Entrepreneurial Objectivity
For most of us, it’s obvious that the bulk of the decisions we make on a daily basis are based upon the summation of our previous experience. Then combined with some sort of reactive observation. “That looks hot, I once was burned, don’t touch it.” A rather simplistically calculated decision to a situation, correct? There are a lot of philosophical explanations to this phenomenon, (of which I have no desire whatsoever to regurgitate.) However, the idea of understanding, evaluating and augmenting our decision making process, is quite possibly one of the most effective, yet difficult things to do.
As entrepreneurs, we are consistently confronted with decisions, both minute and large in scope, that will severely affect our bottom line one way or another. These decisions usually carry with them some sort of emotional impact that is equally important (we are not robots after all…not yet at least), and making decisions that seem contrary to our emotional compass (outside our comfort zone) is a discipline that we all must cultivate.
The nature of the entrepreneurial attitude puts us in unprecedented situations constantly. Sometimes I find myself so far out of my comfort zone it makes me sick to my stomach. Circumstances that I have no frame of reference or prior experience of. How do we make sound decisions in times like these…?
What we must do mentally is not as difficult as it may seem. It simply requires us to embody an objective stance. A third party perspective so to speak. This does not mean that we divorce our prior experience and emotional compass from our decision making process. But we, as human beings, are highly capable of turning these situations into opportunities for mental growth. It simply requires us to stop projecting, or interjecting our personal bias, or past experiences upon the current dilemma. We must assess the situation logically and objectively, and then act accordingly with the best information on hand at the time. At that point you have to then trust that the best decision was made, and stick to your guns.
This doesn’t require any special skills, or crazy amounts intelligence. We all have a natural intelligence within ourselves that is only hindered by, well, bad habits and programming. Bad habits can be changed. Many of us are introspective by nature anyway, but you must take the time to consciously make the habitual changes that you seek. This is hard work. Learning something new can seem daunting, but the reality is when you engage yourself mentally, you usually discover something you already know.
All my best,
Posted: September 11, 2009
Filed under: Jays' Letters
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You are a very, very wise young man.. I love how you so subtley state there is a higher intelligence and power operating in and through us and when we learn how to tune in we are guided every moment . And practising being in ‘witness’ mode enables us to be objective.
Hi Jay. Thanks for the insight. I always have an insatiable desire to understand the psychology behind any given situation; in this case, entrepreneurial decision making. I am new to this business and have much to learn. The more information you can arm me with the better.
Keep ‘em coming!
Thanks,
Steve Pierce
Jay,
Thanks for taking the time to share your vision and insight.
I have been excited before (not just once or twice) thinking I would be succesfull in a home based business, and have not given it a half hearted effort either. Thus far it has been dissappointly unsuccessful. I am/was very near the realization that I have a great job (over $100,000/yr), with paid benefits, with room to advance, so I need to just accept my lot in life, and realize I will never live the dream, and be financially independant. I’ll just grind it out, be thankful for what I’ve got, with no real retirement in sight.
I am a high school graduate only. I had a year of college, and took 4 years of night class while in the Army in Germany (aviation based), that’s the sum of my education. I can express myself capably, becuse my mom was an English teacher and was always on my case to write clearly, spell correctly, and express myself properly! Luckily, I was raised in a loving family, with a mom and dad who were always there for me. They raised me in a way that instilled great confidence and optimism in my personality that still are my strongest points to date, to include patience, (I think that may be genetic).
I am a happy guy, with an optimistic outlook and an established leader in my industry. This all being said, I feel like I am in jail, and frankly, the coporate management world sucks. I want out!
For this reason I was surfing, and stumbled across Jeff Learners proposition, the more I read, the more interested and excited I became, because CCP is not MLM, which has repeatedly ate my lunch! I decided to throw my hat in the ring one last time, and give it a monster effort, part time while still holding down the Dir. of Maint. position at AgustaWestland in Philadelphia. (This is not a laxidazical position either, it’s 10-12 hours a day, and chaotic). I so want to be one of the 100 millionaires you make in the next 3 to 5 years, that I will strive to set things up perfectly and follow CCP’s advice to the T! I want to quit my job to ring in the new year, or a the very least, have the freedom and confidence to do so. I’m not kidding.
