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A three-word message can hijack a whole day. We’ve all seen it: “Let’s chat tomorrow.” With almost no data, our minds rush to fill the gaps—either fantasizing about wins that aren’t here yet or catastrophizing about problems that may not exist. We unpack that mental snap and share a practical way to reclaim calm, clarity, and control when communication is short and stakes feel high.

We break down the two common traps. Fantasizing lifts us into glossy outcomes—the promotion, the big client, the freedom—while skipping the gritty work, tradeoffs, and time it takes to get there. Catastrophizing does the opposite, turning a neutral signal into threat and freezing action with analysis paralysis. Both reactions are powerful and human, and both pull us away from reality-based leadership. The fix isn’t pretending to be emotionless; it’s learning to spot the story, name the feeling, and return to facts that can guide the next wise step.

You’ll hear a simple three-step playbook you can use today. First, ask for clarifying data to narrow the unknowns: a single question often adds the context you need. Second, if your mind is spiraling, move the meeting sooner to shrink rumination time. Third, when details are not available, own the feeling and conduct a facts audit: list what is known, what is guessed, and plan only from the known. Along the way we share examples from entrepreneurship and organizational life, plus language you can copy to reset your self-talk. If you’re ready to turn vague pings into confident decisions, this conversation will help you lead yourself first—and everyone else better.

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