Tag: decision

Blog Post

Being Nervous Doesn’t Mean You’re Scared

Post author By jrlsage
Post date October 10, 2016

Sometimes we confuse nervousness with fear

Those emotions aren’t the same.

We confuse our nervousness for fear, especially if fear is our default.

They are different, though.

Being nervous means it’s new.

As a result, “new” gives you jitters.

Those jitters mean you are on to something.

The next time you get those “jitters,” know that it’s time to decide.

Are you scared, anxious or excited?

If you are afraid, it leads to comfort.
Choosing anxiety leads to protection.
Deciding on excitement means, you are “all in.“

When I’ve chosen fear or anxiety, I end up with regret. Disappointment hurts.

While the sun is painful and no pain no gain, the pain goes away.

Hurt lingers.

Tags decision, hurt, nervous, Pain

Blog Post

Make Decisions: Write it Down

Post author By jrlsage
Post date September 14, 2016

Make your decisions on paper before telling them to others

I once heard that there is always 10% more “good” work than you can do.

Why?

Life comes at you fast. We have a ton of inputs that shapes our decisions. There is always something to do and a process to change.

If we allow it, we can change our minds until the cows come home, because we want to do impactful work.

Change seems to make this possible.

That is why we have to write our decisions down when we get to a possible conclusion.

There are several benefits:

A list allows you to make priorities.
It frames the discussion, giving people a border to think
When you write things down it skews to action. It’s out of our heads.

Colin Powell once said you should act when you reach 70% of the information because 100% is a pipe dream.

I agree.

Get things out of your head to make things happen, because if you let a decision live there, you’ll spend more time working it out there than in the world.

Tags colin powell, decision, decision making, down, work, writing

Blog Post

Own the Decision

Post author By jrlsage
Post date September 6, 2016

Create credibility by taking responsibility

Own the decision by taking responsibility for it.

Although it can get painful if you care about “optics,” it’s a quick fix for credibility.

There are few things more frustrating than working with someone who changes direction regularly. It’s textbook intellectual laziness from a leader.

Changing direction in the middle of a project is usually the result of not being thoughtful with the people to whom you delegate work.

It’s easier to “spray and pray” because finding a direction is hard work. It requires confidence and vulnerability.

Use this exercise to start to own the process.

Exercise:

Before you start a project or process, find the answers to:

Who?
What?
Where?
How?
Why?

Your answers to each of these is no longer than two sentences.

Thinking about who, what, where, how, and why and clearly articulating each one makes delegation easier: it frames the project from its start.

Then, if you have to change something, you have a quick tool to see if fear is operating; if those five elements don’t change, your shift won’t be effective.

Tags change, decision, direction, leadership, spray and pray

Blog Post

Pick One! Adventure,Nothing,Normal

Post author By jrlsage
Post date June 19, 2014
No Comments on Pick One! Adventure,Nothing,Normal

You start down a path in life based on your decisions.

Not just major decisions like picking a college or deciding if you want to do a startup.

Little things like whats for breakfast and what time to go to sleep effect major things in your life as well.

Ask yourself – do you want an adventure, do you want normal, or do you want nothing – then decide what your next move is.

You will be more informed.

Tags breakfast, college, decision, resistance, startups

Blog Post

Decision Arrest

I feel lost – however I don’t quite know why.

Maybe I am trying to make too many decisions at once – I might be arresting myself to my routine and locking up my creative energy.

Its time to figure out a way to make my decisions easier (make them routine) throughout the day – and a way to stamp out anything that may block me from getting further into my well.

Tags decision, resistance