Day 13 (7WJ) – Do You Avoid the Easy Route?

In case you didn’t notice, because I didn’t, I had two “Day 11’s”.  Now its fixed.  Onto Day 13!

Do you avoid the easy way of doing things?  If I was asked that question, I feel like I would reply honestly and say, “Oh NO!  Of course I don’t!”  But may be it’s what I’m doing and I don’t realize it.

Yesterday, I was asked to rearrange some travel plans.  I was happy to do it and all it involved was changing a flight to arrive one day earlier.  That simple task consumed me for the next 22 hours.  Clearly not the easy route.

I looked at one airline and then another, and another.  I checked multiple times.  I checked multiple options.  Could I cancel one half the flight?  Could I rebook the flight?  Could I book with another airline?  How would it work?  How much would it cost?  What time would I depart?  Arrive?  Oh MY!

Once I finally decided on just booking another outbound flight I spent three or more hours trying to reach Southwest Airlines.  They were down.  No website.  On hold for 2 hours.  May be I should rethink the plan, again!

I almost decided…or actually I decided to give it a try again once I got home.  Closed my web browsers.  Packed my briefcase…and then it hit me, “WHAT AM I DOING?”  Was I going to actually spend a few more hours on this simple/not-so-simple task?

In the next 10 minutes I cancelled my initial flight, so it could be applied to a later trip, and I booked a new flight.  It was slightly more expensive but now both flights were direct.  There.  Done.

Why didn’t I think to do that the first time?  What could I gain if I didn’t overthink…everything?  What would I gain if I just, “Did It”?

There are a lot of considerations that could have been in my way.  Did I want to save money?  Did I want to pick the perfect timing?  Did I want to make the “Right” decision? (by someone else’s judgement) Clearly, I didn’t WANT to avoid the easy route but that’s what my over thinking was doing to me.

So, I’m now going to try things a different way.  How fast can I make a decision and take action?  Yes or No! Make a decision and move on.  No over thinking, go with my initial gut.  Let’s get things moving!

I know that I’m not the only one who does this.  I know that other people make careful decisions and weigh their options, and may be it works for them.  But, may be it doesn’t.  Take action and correct the course later!  How much can you accomplish if you just get on with it?  How much can I?  I can’t wait to find out!