If you are experiencing chaos and confusion, you’re definitely going to want to read this!
Decisions, Decisions! We make decisions all the time. Some come easy and others not so much. In this post, we will be focused on the latter…those decisions that are not so easily made. Why are they so hard to make? We want certainty, crave perfection, fear risk and yet on the other hand, know, intellectually, that certainty is an illusion, perfection doesn’t exist and anything worth having will require some risk.
Over the years, I’ve identified 7 “Thieves of Time” and in this post, I am highlighting one of them: Decision…or rather, the thief would be called: Indecision. I’ll share a personal story, give you a summary of what this “thief” looks/sounds like in action and some strategies and techniques to overcome it.
Here’s my story:
Back in 2021, my then employer and I came to terms that the role I was in just wasn’t a good fit any longer. The truth is, I wasn’t performing at the standard necessary and was deeply unhappy, knowing my biggest gifts and talents weren’t being utilized in the highest and best way. We crafted a plan to gracefully part ways. (Yes, a graceful separation is completely possible!) I had some decisions to make. Find employment elsewhere or go into business for myself – again.
In the past, I had a coaching & consulting business that was successful and enjoyed working for myself, but ultimately had to close my doors, unable to keep it off the ground.
Could I do it again? Only this time, more successfully? What if I fall on my face?
I hadn’t been preparing financially to go out on my own and produce my own income; I didn’t have a course or program to sell. I had gotten away from my former speciality of Human Resource consulting and training and had a new identity to bring to the world.
To me, the risk was huge. But oooh, the opportunity. The opportunity was BIG. I signed up for job boards and started to apply, half heartedly at best. What I really wanted was my own business. I was scared. Maybe I could do both. I entertained that idea for a few days and knew, deep down, either your in with a company, or you’re not. And what made me the most excited, the most energized, the most enthusiastic, was being in business for myself. I decided, it’s happening, I unsubscribed from those job boards, declared my decision to my closest family and friends and filed my LLC straight away.
I knew, from my prior experience, that the best way to grow my business was by way of personal and professional referrals, so I started sharing about my new venture and asking for introductions. Long story short, as a result of my networking, I forged a relationship with a business owner who wanted me to coach their team of salespeople, indefinitely. I was thrilled for the opportunity and accepted. To this day, I still work with them and it’s been a huge blessing.
Next, I decided to enroll myself into the Proctor Gallagher Institute Consultant program; where I would be given the right to facilitate a time tested program called Thinking Into Results. I also received coaching and mentorship to grow that part of my business. Just a few months later, I created, launched and filled my first group coaching cohort.
In just six months of separating from my employer, I replaced my annual salary income. I share this not to impress you, but to impress upon you that the first step, was decision.
When I was teetering between my options, nothing was happening. Except for analyzing, worrying, doubting, fearing. Once the decision was made, enthusiasm to create the business I dreamed of happened. Calls and emails to my network, sharing value out on social media, building community and honing my skills as a coach, facilitator and let’s not forget consultant & salesperson all followed.
Why Is Decision Making Important?
Decisions will make or break you. In your business and in life. While the main theme of these lessons is TIME, decisions will also influence your income, relationships, emotional state and your physical health. When you make a decision, you create order. The Universe is built on order, responds to order and will reward you for order accordingly. And when you don’t make decisions, chaos is created. And as such, chaos will be the result.
Like I mentioned earlier, we fail to make decisions because we:
- Crave certainty
- Insist on perfection
- Fear risk & failure
- Doubt ourselves
- Worry about what other will think
The problem is, we are taught, rather programmed, in our environments, from a very young age, to do all the things that prevent us from making decisions. You can’t go back and change the programming, but what you can do is acknowledge how ineffective the current way of being is and begin, at once, to go about it in a new and different way. Decision making begets even more decision making. Start where you are with whatever you got.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “Once a decision is made, the Universe will conspire to make it happen”. No decision, no conspiring. It’s that simple.
The mistake most people make is that they are far too concerned with the current circumstances and events. Finances, education, support staff, relationships and the other resources they may need to see their decision come to fruition. Instead, successful people make decisions based on what they want, their future state, letting the current circumstances fall away.
3 Tips for Making Decisions
1. Decide with Care
Decision is a powerful tool, so remember, it works according to law. All the great teachers agree – We become what we think about. That said: If you decide to have a good day, you will. If you decide that a conversation will be tough, it will be. If you decide that you’ll be successful, you will. Be mindful of what you are truly deciding in your heart of hearts.
2. Visualize
As my mentor, Bob Proctor, was known for saying: If you can see it in your mind, you can hold it in your hand. First, you must decide. Then, create a picture of the end result very clearly in your mind, see it in your mind already done. Visualize the picture every day and as often as you need to stay connected to it.
3. Take Action
Your action will create a reaction; it’s a natural law of the Universe. What can you do today, with your activity, that is in alignment with your goal? Do that. Then do it again. And again. And begin to watch as the universe conspires in your favor.
I hope that this lesson on decision has been useful and valuable for you. Leave a comment with your takeaways and/or questions. This lesson is just one of seven thieves of time and if you’ve been following along, you’ll see that there is some overlap and layers here. To dig in a little future, I encourage you to review more of these lessons. For a full, 1 hour lesson, on the 7 thieves of time, check out this mini class I did with my colleague Angela Cook. It’s HERE or download my free guide, The 7 Thieves of Time. You can find that HERE.
Thanks so much and I’ll see you next time!
