A Free Saturday
I didn’t know what to do with myself.
It was a rare Saturday with NOTHING, I mean NOTHING, on the schedule. No plans, no commitments, no expectations.
Should I go for a hike?
Clean out my closet?
Run some errands?
Binge watch a favorite show?
Go to the park?
There were too many options. I didn’t know what to do with myself.
Has this ever happened to you?
It was too overwhelming because I had no idea how I was going to make my decision.
Did I want to be productive, or did I want to have fun?
Did I want to do something that would be enjoyable today, or set myself up for enjoyment in the future?
Did I want to do both?
I ultimately made the decision to work on a house project that I had been putting off because “I didn’t have time” (read: the work itself wouldn’t be that enjoyable), but I knew it would be something that would make a big difference once done.
I cleaned out the window well outside the egress window in my basement. It was a mess - the screen above had torn, so it was filled with leaves, debris, and trash that had blown in from the open space nearby. There was even a dead bird carcass. It was unpleasant. But once it was cleaned, the screening replaced, and a new poster of mountains installed over the silver window well walls, it was beautiful. Now, when I’m in that room in my basement, it almost feels like I’m above ground.
Have you ever had trouble choosing between options?
Often, the real issue is that we need to choose between values or priorities, not the actual options themselves.
The choice between two possible new features for your product may come down to a decision between prioritizing your biggest customer or the new customer segment you want to pursue.
The choice between going grocery shopping or getting the workout in may actually be prioritizing your fitness against your nutrition.
The choice on whether to accept a job offer may actually be a decision between bringing money in now and having a role that gives you room to grow.
Understanding the actual choices at hand often make the decision clearer. Here are three things you can keep in mind when considering decisions like these:
What are you saying with your choice?
As you consider each viable alternative, take a moment to consider what you’re really choosing with each option. What is your decision really signaling in your life?
Is the decision to speak up in the meeting because you have something to say, or you want others to see you have an opinion? Is your choice of restaurant because you know your partner will love it or because you want to be seen at the popular new spot?
Which choice better aligns with your values?
Once you get down to the core of the decision, which choice better aligns with the person you want to be, with the values you want to be true in your life?
Perhaps you’re choosing between two job offers. Does the money or the geography better support the life you want to create? Maybe you’re faced with a tough decision at work. Do you want to be the person focused on revenue today or future opportunities tomorrow?
Can you make your choices better align with your values?
Sometimes we have a tough time deciding because both options equally support (or don’t support) our values. Is there a way to make an option better align?
Perhaps you need to make a staffing decision on a major initiative. How can you set up the project to also align with the professional development interests of the people you’re responsible for? Maybe a friend invited you to coffee on Saturday, but you had plans to workout. Would your friend be willing to catch up at the gym or on a hike?
Some decisions are hard because they’re about more than what’s on the surface. When we peel back the layers to understand what the options are really about, consider which better aligns with our values, and make the options better align with who we want to be, the decisions become more clear. And with clarity comes the confidence that we’re making the right choice.
What decisions are hard for you today?
You’re here. You want to be there. I can help.
Let’s talk. Book time, and we’ll figure out how to get you unstuck and get going.
How will you iterate towards the person you’re becoming?
May 1, 2025
About the author:
Christina Von Stroh is a leadership coach who helps her clients become wildly successful by applying iterative software development practices to achieve their dreams. Want to work with Christina to help you iterate towards the person you’re becoming?
Book your free strategy session.
