# Decision-making **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 14, 2008, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decision-making/459979 "2008-08-14T14:47:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decision-making/459979/1 "2008-08-14T14:47:32Z")
Can anyone give me any tips? I have a terrible time making even small decisions. I don’t like to shop with other people because I know it’s very annoying for them when I run back and forth picking things up and putting them back down. Now I have a decision to make that involves several factors and I can’t seem to stop juggling it all around and act. The old “flip a coin and you’ll know what you want before it lands” trick isn’t working. I tried listing pros and cons, but some points carry a lot more weight than others. What do you do when you don’t know what to do??? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decision-making/459979/2 "2008-08-14T15:14:42Z")
My old man used to have some real zingers. Among them were these two gems: “Do _something_, even if its _wrong_!” “Sometimes doing nothing is the best you can do.” You are on your own. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decision-making/459979/3 "2008-08-14T15:17:14Z")
[QUOTE=Gatopescado] My old man used to have some real zingers. Among them were these two gems: “Do _something_, even if its _wrong_!” “Sometimes doing nothing is the best you can do.” You are on your own. [/QUOTE] I actually think this is good advice, and IS of some help. Sometimes making the second best choice is good enough, and was the _right_ choice at the time. I think people get trapped into believing there is only one right choice and the rest are therefore 100% wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decision-making/459979/4 "2008-08-14T16:26:09Z")
This is a great book on the subject: _Smart Choices: A Practical Guide to Making Better Decisions_ by John S. Hammond Ralph L. Keeney, Howard Raiffa > **[Smart Choices: A Practical Guide to Making Better Decisions: Hammond, John S.,...](https://www.amazon.com/Smart-Choices-Practical-Making-Decisions/dp/0767908864)** > > Smart Choices: A Practical Guide to Making Better Decisions \[Hammond, John S., Keeney, Ralph L., Raiffa, Howard\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. Smart Choices: A Practical Guide to Making Better Decisions It is based on academic research but written in plain English. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decision-making/459979/5 "2008-08-14T16:28:01Z")
I find that when I’m having that much trouble deciding something, that something else is wrong or I’m simply afraid of change. You just have to pick one and move in that direction or find out what is holding you back. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decision-making/459979/6 "2008-08-14T16:53:10Z")
Pencils have erasers. Mistakes are correctable. Begin a course of action and you can always change it if necessary. And remember Eternal Truth #33: All important decisions must be made on the basis of insufficient information. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decision-making/459979/7 "2008-08-14T16:59:15Z")
Gather information Weigh options Execute a plan That’s all there is to it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decision-making/459979/8 "2008-08-14T17:00:12Z")
Save your game often. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decision-making/459979/9 "2008-08-14T17:11:46Z")
I usually go with mo. ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decision-making/459979/10 "2008-08-14T17:11:50Z")
Make the decision with the least amount of options first. That will narrow things down and make your life a lot easier. Like say when you are buying a computer, decide on the processor first. There aren’t as many choices and it will reduce the options you have on the rest of your hardware. ---
**Author:** ![ShelliBean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@ShelliBean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShelliBean)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decision-making/459979/11 "2008-08-14T17:31:49Z")
Just accept that the worst thing that can happen is you will be wrong and you’ll have to go back and fix it and then you’ll know better next time. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decision-making/459979/12 "2008-08-14T18:09:15Z")
Let’s see, that’s a big thank you to everyone who replied (especially **Harriet** , because I dig book recommendations), and an affectionate thump to **Leaffan** , **Bosstone** , and **tdn**. I’ve read all the replies and considered them carefully and I believe I know what I’m going to do now. (I’ll change my mind at three in the morning, but never mind that.) Thanks, guys. ---
**Author:** ![taxi78cab](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47c2d/32.png) [@taxi78cab](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/taxi78cab)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decision-making/459979/13 "2008-08-14T18:46:11Z")
If you actually have a list of pros and cons and weights for each, you can use an analytical method to get an answer. In a spreadsheet, list the criteria down the left (say in column A) with the corresponding weight next to it (in column B). It’s best if you use weights that add up to 1 (or to 100% if you prefer). Then list the options across the top (say in row 1). Rate each option on each criteria in the corresponding cell (i.e. for the criteria in row 3 and the option in column D put the rating in cell D3). Use the same scale across all criteria if possible (say, a rating scale of 1-5 or if you have negatives on some options/criteria, -5 to +5 or -2 to +2). Then multiply the ratings times the weights for each option. Total up these ratings\*weights for each option across all criteria. The one with the highest total is the winner. This is hard to explain without an example so if this would be helpful and you’d like to see a sample spreadsheet, PM me with your email address and I’ll send a sample. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decision-making/459979/14 "2008-08-14T18:51:10Z")
Sure, why not? Even if I don’t apply it to this particular problem, I may use it in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decision-making/459979/15 "2008-08-14T18:51:35Z")
A bit of information I got from Kenny Rogers: You got to know when you hold 'em,… No wait. I once saw him interviewed and he said “Think about the worst that could happen. Then think about the worse that would plausibly happen. Then make your decision.” If I go to the Broadway show and sleep late, the worse that could possibly happen is I’ll be late to work the next day and be fired. The worse that would plausibly happen is I’ll be late to work and get chewed out. But it is a great show. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decision-making/459979/16 "2008-08-14T19:11:43Z")
Learn to love mistakes and any decision is easy. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decision-making/459979/17 "2008-08-14T19:48:57Z")
So if you don’t know before the coin lands just do what it says after it lands. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decision-making/459979/18 "2008-08-14T20:17:27Z")
What I usually do is make the decision, and then wait a few seconds to see how it feels. If my gut screams, “NO! WAIT!” then I reverse it. If I just get silence or vague uneasiness, I go ahead with it. (This is for “tie-breakers” that I can’t logic my way out of only, I don’t go with my gut when it involves wondering if I should walk in front of a moving bus or not.) I’m not sure if this will help or not, but researchers recently found that when you think you’ve made a decision, you’re wrong. You made it ages ago, in brain time. This suggests that we don’t make decisions with our conscious minds at all, rather we make them unconsciously and then \*rationalize \*that decision consciously. And if you put your mind to it, you can rationalize anything at all. 😃 [Recent article.](http://online.wsj.com/public/article_print/SB121450609076407973.html) ---
**Author:** ![Foxy40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Foxy40](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foxy40)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decision-making/459979/19 "2008-08-14T20:29:06Z")
I have no advice on this because I am the total opposite type. I make decisions in seconds and I get very frustrated with people that risk losing something they want due to being unsure. Case in point. I was at an auction with my sister. She was admiring a painting of an artist that she already has a few pieces. She kept going back and forth whether to bid on it. I got sick of hearing about it and just ended up winning it. “I will give it to you as a birthday present.” A couple of days later she handed me the money and said she wants to pay for it herself as she would be kicking herself had she had lost it. I guess the way I think about it is I’ve beat myself up in the past much more for the things I didn’t get than the things I did. If you feel the same, then the decisions are much easier. If you want it, can afford it then get it. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decision-making/459979/20 "2008-08-14T20:36:58Z")
[QUOTE=Lanzy] So if you don’t know before the coin lands just do what it says after it lands. [/QUOTE] Oh, that would be much too easy. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decision-making/459979.md?page=2)