Two Ways to Be Decisive

Decisiveness, or the ability to make fast, effective decisions, is key to your success. It allows you to take action, move forward and create a great future. All highly-successful people are decisive.

Indecision, on the other hand, can trap you in doubt and hesitation, preventing your progress. It stops you from succeeding.

10 Benefits

  1. Instead of overthinking, you decide.
  2. Instead of freezing in fear, you act.
  3. Instead of holding back, you move boldly.
  4. Instead of appearing uncertain, you look strong.
  5. Instead of avoiding problems, you handle them.
  6. Instead of seeking opinions, you trust your decisions.
  7. Instead of constant worry, you enjoy life.
  8. Instead of drifting from one life game to another, you take control.
  9. Instead of regretting mistakes, you learn and move on.
  10. Instead of waiting for others to lead, you take charge.

Two Solutions

You can become decisive in two simple but powerful ways.

“One method of being decisive is to come up the Tone Scale.”
“Another method is to get decisive which brings you up the Tone Scale.” – L. Ron Hubbard (1952 lecture called “Decision”)

1. Raise Your Tone Level and Become Decisive

Your emotional tone directly affects your ability to make decisions. When you are low on the Tone Scale—such as fear or anger—decision-making feels difficult or overwhelming.

However, if you move yourself up the Tone Scale, you become more decisive. When you are cheerful, enthusiastic or exhilarated, you become decisive. You see options clearly and act without hesitation.

Example: Anna Gets Decisive

For example, Anna can’t find a job. She is not sure what she wants to do. She mulls over her choices day after day.

She thinks, “Should I be an animal rescue worker? Video creator? Yoga instructor? Nonprofit organization team member? Painter? I just can’t decide!”

She asks her parents, her friends and an AI chatbot. Nothing helps her decide.

So she tries the first method for being decisive.

She uses three Mood Boosters to stop being frustrated and come up the Tone Scale. She gets up and cleans out her closet, takes a nature walk and has tea with her lonely elderly neighbor.

Anna’s tone level jumps up to cheerfulness. She tells herself, “OK, let’s take another look at this.”

She writes down, “What job do I want?” Within seconds, she knows her answer: Nonprofit team member!

She goes for it.

She easily lands a job with her favorite nonprofit. She tells everyone she knows, “I’ve finally found my dream job.”

Anna loves being more decisive.

2. Get Decisive and Raise Your Tone Level

The second approach works in reverse. You decide to be decisive and then act. By making decisions and taking action, you move up the Tone Scale.

To do this, you do not wait, you choose.

You make any decision at all. It doesn’t need to be perfect. What matters is that you just do it.

Because you move up the Tone Scale, you feel terrific!

If a decision turns out to be wrong, simply change it.

Example: Paul Gets Decisive

For example, Paul has a small website-building business for local clients. When he started it five years earlier, it went well, but over time the business slowed down. Potential clients found lower prices elsewhere, AI website-building tools were emerging and Paul’s projects took longer than he promised. His income dropped by half.

Paul constantly asks himself,

  • Should I switch to something else?
  • Should I cut my fees in half?
  • Should I find ways to make my websites into masterpieces?
  • Should I start something else?

He spends hours watching self-improvement videos, listening to experts and looking for opportunities. Nothing helps him decide.

As weeks pass, Paul’s bills pile up and he sinks into fear. His business numbers keep dropping.

He learns about this second method for being decisive and gives it a try.

He acts boldly and decides, “For the next 90 days, I will change direction.”

He narrows his business to just creating simple, fast websites for local businesses. He will give everyone the same price and build the websites in just two days.

Just by making a decision, his tone rises. The choice might be right or wrong; it doesn’t matter right now. He is being decisive and this makes him enthusiastic and productive.

At the end of 90 days, Paul will review his decision, but for now, he’s going for it!

5 Steps to Becoming Decisive Right Now

  1. Write down a decision you need to make.
    Do not analyze it. Just write it.
  2. Raise your tone until you feel cheerful or higher.
    Use the Mood Boosters or anything else that helps you climb up the Tone Scale.
  3. Make the decision.
  4. If this first method does not work, use the other method and BE decisive.
    Make the decision. Boom. You’ll come up the Tone Scale. If the decision is wrong, just change it later.
  5. Take action. Take the first step, in the real world, based on your choice.
    You are now decisive.

As a result, your confidence and energy increases. You can now take on bigger decisions. You even have more fun.

Go for it!

Read also “How to Make Great Decisions.”