“Success isn’t about the right decision, it’s about a decision,” Robin Sharma.  This is probably my favorite quote in the entire book.  I wrote a few weeks ago about the quote I heard from Baby Reindeer about people running away—how some run away by packing their bags and how some run away by staying in the same place too long.  Making a decision, especially a complex one with lots of possible outcomes, impact, repercussions, etc. is never straightforward.  But do we hold ourselves back with either form of avoidance?  The human brain is designed to compartmentalize and break down the odds so we can analyze the outcome and make a choice and then move forward.  But we are complex and layered social creatures and we fear how we will be perceived and we also fear what people perceive as success and/or failure.  When we are in that state, it’s a type of analysis paralysis that most of us are familiar with.  Sharma’s quote suggests that in that moment we simply need to make a decision—and doing nothing is a decision as well.  We can choose to allow our lives to be dictated for us or we can decide.

One irony I noticed with decisions, especially as we get more comfortable making them, is that we put more pressure on ourselves with the simpler things.  We overcomplicate everything in the beginning because we are trying to see every possible outcome, but as we dig further in, the complexity rises with the simplicity of the decision. It’s amazing how those simple things can impact everything.  Choosing to go for it can be the difference between becoming a millionaire and struggling for live.  Going on that date can lead to a wonderful relationship or a period of frustration.  Sometimes the decision will impact other people as well, like whether or not they get to keep their jobs.  None of this is said to deter us from making choices, rather this is another way in which making those choices can be difficult.  Still not a reason to not make a choice.  No matter what, it won’t be perfect so the only way we can get through it is to do it—simply walk in and learn the way as we go.   

Making decisions is easier when we have the right motivation.  I’ve learned in this study of leadership that sometimes it isn’t about the result.  We talk in terms of learning on the journey (it isn’t the destination, it’s the journey) and this is a good lesson in that.  For example, the goal really wasn’t about making millions of dollars, it was about providing value to others.  The best decisions we can make will provide that kind of impact for others.  Positive, offering options, solving problems are all things we need and if we are able to do that then the rest comes.  If we make the goal about money then we will always be chasing money.  But if we decide to fulfill a purpose, we get to help people and the money will naturally come.  It’s about deciding what we can offer and choosing to do the best we can with it at all times.  If we want to say that success is based on the right decision, let it be based on how we feel and what felt right to us, to fulfill our purpose.  When we stop avoiding a decision and commit, the work can get done.  Then we repeat and suddenly we are on our way and success is guaranteed no matter what it looks like in the end.