[kai9]

if it's a business decision, then figures and data will be gathered and decision made after some research.

if it's a personal life decision, then i will gather some info about the choices. however ultimately, i rely on my gut feeling and what seems to be more in line with my heart's desires. i find that if i go around talking to dozens of people asking for their opinion, usually i end up not making the right decision because i wld be too scared to act.

what happens when there is no clear distinct path and you have to make a decision anyhow ? well, take a hint from Gandolf in the Lord of the Rings - "whenever in doubt, go where it smells right." *

i have a friend who once had a hard time making a career decision. i could see she was pretty distraught.. my advice to her was - it's not a life or death decision. even if things don't turn out as you desire, you can always adjust... as long as you don't run out of time or make a very bad decision with heavy consequences, you can always improve things along the way.

* fans of LOTR (movie) will remember one scene in the Fellowship of the Ring, where Gandolf was confronted with making a decision on which path to take through the misty mountains. his memories had failed him and he could not recall which way to take...