Dear Amy…

I am having a difficult time making choices…all the time. I can’t choose my logo, I can’t decide which path to take; I just can’t choose. My business is suffering because it takes me so long to make a choice and then, when I do make a choice, I question it ad nauseam and often, change my mind or just stop in my tracks.

Sincerely,

Michelle Levy

Dear Michelle…

Hi Michelle…I completely understand and this can be really frustrating. Believe it or not, this is very common. Most of us have a difficult time making choices because we fear that we will make the wrong choice or a choice that we won’t be happy with.

It can be frustrating and debilitating because, as you pointed out, it can just stop you in your tracks.

I recommend some shifts in your thinking.

Follow Your Heart

This is YOUR brand. This is YOUR company. Don’t get caught up in what everyone else wants. It’s great to ask for advice or opinions from your mentors and the people you trust. Then…you must sit down, close your eyes and think about your brand. Think about your business. Get in touch with your vision. What are your goals? Make choices that serve your vision and your goals and your heart. Trust yourself. Nobody knows what you are trying to do better than you. Nobody else knows what’s important to you. It’s up to you to support your vision by making choices that are in alignment with it.

Stop trying to get it “right.”

There is no “right” way. There are choices you can make that will get you what you want. And, there are choices you can make that won’t get you what you want. Sometimes you won’t know until you make them. If the choice you make doesn’t get you the results you want, make a new choice. Business is about trial and error. It’s about experience. It’s about testing. And it’s about modeling. So don’t be afraid of making wrong choice. Make the best choice you can by gathering information, modeling after those you are aspiring to be like and give yourself a break. You are going to make mistakes. You are going to fail. You are going to make choices that don’t “work out.” So what. That’s part of business. That’s how you learn. That’s how you become successful. Some choices are more serious than others. Most choices won’t kill you or your business. So, ask yourself when you are making yourself crazy trying to make a choice, on a scale from 1 – 10, how important is this to the success of my business. If it’s not an 8, 9 or 10, then just choose quickly and move on. If it’s a choice that could have extreme consequences…then, get support, get more information, weigh out your options and then choose.

Let go of attachment to results

This is important. We get so attached to “results.” And, results are important but at the end of the day, the only control you have over the results is by the actions you take. So let go of being attached to results and instead be committed to taking action and studying the results. If your results are less than satisfactory, change your actions. If you are happy with the results…keep taking those actions.

Get Feedback & Make changes

This is part of the process. You MUST be open to receiving feedback otherwise you can’t make the necessary changes that will bring you the success you want and deserve. So get feedback from your mentors, from your coach and from your clients.

To Your Success,

Amy

Every week, Amy Applebaum reaches into her mailbag and answers your questions about life, love, work, success. Anything that requires a kick in the butt to get you on the right track! Got a question you’d like to ask Amy? Click here!