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The Mistake Smart People Make: Being In Motion

vs. Taking Action

This article is an excerpt from Atomic Habits (https://jamesclear.com/atomic-

habits), my New York Times bestselling book.

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
When you’re in motion, you’re planning and strategizing and learning.
Those are all good things, but they don’t produce a result. Action, on the
other hand, is the type of behavior that will deliver an outcome.

Here are some examples…

If I outline 20 ideas for articles I want to write, that’s motion. If I actually

write and publish an article, that’s action.

If I email 10 new leads for my business and start conversations with

 them, that’s motion. If they actually buy something and turn into a
customer, that’s action.

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 study for a test or prepare for a research project, that’s motion. If I

actually take the test or write my research paper, that’s action.

Sometimes motion is useful, but it will never produce an outcome by itself.

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
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 easy to be in motion and convince yourself that you're still making
progress. You think, “I’ve got conversations going with four potential clients
right now. This is good. We’re moving in the right direction.” Or, “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. When preparation becomes a form of
procrastination, you need to change something. You don’t want to merely be
planning. You want to be practicing.

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 (https://jamesclear.com/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
(https://jamesclear.com/implementation-intentions).

Choose Action
Never mistake activity for achievement.
—John Wooden

Motion will never produce a final result. Action will.

When you’re in motion, you’re planning and strategizing and learning.

Those are all good things, but they don’t produce a result.

Are you doing something? Or are you just preparing to do it?

Are you in motion? Or are you taking action?

This article is an excerpt from Chapter 11 of my New York Times bestselling

book Atomic Habits. Read more here (https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits). 

FOOTNOTES

1. Hat tip to Steve Blank for originally writing (http://steveblank.com/2009/11/09/relentless-

%E2%80%93-the-difference-between-motion-and-action/) about motion and action.
Thanks for reading. You helped save a life.

Whenever you buy one of my books (https://jamesclear.com/books), join the Habits Academy
(https://habitsacademy.com), or otherwise contribute to my work, 5 percent of the pro ts are donated to the
Against Malaria Foundation (AMF).

With each donation, AMF distributes nets to protect children, pregnant mothers, and families from mosquitos
carrying malaria. It is one of the most cost-effective ways to extend life and ful lls my bigger mission to spread
healthy habits and help others realize their full potential.

17077
MALARIA NETS DISTRIBUTED

30739
PEOPLE PROTECTED
 317
YEARS OF ADDITIONAL LIFE

9
LIVES SAVED

BETTER HABITS
Behavioral Psychology (https://jamesclear.com/behavioral-psychology)
Habits (https://jamesclear.com/habits)
Motivation (https://jamesclear.com/motivation)
Procrastination (https://jamesclear.com/procrastination)

BETTER PERFORMANCE
Constant Improvement (https://jamesclear.com/continuous-improvement)
Deliberate Practice (https://jamesclear.com/deliberate-practice-theory)
Goal Setting (https://jamesclear.com/goal-setting)
Productivity (https://jamesclear.com/productivity)

JAMES CLEAR

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BETTER THINKING
Creativity (https://jamesclear.com/creativity)
Decision Making (https://jamesclear.com/decision-making)
Focus (https://jamesclear.com/focus)
Mental Toughness (https://jamesclear com/grit)
 Mental Toughness (https://jamesclear.com/grit)

OPTIMAL HEALTH
Better Sleep (https://jamesclear.com/sleep)
Eating Healthy (https://jamesclear.com/eat-healthy)
Strength Training (https://jamesclear.com/strength-training)

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