Making Decisions — How to Think Clearly and Act Intentionally
A Framework for Intentional Choices
Jim Crider and Cade Grimm unpack the process of decision-making using Intentional Living’s framework: values → goals → decisions → actions.
When you first clarify your values, those guide your goals. Then, decisions and actions flow naturally from what matters most.
Jim explains that clarity brings freedom — not rigidity — and helps people stop reacting and start living on purpose.
Why We Struggle to Decide
Jim cites a striking statistic: 90% of businesses fail within five years, yet 95% of entrepreneurs believe they’ll succeed. Confidence is essential, he says, but it needs to be reasonable and rooted in reality. Cade adds that many people skip the planning step altogether, leaping straight to action without defining why first.
Their conversation shows that thoughtful preparation, not blind optimism, leads to wiser choices — in business, money, and life.
Mindless Decisions and Everyday Temptations
We often make choices without noticing we’re making them. Jim compares it to mindlessly eating chips at a party — we default to what’s easy or gratifying. Cade laughs, admitting he’s done exactly that.
Jim points out that the hardest part of making good decisions is realizing there’s a decision to be made. Every choice, big or small, has an opportunity cost — so awareness itself is the first victory.
What Scripture Says About Wise Decision-Making
Jim ties this back to Proverbs: “In a multitude of counsel there is safety.”
Faith-based decision-making blends discernment with planning. Confidence matters, but humility and wise counsel keep arrogance in check.
Common Decision Traps to Watch For
Narrow Framing: Limiting choices to “this or that” instead of exploring creative alternatives.
Confirmation Bias: Searching only for data that supports your current view.
Overconfidence: Believing you know more than you do.
Recency and Availability Bias: Overweighting vivid or recent events.
Planning Fallacy: Expecting best-case scenarios while ignoring averages.
Jim offers a tool to combat these: the premortem — imagining failure in advance to uncover risks and blind spots.
Q: How Can You Make Better Decisions Every Day?
Cade: “Once you recognize there’s a decision to be made, pause long enough to evaluate it.”
They recommend:
Run a “Stop – Start – Continue” review — Stop what wastes energy, Start what aligns with values, Continue what’s working.
Use defaults wisely — Automate savings or schedule workouts so the right choice happens by habit.
Guard your decision energy — Tired minds make poor choices.
Seek quicker feedback — Small experiments reveal what works before big commitments.
The Role of Environment and Influence
Jim shares how people become like the company they keep. Surrounding yourself with disciplined, value-driven peers acts as a positive anchor or nudge. He even jokes that at 35 he keeps a “Brad Pitt in Troy” mindset — reminding himself that age isn’t an excuse to quit striving for health and excellence.
Cade connects this to mindset: if you’re sad and play sad music, you reinforce that feeling. Change the input; change the outcome.
Faith and Focus: Choosing Joy Intentionally
Jim closes with a verse that shapes his outlook:
“This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it.”
He explains that joy and gratitude are acts of will. Whether in finances, family, or faith, intentional choices build the life you want — not accidental ones.
Key Takeaways
Awareness is the first step toward wisdom.
Surround yourself with wise counsel and supportive environments.
Use frameworks like premortems and “Stop–Start–Continue.”
Steward your limited mental energy.
Align decisions with faith and long-term values.
Final Thoughts
Jim sums it up:
“Sometimes the hardest part of making a good decision is realizing there’s a decision to be made.”
Cade’s favorite takeaway:
“The Stop–Start–Continue tool — simple, practical, and transformative.”
To watch this episode you can visit our Youtube channel or watch on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
If you would like to download the readable transcript click >here<
If you would like to chat with Jim and Cade about how you can also set value based goals for your life schedule a 15 minute consultation today.