I agree with the philosophy, you can’t make it big unless you have the courage to step outside the box and believe a dream.
I can do that!
Warm Regards,
Gregg
Beautifully said! You have such a way of saying things!
Thanks for being such a great leader! I know how important it is to believe in ourselves, that we have the potential to succeed, that we take the actions to accomplish them, and therefore be able to help others as well.
thanks for all your support
Sincerely,
Lorena Escobar
This letter Jay reminds me of the times I’ve been burned. Next similar opportunity to come my way I was thinking “yeah right, I’m not getting caught again”.A friend of mine had an opportunity placed in his lap that most, if not all, people will never get. He was asked to join 50/50 partners with a guy to start a garden service(here in South Africa that’s big business, as the yards are pretty big and people always too busy to do it themselves), all my friend had to do for his 50% is buy and finance a bakkie(LDV or pickup)for use in the business. My friend turned him down. He was thinking mainly about getting burned and not about the success it COULD have. Guess what, 2 years later that garden service bought 2 NEW bakkies CASH.
Conclusion is, not ALL opportunities will bring you down,some will lift you HIGH.
Absolutely! My emotion tells me that when I run an unsuccessful ad that I should not ever place another ad because they don’t work. Objectively, I can look at the ad a second time to evaluate why it did not work, or maybe call my mentor and get some outside input on my failed ad. Then I can re-craft the ad or start over with a different approach. Take my emotions out of the equation. Great advice Jay!
Hi
Thanks for article you send, it is quite and encouragement to me in the decision that I have taken so far. Yes so many things in our lives which seems to discourage us,that we do not want to get up and do something more than we can if we put our mind to it, but I believe that we can do more and accomplish more if we set our mind to it.
I have not experience so much like you have shared with us, but I would like to learn how to be a successful entreprenuer. I have not much experience in running a business hope that you will help me that I can be successful like you.
Have a nice day
Sincerely
Tea Saunia
Jay,
Thanks for the observations. I think it all comes down to one’s abaility to accept change. Without it we are stuck in the past…. As entrepreneurs that is not an option.
Look forward to meeting you in Las Vegas.
Scott
Dear Jay,
I love your letters—- you have so much to say—- I am learning a lot as I go forward with my business.
******** sorry… I accidentally sent that last email—– but anyway; I so appreciate your leadership is so wonderful——- and the leadership of the others— I thank God for you and for the hope that I have for the future success of my business and for all the success of our company!! ——- much aloha, mililani
Awesome Jay, another great article, just what i needed a dose of, thanks
Shaqir
Jay,
The information in your letter is interesting & somewhat scary for a beginner.
I’ll have an idea of what I’m up against when I get my system up & running & into the meet of the business.
Thanks for the heads-up.
Rob Tudor
I find this note very valuable to me as a beginner. I am reasonably computer literate, but there is so much to learn to maximise the potential of this business that it certainly has pushed me outside of my comfort zone, but I have made a commitment to master this program so that I will have the means to carry out my life long goal of being able to provide the means for those in desperate meed of health, food, education, shelter, water, or whatever it is, to have that need fulfilled.
To achieve this I am daily moved out of my previous comfort zone to learn all of the ‘new’ skills needed to master this brilliant system, and given the intellectual acuity by “One” greater than me, I ‘will’ succeed. Thank you for your leadership, vision and inspiration.
Hey Jay,
I have always shared a passion for connecting with entrepreneurs.
This platform & community is sure filled with them!
Cheers,
Kirk
G’Day Jay
Another great Article
What you’re saying is ” Just get off youre ..rse and Do It ”
Usually if we fear something or an event that might be coming up,we are only thinking we fear whatever it is and it never happens as we think it might anyway!
Our fears are only imaginary
I hope this helps Someone or makes sense to “Someone”
Thanks’nRegards
Ian Hamilton
Jay, a succinct and well spoken bit of prose. It says so much about the human race and it hits very close to home with me.
Make a decision and stay the course, and you will reap the rewards. That is what I would have said, you just say it so much better!
Thank you
Alan