Decisions You Only Need to Make Once

"We're partial to putting out large amounts of money where we won't have to make another decision. If you buy something because it's undervalued, then you have to think about selling it when it approaches your calculation of its intrinsic value. That's hard. But if you can buy a few great companies, then you can sit on your ass. That's a good thing." – Charlie Munger.

We often spend a lot of time and energy trying to be smart, but Charlie believed that simply avoiding stupidity was a better approach.

And it turns out that not being stupid is much easier than trying to be smart. Avoiding stupidity can be as simple as thinking carefully about decisions that only need to be made once, then fully committing to those decisions.

Athletes can apply this same principle. What decisions can you make once that will significantly improve your chances of success? Here are a few examples that come to mind:

• - Exercise for at least 45 minutes a day
• - Exercise at least six days a week
• - If you feel worse after the warm-up, stop the workout
• - No more than one alcoholic drink per day (or better yet, per week)
• - Get at least 8 hours of sleep each night
• - No TV or movies after 8 p.m.
• - Take a 20-minute walk each day (or longer)
• - No sugary foods or drinks after 6 p.m.

As with all good things, following a list like this requires commitment, but that’s what being an athlete is all about. Nothing on the list is complicated or requires special insight or intelligence. A bonus benefit of creating a personal list like this is that it frees you from having to decide what kind of person you want to be each day.

If your list says you're the type of person who exercises for 45 minutes a day, you no longer have to wake up and decide if you're going to work out. You already know you’re the type of person who works out for at least 45 minutes a day, and come hell or high water, you’re going to get it done. It may not always be a great workout, a personal best, or even something original. Some days it won’t be pretty. But it will get done.

Once you’ve made your list and committed to it, just follow another of Charlie’s famous sayings: never interrupt the compounding.

Antonio Gonzalez

Tri Town Bicycles

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