How do we make the decisions that we do?
Most of the time, we look at all the information that we have, factor in the potential results of each outcome and proceed with the alternative that gives us the best chance to get us to the desired outcome. Of course, some decisions are larger than others (what do I eat for lunch vs. do I move to Miami for a new job in a new industry), but the process of making a decision is conceptually the same. On October 6, 2010, I simultaneously faced both of these decisions and swift action was necessary.
Since it was 12:30 p.m. and my stomach was growling, I decided to tackle the lunch issue first. A cheeseburger from Houston’s or a Chicken Caesar salad from my favorite salad spot in Boston?
With the facts running through my mind, I spent sixty seconds deliberating, but in the end it was my desire to go for a late afternoon run that prevailed. I knew how much harder that run would be with a burger in my stomach. Chicken Caesar it was. It was now time for decision number two.
I sat down at the restaurant and began weighing the facts. On the one hand, I could decide to stay in Boston where I had grown up and spent the majority of my professional life. I could continue to work with the different start-up businesses that I had helped to launch and grow, remain close to the family and friends I had always been around and go buy a new coat for the approaching winter. With the exception of the cold weather, this was a pretty good option. The two businesses I had been working with at the time, in the IT staffing and alternative energy industries, were both doing well and were preparing for continued growth in 2011. The members of my family were all going through exciting periods in their own lives. I had a good group of friends in the city and each brought something different to the table. Life was good.
On the other hand existed the possibility of moving to Miami to work with Dr. Stephen Dresnick and his team in the healthcare industry. As I began to consider this option, I quickly realized I did not know enough about the South Florida business community. I needed more information to make this decision, so upon returning home, I hit the Web to learn more.
What I came to find was an industry and a community that were setting a standard for not only the rest of the country, but the world. Here was an international city that truly was the Ellis Island of the modern day. A place where people from around the globe could come and experience the opportunity to make a difference and an industry that had the resources and infrastructure to foster the innovative development of the future. As a young entrepreneur who prided himself on identifying opportunities to succeed and make a difference, the Miami healthcare industry had it all. It had top notch medical facilities, a diverse culture that encouraged creativity and individuals who were determined to push medical innovation to new levels.
But where did I want to be one year, five years, ten years, etc…? Although I had worked hard to accomplish what I had in Boston, it had gotten to the point where it was no longer a challenge and had become a safe option. On the other hand, Miami offered worlds of opportunity, but various unknowns.
Did I want to be safe or did I want the opportunity for something greater? It is a question that every one of us has had to answer at one point or another, and as my mother always told me, “only those who take chances can change the world.” With that in mind, I began packing my car and preparing for the drive south.
Although I have been here a short time, I am already seeing the opportunities that I had hoped I would. I have been fortunate to work with growing medical supplies companies and healthcare consulting firms on a first hand basis. I have learned about the challenges many public health systems face from the budget crisis at Jackson Memorial. But the best part has been the pleasure of meeting many of the individuals that make this South Florida healthcare community special.
I have seen there are various business angles within this community, but what puts a smile on my face every morning, is working in an industry that is making the world a better place. What the future holds will eventually be revealed to me, but what I know now is that I have decided to take a chance on it.
