Making decisions is a key part of any individual’s life.
In business and in life it is especially important to know who you truly are before you attempt anything dramatic. There are too many messages out there telling us who we ought to be. As a result, we sometimes get caught up in a web of self-deceit because that is what we think we should be doing.
You should ask seven key questions of yourself before making any critical decisions:
- What is your risk profile – how much risk/uncertainty can you comfortably take without losing too much sleep?
- What impact does stress have on you and how much can you manage without adverse physical consequences?
- What truly motivates you – what will get you up in the morning and keep you going even when it is not always easy to do so?
- What are your non-negotiable core values – where do you draw the lines on personal and professional behavior?
- Where do you add the most value in any given situation – what are your strengths?
- What is your preferred work style – in what environments/situations do you work best and when do you struggle?
- What is the personal legacy you want to leave and how will this decision/action advance this agenda?
If you carefully think through these questions before making any major life/business decisions, then chances are you will achieve better outcomes. The goal is to put yourself in situations that are in harmony with who you truly are as a person as often as possible. It is equally important to avoid wishful and/or errant thinking about what is the probable outcome given this same information.
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