Every Decision Counts: Understanding the Impact of Choices
Do you believe that failures teach us more than achievements do? Which failure do we choose? What happens if we choose the wrong mistake to base our ‘improvement’ on? Usually, the mistake chosen is something recent that instantly springs to mind. Is this the correct decision to characterize the mistake, the terrible decision made?
But I wonder if the Decisive Moment effect is to blame for this. These perceived dramatic 'failure' experiences scorched into our souls and psyches until the day we die will dominate our thinking. These mistakes empowered by the accompanying emotions, are overwhelming. Ironically, it is extremely unwise to make decisions with erratic emotions coursing through out bodies.
However, I frequently ponder whether "decisive moments" are the most crucial mistakes we should learn from. Are those mistakes the most instructive just because we are aware of the consequence soon after?
The decisive moments appear to be solitary, just one decision, but they actually represent an unbroken chain of decisions that appear to be made simultaneously. To my mind, no decision is made in a vacuum. The first step, each succeeding step, and of course the last step are all fundamental for the journey to exist. Each phase contains data, feelings, accomplishments, and options that were ignored, overlooked, or not chosen. Every move depends on and is influenced by those that came before it.
The Precursory Influence, or immediate effect of the preceding stage, and the Collective Influence, or overall effect of all the preceding phases are the two powerful dynamics that dominate how errors are perceived and judged. The crucial steps can only be recognized and comprehended by looking back on the journey.
This line of thinking reminds me of Sun Tzu's maxim, "All warfare is based on deception." While Sun Tzu was referring to warfare, this maxim can be applied to everyday life as well. Many times, the steps leading up to a decision are just as important as the decision itself. Deception can take many forms, such as withholding information or presenting false information, and it can have a profound impact on any outcome.
The final step could be the least important one. Thus, crucial circumstances necessitate crucial choices. According to this reasoning, the pivotal moment is not when an outcome, important or unexpected fact, or startling conclusion is revealed. The one that dominates the others is the most important one. The choice that has the biggest impact out of all the others. This dominant decision may not be the last in the long line of decisions. It could be, but it also could be a decision made a week, a month or so long ago, we don’t remember its existence.
This reminds me of another Sun Tzu maxim, "The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting." In our everyday lives, we may encounter situations where we need to assert ourselves or defend our positions. However, there may be times when we can achieve our goals without resorting to direct confrontation. By using strategy and tactics such as persuasion or negotiation, we can "subdue the enemy" without engaging in a full-on battle.
Great insights, knowledge, and rewards may result by ignoring the "revealing" decisive decision and focusing on the "determinant" decisive decision. The actual moment, setting in motion a chain of events that resulted in either joy or sorrow, victory or defeat. To discover what appeared to be an utterly trivial, insignificant choice that became irreversible, but in reality, was the critical moment, or decision of all is the best way to improve.
John Boyd's OODA loop, observe-orient-decide-act, is designed for jet fighter pilots, but it can be applied to any conflict or situation before it becomes a conflict. For the loop to work, he assumes you keep making the right decisions, but he grasps that one minor or inferior decision can break your chain of previous good decisions. If the pilot survives, it will be in their best interests to track down that poor decision and ensure it is not repeated.
Sun Tzu's philosophy emphasizes the importance of making the right decisions and utilizing the collective energy of a team. He believed that the first 499 decisions in a 500-decision link have a significant impact on the effectiveness of all subsequent decisions. Correct decisions can increase the potency of all future decisions, while incorrect decisions can decrease them. This dynamic is referred to as "combined energy."
To optimize this energy, Sun Tzu explained choosing the right person for the right job, taking into account their unique qualities and strengths. By doing so, you can increase the overall effectiveness of the team and reduce the pressure on each individual. This approach not only leads to better decisions but also fosters a collaborative and supportive team culture.
Successful individuals recognize the significance of distributing decision-making throughout a process, instead of relying on a single critical decision. They establish a system where each step in the decision-making is assigned equal importance, creating a reliable chain of trustworthy decisions or choices with the same level of confidence. By building and continuously modifying this system, the decision-maker can understand the quality of each decision produced, resulting in a personalized and effective decision-making process.
In conclusion, while "decisive moments" may appear to be the most critical times from which we should learn, it is important to recognize that every decision and action we take has an impact on the outcome. The choices we make, both big and small, have a ripple effect that can ultimately lead to success or failure. It is crucial to pay attention to each phase of the journey, not just the perceived pivotal moments.
As Sun Tzu teaches, choosing the right people for the right job and utilizing their combined energy can increase the effectiveness of all subsequent decisions. Making small correct decisions can ultimately lead to success and reduce the likelihood of having to rely on one "big" decision.
Incorporating John Boyd's OODA loop, Observing-Orienting-Deciding-Acting, into our lives can help us make better decisions and identify poor decisions or choices, that need correcting. Most importantly, the loop recognizes that failures teach us valuable lessons that can lead to future success.
Colonel John Boyd did not create anything new. He discovered or eventually understood a way of codifying what decision-makers have done from the beginning of time. Boyd's OODA loop created in the United States Air Force was soon taught to civilians in the business and commercial world. Like the Art of War, it emerged in a military mind and now benefits anyone who wishes to profit from this wisdom.
