Chapter Seven

PRESENT

DECIDE NOW!

It does not take much strength to do things, but it requires great strength to decide on what to do.

—Elbert Hubbard

The roads we take are more important than the goals we announce.

Decisions determine destiny.

—Frederick Speakman

The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want.

—Ben Stein

Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

When you come to a fork in the road, take it.

—Yogi Berra

No trumpets sound when the important decisions of our life are made. Destiny is made known silently.

—Agnes de Mille

Leadership begins with self-knowledge. Life decisions can be good decisions only if they hit your own personal bedrock.

—Vince Lombardi

Making a decision is the most commonly used thinking skill we humans execute daily. You make decisions every day, from whether to brush your teeth in the morning, which clothes to wear to work, and what to have for breakfast, to what time you’ll leave the office, whether you’ll fly out to visit a friend or attend a seminar, and how much money you’ll set aside each month for an emergency fund or for investing.

Some of the decisions you make are so habitual you don’t even think about them, such as brushing your teeth or saying “thank you” when given a gift or when someone does something nice for you.

Other decisions take more time and thought, such as buying a car or considering a new job or opportunity.

And a few ...

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