We can’t avoid making bad decisions in our life, because we all make mistakes. But we can work to minimize the number of bad decisions we make. We can also try minimize the negative impact they may have on our life.
I made one decision this week that cost me about $3000. It was a mistake. In retrospect, I could say it was stupid.
Not all bad decisions cost us money. We also pay through lost opportunities, lost time, or even lost friends. These bad decisions can weigh us down, affect our attitude, and make life more difficult.
But I have found that regardless of the decisions I have made, they are all in the past. Tomorrow arrives with new opportunities. I still wish I could minimize my bad decisions. Here are 5 causes of most of my bad decisions, and some things I try to improve.
1. Lack of Knowledge. It is difficult to make a decision when you are not informed. Decisions become a coin toss. You win some. You lose some. I have made continuous study and education part of my normal day.
2. Lack of Experience. Practice counts. It is simple. My results, decisions, performance, all improve when I put in the work. Experts don’t become experts without real experience.
3. Over Confidence. When I become over confident I make mistakes. Humility helps me seek to become better. When we don’t prepare because we are confident, we can get blindsided.
4. Lack of Discipline. I hope I am not the only person that struggles with this. There are times when I know I should be doing one thing, and I end up spending time doing something else. What works best for me is to change necessary tasks into habits. Do something every day for 21 days, and it will become easier to do.
5. Not Knowing Myself. Sometimes decisions that go bad are because we don’t like the place the decision leads us. When I can weigh my options against my values it brings a sense of clarity. My values will help my discern between short term desires and long term benefits. I need to know myself well.
Do any of these resonate with you? What helps you make better decisions?