Improve Decisions by Structuring the Process
This is a guest post.
Life requires that we make decisions, often and continuously. Some decisions are small with limited impact, like “where should I park?”; but some are very large and potentially life changing, like “should I go back to college?” We make decisions in our personal lives, within our families, and related to our employment to name just three of the many channels. There came a time in my life that I realized that a structured process for decision making would improve the outcomes, potentially worth much for the larger decisions. Here are the steps in that process:
1.
Recognize you have a decision to make and how important it is to you. Allocate appropriate attention to it based on its importance. Select the right day for making the decision.
2.
Resolve to keep all options and NOT make the decision or over focus on just one option until it is time to narrow the choices.
3.
Determine what information, skill, viewpoint or other input you could use that might improve the probability of getting it right. Move out right away on accessing that help. Keep notes.
4.
Use your head. By this I mean that you should be careful to analyze the objective data in the early going. Your feelings in the matter are part of the fact set and can be cranked in as such, but the strong tendency is to allow feelings such as fear, love, excitement, anger, fantasy, etc. to drive the process and determine the outcome you WANT which you then use your head to JUSTIFY. At this stage resist letting feelings take over…keep the process in your head.
5.
Are you keeping notes? Do it. It is easy to revisit the issues, track the process and order your thinking. Reorder the notes from time to time as the imperative considerations begin to emerge.
6.
As the time for the decision approaches, narrow the choices to the 2 or 3 best alternatives and focus on them. Be disciplined and focus only on these best alternatives.
7.
When the time comes DECIDE, using the facts you assembled and analyzed and now in full cognizance of your feelings about the matter. Applying the heart driven judgment at the end is a powerful part of the process and takes human intuition fully into account, but the process does not get derailed from reality if you limit this step to the end.
8.
Implement your decision with zeal and conviction. It is the best call you could have made. Have confidence in it.
A tremendous advantage of being careful about this process for the big calls in life is the freedom of knowing you have done all you could do. You were careful, methodical and diligent giving the matter the importance it deserved. You made the best call that was possible at that time, knowing all that was knowable. So, do not look back, even if subsequent events temp you to think you went the wrong way. The only reason to look back is to review the process you used so you can improve it the next time.
Based on my experience, this process will offer you freedom and confidence.
Written by Lamar C. Smith
Lamar C. Smith is Chairman of the Board of Directors of H.O.P.E Farms Inc., a non-profit organization for high-risk boys, and a director of Torchmark, Inc., a leading provider of life and health insurance products and annuities. Smith is a former CEO of First Command Financial Services, a retail brokerage firm with more than 300,000 clients. He was an Air Force Special Operations Fighter pilot with over 114 combat missions and has earned decorations including Silver Stars, six Distinguished Flying Crosses and 11 Air Medals, which are awarded for gallantry and heroism. A board member of Search Ministries, Inc., he resides in Fort Worth, Texas with his family.
Lamar brings extensive personal, professional, and life experience to lessons for Balanced Living told through the exciting story in “There’s More to Life Than the Corner Office.”
To learn more please visit: www.ImprovingYourBalance.com
Article photo by Amable Odiable
Treat Time as a Resource – Don’t Waste It Feeling Sorry for Yourself!
This is a guest post.
We’ll never have enough time.
Paradoxically, understanding that concept allows us the potential to wisely utilize the time we have!
Using time to overcome life’s challenges is a topic I cover extensively in my book, THE POWER OF ADVERSITY: Tough Times Can Make You Stronger, Wiser, and Better. I know from personal experience that the advice I share with you here is incredibly effective.
Transforming time from an adversary into an ally has helped me develop the positive mindset to be able to dust myself off from early business failures and build my company, Weatherchem, into the leader in my industry. Understanding time has also allowed me to put aside self-pity and rise above the adversity in my personal life, helping me overcome serious and chronic physical illnesses, and severe emotional conflict.
You too can grasp hold of the reins of time, making it work for you as opposed to against you as you confront your troubles. All that’s needed is for you to accept a single life-changing realization:
Time is truly the only resource you have to expend against adversity.
