Tactical decisions take all shapes and forms. A few days ago, our 14-year-old cat started making that noise that all pet owners dread – the sound of impending barf. Since she was sitting in the middle of some expensive bedroom carpet, I leapt into action. I grabbed Oreo around her middle, swung her around, and headed for the tile floor in the bathroom. It was the “swung her around” thing that did me in. My impulsive decision left me not with a small mound of partially-digested cat food to clean up, but an arc of vomit five feet in circumference.
Having written a book on making smart decisions, you would think I would have followed my own advice – Clarify the problem. Collect your resources. Consider your options. Choose the best option. Cogitate on the outcome. But nooooo!
In making smart decisions, we face two inherent challenges. One is resisting the urge to act out of impulse. Retailers will tell you, for instance, that more than 30% of their sales are impulse decisions at the register. On-line marketers have this down to a science. (But wait! There’s more!)
The other challenge is impatience. (“I don’t have time. I just want this to be over. I want to be first. I want to be the hero,” and a host of others.) How many times have these visceral desires done us all in?
I’ll never pick up a barfing cat again. But I will make other decisions that defy the logic of what I preach. You will too. The moral to this tale? Take a breath and think before acting in this crazy-busy, impatient and super-demanding world. This habit, by itself, will save you time, money and reputation.