Are You Making Small Choices Or Large Choices?

Be aware of that large choices may in reality be smallwell and he is good money, but works long hours.
choices, and small choices may in reality be largeHe is making a big choice that looks like a small choice.
choices.The challenging part is that [until he talked to me] my
Buying a car is a small choice that just seems like ayoung friend didn't even know he was making a big
large choice.choice about his future without even knowing it.
Some people take weeks to decide which car theyThe fact he had made choices came out when I
will purchase. They check the reports, they do testasked him what his life goals were. It turns out he isn't
drives, they compare features, they do price checking.passionate working in his profession. To leverage what
The decision involves style, size, price, domestic orhis education and efforts to date, he has a new goal
foreign, colours, options, and manufacturer. Complexto get an MBA on a part time basis and then run a
choices include deciding to move from one style todivision of a company. This would allow him to
another, such as a car to a van, or a SUV to small car.leverage his professional training, while at the same
The other consideration is a new car versus a usedallow him to do something he thinks he will be
car. And a lease versus a full purchase versuspassionate about. A mature and well thought through
financing. These are the "logical" parts of the decision -concept.
add in the emotional part such as "How does the carWhere was his big choice that he didn't know he was
make you look?" and you have what seems like amaking?
large choice.He was choosing to continue working at this company.
Now lets consider if buying a car is a big choice or aWorking for this company doing under his current
small choice. The choice of a particular car wasn't thecontract was not helping him meet his long term goals.
real choice, the real choice Were they selecting theThe long hours, the gym, and being comfortable meant
particular car or were they deciding what you wantedhe had no time to do his MBA. With out going into his
out of a car and then selecting from the choices thatpersonal details, the rest of his life was in a perfect
were available.position to do start the MBA immediately and start
It certainly has the feel of a big choice- its a largemoving closer to long term goals.
amount of money. It will effect your lifestyle. When youLet's look at what it was costing him. (These numbers
use the car, its an irritant or an place of privacy. Theseare approximate reality and were chosen for easy
are immediate choices. And everybody "says" its anmath - the actual numbers are even worse).
important choice.Working at this company, doing what he is doing now,
When time and risk are added to our decision makingplus all the benefits, he makes $60,000/year. Working
the importance of the choice becomes smaller andat a different company, he would make 10,000.
smaller. For the majority of people, the purchase lastsTherefore this company is worth $10,000 extra a year.
three to seven years . When buying a new car, mostAt worst case it takes about 4 years part time to do
of the features, pricing, warranties, quality are similaran MBA. So switching companies for the length of
enough that there is little practical difference. Thetime it will take him to do the MBA, will cost him
shorter the average time you keep the car, the less(4×10,000) = $40,000
warranties and quality impact you. Even if you are likeOnce he gets his MBA, his first year salary will
me and keep cars a long time, (mine is 10 years old) -immediately jump to $100,000.
warranties make a slight difference.Therefore, after year 5, he is $10,000 positive, and
If you know what you want in a car, a small amount ofafter year 6, he is $50,000 in the positive.
effort will ensure you end with a car that you areThe bottom line, every year he delays is costing him
happy with. And if you make a mistake, its probably$50,000 and a greater risk that he won't be able to do
not going to be large and even if its large, it won't lastthe MBA because he won't be in such a good place in
very long, and there are many ways to get out of it.his personal life for the MBA.
The choice of a car is really just a large number ofOnce we had that discussion, being paid the hourly
small choices that reflect what you like, what will makewage, the gym membership and all the other nice
you feel good, and what will meet the majority of yourthings the company provided him didn't seem as
practical needs.important.
Buying a care is an example of a small choice thatThis is an example of a big choice masquerading as a
looks like a large choice.small choice.
Staying with a particular job is a large choice that looksWhat was different about my conversation?
like a small choice.I just asked a two simple questions.
I have a young friend (25 years old) who is doing theWhat are your goals?
practical work prior to receiving his professionalHow does what you are doing impact these goals?
designation. Lawyers, accountants, engineers, ect. allThese two questions will help you decide if the choices
have to do this kind of thing. He likes the company thatyou are making are big choices or little choices.
he works for. Unlike other companies, they pay him forSelecting a car choice normally has little to do with
every hour that he works, they give a freeyour life goals but a lot to do with enjoying life.
membership to a gym that is on site, they provideWhere you work and what you do when you work
coffee, soda, etc. for all the employees. They pay himhas a lot to do with your life goals.