Hello! friends welcome to the The Weekly Mindset. We are Asheley and MacDaniel, and every week we will write about practical and actionable actions to change our mindset.
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Every day, we are faced with the reality of decision-making. Whether it’s deciding to wake up when that first alarm rings, what to wear, or what tasks to do first (and which ones not to do at all), making decisions is just one core part of our everyday lives.
Stephen Covey, author of 7 Habits of Highly Successful People, famously wrote “I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.”
So how can we optimise this process to make better decisions that put us at a better position each week ? That is what we are going to explore in today’s newsletter.
I. What is High Stack vs. Low Stack Decision Making
MacDaniel: During the week l was presented with a very difficult question that I had to answer with a lot of uncertainty which is the decision whether I should continue in the academia, or I should pursue entrepreneurship journey, I wasn’t sure until I had Asheley talking about this excellent decision-making framework on our last week catch-up meeting.
High-Stack Decisions: These are the decisions that have the potential to significantly affect your life, goals, and overall well-being. High-stack decisions often involve major life choices, career moves, financial investments, and long-term commitments. They carry a substantial level of risk and can shape the course of your future.
Low-Stack Decisions: On the other hand, low-stack decisions are those that have a relatively minor impact on your life. These decisions may include daily routines, such as what to have for breakfast, what outfit to wear, or which TV show to watch. While low-stack decisions are important in their own right, they don't typically have far-reaching consequences.
II. Working with HS/LS Decision-Making in Our Everyday Life
Asheley: Over the last couple of weeks where I have been actively using this mental model, I have realized that this can be a powerful tool in navigating daily life more effectively. Here are some practical ways to use the HS/LS decision-making model:
1. Prioritize High-Stack Decisions: Recognize the decisions that fall into the high-stack category. These are the choices that require more time, consideration, and careful evaluation. Prioritize them and allocate the necessary resources to make well-informed choices.
2. Seek Guidance and Information: When facing high-stack decisions, don't hesitate to seek guidance from trusted mentors, advisors, or experts in the relevant field. Gathering information and different perspectives can help you make more confident choices.
3. Learn from Low-Stack Decisions: Low-stack decisions offer a chance to practice decision-making skills without high stakes. Use them as opportunities to develop good habits and decision-making processes that you can apply to high-stack choices.
4. Reflect and Adapt: Regularly reflect on the outcomes of both high-stack and low-stack decisions. Assess what went well and what could have been done differently. Use this feedback to adapt your decision-making strategies for future choices.
III. Questions to Ask
Whether we're dealing with high-stack or low-stack decisions, asking the right questions can guide us toward making better choices:
High-Stack Decisions:
What are my long-term goals, and how does this decision align with them?
What are the potential risks and rewards associated with this choice?
Have I gathered enough information and sought advice from trusted sources?
Low-Stack Decisions:
How does this decision contribute to my daily routines and well-being?
Can I simplify this decision to save mental energy for more important matters?
Is there a way to automate or streamline this choice to make it more efficient?
Quote of the week
I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions. - Stephen R. Covey
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