This week’s Star Trek SNW TV Show episode “The Sehlat Who Ate Its Tail” resonated with me in a surprising way.

When I began my business nearly three decades ago, straight out of college, there were many moments when I felt like I had been pushed into the deep end without ever learning how to swim. No management book or autobiography really prepares you for the instant when your team turns to you for a critical decision.

In this episode, First Officer James Kirk suddenly finds himself in command of the Farragut. With the lives of his ship, the Enterprise crew, and even millions on a pre-warp planet at stake, he could not afford endless consultation. The buck stopped with him, and he had to decide. But he froze.

Many founder CEOs fall into the trap of asking for suggestions and confirmation until decision paralysis sets in. But there comes a moment when the role demands clarity and conviction—when you have to throw everything you have into a decision, knowing responsibility rests with you.

PS: And a fun detail I enjoyed as an engineer, when wireless communications were jammed, the crew fell back on RJ11 analogue phones and copper wires. Sometimes the simplest, oldest tools can save the day—a reminder worth keeping even in the AI age.