The Mistake that Many Smart People Make (55)
The Mistake Smart People Make: Being In Motion vs. Taking Action
There is a common mistake that often happens to smart people — in many cases, without you ever realizing it.
The mistake has to do with the difference between being in motion and taking action. They sound similar, but they’re not the same.
Here’s the deal…
Motion vs. Action
Motion is when you’re busy doing something, but that task will never produce an outcome by itself. Action, on the other hand, is the type of behavior that will get you a result.
Here are some examples…
- If I search for a better diet plan and read a few books on the topic, that’s motion. If I actually eat a healthy meal, that’s action.
- If I go to the gym and ask about getting a personal trainer, that’s motion. If I actually step under the bar and start squatting, that’s action.
- If I prepare for a research project, that’s motion. If I actually write my research paper, that’s action.
Sometimes motion is good because it allows you to prepare and strategize and learn. But motion will never — by itself — lead to the result you are looking to achieve.
It doesn’t matter how many times you go talk to the personal trainer, that motion will never get you in shape. Only the action of working out will get you the result you’re looking to achieve.
Why Smart People Find Themselves in Motion
If motion doesn’t lead to results, why do we do it?
Sometimes we do it because we actually need to plan or learn more. But more often than not, we do it because motion allows us to feel like we’re making progress without running the risk of failure. Most of us are experts at avoiding criticism. It doesn’t feel good to fail or to be judged publicly, so we tend to avoid situations where that might happen.
And that’s the biggest reason why you slip into motion rather than taking action: you want to delay failure.
- Yes, I’d like to get in shape. But, I don’t want to look stupid in the gym, so I’ll just talk to the trainer about their rates instead.
- Yes, I’d like to land more clients for my business. But, if I ask for the sale, I might get turned down. So maybe I should just email 10 potential clients instead.
- Yes, I’d like to lose weight. But, I don’t want to be the weird one who eats healthy at lunch. So maybe I should just plan some healthy meals when I get home instead.
It’s very easy to do these things and convince yourself that you’re still moving in the right direction.
“I’ve got conversations going with 4 potential clients right now. This is good. We’re moving in the right direction.”
“I brainstormed some ideas for that book I want to write. This is coming together.”
Motion makes you feel like you’re getting things done. But really, you’re just preparing to get something done. And when preparation becomes a form of procrastination, you need to change something.
Ideas for Taking Action
I’m sure there are many strategies for taking action, but I can think of two that have worked for me.
1. Set a schedule for your actions.
Every Monday and every Thursday, I write a new article and publish it to the world. It’s just what happens on those days. It’s my schedule. I love Mondays and Thursdays because I know that I will always produce something on those days. I’ll get a result. That’s a good feeling.
For weightlifting, I train on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. That’s the schedule every week. I’m not planning workout exercises. I’m not researching workout programs. I’m simply working out. Action, not motion.
For on–going goals and lifestyle changes, I think this is the best approach. Set a schedule for your actions and stick to it.
2. Pick a date to shift you from motion to action.
For some goals, setting a daily or weekly schedule doesn’t work as well.
This is the case if you’re doing something that is only going to happen once: like releasing your new book, or launching a new product, or taking a big exam, or submitting a major project.
These things require some planning up front (motion). They also require plenty of action to complete them. For example, you could set a schedule each week to write each chapter of your book. But for the book launch itself, you could spend weeks or months planning different venues, locations, and so on.
In a situation like this, I find that it’s best to simply pick a date. Put something on the calendar. Make it public. This is when X is happening.
For big projects or one–time goals, I think this is the best approach. Force yourself out of motion and into action by setting a hard deadline.
Choose Action
Never mistake activity for achievement.
—John Wooden
When you’re in motion, you’re planning and strategizing and learning. Those are all good things, but they don’t produce a result.
Motion will never produce a final result. Action will.
A great blog post adapted from http://jamesclear.com/taking-action
I no longer read the news / browse blogs, I let cmdeal find all the stuff I want to read for me haha. Thanks for the share
another fantastic post. i appreciate these cmdeal.
bro you're my favorite member here lol!
wow what a GOLD post thx
My extremely smart friend has been in 'motion' limbo for 7 years. He does get stuff done, but it takes him 100x longer then it should. I tell him all the time, but he tells me i'm wrong :|
I realized this trait many years back and it's so key for me. I now say no, skip small things and only focus on the big things and i get them DONE!
Hustling away at the stuff that produces 80% of the rev is how i frame my time.
Brilliant. Thank you!
Money post! Thanks for the reminder.
Originally Posted by stackman
As people get older, I also see more and more of people start saying that it is too late for them to do new things.
In fact, is it really never too late.
- Ray Kroc started McDonald's at 52.
- John Pemberton invented Coca-Cola at 55.
- Henry Kaiser started Kaiser Permanente at 63.
- Harland Sanders started KFC - after it failed once - at 65.
- Nelson Mandela was in prison from 1962 to 1990 - longer than most people on STM have been alive - and at 76 was elected president of South Africa.
