Brian Tracy presents the concept of "zero-based thinking": regularly re-evaluating past decisions by asking, "Is there anything I'm doing today that, knowing what I now know, I wouldn't get into again today?" He urges listeners to apply this question across life areas (especially job and career), identifies lingering commitments that fail this test as primary sources of stress and dissatisfaction, and counsels quick exit from such situations — noting people almost always regret not leaving sooner.
Chapters
Lets talk now about the habit of zero based thinking and how it can change your life. One of the most important habits you can ever develop is the habit of zero based thinking. In zero based thinking, you put every one of your previous decisions on trial for its life. On a regular basis you ask this question, is there anything that I am doing today that knowing what I now know, I wouldn't get into again today if I had to do it over? Apply this question to every part of your life, especially to your job, your career and your current situation. If you are not doing what you are currently doing, would you get into it again today knowing what you now know about this area? Asking and answering this question takes a good deal of courage. The fact is you in a world of rapid change, you will always have situations that with your current knowledge, you wouldn't get into again today if you had the choice. These situations will almost always be the primary causes of stress or dissatisfaction in your life. They will cause you the most aggravation and frustration. If you stay in a zero based situation long enough, it can even make you physically ill. Now if the answer to this question is there anything that I'm doing that I wouldn't get into again today? Is yes, then your next question should be how do I get out of this situation? And how fast? Often you can change your entire life by simply having the courage to face up to the fact that your previous decision has not turned out to be as good as you originally thought it would be. There's nothing wrong with this. You are not perfect. Everyone makes decisions they later regret. This will happen throughout your life. It's not possible for you to be successful and happy in your career or job if, knowing what you now know, you would not make the same decision if you had to do over again today. The only question you have to ask is how long are you going to stay in a situation that you know is not right for you? Now here's one final point. When you finally decide to get out of a bad situation, the only question that you will ever ask is why didn't I do this a long time ago? Nobody ever says, oh, I got out of this situation too soon. They always say, why didn't I do this a long time ago? So look into your life, look into your stress points and ask yourself, is there anything that you're doing today that knowing what you now know, you wouldn't get into? And if there is, get out of it as fast as you can.
