================ Decision Making -- Inspirational Messages  ==============          
                        by  M.D. Smith  --  Huntsville, AL
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THIS PROGRAM WILL HELP YOU DECIDE WHAT TO DO

IN A PENDING MATTER THAT YOU MUST MAKE A 

DECISION ABOUT IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

ANSWER THE 25 QUESTIONS IN THE MAIN PROGRAM AND

YOU WILL KNOW WHAT TO DO !

As you may have guessed, a `Y' scores AGAINST your decision making 
abilities.  Actually, gamblers are quite satisfied with a `batting 
average' of 55%,  because in the long run they will make money. Most 
of us, unless we do everything wrong, are pretty good decision-makers. 
The main problem seems to be our concern about being right every time. 
Even if we are wrong some of the time, it's our `batting average' that 
will get us to the top.  But we sure can't get a decent batting average
if we don't swing the bat.  The questionnaire should have shown you 
that you are already good in making decisions. You just need to make 
them fearlessly when needed and be ready to modify them if it becomes 
necessary with more input at a later time.

Now you see that the real answer about a decision when you ask 
yourself, "WHAT SHOULD I DO", is to decide just as you have been doing.
But now, you can decide without fear. No, you won't be perfect. You 
just weigh the alternatives, make the decision, and be ready to modify 
it if additional input and information makes it necessary.
We are better than we usually think...we just needed to know it.

   ****  GOOD DECISIONS TO YOU, YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO ! ****


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               *****  TO THE MAN...IN THE ARENA  *****

"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how
the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have
done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually
in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood;
who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again;
who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends
himself in a worthy cause; and who, at the best, knows the triumph of
high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails
while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those
cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

                                  "THEODORE ROOSEVELT"

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                 ** NO GUTS....  NO GLORY ! **

The message here is simply this: If you aren't willing to take a chance

with some of your decisions, you'll never truly experience the good 

feeling, the GLORY of accomplishment. You won't always succeed, but 

the successes will overshadow the failures. 

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"THE MAN WHO NEVER MAKES ANY MISTAKES, NEVER MAKES ANYTHING."


                                      HARRY TRUMAN


Don't put off making a decision when one is needed for fear of making 

a mistake. Make decisions at the time needed. If it turns out to be a 

mistake, then make a new decision. Harry Truman made his share of 

mistakes, but he is remembered for his accomplishments, not his 

mistakes.

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                  Do you 'PLAY IT SAFE' with decisions?


Is playing it safe the 'AVERAGE' thing to do? Don't be average. That is

living by DEFAULT. It's not having the guts to take a stand in life. 

Average is the Top of the Bottom or the Bottom of the Top. Average is 

the Best of the Worst or the Worst of the Best.  You can have one foot 

on a block of ice and the other in boiling water, and, on-the-average, 

you're comfortable.  The post-office averages a 3-day delivery. 

Bills come in 1 day and your checks come in 6 days.

        DON'T ALWAYS BE AVERAGE AND DON'T ALWAYS PLAY IT SAFE !

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            "GOOD DECISIONS COME FROM EXPERIENCE 
             AND EXPERIENCE COMES FROM POOR DECISIONS."

                                     Herbert V. Prochnow, President
                                     Chicago First National Bank

No one ever makes only good decisions. Both you and subordinates must 

make your share of poor decisions. Actually, these are good decisions 

at the time,  they just turned out badly later. But we learn from the 

experiences and we all must have room to make our share of mistakes. 

That is how each of us grows.  Make decisions when needed and allow 

for a fair share of mistakes from your decisions. Of course, allow the 

same flexibility in others' decisions.

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