Life lessons from Chubby (my dad) and other smart folks I’ve met on the road.

Chubby was perturbed. Restless, cranky it seemed.

“Dad,” I said, “What’s wrong?”

“I made a terrible decision,” he said.

“A sales agent named Joyce just left our firm. She took several agents with her, customers too. It’s going to cost me a lot.”

“I’m sorry,” I said. “Can I do anything?”

“Yes” Chubby responded. “Don’t make the same mistake.”

“What mistake?” I replied.

“I didn’t.” Dad answered.

“Didn’t what?” I asked.

“Greg,” Dad said. “I knew Joyce was a troublemaker. Late for sales meetings. Complained incessantly. Criticized the company. I should have fired her a long time ago.”

“Why didn’t you?” I asked.

“I violated my own rule.” Chubby answered. “I didn’t decide.”

I could see that Dad was angrier with himself than with Joyce.

“Years ago when I started the company,” Dad said.

“I decided that the worst decisions I’d make would be not to decide. That’s what I did with Joyce. I kept putting it off, hoping she’d change but knowing she wouldn’t.”

“I’m sorry.” I said. And I was. I felt bad for Dad.

“Greg,” Chubby instructed, “With every decision, there are only four options:

1. Decide “yes.”
2. Decide “no.”
3. Decide it’s best to delay.
4. Don’t decide.

Don’t confuse #3 with #4. It’s a critical mistake. That’s what I did with Joyce.

I didn’t decide it was best to delay. I knew better. Every day she was hurting the firm. I put it off . . .  I pulled a #4 wimp-out. And that, Greg, was the worst decision of all.”

The lesson I learned from Chubby that day?

Don’t pull #4 wimp-outs. 

The worst decisions are those you don’t make.