Decisions Archives - Scott's Thinking

Decisions Decide Destiny

Posted on December 3, 2023

Making decisions is what propels you forward. In a way, decisions are like swimming strokes. With each stretch and push you thrust forward until the next one. If you stop making decisions, like stop making strokes, you will coast, slow and then stop progressing forward.

So make more decisions. Make the decisions as quickly as you can. Though be intentional in your decisions just like you would be with an Olympic stroke. You wouldn’t go out just flailing in the pool. So gather your information and make focused, strong and meaningful decisions.

Action Observe Progress Reframe your thoughts

Decision Making Is A Superpower

Posted on September 11, 2023

Those who can make quick decisions will succeed sooner in life. You can usually change a decision if you need to later. However, making a decision is critical.

Too many people prevaricate and hope they won’t have to make the tough decisions. Sometimes even easy decisions, like ordering dinner at a restaurant, can take too much time and thought power.

Practice making quick decisions each day this week. It’s a muscle that you can develop.

Action Observe Reframe your thoughts Think About It

Ask Experts But Make Your Own Decisions

Posted on March 29, 2023

Experts know a lot about one thing. This is fantastic as they can give you depth on a subject. However, because of the time they’ve spent on one item, they will not be as aware of other subjects.

So understand what the expert has to say and encompass that into your own life. Just don’t let their potential myopia lead you astray.

Observe Think About It

Value Sorting

Posted on June 27, 2022

When you make decisions, you do so by sorting your values in a hierarchy. Sometimes that is why we find it hard to make a decision. If two important values are equally important we find it difficult to choose one over the other.

The value you put at the top of the hierarchy at any given time is your guiding factor in that moment. You can switch the top value depending on the subject at hand.

If winning is your core value, then anything else can be subordinated to that value. That is where cheating can enter the picture. However, it might not, if the persons value for fair play is higher than their desire to win.

So you can read someone’s value chart by the decisions they make. You can only read their value chart based on their current awareness though. If they haven’t become aware of the other values that could supersede or challenge their top one, then we can only see what they are doing with their current knowledge, self-awareness and personal bias.

Try to not project your story of them onto their value chart. You could say that a person is doing something for x or y reason. You really have no idea. But you can see what seems to be their highest value and get some insight into their intent. Have fun with this observational activity.

Action Financial Gratitude Health & Fitness Observe Reframe your thoughts Think About It

Decision-Makers Not Covid

Posted on June 8, 2022

I keep hearing or reading that Covid did this to us in relation to finance, mental health and the economy. It’s easy to say and rolls off the tongue without having to think much about it.

But was it really Covid? Is it really Covid still? Covid is a virus that can get into your body and might impact it. Many people may never experience it while others may have no symptoms, mild symptoms or severe symptoms. In a very small percentage of cases, it can even be the primary cause of death.

As a virus, it does its thing. But Covid doesn’t print money, adjust interest rates or make rules about lockdowns, essential businesses, social distancing, or travel policy. Nor does Covid determine the economic situation in any country. It is not a producer or a consumer.

Just like fire, Covid just is. It is individual people’s reaction to it that impacts other things in life.

If you like, or don’t like, where you or your country is at right now, then let the decision-makers know. It was, and is, them that are making decisions about your city, region or country. Don’t let them say it’s Covid. It’s not. It’s their reaction to it, so it is them.

Decision-makers around the world made different decisions and still the covid outcomes we’re similar. Some people were infected and a range of health outcomes occurred. The virus is still here but now there are a host of other unintended consequences to deal with because of decisions made and still being made.

We could all be a little more accurate with our words. The decision-makers have led us to this spot, good or bad, not Covid.

Think About It

Decisions Change Lives

Posted on September 30, 2021

Deciding to hire someone, or not, will affect their life in ways we cannot know. This might be a make or break moment for the person in any number of ways. Same thing for school teams, club and county sports. Some will be elated by the decision and some will not. Some will take this opportunity and excel and others will let it drift out of their hands.

Decisions matter. Each and every one. Their impact cannot always be seen or known.

But decisions change lives. Yours. Theirs.

Be mindful.

