Before you start clarify the process by deciding is it a personal or business decision?​

Write down both the question and the circumstances surrounding it. You may feel it is a pain to write down these challenges but it will help you learn from the experience. Just left to our memory both our circumstance and the input we receive after the decision will cloud our understanding of the circumstances surrounding the initial decision. This is as much about learning about yourself and how you make decisions as it is a guide how to make better decisions in the future.​

Frequently when we have to make decisions they are not just a simple yes or no process. Frequently we have options where one decision may be the best in the short term but not in the long term another may produce emotional satisfaction while another may be financially rewarding. Our understanding of our own moral code can also become an influencing factor in making the decision. All of these must be considered if it is an important decision not just whether to take sugar or not in your coffee.​

Some people when they are young make decisions without considering the potential moral consequences only to pay a high price later in life when this one decision can be used against you. This is not a presentation of what is right and what is wrong but just being aware that important decisions are worth spending some time and effort considering.​

If it is a personal decision then its emotional impact on you and others you care for have to be taken into account but also must be your personal goals and whether the decision will contribute to you achieving these goals or not. These decisions can be hard but you must be honest with yourself and if your goal is in conflict with others then try to make it as palatable for them as you can and you might achieve both the pursuit of your goals and keeping your friends/family with you.​

If it is a business decision then the gathering of information upon which to make the decision is of vital importance. The better the quality of information the greater chance of making the best decision. Some find it a pain to spend the time gathering the information and prefer to go by the seat of their pants but that vehicle one day may leave you only with the seat of your pants.​

The process is similar to personal decisions but has far less emotional considerations. Again usually you have options such as:​​

• ​The quick fix
• The cheapest
• The ultimate
• The most cost effective​

Most businesses are looking for the most cost effective solution because it combines both a consideration of the ultimate and the cheapest.