The Truth About Making Smart Decisions

Chapter 31. Not making a decision is a decision

The late Peter Drucker once wrote, “One has to make a decision when a condition is likely to degenerate if nothing is done....The effective decision-maker compares effort and risk of action to risk of inaction.”¹⁷

Drucker recognized that there are risks to standing still. If you’re unable to make the decision to accept a new job, you have rejected it by default. If you’re unable to make an offer on a house, someone else may snatch it from under you.

Make your decisions explicit. Instead of allowing decisions to happen, be sure you take an active role in making them. This way you don’t give up your power to make decisions. It’s also healthier to be in control of your own destiny. When I say “healthier,” ...