You are likely one decision away from a breakthrough. What’s holding you back?
Your choices will determine your destiny. In fact, the choices you make today lay the groundwork for your tomorrow. Even as you go through a day making seemingly mundane decisions, they are creating the fabric of your tomorrow, for good or for bad.
Still, there are some challenges with decisions. Here are a few.
Not making a decision. No decision is a decision. Whether in fear or paralysis, you’ve chosen or elected to stand still. Remember: The road of life is paved with flat squirrels who couldn’t make a decision. Don’t be a flattened squirrel.
Overthinking your next step. Stop getting ready to get ready. Chances are you’ve gone into overthinking mode. If you’re waiting to be 100% certain with everything mapped out and all your ducks in a row, you’ll carry that dream to your grave. Yes, be absolutely certain of your calling and timing, but you don’t need to wait until everything lines up perfectly. That’s what trial and error and failure are for.
The wrong decision. Don’t want to pull the trigger because it may be the wrong decision? Ask Michael Jordan about the shots he’s missed. Ask Thomas Edison how many failed attempts he had before inventing the working light bulb. Ask Dave Ramsey and Col. Sanders about going bankrupt before their breakthroughs. Failure litters the road to success, but if you don’t make the decision to fail, you’ll never step into your promised land.
Now, here are the keys to taking complete advantage of your second chance.
- You must make the decision to move forward. See the opportunity, not the challenge. Crawl, walk or run, but move forward. Carpe diem! You can’t steal second base if you’re standing on first base. If you don’t make the decision, nothing else matters. And no decision is a decision!
- Don’t be paralyzed by the past. Glace backwards, focus forward. John Maxwell says: “Sometimes we win, sometimes we learn!” Learn from your past, don’t become a prisoner in a cell. The door is open, be bold and walk out.
- What did you learn the first time around? Thomas Edison and Henry Ford failed miserably countless times, but they learned from their mistakes and failures. Ultimately, we have the light bulb and today’s eight-cylinder engines as a result. What did you learn the first time around?
- Don’t repeat the mistake. Whether it was your mistake or someone else’s mistake, don’t do it again. You may not have the entire road map forward, but you should at least know which roads not to go down again. If you make a mistake, no worries, but if you make the same mistake twice, it’s a habit.
- Find someone or someones with whom you can enjoy the ride. This is important. These friends will keep you honest, keep you on point and keep you going. Remember, you are the sum of the five people you spend the most time with, so make it count!
The first step is half the battle. My dad always reminded me: “It’s easier to steer the car if it’s moving down the road. If it’s sitting still, you can’t turn the wheel.”
- What one decision will it take for your breakthrough? *
- What one choice have you been putting off that will bring lasting change to your life?
- What is one thing you can do today — one thing — that change your tomorrow?