As the formula 1 race car drivers approach the infamous hairpin turn at Monte Carlo they are faced with numerous decisions that must be made in less than a second. Is their line right? Have they selected the proper gear and slowed enough? What about the other cars on the track? Making the right decision in that split second is more than winning or loosing it can be life threatening if they make the wrong choice. Most of the decisions that you and I make don’t have to be made in a split second and usually they aren’t life threatening but they can be life altering.
The decisions that I make shape my life. Too many times I find myself saying if only I would have done this or wouldn’t have done that my life would be so much better. The New Year offers an opportunity for a fresh start. That is if you can put last year behind you. One of my friends Saen Higgins posted what I consider a profound statement on his FaceBook page last week. I would like to share it with you. “The New Year is coming and everyone is talking about what they are going to do for the New Year. I feel a better list is what I’m I not going to do this year”. I agree with Saen’s statement. A great way to approach the New Year is to analyze last year. Make a list of what worked well for you and what didn’t work well for you and make sure you don’t repeat the things that didn’t work for you.
Benjamin Franklin offered a methodology for making sound decisions in a letter to his friend Joseph Priestly. Franklin referred to the methodology as “moral or prudential algebra. Here is a copy of his letter from the book “The Benjamin Franklin Sampler”.
To Joseph Priestley
London, Sept.19, 1772
Dear Sir,
In the Affair of so much Importance to you, wherein you ask my Advice, I cannot for want of sufficient Premises, advise you what to determine, but if you please I will tell you how. When these difficult Cases occur, they are difficult chiefly because while we have them under Consideration all the Reasons pro and con are not present to the Mind at the same time; but sometimes one Set present themselves, and at other times another, the first being out of Sight. Hence the various Purposes or Inclinations that alternately prevail, and the Uncertainty that perplexes us. To get over this, my Way is, to divide half a Sheet of Paper by a Line into two Columns, writing over the one Pro, and over the other Con. Then during three or four Days Consideration I put down under the different Heads short Hints of the different Motives that at different Times occur to me for or against the Measure. When I have thus got them all together in one View, I endeavor to estimate their respective Weights; and where I find two, one on each side, that seem equal, I strike them both out: If I find a Reason pro equal to some two Reasons con, I strike out the three. If I judge some two Reasons con equal to some three Reasons pro, I strike out the five; and thus proceeding I find at length where the Balance lies; and if after a Day or two of farther Consideration nothing new that is of Importance occurs on either side, I come to a Determination accordingly. And tho’ the Weight of Reasons cannot be taken with the Precision of Algebraic Quantities, yet when each is thus considered separately and comparatively, and the whole lies before me, I think I can judge better, and am less likely to make a rash Step; and in fact I have found great Advantage from this kind of Equation, in what may be called Moral or Prudential Algebra. Wishing sincerely that you may determine for the best, I am ever, my dear Friend,
Yours most affectionately
Ben Franklin’s advice to his friend still makes a great deal of sense over two hundred years after the fact. I have used his methodology numerous times when faced with decisions both in the business world and in every day life.
Eben Pagan makes a great point in a recent video series posted on his blog. He states, “When it comes to small decisions wait at least a day before you act, when it comes to major decisions wait a month before you act.” Eben was speaking in regards to financial decisions. I believe his advice can be applied to other areas of our lives as well. The ages old adage I am going to sleep on it isn’t such a bad idea.
Zig Ziglar warns use about succumbing to paralysis by analysis. Often we don’t s have the luxury of time when it comes to making a decision whether it is big or small. In that case we must rely on our past experiences and knowledge to make the best choice possible. If you are a Christian as I am you might ask your self what would Jesus do? If your belief system is secular in nature you might want to ask your self what would your mentor do. All though this may seem simplistic I have found it to be very beneficial in my own decision making process.
Ultimately our life is improved or worsened by the decisions that we make. Life is really a series of choices that we are faced with on daily basis. Take a step back and look at the big picture before you make a decision. I promise it will add to the quality to your life.