Taking Action: Turning Intentions Into Impact
Episode 7 — Taking Action
Hosts: Jim Crider & Cade Grimm
From Knowing to Doing
In this final conversation of their “What Is Money?” series, Jim Crider and Cade Grimm close the loop on their flowchart of financial decision-making: Values → Goals → Decisions → Actions.
They remind listeners that good actions begin long before the action itself. When you’ve clearly defined your values and set goals that align with them, taking action should, in theory, be simple—though not always easy.
Jim: “If we’ve done a good job on values, goals, and decisions, then by the time it comes to taking action, that should be a simple thing to do.”
The Power of Small Actions
The hosts explore the difference between monumental, life-shifting actions and small, consistent steps that compound over time.
Drawing from The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy, Jim shares the equation:
Small actions × Consistency × Time = Radical results.
Even a simple 401(k) contribution or daily routine can build momentum toward major change. Cade ties this to familiar habits—like making your bed—to kickstart productivity each day.
Building Habits That Last
They discuss how habits form and shape character. Small, repeated behaviors accumulate into habits; habits define your lifestyle and eventually your identity.
Jim uses Couch to 5K as an analogy for how to start small and build consistency.
Instead of expecting an overnight transformation, the goal is incremental change:
Set your alarm.
Get up and put on shoes.
Step outside.
Run to the end of the block.
Each step builds confidence and reinforces identity: “I’m a runner now.”
Momentum Over Motivation
Momentum, they note, is more powerful than motivation. Getting started requires the most effort—like an airplane burning 80% of its fuel during takeoff—but once you’re moving, inertia works for you.
Cade compares it to an avalanche: the first slide is slow, but as momentum builds, it becomes unstoppable. Jim adds that regularity and frequency make habits stick—it’s actually easier to take a pill daily than every other day because it becomes automatic.
Good Habits vs. Bad Habits
Everyone has habits, but not all serve your goals. The key is to identify which ones move you closer to your values and which ones need to be replaced.
Jim shares his own “thinking trigger”—a deliberate physical habit that keeps him focused—and uses it to illustrate how we can replace unhelpful tics or distractions with purposeful cues.
Priming and Channeling for Better Actions
The conversation shifts to how environment influences action.
If your pantry is stocked with junk food, it’s harder to eat well.
To take better actions, they suggest two strategies:
Priming: mentally preparing for desired actions.
Channeling: arranging your environment to make good actions easier.
Together, priming and channeling reduce resistance and create “autopilot” alignment between intentions and behavior.
The Influence of Other
They revisit the idea of outside influences—friends, family, and social media.
Jim points out that “keeping up with the Joneses” has multiplied in the social media age: instead of comparing ourselves to a few neighbors, we now compare to thousands online. Cade emphasizes the danger of chasing lifestyles that don’t align with your values.
Cade: “If you really understand what you value, you’ll be less tempted to keep up with the Joneses, because the Joneses probably value something completely different.”
Jim quotes author Morgan Housel:
“The Joneses aren’t nearly as happy as you think they are.”
You Become What You’re Around
The people around you shape your standards.
Jim describes how out-of-shape friends often normalize unhealthy behavior, while healthy people tend to surround themselves with others who prioritize wellness. He even calls out friends—lovingly—for letting go of values they once declared important, such as being fit enough to play with their kids.
He cites research showing that people eat 35% more with one companion, 75% more in groups of four, and nearly double when eating with seven or more—proof that subtle environmental cues can drastically affect actions.
Gamify the Hard Stuff
Sometimes, you just have to do the hard work—but there are creative ways to make it easier.
Jim references Eat the Frog, a book encouraging readers to tackle the hardest task first each day.
He also talks about gamifying discipline to make it enjoyable or motivating:
In college, he asked a roommate to dump a glass of water on him every 10 minutes he failed to finish a page of his paper—eventually turning writing into a competitive challenge.
As a dad, he races his kids to clean the playroom before a song ends.
He times himself unloading the dishwasher for fun.
Cade shares similar stories—turning chores or work calls into mini-competitions that transform obligation into play.
Jim: “If you can find enjoyment or purpose in what you do, why wouldn’t you?”
Knowledge Isn’t Enough
In the final stretch, the hosts unpack a critical truth:
Knowing what to do isn’t the same as doing it.
Jim admits he knows ice cream isn’t healthy but says awareness alone doesn’t change behavior—conviction and ownership do.
He connects this to faith: even Satan knows who Jesus is, but he doesn’t submit to Him.
Belief becomes transformative only when you act on it.
Jim: “There’s a difference between knowing and submitting to that knowledge.”
Does Lack of Knowledge Stop Action?
Cade asks whether ignorance is enough to prevent action.
Jim’s answer: sometimes, but not always.
People can accidentally take the right actions—like early Bitcoin buyers who got lucky without deep understanding—but sustainable progress requires both knowledge and alignment with values.
He contrasts the past (when financial advisors were the “gatekeepers” of information) with today’s challenge: an overload of free information that demands discernment.
The real skill now is distilling knowledge into wisdom—knowing what’s true, what applies to you, and how to act on it intentionally.
Taking Action in Financial Life
For those applying these ideas to money, Cade emphasizes:
Don’t act impulsively based on social media trends or flashy advice.
First, revisit your values, goals, and decision process.
Then take action that genuinely aligns with them.
Cade: “If you can take action in some way, it’s better than not taking any action at all—assuming it’s the right kind of action.”
Jim adds that inaction is also an action—choosing not to decide is still a decision, and every choice has opportunity costs.
Jim: “When you choose something, you’re giving up something else. Even inaction trades away what could have been.”
Key Takeaways
Start small and stay consistent. Big results come from daily habits.
Prime your environment. Make good actions easy, bad ones hard.
Gamify the grind. Turn chores and tough steps into playful challenges.
Know your “why.” Values anchor consistent action.
Act on conviction, not just knowledge. Information doesn’t change your life—implementation does.
Reduce friction. Build momentum by removing barriers to action.
Final Thoughts
Action is the bridge between belief and results.
It’s what turns values and goals into tangible change—whether in finances, health, or faith.
As Jim and Cade wrap this series, their challenge is simple yet profound:
Don’t just understand what matters. Do something about it.
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.
