I'm standing at Harbour Bridge Climb counter in Sydney, chaos reigning in my brain. Do I hand over $200 for the frightening once-in-a-lifetime adventure of climbing the bridge, or do I sneak out quietly? I hesitate and weigh the consequences in 10 minutes, 10 months, 10 years. Do I join my friends on the climb or run for the door?

• How will I feel in 10 minutes? The same as now, I imagine: my stomach in knots as I halfheartedly join in my friends' frivolity, tortured by each glance out the window at the behemoth bridge.
• How will I feel in 10 months? This question draws me into a candid conversation with myself. I see myself boasting to a co-worker who notices the photo on my desk. "Did you climb the Harbour Bridge?" I launch into my story, elaborating on the grisly details. Suddenly I feel the urge to jump into my harness and go. I want to live that story.
• How will I feel in 10 years? Incredulous that I let fear hold me back from an obvious good time. I run through a few more outrageous schemes my friends have planned: on a zip line in the Costa Rican rainforest, scuba diving with barracuda in Cambodia.

10-10-10 is the catchy phrase for a decision-making tool Suzy Welch describes in 10-10-10. 10 Minutes, 10 Months, 10 Years, a Life Transforming Idea. Her self-help business book updates the age-old wisdom of viewing the impact of a decision in immediate, short-term and long-run time frames.

Suzy Welch came up with 10-10-10 to deal with the on-going dilemma of career and children. A management consultant at Bain and Company, she says no one worked harder. "The day after I had my fourth baby, I was on the phone with my team discussing a client presentation. Eight days after she was born, we had a team meeting in my bedroom while I was nursing her," she said in a recent interview. "When I went on to work at Harvard Business Review, I would work all day, rush home to put my kids to bed, and then edit manuscripts until 1 in the morning. And I would be up at 6 a.m. to start it all over." Trying to make everyone happy, her life was spinning out of control. She eventually wised up and wrote a book.

When you have a bridge to climb, weigh your options Welch delivers advice worth taking. On impulse you may agree to something-like climbing a bridge. In the reality of the moment, a framework like 10-10-10 helps you sort out the options. You naturally move from being impulsive and reactive to being deliberate. The 10-10-10 technique works for decisions as mundane as whether to cancel an appointment or as life altering as whether to leave your job.

Taking stock of the pros and cons in the immediate, short-term and long-term makes answers pop out. Is leaving your job, for example, the best option? The answer, let's say, is to have a candid conversation with your boss. You're sweating but you want to know: Do I have upward mobility here? Will I get a good recommendation when I leave? As you weigh the consequences of moving on, what are the ups and downs? How critical is financial security? How do you want to live? What matters to you? This questioning shows your emotional intelligence, makes you feel smart and gives you an edge.

You'll also appear smart and confident to others who may ask: Did you spend the weekend at a life-management skills seminar? You stand out because most people don't take time to look past immediate consequences. Applying 10-10-10 simplifies tough decisions, illuminating life's darkest hours with lightning-bolt clarity.

Back to my dark hour at the counter, I plunk down $200. I feel empowered, confident but still sweating as I change into a gray suit and harness. Ten minutes into the climb, my eyes on the horizon, the dazzling view turns my angst into fun. The rest of the climb I feel like rocketing fireworks. My friends can see it in my smile when we pose for pictures at the highest point.

Written by Donna Ann Peck

Published by Plugin.com

Source http://www.silversoft.com/articles/2009/06/three-steps-to-savvy-decision-making/