Let’s Make Some Decisions
Our 7 Steps Decision Guide
At BetteringDads.com, our mission is to help dads have a better relationship with their kids.
With that in mind, dads have to develop patterns and skills to achieve what they want. We have listed our seven steps to help you make the fast decision.
Stop wasting time on the fence. Dive into the 7 steps to get decisions made.
Step 1 - What do you want?
Sit down and make a list of things that you want. Make them very precise.
Here are some examples and since this blog is about Bettering Dads, this could be about a better avenue to communicate with your kids.
Maybe you want an education in a specific field. Perhaps you are interested in learning how to juggle (my kids love this, by the way).
There are so many different things that you can learn to do or achieve. You can have your eye set on being a little healthy or just starting to exercise. Whatever it is, write it down.
Step 2 - When do you want it?
In your list, put the date you want to achieve this by. If it is juggling, this may take two to three weeks at 10 mins a day. A simple thing and short outlook.
If it is a bigger item, for instance, like obtaining a bachelor's degree, this may take 5-7 years.
Determine when you want to achieve your thing.
Step 3 - Can you afford it?
This where you do some research on money, time and effort. All are a function of cost. Let me explain.
We use money everyday, at the store, at the gas station, to pay bills and rent, car repairs and insurance, on dates, subscriptions, you name it. What we may not know is that time has a factor of money as well.
If you spend 2 hours, collectively, learning to juggle, let’s say, what is the amount of money that it costs you to learn to juggle. Some people would say free.
In economics there is a principle called the Time Value of Money, or the amount of money that your time is worth.
If you spent those 2 hours at your job, what would you have been paid? I don’t think this is what the time value of money is. Your time is more valuable than that.
Now that you know how to [insert skill your learned], could you teach someone else?
This is where the time value of money works. If you are teaching someone, you wouldn’t charge your rate that you get paid at your job.
This number could be any number, hopefully higher, but sometimes you have to give it away as a promotion. However, you will have to determine what someone is willing to pay for the service.
We are getting away from the topic but I wanted to illustrate what your experience is worth. You don’t have to know everything about a topic to have a little more knowledge than someone who is willing to pay to have someone else do it for them or get the information.
I also want to note that just because you cannot afford [insert your thing], that doesn't mean you can't do it. Get creative and use different resources to find ways to obtain it.
Step 4 - What are the options?
With almost anything you buy, there are options.
In juggling, do you start with juggling balls or handkerchiefs?
What size ball do you want?
There are also different colors.
What weight would you prefer?
Options!
Probably more than you thought.
And that is the point of the exercise, there are a ton of options to choose from in anything you pick.
Relate this to a Bachelor's Degree.
After you pick which one you will be pursuing there are options beyond that.
Which school would be the best for that field of study.
If you can’t afford or don’t want to move to go to that school, what is the closest thing that you can afford?
Do you want a degree from the cheapest place or the most expensive?
Do you want in class options or 100% online?
Can you do instate or out of state tuition?
Community College or State College?
With a Family, you are even more restricted. Finances, housing, no time with family, and many other factors play into this.
Step 5 - Pro VS. Con
Options List
After you have some ideas about “Your Thing” start making a list.
Here is a sample list in spreadsheet form for juggling balls.
Website | Weight | Size | Count | Color |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Juggleparty.com | 1 oz. ea. | 2" Diam. | 3 | Standard |
Etsy.com | 1.2 oz. ea. | 2.8" Diam. | 3 | Rainbow |
Juggle.com | 1 oz. ea. | 3" Diam. | 5 | Neon |
I wouldn’t really do this for juggling balls but below I have listed multiple things that I have done this for.
There are so many things to consider with every “Your Thing” that it would be hard to keep track of it without documenting what it is that you are wanting to achieve.
Take this a step further instead of things, come up with a list for activities you can do with your kid(s). I have put together some ideas with costs that I would anticipate paying to do them you may want to spend more or less.
Activity | Time | How Often | Cost | Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
make breakfast together | 20 mins | one per week | $5 | rubbing elbows, connect time |
go fishing | 5 hours | twice/year | $50 | connect time/picture memories |
go for a hike | 2 hours | 10/year | Gas: $5 | exercise, picture memories, connect time |
Pro Vs. Con List
Now that you have a list, draw a cross on a paper or in a spreadsheet. Write Pro on one side and Con on the other.
What are the pros of eating a meal at the table? What are the cons?
Go through this exercise for the product or school or whatever “Your Thing” is. Reflect on the benefits of each.
If this involves money be sure to weigh the cost and determine how you will pay for it. With educational ideas, there are so many resources online to either get education for free or steeply discounted.
Useful Resources
Keep in mind that education does not have to come from a university. There are free resources such as Khan Academy, where their mission is to provide everyone with at least a high school education for free.
If you want advanced courses, Lynda.com, a LinkedIn Company, provides a free trial for a month of classes to develop skills and certificates in a wide variety of professions. Some include coding, financial planning, graphic design, web development, and so many more.
Step 6 - Execute
Now that you have evaluated the money, made a list and weighed the pro vs. con of each thing, execute. Go get it!!
Do those things. Achieve your decisions and move forward. The faster you act the faster it will get done, learned, obtained.
You have the ability to move forward from right now differently than what has happened up until now. I wrote about this in another post. Click the linked test to explore.
You have to act, reach out and make the change. If you need help, send us an email. We can give suggestions on how to help.
Step 7 - Enjoy
This is the test of the outcome, was your decision a good one?
What has worked or what hasn’t? What can be better about it?
Make some more decisions, evaluate the value, weigh the options and do it.
You got this. You can get yourself to a place that you feel good.
As you use these 7 steps, keep in mind that this is a pattern and can be repeated for almost anything.
Learn to weigh the options and make the best decision for your situation.