‘It’s always better to regret the things you have done, rather than the things you haven’t.’ That’s a piece of wisdom most of us have heard at some point. On the face of it, it’s hard to disagree with. Missed opportunities hang heavier than mistakes for most of us. However, that doesn’t mean it works for every decision.
A friend once offered me a similar piece of advice, but phrased it differently. He said that I ‘should always make the ‘do’ decision.’ I liked his way of putting it, but it reveals the closed nature of the logic in this advice. It forces you towards one side of every decision, regardless of the details. Most of us understand that it is impossible to deny the details of any decision.
No Decision Is A Decision
I prefer to take a different meaning from the ‘things you have done’ advice. I think it acts as a great reminder of the fact that inaction is a choice. When you choose not to do something, you have made a clear decision. That is totally different from avoiding making a decision, though the difference is subtle.
This subtle difference is important when you are deciding to sell your insurance agency. Many owners wait until it’s too late, or are forced to sell with limited planning because they avoided the decision for too long. That is totally different to owners who weighed up their options and then chose to wait to sell.
Owners who make a clear decision not to sell, have considered the situation. They have looked at the pros and cons and they have made a choice. If something happens to force their hand, they will find it easier to deal with because they have done some preparation. They will also find it easier to accept, because they made that choice.
It’s Always Better To Regret….
Owners who avoid a decision until they are forced, will find it more difficult to deal with that decision. They will have to make snap decisions with no preparation and limited information. They will also find the regret bites a little harder, because they avoided the decision.
In both of the above examples, the owners find themselves regretting something they didn’t do. However, the level of regret involved is totally different. We can use these examples to adapt that piece of wisdom a little. This is true in every decision, but especially true for owners considering the sale of their agency. It is always better to regret the choices you have made, than deal with the ones you haven’t.
