Beef. Really any meat. Cook it and I'm in, spice it up with a marinate and I'm in heaven. I am not a griller extrodinaire as many of you are, but I love tasty food and I've noticed that marinating is generally a good idea. It adds flavor. It tenderizes. It takes time.
Alright, that's the part I hate. Marinating takes time, which I am perpetually short on. No matter what you do, you simply cannot marinate something in 15 minutes. It won't work. Those juices and spices need time to break down the meat, to infuse their flavors, to permeate.
Split-second decisions. Many of you who know me well, know that Hugh writing about taking time to make decisions might be a stretch. In fact, in society we are told that "He who hesitates is lost!" We prize split-second decisions; going with your gut.
There is a time and a place for split-second decisions. Hesitation is often a detriment to success. The trouble is that we force ourselves into split-second decisions through poor planning, preparation, and practice.
We create a world in which we have to make split-second decisions. That's different than living in a world that creates a need for quick decisions.
Plan time to marinate. More often than not, you have time to marinate your ideas and decisions, even in your busy season. By marinate your ideas, I mean give them some time to float around in your brain. Sleep on it. Has it out with your people or family. Wait a day. Think about something else.
The key is to give yourself time in the planning process to make well-thought out decisions. You won't have to rush if you've planned time for decision making.
Stock your marinade. You can't expect anything to happen if you don't add some 'spice' to your marinade. I listen to NPR (liberal), Rush Limbaugh (uh, right wing, I think), Podcasts from Scientific America, Buckhead Church, BBC "The World's Technology", Marketing Over Coffee, and probably 5-6 others.
I listen, often while working out, just to stock my brain with perspectives, ideas, current events, etc. They are spices for my marinade. I wouldn't like a steady diet of any one 'spice', but together, they provide a rich background for evaluating and critiquing my ideas and decisions.
Paralysis of analysis. We've heard it a million times, is the situation in which you spend so much time analyzing a decisions the opportunity passes you by. This is not ever going to be a problem for me.
If it is for you, you have to consider taking some fresh chicken fillets and marinating them for 3 weeks. No matter how great your marinade, you aren't going to want to eat it!
Relieve the pressure. I am the worst at adding unnecessary pressure to myself to make decisions quickly. You need to make wise decisions; right decisions. As pressure from inside you mounts to 'pull the trigger', ask yourself if it's really going to hurt to wait until tomorrow morning after you 'sleep on it.'
1. Start stocking your marinade. (If you're reading this you already are!)
2. Plan time to decide.
3. Release yourself from false time pressure.
4. Think things through.
Take the time to make a good decision, but it's never too late to correct a bad decision.
Have a great week.
Hugh
PS Hayride Audio Systems have a 2-3 week lead time. If you want them for October ORDER NOW!PPS If you want to make it easy for groups to book your school tours and parties online, check out our online booking system at www.BookMyGroups.com. See it in action on our home website at www.MazeFunPark.com
PPPS If you missed the "Goal without a plan is a wish" live event, we recorded it for you to view anytime!
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