5 Top Steps to Success in Business: Definite Decision Making Process

Definite Decision Making Process:

In his book, “Think and Grow Rich,”  Napoleon Hill shares a secret about decision-making.  In an analysis of several hundred millionaires, Hill discloses that all of them had the good habit of promptly reaching a decision. The million-dollar mark at the time the book was written is equivalent to over $25 million in today’s dollars. When Napoleon Hill said “reaching decisions,” he meant that these decisions were carried out.  

On the other hand, Hill’s extensive research also revealed that people who failed to accumulate wealth without exception had the habit of slow decision-making.  Additionally, they changed their minds quickly and often, and when faced with a decision, procrastinated or ultimately failed to stick to their first choice.  There were no steps to success in business.

“Three frogs sat on a lily pad. One makes a decision to jump off. How many frogs are left?”  What is the answer to this riddle?  Many motivational teachers have used variations of this riddle to talk about decision-making. The correct answer is, “all three.”  Until the actual action of jumping off takes place, all three frogs remain on the lily pad. The point made here is very clear.  Until the first frog acts on the decision he made, there will be no change.

5 Top Steps to Make Definite Decision to Succeed in Business:

 (1)  People must accept that they have a problem: 

Know exactly what it is.  Be able to say “I am going to solve this problem.”  They probably have been putting up with the same old situation for many years.  And you probably don’t even know.  , they are easily discouraged because they don’t know how to achieve something they don’t have; they lack self-confidence; they blame others; they stay mired in self-pity; they feel if only they had money and resources, they could change; they make excuses that their time has not yet come.

This has probably become their comfort zone.

(2) To decide what needs to be changed and a result is conceived:

Know what your heart’s desire is. 

1. What YOUR VISION IS FOR YOUR FUTURE. Quantify.
2. Specify what your life is going to look like.  
3. Write all this out.  Read it daily.
4. Visualize your outcome of what kind of things you want.  
5. Sense and feel… contextualize their outcome they desire.

Research quietly to yourself.   

1. Study what kinds of strategies and systems you can implement.
   
2. You may be looking for another position, a career change.
   
3. New business opportunity.
   
4. Going back to school for more training.
   
5. Taking seminars.
   
6. Getting some type of certification.
   
7. Starting a franchise business.
   
8. A completely new business.
   
9. Joining a partnership group.

Never neglect your personal life and health.

1. Relocating.
   
2. Getting married.
   
3. Getting divorced.
   
4. Mending your broken relationships.
   
5. Starting a new romantic relationship.
   
6. Taking care of your health and physical body.
   
7. Undergoing a surgery.
   
8. Going for a medical treatment.
   
9. Promoting a new line of products.

Make a goal card… Recite it daily.

1. Visualize the outcome you want daily.
   
2. Set a target date.
   
3. State the exact amount of money you want by a specific date. 
4. Or specific sales number and the number of team member in your organization. 
5. Specific quantity. 

(3) Don’t be influenced by the opinions of others, those who are not expert:

Or naysayers. Don’t listen to your own limiting beliefs.   You have Three Forces of Evils that are preventing you from achieve your dreams.

Force of Evil #1 – The Establishment:

These are the ‘educational and government’ institutions such as schools and the workforce and the society’s established norm and status quo.   I happen to believe in higher education. 

The same institutions who have led us to believe that we need…

Degrees, diplomas, and licenses.   Gave you a dress codes and uniforms.   The goals we had to make and follow were the company profits.   They make you work 9-5 5 to 6 days a week in this Internet age.   They try to control you.

You worked and got a small percentage of the profit and the company owners and stock holders got rich on your labor.   You followed a path cutout for you. 

You never had a job security.  When the company chose to downsize you were gone.

Force of Evil #2 – Your friends, family and loved ones:

People are very opinionated in general.  They would love to give advice and think that they know what is right and wrong for you.  Your friends, family and loved ones believe they know what is best for you.  You have to conform to what they believe you should be doing. 

They have lots of power over you.  They can get you in the name of love.  They can make you feel guilty or ashamed.  They are very skilled at manipulating you.
And you have been raised to believe you must stick with your family. 