So, while the point of no return may create great drama and elicit strong emotions in storytelling, it is not necessarily the most important moment from which we should learn. Every decision and action we take has an impact, and it is up to us to pay attention and learn from each phase of the journey.
But I wonder if the Decisive Moment effect is to blame for this. These perceived dramatic 'failure' experiences scorched into our souls and psyches until the day we die will dominate our thinking. These mistakes empowered by the accompanying emotions, are overwhelming. Ironically, it is extremely unwise to make decisions with erratic emotions coursing through out bodies.
However, I frequently ponder whether "decisive moments" are the most crucial mistakes we should learn from. Are those mistakes the most instructive just because we are aware of the consequence soon after?
The decisive moments appear to be solitary, just one decision, but they actually represent an unbroken chain of decisions that appear to be made simultaneously. To my mind, no decision is made in a vacuum. The first step, each succeeding step, and of course the last step are all fundamental for the journey to exist. Each phase contains data, feelings, accomplishments, and options that were ignored, overlooked, or not chosen. Every move depends on and is influenced by those that came before it.
The Precursory Influence, or immediate effect of the preceding stage, and the Collective Influence, or overall effect of all the preceding phases are the two powerful dynamics that dominate how errors are perceived and judged. The crucial steps can only be recognized and comprehended by looking back on the journey.
This line of thinking reminds me of Sun Tzu's maxim, "All warfare is based on deception." While Sun Tzu was referring to warfare, this maxim can be applied to everyday life as well. Many times, the steps leading up to a decision are just as important as the decision itself. Deception can take many forms, such as withholding information or presenting false information, and it can have a profound impact on any outcome.
The final step could be the least important one. Thus, crucial circumstances necessitate crucial choices. According to this reasoning, the pivotal moment is not when an outcome, important or unexpected fact, or startling conclusion is revealed. The one that dominates the others is the most important one. The choice that has the biggest impact out of all the others. This dominant decision may not be the last in the long line of decisions. It could be, but it also could be a decision made a week, a month or so long ago, we don’t remember its existence.
This reminds me of another Sun Tzu maxim, "The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting." In our everyday lives, we may encounter situations where we need to assert ourselves or defend our positions. However, there may be times when we can achieve our goals without resorting to direct confrontation. By using strategy and tactics such as persuasion or negotiation, we can "subdue the enemy" without engaging in a full-on battle.
Great insights, knowledge, and rewards may result by ignoring the "revealing" decisive decision and focusing on the "determinant" decisive decision. The actual moment, setting in motion a chain of events that resulted in either joy or sorrow, victory or defeat. To discover what appeared to be an utterly trivial, insignificant choice that became irreversible, but in reality, was the critical moment, or decision of all is the best way to improve.
John Boyd's OODA loop, observe-orient-decide-act, is designed for jet fighter pilots, but it can be applied to any conflict or situation before it becomes a conflict. For the loop to work, he assumes you keep making the right decisions, but he grasps that one minor or inferior decision can break your chain of previous good decisions. If the pilot survives, it will be in their best interests to track down that poor decision and ensure it is not repeated.
Sun Tzu's philosophy emphasizes the importance of making the right decisions and utilizing the collective energy of a team. He believed that the first 499 decisions in a 500-decision link have a significant impact on the effectiveness of all subsequent decisions. Correct decisions can increase the potency of all future decisions, while incorrect decisions can decrease them. This dynamic is referred to as "combined energy."
To optimize this energy, Sun Tzu explained choosing the right person for the right job, taking into account their unique qualities and strengths. By doing so, you can increase the overall effectiveness of the team and reduce the pressure on each individual. This approach not only leads to better decisions but also fosters a collaborative and supportive team culture.
Successful individuals recognize the significance of distributing decision-making throughout a process, instead of relying on a single critical decision. They establish a system where each step in the decision-making is assigned equal importance, creating a reliable chain of trustworthy decisions or choices with the same level of confidence. By building and continuously modifying this system, the decision-maker can understand the quality of each decision produced, resulting in a personalized and effective decision-making process.
In conclusion, while "decisive moments" may appear to be the most critical times from which we should learn, it is important to recognize that every decision and action we take has an impact on the outcome. The choices we make, both big and small, have a ripple effect that can ultimately lead to success or failure. It is crucial to pay attention to each phase of the journey, not just the perceived pivotal moments.
As Sun Tzu teaches, choosing the right people for the right job and utilizing their combined energy can increase the effectiveness of all subsequent decisions. Making small correct decisions can ultimately lead to success and reduce the likelihood of having to rely on one "big" decision.
Incorporating John Boyd's OODA loop, Observing-Orienting-Deciding-Acting, into our lives can help us make better decisions and identify poor decisions or choices, that need correcting. Most importantly, the loop recognizes that failures teach us valuable lessons that can lead to future success.
Colonel John Boyd did not create anything new. He discovered or eventually understood a way of codifying what decision-makers have done from the beginning of time. Boyd's OODA loop created in the United States Air Force was soon taught to civilians in the business and commercial world. Like the Art of War, it emerged in a military mind and now benefits anyone who wishes to profit from this wisdom.
So, while the point of no return may create great drama and elicit strong emotions in storytelling, it is not necessarily the most important moment from which we should learn. Every decision and action we take has an impact, and it is up to us to pay attention and learn from each phase of the journey.
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