The difference between success and failure is usually just a few decisions — decisions that don’t seem like they matter at the moment. You are already busy and tired and stressed out. Making that one decision just seems like more trouble for you. More frustration.

But the consequences of indecision run deep.

Looking back on moments where you haven’t had the courage to decide, it’s easy to see how you wasted time and focus and money by doing the wrong thing. By doing nothing at all. You can “go along with the flow” and just “let things work themselves out” — which never seems to turn out positively in your favor — or you can live intentionally. With purpose. With a plan for knowing where you want to go and why getting there is so important.

It’s all that matters right now.

When you live with that level of intensity, not making the right decision just isn’t an option any longer. Every day you wait is a day you move further away from your goal. Every time you refuse to make a hard decision is a wasted opportunity for you finding out where you want to be. It’s not easy to be do what needs to be done.

But doing what is right for you is never wrong.

As a leader, any decision you make will be misinterpreted by those around you. There will be those who think you should have made the decision earlier — and those who think you should have made the decision differently or not at all. There are those who will misjudged your intentions and others use your decision to validate their poor opinion of you.

Regardless —  you still have to make hard decisions.

The problems you’re facing right now or the opportunities you need to grab ahold of don’t just magically work themselves out in your favor. You have to work them if you want to be successful. You have to do what is hard even when you feel sad doing it. You have to do the “tough stuff” even know you’ll get bruised and battered along the way.

You only have one life to live.

Use yours in the passionate pursuit of your dreams. Don’t let anything else get in the way. Decide to be awesome.