Have you ever played the game “Would you Rather?”

Would you rather…

• Ride a moped across the Grand Canyon on a tight rope or go over Niagara Falls in a barrel?
• Go left where nothing is right or go right where nothing is left?
• Go back in time and meet your ancestors (pre-1800) or forward in time and meet your great-grandchildren? (post-2250)

Would you rather questions are almost always funny or absurd scenarios for which there is no right answer? After all, it’s just a game.

The decisions real life requires are often not as simple or fun. Some require little or no thought (“Paper or plastic?”). But some decisions feel HUGE and require research and deliberation.

Every important decision usually involves a trade-off: knowing what you shouldn’t pursue is as valuable as knowing what you can. How do you decide? Harvard Business Review offers this advice.

Get input on pros and cons. List advantages and disadvantages, ask others for their perspective on your intentions.

Balance short term with long term possibilities. Determine what you would be willing to give up in the long run for some important short-term gain — and vice versa.

Gauge support. While weighing alternatives, think about who will support a particular idea and who will oppose it. Whose support you can live without, and whose backing and buy-in you absolutely need?

Whether your challenge is big or small, affects many people or just one, ponder judiciously and choose wisely.

The road is easier together,