Motion vs Action

A group of photography students were divided into 2 groups. 

Group 1 had to take as many pictures as possible and their grades will be decided based on the amount of photos the students have taken. 

Group 2 had to take the perfect shot and their grades will be decided based on one picture.

As time went on, group one made hundreds of thousands of pictures whereas group 2 was still searching for the best way to make the perfect shot. 

The students were searching for theories and finding the best approach.

At the end of the semester, the students who created the most were the ones who managed to create the better photos. 

These students were experimenting with composition, lighting and learned from their mistakes. 

They honed their skills through trial and error. 

Most of us are just like group 2. 

We tend to focus on figuring out the best approach and will never get around to the part of taking action. 

“The best is the enemy of the good”

James Clear refers to this as the difference between motion and action. You can be in motion but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you take action. 

Motion is the part of planning, strategizing and learning. Those are good but without action, you still produce zero results. 

You can plan your whole life but without action, your planning will become a waste.

The danger of motion is that you feel like making progress but in reality you haven’t even started yet. 

Taking action, on the other hand, delivers an outcome. 

You can achieve more if you take action. Especially, if you want to master a habit.

Remember: Habits forms based on frequency, not time

If you want to master a habit, you have to start with repetition. 

Only by repetition will you become the master of your habits.