Tag Archives: decisions

Heck No!

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No. No two letters, have more power.  To create, to destroy, to empower, or to enslave. When we ask or demand things of others we have the opportunity to commandeer their schedule. When others ask the same of us, we have to evaluate how much commandeering in we can handle.

And this is where no comes in. Saying no is hard for some. I love yes! I want to please others. I want you to like me and think of me as an ally. And we can be best friends forever. Except I’m going to tell you no. And disappoint you. And make you frustrated. At least that’s what I tell myself.

So instead I have to setup criteria for yes. From a principle I learned in Essentialism, by Greg McKeown, I try to employ Derek Sivers’, “Hell, Yeah!” rule. If I’m not compelled to engage with an event, a meeting, an opportunity, a chance to have my time commandeered I say no. Do I have a reason to be here? Will I contribute value? Can this meeting be replaced by a letter tied to the leg of a digital carrier pigeon?

What are your criteria for saying yes!? What about no?

– the MGMT

 

The Decision of the OODA Loop

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[Editor’s note: this is the fourth article carrying on from an initial article about the OODA Loop]

Remember the epic scene from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade where the guy belts out, “My soul’s prepared! How’s yours?!” That’s a made decision. It’s ready for action. But how do you get to the decision? I’m not referring to theology, but to the point of making a decision. After the observation, and the orientation, we need to be prepared to interpret that information into a sub-set of next actions and decide. That decision is going to involve checking the options available. Seeking counsel at times. But then finally making a decision.

By Patrick Edwin Moran - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3904554

Flow image by Patrick Edwin Moran – Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3904554

Some people let decisions be made for them. Our goal is to have confidence in making the best decision possible ourselves.  This will be the thing that allows us to then learn and grow from in a meaningful, orientation impacting way. This will set us up for action.

What is the most important decision you have facing you right now? What have you done to prepare for it?

– the MGMT