Skip to main content

View more from News & Articles or Primerus Weekly

There are three frogs sitting on a lily pad when one of the frogs decides to jump off.  How many frogs are now on the lily pad?

Did you say two?  If so, you are not alone. Of all the people I have asked, 99% of people have said two. However, when you take a second look you will probably realize that the correct answer is actually three. It is a simple riddle that revolves around the word “decide.”  Deciding to do something versus doing something are two completely different things.

I can only speak for myself, but I know that I have decided on many things in my life that never came to fruition.  I had good intentions, I had the best-laid plans, I had the proper motivation, but yet somehow my decision to do something never turned into action.  I could give you reasons, explanations, and excuses, but does it really matter?  The end result is that whatever it was I set out to do, did not get done.

So how can we increase the chances that our decisions lead to action?  I think just recognizing and understanding that the act of deciding something and the act of doing something are two totally different things. Explicit acknowledgment of this obvious fact seems to spur people into action more often than not.  Just get started.  Take the first step, as it is always the hardest one. A good plan is helpful, but if chasing the perfect plan allows you to avoid getting started, then it is an unnecessary hinderance.

A lot of us have decided to do more pro bono work or volunteer more.  Many of us have decided to get into better shape or eat healthier.  We often decide to make an effort to unplug from our phones.  I know that this global pandemic has provoked many of us to decide to make a few changes in our work lives, personal lives, community lives, etc.  We have all made decisions, now let’s take action and jump off that lily pad.