Taking an extravagant vacation over the winter break sounds like a dream come true. But merely deciding to take a trip isn’t enough to ensure that it will be a wonderful experience. To have an amazing vacation, it requires a series of smaller decisions to come together. Just like Henry Ford’s success in the car business, there is more to it than meets the eye.

Many people believe that Ford’s decision to mass-produce the Model T was the key to his success. However, what is often overlooked are the multitude of smaller decisions that contributed to the overall result. Ford reduced the standard workday from nine hours to eight and doubled the workers’ pay. These seemingly small decisions reduced employee turnover from 370 percent to just 16 percent and increased productivity from 40 percent to 70 percent. Ford’s focus on employee morale and investing in their well-being ultimately led to his success as the world’s greatest automobile maker and a billionaire. Additionally, he also reduced the price of the Model T from $800 to $350 over a nine-year period.

These actions of reducing work hours, increasing pay, and lowering the price of the car may seem counterintuitive and should have resulted in financial losses. However, it was the culmination of numerous smaller decisions that made mass production a resounding success. This highlights the fact that bigger does not always mean better.

Research shows that the human brain is wired for efficiency and seeks the most efficient and energy-saving methods of doing things. Although our brain would prefer to make one big decision that solves everything, this is not always feasible. Often, we are only aware of the larger tasks and processes that are an aggregate of the millions of tiny decisions our brain makes every second. The same logic should be applied to larger decisions that need to be made – multiple small decisions lead to the big one.

Big decisions can be burdensome. When we try to make a big decision, we spend a lot of time analyzing and perfecting it, trying to avoid all negative consequences. This pursuit of a perfect solution can delay the decision-making process and prevent us from making any decision at all. Furthermore, big decisions are hard to change once they have been made, often leading to more time, energy, and resources being wasted.

On the other hand, small decisions are more flexible and allow for risk mitigation. Making smaller decisions breaks down the process into manageable steps, making it less daunting. It also allows for small wins, which build confidence and encourage progress. Instead of making drastic changes all at once, it is often more effective to start with smaller actions that can be integrated into daily life. For example, instead of completely changing to a vegan diet, one could start by drinking more water and replacing unhealthy snacks with fruit. This approach is more sustainable and less likely to lead to discouragement and failure.

When faced with a big decision, the key is to break it down into smaller components. Consider the steps and resources needed and start by making small decisions about these aspects. Each small decision contributes to the larger one, and before you know it, you have reached your goal. Henry Ford’s success is a perfect example of how small decisions can lead to significant achievements.

So, the next time you are planning an extravagant vacation or facing a major decision in your life, remember the power of small decisions. By making thoughtful and deliberate choices along the way, you can ensure a wonderful outcome.