“Proactively Shape Your Life by Challenging Your Decisions

Spend less time worrying about things and more time thinking about actions you can take to get closer to your goals, then actually take action.

Ask for advice. You don’t have to figure everything out on your own. Look for information to help you make the best decision in the given time.

Challenge your own thinking processes and your conclusions. Ask the following questions:
· What are the pros and cons? Do I have the full list? Which option looks more attractive considering both the pros and the cons? Are the pros and cons really pros and cons? What actions could I take to enhance the pros and cons and to minimize or eliminate the cons?
· What are the specific criteria I should be using? Do I have the right ones? Am I weighting each criterion the right way?
· Is my evaluation correct? What information am I basing my evaluation on? Is it accurate, up-to-date, and unbiased? What actions could I take to improve the attractiveness of my options?

Problem solving is easy when you know how to set a clear goal, figure out how to reach it, and follow through while reviewing your progress and making changes to your plan as necessary.

If you make problem solving a habit, you’ll be able to make the most of your talents and take control of your life. You can solve not only your own problems, but the problems of your school, your business and your community – and maybe even the world.

Problem Solving 101: A Simple Book for Smart People by Ken Watanabe
http://www.problemsolvingtoolbox.com/index.php?page=theauthor”

I recently saw this note on one of my friend’s facebook wall (Thanks Seb!).  I found it very inspiring since it advocates an action-oriented life instead of sitting in the back seat.  It call us to action in achieving our goals by asking for help and challenging our decisions.  It throws out worry and follows the Nike slogan of “Just Do It”.

Recently a friend confided that he is suffocating at work.  He is not doing work that he enjoys.  After being 8 years in the same company, he yearns for a change.  However, being comfortable in his current job and getting decent pay for his work, funny enough, is the roadblock to change.  After a few months of inaction, he finally updated his resume.  Then momentum builds up and he has since applied for 2 jobs and today, he tells me he is going to try for another 3.  I applauded his decision to finally take action. 

Of course, the ideal ending is actually getting a job that he likes but really, the action he took has set things in motion and changes will come.  Maybe not quite in the same way he expect, but things will change.

Are you driving your life or are you going with the flow?