LEADERSHIP · DECISION · PERSISTENCE
We Decide What to Do.
Now We Have to Do What We Decide.
Have you ever spent more time deciding where to eat on vacation than actually eating?
You look at reviews. You study the menu. You check how far the restaurant is from the hotel. Finally, everyone agrees: This is where we’re going.
Then vacation begins.
Someone is tired. Someone sees a different restaurant. The walk feels too long. Suddenly, the plan that received so much thought disappears in five minutes.
Sometimes changing the plan is exactly the right decision. That is part of the joy of traveling.
But other times, we did not truly make a new decision. We simply became distracted and drifted away from the old one.
And what happens on vacation happens in life.
We decide to exercise. We decide to finish the proposal. We decide to call someone we love, protect time for an important project, or finally have the conversation we have been avoiding.
We decide what to do.
Now we have to do what we decide.
That sounds obvious, doesn’t it?
Yet this may be one of the hardest parts of becoming our own Champion.
| Key Question | A Champion’s Perspective |
|---|---|
| What is the intention-behavior gap? | The intention-behavior gap is the space between what we intend to do and what we actually do. |
| Why is making a decision not enough? | A decision gives us direction, but distractions, changing energy, competing priorities, and easier options can prevent us from taking action. |
| How can I follow through on a decision? | Remember why you decided, plan how you will handle distractions, and focus on the next small action you can take. |
| What does persistence mean? | Persistence means staying dedicated to your decision and its purpose while remaining flexible about the route you take. |
Reflection
Take a moment to reflect: What decision have you made that you want to follow through on? What is most likely to distract you or pull you away from it? How can you stay flexible without abandoning what matters to you? And what is one promise you can keep to yourself today?
Why is a : Decision Not Enough?
There is a name for the space between what we intend to do and what we actually do: the intention-behavior gap.
Psychologist Paschal Sheeran reviewed 422 studies and found that our intentions were meaningfully connected to our behavior, but explained only about 28% of the difference in what people actually did.
In other words, deciding matters. But deciding does not finish the job.
Between “I will” and “I did,” life enters the room. Other priorities show up. Our energy changes. An easier option appears.
Our Oy thoughts whisper:
“You can do it tomorrow.”
“This is too hard.”
“Maybe it wasn’t that important anyway.”
This is where persistence comes in.
What Does : Persistence Really Mean?
Persistence is not forcing ourselves to follow every detail of the original plan. It is staying dedicated to the decision we made, and to the purpose behind it, even when other things compete for our attention. The route may change. The goal does not have to.
If the restaurant you chose on vacation is closed, you do not need to sit outside the locked door. You choose another restaurant that can still give you what you really wanted: a delicious meal, time together, and a memory worth keeping. That is persistence with flexibility.
Three Ways to See Your Decisions Through
| Step | Question to Ask Yourself |
|---|---|
| THINK | Why does this decision matter to me? |
| CHOOSE | How will I protect this decision when distractions appear? |
| ACT | What is the next promise I will keep? |
THINK:
Remember Why You Decided
When a decision becomes inconvenient, reconnect with the reason you made it. Ask yourself, “What mattered to me when I made this decision?”
CHOOSE:
Decide in Advance How You Will Handle Distractions
Use if-then statements to prepare for what might pull you away. Ask yourself, “What is the most likely to pull me away, and what will I do when it happens?
ACT:
Focus on the Next Promise, Not the Entire Journey
Take the next small step. And if you get distracted? Return. Ask yourself, “What is one action I can take today that honors my decision?”
The Journey is Where We Become the Person Who Can Reach the Goal
We often keep our eyes so firmly on the finish line that we forget: the journey is where we become the person who can reach it. Each time we return after a distraction, we strengthen trust in ourselves. Each time we adapt without abandoning the goal, we build resilience.
The Champion Journey: THINK, CHOOSE, ACT
So, when you make your next decision, remember the full Champion Journey:
decision when distractions appear?
I will keep?
Summary
Decisions point the way, but they do not finish the job. Persistence means staying committed to your purpose while remaining flexible about the path. Think about why it matters, choose how you will handle distractions, and act on the next small promise. We decide what to do. Now we have to do what we decide.
Frequently Asked Questions
| What is the intention-behavior gap? | It is the gap between what we intend to do and what we actually do. Making a decision matters, but intention alone does not guarantee action. |
| How do I follow through on my decisions? | Reconnect with why you made the decision, decide in advance how you will handle distractions, and take the next small action that honors your decision. |
| How can I stay persistent when my plan changes? | Persistence does not require following the exact original plan. You can adapt the route while staying committed to the purpose and destination. |
| What should I do when I get distracted? | Return. Persistence is not never wandering off course; it is noticing sooner and returning faster. |
| What is the THINK, CHOOSE, ACT Champion Journey? | THINK about why the decision matters, CHOOSE how you will protect it from distractions, and ACT by taking the next promise you can keep. |
Want to Bring These Ideas Into Your Organization?
Dorice partners with organizations, leaders, and teams to build greater resilience, connection, and mental fitness in the workplace. Through engaging keynotes, workshops, and leadership experiences, she helps people move from stress and disconnection toward clarity, confidence, and joy.
Interested in bringing Dorice to your organization? Learn more about how she can partner with your team.
We decide what to do.
Now we have to do what we decide.
Actions Build Champions
Dorice Horenstein helps organizations bring out the best in their people by creating a path to human flourishing under pressure. An international keynote speaker, Mental Fitness and Positive Intelligence® expert, and author of Choose to Be Your Own Champion and the best-selling Moments of the Heart, Dorice brings more than 30 years of leadership and education experience to her work with leaders and teams.
She equips people with the Champion Mindset and practical tools to think clearly, choose intentionally, and act confidently when it matters most.
With infectious energy, humor, and practical wisdom, Dorice transforms stress into clarity, disconnection into meaningful connection, and everyday challenges into opportunities for growth. Her unique approach connects brain and heart—combining neuroscience and mental fitness with decades of leadership experience and universal wisdom.
Dorice inspires people to rise to their Champion Level, strengthen relationships, and create workplaces where people and performance flourish together.
