Be successful... by making small decisions

The premise for my website is that average people can do amazing things.
 
I totally believe it.
 
Your average, run-of-the-mill person can absolutely turn their life around (if they want).

The only difference between "successful" and "average" people boils down to...
 
...making decisions.
 
Or, should I say, making smart decisions.
 
(They don’t even have to be quick decisions.)
 
Successful people have just learned to make a series of smart decisions.
 
What do I mean by that?
 
Well, just before you settle down to another binge-watching night of Netflix, you have a split-second decision:
 
Do I watch TV or not?
 
Yes = Switch on, press play, and zone out for a few hours.
 
No = Don’t switch TV on (yes I know... pretty obvious!)
 
But if we choose “no”, there comes another decision:
 
What to do instead?
 
What do I do if I don’t watch TV?
 
And this is where we get caught out.
 
If we don’t have suggestions at the ready, our brain will decide it’s too difficult... and back we go to the remote.
 
But if we have other suggestions, this is where the life-changing stuff can happen.
 
Do we:

• Go for a walk / run / bike ride..?

 

• Call a friend / head out to a bar / make a nutritious batch of dinners?

 

• Spend a few hours on our hobby that’s turning into a side-hustle..?

 
It doesn’t matter what it is.
 
The point is that life is just a series of small decisions.
 
And successful people are better are making decisions that lead them to where they want to be.
 
Shall I apply to speak at that conference? Yes.
 
Shall I submit an entry to that short story contest? Yes.
 
Shall I sign up to that fitness class I've been thinking about? Yes.
 
Whatever it is, we have the ability to choose.
 
Write this blog post? Yes.
 
Set up a new program? Sure, why not!
 
Take note of what you read in this blog post, or dismiss it? The choice is yours.
 
(And it’s totally fine if Netflix is your choice. Sometimes we need a night of zoning out!)
 
But remember that you CAN change things.
 
And you can start making smart decisions RIGHT NOW.

• Get off your computer and head outside...

 

• Sign up for that course you’ve been deliberating on...
  
  
• Email that contact who does your dream job, to ask them more about it...

 
The reason Netflix is so addictive is that it takes the decision-making away.
 
But we can take the power back (YEAH!)
 
You CAN decide to log out of Facebook.
 
You CAN decide not to watch TV tonight.
 
You can decide to start your company... your book... your blog... your new fitness regime... tonight.
 
It’s time to start making awesome decisions.
 
Let’s change our lives.

One day at a time.
 
So here’s my vow:  I decide to change my life (slowly, and with kindness), as of RIGHT NOW.
 
Are you with me?!
 
Here’s to you... and the smart decisions you make from today onwards :)
 
Claire
 
PS – What smart decision will you make? I’d love to hear in the comments!