Let’s say that you set a goal to quit smoking, or to lose 20 pounds or to make a million dollars. What is your very next step?
In any of those instances, the first step is basically the same. You need to make a decision. Whatever goal you want to achieve is the direct result of the decisions you make to achieve it. Everything you’ve experienced, in your career, your personal life, in your financial status, is a result of the decisions you’ve made.
And, if you don’t like the results, then you need to change the decisions.
In fact, I encourage you to take that even one step further. Don’t just change the decisions, change your decision-making process. The decisions you make are a result of your decision-making process, and you just might have a faulty process.
Only you know for sure if your decision-making process is flawed. How is your year going? Are you living the glory days or just a mediocre existence? Are you achieving outrageous success or is your business just full of challenges? You know because you’re living it.
Learn the three key questions you should ask that will help you to improve, not simply the decisions that you make, but the way in which you make them.
1. “What’s the worst thing that can happen?” Consider the worst-case scenario when you make a decision. Asking yourself this will help you learn how to take risks in your business. It will toughen you against the possibility of any little thing going wrong, and will give you the confidence to move forward in spite of that possibility.
The thought of losing money holds a lot of people back from taking risks or making changes. But if you consider the worst that could happen, it’s impossible to lose money. If something doesn’t turn out the way you anticipated, you may not have received the expected return on your investment, but you didn’t lose. You learned. Consider it an education expense.
2. ”What will it cost me if I don’t do (or buy) this?” If you ask yourself, “What will it cost me to do this (or buy this)?” instead, you are allowing the cost of something to be the prime motivator in your decision-making.
How much money you have or don’t have should not govern the decisions you make in your business. The key is that when you’re not afraid of losing money, you make different decisions about money and it no longer governs your business decisions.
3. “What do I need to get an instant return on this investment?” When you invest in something, like a product or a mentor or even a virtual assistant, you want to know how to ensure that you see that investment back quickly. In the end, what you need is for that investment to not actually cost you money but end up making you money.
Notice that not one of the questions asks, “What’s the cheapest way to do this?” That’s not how I want you to think. That’s not how you should make decisions.
Apply these questions to an investment you’ve been considering – something that you’ve been thinking about doing in your business, something that you’ve been wanting to do and that you know would help you grow your business. Maybe you’ve been telling yourself you can’t afford to do it.
Approach that investment with these three questions and you’ll see what happens. These questions will lead to different solutions for you. These are some of the very questions that I include in my own decision making, and I know that they will open up some new possibilities for you.
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Yes just what I was thinking and it makes sense! And making decisions from where you want to be, instead of where you are right now changes everything too!
LOVE Tip #2! Use this in other areas of my work, but never considered applying it to goals. Great tip! Thanks : )
I would concur with that; too often I see people not acting through FEAR (or False Evidence Appearing Real as someone astutely defined it) and that always holds you back.
I especially like the third question.
It would inspire me to act on the “new thing” as quickly and vigorously as possible.
Btw, looking forward to the Receiving Zone call. I really need to get in that zone!
Thanks Bernadette!
As always you’re right on the money! I’ve heard you say this before, but recently I’ve actually DONE it and invested in my business in a fairly major way.
It is scary, but I knew that without this leap of faith I wouldn’t reach either my goals or all the people I want to help. I’m looking forward to sharing my success stories with you soon
Jo
Bernadette – thanks so much!
I paused and took a quick walk after reading this articie. While walking, I realized once again, that my decisions have led me to where I am in life that I am in. I can take responsibility for those decisions, make different & better decisions and move toward the results I want and desire.
It’s refreshing to know that getting “my results” begins with a simple decision. Tip #1 – hit home with me. The worst thing that could happen in my mind is to have lived a life w/o adventure, risk and fulfillment. This post helped give me the courage to close my eyes and go for it. I appreciate your encouragment & coaching.
Great tips! I really like tip # 2 because that is one thing business owners are afraid to lose.. Money becomes center of their business instead of the tool..
Excellent article.. I will share on FB.. Love it
Tatyana Gann