Doing Your Homework
The truth is that brilliant flashes and split second decisions succeed because of all the time you have spent “staring” and working with the facts prior to that moment. We often speak of the value of fresh information—it’s the fuel for all good thinking, instant or not. What is the best kind of information? We suggest a real variety that balances:
- Hard and Soft
- External and Internal
- Written and Verbal
- Quantitative and Qualitative
- Facts and Instincts
- Managers and Employees
- Customers and Prospects
After you immerse yourself in all these kinds of information, you should have the background you need to make decisions when necessary. However, to make a good decision you must deliberately close the books, take off your analytical hat, and shift your stare to the horizon. In fact, this could be described as the essence of strategic thinking—achieving synthesis—taking your understanding beyond all the details, and identifying the best answer for the moment.
Do your homework so that you are ready to make better decisions when the moment arises.
-Mary Adams 2006