Action Gratitude Observe Time

How Did I End Up Here?

Posted on October 12, 2020

Have you ever connected your dots? It is useful to understand what decisions, thoughts and moments brought you to right now. How did I end up here?

Over the last couple of years, I have looked back and reflected on key decisions I have made and how they affected the direction of my life. It’s a fascinating exercise. Even more so, if you can be fearless in examining why you have chosen to do something.

This can help you understand why you choose some things over others. It also lets you know more about what you value and what you are attracted to.

One pivotal moment, I recall, was being 19 and walking to a university lecture in Ottawa, Canada. I saw a flyer on the stairs and picked it up. It was about travelling to various destinations around the world. A minute later I had reached my class and finished reading the parts that interested me the most.

I sat down and turned to my friend Kevin. I declared that I would finish the term and then take a year off to travel around Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. Excited, I studied, planned and worked to make and save money. Several months later I was on a jet headed to Auckland.

‘How did I end up here?’, I thought.

But actually, I knew.

Progress Think About It

Value Judgements And Tradeoffs

Posted on September 28, 2020

Making decisions is easier when you know what you value. We are constantly assessing and prioritising our value judgements and tradeoffs.

Imagine you’re going to the shop with a £5 note. You intend to buy milk, bread and cereal. However, on your way, you walk past a newsstand with the latest edition of your favourite magazine.

Now you need to decide if the food is more important or the magazine. Alternatively you could return home for more cash to consume it all. But that would require more time at this moment. So now you need to create a hierarchy of values.

Do you value your time more now (perhaps you’re in a rush to a meeting)? Perhaps the magazine articles will help you understand a critical subject for a work project. Or maybe your child has been ill and not eaten for three days. Though now they want their favourite cereal and bread.

What item will be most important to you and your life in this very instant? The decisions and tradeoffs need to be made now.

Your views and circumstances may change in six months or six years. Nonetheless, you need to make this decision right here and now.

We are constantly making momentary value judgements and tradeoffs. Remember though, so is everyone else.

Observe Think About It

Few Things Are Straightforward

Posted on September 21, 2020

We make snap decisions all the time. There is little time to gather all the facts and then weigh them. Few things are straightforward and yet we often take an immediate view.

Why is that?

Survival instinct would be one reason. Emotional reactions, which are instinctive and learned, is another. They are also much quicker to use to come to a conclusion than any other method.

Bias is another issue. Sometimes we want an outcome to be true so badly that we will ignore strong evidence to the contrary.

Sometimes, some people, take the time to investigate both sides of the story. Of course there is nuance and uncertainty. And certain situations come down to one key element. Those that can recognise their own bias and still make a fair decision are highly regarded.

Judges, referees and umpires all make a career out of remaining objective. We rely on them to interpret the rules and the laws as set out. Both the spirit and the letter of the law can be considered. They gather the key information, weigh it, understand what they want and what is best for the situation.

Few things are straightforward. Learn to take time, gather facts from both sides, remove your bias and then present a calm conclusion. Everyone will benefit from this process.

Gratitude Reframe your thoughts

Life Is A Value Hierarchy

Posted on September 6, 2020

Throughout your life, you will need to choose between two or more options of value. Life is a value hierarchy and you are the constant decision maker.

A simple example of this is what to eat for breakfast. You may have the luxury of choosing between eggs royale or Cheerios. Some people will have more exciting choices and some far fewer. Some don’t have anything to choose from.

Whatever your situation, you then need to make a choice. First you make a choice of your preferred meal. Second, you make a choice about how you see your situation. What’s fascinating is how people perceive their situation.

Some will have all the best cooked, freshest food in the world and be happy. Others will find something to disparage. Those with poor, few or no choices, can find happiness or discontent too.

Extrapolate this out to all of the decisions you make in a day. You are constantly deciding what is more important and less important. Then you decide how you feel about it. Be careful though. Those decisions about how to feel about things, soon will become a habit.

You might not notice, but you may stop appreciating your moments of good fortune. Things may start to seem commonplace. You may become disenfranchised with imperfection.

Life is a value hierarchy. But you are at the controls.