Decision Model Detail Steps 1 and 2

The following provides a detailed description of the steps of the process with an example from a real career decision made by Norm in 1987 ...

STEP 1: Be certain of the decision you are to make.  Are you deciding on a job from a particular set of jobs?  A kind of job?  A direction for your career?  It is very important to know the level of your decision.  Make a statement that demonstrates the decision you are to make.

example from Norm's 1987 decision:

"I want to identify a long-term direction and begin taking steps to achieve change in my career, change that will bring more fulfillment and happiness into my worklife." 

Step 2:  Take some time to do some introspective work.  Consider your values, interests, skill preferences, and personality type.  You can work with a career counselor to facilitate this work and help you to develop a specification of what you truly want and need at this time in your career.  Wants are different than needs in this analysis, needs are absolute and only you can declare “this I need, and I will not make a choice that does not allow for this need of mine.”  Wants are more variable, these are the things that you would say “I want this, but I would be able to do with less of it if I could get more of … (something else).

example from Norm's 1987 decision:

Self-assessment results:

• Enjoy working with people
• Have proven leadership/management abilities
• Have strong writing skills
• INJ (Introverted - depth of concentration, iNtuitive - creative, especially in the world of ideas, Feeling - empathy and listening, Judging- an organized planner interested in getting results
• Systems and systematic techniques - hardware/software, analytical tools (problem solving, decision-making, structured analysis and design, and project management
• systems and systematic techniques - hardware/software, analytical tools (problem solving, decision-making, structured analysis and design, and project management

From these self-assessment results, Norm crafted statements of WANTS and NEEDS

NEEDS:

• Need to be able to help people as a key part of my life and work
• Need to utilize my mental creative abilities to a great degree
• Need to have control of my time, my schedule, and decisions
• Need to make enough money to live without monetary problems

• Need to be able to attain necessary degree in no more than a 2-year program 

WANTS:

• Want to deal with people of all ages, all industries, and a culturally diverse population
• Want to capitalize on my business experience (organizational, systems, development)
• Want to use my systems, structured disciplines, leadership, and project skills want to use my teaching/facilitation skills want a profession with credentialing, professional colleagues, professional organizations, and publications for the field

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