Here’s the truth: we all know what we should do. The problem is… we just don’t do it.

In “The Neuroscience of Leadership,” David Rock and Jeffrey Schwartz point out that even people who undergo life-saving heart surgery rarely change their habits. Only about one in nine make lasting changes. The rest go right back to old routines, even though their lives are on the line.

This isn’t just about health. Most people never read past the first chapter of the books they buy. Three out of four new gym members quit within three months. And only 8% of people stick to their New Year’s resolutions. The ancient Greeks even had a word for this, Akrasia, when you know the right thing to do but still don’t do it.

In our business, follow-through gets challenged daily.  Client needs, staff issues, market changes, family matters. You can’t control all of that, but you can control the key areas that matter most:

1. Keeping your client service promises

2. Growing your business at your desired pace

3. Managing your team effectively

4. Staying on top of portfolio management

5. Fixing problems quickly

The danger is letting “the squeaky wheel” dictate your day, instead of focusing on the things that move your business forward. You’ve probably come back from a conference with great ideas, only to find your notes months later and think, “If I had just acted on this…”

The fix? Make follow-through a habit:

• Block time on your calendar for high-priority work

• End each day with a list of your six most important tasks for tomorrow

• Track action-based metrics, not just results

• Have someone hold you accountable

It’s not luck. It’s not even about how much you care. It’s about committing to your own success and sticking with it—hour by hour, day by day—with consistency.