1-Sentence-Summary: One Decision explains how flawed decisions occur and how you can avoid them by analyzing data at first, asking for fact-checked opinions, eliminating your biases and prejudice, and many more useful practices derived from psychological research.
Read in: 4 minutes
Favorite quote from the author:
One Decision is not going to motivate you to become a better person, nor is it going to tap you on the shoulder and make you feel better about the wrong decisions you’ve taken so far.
In contrast, this book will teach you how to go from the “stuck” feeling to “aha!” moments. It will teach you how to make better decisions by taking into account your personality and thought processes.
Although you may not realize it, the main obstacle you’re facing is probably your own assumptions and barriers. When you learn to let go of fear and prejudice, you become open to a large variety of opportunities and a life of abundance.
If you want to learn how to harness the power of your own brain, check out three of my favorite lessons from the book:
- Your assumptions and fear of the unknown are keeping you stuck in unhappy situations.
- Learn to adapt to the winds of change and keep an objective eye.
- People are valuable assets, and so is fact-checked unbiased data.
Let’s delve into these three lessons one by one and discover their true meaning and hidden value!
Lesson 1: There are opportunities to discover even in pitch dark if you know how to look for them.
When you focus on the opportunities, you become optimistic and solutions-oriented. You start looking for solutions instead of focusing on the problems that are right in front of your face.
I know that sounds pretty obvious, but think about it for a minute. We often convince ourselves that we know what’s going to happen next. Do you think that’s not the case? How many times have you postponed asking for a raise or going for a routine check-up on your health?
If you can think of a few occasions right away, it’s clear that you too, just like the rest of the humans, are wired to stay in your comfort zone of assumptions. What’s worse, we then make decisions based on those predictions—but more often than not, those predictions are not based on facts.
This is why it is crucial to stay focused on all the possible outcomes and how they could play out, as well as the solutions associated with all the scenarios. Then, just try to play out the best possible scenario for your situation.
Lesson 2: A mind that’s trained to adapt to different situations and stay neutral can navigate life more easily.
If you’re not careful, you might fall into the trap of overgeneralizing. This is when you make a determination based on very little evidence and apply it to a larger context—like deciding that all women are bad drivers because one woman almost hit you while driving on the highway.
To avoid this pitfall, zoom out from single events or stereotypes. In other words, be objective! This means you shouldn’t make a decision based on singular facts, but rather average them out and leave subjectivity aside, even if it’s not convenient on the spot.
Another great lesson from the book is to learn the skill of adaptability. Life is likely going to push you into new and unthinkable scenarios, regardless of your routine. If you want to come out stronger on the other side, you must learn to adapt.
For example, you might be inclined to think that girls are better dancers. One day, you decide to take dance lessons yourself, and on your first day, you see that your instructor is a man. Besides overgeneralizing, not being flexible can spoil that experience for you.
You might think that you chose the wrong class or that the professor is not going to provide you with any valuable lessons. However, these are all products of a rigid mind that won’t try out things before opinionating. Keep an open mind if you want to navigate life more easily!
Lesson 3: Before making any decisions, make sure to fact-check all your data and perhaps ask your team for a second opinion.
Whether you’re a CEO or just trying to figure out what to have for dinner, making decisions is an important part of life. While it may seem intimidating at first, there are some basic steps you can take to make the process easier and more effective.
First, put together a team to guide and support you in your decisions. This could mean an advisory council of trusted experts, or simply a few people who are willing to help you think through different options. People can be the most valuable asset you have at times, especially if they’re the right ones.
Second, always base your decisions on facts, not emotions. It’s easy to let strong feelings influence our decision-making—but this is not always beneficial! Instead of letting feelings lead the way, try taking some time to reflect on what data is available before making any decisions that have real-world consequences.
Finally, never make a decision without having all the necessary information at hand. If there are unknown details about how something works or how much it costs, don’t assume anything; always ask questions until everything is crystal clear!
One Decision Review
One Decision is a great lecture for everyone looking to improve their lives and actively shape them by making better decisions. The book will help you recognize your limiting anchors and get rid of them for your own well-being.
The advice received serves as a tool for identifying and eliminating self-limiting beliefs, which are often masked as “truths” or “facts.” As a result, you’ll make better decisions, improve your relationships and grow in your career.
Nevertheless, reading it will help you understand where your thinking process goes downhill and how to be proactive in the decision-making process in order to choose a better life.
Who would I recommend the One Decision summary to?
The 45-year-old person going through a mid-life crisis, the 30-year-old employee who wants to become more proactive in their life and climb the career ladder faster, or the 34-year-old late boomer who wants to learn how to take charge of their life.
