What decision will you make today?

Every movement—forward, backward, or sideways—begins with a decision. The quality of that movement is determined, to a large degree, by the quality of the decision. Making a decision is like putting your car in “drive.” You’re not going to go anywhere until you step on the gas, but by shifting into “drive,” you’re making a declaration of intent.

That’s what a decision is, really—a declaration of intent. You’re saying to the world (or, at least, to your world) that this is where you’re going to go, this is what you’re going to achieve, this is who you’re going to be on the planet. Ideally, it’s a promise that you make to yourself. You may or may not share that promise with others (family, employees, colleagues), but you have to make it to yourself first.

A decision is, by definition, exclusionary. It sets things in motion down a particular path, to the exclusion of other paths. Once you decide to turn right, you cannot also turn left. Once you decide—truly decide—to commit to award-winning performance in your business, you can no longer phone it in. Decisions are not for those who want it both ways. But then, neither is success.

A leader can be defined as “one who decides” (George W. Bush’s infamous “I’m the decider” statement notwithstanding). So my question to you today is a simple one:

What decision will you make today? Consciously. Intentionally.

All too often we go through our days on autopilot, not making any conscious decisions that will move us forward. We fill our hours with activities that keep us where we are. We tread water, but we don’t swim.

I invite you to break that pattern today. I invite you to take a stand for something. I invite you to move forward in your business and in your life.

I invite you to make a decision.

What decision will you make today?