Making decisions is a key part of any individual’s life.
In business and life, it is especially important to know who you truly are before attempting anything significant. 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 inspires you to get up and keep going, even when it’s hard?
- What are your non-negotiable core values? What boundaries do you establish between personal and professional conduct?
- 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 align 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 the probable outcome is given this same information.