Free AI web copilot to create summaries, insights and extended knowledge, download it at here

Abstract

r.The process will do the rank ordering for you. For each of the criteria below you will rank order each option from highest to lowest. I like to create columns for each of the criteria to make this easier. In each column, each of the options will be assigned a rank from 1 to the number of options you have.For example, the option assigned a rank order of 1 is the best, easiest, least resource intensive or lowest cost. The number one option is the one that is best for you in the long run as it pertains to this single criteria. Here are the criteria I use:Ability to ControlThis exercise is all about betting on yourself and balancing risk versus reward. How much control you have over the implementation and subsequent decisions plays a major role here. I consider this the “brute force” criteria. If I put all my effort into this, how much of the outcome can I, alone control. If I have to rely on others for their input or consider how my actions would affect others, the action option is ranked lower.Time RequiredThere are only 24 hours in the day. In an ideal scenario, I want to control the outcome and reap all the rewards having had to dedicate little to no time to the activity. Action options that are “set it and forget it” rank higher than those that require constant maintenance or have more moving parts.LeverageWhat is the potential upside? The key here is to select the action option that delivers the most value for the effort placed. If I put equal amounts of effort into holding in-person workshops for 30 people and online seminars for 300

Options

people the online seminar would offer more leverage. Action options that have higher potential returns, impact or upside rank higher than those with a smaller impact radius.Seed CapitalMoney is important and needs to be considered. No matter how much you have, it is still a finite resource. The amount of money I have to allocate to an option is still a major consideration so it is in my list. If the amount of capital you need to put towards a project is irrelevant then you can leave this column out.Add Any Other Important Aspects of ConsiderationThis is the wildcard column. If there is another aspect that needs to be considered, you would add it here. For example, if you are a parent and the time required column doesn’t accurately reflect the time you would be away from your family then you would add that there. You may prefer something that requires more time, but can be done from home as opposed to an option that only requires 1 day per month but it has to be in another city.Tally the ResultsAfter you rank order the action options based on each criteria, simply add up the values. There is no need to add in weighting unless you really want to prioritize an area. Simply add up the numbers. Whatever is the lowest is the item to prioritize first, followed by the next highest, etc.Analysis paralysis halts action and attacks confidence. I like this method because it cuts through the noise, gets me out of my head and back into action. The more I can focus on the immediate next step, the less I get in my own head and the more output I have.</article></body>

The Ultimate Decision Making Life Hack

Choose your next move when you have competing priorities

The hardest part of middle age is having competing priorities. The desire to travel for months on end competes with the desire to start a family. The need for short term income competes with the need to invest for the long term. The hope of outsized returns from speculation competes with proven, conservative places to put your money.

How are you supposed to dream big within the constraints of reality?

The only wrong action is inaction. That said, I do have a method I use to get out of my own head to make the best decision I can. No one has all the answers.

Time, attention and money are valuable resources and they have to be deployed methodically to get the most of out them. The goal is leverage each for maximum potential. The scientist in me likes charts and rubrics, so here we go.

I use the following method to evaluate which actions make the most sense, and assign a hierarchy to the order they should be implemented. It removes enough of the guesswork and indecision so I can move forward.

List all the options

The first step is to list all the options you can pursue. They don’t need to be in any particular order.

The process will do the rank ordering for you. For each of the criteria below you will rank order each option from highest to lowest. I like to create columns for each of the criteria to make this easier. In each column, each of the options will be assigned a rank from 1 to the number of options you have.

For example, the option assigned a rank order of 1 is the best, easiest, least resource intensive or lowest cost. The number one option is the one that is best for you in the long run as it pertains to this single criteria. Here are the criteria I use:

Ability to Control

This exercise is all about betting on yourself and balancing risk versus reward. How much control you have over the implementation and subsequent decisions plays a major role here. I consider this the “brute force” criteria. If I put all my effort into this, how much of the outcome can I, alone control. If I have to rely on others for their input or consider how my actions would affect others, the action option is ranked lower.

Time Required

There are only 24 hours in the day. In an ideal scenario, I want to control the outcome and reap all the rewards having had to dedicate little to no time to the activity. Action options that are “set it and forget it” rank higher than those that require constant maintenance or have more moving parts.

Leverage

What is the potential upside? The key here is to select the action option that delivers the most value for the effort placed. If I put equal amounts of effort into holding in-person workshops for 30 people and online seminars for 300 people the online seminar would offer more leverage. Action options that have higher potential returns, impact or upside rank higher than those with a smaller impact radius.

Seed Capital

Money is important and needs to be considered. No matter how much you have, it is still a finite resource. The amount of money I have to allocate to an option is still a major consideration so it is in my list. If the amount of capital you need to put towards a project is irrelevant then you can leave this column out.

Add Any Other Important Aspects of Consideration

This is the wildcard column. If there is another aspect that needs to be considered, you would add it here. For example, if you are a parent and the time required column doesn’t accurately reflect the time you would be away from your family then you would add that there. You may prefer something that requires more time, but can be done from home as opposed to an option that only requires 1 day per month but it has to be in another city.

Tally the Results

After you rank order the action options based on each criteria, simply add up the values. There is no need to add in weighting unless you really want to prioritize an area. Simply add up the numbers. Whatever is the lowest is the item to prioritize first, followed by the next highest, etc.

Analysis paralysis halts action and attacks confidence. I like this method because it cuts through the noise, gets me out of my head and back into action. The more I can focus on the immediate next step, the less I get in my own head and the more output I have.