You’re three weeks into the project. The initial excitement has worn off. The finish line isn’t visible yet.
You know you need to keep moving forward, but everything feels tangled. There are decisions to make, information to gather, and actions to take—but in what order? Where do you even start when it all feels connected and overwhelming?
This is the messy middle. And it’s where most projects stall.
The problem isn’t that you don’t know how to get things done. The problem is that when everything feels urgent and interconnected, it’s hard to see what actually comes next.
That’s where the IDA Framework comes in.
You know you need to keep moving forward, but everything feels tangled. There are decisions to make, information to gather, and actions to take—but in what order? Where do you even start when it all feels connected and overwhelming?
This is the messy middle. And it’s where most projects stall.
The problem isn’t that you don’t know how to get things done. The problem is that when everything feels urgent and interconnected, it’s hard to see what actually comes next.
That’s where the IDA Framework comes in.
What IDA Is
IDA stands for Information, Decisions, and Action—the three components of getting anything done.
It’s not a project management system. It’s not a productivity hack. It’s a way to bring clarity to your next step when everything feels messy.
Think of IDA as a continuous process:
1. Information: What do you need to understand?
2. Decisions: What choices need to be made?
3. Action: What steps need to be taken?
Each component flows naturally into the next, creating forward momentum even when the full picture isn’t clear.
It’s not a project management system. It’s not a productivity hack. It’s a way to bring clarity to your next step when everything feels messy.
Think of IDA as a continuous process:
1. Information: What do you need to understand?
2. Decisions: What choices need to be made?
3. Action: What steps need to be taken?
Each component flows naturally into the next, creating forward momentum even when the full picture isn’t clear.
How to Apply IDA
Information:
What Do You Need to Understand?
When you’re stuck, start here. Not with action. Not with decisions. With clarity about what you actually need to know.
Ask yourself:
- What information am I missing that’s keeping me from moving forward?
- Who has this information?
- What specific questions will give me what I need?
Most of the time, we’re not stuck because the project is impossible. We’re stuck because we’re trying to make decisions without the right information.
When you’re stuck, start here. Not with action. Not with decisions. With clarity about what you actually need to know.
Ask yourself:
- What information am I missing that’s keeping me from moving forward?
- Who has this information?
- What specific questions will give me what I need?
Most of the time, we’re not stuck because the project is impossible. We’re stuck because we’re trying to make decisions without the right information.
Decisions:
What Choices Need to Be Made?
Once you have the information, focus on decisions. Real decisions. Not preferences or wishes, but actual choices that unlock action.
Ask yourself:
- What decisions can I make with the information I have?
- Who else needs to be involved in these decisions?
- What’s the smallest decision I can make that creates the most clarity?
The goal isn’t to make every decision at once. It’s to identify which decision unlocks your next action.
Once you have the information, focus on decisions. Real decisions. Not preferences or wishes, but actual choices that unlock action.
Ask yourself:
- What decisions can I make with the information I have?
- Who else needs to be involved in these decisions?
- What’s the smallest decision I can make that creates the most clarity?
The goal isn’t to make every decision at once. It’s to identify which decision unlocks your next action.
Action:
What Steps Need to Be Taken?
With decisions made, action becomes obvious. Not busy work. Not motion for motion’s sake. Clear, purposeful steps that move you forward.
Ask yourself:
- What specific actions does this decision require?
- When can these actions be completed?
- What’s the very next thing I can do right now?
The Power of the Cycle
Here’s what makes IDA work: it’s not a one-time process. It’s a cycle.
Completing one action gives you new information. New information enables better decisions. Better decisions create clearer actions.
You don’t have to see the whole path. You just have to see the next step clearly.
Completing one action gives you new information. New information enables better decisions. Better decisions create clearer actions.
You don’t have to see the whole path. You just have to see the next step clearly.
Practice This Right Now
Think of something you’re working on that feels stuck or overwhelming. Run it through these three questions:
- Information: What am I missing that’s keeping me from moving forward?
- Decision: What choice can I make with what I know right now?
- Action: What’s the very next step I can take?
Pick one. Do it. Then run through IDA again.
- Information: What am I missing that’s keeping me from moving forward?
- Decision: What choice can I make with what I know right now?
- Action: What’s the very next step I can take?
Pick one. Do it. Then run through IDA again.
The Truth About the Messy Middle
You don’t have to get stuck in the messy middle.
The clarity you’re looking for doesn’t come from having all the answers upfront. It comes from having a reliable way to find your next step, even when everything else feels unclear.
IDA gives you that reliability. Not a perfect plan, but a clear path forward.
What’s your next step—Information, Decision, or Action?
The clarity you’re looking for doesn’t come from having all the answers upfront. It comes from having a reliable way to find your next step, even when everything else feels unclear.
IDA gives you that reliability. Not a perfect plan, but a clear path forward.
What’s your next step—Information, Decision, or Action?