After all, even if you throw money at a problem, all you’re really doing is buying yourself extra time by having others tackle your troubles on your behalf.
Let’s start with the assumption that we each have some recreation we enjoy doing “to pass the time.” I like to swim. You may enjoy playing golf or tennis… bowling…. or basketball…
In all these activities we instinctively understand that win, lose or draw, playing the game is where the real fun is. Our time spent doing our chosen activity pleasures us in myriad ways.
Now what would happen, do you think, if you approached your adversity – whatever it may be – as if it were your favorite form of recreation? As if it were a rather difficult shot on the 17th hole… or a particularly adept tennis opponent?
Do you think you could “pass the time” tinkering with your adversity the way you might tinker with your golf swing?
Let me put it another way: Do you think you could take the mind-set and skill-sets you’ve developed through time, and put them to work against the adversity you’re confronting… the same way you might, let’s say, apply your accumulated golf ability to improving your long game? Is it worth trying?
Remember, whether your problem is a lousy golf swing or, say, unemployment, all problems are solved the same way…
First, you take the time to get creative and come up with a possible solution. Second, you take the time to be innovative and throw your ideas against the wall to see what sticks, keeping in mind that there’s no such thing as a mistake if you learn from your actions.
Granted, there is an immense difference in rebuilding your golf swing and rebuilding your career – but ultimately both are rebuilt through the process of trial and error – over time.
Written by Al Weatherhead
Al Weatherhead is the author of The Power Of Adversity and chairman and CEO of Weatherchem, a private manufacturer of plastic closures for food, spice, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products.
Article photo by Temari 09
Unachieved Goals in the 11th Hour
You set a deadline and you’ve worked your ass off day in and day out. You’ve remained positive and you’ve jumped over and busted through any obstacles that stood in your way, but still, time is not on your side and it looks like you aren’t going to achieve your goal before the timer that you created is up.
This feeling is extremely frustrating and causes many people to fail.
So what can you do when it turns to the 11th hour and it feels like time is up?
Create a new deadline
Give yourself a fresh start and created a new deadline. It’s not glamorous to keep pushing and overcoming obstacles especially when you’re tired from the long journey you’ve already traveled, but it’s better to be late than to never show up at all.
Make a new, shorter deadline
You may be thinking; “Huh? I didn’t even achieve the goal in time for my first deadline, so why would I make this new deadline even shorter?”
The reasoning behind creating a shorter deadline is because people often come up with deadlines that are too long.
When this happens, they become complacent. Too much time allows them to put off action until later. You will hear these people utter words like; “no rush,” “ah, I’ll do it later or tomorrow,” and “when I get some more time.” And yet, before they know it, their deadline is up and they haven’t achieved anything at all.
A shorter deadline may be the thing you need to keep you on your toes and moving forward.
Recognize that the 11th hour is an obstacle itself
When you haven’t achieved your goals and the 11th hour strikes, the 11th hour itself morphs into an obstacle that is actually there to test your endurance, your passion, your attitude, and you; and in the long run it’s there to help you. So may be time really is on your side, it’s just giving you some tough love.
Remember that the 11th hour is a proving ground for those who refuse to give up and a wasteland for those who are too weak.
Photo by stevendepolo
Turning water into wine: 4 ways to make miracles happen
Life is full of miracles.
Many times the miracles are performed by ordinary people and not by divine intervention or a higher power.
You too can make miracles happen. Here are four ways you can do the “impossible,” accomplish amazing feats, change lives, and perform miracles.
1. Know that one person’s miracle is another person’s goal
Doing the “impossible” sometimes seems like performing miracles to the onlooker, but to the doer it’s not miracle work. It’s hard work; work that requires patience, persistence, and different thinking.
One person views it as a miracle that somehow falls into place and another person views it as a goal that they put into place.
2. Don’t expect to impress everyone
Just as some people will be blown away at what you’re able to accomplish, others will just yawn at you. They won’t understand the magnitude of what you’ve done or maybe they just don’t care.
