The Joy and Pain of Decision-making in Business

The Joy and Pain of Decision-making in Business

“Just really, really believe in what you’re trying to do. Don’t let people alter that. Let people advise you and lead you down paths to make smart business decisions. But trust your instinct and trust that overwhelming drive that made you put all your dreams and everything on the line.”  Luke Bryan,  country music singer and songwriter.

The Pain

There is always an edge of doubt that nudges me when I have made an important decision. Despite doing due diligence in researching my subject matter, always, there is a whisper of 'what if’ that pops up in my subconscious.   

When I opened my first business, rented space, and put out the first of my advertising, I walked around with a lump in my throat for a long time. I was still working full time, and ran my business evenings and weekends. There were no days off. 

I was up most nights until around 1 a.m. doing the books, planning the next day, and up again around 5:30 a.m. to get in a half hour of exercise before I started the full time job, then on to do my business. I know many of you have follow a similar routine with your own variations on the theme. 

And like many of you, fatigue sometimes played a role in my decisions. I have therefore learned to pay attention to the what if's, assess the critical nature of the situation, then decide whether to move forward based on the research I've done, the time factors and immediacy present, and the seriousness of the situation involved. I also assess how tired I am, and what my history is when it comes to making decisions in the midst of exhaustion. 

I've learned that most of us experience these moments of doubt when headed into a major decision - particularly in business. 

The Joy

I remember feeling like I’d hit the jackpot when I began to get referrals and recommendations from previous clients. A feeling of ‘WOW!, I really am doing this and it is working!

I've also learned that the courage it takes to move forward is the same courage I depend on when things go wrong and find my initial decision took me down a road I had not planned on taking. 

Being in business is about taking risks, having the courage to take those first steps, and having the courage to make the necessary changes when something goes wrong, while still moving forward and keeping on keeping on. 

The Trick

The trick is in actually listening to the voices in our subconscious and making sense of what we are hearing. They are often the voices of poplin our past. Sometimes they are encouraging, and sometimes, definitely not. 

What we need to do is make sure we listen to our own thoughts, and credit ourselves with the work we have undertaken. 

Work on it. Listen to those voices that pop up, but in the end, make sure you listen to yourself, make the decisions you have to make, and learn how to deal calmly with the consequences, both good and bad.