Second Brain

Always Present Three Options (The VP Picks the Middle)

The Story

As Boris moved into more senior roles at Meta, he started presenting regularly to VPs and directors. He learned a tongue-in-cheek but surprisingly effective rule: always present three options. 80% of the time, leadership picks the middle one.

Boris admits it’s a bit of a joke, but also “actually kind of true at Meta at the time.”

The real insight behind it: decision makers who are far from the day-to-day work want two things. First, they want to know you did the due diligence, explored the trade-offs, and found the right options. Second, they want to feel like they’re contributing to the decision, not just rubber-stamping it. The middle option gives them both.

Boris also learned that not all leaders work this way. Some do their own research and trust their teams deeply. But for leaders who aren’t deeply technical, this framework helps them make decisions confidently.

Lesson for Creators

When pitching to clients, partners, or sponsors, don’t present one option and ask for a yes/no. Present three: a conservative option, a recommended option, and an ambitious option. Most people pick the middle. This gives them the feeling of making an informed choice while steering them toward the outcome you believe in. The structure does the persuading for you.

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