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Today we’re introducing a new category to the blog: Now What? Q &A,  where we’ll answer questions we are often asked by our clients and readers.  We’d love to hear from you so please do send us your questions.  Chances are if you have the question, then so do a whole lot of other people.  Today’s question comes from a woman who is working the Now What? Coaching Program with Ginny Kravitz, Deputy Editor.

Question:

How do you know when you’ve moved from “research mode” to “decision made”?

Answer:

This question comes up often.  When you’re exploring various directions to pursue, how do you know when it’s time to say, “Okay, I’ve done enough research and my decision is made”?    

When you’re in research mode, it’s important to stay open and resist rushing to judgment.  The information you’re taking in will need to be sifted through and examined.  Does the opportunity you’re considering line up with your Life Blueprint (Who You Are) as well as your Criteria for Happiness (Your Needs and Values)?   Timing can be unpredictable and only you will know if you’re ready to declare the research “done”.  At some point however, it will be time to make a decision.  Gathering more and more data doesn’t culminate in some sort of guarantee that your new venture will be successful.  You just need to know enough to feel right about pursuing your new direction.  

Here is how Roberta, the person who submitted this question, ultimately answered it for herself:  When all the clues and your intuition lead you to a conclusion, then you have to trust yourself and move to a decision.  It’s a huge risk but it feels right.  I found that it took a lot of courage to go from “I’m figuring it out” to “I’ve decided” —there is something final about saying it out loud— but once I realized that I had in fact decided, I did a little dance.