Michael has worked internationally in the development and retail sectors for 30 years. Over this time, he has created a unique end-user methodology using neuro-architecture and design anthropology which delivers long-term results. This methodology produces distinctive, competitive environments which are economically viable to build.
Transcript:
What does great decision making look and feel like for you?
My biggest decisions have always been based on goose bumps; this just feels right. I suppose it’s the emotional and the rational integration that manifests itself in goose bumps.
Describe a time you were at your decision making best.
The first time I experienced it I was at school and I didn’t know what I wanted to do, and I did this career advisory test. Now, boarding school was all about, you had to be a lawyer or doctor or chartered accountant. I wasn’t any of those things so the school was at a loss to know what I should do, and I was at a loss. Anyway the results of the careers thing, it said sharpen your swords in art with a view to doing something architecturally related, and that just went yes! That’s right! And so I went to art college for two years and the rest is history. It was the right decision, it was just, this feels right.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to be a better decision maker?
Head, heart and gut. Listen to all three. And don’t rush.
What kind of decision maker are you?
Intuitive, mostly. Sometimes I’ll be the more complex ones, I’ll be more rational, but I generally go for walks. But it’s mostly intuitive.
When your ape is triggered what does it look like?
It looks like overwhelmed, I’m always trying to see the big picture, and therefore I go into sort of overwhelm I can’t connect anything.
How do you get your ape back in control?
Usually I will start writing things down. So I’m doing this talk at the moment, this only 5 to 7 minute talk, and I’m going “oh, there’s so, I don’t understand, I don’t know what I’m trying to say here”. So I get stuff down, put it down on paper, hoping for a look of thread, so it’s complete chaos but in that chaos something will emerge, a pattern, a theme will emerge. I suppose I go back into myself and start strategizing and planning and writing things down to try and put some order, and when I’ve got some order in place it makes me feel good, I feel back in control.
What strategy do you use to make significant, life changing decisions?
People have always said I’m a deep thinker, I’ve always gone beyond just the superficial and going to why, why, why, why are we doing this? To really understand. And I find that a really effective process, when you really start to unlock the real issues you can make significant changes. And that approach has meant that all of my clients have had long lasting solutions because it hasn’t been papering over the cracks.
Final thoughts…
Relationships and stories are more lasting than any financial or worldly recognition.
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