Managing Options - The Advantages of Closing a Few Doors - NY Times

Interesting article The Advantages of Closing a Few Doors in today's New York Times. I like a lot of what it says, don't agree with all of it (my option to disagree) but find that it resonates with a lot of the work I do with clients. We call it "managing options".

It's hard to choose. It's harder in today's world with the vast amount of choices we have for everything and our access to them through media and technology. Barry Schwartz makes some great points on the topic in his book The Paradox of Choice. You can also hear him speak about it here at a TED lecture.

The topic of managing options comes up all the time. Whether it's about managing career options, education options, educational institution options, work-life balance options, executive and management options, transition options (and with Daily Life Coaching 4 Kids it's parenting, behavior, school and skills options).

How to choose? What to choose? Well, the first place we begin is by Finding Focus . When working with clients and groups the first task, which is more complicated and exacting then it sounds, is to find focus. That includes asking and answering questions about life and career directions, goals, outcomes, wishes, dreams, hopes, expectations and realities. Whew!

But (I'll say that again)
BUT the great thing about it is that after you find your personal focus it's so much easier to manage options. It doesn't feel so agonizing to close doors because it's not a matter of shutting out something and other options, as much as freeing up your energy, time, emotions, enthusiasm and willingness to move forward without being tied to the "what ifs" and "maybes". You're able to let go of the magnetic field of maybes and shoulds that keep you tethered to those doors.

If you've found focus and know clearly what you want you can work toward getting it.

So today ask yourself one simple question (I'll ask more later)
What do I want?

Feel free to send me your thoughts, ideas or questions or to find out more about finding your focus by emailing me at rebecca at dailylifeconsulting dot com.

Enjoy the day - your way,
RK

Rebecca Kiki Weingarten M.Sc.Ed, MFA
Daily Life Consulting