Making A Decision: Every Second — Literally — Counts
A few days ago I was waiting for an important check to arrive in the mail. I needed to deposit that check as soon as it arrived in order to make some payments. So, that afternoon, I went downstairs to check the mailbox and the check was there. But, at that point, it was 3:52 PM and the bank closed at 4:00PM.
So I walked upstairs to my office / apartment and I said to myself: “Geezzz… I really, really, needed to deposit this check today but now I can’t because the bank closes in a few minutes and it’s about a 15 minute walk.”
Just go for it
Two minutes went by, now 3:54, and I said: “That’s it, I still have to at least try to make it!.” So I literally stopped thinking about it… thinking about the “what’s ifs… and the wells…” and threw on some running sneakers and sprinted to the bank. I was really hauling.
And, to my surprise, I got there at 3:59PM. The bank clerk was literally in the process of locking the doors. As soon as I got there, I pulled out my phone and said : “whooaa…. hold on there buddy… it’s 3:59… I’m just in time.” And he said: “ahh.. okay come on in…”
A bad decision is better than no decision
If I had arrived even five seconds later, the doors would have been closed and locked. You see, this is a very important lesson that we can all learn from. Sometimes we need to just stop thinking and just make a decision.
Now whether that decision is the wrong decision or the right one, a decision has to be made. Making a wrong decision is always better than not making a decision at all. Even if it’s a decision not to make a decision at this point. At least you still made a decision.
Don’t lock yourself into a thinking cell
We can spend our entire lives thinking…thinking…thinking… and never really accomplish anything, except, of course, more thinking! And where’s the advancement in just thinking? Nowhere. Just thinking is only going to keep you immobile and stagnant in life. We need to go beyond our thoughts where, believe it or not, thinking doesn’t really exist (that’s another article) — just doing and just being.
Learn to make decisions. Learn to take a stance. Learn to say: “okay, let me just do it!” Learn to just drop everything (literally / mentally) and just go for it. Find the leader within in. It’s in there. Every second counts. Life is precious, don’t waste it thinking all day.
4 Comments
Graham Lutz, The Young Capitalist
November 28th, 2007 at 4:20 pm
I’ll tell you what, nothing aggravates me more than indecisive people! and people that are unsure of themselves….those two go hand in hand
Vincent Liew
December 3rd, 2007 at 12:39 am
It’s always better to start something than procrastinating. Because you can always make things better after you started it.
Try and error method is always the best method for start ups. You know until you are at “been there done that” stage.
Cory
December 7th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
Very true indeed, great article! I have come to realize that you can sit back and think about things for far too long. You can ponder the what if’s for a lifetime, but at some point, you have to you have stop thinking and just do it. You will either sink or swim, but the decision was made, and it was acted upon, and that is half of the battle.
David Askaripour
December 7th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Right on, Cory. The decision must be made.
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