Frank Partnoy describes himself as an inveterate procrastinator–and the banker/lawyer/author is not convinced that’s a bad thing. His book Wait: The Art and Science of Delay is an investigation into his own habits of prolonged decision-making and the shortsightedness that pervaded crisis-era finance. Fast Company talked with Partnoy about when to make decisions, how to manage time, and why better-paid people are less happy.
This interview has been condensed and edited.
FAST COMPANY: The question you’re asking in the book, “When do I make a decision?” is one of the most broad. How do you even begin to answer it?