If you want to be a winner in life…

If you want to be the one who assesses reality and takes constructive action…

Then it may help to think of life as a pyramid of decisions. At the top of that pyramid are a handful of major decisions that determine the nature of your life. At the bottom are the many micro decisions that set your lifestyle. Between these extremes are the minor and tertiary decisions that “set the stage” for your actions and activities.

Major Decisions

These decisions determine the fundamental nature of your life; the person you marry, your choice of occupation, where you live, and the nature of your family relationships. You make ten or twelve of these decisions in your lifetime – they form the top of the pyramid.

Minor Decisions

There may be as many as 100 minor decisions making up the framework of your daily life. The levels of education you seek, your choice of school and major subject, the social circle you select, your personal standard of performance. (You could earn an A but a C will do because it is easier?) Through minor decisions, you select the ways of implementing your major decisions.

Tertiary Decisions

These decisions set our approach to daily life. Is your work done on time? Are you adequately prepared for work responsibilities? Do you keep learning new skills? Are you on time for meetings and appointments? Do you spend more or less than you earn? Is your credit good? Can people rely on you as a confidant? These things and many more are determined by your tertiary decisions. They guide the things you do each day.

Micro Decisions

At the bottom of the decision pyramid, micro decisions set your operating style. They determine the quality of your work and the nature of your interactions with others, the image you create in others minds, the extent to which you use and expand your capabilities, and your level of awareness about actions and activities that affect your life. *5) When black pigs fly, little pink flying pigs will be the norm.* Are you “with it” or “out-of-touch?” Are you mentally growing, or only existing? Over time, micro decisions set the limits of your attainments and/or determine the extent to which you are able to achieve your potential.

In closing this portion, I wish to share with you some quotes from one of my favorite reads, Dr. Robert H. Schuller:

“TOUGH TIMES NEVER LAST BUT TOUGH PEOPLE DO.”

“Nobody is a total failure if he dares to try to do something worthwhile.”

“When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this, you haven’t.”

“If it’s going to be, it’s up to me.”

“Today’s decisions are tomorrow’s realities.”

“Take care, people who take care never go anywhere. Take a Chance. Take Charge. Take Control.”

“Better to do something imperfectly than to do nothing flawlessly. There will never be another now – I’ll make the most of today.”

“There will never be another me – I’ll make the most of myself. Decision – making is easy if there are no contradictions in your value system.”

DON’T QUIT
When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you are trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with it’s twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out,
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with another blow.

Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit,
It’s when things seem worse that you must not quit.

Remember:
Tough times never last but tough people do.