Fundamental of Achievement
Decision
Making
The decisions you make have a major impact on the quality of your life, arguably more than anything else. In fact, it is often said that your circumstances are the result of your choices. If you don’t make good decisions, the likelihood that you’ll live a great life is almost zero.
Tier
What Is Decision Making?
Decision making is the process of making choices, especially important or complex ones. As a general rule: thoughtful, strategic decision making leads to better results than impulsive decision making. However, outcomes are seldom guaranteed either way.
Why Decision Making?
Decision making is inescapable. Even avoiding a decision is a decision within itself. Take control of the choices you make to take control of your life.
I don’t claim to be an expert on anything I write about.
Hell, I hardly claim to be an expert on myself. 😂😂😂
These breakdowns are largely for me. I use them to record and reference. Unlike most others on this site though, this goal setting page might actually be useful to the outside observer.
No promises. You can tell me.
Life Arithmetic
The math is simple. Your life is a sum of the choices you make. If you want to live a better life, make better decisions.
Dealing with Dilemma
To a very large degree, life is about trade-offs. You can’t do everything. So analyze the opportunity cost honestly.
Forks of Your Future
Your life path stretchs out before you with many branches. Knowing how to decide which way to go is a vital skill.
Function of Free Will
Choice is one of the most profound aspects of the human experience. Making good decisions is like worship.
It’s not always easy to make the right decisions. Here’s a quick look at what honing my decision making capability has been like for me.
Learn with Me
Just like anyone else:
I’ve made plenty of good and bad decisions.
Recently though, my decision making has leaned towards the “right” decision more often than not. It’s taken a lot of internal work to make that happen. I had to do it consciously.
My “factory settings” didn’t necessarily lend themselves to making good choices on a consistent basis.
So I had to decide to change them.
Through practice, I’ve been able to take more and more control of my choices. I’m still learning how to ensure my day-to-day choices line up with my long-term Goals. Admittedly, I don’t always get it right.
However, I’m definitely making progress (as seen on This Site).
My Experience
I’m steadily mastering my decision making.
I become more intentional year after year.
Oftentimes, I’m still plagued by impulsivity as much as the tendency to overthink things.
However, I generally know what I want.
Now, it just comes down to choosing actions that bring me closer to my goals on a consistent basis.
The more I analyze the results of my decisions, the better I get at choosing the correct path forward. Some of that comes down to Habits, some of it comes down to Strategy.
Through Trial and Error, I refine both.
- Importance – 99%
- Passion – 75%
- Mastery – 60%
Journey Started: 1988
Good Life Foundation
Goals are fundamental. They are an essential pillar of a good life. Without them, it’s easy to get blown to and fro by the winds of the world.
Where Decision Making Fits in a Good Life
Goals are one of the most important pieces of the Achievement puzzle.
For me, they’re a “Tier 2” concept, on the same level as Mindset, Habits, Growth, and High Performance.
It is also closely tied to practices like Journaling.
1. Achievement
‣ 2. Goal Setting
3. Frameworks
3. Scheduling
4. Yearly
4. Monthly
4. Daily Planning
3. Business Plans
Success Habit Rank
Videos Watched
Mentions on My Site
Books Read
Pulling Threads: A Lion Chasing Rabbits
What the hell is This Site, exactly? A pointless stream of consciousness? A fanboy's ode to his Heroes? A psycho's Favorite topics? All three? Or maybe, it's just the result of a lion chasing rabbits. You might LOL... but this is how it works: I am destined to be the...
Choosing the Right Decisions for Yourself
For decision making newbies:
Let’s start with the best advice up front.
Just get started.
etymology… greek(?) for cut… cut out one of the choices/futures
There’s two main ways you should consider your decision making.
Making Smart Moves
1. strategic thinking/game theory/critical thinking/logic… choosing a career path, choosing how and when to pivot in business, should you buy boardwalk in monopoly?
this is a skill that needs sharpening… some can be built by practice, like playing chess… others require experience and/or study like business decisions… reach a high enough level, it will feel like instinct/intuition/follow your gut
Habitual Good Decisions
2. consistency/willpower/day to day decisions/discipline… choosing to work on your side hustle instead of playing video games, choosing the salad over the pizza, etc.
easy to get into patterns making the same decision over and over to the point that they are basically automatic… like hitting the snooze button, we call these habits… they can be good repetitive decisions or bad ones.
in the overall game of life, the objective isn’t as clear as a game of chess/monopoly… so you need to find/define that clarity for yourself
One of the things that can empower you to make consistently good decisions is proper Goal Setting.
some bad decision making comes with maturity… but not all “mature” decisions are better, willingness to take risks
some decisions are more personal… some impact others… you even get to decide whether that matters to you
How to Make Good Decisions Step-By-Step
01
Goal Setting
You’ll make better decisions if you understand what you truly want. It’s easier to align your choices if you have an explicit destination. Goals provide a scale to weigh your decisions against. Without them, it’s nigh on impossible to know how you’re measuring up.
02
Results vs Risks
You know you can’t do everything at once.
weigh the options… best case scenarios and most likely scenarios… trial and error… making sacrifices
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03
Exercise Choice/Take Responsiblity
eventually, you just have to pick… analysis paralysis… making sacrifices… fate vs free will
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04
Commit?
value in being decisive… though also value in review and the ability to admit when you’re wrong
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05
Game Theory
If you can trust yourself to carry out the actions behind your decisions, you’re ready to focus on game theory and strategy
Strategy
Logic
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06
Heroes & History
The tales of humanity provide
study what others have done… learn from their mistakes/victories and defeats… don’t always have to carve your own path… history, both ancient and modern… could even look at myths, regardless find your heroes and learn from them
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Remember: just start. The first time you put your goals on paper, you’re closer to achieving your dreams than 90% of the population.
How I Think About Decision Making
For me, Decision Making sits as an important skill under Achievement, Character, & Entrepreneurship.
In truth, it it might belong under several more Tier 1 topics as well.
My Decision Making data dump isn’t all that deep yet. I still have a lot to learn on this one. And learn I will. Decision Making has a direct impact on quality of life. As such, I assume the role of humble student.
Here’s a quick look at those.