We can learn a lot from studying pro sports. If you just passively watch the games, well, that's simply entertainment.
But if you study the greats, you can learn.
With the Super Bowl coming up, discussions often revolve around quarterback play. In this case it is Patrick Mahomes for Kansas City and Jalen Hurts for Philadelphia. One of the crucial factors in becoming a great quarterback is decisiveness.
Quarterbacks train to make decisions faster. In pro football, a relatively poor decision made quickly is, oftentimes, better than the right decision that takes too long.
Tom Brady was one of the best in processing the game and making decisive choices. He won seven Super Bowls as a result.
Mahomes has already won three titles and is looking to "three-peat" on Super Bowl Sunday. It's a testament to how decisive he is under pressure.
Making decisions can be hard work. Studies show that making decisions is quite draining. In fact, there’s a limit to the number of decisions we can comfortably make each day.
Pro football players get comfortable being uncomfortable. They have no choice.
Many of us get stuck when it comes to making big decisions and this lost time can never be regained. There’s an advantage to being decisive.
Let's use this chat about pigskin to help take action in real life.
Those that struggle with life are typically the ones who tend to make decisions slowly and change their mind often. Successful people make quicker decisions and stick with them.
If you can be more decisive, there's a better chance your life will improve.
Make decisions quickly and confidently with these strategies:
1. Understand why you’re hesitating. When you’re stuck, there’s a reason. Figure out what that reason is and you can move forward again. Are you afraid of failing? Making a decision you can’t undo? What’s stopping you from pulling the trigger on your decision and charging full-speed ahead?
2. Know your values. Decisions are easier when you know what’s important to you. Having a firm grasp of your values makes many decisions obvious. If you don’t know who you are or what’s meaningful to you, decisions can be tricky.
3. Set a time limit. Stalling rarely results in a better decision. It only wastes valuable time. When you can’t choose between two or three options, it means that they’re equally as good. It would be better to pick one and get busy. Give yourself a day or two to make up your mind and then charge ahead.
4. Make fewer decisions. There’s a reason that many CEOs and even a few presidents choose to wear the same thing each day. It cuts down on the number of decisions they have to make. You can only make so many decisions before your decision-making apparatus becomes fatigued.
5. Avoid trying to make the perfect choice. Every option you have available to you has advantages and disadvantages. You’ll never find the perfect option, so avoid wasting your time and energy finding a solution that doesn’t exist. Narrow your options as best you can and then pick something.
6. Be clear on what you want to accomplish. What are you hoping to accomplish with your decision? Imagine you are trying to decide between two vacation destinations for your family. Both sound good, but which is the best? That depends on what matters to you.
Is it important to save money?
Are you going to take your kids to the beach for the first time?
Do you want to go someplace educational or historical?
What about staying close to home?
Are we going to sleep in a tent?
Think about what you want to accomplish with your decision and the best option will become apparent.
Do you struggle with the big decisions in life? If so, you’re not alone. Decisions can seem so complicated, but the act of making a decision is often more important than the actual option chosen.
Know yourself and your desired outcome. Narrow your options and make a decision. Then, forge ahead based on whatever decision you’ve made.
Confidence. Nobody is born with it. You can learn confidence and practice becoming more confident.
We help with all of this.
As always,
Brian
