Test the Water

Diving in head-first without even checking the temperature is probably not a very wise thing to do. Any number of perils could be lying in wait beneath the surface. It would be so much wiser to dip a toe in first and test the water before easing oneself in. That seems logical, and definitely what I would advise my children to do with regard to all aspects of their lives.

Dithering Gets You Nowhere

However, when I was a child, I can vividly remember being dragged round the shops with my mother and eldest sister. Every prospective purchase involved a major conflab which absorbed all their attention and excluded me. The subject of interest, no matter from which end of the spectrum it came, was dissected and scrutinised to the nth degree. The humblest of economy toilet rolls received exactly the same treatment as the most luxurious designer bathroom suite.

All this painstaking analysis and discussion, however, would not result in a decision being made. 99% of the time they'd come away with nothing, and resolve instead to go back the next week to repeat the whole miserable exercise.

To them I'm sure it was a useful, enjoyable experience; time well spent. For me, the seemingly interminable boredom I suffered was hell. Those weekly expeditions, occurring as they did over several of my most formative years, moulded me into a short tempered, impatient adult with the mentality of the proverbial bull at a gate. This flaw of mine is not just restricted to shopping, it occurs in all aspects of my life where decision-making skills are required.

I have no patience for ditherers. To squander precious time procrastinating to me seems senseless. Life is too short. Better to dive in head-first, take the consequences and move on.

Weigh Up The Risks

I must say, this approach has seriously backfired on more than one occasion, and I don't recommend it, but I have been made the way I am. There has even been the odd time when it's enabled me to seize an advantage over more cautious types when I've been quicker off the mark.

Somewhere in all of this, I think there is a balance to be struck. By all means do some research, but don't spend hours agonising over every possible eventuality. Assess the level of risk. If the water is clear, you may wish to dive straight in, but if you can't see what you're getting into, beware in case there's something nasty lurking in the murky depths.

Make a Decision

And at the very last, however irrational it may seem, when you've done your research and assessed all the risks, don't ignore your instincts. They are usually right. If something inside you is telling you not to step of the board, whatever you do, don't.

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