Most daily compromises start because the short-term payoff looks easier than the long-term value. The Shelf Test is a compact mental ritual you run before small but recurring choices: imagine the decision as an object on a shelf a year from now. Does it represent the man you want to be? James lays out a three-question, 30‑second test (Durability: will this matter later?; Beneficiary: who wins besides you?; Alignment: does it reflect your standard?) and gives exact, calm language to use when you must refuse or delay. The episode includes three practical applications—messages you might send, small purchases, and one-off commitments—a timed rehearsal to install the habit, and a three‑day micro‑trial to test whether the shelf lens stops negotiation and protects reputation. Practical, low‑ego, and immediately usable: choose what belongs on your shelf and let fewer small compromises erode your standards.