Think Fast

In days gone by, growing up with four brothers, I often heard a shout of “Think fast!” as some object, usually hard and round that one of them had thrown at me, was inches away from hitting me in the face.

It paid actually to be able to think fast in those circumstances. Take it from me.

That’s a rough metaphor for what’s happening to all of us right now. As they say, “Life comes at you fast.” Fast AND hard sometimes. Like now.

The future is always uncertain. But some times, like now, are characterized by extreme uncertainty. Many of us must make high-impact decisions just when so much seems so unprecedented and out of control.

As if that weren’t enough, here’s another question: Is it as true for you as it was for me that we’ve made some of our worst decisions when we were in a rush? When the pressure was on? When people were in our face urging us to DECIDE NOW!?

Some of my most noteworthy and memorable mistakes have been made under conditions just like that. It hurts just to recall some of them.

If I diagnose why I made such bad decisions then, I can honestly say that it wasn’t so much the speed that was demanded, or the pressure I felt, or the uncertainty about the future once the decision was made. Again, the future is always uncertain.

It was mostly that I was uncertain about MYSELF.

I was uncertain about who I really was. What I really wanted. Why I was here. Where I was going. What was REALLY important to me.

When the uncertainty of the future meets the uncertainty of the decision maker, there’s bound to be trouble.

That’s why BUILT TO LEAD focuses first and foremost on building one’s CORE. Going deep over several months to understand my personality, the precepts of my worldview, and my passions allowed the vision of my life’s purpose to emerge in a startling burst of clarity. Armed with that purpose, I have assembled a plan for the rest of my life, informed by my priorities, and brought to action through a core process.

Choices and decisions now fall into my CORE framework. I know ahead of time what will work for me, and what won’t; what is consistent with my beliefs, and what isn’t. I know what “to do” AND what “to don’t.” The game has slowed down, I can see more clearly, and the quality and speed of my decision making is improving.

And not just for me. This is the same experience our clients report for themselves as individuals and for their organizations.

Facing tough decisions will never be a “piece of cake”, but it’ll be a lot easier and faster if you know YOUR answers to those fundamental questions above. The CLARITY of knowing who you are, why you’re here, and where you’re going leads directly to greater CONFIDENCE, and COMPETENCE in decision making.

That’s a real benefit when times call for you to “Think fast!”