of chaos, and gives you the tools to weigh decisions big and small that help keep you centred in your values and looking out for your future. Always funny and relatable to read.
June 15, 2024
I found the book very succinct and helpful, but there weren’t any sources listed at the end. Did she come up with all these concepts and structures herself? Also, there were quite a few typos missed in the editing process. I think a new version should be put out, if at all possible.
February 22, 2023
Easy to read and follow. I appreciated the stories told through out, as it made it applicable. Offered me some calm while making big decisions of my own.
February 25, 2023
Really practical advice and relatable examples
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May 17, 2023RTC
July 19, 2024
It's amazing! I am definitely in difficult times right now, insanely difficult and I'm struggling. :(((( So this was so great to read! She really lays out the stages of getting out of crisis and evaluating things in wise ways you won't regret. I'm deep in crisis and right now need to implement the first chapter about getting out of panic mode. Coz you can't make good decisions while there. She recommends trying to get your life to 60% normal by trying to put back some key daily routines. BUT that made me realize I have almost no routines in my life for the last 10 years! Arrrghh!! No wonder I'm overwhelmed all the time! Constant decision fatigue!! Wish me luck my friends, wish me luck. :)
I didn't read this cover to cover coz it was a library book I had to return but read some and skimmed the rest and now I'm gonna go pick up a copy tomorrow!
I didn't read this cover to cover coz it was a library book I had to return but read some and skimmed the rest and now I'm gonna go pick up a copy tomorrow!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews