Finding Courage at the Decision Table

How is your life and business being impacted by the decisions you're NOT making?

Imagine a table in front of you.  On it are all the decisions you know you should make.  Some are large, some are small.  Some could have a profound impact on your business or your life if you would act on them, others are relatively insignificant.  Some are fresh surfaced, and some have been waiting for your final call for a very long time.  This exercise will help you sort these decisions out and put you in a better position to jump off the fence.

First, let's acknowledge a few key truths about decision making:

1. When you put off important decisions, you are also putting off the business and personal success that you want but do not yet have.
2. Anytime you DECIDE something, you GIVE UP something.  Decisions become paralyzing because of our unwillingness to experience the loss that is part of the process.  Sometimes all you are really giving up is the option to change your mind, but that's not always a small thing.

Courage Index

Decisions require courage because you cannot predict with certainty the outcome of your decision.  For example, one of the toughest choices you might face could involve firing a business partner and buying him out.  You can't anticipate his reaction.  You can't know for sure it would even make things better.  But you do know that you don't want things to continue in the same situation -- you have to make a move.

It takes courage and commitment, all decisions do.  One way you can test your level of commitment to taking action is by examining how you talk about the issue.  If you catch yourself using the words "hoping", "wishing", or "wanting", what you're really saying is "but I am not ready yet."

Here's a courage index that roughly translates your word choice to your level of desire:

I'm hoping..........Beginning to desire change
I'm wishing..........Moderate desire to change
I want to..........High desire to change
I'm committed to..........Committing to make it happen, having a concrete plan
I will go to any length..........Using every bit of leverage or opportunity to succeed

Here's the bottom line.  If you can't muster up the "I'm committed" level of courage, don't waste your energy stewing over the issue.  You'll only aggravate yourself.  Mentally take it off the decision table until it becomes important enough for you to get bold.  Focus your energy on what you are ready for.  But remember that a decision postponed is often an opportunity postponed.