by Helena Escalante | Accountability, Goals, Growth, Habits, Mindset, Planning, Productivity, Resolutions, Tools
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes, 7 seconds.
TODAY’S IDEA: Motion vs. Action: The Difference Means Your Success
— From Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
How are your New Year’s resolutions coming along? As we’re getting started this year with their implementation, “it is easy to get bogged down trying to find the optimal plan for change: the fastest way to lose weight, the best program to build muscle, the perfect idea for a side hustle. We are so focused on figuring out the best approach that we never get around to taking action.”
“The best is the enemy of the good.” – Voltaire
Habit guru and author James Clear, in his book Atomic Habits, refers to this as motion vs. action, that is, the difference between being in motion and taking action:
“The two ideas sound similar, but they’re not the same. 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. If I outline 20 ideas for articles I want to write, that’s motion. If I actually sit down and write an article, 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.
Sometimes motion is useful, but it will never produce an outcome by itself. It doesn’t matter how many times you 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.”
At this point, you’re probably thinking that motion is a necessary precursor of action, as we actually need to learn and plan before doing something. I completely agree with you on that. Where the author cautions us not to get stuck is in the planning phase. “More often than not, we do it because motion allows us to feel like we’re making progress without running the risk of failure. […] It’s easy to be in motion and convince yourself that you’re still making progress. […] 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.”
And that is the key to creating a new habit that will lead you to your goals: practice, practice, practice. The more you repeat this new behavior, the faster you’ll be on your way to master your new habit.
What new habit are you trying to master? Was motion vs. action an eye-opener for you? It was for me! Let me know your thoughts in the comments here.
ACTION
TODAY: What new habit are you trying to master? What action do you need to take to make it happen? Set a schedule for your actions and/or pick a date to go from motion into action. Take action today, even if it’s the smallest one you can take so that you make it impossible to fail.
FUTURE: Whenever you are looking at mastering a new habit, remember that you will indeed be in motion initially, as it refers to learning and planning, but don’t let this paralyze you (analysis paralysis). Action is what will lead you to success: schedule it and set timelines to shift into action. Read more about this.
Know someone who is trying to master a new habit this new year and could benefit from learning about motion vs. action? Please share this post with them via email, Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn, thank you!
by Helena Escalante | Growth, Leadership, Mindset, Miniseries, Productivity, Resources, Time
TODAY’S IDEA: 12 Books of Greatness – Day 12 & Bonus
The 12 days of Christmas refers to the period of celebration (secular and religious) from December 25 through January 5. And because it coincides with the period of time that I’m going to be out on vacation visiting my family, I thought I’d make a miniseries for you during this time with posts from 12 Books of Greatness.
I strongly believe that greatness starts within us, so all of the posts that I chose for these 12 days come from books that are tremendously insightful. My hope is that reading these posts will give you plenty of ideas and “a-ha!” moments to start 2019 on a high note!
Today is Day 12 of this miniseries, which means we’ve come to the end: I hope you’ve enjoyed it! Tomorrow we’ll get back to our regular posts. However, because some of you occasionally ask me for a non-business and non-fiction book recommendation, I’ve included one as a bonus in here today too.
Happy New Year and happy reading!
12 Books of Greatness – Day 12
From The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business
By Josh Kaufman
Bonus Book Recommendation
The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate―Discoveries from A Secret World
By Peter Wohlleben
This is probably one of the most beautiful and eye-opening non-business, non-fiction books that I read this past year. I liked it so much that I read it again a few months after the first time to learn more about the life of trees. It’s a fascinating account of how trees live, communicate, and help each other. After reading this you’ll never see another tree the same way again.
From the publisher: “Are trees social beings? In this international bestseller, forester and author Peter Wohlleben convincingly makes the case that, yes, the forest is a social network. He draws on groundbreaking scientific discoveries to describe how trees are like human families: tree parents live together with their children, communicate with them, support them as they grow, share nutrients with those who are sick or struggling, and even warn each other of impending dangers. Wohlleben also shares his deep love of woods and forests, explaining the amazing processes of life, death, and regeneration he has observed in his woodland.”
Links to other posts in this miniseries: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10, Day 11.
Know someone who would like this book or this miniseries on 12 Books of Greatness? Please share it with them via email, Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn, thank you!
by Helena Escalante | Goals, Growth, Habits, Leadership, Mindset, Miniseries, Planning, Productivity, Resources, Time, Tools
TODAY’S IDEA: 12 Books of Greatness – Day 6
The 12 days of Christmas refers to the period of celebration (secular and religious) from December 25 through January 5. And because it coincides with the period of time that I’m going to be out on vacation visiting my family, I thought I’d make a miniseries for you during this time with posts from 12 Books of Greatness.
I strongly believe that greatness starts within us, so all of the posts that I chose for these 12 days come from books that are tremendously insightful. My hope is that reading these posts will give you plenty of ideas and “a-ha!” moments to end 2018 strong and start 2019 on a high note!
