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The Secret To Making Good Decisions Most of the Time
Perhaps you’re trying to figure out whether to relocate or not.
Perhaps you’re trying to figure out if it’s time to find a new job.
Or maybe you’re just dealing with daily decisions so you can get on with your life.
Is there any way to consistently make good decisions?
I think there is - and I’ve seen it work well for a large number of people. So, for something to ponder about on Friday, I’ll share with you the best method I know of to make consistently good decisions.
DEFINING WHAT A “GOOD” DECISION MEANS
I suppose we’ll have to start with what “making a good decision” means. Everyone has their own goals and aims, right?
My secret (and it isn’t really mine - I’ve stolen it, too) to making good decisions will work for you if, by “Good Decision”, you mean:
- It Makes Life Easier - That is to say, over the long haul, a “good decision” will result in fewer problems and “clean up” than a bad decision.
- It Looks At The Big Picture - A “good decision” looks down the road and around the bend. In other words, it takes into account more than the next 5 minutes.
- It Includes Others - Very few decisions affect only the decision-maker. There are almost always others affected by your decisions. A “good decision” is looking out for the “greater good”.
- It Is Stress Reducing / Life Simplifying - Again, while focusing on the long-term big picture, a good decision reduces the stress in your life and generally simplifies your existence.
- It Reinforces Integrity - That is, what you believe is consistent with how you act. A good decision helps to build that kind of integrity.
There - now if your definition of “good decision” includes all of the above, then my (stolen) secret will work for you.
If not, I’d be interested in what your definition of “good decision” is. Please leave it as a comment here for my (and others’) benefit.
THE BIG, STOLEN, SECRET TO GOOD DECISION-MAKING
Okay - are you ready for the secret of making good decisions most of the time now? Okay, here it is:
To make a good decision, pick the choice that has the highest near-term cost / pain / trouble.
That’s it!
Would you like some explanation? Well, I’m going to give you some anyway!
PERSONAL LIFE:
The Choice: You have to choose whether to clean the gutters or let it ride for awhile since they’re only mostly full of leaves (this is a current choice in my life).
The Options / Costs: Let it Ride: If I decide to let it ride, I can sit on my butt / get other work done and not have to worry about it. If I miscalculate the length of time to let it ride, I get to replace the gutters and probably the wood they’re attached to (and much bigger job).
Do It Now: I have to get off my butt / put down what I’m doing, get into some grungy clothes, get out the ladder and some gloves, and dig my hands into the semi-mulched goo all along the gutters. If I do it now, I will not have to replace the gutters any time soon.
The Good Decision: Obviously, the choice with the highest short-term cost is the Do It Now option. Also, it appears to be the best long-term decision.
JOB-SEEKING:
The Choice: I have to choose between two offers. They’re both with stable companies, but one is substantially similar to what I’m doing now, except that it pays a bunch more and requires more time away from home. The other is very different, but in an area / company / industry that I’m passionate about and it allows me to be home more, but it pays less than I’m making now.
The Options / Costs: Stay Where I Am - I could do nothing different, which would have very little short-term cost. Presumably, I’m unhappy (which I why I’m looking in the first place), so it has a very high long-term cost.
Take The Money - The short-term cost on this one is the difficulty in changing jobs (one of the higher stress things in life) and establishing myself in a new company. The long-term cost is being away from home (and family / friends / life outside of work) and same potential unhappiness that I have in my current job.
Take The Joy - If I go with the area I’m passionate about, I will have some short-term financial corrections to make so that I can continue to eat regularly along with the stress of a new job. The long-term costs are potentially high if I wanted to be in my current career field.
The Good Decision - The obvious choice is Take The Joy. It has the highest short-term cost to me. It also appears to be the best long-term choice for me as a human being.
I know a lot of people will advocate for the “Take The Money” because they’re in financial straits and they need the money. I submit that, between money and your / your family’s happiness, the better choice is happiness.
If you’re in financial straits, it is unlikely the more money will fix the problem. In fact, more money is likely to exacerbate the problem. Plenty of people live on less than what you made last year. If you’re unable to do so, it is likely a spending problem and not a “not enough money” problem.
So, you see how this system basically works. Yes, I know a lot of people will dislike this system immensely because it requires up-front sacrifice and isn’t about short-term gratification.
But put your own difficult decision through this system and see what happens. Map out short-term cost and long-term cost and see what you come up with. I think you’ll find that the “Good Decision” is the good decision.
Enjoy the Search!
Dan
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Daniel R. Sweet
Chief Cook-And-Bottle-Washer / Technical Recruiter
FRACAT.com - Free Resume and Career Toolbox
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielrsweet
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Photo by: Mikey aka DaSkinnyBlackMan
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