The 3-Gate Test: Should You Quit Your Job or Business?

I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news: People aren’t thinking about you as much as you think. At 23 I thought everyone was thinking of me. At 53 I realized nobody was thinking about me. And at 73, I really don’t care too much about what anyone’s thinking of me. Now, the good news. Knowing this can free you up and turn you loose. You can speak up with your ideas in meetings. Jump into projects without thinking you look stupid. Not caring what people will think of you if your plans, or even your new business venture, fail. Now that’s freedom. But there’s one way you can fast-track your newfound freedom: Start today. I know it’s easier said than done, but as the Stoics said a couple thousand years ago—The obstacle is the way. Go ahead and post that LinkedIn article you’ve been sitting on. Watch how the world doesn’t end. Make that business decision you’ve been delaying. See how quickly people move on. The paradox? When you stop mentally performing for an audience that doesn’t exist, you become more authentic and more you. And authenticity is what actually makes people pay attention. 3 Biggest Takeaways The "Yesterday You" Shouldn't Boss Around the "Today You" We often get stuck in careers or business models simply because a younger, less experienced version of ourselves made a decision years ago. As the video suggests, you need to audit your current path. Just because you decided to be a lawyer or start a specific type of agency ten years ago doesn't mean you are bound to that contract forever. You have the right to fire your past self if their instructions no longer serve your present reality. The 3-Gate Test: Time, Money, Happiness Before making a major pivot or starting a new venture, run it through this simple diagnostic. Time: Do you have the bandwidth to do this properly without wrecking your life? Money: Can you afford the risk, or does this venture have the potential to replace your current income? Happiness: Does the thought of this new path actually light you up, or is it just another grind? If you can’t check all three boxes, it’s not a pivot—it’s a distraction. Failure is a Free Lesson (If You Follow the Rules) The video emphasizes that if you pass the Time/Money/Happiness test, the risk is mitigated. If you try the new thing and it doesn't work out, you are "no worse off for the effort." You didn't bankrupt yourself (Money), you didn't neglect your family (Time), and you pursued something you cared about (Happiness). This removes the paralysis of "what if I fail?" and replaces it with "what will I learn?" Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Q1: What if I have the happiness and time, but not the money? A: Then you have a hobby, not a business pivot. That’s fine, but don't quit your day job yet. You need to nurture the new idea on the side until the "Money" box gets a green light. Don't leap without a parachute. Q2: I’m miserable in my business, but the money is too good to leave. What do I do? A: You are in "Golden Handcuffs." The "Happiness" box is unchecked. You need to use that money to buy back your time—hire a GM or a sales leader to run the day-to-day so you can focus on the parts of the business you actually enjoy, or start building the exit ramp. Q3: How often should I run this "3-Gate Test"? A: Annually. Treat it like a strategic planning session for your life. Ask yourself, "Is the business I'm running today the one I would buy today?" If the answer is no, start planning the change. Q4: Isn't "happiness" a fluffy metric for business decisions? A: Not for founders. If you hate what you do, burnout is inevitable. Burnout kills revenue faster than bad marketing ever could. Happiness is fuel. If the tank is empty, the car stops. Q5: What does "Yesterday Self" mean in a practical sense? A: It refers to the sunk cost fallacy. You spent 5 years building a product, so you feel obligated to keep selling it even if the market has moved on. The "Yesterday Self" is the ego protecting past decisions. The "Today Self" needs to look at the P&L and the market reality objectively.