--- id: ff18_five_decision_making_methods title: FLYINGFREE - Five Methods for Making Decisions category: Biblical Life Counsel predicted_narrative_arc: gut-feel-to-named-frameworks sentiment: Instructive emotions: - Practical - Analytical - Steady keypoints: - People often feel they shoot from the hip yet use parts of real methods - Pareto Analysis: determine what needs to change, then choose what to change - Paired Comparison: quickly contrast known alternatives by importance - Grid Analysis and PMI weigh many factors and pros/cons with consequences - Force Field Analysis maps pressures for and against change toward an exit summary: > Dean names five decision tools — Pareto, Paired Comparison, Grid Analysis, PMI, and Force Field — noting most people already use pieces of them without calling them scientific. tags: - flying-free - chapter-18 - decision - pareto - pmi - force-field - analysis - dean-rush - book-excerpt - practical-wisdom sycophancy: 0 truth_score: 8 entropy: 3 sample: false consent: owner_approved agent: flyingfree created: '2010-01-01' updated: '2026-09-09T00:00:00Z' vault_stage: 07_CODEX headwaters: FLYINGFREE prefix: FLYINGFREE enrich_status: ok enrich_blockers: [] enrich_method: manual pipeline_filename: FLYINGFREE_18_five-decision-making-methods.md source_kind: book_excerpt proposed_topic: FlyingFree lane: FlyingFree voice: desk active_voice: desk voices: - desk routing_source: carbon corpus_topic: FlyingFree content_status: active date: '2010-01-01' share_url: https://deanrush.net/downloads/flyingfreebook.md source_url: https://deanrush.net/downloads/flyingfreebook.md site_category: Flying Free book_title: Flying Free book_chapter: 18 book_chapter_title: Decide Where to Fly – Make A Decision source_file: flyingfree/flying-free-18-decide-where-to-fly.md description: > Chapter 18 — Dean sketches Pareto, Paired Comparison, Grid, PMI, and Force Field as ordinary decision methods people partly already use. --- # Five Methods for Making Decisions **Author:** Dean Rush **Book:** *Flying Free* · **Chapter 18:** Decide Where to Fly – Make A Decision **Full book:** [deanrush.net/downloads/flyingfreebook.md](https://deanrush.net/downloads/flyingfreebook.md) ## Context for the Reader After the fire story, Chapter 18 turns practical: there are named ways to decide, and people often use fragments of them while claiming they only “shoot from the hip.” Dean sketches five tools without turning the chapter into a textbook — the point is clarity about how conclusions form. This lesson is the toolkit inventory: five methods, briefly defined in Dean’s words. > Voice note: Everything under **Dean's excerpt** is Dean's original prose (lightly cleaned only). Sections marked **Biblical foundations**, **Scholar sidebar**, **Takeaways**, and **First-time learner** are enrichment for Asker / first readers — not Dean speaking. --- ## Biblical foundations (preface) Dean legitimizes structured comparison without idolizing technique. Scripture already models weighing paths, counting cost, seeking counsel, and discerning pressures before a choice. | Dean's claim | Scriptural undercarriage | | --- | --- | | Name what must change (Pareto-like focus) | Ponder the path of your feet (Proverbs 4:26); remove the log first (Matthew 7:3–5) | | Compare alternatives quickly and logically | The prudent gives thought to his steps (Proverbs 14:15) | | Account for many factors (grid) | Plans by counsel (Proverbs 15:22); plurality of advisers (Proverbs 11:14) | | Weigh pros, cons, consequences (PMI) | Count the cost (Luke 14:28–30); sow/reap (Galatians 6:7–8) | | Map pressures for and against change (Force Field) | Take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5); choose whom you will serve (Joshua 24:15) | --- ## Dean's excerpt ### Methods you may already half-use There are a number of methods to use to make decisions and we often do not use them properly. Interestingly, most people feel they shoot from the hip in their normal decision-making process, but if examined, they are using at least a part of the following methods to come to their final conclusions on how to solve a problem: **Pareto Analysis** is one of the first actions in determining what you will do to make a decision. This action is simply a matter of determining what needs to be changed as you examine the problem. You then can choose what to change. **Paired Comparison Analysis** can play an important role in deciding how to handle an emergency because it may be accomplished quickly and allows logical comparison of known alternatives. You can contrast factors involved in the event by simply comparing them to one anther in order to select the one that best works in the situation. This comparison allows you to determine the importance of different options. **Grid Analysis** is another method of determining the importance of the various options. With grid analysis you can begin taking into account many factors that can lead to the necessary solution for the problem. **PMI** is simply the process of weighing the pros and cons of a decision. You can assume there are going to be consequences of how you determine to handle a situation. The desired outcome will be determined by how you move through this process. **Force Field Analysis** is simply a matter of determining the various pressures surrounding the decision. When you can analyze the pressures for and against change you can better decide how you want to move toward a decision. Determining how to satisfy the greatest pressures on the decision often provide an exit strategy to get to a desired conclusion. > **Scholar sidebar — Tools serve wisdom; they are not saviors** > Dean’s tone is demystifying: these are ordinary moves with names. Proverbs 14:15 and Luke 14:28–30 support comparison and cost-counting. Keep the toolkit subordinate to character and prayer — Chapter 18 will next admit no single method always works in raw crisis speed. --- ## Takeaways 1. **“Shoot from the hip” is often partial method.** Examine the process and you find pieces of real frameworks. 2. **Pareto: what must change?** Focus before flailing. 3. **Paired comparison fits emergencies.** Fast logical contrast of known options. 4. **Grid and PMI widen the lens.** Many factors; pros, cons, consequences. 5. **Force Field maps pressure.** For/against change can reveal an exit strategy. --- ## First-time learner ### What is Dean saying in one sentence? People already use fragments of five decision methods — Pareto, Paired Comparison, Grid, PMI, and Force Field — even when they think they only shoot from the hip. ### Why list methods in a faith book? Because “make a decision” needs honest structure, not only inspiration — without making technique the hero. ### Key verses to read with this lesson - **Proverbs 4:26** — Ponder your path. - **Proverbs 14:15** — Thoughtful steps. - **Proverbs 15:22** — Counsel. - **Luke 14:28–30** — Count the cost. - **Joshua 24:15** — Choose whom you will serve. ### A simple practice Take one live decision. Spend ten minutes only: (1) what must change, (2) two options paired, (3) three pros and three cons, (4) top pressure for and against. ### How this feeds Ask Dean Seed material for: *What decision methods does Dean list? What is PMI? What is Force Field Analysis in Dean’s words?*