The Sniff Test Li-Li the Cat on Decision Making

In 1938, in his landmark book Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill wrote: "Accurate analysis of over 25,000 men and women who had experienced failure disclosed the fact that lack of decision was near the head of the list of the 30 major causes of failure... Procrastination, the opposite of decision, is a common enemy which practically every man [and woman] must conquer... Analysis of several hundred people who had accumulated fortunes... disclosed the fact that every one of them had the habit of reaching decisions promptly." (Again, Hill wrote this is 1938, proving once again that truth and wisdom are timeless.)

Another important point Hill makes on the subject of decision making is about "keeping your own counsel," in other words, do NOT let the opinion of others influence your decisions. Accept advice from the select group you have (hopefully) gathered around you, people who are "in complete sympathy and harmony with your purpose," but, ultimately, make your own decisions based on the clarity of your goals.

Business and life coach David Neagle goes one step further. He suggests asking yourself four questions when you are faced with a decision to make.

Is this something I want to be, do, or have?

Is being, doing, or having this going to take me closer to my goal?

Is being, doing, or having this in harmony with Natural Law, meaning, more life to me and to others?

Is being, doing, or having this going to violate the rights of others, or will it take away their right to choose (the fundamental aspect of being human)?

What you want, of course, are three "Yeses" and a "No." Then, take immediate action on the opportunity presented before you.

Segue to Li-Li the Cat, a source of great wisdom in my life. (Yes, he's lying right here. Yes, he knows I'm writing about HIM. What else would I be doing? What else should I be doing?)

Li-Li is very clear about his goals, and food is way at the top of the list. So are safety and comfort, of course, and so is satisfying his curiosity to make sure that if something is going on, whatever it is, he needs to know about it and decide if it will benefit him-if it will take him closer to his goals.

And so... whatever it is, food that's being eaten by others, an empty bag or box, anything being moved from Point A to Point B... he is ON IT!

He is right there, and with a quick sniff, sniff, he quickly decides, No, not for me, or, Yes, I want a piece of this.

No muss, no fuss. Decision made quickly, and we're on to the next thing. Brilliant!

This is a very self-assured, well-adjusted, well taken care of kitty, so I think the benefits of quick and focused decision making speak for themselves!

Does he care about the opinion of others? Are you kidding? He is sure about his goals and who he is.

And so, in the spirit of taking wisdom where we find it-from the ages, from the present, or from a cat, I pass along this coaching tip!

Bonnie Hurd Smith writes about history, and how businesses can benefit from incorporating history into their marketing and community outreach to attract customers, improve customer loyalty, and secure a high status reputation in the communities they serve. She is a PR, marketing, event planning, and cultural tourism professional who also happens to be a respected historian, author, and public speaker.