SEPT 12 MEDIA RELEASE__Bluffton students, faculty and staff gathered for a recent forum led by Bethny Ricks ‘06, Bluffton University Trustee, executive consultant and author of Face Forward, who spoke on the topic of decisive decision making, a skill she describes as essential both personally and professionally.

“This topic is really important to me,” she began. “So important that when people ask me one of the skills that I focus on with my children, I say, well the litmus test for whether or not I am a good parent is whether or not they become decisive decision makers.”

Ricks defined decisive decision-making as “cutting through the noise… to make a clear, timely choice and then committing to it.” She stressed that moving “from opinions to action before the opportunity expires” is where confidence and growth are built.

She illustrated the importance of timely decision-making with a story about a college student who faced two job offers, one risky but lucrative, the other safe but uninspiring. “In her indecisiveness, she let her fear make the decision for her. She wasted time letting fear of what she potentially couldn’t do decide for her,” Ricks explained, noting the student took the more comfortable “safe” route. “That comfort […] actually ended up costing.”

Ricks explained the cost was not only financial but also personal, increasing self-doubt and allowing the student’s mind to question “what if?”

Her advice to students was to start small. “Make fast, low-stake decisions daily. Before you make the big decision, learn how to make small ones. Start hitting the low hurdle and that creates muscle memory.”

Other strategies included setting deadlines—“Don’t ideate for too long, deciding on something for a week is ridiculous,” she expressed. “Seek advice wisely, not endlessly,” she cautioned. “Every single time you ask everyone what they think about the decision you need to make, you are outsourcing your authority in your own life.”

Ricks encouraged students to own their choices with confidence. “Once you make the choice, you need to own it and then communicate it with confidence. And here’s the beautiful thing about decisions—when you make them, you can change your mind. No decision is permanent.”

Her presentation ended with a challenge, “Decisive decision making isn’t about always being right. It’s about refusing to let time, fear or other people decide your life for you. Indecision drains. Action teaches.”

The forum concluded with a Q&A session, where Bethny advised students to embrace empathy when their decisions impact others and, when facing multiple good options, to “pick the hard one, because the hard one is going to stretch you and teach you the most.”