The algorithm NO, a tool to make better decisions

In 2016 I received an unexpected call from a friend who invited me to make decisions. In it he offered me “my life's work”. I remember listening to the enthusiasm of his proposal with a mixture of sensations. The surprise and gratitude that he thought of me for the position, the curiosity of the unexpected but especially the serene and unequivocal feeling that he was going to say no. Before knowing everything that in the eyes of my friend made his proposal inalienable, I felt and knew that my decision was a NO.

The reason for that clarity connected with my purpose, my values ​​and goals that I had sufficiently explored before any phone rang. I think that this is a process to be carried out ideally in a non-reactive way and with the time it deserves. From this I learned to apply it to my current stage.

Now as a freelancer I am more exposed to opportunities and decisions than in my long years as a salaried employee.. Trying to get every decision right, I think it will be one of the keys in this final stage of my professional life.. In other words, When your predisposition is YES , improve on the NO, it is a sign of respect for oneself and a source of liberation of space and energy for others YES Click To Tweet.
The need, A commitment, enthusiasm or an unbridled vocation of service sometimes trap us in incoherence, frustration or unnecessary stress from 30 coins or less.

Freedom being one of the advantages of freelance, what is the point of being trapped in your own traps ?

Recognizing a yes or a no the first time is not usual or recommended. Needs, opportunities, own and other people's motivations and urgencies claim prominence at the same time. For this reason, and to combat my biases and inertias, I decided to partially delegate technology:

I have my own AlgoritNO , a digital advisor, a sequence of logical steps that help me make better decisions.

I think with my head, heart and pocket (in that order) with the time it deserves and with a simple tool, a simple spreadsheet that helps me reflect and decide better.

For every opportunity I ask myself about these ten aspects:

PURPOSE ¿ What work for ?

Question that goes beyond income. I remind myself of my personal and professional purpose (in that order) and I keep it in mind in every decision, in prosperity and especially, in adversity, as we say in the wedding vows. This first question is just a reminder to my conscience

VALUES ¿ I connect with those of the person and / or the organization ?

I try to work for good people on worthwhile projects (beyond my interests) and I decline every opportunity that comes from interests far from my values: I respect, Responsibility, Generosity and Optimism. A NO to this question connects directly to a graceful inflection

From here I evaluate every opportunity in my AlgoritNO assigning a value (1 a 5) to a number of factors. Each factor has a relative weight that weighs the final result. The weight of these factors may change depending on the stage of my life but not as a reaction to every opportunity.

These factors are:

IMPACT

While I can I prefer to choose projects with meaning and with a positive impact . That they contribute something directly or indirectly to people

RESPONSIBILITY

I value if I am prepared to do a job that meets the needs and expectations. I honestly take certain risks but I do not usually accept projects that I cannot do with guarantees. In professional services it seems fundamental

LEARNING

I appreciate learning as a relevant criterion when making professional decisions. It has been very useful and valuable to me to grow since I started working

ENJOYMENT

Working on what you want is a privilege, enjoy with it a decision. I value if this project will bring me more happiness or more concern

REMUNERATION

Invoices are not paid with professional accomplishment (at least directly) so I consider if my potential client values ​​my experience, knowledge and skills and if the compensation for my time and results is fair, reasonable and aligned to the market moment

AMORTIZATION

I value when effort and return are balanced. Every time my starting point and efficiency are higher. I always like to personalize the service but reinventing the wheel with pride and pretending to charge for it is not in my catalog.

PROJECTION

I always appreciate if the opportunity gives me notoriety or positive impact in my target market but not as an alternative to my fees.. Free kills as my friend Guillem Recolons says. I have been managing my personal brand for many years and I prefer to decide and invest myself in my visibility more based on trying to add value to my clients. They are my main promotion and source of opportunities

CONTRIBUTION

I consider if my work can help a person or organization in need. The help and willingness to return part of what was received during years of career is present in every decision

To check that my AlgoritNO it is useful to me I have fed it with data and decisions from the past. I have now carried out the evaluation of the professional decisions that I have made in the last 6 years: conferences, workshops, articles, lessons, collaborations and more intensely since I am freelance, Projects. In total about 200 decisions. I have tried to value each opportunity as I did at the time so as not to do so with the relative weight that each decision factor has in the present

The weighted average for each opportunity after the evaluation is a figure that suggests a decision to me. When I look at all my past decisions numerically (the ones suggested by the system and the ones I finally took) I better understand how I experienced each project and I refine my criteria to make better decisions in the present and in the future

When i started my professional trip the spreadsheets they began to increase us as professionals. 35 years later in my stage 4.0 help me again to be a better consultant.
That a simple tool reminds us on a daily basis who we are, what we want and where we are going is one more example of digital awareness and technology at our service, in this case make better decisions.

The calculations are made by the machine. The questions, criteria and values ​​are assigned by people. Decisions improve with this sum of intelligences Click To Tweet.
I trust my AlgoritNO help me stay centered, aligned to principles, more free and available for what really matters when serving my clients.