Deciding too fast is risky: Most bad decisions come from deciding too fast, with too little information. The first step is to stop and ask: what do I actually know, and what do I only guess?
Write the facts down: Write down the facts in simple words:
- What is the real problem? Say it in one sentence.
- What do I know for sure?
- What do I still need to find out?
- What happens if I do nothing?
Enough is enough: You do not need perfect information. You need enough to decide well.
Example
Imran's broken washing machine: The family's old washing machine breaks down. Imran wants to buy the first new one he sees in the shop.
One evening of facts: His wife asks him to stop for one evening. They write down the facts: the budget is Rs. 60,000, the shop offers a one-year warranty, and another shop has the same model for Rs. 8,000 less.
Facts make choice easy: With those facts, the choice becomes easy. Without them, he would have paid more for the same machine.
Key Terms
- Facts (حقائق) — things you know for sure
- Guess (اندازہ) — something you think is true but have not checked
Fresh diagram to be drawn: A simple four-question checklist card: What is the problem? What do I know? What must I find out? What if I do nothing?
- Stop before you decide, and separate facts from guesses.
- Write the real problem in one sentence, then find out what you still need to know.