Shane Parrish on Clear Thinking, Emotional Mastery & Decision-Making That Matters

Founder of Farnam Street and Author of Clear Thinking, Shane Parrish has built a global reputation for helping leaders think clearly when it matters most. From his years in Canada’s intelligence community to writing Clear Thinking, Shane has spent decades studying how decisions really get made, and how to make better ones. In this episode of VTEX Live, Shane Parrish joins Mariano Gomide to talk about why emotional mastery matters more than ever, how slowing down can speed up success, and what great leaders do differently when making big decisions. He shares why his book Clear Thinking went through three rewrites, how decision journals help teams, and why slowing down is really about getting the direction right. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by decisions or unsure when to slow down, this episode shows why clear thinking, not constant motion, is what drives real progress.

A VTEX Live podcast featuring Shane Parrish, Founder of Farnam Street and author of Clear Thinking, who has helped millions think better and live better.

Access this and more episodes of VTEX Live on Apple Podcast or YouTube.

What if the real advantage in business isn’t more information, but better thinking?

In this episode of VTEX Live, Shane Parrish joins Mariano Gomide in São Paulo for a conversation about emotional mastery, decision-making, and why slowing down might be the fastest move you can make.

Drawing on lessons from his career in Canada’s intelligence community and his best-selling book, Shane explains how to separate emotional reactions from rational decisions, when to pause and reassess, and how to create decision-making systems that don’t just work for you, but for your whole team.

You’ll also hear why Clear Thinking took three rewrites to become the book leaders around the world now rely on, why expertise requires getting into the details instead of just skimming, and how companies like Capital One are using his frameworks to grow leaders from within.

For anyone leading through uncertainty, this episode is a masterclass in slowing down your thought process without losing speed and in preparing for the future without pretending you can predict it.

Episode Highlights

[00:04:05] Emotional Mastery: Thinking Before You React - Shane explains why emotional awareness is a leadership superpower. Emotions aren’t the enemy, he says, but decisions driven by unchecked emotion can derail careers and companies. He shows how recognizing emotional triggers and building space between feeling and acting helps leaders stay steady when the stakes are high.

[00:08:24] Three Rewrites to Clarity: The Making of Clear Thinking - Shane shares how his book went through three complete rewrites before becoming a global bestseller. He reveals why the first draft “was so bad” he didn’t show it to anyone, and how finding the right structure unlocked everything. That persistence, he says, turned the book into the most practical guide on decision-making he could write.

[00:11:05] Decision Journals and Delegation: Unlocking Team Growth - Drawing on work with companies like Capital One, Shane describes how decision journals create a culture of learning and trust. He explains how leaders can safely delegate, spot talent, and identify who’s ready for more responsibility. By documenting and sharing decisions, teams remove blind spots and turn mistakes into teachable moments.

[00:13:59] Do the Work: Why True Expertise Isn’t Found in Summaries - Shane warns against the temptation to “coast on summaries.” Real expertise, he argues, comes from going deep into details, the kind of work that allows you to see when things break and fix them fast. It’s that depth, he says, that separates real experts from surface-level commentators.

[00:16:15] Speed vs. Velocity: Slowing Down to Go Faster - Slowing down doesn’t mean dragging your feet. Shane reframes it as getting the direction right before moving fast, and setting markers so teams know when to course-correct without ego or delay. The result is momentum with precision, not just speed for speed’s sake.

[00:19:01] Preparing for Uncertainty: Why the World Won’t Go Back - Shane explains why the past 20 years of low interest rates and stability were the exception, not the rule. He shares why leaders should stop trying to predict one “right” future, and start preparing for many possible ones. His message is simple: resilience isn’t about guessing what’s next, it’s about being ready for anything.

Resources:

Shane Parrish LinkedIn
Farnam Street (FS)
Clear Thinking (Book)

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