What's the worst thing that can happen?

Colleagues,

There are lots of processes we can use to make decisions. 
 
When people come to me with particularly difficult situations, one of the things we discuss is risk v. reward. I ask two questions:

1. What’s the best thing that can happen?
2. What’s the worst thing that can happen?

 
Pam and I used these two questions to help us decide whether or not to end our hike early (Pam was struggling with a bad knee and the weather was predicted to get really cold). Prior to applying these questions, we were really struggling with what to do. Our answers went like this:
 
Keep hiking

• Best thing: two more days of fun
• Worst thing: Hypothermia and knee surgery

 
End early

• Best thing: enjoy quiet time together at home (mini staycation)
• Worst thing: get caught up in work and chores

 
Through this process we realized that our focus on completing the full 77 miles just didn’t make any sense and was misplaced.
 
Next time you are wrestling with an important decision, consider asking yourself what the best and worst outcomes would look like.
 
Do good and be well,
 
Frederick