{image by Liana Kabel}
Being able to make decisions quickly and confidently is a real bonus in running a business. Actually I’d say it is an essential skill. It is one that you can learn and get better at.
I’ve been working on that one myself lately.
Transitioning back into full-time self-employment has honestly been making my head spin. There are just so many darn decisions to be made.
Although I have been operating my jewellery design business for 10 years, I’m at a point where I want to develop new areas and again derive a full-time income from it (my part-time job as a business coach ends this April).
Since I need to achieve so much within the next three months, there isn’t room to make too many less-than-great decisions. Generally I’m fine with making mistakes and learning from those, but I just haven’t got time for that now.
A few weeks back I felt so overwhelmed by it all I simply gave up and went to bed. At 3.30 in the afternoon! Maybe that was just what I needed, because the next day I woke up and thought, I need to get on with making some clear decisions – NOW. Once I’ve done that I can get moving and start making things happen.
So I devised 3 steps that would help me with that. I hope they help you too.
1. Be clear about your goals and boundaries
This can take some time to work out, I won’t lie to you, but it is time well spent. In the long run you will save yourself time and a whole heap of anxiety and stress, as well as knowing that your decisions are in line with your beliefs and vision.
There are a few ways that I like to work out what my goals and boundaries are.
Brainstorming can be great. Just write down everything you want to achieve (and everything that you don’t want to do). If you find it difficult just to launch into list writing, instead take some quiet time first and visualize how you imagine your business. Then write down what came up for you in that. Vision boards are helpful too. Simply cut out images and words that appeal to you from magazines.
Don’t overthink it. Let your intuition guide you.
That brings us to the next step.
2. Trust your intuition.
Sometimes you can list all the reasons you should do something, but it just doesn’t feel right. Listen to that feeling, it knows you better that you do
3. Be brave
You’ve made your decision – congratulations! Now you need to stick with it. This may mean saying no to someone, changing paths or asking for help. These are things that can be hard to do. So if you still aren’t sure at this point I’d say go back to steps one and two, for some reassurance and to know you are on the right path.
A few of my friends have said to me “you always get what you want”.
Now I don’t think that is completely true, but I do know that when I have made a really clear decision and then committed to it, it generally has happened.
A big part of getting what you want is knowing what you want, and that all starts with a decision being made.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
With a Tupperware Lady for a Mother and a Jeweller Father, what else was I going to be but a jeweller obsessed with plastic.
As a self-employed arts practitioner and business coach, I’m keen to share these aspects of my knowledge to help build strong creative communities.
Liana Kabel
website | facebook | pinterest