- And Grandma Moses first picked up a paintbrush at 76.
Nice way of putting it into perspective.
Thanks for the useful info you keep posting.
I could not agree more with this post.
I know too many people who are stuck in the mentality that they can't change, can't do anything new, have already had their chance at life. It's tremendously sad to witness that.
Also, the dramatic-right-turn-into-new-profession thing has worked out pretty well for me once or twice!
Love this post. Thanks cmdeal.
Needed this. Thanks
Originally Posted by caurmen
Epic thread!
Awesome post cmdeal. I went into hiding lately to turn stuff into action and its yielding $$$ already 
It's amazing how action is almost never taken, always just the steps before.
Skipping the steps before completely is the easiest method for me when i want to take action.
Not saying this is the smartest move, but it works for me.
I'll worry about the research/planning/what may happen/whats required at a later date. .. I'll just try it first.
My problem is always when I approach a problem then I try to find a solution until one works. Then I implement it til its working 60% - 70% which means like "its working but not finished, like a rough diamond". I have always a hard time finish something when there is no more brain challenge involved. Thats why for example I don't invest time in writing a landing page obfuscator. I have a lot of ideas how I would tackle it and so forth but since I know how it works in my head I have lack of motivation to implement it.
My thoughts usually are:
- Private software: Nobody is going to use the software I write anyway and it works for me (but nobody else could use it)
- Private software: When I try to motivate to write something that helps others but its no challenge then I say also in my mind that nobody is going to buy this product anyway.
- Internet Marketing: I was doing a small geo til I hit break even, then I continued and I've seen like $ 12 - 20 profit per month. So my thoughts are: Ok, works but there is no point in optimizing & uploading banners like hell for only $ 12 - 20 bucks.
- When the hard part is done then I usually look for other challenges. When doing boring stuff (like polishing things up, like the 60% to 100%) then I usually think that I could invest the time better to learn more about A, B & C. It's simply because I love puzzles and I have no idea how much worth certain ideas are.
I see the same problem amongst my friends who are very talented but sometimes lose interests when the hard part is done.
In the beginning I'm very motivated, and I usually spend every free minute on solving the problem but once it's solved my motivation drops off to nearly 0.
My question to you: Has somebody a good tip how to overcome that "obstacle" and basically whats wrong with me? Thanks a lot.
Thanks!
PS: If this is the wrong thread then please tell me and I'll open a new one but I thought it somehow fits in here well. Also I think it will be a help for others as well.
It's not an approach I'd always recommend, but particularly if you have a tendency toward analysis paralysis leaping in with arms flailing is a very powerful approach. I've used it to great effect as recently as the past two months.
Apart from anything else, it's absolutely the fastest way to figure out the unknown unknowns in your plan - often by faceplanting right into them.
@swissfactor - well, it sounds like a lot of the time you're doing it absolutely right.
If it's private software and no-one but you will use it, then unless you really enjoy doing so, polishing once it's usable is a complete waste of time - and one that a lot of coders fall right into.
Most of my internal tools are completely unusable to anyone who doesn't have access to me as a walking manual. But they work fast and well for me and that's what I need.
As for the campaigns problem - again, you're dead right. Doing loads of campaign maintenance for $10 a day isn't worth it. So what could you do to find new challenges and get those campaigns to the level where it would be worth it (say, at around $10,000 a day)?
Originally Posted by swissfactor
You might need to find a partner that can finish things..
Inspired by this thread, I took action and tried a new network today I never tried before, because they are tiny. But boy, was it a good decision to take the action. 
Originally Posted by caurmen
It's not an approach I'd always recommend, but particularly if you have a tendency toward analysis paralysis leaping in with arms flailing is a very powerful approach. I've used it to great effect as recently as the past two months.
Apart from anything else, it's absolutely the fastest way to figure out the unknown unknowns in your plan - often by faceplanting right into them.
So, the mistake is not making mistakes?
Great post. I was really getting bogged down by third party tracking, which was (and still is) upsetting me because normally this kind of stuff doesn't confuse me. (I've been surprised how hard the tech has been for me in AM honestly) But I went ahead practiced a bit of ready-fire-aim and launched my first campaigns without it, which was a great idea.
Back to you guys' guides/info.
... How to not stop after hard part is over? make a challenge out of planning things further. Automating creativity is the secret... Facing the fact that you give up to your brain desire to get entertained by "figuring stuff out" instead of doing what you *have* to do.
Setting clear - and nice! goals - will power your motivation to get through. Some people just need more fire under their ass. Like me - I work the best on my last day before vacation lol. Meditate on that, really. Also Tim Ferris had some good 80-20 examples in the 4-hour workweek. My 2c..
PS Reading good books shaped my motivation and attitude towards "just get-it-done!" mentality. I must say, a lot of them came from Charles Ngo reading lists. He is a great example of full-power kaizen.
