Small Decisions and their Big Impact

Most of us are well aware of the big decisions we have made and the significant impact those decisions have had in our lives. The decision to attend a university and graduate is a big decision that most people would agree had a positive impact on their life (with the exception of the student loan that came along with the degree). The decisions to get married or have children most likely have a significant impact on your happiness or unhappiness. The decisions to take a new job, quit a job or start your own business are all examples of big decisions that have most likely had a big impact in your life.

What many of us aren’t as aware of is the power of all the little decisions we’ve made in our lives each day. John Wooden made a great point about decisions: “There is a choice you have to make in everything you do. So keep in mind that in the end, the choice you make, makes you!”
The sum total of all these little decisions determine outcomes such as our:

• health
• reputation
• knowledge
• happiness
• expertise
• productivity
• relationships
• financial security
• productivity
• trustworthiness

In so many ways, you’re exactly where you’re at today because of all the decisions you have made, big and small. Larry Winget, a professional speaker and author, wrote a book titled, You’re Broke Because You Want to Be. The title is offensive to some but when you look at all the decisions broke people make, Larry is right.

To achieve success on the attributes listed above, put the power of decisions into the right alignment.

Clarify and crystallize your vision and goals

You need to know exactly what your vision is, then you’ll need to set goals that will help you turn your vision into a reality. Without a clear vision and goals, you are just like Alice when she ran into the Cheshire Cat and pleaded with him, “I just wanted to ask you which way I ought to go.” The cat responded, “Well, that depends on where you want to get to,” to which Alice conceded, “Well it really doesn’t matter.” The cat rightfully concluded, “Then it really doesn’t matter which way you go.” Without a vision, you won’t know what goals to set, what decisions need to be made or what actions need to be taken.

Recognize that you always have a choice

We have all heard the expression, “What can I do? I don’t have a choice.” But, by not making a decision or taking action, you’re still making a choice, one that could impact you significantly the rest of your life.

Understand the power of little decisions

When you see the many choices you make each day as too small or insignificant to matter, you aren’t seeing the big picture, aka, the overall impact of your small decisions. Making a one-time decision to eat a candy bar instead of an apple is not a big deal. But if your goal is to be physically fit, making that decision every day won’t help you achieve your vision.

Start now and do what is tough for you

If your goal is to meet and build new customers or new friendships, you’re going to have to start connecting with new people. For many people, meeting new people increases the possibility of being rejected. Most people don’t get excited about being rejected. So, start now and make the choice to take the necessary actions to achieve your vision and goals, especially when it’s tough. It’s been said that if you have to swallow a frog, don’t sit there and look at it.

Do the right thing

Every day we are faced with decisions that are either going to take us closer to our vision and goals or, push us further away from our vision and goals. Some decisions are really easy: don’t touch a hot stove or you will be burned. Other decisions are harder: do I stay late and write this blog or should I go to happy hour? One of these choices is less immediately rewarding, but will bring me closer to fulfilling my goals, while the other is immediately rewarding but actually undermines four of the attributes, listed above, which are parts of my vision. Since most people tend to gravitate towards the immediately rewarding choice, by choosing the hard choice, you’ll be that much more ahead.

The good news is when decisions are hard, most people make a decision to take an action that brings them closer to their goal and accomplishes the attributes listed earlier.

Don’t give up

Sometimes, despite the best intentions, things don’t go as planned. If you’ve made some bad decisions or choices, forgive yourself. Learn from the difficult experience. Pick yourself up and make a conscious decision to acknowledge the challenge and figure out a better path moving forward. Although your past decisions define who you are today, they do not define your future. Often, the difference between highly successful people and those who just get by is not the number of failures they have experienced, but what they did in response to the challenge to address the situation. Make the choice to see your setbacks as temporary distractions and not permanent roadblocks.

Wayne Dyer said, “Our lives are the sum total of the choices we have made.” To feel the benefits of the attributes listed above, clarify your vision, set goals, take action, understand the power of little decisions, do the right thing, and don’t give up. Make the right decision and take action.