Imagine five birds are sitting on a limb of a tree. Count them: one, two, three, four, and five. Three of the birds decide to fly off. How many birds are left sitting on the limb?

You might be tempted to say two, figuring five minus three equals two (5-3 = 2).

I beg to differ. I suggest all five birds are still sitting on the limb, because the decision to fly off is very different than the action of flying off! Making a decision and actually taking action are vastly different! Leaders take action even when they don't know the best thing to do.

We all know people who have made New Year's resolutions or decisions to do something, but have failed to take the actions necessary to make it a reality.

Go ahead and use this story with those around you. They can tell you they made a decision, but if they haven't taken the action, then they're still sitting on the limb.

Maybe someone in your business made the decision to communicate or delegate more, but if they aren't taking the actions necessary to be successful, they are still sitting on the limb.

Or maybe you have decided to lose weight or invest money, but are still thinking about what to do. Action is the key.

Many times the act of taking action clears the way for the proper action to be taken. When you first put yourself in motion, it may not be the best action, but it can create a better action, another better action and another when before you didn't know what to do.