Yeeeess, I read my horoscope in the paper each day. Although poo poo’d by many, I frequently find wisdom therein. Through the Gannett News Service comes Holiday Mathis with thought provoking horoscopes if you’re into that stuff. Check it out… http://www.holidaymathis.com/ Yesterday’s (okay not yesterday ’cause I’m like three days behind on papers but recently anyway) got right to the heart of my business. The message was “There’s a difference between thinking about something and thinking it through.” How very true.

My friend Dave frequently says, “I’ll have to think about it” when faced with a request, invitation, etc. and that’s all he does. He thinks about it. He doesn’t think it through, as if moving toward taking action. The fact that he simply thinks about it often leads him to regrettable decisions or missed opportunities. Many of my ADHD clients do the same. Here’s an example.

Dave has a customer who owns classic cars. The guy takes a few of these really cool, old cars to shows on the weekends in good weather and he asked Dave  if he wanted to drive one one of these cars to a show this summer. So Dave is thinking about it and telling me how he felt so honored to be asked, these are really neat and valuable vehicles and wouldn’t it be so cool to drive one to a show. But he never followed up with an answer because he didn’t have what he needed to think it through.

Going forward we devised a system to help Dave make not only an informed decision but maybe even a good one the next time.

1. Get information. You cannot make an informed decision without having the pertinent facts. What’s expected of you? What are the dates and/or times? Can you bring someone with you? How much down time will there be? Nail down all the logisitcs if you really want to consider the offer.

2. Check your calendar. Are you free that weekend? Maybe you are but you will be away both the weekend before and after so you might want some time at home. How much time are you willing to be away?

3. If you agree to drive a car to the show you will be saying no to something else. What might that be and are you comfortable not choosing it?

4. Do you need to discuss this with your family? Would they want to go along or do they have something going on that weekend that they’d like you to be home for?

5. What about the actual offer? Is it something you WANT to do? Does it sound fun and appealing? Are you comfortable driving someone else’s valuable car a long distance over the weekend? How would you feel if something happened to it? How would that effect your relationship with your customer? Are there simply other things you’d rather spend your time doing?

Depending on the invitation or request there will be other factors to be considered as well but these questions should provide a good start. And if you don’t start thinking it through instead of thinking about it you will continue to make poor choices or make no choices at all. Keep in mind this process can help you evaluate requests from others too like kids or co-workers.

On a scale of one to ten, (ten = you’re always thinkin’ it through, one = you put it off or screw it up every time), how good are you at thinking things through?

Want some help learning to think things through? Shoot me an email and let’s talk.

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