For most of us, it’s obvious that the bulk of the decisions we make on a daily basis are based upon the summation of our previous experience. Then
combined with some sort of reactive observation. “That looks hot, I once was burned, don’t touch it.” A rather simplistically calculated decision to a situation, correct? There are a lot of philosophical explanations to this phenomenon, (of which I have no desire whatsoever to regurgitate.) However, the idea of understanding, evaluating and augmenting our decision making process, is quite possibly one of the most effective, yet difficult things to do.

As entrepreneurs, we are consistently confronted with decisions, both minute and large in scope, that will severely affect our bottom line one way or another. These decisions usually carry with them some sort of emotional impact that is equally important (we are not robots after all…not yet at least), and making decisions that seem contrary to our emotional compass (outside our comfort zone) is a discipline that we all must cultivate.

The nature of the entrepreneurial attitude puts us in unprecedented situations constantly. Sometimes I find myself so far out of my comfort zone it makes me sick to my stomach. Circumstances that I have no frame of reference or prior experience of. How do we make sound decisions in times like these…?

What we must do mentally is not as difficult as it may seem. It simply requires us to embody an objective stance. A third party perspective so to speak. This does not mean that we divorce our prior experience and emotional compass from our decision making process. But we, as human beings, are highly capable of turning these situations into opportunities for mental growth. It simply requires us to stop projecting, or interjecting our personal bias, or past experiences upon the current dilemma. We must assess the situation logically and objectively, and then act accordingly with the best information on hand at the time. At that point you have to then trust that the best
decision was made, and stick to your guns.

This doesn’t require any special skills, or crazy amounts intelligence. We all have a natural intelligence within ourselves that is only hindered by, well, bad habits and programming. Bad habits can be changed. Many of us are introspective by nature anyway, but you must take the time to consciously make the habitual changes that you seek. This is hard work. Learning something new can seem daunting, but the reality is when you engage yourself mentally, you usually discover something you already know.

All my best,

Last week marked the 400-year anniversary of Galileo presenting the telescope to the world. With a simple leather tube, and nine times the magnification, Galileo forever changed the modern world. His simple invention fundamentally rocked the authority of the Church, and the prevailing beliefs about the universe. A single act of foresight, and broad minded questioning, scientifically proved many of the accepted teachings and beliefs false.

Arguably the most destructive, was the revelation that the Sun revolved around the Earth, instead of the opposite. The vision of one man, forever changed the perspective and trajectory of modern evolution and technology like no other.

Sadly, according to recent survey, over 10% of Americans still think that the Earth is circled by the Sun. This I find to be incredibly sad.

Ignorance, was a legitimate excuse 400 years ago. Literacy was a luxury, scientific revelations, or any progressive knowledge or shared understanding for that matter, was limited to the intellectual elite. These limitations have long since been eradicated. Today’s information age, the advent of the Internet, has made information more democratic and available than ever before, and continues to expand daily. We have a social, and civic responsibility, to ourselves, and to the world to continue to move this progress forward.

Complacency kills, and ignorance is a cancer of the brain. Educate yourself, take action, and change your life. Opportunity lies abound everywhere for those who are looking for it.