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A good strategy to use when making important decisions is the DECIDE Process.

Each letter of DECIDE represents a step in the process. Let's practice using the following scenario:

You have been working out and practicing basketball shots for the past six months. Team tryouts finally arrive, and all of your efforts have paid off because you make the team! When you get home from tryouts, your neighbor asks you if you would be available for an after school job helping out with some yard work and entertaining her four- and five-year-old kids. This after school job is exactly the same time as basketball practice. You really like your neighbor and the kids, and you could definitely use the money because you would like to purchase a new bike, but you really want to be on the basketball team.

Define the problem

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Explore the alternative

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Consider the consequences

Positives: 1. Make money for your bicycle

2. __________________________________________________________________________________

3.___________________________________________________________________________________

Negatives:1. __________________________________________________________________________________

2. ___________________________________________________________________________________

3.____________________________________________________________________________________

Identify your values

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Decide and act

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Evaluate the results (Write about what happens after you make your decision)

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for Evaluate your decision ask these quesrions:
how did your decision work out
how it affected your life
how has it affected others
what did you learn? If you could do it over agian,m what would you do differently

1 answer

Define the Problem
The problem is deciding between taking an after-school job helping my neighbor and her kids, which offers financial benefits, or attending basketball practice to pursue my passion for basketball after making the team.

Explore the Alternatives

  1. Accept the job with the neighbor, giving up basketball practice.
  2. Decline the job offer and focus on basketball practice.
  3. Suggest an alternative schedule for work, such as getting a different job on weekends or evenings.
  4. Discuss with my coach the possibility of flexible practice times or working out at a different hour.

Consider the Consequences

Positives:

  1. Make money for your bicycle.
  2. Build a relationship with my neighbor and gain experience caring for young children.
  3. Have a chance to help people in my community and potentially earn a good reference for future jobs.

Negatives:

  1. Risk losing my spot on the basketball team and the opportunity for personal growth in the sport.
  2. Miss out on team bonding experiences that happen during practice.
  3. May develop regret over not prioritizing my passion or feeling like I let down my teammates.

Identify Your Values

  • Passion for basketball and sportsmanship.
  • Responsibility and reliability when it comes to job commitments.
  • The importance of financial independence and saving for personal goals (like buying a bike).
  • Supporting my community and relationships with neighbors.

Decide and Act
After considering the alternatives and consequences, I decide to prioritize basketball practice by politely declining the job offer. I will suggest to my neighbor that I can help her once a week on weekends instead of after school, allowing me to still earn some money while committing to my sport.

Evaluate the Results
After making my decision, I attended all basketball practices and felt a sense of accomplishment as I developed my skills and connected with my teammates. I also helped my neighbor on weekends, which gave me the flexibility to earn some money and bond with the kids.

  1. How did your decision work out? It worked out well, as I felt fulfilled in both my sport and my role in the community.
  2. How did it affect your life? It strengthened my commitment to basketball and allowed me to maintain a good relationship with my neighbor.
  3. How has it affected others? My teammates appreciated my dedication, and my neighbor was grateful for my help on weekends.
  4. What did you learn? I learned that prioritizing my passions and being flexible led to a balance between work and play. If I could do it over again, I might explore more creative solutions early on to maintain a better balance.