While it’s generally good to be action-oriented (as my friend, Robert Ringer calls it, having a “bias toward action”) very seldom is it good to rush into things. While being decisive is often productive, rarely is it beneficial to act without thinking something through.

Before doing a major procedure, a good doctor will suggest her patient obtain a second opinion. Before receiving a major procedure, a good patient will insist upon obtaining a second opinion.

There is wisdom in taking that attitude into many areas of our lives. A friend recently wrote:

“I am learning that I need to be careful because in my attempts to add value I sometimes trip over things. I guess that is the downside of being a person of action!”

I can relate. My inclination is to get an idea and just run with it. Over the years, a certain solution has proven to be very beneficial. If I have any question about it, I first run the idea past someone I trust.

There are several people I do this with. And, some of them do the same with me, often using me as a similar-type sounding board.

Unless something is so vital that it MUST be done without forethought (and those times are rare), then discussing it with someone first allows you to be even more assured that your decision is the correct one. And, there’s no downside. If it’s good, you go with it; if it’s not, you make adjustments or squash it altogether.

Please don’t confuse this with “paralysis by analysis”, where you think something over to the point that it never gets done. Nor should this be confused with “perfectionism”. Both can stifle action and production.

I’m simply suggesting that, like a fired bullet, once something is written, said or done, it can’t be taken back. So, if the choice to get a second opinion is available, it probably couldn’t hurt to seek it out.

Have you found this to be true? What other ways have you found to ensure your decision is the right one?

In a recent post, Linda Ryan related that after a very near automobile accident, she was suddenly overcome with gratitude for what “didn’t happen.” She asked her readers if we thought that was “silly.”

No way. Here was my response:

[T]here have been plenty of times in my life (including near-collisions) where my gratitude over something bad not happening totally reframed my mood. I quickly went from taking things for granted (or even sadness/lack of gratitude for what I didn’t have), to being in a state of immense appreciation. Nothing “silly” about this at all. The good news is that — with enough active consciousness we can do this even without something scary like a near-accident to “wake us up.”

The Sages taught that we can reframe our attitude and mood by imagining losing our senses, such as our ability to see, hear, touch, etc. We can imagine losing everything financially or other uncomfortable situations. And, then, upon realizing that none of that actually happened, we can again live in a state of gratitude. Thank you for the awesome reminder, Ms. Ryan. Your posts continue to impress!!

Has something like that ever happened to you? And, how are you at shifting into a state of gratitude without something nearly horrendous happening to you first? I’d love to know.

In a recent post, Dr. Ivan Misner, Founder of BNI wrote the following:

“In this day of technology, our younger generation understands all the social media and how to communicate through texting, email, instant messaging, and Facebook. We, the slightly older generation, need them to help us wade through it.”

He then asked the following question, which I felt was extremely profound and thought-provoking:

“But does the younger generation really understand the importance of creating face-to-face personal relationships?”

I believe the term for this is “IRL” which stands for “in real life.” (I’m so hip)

In his article, he went on to relate a terrific story about a woman’s then 12-year-old daughter who absolutely does understand this. Of course, she was brought up with constant exposure to the positivity and professional networking of BNI.

Most children, however, do not have that advantage. And, their communication skills are often limited to 140 characters with abbreviated words and “emoticon-type”…emotions.

Not having children, I must admit I hadn’t previously given this too much thought. Based on the comments Dr. Misner received, however, many people realize this is a challenge.

What do you think about this? Are children of the Computer Age growing up without learning actual IRL people skills? After all, they do go to school and participate in extra-curricular activities such as athletics. But, they also spend inordinate amounts of time on the computer and on their Smartphones texting one another. Will this hurt their ability to communicate in both personal and business relationships, as they get older?

And, if this is a challenge that we need to face up to, what do you see as a helpful solution?

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{Note: Later today I head to Chicago for my last public event of the year. I’ll be back online Friday. Tomorrow, I’ve scheduled a posting of a brief interview with the amazing, Harvey Mackay, where he shares some hard-hitting wisdom from his brand new book, The Mackay MBA Of Selling In The Real World. I believe you’ll want to listen to this one, as Harvey shares some info that is…Primo Harvey! (That means it’s reallllly goooood!)

