About the courage to make decisions

The apricots taste delicious.

What's even better is that they come from my own tree.

For my 50th birthday, I wished for fruit trees. One of them was an apricot tree.

A friend of many years advised me not to grow apricots here. It's too cold. You won't enjoy them.

I really appreciated his advice. Nevertheless, I disregarded it.

This decision was relatively easy for me. The risk was around 30 euros investment for the tree and a few hours of work: digging in, watering.

And now I am enjoying the positive result of my decision and my efforts.

Making decisions - with great risk

Decisions that involve more than just a few apricots are more difficult.

For example, the question,

• what you organise your life around
• Which profession you choose
• Who you marry...

There's a lot riding on it.

And it makes sense to listen carefully to your inner self and think clearly and thoroughly.

It's good to think about which values suit you and which don't.

And on the basis of this, to make a clear decision.

How do you make decisions?

However, what has become increasingly clear to me in recent weeks: Not making a decision is the biggest risk.

My publisher Down to Earth has not been doing well economically in recent years. In many months, we barely made a profit, and in some months we even made losses.

Of course I looked for solutions and asked for advice.

The standard advice was: "You need to be more specific. Your offer is too broad. Decide on a topic, a target group." 

I was stuck. The wide range of topics that interest me and the people I enjoy working for is something that sets me apart. I love the swing concept, which describes the 8 + 1 central elements of life that are necessary for a strong, balanced life.

Just a topic? Just like a friend in the USA who runs a training programme for widowed middle-aged women who want to make a fresh start in their professional and personal lives.

Another has a club where she teaches beginners how to forms animals from balloons. That's an extreme niche. She is really successful with it.

I think that would be great. But it doesn't suit me.

I simply can't imagine only publishing materials for

• Teachers who long for more peace and quiet in their free time
• Men who want to improve their communication behaviour
• Christians who are experiencing an acute crisis of faith

Which almost tore me apart: Success seemed to prove the people who gave me this advice right. They were successful in their niche.

I helped a lot of people, but if you want to measure it by economic standards, I wasn't really successful.

I was stuck in this dilemma. If I'm honest, for years.

Not making decisions - the biggest risk

At some point, I realised that not making a decision was paralysing me.

I remember standing at the window of my boat and saying out loud:

No matter what other people and experts say: I decide that I want to concentrate on SWING. 

That was a liberating blow.

I had made a decision. My decision.

And now I have realised it.

• Down to Earth focusses on SWING. Today the new Down to Earth page online. The 8 + 1 elements of SWING take centre stage. You can think about what you are currently missing and then select the products and courses that match your topic.
• LEO, Löwenstark leben is at the start. I am in the beta phase of an online programme that helps people to live more holistically. The 8 + 1 elements of life are presented step by step. The programme has already started, but you can sign up here register on a VIP waiting list and you will be the first to know when you can take part again.

What I was particularly pleased about: A whole series of participants at LEO wrote to me that it was precisely the range of topics that motivated her to join LEO.

• "The balance of the areas has become important to me, because usually 2-3 areas predominate and others are neglected..."
• "That all areas are addressed."
• "I particularly liked the "holistic view", life succeeds when every area has its justification. And I really like the fact that the "typical" 8 areas of life are followed by the plus 1. Faith and trust as the foundation of life!"

That really encouraged me.

Wrong decisions are better than no decisions

I haven't yet become a millionaire since making the decision (I'm working on it). But I have a lot of clarity: "I want to and will do this!" Knowing that and having decided gives me strength.

Maybe my decision was "wrong!" Maybe it would have been more successful elsewhere.

I could certainly have chosen differently and focussed on the tired teachers, frustrated Christians or silent men, for example.

If I had made a clear decision in favour of it, it would certainly have been successful.

But not deciding paralyses. Making a decision moves you forward!

One of the best decisions in my life was to make a decision! 

My decision makes me happy!

Tip for you: 

Think about which decisions you have been putting off for a while. Then decide.

We have in Publisher by the way a compact Impulse booklet with good tips for making decisions. It could be a good decision to buy the booklet. You will receive it here

Question:

• What experiences have you had with decisions?
• Do you have any thoughts, additions or experiences to add to my contribution?

Please write a comment. I am curious.

Photo: Apricots: Kerstin Hack, "Diversion": Cover of the Decision-making impulse booklet