Where to look?

In addressing a situation, people usually look at 2 places:

• The past: "What happened?" This usually gives clues to root causes and triggers.
  
• The future: "What will happen?" This will help define outcomes and scenarios for the purpose of goal setting and risk management.
  

There is another important place to look:

• The present: Being in the present drives action and decision making.

Being conscious of where you are versus where your audience is will help address communication gaps. Obviously, if I am talking about the future and you are talking about the past, we are not going to connect...

An inability or unwillingness to be in the present will lead to the question, "What do I do NOW?", left unanswered. Next time you are caught in analysis-paralysis or meandering discussions, this is one of of the points to consider when looking to take action.

An argument for indecision may be, "I am not ready." This may be financial, emotional, physical or psychological readiness. Even if you are "not ready", you can still answer the question on what to do NOW. If the answer is "nothing" and the consequences are acceptable, then that is the reality to be dealt with.