Critical Thinking

Critical thinking on a personal level is a way of life for me. As a woman, we each start each day out with thinking of and deciding on the ever so important items, such as: What should I wear today? How should I wear my hair today? What color or type of makeup should I use today? These decisions may be made with emotions or rational thinking depending on the mood we’re in or the weather outside. Critical thinking on the business level is a different ball game.

In business situations, a leader must think rationally, not with emotions but with an open mind using discipline and good judgment. As a new owner just starting out critical thinking was very important. I had to weigh and contemplate every decision made. The power of critical thinking could change my life and the life of my employee’s. In the early 80s after hurricane Hugo destroyed a large part of South Carolina, an opportunity came available in which I had to use my critical thinking to make several decisions. A man who leased a convenience store in the country had no insurance on the goods or equipment inside the building, therefore hurricane Hugo stole his livelihood overnight. The owner of the building didn’t want rebuild using the four outside walls.

Critical thinking started a flood of questions and thoughts: Can I do this? Where will the money come from? Who will help me rebuild? These were just a few of many questions and thoughts that raced through my head. I started by trying to think objectively and rationally. This was a life changing decision for my husband, family and future employees. I tried to stick to facts and not emotion. I didn’t want to go into this situation blinded just because I wanted to be my own boss and have my own business. I rationally investigated the previous owner’s sales, equipment used, and employee records. I calculated what I needed to do to make the store better and more modern than before. Because I was starting from scratch there were...