The decision is made when there is no longer any discussion (internal or external).

A teacher, Michael Barnett, says that Freedom is when you have absolutely No Choice. There is only one way to go and you know it: there is no debate or doubt – no this way or that way: one clear way.

What makes it so hard to make decisions?

• We have doubts about what the outcome will be: we are unsure whether the outcome will be as forecast, or whether there are other unknown factors that could affect the outcome.
• There are so many possible choices – we could invest in four more plastic injection moulding machines, or maybe it would be less risky and more profitable to invest in a tourist resort.
• We hold conflicting beliefs about what we should be doing: the automotive component industry is very profitable – the automotive component industry is very risky.
• We have not locked in on what are our key values, core beliefs and set our principal strategy (aka - Mission); so each time we go back to the beginning and start the debate again – shall we buy forward our copper requirements or buy spot as needed.

The future is so unpredictable; so we put off making the decision hoping the uncertainty will go away, or become more bearable.

This is the fear of the unknown. It is the main reason for resisting change or not embracing the future: what we know is better than the unknown even though it may be painful.

You will only happily and enthusiastically make decisions when you believe that life will be better in the situation you are creating.

A fundamental issue is the self confidence to create the future that you want. Another fundamental is faith that the future will be benevolent.

Self confidence is the ability to create the future you want, and it can be reinforced by holding the belief - "I am the creator of my future". This is a very empowering affirmation to make (every morning and evening five times in front of the mirror for thirty days). Also the more you focus on making goals and achieving them, the more you will believe in your abilities to shape your future.

Here is one of my favorite stories:

A Master was walking through the desert with his student. The student was in charge of taking care of the camel. At night time they stopped at an oasis, and it was the duty of the student to tether the camel; but he did not bother, he left the camel outside. He simply prayed to God, "Take care of the camel", and fell asleep. In the morning the camel was gone. Master woke the student and asked where the camel was: it had strayed. The student replied, "I don't know: Ask God. I told God to take care of the camel: I was so tired. And I am not responsible, because I told God and very clearly! You go on teaching Trust God, and so I trusted!" The Master said, "Trust in God, but tether your camel first - because God has no other hands than yours. If God wants to tether the camel, he will have to use someone's hands - he has no other hands. And it is your camel! Tether the camel and then trust God. You do whatsoever you can do. That does not make the result certain, there is no guarantee. You do whatsoever you can, and then whatever happens, accept it."

Do whatsoever you can and then trust.

Nigel works with people in business who want to do more with less – to make a greater contribution with less effort – to be more themselves with less holding them back.

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