It’s not really a “guest post” per se. My adopted human, Bob Burg is out of town and technophobe that he is, probably won’t even see this until he gets back (which, I must admit, I never know when that is, which annoys me, but not that much. I don’t really miss Bob, nor do I need him. And, fortunately, our nice neighbor, Mrs. McLain, or one of her cute kids feeds me, so I don’t really miss Bob at all).

You might be wondering how I even got to post this. I’m more clever than you might imagine. I’ve watched Bob on this cool iMac enough to know how this works. Easy enough to tap into his Internet. Of course, he’ll be ticked. But, do I look like I care? Let’s put it this way; if I look like I care…I don’t!

Plain and simply, Bob is annoying. While I must admit, he does have a way of knowing exactly where to scratch me behind the ears (purrrrrrrr), and prepares the most delicious catnip imaginable, he’s really a pain. He has the nerve to insists on “fist bumps” where he holds out his fist and I’m supposed to bump my head into it. Yes, very mature, Bob, very mature…NOT!

I know he has posted about me before and, quite frankly, I don’t like it. Who does he think he is sharing my adorableness with others without my permission!?

So, since he has ruined my reputation and violated my privacy, I might as well tell you about myself from my point of view (yes, I italicized “my.” I’m very smart. Did you have any doubt?)

Name: Liberty (get this…sometimes he calls me Liberty “Burg.” What a putz. Like I would take his last name. Never!)

Favorite human: Stewie Griffin from Family Guy. Ha!…Bob thinks I hang out in the living room with him so that he can scratch me behind the ears (purrrrrrrr). Absolutely not! I’m in there to learn world domination from Stewie!

Least favorite human: Bob Burg. Who does he think he is, calling himself “Daddy.” How dare he!? If it wasn’t for his amazing ability to scratch behind my ears (purrrrrrrr) he would be useless. And, the catnip. And the two meals he feeds me. And the snacks. But, I don’t need him to do any of that. I could easily do it myself. Except for the ears part (purrrrrrrr). But even that is no biggie.

Other least favorite human: The lawnmower guy.

Favorite entertainment: Watching dogs suck up to their humans. It’s so amusing; they actually seem to love their humans and desire that their humans love them. How silly. I can’t imagine such a thing!

How I met Bob: Was wandering the neighborhood when I saw him. Trained him little by little to feed me, let him get closer and closer to me until I would eventually come inside his house to eat and then go sleep on his porch. Actually, he only thinks it’s his porch. It’s really mine, and he may not come out here unless I’m outside playing.

Well, don’t tell Bob I did this. In fact, I might just delete it before he gets home, whenever that is. I miss hi….errr, I mean, I miss hitting him with my paw when he doesn’t do exactly as I demand.

Such as scratching me behind the ears (purrrrrrrr).

There’s a company I do business with – for now anyway – that has a very expensive product. It’s an excellent product and it’s a case where the importance of high quality definitely beats low price. I’m happy to pay it.

The only challenge I have with them is that they are very slow to process and ship the product. Several times this has messed me up, even when I ordered well in advance just to ensure that didn’t happen. But, it did anyway.

They are very nice people; I think it’s just something within their system. I suspect (but absolutely do not know this for certain) that they probably only ship on certain days in order to save money or time. In other words, they do what they perceive is in their best interest; not mine.

Now, if this is the case, I wouldn’t even mind and could work around it if they clued me in and let me know. Regardless of whatever their issue with shipping and timeliness are, they have made their problem, my (the customer’s) problem.

For now, because they have the best product and I have not been able to find a replacement that matches their quality, I’m still doing business with them. Once I find it, I’m switching. No, not because of price, but because they have consistently disappointed me with their service and lack of communication.

If this is happening with me, can we assume it is happening with many of their other customers? Most likely.

So, here’s the point: If enough other customers are looking to switch – and eventually do – the company will either go out of business or at least see significantly decreased market-share.

The question is, “will they know why?” Will they know that it’s because they did not deliver in a way appropriate to keeping their customers satisfied?

Or, will they complain how you just can’t sell a premium-priced product in “this economy?”

Somehow, I suspect it’s the latter…and that’s a shame.