Everybody is faced with hundreds of decisions they must make each day. Most of them are small, and you won’t even realise you are making them. For example: “Should I comb my hair before or after brushing my teeth?”

But then, once in a while, you also have one of those big decisions that come along. Something like: “Should I quit my job and start my own business?” or, “Is this investment a smart one?”

Whether big or small, the way you make decisions is important – especially if you want to become a successful entrepreneur one day.

So why not learn from some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs and greatest decision-makers ever:

1) When making those big life-changing choices:

I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself

2) Be cautious – but also brave:

 “Be Fearful When Others Are Greedy and Greedy When Others Are Fearful” – Warren Buffett

3) Allow others to make decisions too – don’t think you are right just because you are the boss:

If you want to hire great people and have them stay working for you, you have to let them make a lot of decisions

4) But don’t do it just to spare someone’s feelings:

“Leaders are obligated to respectfully challenge decisions when they disagree, even when doing so is uncomfortable or exhausting. Leaders have conviction and are tenacious. They do not compromise for the sake of social cohesion. Once a decision is determined, they commit wholly.” – Jeff Bezos

5) Follow your heart – but take your brain along:

“Sometimes you just have to trust your intuition.” — Bill Gates

6) Focus on your customers, not your critics:

“Over the years, our critics fretted about Virgin’s expansion into airlines, financial services and mobile phone services… I rarely paid attention (which also drew criticism from some analysts). My answer was always to focus on the customer experience, ensuring that we offered the best service, most innovative products and best value.” – Richard Branson

7) Know when to throw in the towel

Part of being a winner is knowing when enough is enough

8) Don’t let trivial decisions take up your time and energy

“You’ll see I wear only grey or blue suits… I’m trying to pare down decisions. I don’t want to make decisions about what I’m eating or wearing. Because I have too many other decisions to make.” – Mark Zuckerberg

9) The worst decision is indecision

“Also, at the end of the day there is no right way or one way to run a business. When you start a company, you think there is a road map or Holy Grail to success. There isn’t. I used to be so focused on doing things precisely like others who had success before me to avoid hitting snags, but that can ultimately hold you back.”  – Ryan Harwood

10) Start now

The biggest lesson learned is 'start now'

Are you an aspiring entrepreneur? Make sure to read 5 Things Start-Up Entrepreneurs Need to Know 

Also: have a look at the part-time Entrepreneurship Course you can study via distance learning with Oxbridge Academy.