# Perpetually Improve as a Decision Maker * The right call doesn't always get the intended outcome * Most of us just look at results. We assume that good people make good decisions and bad people make bad decisions. But now we can see that that is not true. * Remember, learning requires *reflection*. ### Two examples of decisions * Buying the Truck * This turned out to be a poor decision. The price ended up growing significantly, I was caught up in the look of the truck, and I was trying to prove to Dom that I was different. * We used a ton of savings and in reality it our happiness did not increase an insane amount. We could have gotten another new car that had less to focus on and deal with, with a significantly smaller monthly payment. * Or, a used car that was still reasonably priced. * The excess money could then be used for a host of other things-Airbnbs, travel, etc. * I let the situation (certain local circumstances-we hadn't been able to travel due to covid and we were craving it) get the best of me and my emotions * Moving to Buffalo * This turned out to be a good decision overall * We have way more space and are having the chance to really build the relationship with my family * Now, that doesn't mean it was perfect. The biggest mistake I made was obliterating our savings to pay for the truck, which then caused money to be a bit tighter now. * With that said, some of the pain and frustration that we are feeling presently was to be expected. Dom is making a career change and overall we have made sure it is going pretty well. ### What makes a good decision > A good process used intentionally. ### 12 Skills of Good Decision Making 1. Identify the type of decision 2. Define the root problem for yourself 3. Decide at the right time 4. Identify the most important thing 5. Own the framing of options 6. Think of the consequences 7. Get the best information 8. Follow your automatic behaviors 9. Prepare for multiple possible futures 10. Avoid Stupidity 11. Earn the confidence to act 12. Learn, regardless of the outcome