How to Make Good Decisions

The right way to make good decisions often goes against what we’ve been taught as children and through advertisements.

For years, I believed the best way to make a good decision was to get as many opinions from relatives and friends as possible. Although their advice was usually well-intended, it was often not what was best for me. That makes sense because no other person has my complete history and list of needs than me. The same goes for you.

Looking back on some key life decisions I made based on relying heavily on others’ recommendations, I can see that many of them were bad. Here’s what I mean.

In seeking advice, I usually relied on people I saw as intelligent, perhaps because of their advanced education. The problem was that I failed to fully consider their experience and knowledge in the area in question.

Looking back at some of the bad advice about important career and romantic decisions I choose to follow, the person I often listened to turned out to have zero common sense, zero street knowledge, zero employment experience (large inheritance only), nearly zero romantic experience, questionable intelligence, and questionable integrity. And I followed the advice of this idiot several times, which cost me dearly. Of course, we are no longer friends.

Before I explain my formula for making good decisions, I want to highlight the benefits of making a decision. Once you make a decision, your…

• Anxiety decreases
• Confidence increases
• Determination increases

Here’s my formula for making good decisions.

1. Clarify the decision and choices.
2. Do research if needed until it is thoroughly understood.
3. Come up with alternative choices and decisions.
4. Present the decision clearly and concisely to “qualified” individuals.
   1. Consider each recommendation.
   2. Identify the best 2-3 choices.
   3. Refine questions and follow up with respondents.
5. Allow your subconscious mind to work on the problem for a few days.
   1. Let the decision go during this period.
6. Strongly consider your gut or intuition — the voice of your subconscious mind.
   1. Your gut-led choice may not be completely understood until later.
7. Imagine how each choice will make you feel in the end.
8. Make a decision based on all the above, along with steady reason and logic.

There is no perfect decision, but decisions that are thoroughly researched are more perfect than those that were made without effort. Even still, if the choice turns out to be a bad one, at least you know you did your due diligence. Then, living with it and making adjustments to compensate are much easier.

To your good decisions.