Don’t look to impress anyone but yourself with what you can do.
3. Refuse to accept someone else’s failure as fact
Before we take on a difficult task we usually look to others who attempted similar feats. We’re looking for indications about how hard it’s going to be for ourselves and we’re mostly looking for inspiration to push us.
Often though, we don’t find much hope. Instead of inspiration we find a vast wasteland covered in the broken dreams of those who tried but didn’t succeed and gave up.
However, just because so many failed before you doesn’t mean that it’s the truth and your destiny. You can be the pioneer who drudges through that wasteland no matter how long it takes.
4. Find solace in difficultly
When do miracles happen? During good or bad times?
When things are going great these achievements and events aren’t considered miracles because they aren’t very amazing and they’re not really needed.
Miracles only happen during difficult times when hope seems lost. So find comfort for your mind and soul in the adversity you’re dealt. It’s during these rough patches when miracles are created and thrive.
Photo by coiax
The Zombies Of Life
This is a guest post.
No, this isn’t a post about an upcoming horror movie, but a troublesome group of people in society. They’re Zombies. Negative, dreamless, bitter and lazy people. Zombies don’t want to excel in anything which challenges them to think and make improvements in their lives. They blame the world for their problems. Membership is open to anyone feeling hopeless, unloved or dissatisfied with life. Subdivisions of the Zombies group are Party People, Disgruntled Workers and Dream Smashers.
PARTY PEOPLE:
These people want to have a good time ALL THE TIME! Once in awhile they mention their dreams, but it’s hard to accomplish them because it takes self discipline and sacrifice. Party people look forward to the end of the week not the future. Why make sacrifices for a better life when you can have instant gratification? It’s more fun drinking booze, taking women home and getting high.
It seems as if they’re living a wonderful and carefree life. But when you examine their lives it’s a culmination of irresponsibility, immaturity and neglect. There’s no balance between work and play.
They hate their job but are too scared and lazy to make a change. Party people complain of an unsatisfactory life and envy those chasing their dreams.
They waste social opportunities with fruitless posing and meaningless conversation. Of course, this definition doesn’t apply to all Party People. Everyone isn’t the same.
DISGRUNTLED WORKERS:
These people are always grousing. They don’t like their boss and co- workers because of in competency or bad behavior. It’s the same story of office politics and how their such a great worker in a crazy and hostile atmosphere.
By listening to the daily stories of displeasure you wonder why are they still there. Most of them will give poor excuses: “I have bills to pay”, “It’s hard getting a new job because of the recession” or “I’ll be retiring soon.”
Disgruntled workers are those not willing to make a difference in their life. They want sympathy and a shoulder to cry on not a solution to their problems. This category of people enjoy going home to numb away the pain through entertainment, sex or other activities.
Physical stimulation takes precedence over attending networking functions and updating a resume. Also, their conversation usually revolves around the job they hate. If you change the topic, he or she will find a way to tie it in with the workplace.
DREAM SMASHERS:
Dream Smashers are former dreamers who delight in telling people the impossibilities of achieving their goals. Please don’t share your dreams with this group. They’ll lecture you on “living in the real world” and drive you into depression with sarcasm and limiting beliefs.
They are experts in living a safe and comfortable life. Dream Smashers don’t want to take risks because there’s a chance of failure and embarrassment. This group reminisces of earlier years when enthusiasm permeated their bones. They were fearless and optimistic. Disappointment and failure removed an ecstatic and carefree attitude and replaced it with pessimism and cynicism.
WARNING! Do not join these groups. Reject their advances. Create you life by taking action and surrounding yourself with DOERS not LOSERS!
Written by Omar Hasan
Omar Hasan is the author of the upcoming ebook “The Disappearance of Hate”. He’s a Blogger and Screenwriter from Brooklyn, NY. His blog www.transformationscience.wordpress.com focuses on inspiring and motivating people to achieve dreams and goals.
Contact info: Ohassa@gmail.com
www.twitter.com/ohassa
