The 3 Types of Business Choices That Change the Course of Your Future
By, Esther Spina
Business Coach and Mentor for Ambitious Businesswomen & Female Entrepreneurs
Inspired by Chapter 16 of my Amazon Best-Selling Book,
What It Takes and Why You Want to Be One,
LIVE YOUR CHOICES:
Be Responsible for Your Own Life
“What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” — Mary Oliver
No matter where you are in business or life, you always have a CHOICE to make a change. Remain stuck or CHOOSE GROWTH, shrink or EXPAND, survive or THRIVE.
The choice is always yours.
Even if you’re not sure what direction to take next — you’re only one decision away from a brighter future.
So, what are your options, and how do you get to a better place?
It starts with knowing your values and what is most important to you. Once you clarify that, all your choices should stem from one decision — is this in alignment with my values or not?
Everything we decide to do or not do is a choice that affects our future.
These are the 3 types of choices that most impact your career and life.
1.The Power of Small, Daily Choices
As Ambitious Women, it’s easy to focus on the big picture and ignore the small, daily tasks that get you there.
It’s easy to put things off or skip what you planned to do today. But when that habit keeps repeating, productivity suffers. Then, one day, you feel like you’ve lost control over the direction of your life.
For example, if you decide not to work out today, it doesn’t seem like a big deal. You don’t see the effect or the consequences right away. But, you might start noticing a change in your waistline if you make the same choice every day for a month.
Little choices turn into big changes over time.
The Slight Edge is a great book about the idea of “compound interest.” In it, author, Jeff Olson, talks about the power of simple habits repeated daily. He says this creates a ripple effect that, over time, leads to forward momentum in your career. Or not. The choice is yours.
Committing to small daily habits leads to long-term success. As a female entrepreneur or businesswoman, you have to make a choice every day to push towards your goals. No one is going to do it for you.
It’s the consistency of tackling day-to-day business tasks that builds a better future. Establish a doable daily routine that supports your personal business goals.
Every day you have a choice to move towards your goals or away from them.
2.Make Conscious, Deliberate Choices, and Commit to Them
Every choice you make sets into effect a chain reaction. When you set your intention it changes your thoughts. This sets into motion a domino effect that changes the eventual outcome if you stick to it. It’s all about focusing your attention on the desired results.
First, you have to know what you’re trying to achieve. Is your goal to hit a certain financial milestone for financial security? To be your own boss and be home more often? Or to be the top salesperson on your network marketing team or real estate office ?
When you know your values, it’s easier to make important business decisions.
The benefit of setting intentions is that it helps you make decisions that lead to your goals.
You begin to look at everything through the lens of, “Is this going to get me to where I want to go?” or not?
But, how often do you make a definitive decision and commit to it? If you don’t, you’re operating on default. Then you’re in danger of wasting time and energy on opportunities that aren’t in alignment with your business goals. It’s important to have a vision of the future you want to build so that you make conscious choices towards it.
As a women’s business mentor, I encourage you to make a deliberate choice and stick with it. You’ll never know if you would have succeeded if you never fully commit.
3.Not Making a Choice is a Choice Too
Indecision is also a choice. Not taking action is a choice. If you choose to do nothing towards your goals, you are making a choice to move away from your vision.
Don’t waste time blaming yourself or others for not being where you want to be. This keeps you from taking steps towards your future.
Take personal responsibility for your choices and learn from what is, or is not, working for you.
If you hit a roadblock or come to a dead end, take it as an opportunity to re-evaluate and go in a different direction.
It’s estimated that people have an average of 12 different jobs in their lifetime. (Source) It’s normal to pivot and re-maneuver on the road to success. Life does not always go in a straight line. Sometimes the original plan has to be amended.
Expect to experience detours along the way. These are opportunities for redirection toward opportunities better suited to your goals.
Sacrifice immediate gratification and focus on what leads to long-term success.
Being decisive also means knowing when to say “no.” Turning down the wrong opportunities is as important as accepting the right ones.
Conclusion
If you commit to small daily choices that line up with your values, success is inevitable.
Once you set your goals, getting accountability for them is the crucial next step. This helps you see them through the inevitable ups and downs.
As I say in my book, you have to seek people “WHO know, not who YOU know.”
Look for someone who is already standing where you want to be. What steps did they take to get to where they are and what CHOICES did they make along the way?
In my last blog, I talked about the power of mentors, and how they help you make good business decisions.
A good business mentor saves you much time and frustration. They help you prevent pitfalls by sharing tried and true methods.
I’m always happy to share what I’ve learned from years of direct marketing and entrepreneurship. My passion is bringing like-minded career women together for guidance and support.
If you’re having a hard time setting goals and committing to them — reach out to me!
I’m now offering strategy sessions!
