Decisions, decisions, decisions…. There are the everyday decisions we make on autopilot. There are the big decisions that need more thought, discussion, and time before we make them. Then there are the decisions we keep hemming and hawing over, struggling to make a decision one way or the other.
As speakers, we have plenty of decisions to make. Sometimes those decisions develop their own nagging voice in our head. “This solution makes perfect sense. Why aren’t you doing this?”
It’s a good question. In fact, this decision dilemma was brought up front and center earlier this week on a Zoom call I was part of. One of the members was talking about technology and said, “Yes, you can try to get by with the free version of a program or an app. Or, you can pay the $50-$100 and actually let it do the job it’s intended to do.”
Ouch. That hit home because I tend to hem and haw when it comes to decisions around trying to figure out things like: what’s the best video editor program to buy, what CRM is going to do what I need it to do without breaking the bank, and what’s the best mileage program, preferably free (because mine isn’t working and the year is ticking by). But here’s the thing… I know I’m not the only one who hems and haws over speaker decisions that involve money. Many speakers I talk to struggle with knowing when the time is right to spend money on speaker coaching, technology, programs, gadgets, etc. Why?
It’s like we get stuck between the proverbial rock and a hard place! We might know we need to buy something speaker related, but instead of thinking about that purchase from a long-term ROI (return on investment) perspective, we get stuck focusing on how much it’s going to cost right now. If you’ve experienced this too, here are some workarounds:
Come up with a “no-brainer” price point. This means that if something costs less than a specific dollar limit of your choice, and you know it’s going to help you, you’re not going to hem and haw over the decision. You’re just going to invest in it! What should your price point be? That’s up to you.
Stop to consider any reasons why you shouldn’t spend the money. These are your pros and cons. Are there any red flags to investing the money? What’s the worst that can happen if you buy it? What’s the best that can happen? What’s your gut telling you? Make sure you take a long-term view here because what you’re really asking is if your speaking career is worth investing in!
Get advice from someone you trust. Obviously, there are times when another perspective is welcome. Choose that person wisely though. Don’t ask someone who’s going to give you the answer you want. Ask someone who appreciates your speaker goals and will ask you the right questions before providing you with their informed opinion.
I found this advice from Colin Powell and his 40/70 rule here. “Don’t take action if you only have enough information to give you a less than 40% chance of being right.” (You’d be shooting from the hip if you do.) “But don’t wait until you have enough facts to be 100% sure.” (By then you’re either too late or are overthinking.) “Once the information is in the 40 to 70 range, go with your gut.”
Of course, now that I’m at the end of this article, I’m stuck with one of the hardest decisions of all. Did I share enough information about making decisions with you? I hope so, because I’ve hit my “word count” and if I add any more words my editor will start cutting!
