Conquer two D’s to Transform your Life

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A leader, once convinced that a particular course of action is the right one, must….be undaunted when the going gets tough. - Ronald Reagan

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It was a historical day. The day is known forever in history for courage shown by 56 men who gathered in Philadelphia to sign the document that changed America forever. The day was July 4, 1776 and the document they signed was declaration of independence. They knew what was at stake. They knew that the document that they signed would either bring freedom to all Americans, or leave everyone of the 56 hanging from the gallows!

Let’s fast forward almost hundred years. It was September 22, 1862. Another great man signed another document that needed courage, determination and strong will. This great man was Ab Lincoln and document he signed was his famous Proclamation of Emancipation, which gave freedom to the colored people of America. He rendered the document knowing that it may turn thousands of friends against him. He knew, too, that carrying out of that proclamation would mean death to thousands of men on the battlefield and it may cost him his own life.

What was that fueled courage, determination and unshaken faith in 56 men who signed the declaration of independence ? What inspired Lincoln to sign proclamation knowing dire consequences may follow soon after ?

Definite Decision….

Yes, it was definite decision that instilled in these men’s thoughts that changed America forever and made it the beacon of the hope for the rest of the world.

Who I am today is the culmination of all the decisions or lack of that I have made up to this point in my life.

Your life changes the moment you make a new, congruent, and committed decision. -Anthony Robbins

We decide all the times

As soon as I wake up in the morning, I am making decision. I am deciding what I will do for the rest of the day. What costs me is the decision of indecision, decision of procrastination, decision to fear what seems most difficult yet most inspiring dream of my life.

I have had tendency to procrastinate on decisions that required risks and courage to change but not deciding was also a decision that I was making. Not deciding many times was far more riskier than if I had courage to face the facts and decide. Before I embarked as an entrepreneur, I worked as an engineer and felt that job had provided common good and security for me and my family. I have had desire to start a business but that desire was not backed by courage to analyze pros and con of my desire. If I had developed a habit to consider what my mind desired, I would have known the value of undertaking a systematic analysis of my present life against the life shaped by the courage to change. Later, when I was laid off from the job, I came to rude awakening. I realized that what seemed most secure was a mirage. I realized that If I do what I do everyday, I would likely reap the same results or worst. I had to change considering the fact that I needed to create income in excess to what I earned working for someone.

Develop a framework to make decision based on the facts not on emotions

Most decisions require courage to change, face difficulties and many times great sacrifice. But if I have a framework, a systematic approach of analyzing all the facts related to that decision, I can weigh in pros and con of my potential decision. Once I validate these pros and con with my knowledge and with my experience, I am prepared to make a definite decision. A definite decision is the one that I will pursue regardless of challenges that I would have to face, regardless of the opinions of others and most importantly regardless of perseverance it may require.

“What is that framework”, you may ask. Well, it is simple yet very effective. I would divide half a sheet of paper by line into two columns; writing over the one pros, and over the other con. Then during a week long period, I put down perceived changes that decision may bring, either in the pros or the con column. This way, once I have all the pros and con in one view, I am ready to divulge into details.

Where I find two on each side seemingly equal in weight, I cross them off. If I judge a single reason pro equal to two reason con, I strike out the three. Eventually, what remains on the sheet allows me to take my reasons to validation phase. I next engage like minded people to validate the respective weight of my decision.

Discuss the devil of details with whom I trust most

I have stolen this golden rule from one of the greatest American business icons of all time, Andrew Carnegie. Mr. Carnegie always controlled his decisions and his own imagination of the impact of those decisions but he validated his decisions with group of trustworthy associates for whom he had great respect. I believe that allowing someone like minded to review the decision and underlying reasoning behind making such decision would sometime bring reasons that are known to me. I often seek advice from my wife who possess keen practical aspect of life than I do. Her different approach to the viewpoints I render, often brings valuable reason for or against the decision.

Stick with it forever

I know that a lot has been written for the subject of perseverance. You may already know that failure is simply another trail you are undertaking until discovering the the peaks of your journey. Failure becomes permanent when we stop taking action. I believe that for a decision to survive the great struggle of intermittent failures and opposition, I need to have steadfast commitment, I need to make my decision definite. If I have faith backed with the details that I analyzed while making my decision, I have won over the fear of defeat. I start to imagine the fruits of the positive changes my decision can bring rather than the despair of failure.

What this power is I cannot say; all I know is that it exists and it becomes available only when a man is in that state of mind in which he knows exactly what he wants and is fully determined not to quit until he finds it. - Alexander Graham Bell

Other Blogs : Steve pavlina has great article - Making decisions that stick

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To Your Success,