Start a Decision Workbook

Decision-making is everything.?

Essentially — our lives and relationships, our work and vocation… pretty much everything — is simply a function of the decisions we make.?

So today — I’m refining my decision-making process.?

I've identified 5 challenges that get in the way of optimal decision-making. ?

And I’ve listed my 5 solutions below.

1?? Set a Budget (Number of Minutes / Hours) + Set a Deadline + Set a Timer (Focus)

I find it easy sometimes — to just sit on a decision.? To linger over it, mull over it.? It takes up valuable time and energy.? It keeps things from moving forward.

And sometimes, when my guard is down (like on weekends), this happens over the stupidest of things… that fancy Apple Watch strap that I've been thinking about… should I pay $280 for it?? Or should I get a more ‘practical’ one that is just $30??

Jeff Bezo has an oft-quoted distinction between Type 1 and Type 2 decisions.? Type 1 decisions are easily reversible.? Make these decisions fast.? Type 2 decisions take a lot to unwind.? Make these decisions after sufficient consideration.

Additionally — I’ve been listing in my daily planner — decisions that I want to make for the day. ?

What I’ll now do — is to allocate some space to include the amount of time I want to spend on making the decision, setting a deadline to make it; and schedule time to think and decide — at one go.

2?? Schedule the ‘Revisits’

Another temptation I have — after making a decision… is to come back to it.? I sometimes like to think — “Oh… should I have decided that?? Or not?”

I used to resist it.? But now I’ve come to realize that it’s the curious side of me.? I really do like to imagine things — and wonder what it could have been.

So — the way I’m going to hack this habit… is to simply do both. ?

I will allow myself to ‘revisit’ a decision — if the itch begins to bother me.? But I won’t do it so soon.? I’ll schedule it.? I’ll list the decision made, and beside it, or in my calendar… I’ll schedule time to revisit it.? But every single day between now and then!

3?? Think on Paper — Get a Dedicated Decision Workbook

I like to think of paper — writing, sketching my thoughts as I work on a decision to be made.? I find it helpful to get my thoughts ‘out of my head’, and onto paper.?

But I don’t have one place to do all of that.? And I don’t do it as often as I’d like to.

My solution — a Decision Workbook for this purpose.? And to also record items #1 and #2 mentioned above.

4?? Frameworks & Mental Models

The fourth enhancement to my approach — is to keep a list of useful Frameworks & Mental Models in one place… in the Decision Workbook.

There are dozens of excellent decision-making tools.? And sometimes we don’t use best ones because we forget they exist.? Having them collected (and listed) in one place — the same place I’m doodling all my decision-making thoughts — would keep them within reach.

5?? Decision Log & Monthly Review

And finally — I’ll review this decision-making workbook regularly (monthly, for a start).? The workbook (mentioned above — item 3) would contain my Decision Log… along with all the tools I need for effective decision-making.

It’ll enable me to be present to all my decisions, as well as the quality of my decisions, and this would enable me to create an effective learning loop on what worked and what didn't work.?

And so, there we have it…?

My 1% today is on putting together this decision-making workbook — to solve the 5 challenges I experience in decision-making.?