Force of Evil #3 – Your Limiting beliefs:

You are the most dangerous FOE of them all…

You are the prisoner of your own mind.
The worst offender is you.  You have allied with the opposing forces and became their spokes person.  This offender in you knows all your weak spots.  Berates you.  Beat you up.  Seduce you in the name of honor, norm, love, respect and admission to their group.  You are having negative, limiting conversations in your head.

 (4) Belong to a community or an organization that has a culture of  solid, sound and steady supportive teams. 

Surround yourself with a group of people in complete sympathy and harmony with your purpose.

You alone cannot fight these three forces of evils.  You must align yourself with a community of like-minded people.  To uplift your spirit.
To follow your dreams.  To be inspired and encourage.

Be sure to get education and training of technical stuff, marketing, team building and personal development.
It used to be that you had to meet in a physical location or done via telephone conferences.  Today you can meet in live webcasts, Google+ hangout, webinars.   Also Facebook closed group is used to chat and communicate. 

If you have a local group support, then these forms of Internet communication is not necessary.
But when you are changing the direction of your life and business, you cannot be just meeting once a week or once a month for sharing and support. 
There are so many free webinars thrown at you today.  You must decide  to work with a specific group and get a mentor you are following in the first 90 days. 

(5) Take definite action to carry out your decision:

Ingredients in Decision Making:
Hill examined many historically famous people and found that their decisions were based on faith and courage. When they believed so strongly beyond the shadow of a doubt and executed action upon action taking risks along the way, they were, “immune to fear and the possibility of failure.” Hill gives the example of the courage and faith necessary to build a new nation. The fifty-six Founding Fathers who signed the Declaration of Independence risked their lives to give birth to America.

Cultural Perspectives:

 Many cultures have their own symbols of courage and determination. My Japanese heritage always takes me to the vision of the big stage of Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto.  This is indeed a place of breath-taking beauty and spirituality.  The photo shows the main quarter of the temple (Hondo) with an open deck elevated 45 feet above the hills and forests below.

A well-known Japanese saying describes decision-making: “Jump off the Kiyomizu Temple Stage.” This adage applies whenever a major decision is made and carried through.  It is a leap of faith; fear of failure is set aside.  The fear of being ridiculed by your family or friends diminishes.  In my life, whenever I commit to a major decision, I instinctively imagine myself jumping off the Kiyomizu Temple Stage.

One day I came across the story of the three frogs in literature found in the Twelve Steps Al-Anon program.

Step Three of this teaching reads:

“Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood God.”   

I will not go into the discussion of Twelve Steps here, but I would like to share a point of view that resonates in my heart.

• Changing your life begins with a willingness and openness
  
• as you begin to learn humility
  
• and develop a deeper connection to a God of your understanding
  
• or a power beyond yourself
  
• Becoming more aware, you see different possibilities and hope.
  
• Before this awareness, you may have lived in sadness, fear and resignation,
  
• and saw no solution to your problems.
  
• Now you are guided
• and come to a decision and see you can change your situation and life.

However, you are not quite ready to proceed yet.
It is not for anyone else to judge how another person goes through life.
I would like to celebrate that one frog actually made a decision to jump off. It is a beginning.

Executing a Decision:

Three frogs sitting on a lily pad represent desire, courage and faith. 

When all these spiritual attitudes are manifested, they will jump as one team and swim freely to achieve what they want.  

There is a force beyond all of the people, call it a God or the Natural Principles.  But there is this big psychic force and energy that carries people together.  The culture of carrying everyone together!  That is what’s missing in the corporate America or the Establishment.

You must understand your definite purpose, vision and goals in life.  I am quite certain that all of these ambitions are not just about getting more money, achieving fame, purchasing a bigger house or an expensive new car.

A decision is fueled by a burning desire, moved by courage and uplifted by faith.

The three frogs work together; their collective decision to jump is carried out with persistence and the courage to overcome all possible obstacles.  Once a decision has been made and executed, there will no longer be any frogs on the lily pad.

• Accept that you have a problem.
  
• Be ready to move beyond it.
• Know your big Why’s.
  
• Create a vision, goals. 
• Search for a system and strategy.
• Find a community of like-minded people.
• Fight the three forces of evils.
• Lock arms together.

Find an organization and a community aligned with your purpose and vision.
Take a leap of faith with courage. 

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To your happiness and success,