It’s a simple question that almost seems fruitless to ponder–
If you knew what you know now when you made your decision, would you do it the same way? Would you do things differently?
While it may be easy to dismiss this as wishful thinking or dwelling in the past, exploring the decisions you made in the past and how they have impacted your present is actually a crucial component of maximizing your effect on your business today.
Zero-based Thinking
It may almost seem like dwelling in the past, but zero-based thinking requires courage, commitment, and uncensored, brutal honesty to be effective in regard to guiding a business, and business leader, forward.
The principle here requires reflecting and assessing on the decisions that led you to the present moment. Did you implement a new policy intended to improve employee productivity but instead hurt morale and hampered the bottom line? Did you shirk face time with a stable client to secure a new account with the promise for more lucrative deals, only to have both accounts disappear on you?
Would you do everything the same in those moments if you knew what you know now?
Remember– you must be brutally honest. You can lie to your peers and even to yourself, but the numbers never lie! You may think all is copacetic, but your bottom line might tell a different story entirely.
You Can’t Change the Past, but You Can Guide the Future!
Maybe you’ve determined some of your past decisions were misfires, and you wouldn’t have even bothered if you knew this would be the result.
Now it’s time for another round of questioning–
Are you still engaged in these activities? Are polarizing policies still in practice? Are you still conducting business with clients that are eating up loads of your time for a relatively less reward versus other accounts?
If you feel that you are still entwined in practices and behaviors that are not serving you or your business, it is important to identify why and if you are able to stop immediately.
We Are Our Habits
In business and in life, we are only as good as our habits. Productive, healthy habits will lead happy, healthy lives filled with personal and professional success, whereas those with unhealthy, unproductive habits will languish.
Try asking yourself the following questions when determining if your habits are serving your success or hindering it:
- Is there anything in your life that, knowing what you now know, you would not get into again today if you had it to do over?
- Have you invested time, energy, emotions or money in any relationship — personal or business — to which you would not commit today, knowing what you now know?
- What about your career? Are there decisions you’ve made in your career that you would not make today, knowing what you now know?
- Is there a job, a position or a promotion you would not take today?
- Are there projects, responsibilities, or roles you would not take on?
- Are there employees you would not hire?
- Are there processes and procedures you would not adopt?
- Are there strategies or plans you would not follow?
Kerrie Can Help!
Sometimes we’re too close to the problem to see things clearly, and the perspective of an outsider is integral in establishing what is working and what needs work.
Kerrie brings ample experience to the table and provides incredible support to her clients to thrive both in their personal and professional lives.
Call Kerrie now and find out how she will help you today!