12 Books of Greatness – Day 6
From Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
By James Clear
Links to other posts in this miniseries: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5.
Know someone who would like this book or this miniseries on 12 Books of Greatness? Please share it with them via email, Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn, thank you!
by Helena Escalante | Growth, Leadership, Mindset, Miniseries, Planning, Productivity, Resources, Time, Tools
TODAY’S IDEA: 12 Books of Greatness – Day 5
The 12 days of Christmas refers to the period of celebration (secular and religious) from December 25 through January 5. And because it coincides with the period of time that I’m going to be out on vacation visiting my family, I thought I’d make a miniseries for you during this time with posts from 12 Books of Greatness.
I strongly believe that greatness starts within us, so all of the posts that I chose for these 12 days come from books that are tremendously insightful. My hope is that reading these posts will give you plenty of ideas and “a-ha!” moments to end 2018 strong and start 2019 on a high note!
12 Books of Greatness – Day 5
From Two Awesome Hours: Science-Based Strategies to Harness Your Best Time and Get Your Most Important Work Done
By Josh Davis, Ph.D.
Links to other posts in this miniseries: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4.
Know someone who would like this book or this miniseries on 12 Books of Greatness? Please share it with them via email, Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn, thank you!
by Helena Escalante | Growth, Leadership, Mindset, Planning, Productivity, Resources
TODAY’S IDEA: 12 Books of Greatness – Day 2
The 12 days of Christmas refers to the period of celebration (secular and religious) from December 25 through January 5. And because it coincides with the period of time that I’m going to be out on vacation visiting my family, I thought I’d make a miniseries for you during this time with posts from 12 Books of Greatness.
I strongly believe that greatness starts within us, so all of the posts that I chose for these 12 days come from books that are tremendously insightful. My hope is that reading these posts will give you plenty of ideas and “a-ha!” moments to end 2018 strong and start 2019 on a high note!
12 Books of Greatness – Day 2
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
By Greg McKeown
Links to other posts in this miniseries: Day 1.
Know someone who would like this book or this miniseries on 12 Books of Greatness? Please share it with them via email, Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn, thank you!
by Helena Escalante | Goals, Growth, Mindset, Opportunity, Planning, Productivity, Tools
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes, 51 seconds
TODAY’S IDEA: Four Stages of Achieving a Goal
— From The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington
“The best visions are big ones,” say Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington in their wonderful book The 12 Week Year. And they go on to say, “All of the great accomplishments of mankind from medicine to technology to space travel to the World Wide Web were first envisioned and then created” via the four stages of achieving a goal.
At this point, you’re probably wondering what are those four stages are…
Impossible. Possible. Probable. Given.
Every single big goal goes through these four stages of accomplishment.
When we dream big, sometimes feels very uncomfortable, as we don’t know how on Earth we will be able to achieve such a thing. That is the impossible stage. Asking How? at this stage is the wrong question because it’s too early in the process.
“The fact that you don’t know how to do it creates the perception that it is impossible, at least for you…” But if you think it’s impossible you will get stuck on that thought. Thus, the authors advise not asking How? and, instead, changing the question to What if?
“By asking What if?, you give yourself permission to entertain the possibility and begin to connect with the benefits… [Thus] you begin to shift from impossible to possible thinking.”
So, ask What if? at this initial stage, and imagine the possibilities: “What would be different for you, your family, your friends, your team, your clients and your community?” It’s a very powerful question!
Once you start seeing and believing that your goal is indeed possible, “Then you begin the shift from possible to the next level: probable. You make this shift by asking the question we avoided earlier: How might I? How is not a bad question; in fact, it’s a perfectly good question, but the timing is critical. Ask it too early and it shuts down the whole process, but once you see your vision as possible, the question of how is an essential one.”
The last stage to fulfill a vision or a goal is moving from probable to given. “This shift happens naturally as you begin to implement the planned actions. Given is a powerful state of mind where any question of doubt is gone and, mentally, you are already standing in the end results. As you see the results start to materialize, your thinking shifts almost automatically to given.”
And there you have the four stages of achieving a goal. I’m sure if you think back to something that is a given in your life now and trace it back to its original thought you can see how you went through these four stages. Keep that in mind the next time you think something is impossible, because nothing is.
Cheers to you accomplishing your goals!
ACTION
TODAY: Dream big! Set a goal for yourself that seems impossible. The authors’ challenge is to “dream big and imagine true greatness for yourself. Your vision should be big enough that is makes you feel at least a little bit uncomfortable. […] All of your big personal accomplishments must also be preceded by big visions.”
FUTURE: When envisioning your future, set big, hairy audacious goals and then go through the four stages to turn them from impossible to given.
Know someone who might be interested in this post? Please share via email, Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn, thank you!
