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I am continuing to talk about the book Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. Today I will discuss the seventh step, Decision, The Mastery of Procrastination. I am sure that you, like me, have faced that evil known as procrastination. To be successful and to build wealth, procrastination is an enemy you must conquer. Making a decision will defeat procrastination.
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A Decision Defeats Procrastination
If you’re looking for self-improvement, you will need to change some of the habits that you are currently doing. You will have to decide to change. Congratulations, you are halfway to success! You see, making the right decision is 50% of the solution. The other 50% is commitment. You have to commit to your decision to change.
Back in the 1930s when Hill was writing his book, a study was undertaken with 25,000 men and women who had experienced failure. They came up with a list of 30 major causes of failure. Lack of decision was near the head of the list. Indecision causes procrastination and making a decision will defeat procrastination. Conversely, each of several hundred people who had accumulated fortunes had the habit of reaching a decision promptly. Also, successful people would take their time in changing their decision.
Don’t Be Influenced When Making Decisions
The majority of people who fail are easily influenced by the opinion of others. They permit the media and other people to do their thinking for them. Opinions are the most abundant thing on earth. Everyone has one and, they can be as different as night and day. You will not succeed if you take into account the opinion of others.
Your mind is yours and only yours; reach your own decisions. Keep them to yourself and discuss them with only like-minded individuals, such as your Master Mind group. When researching to gather information for your decision, do so without disclosing your purpose.
How Do You Know?
How do you know when the decision you made is the right decision? That is a difficult question to answer because you won’t know the answer until you have succeeded or failed. You have to listen to those inner voices. If your decision makes you feel happy and it is the right decision. On the other hand, if you feel cautious or negative, you should reconsider your decision.
In most cases, making the right decision is not that difficult. Deciding to solve a challenge in your life is personal. These are decisions for your self-improvement. A personal decision affects you and the people close to you. Some decisions not only affect the person making the decision but also have an impact on many others.
Great Decisions In History
Throughout history, people have been tasked with making decisions that changed history. Abraham Lincoln decided to issue the Proclamation of Emancipation. General Dwight Eisenhower decided to launch the D-Day invasion. Last July, I wrote an article about 56 men who made one of the greatest decisions of all time. They signed the Declaration of Independence knowing that it could potentially cost them their lives.
Making the right decision always takes courage, some more than others. It may not cost you your life but, it could cost you your health or financial independence. Making the right decision to improve your income or health comes with a price. You never get anything without giving up something. As long as you’re willing to pay the price, your decision for self-improvement could be the greatest decision you make.
Decide Today
Speaking of great decisions, decide today what you are worth. Now that you know your value go out and get what you are worth. Never settle for anything less. Lock that number in your mind and think about it every day. Don’t stop until you reach your value. Too many people today settle for what they are given and not what they’re worth.
Be quick in your decisions and slow in changing them. Don’t be influenced by the opinion of others or the media. Have the courage to make your decision for self-improvement. Decide what you are worth and get it. Remember, making a decision will defeat procrastination.
Do you find yourself procrastinating? Are you influenced by the opinion of others? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section. As always, I appreciate your likes, comments, and follows. Let me know if there is a topic you would like me to cover in future articles.
Thank you for this article on making decisions. The best decision I ever made was retiring last year. The worst decision i ever made was taking that job when it was offered to me. It was one of those jobs with high stress, low pay, and the bette you were t it the more people didn’t like you.
Thank you for your thoughtful comments. I hope you find everything you are looking for. Decide what you want and go get it. Take care. Scott
Of course I procrastinate! Don’t we all? The worst thing is when I finally perform the dreaded task and feel silly because it was so much easier than I had imagined. 🙂 I so agree with this helpful post. Procrastination is the enemy! Take care!
Thank you, Cheryl for your thoughtful comments. Yes, we all procrastinate and I have experienced the same thing when I forced myself to do the task. I wondered why I was hesitating to do something so easy. Take care, Scott
Very inspiring. Thanks
Thank you for your thoughtful comments. Take care. Scott
I have bouts of terrible procrastination so this was a nice eyeopener to reconsider how I approach things. I think sometimes we procrastinate (or at least I do) when things have become too routine and there’s a need for a shift — letting ourselves experience something new. Thanks for sharing this!
Thank you, Molly, for your wonderful comments. I like your take on procrastination when things become routine. I never thought of it from that perspective. Take Care. Scott
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