The Art of Deciding.
A decision is not the same as a choice. Choosing identifies the path, and deciding is the commitment to actually walk it. The four steps that turn a choice into a decision you can live with are look and listen, choose, decide, and do it.
The Power In The Word Decide
There is tremendous power in the word decide. I learned that during my hockey career, although I probably did not understand the lesson fully at the time.
Throughout a career, and throughout life, there are moments when you arrive at a crossroads. You gather the information available to you, consider the possible outcomes, and eventually choose a direction. Then comes the moment that matters most. You decide.
"A true decision is more than selecting an option. It is a commitment to move forward."
It is the moment when you stop standing at the crossroads and begin walking down the path you have chosen. Once I made an important decision in my hockey career, I often reminded myself that I could not keep going back and questioning it. The decision had been made. My responsibility was now to follow through and discover where that path would lead.
That did not mean doubt disappeared. There were plenty of moments when I questioned myself. There were moments when the road became difficult and I wondered whether I had made the right choice. But I kept returning to the moment when the decision was made. I remembered what I knew, what I felt, and why I chose that direction.
I had given myself honest feedback. I had listened to my instincts. I had decided. Once I decided, I needed to move forward.
Sometimes desperate or uncertain moments force us to make the decisions we have been avoiding. Those moments can feel uncomfortable, but they can also push us toward something better, especially when we trust what our gut is telling us and have the courage to follow through.
The Danger Of Re-Deciding
The greatest danger is not always making the wrong decision. Sometimes the greater danger is constantly re-deciding.
When we repeatedly revisit a decision, we lose momentum. We hesitate. We divide our energy between the path we chose and the paths we left behind.
Re-deciding slows us down. It prevents us from fully committing to the work in front of us and can keep us from discovering our true potential.
Deciding While Building HEDiGEAR
I experience this now as I build HEDiGEAR. Starting and growing a business presents decisions almost every day. There are different products, opportunities, partnerships, and directions to consider. You cannot pursue everything, and you will rarely have perfect information. At some point, you have to choose. Then you have to decide. Then you have to act.
The Four-Part Process
Over time, I have turned this lesson into a four-part process.
1. Look And Listen
Take in the information around you. Study the situation. Listen to the people you trust. Pay attention to the facts, the opportunities, the risks, and what your own instincts are telling you. You do not need to rush through this step. Good decisions begin with awareness.
2. Choose
Examine the available paths and choose the one you believe gives you the best opportunity to move forward. Choosing means identifying the direction. It does not yet mean you are fully committed. It simply means you have determined which path you believe is right.
3. Decide
This is where choosing becomes commitment. To decide means accepting that you are no longer standing at the crossroads. You have selected your path, and you are prepared to take responsibility for that decision. There may still be uncertainty. There may still be fear. But you stop allowing doubt to control your movement. You decide that this is the direction you are going.
4. Do It
Put the decision into action. Move forward with effort, discipline, and belief. Do not waste energy constantly looking over your shoulder at the paths you did not take. You can adjust along the way. You can learn. You can respond to new information. But you cannot fulfill the potential of a decision if you never fully commit to it.
Key Takeaways
- Look and listen.
- Choose.
- Decide.
- Do it.
- Do not look back.
We are not always guaranteed the outcome we want. But when we make an honest decision, commit to the path, and give everything we have to the work ahead, we give ourselves the best opportunity to discover what is possible.
The power is not only in making a decision. The power is in becoming the person who follows through.
