Decisions

“A good decision is based on knowledge and not on numbers” Plato

What a frustrating Sunday for us 49er fans this weekend. They start a quarterback that is there to stretch the field, and yet they played conservative. Not to take anything away from the Rams defense at all, I thought they played an outstanding game. It all comes down to decisions. Coach Harbaugh decided to start Colin Kapernick three weeks ago to install a much needed deep threat to part of the offense. But, where was it yesterday? The decision to pass seven yards when you need 15 plus yards on third down and run Gore up the middle on a 2^nd and 20 against seven men in the box is not good decision making.

There are plenty of other added failures and mistakes, but it almost always comes down to the leadership making decisions. You may have heard the cliché, “Everything rises and falls on leadership”.

I was also interested in watching Tigers tournament that is played every year at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks California, where there are many decisions being made at every hole by every player. I’m a golf fanatic. I enjoy all of the intricacies of the swing as well as the mental aspect. Decisions are a part of sports as well as our everyday walk. I started our blog with a with a video of Rickie Fowler because he needed to make a decision that may not seem that big to most viewers, but it took practice, planning and the execution to get the result he received. He needed to access the position where and how far to drive the ball to the wedge shot he pulled.

Why am I talking about these types of decisions? I like to relate golf and sports in general to our decisions we make in everyday life. In sports we practice in order to execute on game day. We practice certain plays or shots over and over during practice, so when the time comes, your decisions become part of the habit you have built into your game so it becomes just what you do, you make the play or the shot.

So today, I would like to ask you, what are you doing to build correct decision making into your life? I have learned that when you are under pressure and it’s time to make those crucial decisions, your true identity comes forth. Many times we make decisions because we are scared, angry, want revenge, hurt and the many other reasons we seem to get ourselves into. The guys on tour make shots because of the decision they made to work on their game. Coaches make decisions because of certain circumstances or the many other feelings, mentioned above.

As I watched my favorite team Sunday make decisions I was not happy about, I turned to watch Rickie Fowler make the shot on number 12 and the result was a proper decision flowed by excellent execution. It reminded me of many different stories in the bible of men who made bad choices and others who had made wise decisions. The decisions that stood out for me in this segment were found in Isaiah 30:21 “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, this is the way; walk in it."

So, are you listening to that voice when needed, or you’re not sure? Or worse, are you just avoiding that voice and turning your back on it, because it’s not what you want to hear at this particular time in your life? Many of us make decisions based on what we know and the worst part is most of us may be afraid to know.

Just two thoughts I would like to leave you with today. First, when we make decisions, it not only affects us, but our decisions have an impact on others. Yes, every decision you and I make has some kind of an effect on other people. Second and more importantly, when you make decisions who are you listening to? Our decisions always come from some kind of influence…always!

The 49er’s made a decision on what they were influenced by. Rickie Fowler made a decision on what he was influenced by. Who and what are you influenced by?