“Be willing to make decisions. That’s the most important quality in a good leader.” General George S. Patton

One of the most important decisions I have made in life was choosing to become an entrepreneur straight out of college rather than taking the traditional route of joining the corporate world. Looking back at my decision, its is interesting to remember how quickly I made this decision, and then committed myself to make it work. The ‘quick decision’ may, on the surface, appear to be a rash one. However, looking at some in depth research done by Dr. Asoka Selvarajah, individuals who make decisions fast and change them slowly are historically more successful than those who take a long time to make decisions and then change them rapidly subsequently.

According to Napoleon Hill it is indecision which prevents us from achieving what we truly want in life. When we are stuck in this state of limbo, things become complicated.  Doubts are amplified, and we start an unending process that questions whether what we are doing is correct or not. Do not get me wrong, making impulsive emotional decisions should be avoided at all costs. However, having all the facts and figures and knowing instinctively what we truly want and not going for it, should also be avoided at all costs. As an entrepreneur one needs to make many decisions on a daily basis, which shape the outcome of the business. At the pace the world is changing today, we cannot afford to be left standing still.

There are a couple of steps which help me in making critical decisions. Over the course of this week I will be sharing them with you in greater detail. In a nutshell, once we understand why we need to make a decision, we have to evaluate all possible alternatives, compare the alternatives and gather all the facts and figures, we then need to make a decision. Once a decision has been made, we need to commit to it and take 100% responsibility for our decision. There is then no room for doubting ourselves or the decision we have made. We can adjust the decision accordingly over a period of time & after receiving relevant feedback. What is important is that we are strong enough to make these decisions, because that is what life is all about.