•What I’ve Learned about Decision-Making from Politicians, Celebrities and Other People
Posted By janice on November 7, 2011
You only have to look at the news to see rampant evidence of poor decision-making skills. The politicians who send inappropriate photos on Twitter. A celebrity who divorces after less than three months of marriage. The actress who blew off therapy and community service and now faces jail time.
We all face thousands of decisions every single day. We decide what to wear, what to eat for breakfast, what time to get up, what to do at work, what to keep, what to throw away – just to name a few.
When we see famous people make poor decisions, it’s easy to judge and chide them for their stupidity. However, we can learn a little something from the misfortunes of others.
Be yourself. One of my favorite scandals is the homophobic politician who winds up being caught in a gay bar. My friends and I all chuckle about it, but we also talk about how deeply sad it is that they were unable to be who they are. For myself, I know I am much happier being who I am and not who anyone thinks I should be. When you’re true to yourself, it’s easier to make the right decisions for you.
Have goals. Do you have goals? What is your purpose? When you have short-term and long-term goals, again it’s easier to make decisions. On the celebrity pages, we see people whose only goals seem to be what party they’re attending that night. When reality show celebrities have the goal of being famous, their decision-making skills are based on what would be good for their show or career versus what is really good for them.
Some would argue decisions regarding fame could be a good thing since it brings in money and attention, and most of us would like to have at least more money. Money and fame are empty when you’re not living with purpose.
Know when to walk away. Sometimes people stay too long at the party. When celebrities and politicians plea for privacy during a divorce or some other issue, we may snicker since they’re always doing something to garner attention. It’s important to know when you need to walk away from a situation, a goal or a relationship.
In my last two jobs, I stayed a year too long but I made the decision to stay. To say I was unhappy is an understatement. On the bright side, my experiences have made me who I am today, and I like myself so that time wasn’t wasted since I learned the lesson I needed to learn. With my current job, I haven’t felt that way, and I will mark my 12th anniversary in January.
By knowing your boundaries, you will know when it’s time to walk away. Now this walking away doesn’t necessarily mean you’re leaving your job or spouse. Sometimes it’s as simple as abandoning a project you have outgrown or no longer have interest in.
The next time a political or celebrity scandal breaks, just see what you can learn from them.
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