The word decision comes from the Latin root word cis, and is seen in words from homicide, scissors and decide
Cis means to kill or to cut. When you make a decision properly...you kill or cut off all other existing options.
What many people think is a decision is merely stating a preference.
"I want to make more money" is a preference...I will take on extra shifts or start a side hustle is a decision.
Author BJ Fogg echoes this concept in his book Tiny Habits, explaining that anything that takes longer than 30 seconds is an aspiration not a behaviour.
If you’ve ever attempted a new habit and failed to hold it down, starting with a habit bigger than 30 seconds might be one of the reasons your habits are failing you. Here’s what to do instead.
Making a decision allows you to move forward. You either learn from it, or you realise it was the right one.
“The only thing worse than a bad choice is not choosing at all. If you don’t choose then you’ve decided to be a passive receiver of whatever comes your way” - Darren Hardy, The Compound Effect.
Even the decision to keep things the same, so long as it is one you actively make rather than letting it happen to you, is one you can learn from.
When I asked the 8th guest on my Platform to Perform Podcast, Rob Anderson, for his advice about creating content for different target markets his response was “you can’t ride two donkeys with one ass”
Okay the play on words with that last word was my own making, but you get the idea.
My ADHD brain’s craving for novelty means that choosing between youth athletic development, personal development and average to athletic content was near impossible.
My preference would’ve been to create content that I enjoy, but my decision has been to segment my website with the 3 above topics, with a commitment to publishing one article a week.
My final pearl of wisdom on the decision making vs preference debate comes from Matthew Dicks, author of *Storyworthy:
** “It is easier to change direction once you are moving.”
At the time of writing this my YouTube channel has 194 subscribers, and true to ADHD form, has content for boxing coaches, aspiring strength and conditioning coaches, and people wanting to be the best version of themselves (and this is barely scratching the surface).
I’ve finally gotten round to sectioning off the blog section of my website into three different categories 4 years after creating it.
Future you’s tastes may change, and that’s perfectly okay. But don’t let the thought that your tastes could change, hold you back from making a decision, such as putting your content out into the world.
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*In Episode 4 of Show Your Work I explained why no one cares about your stories and how to tell better ones. You can check it out here.
**This comes from Ali Abdaal’s interview of Matthew Dicks in his Deep Dive podcast
***This is an example of what I call a ‘noble obstacle;’ an excuse to put something off whilst appearing well meaning in doing so. Not being able to start your new gym habit because you need time to research the “perfect program” is another example of a noble obstacle. I discuss this more in my eBook Anti-Perfectionism
If you were wondering, the ‘swan’ in @project50_swancottage is a nod to my Nan’s maiden name, the @project50 instagram handle was taken, and the cottage part is a reference to eventually renovating a property.
Giving you the Platform to Perform