Deciding for Prosperity

Without a doubt, prosperity is a decision.  But oftentimes, the thing that keeps people – and companies – from reaching prosperity or success, is their inability to make a timely decision.

One of the biggest issues I encounter when I’m consulting with companies is they simply can’t reach a decision.  We have a meeting, collect the facts and discuss the options.  Then we set a date for the decision.  But you what happens on the decision date?  They want to have another meeting and discuss the same facts and options again.  And again...

What they’re looking for is a way to know completely 100 percent of the variables, so they can make a decision with no risk.  And individual people want the same thing.

But it doesn’t work that way in the real world…

For a company, if you wait until you have 100 percent knowledge, you’ve already missed the opportunity, because someone smarter than you has already moved in and scooped up the market.  If you want a 100 percent certainty that something is a good investment, the yield is probably going to be so low it isn’t worth it.

For an individual, if you wait until something is 100 percent guaranteed before you move, you’re going to live a life of mediocrity.  If you wait until there is a 100 percent chance you won’t be rejected, before you let someone know you’re interested in them, you’ll probably end up as two ships passing in the night.

You have to be willing to take a chance.  If you don’t have any possibility of failure, then you don’t have any real possibility of truly winning either.

Due your due diligence.  Collect the information.  Do the critical thinking.  But you can’t wait to get 100 percent.  Once you’re at 70 percent, pull the trigger!  (FULL DISCLOSURE: I am biased, because I did write a book titled, Risky Is the New Safe.)

That doesn’t mean you won’t make some mistakes.  You will.

And that’s all part of the game, yo.  Taking the chance, gives you a much better chance at true success.  And it means you’re actually living a life of adventure, challenge and prosperity – not a life of mediocrity, running from fears and playing it safe.

-RG