Top Time Tip #129
 Do You Ever Struggle To Make The Right Decision?

Last week I interviewed a truly inspiring lady for our GettingAGrip Inner Circle Members' monthly interview. Glenna Salsbury CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) has many credits to her name, including Past President of the US National Speakers Association. My first introduction to her was years ago when I read her inspiring story in 'Chicken Soup for the Soul'. She's also the author of best-seller 'The Art of the Fresh Start'.

Our hour-long interview on 'How To Achieve The Desires Of Your Heart' is packed with practical advice. Here's a snippet from Glenna to also share with my Top Time Tips readers - on making decisions.

'One of the things we are challenged with is making decisions.  Any decision that moves us out of status quo tends to drain our energy and causes us to lose focus. We don't think very clearly when it comes to difficult decision making. Instead, we tend to chase our tails. 

'For example, we may say 'my business isn't working; we're not making enough money; I should change jobs or go out and get a job'. Or, we may say 'I can't do that right now, I might miss a mortgage payment on my house'. And before we know it we're into, 'I can't do that'. 

'Then we get fearful about the perceived risks and so we stay where we are - and then we become negative and frustrated about that. All our attention is going on what we have talked ourselves into believing we can't do. 

'On a personal level we may say the same thing about a relationship. 'I really need to get out of this relationship but I don't have the money to go out and live on my own, so I'm stuck here' or 'I'm employed somewhere and I don't like my boss, so I should leave, but I really can't afford to'.

'I have a phrase that helps me.

'We are where we are, because we haven't taken
ourselves someplace else.'

We tend to blame people - that is our first step for unhappiness. We act as if it's someone else's fault, other than ours!

'Here's a formula to help us stop chasing our tails. It's called the Triple A B C, written on a page thus:

A   A    A

B

C

In any decision, no matter what it is, there are only three things you can do:

ALTER your current circumstance:
For example, move within a company. Maybe you're in sales and you're sick and tired of it, so you move to customer services.  You didn't quit the company - you altered your current experience. 

Ask yourself, 'Can I alter my current experience?'  If the answer is 'No', then I only have two options left.

AVOID the experience completely
If I live where I live and it's boiling hot and I don't like it then I have two options - I can't 'alter' the weather but I can AVOID the heat and move or I can go to the third A - accept.

ACCEPT (and quit complaining!)

Then, once you've accepted your situation:

BUILD your strength
Emotionally, physically, spiritually, mentally.

CHANGE your perspective
It's not always going to be like this.

'This process works better than a pros and cons list because that doesn't help you make a decision - you just move back and forth between the two lists.  With this simple method you just need to think clearly about what you're doing.  It enables us then to be clearly energetic and not whining over our current circumstances.'

To find more about Glenna, check out www.glennasalsbury.com.

And I do encourage you to listen to the whole interview - it's well worth the time. It's only available to our GettingAGrip Inner Circle members and you can have your own one month trial subscription for the princely sum of $1! (Which means you'll get Glenna's interview on CD if you're quick, or you'll be able to download it from the Members' private site.) You'll find full information at www.gettingagrip.com/products/membership.asp.

 Time To Order Your Diary Refills for 2010

Its time to order all your diary, refills and storage binder requirements for 2010.

See the selection of products available at

http://www.gettingagrip.com/products/books/Day-Timer.asp

Book Specials - Be Quick!

The publishers made a mistake and didn't sell out of all the old stock of two of our books before they did the next print run.  Therefore we have a few remaining copies of Getting A Grip on Leadership and Getting A Grip On The Paper War for sale at very reduced prices.

The content is exactly the same as the current version - only the cover is different.

To purchase your copy of either Getting A Grip on Leadership and/or Getting A Grip On The Paper War for half the normal price, please visit our Book specials product page at  http://www.gettingagrip.com/products/bookspecials.asp