Power of Decision

A committed decision initiates forward progress. Positive progress occurs only after a firm decision. “I’ll try” provides a ready made excuse for failure. As long as you give yourself the option of quitting at the first little bump in the road, you have guaranteed the arrival of that bump. Any time I hear “maybe” or “try” I know the odds of success are severely handicapped. “I’ll throw up a marketing campaign and see what sticks” means that decisions are wishy washy. Proceeding with the campaign as a split test implies the expectation of good results with one segment of the campaign and better results with the other segment – a choice of two positives.

Not every decision will be an overwhelming success, just as not every marketing campaign will produce an avalanche of high quality leads. Some decisions will be better than others and some campaigns will be better than others. The key difference rests in the expectation of positive results. A choice between better and best feels far more constructive than “we’ll see what happens.”

Andy Andrews wrote about the 7 Decisions for Success in his book “The Travelers Gift.”

1. The buck stops here. I am responsible for my past and my future.
2. I will seek wisdom. I will be a servant to others.
3. I am a person of action. I seize the moment. I choose now.
4. I have a decided heart. My destiny is assured.
5. Today I will choose to be happy. I am the possessor of a grateful spirit.
6. I will greet this day with a forgiving spirit. I will forgive myself.
7. I will persist without exception. I am a person of great faith.

Notice the absolute commitment in each and every decision. He takes responsibility. He takes action and he follows through with a decided heart. Neither indecision nor hesitation exists. Only with absolute commitment will positive results occur. The subconscious mind can not begin to create the desired result until you absolutely decide on that specific objective.
Consider going in to a restaurant and ordering tomato soup, but before the waiter can bring the order you have changed your mind and ordered cream of mushroom soup. Change your mind a third time and ask for tomato soup with mushrooms and chicken. The poor waiter has no idea what to bring you because you have no clear idea of what you want.

Your subconscious mind fills the role of the waiter. You subconscious mind desires to please you and fulfill your chosen selection; however, the task becomes impossible until you clearly make a specific decision. Until an absolute specific detailed decision is made, you are aiming at a target in the dark with a scatter gun. Perhaps one pellet will strike the target by accident. Why not be clear, absolute and specific; center all of the shots in the center of the target.

Any time I have missed my goals in life, I can trace the cause to a non-specific goal or even worse too many goals headed in different directions. In every case, the center of the issue rested squarely on my shoulders.

Every time I set an absolutely specific goal with detailed criteria, I achieved it. The power always centers with a laser focus on the specific decision. A committed decision implies a persistence until the goal is achieved. Saying that you will work the business for a month or even six months provides the option for quitting. A powerful decision means persisting through whatever for as long as necessary to arrive at the objective.

Committed decisions provide power. In fact, power is only possible with a committed decision.

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One Decision

Changing and improving your life hinges on one decision. Your next decision represents the turning point in your life. You have often heard that “today is the first day of the rest of your life.” Today really can be a new beginning IF you decide that today will be different than yesterday.

Today you can:

1. Start a new way of eating. You can start a healthy food intake. Notice that I did not say “diet.” True weight reduction represents a change of eating habits. Diet implies doing without for a short period of time. Changing your eating patterns represents a change in lifestyle. It may mean a gradual change such as eating more fresh fruit and vegetables or cutting down on your chocolate intake. Even a small change makes a positive difference. The important element of making one decision which you can and will carry forward starts improving your life.

2. Start a new physical fitness program. Don’t panic. Starting a new physical fitness program can be as simple as making a decision to start walking fifteen minutes a day. No, it does not mean you must commit to hiring a personal trainer and working out an hour per day every day. Start with walking or even a slog (slog means a slow jog) depending on your current fitness level. Personally, I relish my exercise time. Whether I am hiking through the beautiful Colorado countryside or doing body sculpture exercises (body sculpture, or BS as we lovingly term it, represents a series of strengthening and toning exercises followed by mild cardio exercise.) Exercise can be and should be fun. Start at your own pace and gradually build time and intensity until you reach your goal. One decision to start your physical fitness program followed by consistent action makes a world of difference. Everything starts with one decision. Remember to make a decision you can and will follow through on a consistent basis.

3. Start using a schedule to more efficiently manage your time. Start by setting a specific time each day when you will read something to improve your life. Your subconscious mind is most receptive first thing in the morning when you first awake from an alpha sleep and the last thing at night before you drift off to an alpha sleep. Programming your mind with positive thoughts at those two times sets a positive tone for the entire day. Positive thoughts just before sleep insure a restful sleep. If those times do not fit your schedule, select a time which does work for you. The key factor revolves around making one decision to start reading something productive every day. My personal preference would be at least 30 minutes per day. Perhaps you will choose to start with ten pages per day. Make a decision to start reading and follow through with reading every day at that time. Enhancing your life starts with a simple decision and continues with the action of daily follow through.

4. Decide to follow through with your passion in life. One decision to start your own business can make each current work day better. Just knowing that you choose not to be an employee for the remainder of your career removes a huge burden from your shoulders. Knowing that you choose not to be an employee for the remainder of your career lifts the weight of Atlas from your shoulders. One decision to take back control of your life, your duties, your earnings and your future provides new hope. Life thrives on hope and dies without hope. Give yourself the gift of hope with one decision. Decide to live life to the fullest. Decide to live life on your terms. Being your own boss breathes hope into your present and your future. Your new happy future begins today with one decision to start your own business. Start part time. Replace your earnings and then move to full time. The key element is to start. You do not have to be good to start, but you must start in order to be good. Everything starts with one decision. Make a decision and follow through. Your current and future life will thank you.

Everything changes today and improves tomorrow with the simple act of making one decision. Make a decision which you can and will follow through. Your life tomorrow depends on making one decision today.

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