Originally Posted by caurmen
It's not an approach I'd always recommend, but particularly if you have a tendency toward analysis paralysis leaping in with arms flailing is a very powerful approach. I've used it to great effect as recently as the past two months.
Apart from anything else, it's absolutely the fastest way to figure out the unknown unknowns in your plan - often by faceplanting right into them.
Originally Posted by stackman
"Done is better than perfect"
-Mr. Zuckerberg (i believe)
At one point I realized intelligence is in NO way the determiner or even main factor of success, and if you trick yourself into thinking it is you might trick yourself into thinking your assumptions will get you anywhere.
You can't think yourself through problems, especially the ones you don't know exist yet.
I finished a psychotherapy diploma course resently and it was the best investment in my life so far 350 usd in my LIFE . I learned so much about myself, why i am lazy , why nothing is happening, why we are like we are 
i allways works best when i have no money, and when i am in the worst finanical shape ...i get up like a rocket and make money fast ..just fly in...and then i get lazy again and just waste it on shit..and get depressed.
Originally Posted by caurmen
^^ Saved to desktop.
This is a fantastic post! So many gold nuggets. This phrase really hit home for me "motion allows us to feel like we’re making progress without running the risk of failure"
Threads like this makes me a proud member of STM. The biggest hurdle in any goal is procrastination or motion. Everyone suffers from this however the lads and ladettes that manage to control this habit will succeed in whatever the put their mind too. I look back at my achievements and the one constant feature is action/persistence/relentlessness. Have that in your locker and the world is truly yours.
As Nike would say ... Just Fucking Do It
Also the fear of loosing money can make you do too much motion!
Loved this. Thanks so much !
That's why sometimes people who don't over think it or don't know that it should not be possible or work just make it big and are super successful and some smart people just stick with thoughts and dreams. Thx for the input!
Originally Posted by dalhaze
^^ I wonder what Facebook would be like if the employees follow those rules .
Couldn't agree more.
Stick to schedule.
In the past I tried to set goals, yadada...
Nothing worked.
But any schedule makes wonders.
Even if I'm sitting very tired, barely can move and think, but I have a SCHEDULE.
And I do what I planned even if it's not perfect.
One day it's terrible, the other day it hits a target.
And if you're on a schedule, you will get better every time.
Great work, Love it
Hey Cmdeal,
Great read! This information is very helpful for affiliates who are just starting out and i will make sure to pass these words of wisdom along to them!
So @cmdeal how would you remedy the fear of losing money? I believe my motion vs. taking action problem comes from the fear of losing money. I have somewhat overcame that after I was told you would need $1k minimum to invest in AM. I have saved a few hundred bucks over that but now I believe the prolonging of action taking would be fear of making bad investments, but I'll keep reading...in hopes of learning more to overcome it!
But fantastic post
Originally Posted by chanlow
A pottery teacher split her class into two halves.
To the first half she said, "You will spend the semester studying pottery, planning, designing, and creating your perfect pot. At the end of the semester, there will be a competition to see whose pot is the best".
To the other half she said, "You will spend your semester making lots of pots. Your grade will be based on the number of completed pots you finish. At the end of the semester, you'll also have the opportunity to enter your best pot into a competition."
The first half of the class threw themselves into their research, planning, and design. Then they set about creating their one, perfect pot for the competition.
The second half of the class immediately grabbed fistfulls of clay and started churning out pots. They made big ones, small ones, simple ones, and intricate ones. Their muscles ached for weeks as they gained the strength needed to throw so many pots.
At the end of class, both halves were invited to enter their most perfect pot into the competition. Once the votes were counted, all of the best pots came from the students that were tasked with quantity. The practice they gained made them significantly better potters than the planners on a quest for a single, perfect pot.
Originally Posted by cmdeal
Originally Posted by keepitsimple
Originally Posted by cmdeal
I don't agree with your examples of motion/action.
Going to the gym to inquire about trainers is also action, because without that step your end result won't be as good. What you are advertising in your post is to take action without planning or thinking.
To me, "motion" would be things that you could outsource for cheaper but still do yourself.
Originally Posted by lord charles
Try something, see if it works. If not, adjust and try again.Its good to hear I'm not the only one having this problem of not taking action. No motivation, instead overanalyzing, planning what I'd like to do etc...
This is especially painful for people like us on STM or self-employed and freelancer type of people in general. There is noone forcing you to move forward, noone telling you what to do except you yourself.
My friends are mostly employed and they do not understand me that I make more than enough money but I'm still kinda unhappy because of this.
Thanks for the post, man!
I can't thank you enough for this post cmdeal, it really put into perspective where I am right now with regards to AM. I had to include your final line in my intro post, I hope you don't mind.
Awesome post
Very valuable advice that will never become outdated!
Thought I'd give this epic thread a bump!
Amy
old but gold
This is definitely one of my favorite threads on STM.
Everyone should print it out and stick it to the wall in front of us.
Sometimes doing a public challenge can be the best thing to motivate yourself to achieve goals 😀
Originally Posted by omthoke2022
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