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Choosing Options

Written by: Jonathan Payne

Article Overview: We always have options as to what we will do. Often, we don’t explore those options or even acknowledge that they exist.

Choosing Options

You decided to spend this particular moment reading this article. It makes me so happy that you choose to spend your time reading what I have written, but I wonder how many other options you had. You could be doing something else. Perhaps I could ask why you are reading this article. Is it because your eye happened to fall on it? Or is it because you are a regular reader mine (now that would really make me happy – you should meet my other regular reader!)? Perhaps you have nothing else to do – or perhaps you have plenty of other things to do, so you are taking the avoidance route.

The point is, we always have options as to what we will do. Often, we don’t explore those options or even acknowledge that they exist. Our tendency is to take the most obvious course of action without a great deal thought as to what else could be done.

Exploring options can lead to creative use of our time and creative solutions to problems. Instead of taking the first idea that comes to mind, we could ask ourselves the question: “What else?” That question stretches our thinking, it challenges us to look for other ways of doing things. And don’t go for just one other option - stretch, do mental aerobics, push yourself and try to come up with at least three options. And then ask: “What else?” When you feel you have come up with all possible options, go for one more. There is always one more lying around waiting to be called on.
Allow your creative muse to help generate options. Brainstorm. Brainstorming means writing down every thought that comes to mind, even if it seems a bit off the wall. Some of the best solutions to problems have started as “off the wall” thoughts. When the storm subsides, look through your list and start exploring your options.

Generating options is a creative process, so do creative things. Write down anything that comes into your head. Draw, or just “doodle”, scribble around with a pencil, look out the window and enjoy the view, or mentally rearrange the view – allowing the mind to relax and giving it permission to be creative brings thoughts to the surface.

Once you are sure you have all the options on the table, begin to explore each one of them. Drill down into each one, looking at the pro’s and cons, the consequences of going with that option and the consequences of not going with it. Prioritise the options starting with those that most attract you – and from there begin to choose your course of action.

You have chosen to read this article to the very end. I’m sure you thought of all your options and decided that this was the best way to use your time. Now, what are you going to do next?

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Article Tags: avoidance, best solutions, brainstorming, creative muse, creative process, creative solutions, mental aerobics, muse, pencil, tendency



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Simple poll for the group. - On personal opinions only, what company represents Futures Options and why? I thank you, before hand for your interest and feedback...
Re: Google Calendar - Hi Mary, On FireFox go to Tools --> Options --> Security There is a box that says: Remember passwords for sites, check it. Next time you enter a PW firefox will ask you if you want to save it. If you go to security again you will see a button "Saved Passwords" click on it and it will open the list, with all the PW hidden, you can choose to hide or show them.
Re: What Do you Prefer More - Time or Money - [quote="Anelly":17acwl10]How did you created the poll because it's very nice and i few days ago i was asking myself if this option is available here.[/quote:17acwl10] Hi Anelly, When you're creating a new forum thread, you'll have the option to create a "poll". Just scroll down below the dialog box and you'll see a tab called "Poll Creation" on the right of the "Options" tab.
Re: Google Calendar - [quote="TannyL":33lhkxkp]Hi Mary, On FireFox go to Tools --> Options --> Security There is a box that says: Remember passwords for sites, check it. Next time you enter a PW firefox will ask you if you want to save it. If you go to security again you will see a button "Saved Passwords" click on it and it will open the list, with all the PW hidden, you can choose to hide or show them.[/quote:33lhkxkp] Hi Tanny I always get that pop up on FF asking if I want to save the password. Have always been too nervous to do it. I write my passwords down in a file so that they are not saved on the computer. Although some of them I save in a notebook on my computer. If saved in FF what happens if someone hacks in? MichelleJ
Re: Cash up front ... or Royalties? - It depends, especially since the question did not include many specifics. Take the following as an example: Sometimes a product is exclusively bought/licensed by a larger company for the sole purpose of keeping it off the market. Your decision has several options: Options: 1) all cash up front 2) all royalties 3) mixed up-front cash and royalties So, in this scenario, you would most likely go with primarily cash up front since there won't be sales to generate royalties. That is one example including a little bit of criteria for making the decision. Mixed is most common. I am not learned/experienced enough at this point to have criteria for calculating the mix. I do think I have seen equations in my reading that provide guidance here. So, it definitely depends on the situation, and probably more on the business situation than than the situation of your personal life. If you are fortunate enough to encounter this dilemma, be sure to hire a professional with demonstrated experience to help aid in negotiation. Inventors tend to get greedy when they face this opportunity. Don't be greedy. Listen to your professionals. More than one person has lost it all because of greed in this stage.


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