Mastering the Game of Life 1.1
(Monday)
Context
Good decision-making is key to success, both in the present and the future. The decisions you make now can have either positive or negative consequences, and they can affect others or have lasting ramifications throughout your life.
Chess masters employ specific processes and rules to become the expert decision-makers they are. These very processes, principles, and rules can assist you in making the best possible decisions.
RULE 1: Examine all possible (feasible) options and select the ones most likely to lead to your desired goal.
Why it’s important: If you've ever made a decision you later regretted, you understand the significance of making logical, sound choices. Without the ability to make sound decisions, you may rely on emotions or the advice of others.
Life presents numerous decisions with far-reaching consequences, and it's unwise to leave them to chance or let others decide for you. A single decision can impact you and others for the remainder of your life. Just ask someone who has injured or killed another driver while texting or driving under the influence. They never imagined that having a few drinks or texting while driving could have such a profound effect on their lives.
The ability to promptly identify options, particularly those aligned with your goals or desired outcomes, constitutes the initial step toward solid decision-making.
Primer Questions
How do you go about making important decisions? Do you have steps you follow? Or do you just go with your gut feelings or emotions?
Would you say you make good decisions?
Would people who know you say you make good decisions?
Write down your answers and observations in your journal.
Tips for Choosing Your Best Option
Don't let stress get the better of you.
Give yourself some time (if possible).
Weigh the pros and cons.
Think about your goals and values.
Talk it out. Get other perspectives.
What are your options?
In order to make solid decisions, step one is to know what options are available to you. Make sure you think about all the options. Not just the ones that you feel are the most obvious or easiest.
Watch the video.
What Would You Do?
Scenario:
You help a friend move his mother’s couch from an upstairs room, down to the living room. In the process, you damage the wall at the top of the staircase. You can decide to:
1. Say nothing.
2. Say that the damage was already there.
3. Explain that you damaged the wall, and will fix it or pay to get it fixed.
4. Blame it on your friend. It’s his house anyways.
Questions:
Are there additional options besides those that have been listed?
Do you feel it would still be important to consider all of the options before deciding what you will do? Or would you just consider the easy options?
Rather than look at every option in detail, what should you consider regarding each possible option?
Write your response in your journal or discuss it with others.
Were you able to focus in on one or two options to consider? Did you think about what you wanted the outcome to be?
Here are some additional factors to consider: What type of person do you want to be?
What reputation do you want to have? Someone who has integrity and will tell the truth no matter the consequences? Do you want to be known for being honest? Dependable?
If you don’t say anything, and later on the truth comes out, how will you be viewed? If you place the blame on others, will you do the same in the workplace?
What would you do?
Scenario: You’re working at a coffee shop and you notice one of the other employees is giving their friends their orders for free. It happens maybe once or twice a week. But it has been going on for months. What would you do and why?
Discuss all the options with a friend or your family. Discuss what you think the main objectives of your decision would be. What would be best for the company? What would be best for the employee? What would be the best decision for you?
Layoff Proofing
Right now most of the decisions you make only impact you. They may impact a few others around you, but for the most part, your decisions only impact you directly.
In the future, and especially in the workplace, your decisions can impact your team, your company, your product, or your customers. In other words, your decision could have wide-ranging consequences.
Once a reputation is damaged, it will take time and effort to repair it. If you are known for making poor decisions, that will put you at the top of the list for being laid off. On the other hand, if you are known for being thoughtful, logical, and making sound decisions, especially tough ones, you’ll be given more responsibility. Good decision-makers are invaluable.
The point is, in order to make good decisions when you’re on the job, you need to start making it a habit to make good decisions now. Always start with evaluating what options are available to you, and which could most likely bring about the desired outcome.
Metacognitive Goals
First, recall one or two times you had to make an important decision. Write or list: 1) What was the decision to be made? 2) What were your options? 3) What option did you choose? 4) Why did you choose that option?
Then for the rest of the week, be very conscious of how you make decisions What is your process? Do you have one? Do you slow down and consider all your ‘moves’ or options? Or do you act on impulse or emotion? Write down all your findings in your journal.
Thought of the day.
When you choose an action, you choose the consequences of that action.