Last week I wrote about how leaders must make decisions when they don’t have all the information they need. I called it flying in the fog, which describes that anxious feeling you get of having to decide something before you’re ready. It’s risky and you don’t want to make mistakes.

But as I demonstrated last week, your brain is your ally. When you have assurance about what can be known, namely, the first and last things, you will be able to fill in the information-voids that confound you. The first thing is assessing clearly where you are (read it here).

The last thing that can be known is the desired outcome. What do you want the end result to be? Without clarity of the outcome, you will second guess yourself, wondering what you should do. In the end you make poor choices and set wrong priorities. Goal clarity is essential.

Your goal serves as a sort of magnet that draws you to it. Even when you aren’t thinking about your goal consciously, your subconscious mind is on it, thinking of how to attain it. That’s why you have great insights while driving, in the shower or when you just wake up. As long as you have goal clarity, you activate your subconscious creativity because your subconscious mind isn’t restricted by the boundaries of your conscious mind. That’s why it’s important to write down the outcome you want—it forces clarity.

Over time, you’ll learn that often, “right now” isn’t the right time, just as “better wait” is too late. Experience gives you confidence in your judgment. You do this by thinking about your decision making after the fact and learn how to fly in the fog.

This week, clarify your goal and pursue it with confidence.