A Better Way to Make Decisions

I was overworked, exhausted and feeling like my life wasn’t my own. Little did I know my saving grace was in the mailbox that day.

I didn’t pay much attention to the business magazine that came in the mail, tossing it on the dining room table as I rushed to let the dog outside after a long day at the office. It was a beautiful day, unusually warm for winter in St. Louis, so I decided to sit on the deck and go through the mail while enjoying the late afternoon sunshine.

I didn’t recognize the woman on the cover of the business magazine, but I knew the name: Suzy Welch. I had read some of the columns she co-writes with her husband, Jack, and really admired their advice and tone. Curious to see what she was promoting, I flipped to the article.
And it changed my life.

Suzy was promoting her upcoming book about a decision making process she calls 10-10-10. The more I read, the more impatient I was for her book to be released. When it finally was, I immediately grabbed a copy. It’s the best purchase I’ve made in a long time.

What is 10-10-10? Suzy calls it a “life transforming idea.” It’s a roadmap for decision making that looks at the impact of the decision on your life in 10 minutes, 10 months and 10 years. It always starts with a question, such as should I put my freelance writing on hold while I finish my master’s degree? (a recent decision I made using 10-10-10)

Why does 10-10-10 work? It gives you structure and logic for decision making, as well as allowing you a way to explain your decision to others. After reading the book, I realized I was making too many decisions based on what Suzy calls “The Two Gs,” which are gut and guilt. Neither approach worked for me and frankly, I don’t know anyone who has made good decisions based on their gut or guilt. Basing my decisions on The Two Gs left me feeling exhausted and like I wasn’t in control of my own life. Since I started using 10-10-10, I no longer feel this way.

Another reason it works is the process makes you examine that middle part of the decision making process that often gets ignored, the next 10 months. Many of us focus on the present and the long-term impacts when making decisions. By also considering the intermediate impact, we can make better-rounded and focused decisions.

I’ve seen the benefits of 10-10-10 in my life, and I am grateful to Suzy Welch for sharing this wonderful idea. It has truly changed my life for the better, and I am looking forward to the next 10 minutes, 10 months and 10 years.