You know you need to do something. You know you need to get online, or to increase your marketing, or you might even need to hire someone.
Still, how do you know if it’s the right investment for you?
You may not know if you’re ready to make the investment. Funds could be tight, maybe a little low. There are so many unknowns: you don’t know if the decision will get you the results you’re looking for; and sometimes you’re just questioning the whole gamut. You might even feel like you’re getting in over your head.
It’s stressful; it’s scary, and sometimes quite overwhelming. We have a tendency to allow that to get in the way of us making progress. We freeze up when we start wondering if we’re making the right decision.
Well, here’s the truth: there are no guarantees in life. There are no guarantees in business. But there is a way to approach decision making when you are faced with a decision to invest, a way that gives you the best scenario to make the right decision for you.
I have used this over and over again in my business and I encourage my clients to do the same.
But here’s the thing: no matter what decision you make, you need to know that, no matter what, it will all work out. Even if it doesn’t turn out the way you planned. You’ll have new knowledge, you’ll learn something, and you may even pick up a new skill.
So what is the method I use? There are three things I look at when making a decision.
The first thing I do is weigh the situation.
You know those T charts, where you say okay, here are the pros and here are the cons? It’s kind of the same concept.
The first thing to ask yourself is, what is it that you want? Is this something that’s going to get you towards your goal? What is the decision? What is it going to get you?
And then you want to weigh the options. What is it going to get; what’s the investment; what is the risk? And when you put that down and you look at it carefully, sometimes it really clarifies: the risk is not as big as the gain. Then it’s easier to make a decision. But you need to take time to really weigh the options to know that.
The second thing I highly encourage before making a decision is to ask for feedback.
Bring the issue up with someone you trust, whether it is a mentor, a business coach, or even a business associate who has fully supported you and whose feedback you trust.
Sometimes we get so emotionally connected to our business that we get in our own way, and we keep ourselves from making the exact decisions we need to make to move forward. Instead, we stop ourselves because we’re just too scared and we don’t get out of our own way.
Having that good resource, someone who can give you honest, truthful, and constructive feedback is important. They will help you say, “Yes, this is a great decision; it’s not a big risk.” They are less involved, less emotionally attached to the decision. So they are really helpful.
The third thing is to trust.
The biggest thing that you can do for yourself when making a decision is trust yourself. Trust yourself that you are going to make the right decision.
You have skills and talents and knowledge and expertise. You need to trust yourself that you know what you’re doing. After you’ve weighed the decision, after you’ve asked for feedback, trust that you’re going to make the right decision, regardless of the results.
Remember, even if it doesn’t turn out the way you thought it was going to turn out, you’re still going to learn something. You’re going to learn a new skill; you’re going to learn new resources, or even open up opportunities that would not normally be there.
So the next time you’re faced with a decision whether to invest or not, go through these three steps. Weigh it, ask for feedback, and then finally trust yourself. Trust that you’re going to make the right decision.
Because if you don’t make any decisions, if you don’t move forward, you’re not ever going to get the results you’re looking for. That the bottom line. You need to do something different so that you get different results. We all know that definition of insanity, correct?
So, I hope this was helpful. I look forward to giving you more resources and helpful tips. In the meantime, be confident and make those decisions that will keep you moving forward!
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