I always tell individuals that I can’t make a decision for them, but I can share the process I use to evaluate career and personal opportunities.
What has helped me make critical decisions (e.g., should I accept the offer to work on project X?; should I agree to write book Y?; should I change positions?, etc.) is to regularly set aside periods of time where I update a “big picture” mind map where I maintain a visual schematic of my current major professional/work or contractual obligations, important personal goals, and “things I want to do…not have to do.”
I typically would perform this reflective process on an annual basis—most often during the XMAS EOY holiday lull. I used to do this annually. Later, when more mid-career, on a 4-5 year basis. I eventually shifted to a “whenever I need to” schedule.” The more flexible schedule was typically triggered by a new offer for an exciting project/decision that would disturb my comfortable cognitive-emotional state of homeostasis and plunge me into a state of cognitive-emotional disequilibrium.
The deliberate process of creating branches (and sub-branches) on a living-and-breathing visual figure, helped me see my “big picture”…and how it could change…or not. It allowed me to evaluate new opportunities and their potential outcomes and potential risks and benefits. I have always used MindManager…but many less expensive and basic mind-map apps or software (some free) can perform the same primary functions.
Why use a mind-map method instead of simply jotting things down in a linear format on paper or in a file? It is because I prefer to “see” all elements or options re a problem/decision on one page, and via the softwares tools, can easily depict relations between different branches or sub-branches in my figure, and can quickly and flexibly move map elements around as my thinking evolves. The process is empowering as it gives me a greater sense of personal control. One can play “what if” scenarios.
The past few months I had two offers for exciting new projects/professional opportunities. Both were very attractive, but I found myself in a semi-constant state of free-floating anxiety. After I recognized this uncomfortable internal cue, I realized I needed to update/revise my “opportunity decision making mind-map compass.” This time, I added a new branch to my big picture mind-map—the listing of 5 core principles for helping me make decisions about new opportunities during the current phase in my personal life journey and career.
The addition of the core principles helped me evaluate and decide how to respond to the two recent (and exciting) professional offers/activities. My core principles made it clear that I needed to gently say “thanks…but no.” Saying “no” has been a constant problem in my career. I know it is one that early or mid-career professionals often wrestle with.
If these two opportunities had been presented earlier in my career, when I had other career needs or stated objectives in my big picture (e.g., building a resume; building my university portfolio for tenure and promotion; needing more income), my decisions would likely have been different. This is why I view my big-picture decision making mind-map compass as a living and ever-changing overview of where I am at a point in time, and where I want to be…say, five years from now.
That’s it.
